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Wisdom for a Fluid Career: Coach Melissa Wong
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This week on the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I’m joined by Melissa Wong, career coach and author of The Fluid Career, to explore how creatives, freelancers, and knowledge workers can navigate today’s changing world of work. We talk about building a fluid career, transitioning to self-employment, managing multiple income streams, and creating a career that can adapt as your life and priorities change.
If you’re considering self-employment, balancing multiple types of work, or looking for a more intentional approach to your career, Melissa shares practical insights for building a flexible career path without feeling like you have to choose just one thing.
“The question is, how do you… retain a sense of core self? What are the immutable qualities about yourself… that are going to stabilize you throughout all of the motion and the change?””
This week on the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I’m joined by Melissa Wong, career coach and author of The Fluid Career, to explore how creatives, freelancers, and knowledge workers can navigate today’s changing world of work. We talk about building a fluid career, transitioning to self-employment, managing multiple income streams, and creating a career that can adapt as your life and priorities change.
If you’re considering self-employment, balancing multiple types of work, or looking for a more intentional approach to your career, Melissa shares practical insights for building a flexible career path without feeling like you have to choose just one thing.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
00:02 Introduction to Melissa Wong and her work
02:04 Challenges of transitioning from employment to self-employment
04:11 Strategies for starting a self-employed career without data
08:00 The importance of articulating your unique offer
15:08 Practical steps for operational setup and legal considerations
23:00 Evolving passive income streams in the AI era
28:01 Building relationships and trust in a self-employed ecosystem
32:57 Managing multiple income streams and risk tolerance
39:53 Emotional and mental aspects of financial management
43:50 The core message of Melissa's book and its impact
44:59 Closing thoughts and how to connect with Melissa
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it!
Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences.
About Melissa Wong
Melissa Wong is a writer, thinker, and coach for creatives. At Coherence Studio she offers 1:1 coaching, group programs, and podcast conversations designed to help multi-talented creatives identify their unique worth and get into a place of intentional action.
For the first decade of her career, she worried about how her many roles and interests would ever coalesce into an intelligible, unified place. Now she helps creatives and knowledge workers articulate and share a coherent story of their work and design their career into an integrated multi-income system.
The Fluid Career synthesizes insights, stories, and tactics drawn from thousands of client sessions, offering a practical framework for designing modern careers to meet this moment of heightened complexity.
Melissa lives with her family in Portland, Oregon where you can likely find her attending or hosting some kind of event or elbow deep in her latest creative project.
Check Out Melissa Wong’s work:
Get a FREE download of The Fluid Career book introduction here
Website: Coherence Studio
Instagram: @coherencestudio
Episode Links:
Learn more about the Intensive
Link to join the First Official Cohort (9/23 & 9/24). Investment is $1850
Get your FREE visual guide to tax deductions
Order my book: Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed
Stacy Ennis: The Power of Nonfiction: How a Book Can Advance Your Business Mission, Leadership & Values
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In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I sit down with Stacy Ennis to explore what it really takes to write and publish a nonfiction book that grows your business, strengthens your brand, and creates lasting impact. We discuss the publishing process, book coaching, traditional publishing vs. self-publishing, and why integrity, strategy, and a clear message matter more than simply getting a book into the world.
Stacy shares practical insights from years of helping authors craft books that not only sell, but also make a meaningful difference—offering valuable guidance for anyone considering writing a business book or becoming a published author.
“If you really focus on the reader and creating something meaningful and impactful and excellent... it has longevity and shelf life and continued work to do out in the world well beyond you.”
In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I sit down with Stacy Ennis to explore what it really takes to write and publish a nonfiction book that grows your business, strengthens your brand, and creates lasting impact. We discuss the publishing process, book coaching, traditional publishing vs. self-publishing, and why integrity, strategy, and a clear message matter more than simply getting a book into the world.
Stacy shares practical insights from years of helping authors craft books that not only sell, but also make a meaningful difference—offering valuable guidance for anyone considering writing a business book or becoming a published author.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
00:10 Introduction to Stacy Ennis and her background
01:00 Stacy's journey from childhood reading to publishing expert
02:36 Her experience in publishing and ghostwriting
03:24 Working with authors with a bigger mission
04:49 The ROI of writing a book and trust building
05:56 Trusting Stacy's expertise after a trust-breaking experience
07:43 The importance of mission and impact in writing
09:04 The strategic value of a book for influence and marketing
10:33 Shelf life and longevity of well-done work
12:24 Reflections on the author journey and publishing routes
14:36 Exploring traditional, self, and hybrid publishing
16:36 The evolving landscape of publishing and author education
18:24 Why hybrid and self-publishing are viable options
20:28 The role of a book in business, trust, and influence
24:18 The transformative process of organizing ideas
27:37 The impact of writing on personal and business growth
28:58 The importance of creative health and deep thought
31:16 Rebuilding self-trust through the writing process
32:44 The societal and professional importance of authorship
33:01 Stacy's resources and podcast
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences.
About Stacy Ennis:
Stacy Ennis is a best-selling author, book coach, and speaker on a mission to help leaders clarify their ideas and harness their unique story to make an impact. Her background includes impacting more than 100 books in her 17-plus years in publishing; ghostwriting for a Nobel Prize winner in medicine; and leading as executive editor of Sam’s Club’s Healthy Living Made Simple, a publication that reached around 11 million readers. Stacy’s work and writing have been featured in Yahoo!, Inc., Insider, Publisher’s Weekly, Katie Couric, and the TEDx stage. Stacy is also the host of the podcast Beyond Better and holds a master’s in writing and editing from the University of Cincinnati.
