REPOST | Make Money by Writing Books with Eric Jorgenson
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “REPOST | Make Money by Writing Books with Eric Jorgenson” inside PodZeus.
Eric Jorgenson, CEO of Scribe Media and author of the best-selling Almanac of Naval Ravikant, reveals a radical truth: writing a book isn’t about royalties—it’s about building a high-status, trust-earning credential that can launch your next career move. He dismantles the myth that traditional publishing is the only path to credibility, arguing that self-publishing with a professional service like Scribe offers far greater control, flexibility, and long-term ROI. Jorgenson shares how he rescued Scribe from bankruptcy after personally losing money in the collapse, then rebuilt it into a powerhouse that helps entrepreneurs turn expertise into polished, market-ready books. The real magic, he says, isn’t in the book itself—but in the signal it sends: a well-crafted book is a PhD in your field, not a business card. And in today’s decentralized world, word-of-mouth from trusted networks—like a single tweet from Naval Ravikant—can outperform traditional media placements. The future of book publishing isn’t gatekept by publishers; it’s driven by execution, authenticity, and relentless personal outreach. The episode exposes the hidden costs of traditional publishing: losing IP rights, giving up control over distribution, and risking your book being pulled or edited without consent. Jorgenson warns that these contracts are one-way doors—once signed, undoing them is expensive and painful.
A well-written book is a PhD in your field, not a business card—use it to build trust at scale with clients, investors, and partners.
Traditional publishing often sacrifices control and IP rights for a small advance; most authors are better off retaining ownership and using hybrid publishing.
Bookstores don’t stock books based on publisher prestige—they stock them based on demonstrated demand; sell online first, and the physical shelf follows.
A single tweet from a trusted influencer like Naval Ravikant can sell more books than a New York Times bestseller list placement.
The most effective book marketing isn’t media appearances—it’s 200 podcast appearances, personal outreach, and relentless consistency at scale.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Myth of the Traditional Publishing Gatekeeper
The episode opens with a promotional snippet for a new Paramount series, then transitions into the podcast intro. Travis sets the stage by introducing Eric Jorgenson as a visionary in the book publishing space, highlighting his success with The Almanac of Naval Ravikant and his role as CEO of Scribe Media.
The Birth of The Almanac of Naval Ravikant
Eric recounts how he spent 10 years following Naval Ravikant’s ideas before curating them into The Almanac. He describes it as a labor of love—so impactful that he had to pause workouts to take notes during audio listening. The book became a personal and professional milestone.
How Scribe Media Was Saved from Bankruptcy
“I was heartbroken when this thing collapsed. And I was stuck in this bankruptcy as an author. I lost a bunch of money personally. And I felt like I should do what I could to sort of help the company and help the team.”
Why Writing a Book Is a Career Launchpad, Not a Paycheck
“The book is this incredible way to build trust at scale with their customers who then become consultants or clients or business partners or investors or sell their business to you.”
Half-Professional Is Unprofessional: The Cost of Cutting Corners
“If that's the case, like just post it on a blog. Like don't half-ass this like really esteemed high status medium. Just like wait until it's the right time for you to do it all in.”
“A single tweet from Naval sold more books than in like one week than another author getting on the New York Times bestseller list.”
“Half professional is unprofessional. And like, that's why our there are so many little tells in that, in the whole process of book publishing, right?”
“If it's a real book, it's in a bookstore. Or that bookstores are where big sales move. It matters, but it's not accessible to everybody by default necessarily no matter who your publisher is.”
Host
Guest
Naval Ravikant
person
Scribe Media
organization
Eric Jorgenson
person
The Almanac of Naval Ravikant
book
James Clear
person
Travis Makes Money
media
Tucker Max
person
Aldi Nord
other
Zach Obron
person
Enduring Ventures
organization
SOLO | Make Money by Earning Your First $10K Online
Travis Makes Money • 25m • 3/31/2026
CO-HOST | Make Money by Finding Your Niche and Building Valuable Skills
Travis Makes Money • 24m • 3/31/2026
SOLO | Make Money by Getting Better at Sales Faster
Travis Makes Money • 25m • 4/1/2026
INTERVIEW | Make Money with the Art of First Impressions and Ethical Persuasion, feat. Danny Bobrow
Travis Makes Money • 27m • 4/1/2026
CO-HOST | Make Money by Thinking Like Scott Galloway
Travis Makes Money • 23m • 4/1/2026
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “REPOST | Make Money by Writing Books with Eric Jorgenson” inside PodZeus.
Start discovering podcast insights today
Start with a 7-day trial and explore a growing catalog of popular podcasts. No credit card required.
No credit card required • 7-day trial • Cancel anytime