How to Have Agency Over Your Life: The 6 Rules

From a Novelist Who Said No to the Rules

She walked into an ad agency once thinking “I’d become an art director.”

She walked out… a writer.

That writer eventually built her own agency. Then became a bestselling author.

Now? Her book is a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, on its way to a Miramax TV series.

Meet Alka Joshi. Her and my interview was the highest downloaded episode of my podcast last week.

Her life didn’t go “by the book.” She wrote the book. Literally. Three of them.

But rewind.

She didn’t come from a family in the creative world.

She majored in art history just to study in Florence.

Tried to become a curator. Or an artist. Didn’t stick.

So she wrote a fake letter—from her brother, no less—pleading with ad agencies to give her a shot before the family had to “take care of her for life.”

Ballsy? Yep.

But it got her 4 interviews. One job. A foot in the door at McCann Erickson.

She thought she wanted to be an art director.

They saw a writer.

She tried it for 30 days.

Never looked back.

Started as a copywriter. Crushed it.

But then…

She hit the glass ceiling.

She brought in clients.

Delivered great work.

Still watched men in the office next door get paid $20K more.

When she pushed for equality?

“You’re too ambitious.”

So what did she do?

She did the math.

How much capital? How many clients? What kind of schedule?

Launched her own agency.

Year one: $50K → $400K.

Not because the world gave her permission.

Because she gave herself permission.

And now?

She teaches women to do the same.

Because this isn’t just about ad agencies. Or novels.

It’s about agency.

Agency over your time. Your voice. Your life.

And here’s how to claim yours: (Audio below)