After retiring from the Air Force as a master sergeant in 1981, Bob Ross left Alaska with $1,000. He was a one-track mind on a mission to spread the joy of painting. He promised his partner if after a year it didn’t work, he would settle down with children and pursue domestic goals. Bob Ross’s … [Read More]

At 11 years old, without telling his family, Jules Verne obtained work as a cabin boy. He boarded a ship headed towards the West Indies partially to run away. In addition, like many of us, he also had a simple desire for a job offering exciting experiences. Video conferencing. The hologram. The helicopter. Mass biological … [Read More]

It was difficult to research the financial life of Frederick Douglass because he was obviously well known for things far more important than his money. While people may think he is well known today, he was far more famous during his lifetime. If how much he was photographed counts for anything, he was the most … [Read More]

“One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, “What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it again?” As a true poet, Rachel Carson demands respect and posthumous attention. Poetry wasn’t a pastime of hers. It was a way of life – to see the … [Read More]

“Everyone keeps coming at me, wanting me to lecture, to write commissioned booklets, to join this and that, etc. – you don’t know how I pine to be free of it all and have time to think again.” – George Orwell, writing to his friend while processing the success of Animal Farm Class Criticism at … [Read More]

Sometimes you encounter a book based on a true story that has the unexpected power to lift you out of your own life, grow your heart beyond its borders, and call you to action in a way facts or stories bombarding you on the news never could. While not necessarily a house-hold name, Linda Sue … [Read More]

“I wish I was rich, I was good, and we were all a happy family this day.” – Louisa May Alcott Welcome to the first of many posts about historical financial struggles and triumphs. Most importantly, I hope this series offers internal lessons that can be taken away from artistic efforts to make money from … [Read More]