"I backed into it."

That's how Barbara Grassey describes building a six-figure ghostwriting business that's allowed her to move to Portugal and work from anywhere. No grand plan. Just one friend asking for help with a 37-page "book" written in 14 different fonts.

Twenty years later, Barbara has ghostwritten for real estate gurus, business coaches, and consultants across the country. Her projects start at $25,000. But here's what nobody tells you about the writing business: Even after 20 years, you're never quite sure if your work is good enough.

In this conversation, Barbara reveals:

The Accidental Business Model: Barbara started in real estate investing right before the 2008 crash. One favor for a friend turned into referrals through a JV group of national gurus. Her advice? Start where you already have contacts and a reputation. Branch out later.

The Passive Income Pivot: After 20 years of trading time for money, Barbara's building multiple income streams:

1. Substack bringing in a couple thousand/year
2. $200 online memoir course
3. Fiction books (light mysteries and paranormal cozies)
4. Free book funnels that sell series

Her philosophy? Build 10 small income streams like rental houses—"the toilets never clog."

The SEO Shift to AI: Barbara's marketing friend has been optimizing for Google for years. First it was blogs. Then Pinterest. Now? Optimize for AI, not Google.

The hack? Publish on Reddit, Substack, and LinkedIn Articles. These platforms have AI credibility—your content shows up in ChatGPT searches even if your website doesn't. This is the new .com bubble. Get in early or become noise.

The Self-Doubt Reality: "This has already been said. I'm just a little guy."

Barbara's response? The big names forgot what it's like to be in the trenches. YOU are closer to the people who need help. You bring your own perspective—that's your value.

The Amazon Truth: "Putting your book on Amazon is like having a kiosk in the Mall of Americas. You're in a place with lots of traffic, but nobody knows you're there."

Books make $2-7 per sale. You need volume. But Barbara's playing the long game with fiction that compounds over time.

The Pricing Wake-Up Call: Barbara consulted for a $22K/year mastermind, giving one hour/week of advice. She realized: "These people are paying $22K for me when they could hire me directly and get way more value."

Sometimes you're paying big bucks without getting real value. And sometimes you're undercharging because you're comparing yourself to the wrong people.

The Bottom Line: Start where you have contacts. Build small income streams that compound. Optimize for AI. Don't compare yourself to gurus—you have your own value. And remember: it's all figureoutable.

ABOUT BARBARA GRASSEY:

Barbara Grassey is a ghostwriter and book coach who's spent 20+ years helping business coaches, consultants, and entrepreneurs write authority-building books. She offers ghostwriting starting at $25K, book coaching, and online courses. She's also building passive income through Substack, fiction books, and ad revenue.

Barbara lives in Portugal and works with clients globally. She believes in starting where you have contacts, building multiple income streams, and remembering that websites are like rental houses—the toilets never clog.

Connect with Barbara: 🌐