Check Out Stacy Ennis’ Work:
10 Things You Should Know Before Writing a Nonfiction Book free resource
Direct link to book a call with Stacy to chat about their book
Instagram @stacyennis
LinkedIn: Stacy Ennis
Study mentioned on the episode
Episode Links:
Check out my program, Money Bootcamp
Get your FREE visual guide to tax deductions
Order my book: Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed
Tessa Fontaine: BTS on Writing Fiction: Money, Career, and Why Writing Matters
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This week on the Sunlight Tax Podcast, we go behind the scenes with writer Tessa Fontaine as we explore the realities of building a fiction writing career. We talk about money, publishing, creative community, balancing art with financial stability, and why most authors rely on multiple income streams to keep writing.
We also discuss the deeper purpose of writing—how stories help us make sense of the world, why art matters beyond profit, and what it means to create work that truly connects. Whether you're a writer, artist, or creative entrepreneur, this conversation is an honest look at the intersection of creativity, career, and purpose.
“The parts that allow me to feel connected to other writers... that’s not a conversation I can have with many people in my life.”
This week on the Sunlight Tax Podcast, we go behind the scenes with writer Tessa Fontaine as we explore the realities of building a fiction writing career. We talk about money, publishing, creative community, balancing art with financial stability, and why most authors rely on multiple income streams to keep writing.
We also discuss the deeper purpose of writing—how stories help us make sense of the world, why art matters beyond profit, and what it means to create work that truly connects. Whether you're a writer, artist, or creative entrepreneur, this conversation is an honest look at the intersection of creativity, career, and purpose.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
00:10 Introduction to Tessa Fontaine's Writing Journey
03:18 The Role of Income and Writing as a Creative Outlet
04:18 The Joy of Reading and Audiobooks for Writers
06:36 Balancing Practical Career and Artistic Spirit
11:36 Building Community and Accountability in Writing
22:34 The Fickleness of Writing Income and Artistic Freedom
27:54 The Incompatibility of Capitalism and Art
36:36 The Gift Economy and the Purpose of Art
46:06 Why Do You Write? Personal Motivations
50:40 Diverse Careers and Income Streams for Writers
54:29 Misunderstandings About the Financial Side of Writing
01:00:02 The Enduring Power of Art and Literature
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences.
About Tessa Fontaine:
Tessa Fontaine is the author of THE ELECTRIC WOMAN: A MEMOIR IN DEATH-DEFYING ACTS (FSG 2018), a New York Times Editors' Choice; Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers pick, and best book of the year by Southern Living, Refinery29, Amazon Editors', and The New York Post.
THE RED GROVE (FSG 2024), her debut novel, was named a best book by Amazon Editors’ and People Magazine, and was currently longlisted for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize.
Other writing can be found in Outside, The New York Times, Glamour, AGNI, The Believer, People, LitHub, Creative Nonfiction, and more. Raised outside San Francisco, Tessa is a former professor and has taught in jails and prisons. She co-founded and teaches the Accountability Workshops with writer and pal Annie Hartnett, and lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with her daughter, goofy dog and sassy cat.
Check Out Tessa’s Work:
Accountability Workshops website
Instagram: @accountabilityworkshops
Episode Links:
Check out my program, Money Bootcamp
Get your FREE visual guide to tax deductions
Order my book:Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed
Professor Ray Madoff on How to Tax the Rich
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Why do billionaires often pay lower tax rates than working Americans?
In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I sit down with tax policy expert and professor, Ray Madoff, to explore how income, wealth, and inheritance are taxed in the United States, and why the current system often favors the ultra-wealthy.
We discuss wealth inequality, estate taxes, billionaire tax strategies, and the most promising proposals for tax reform. If you've ever wondered how the tax code shapes who builds wealth in America, this conversation offers a clear and accessible look at what a fairer tax system could look like.
“Somebody who is self-employed and earned sixty thousand dollars will pay about thirteen thousand dollars in income taxes and payroll taxes.”
Why do billionaires often pay lower tax rates than working Americans? In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I sit down with tax policy expert and professor, Ray Madoff, to explore how income, wealth, and inheritance are taxed in the United States, and why the current system often favors the ultra-wealthy.
We discuss wealth inequality, estate taxes, billionaire tax strategies, and the most promising proposals for tax reform. If you've ever wondered how the tax code shapes who builds wealth in America, this conversation offers a clear and accessible look at what a fairer tax system could look like.
“Let’s say that you’re Mark Zuckerberg. What he has is a growth in value of his stock. And even though that growth in value of his stock has made him very, very rich, it is not treated as taxable income.”
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
02:30 Background on Professor Ray Madoff and her work
05:40 How the tax system favors the wealthy
07:19 The impact of growth in stock value and tax treatment
09:02 Living off wealth, not income
10:04 Inheritance, gifts, and the lack of taxation
12:15 The estate tax and loopholes
16:20 Public perception and fairness in the tax system
17:21 How the wealthy avoid taxes: borrowing against assets
23:02 Political feasibility of tax reforms
25:46 Wealth taxes and their challenges
29:56 Legal and constitutional issues with wealth taxes
31:46 Potential benefits of well-designed tax policies
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences.
About Professor Ray D. Madoff:
Ray D. Madoff is a professor at Boston College Law School and the cofounder and director of the Boston College Forum on Philanthropy and the Public Good. She is the author of Immortality and the Law: The Rising Power of the American Dead and lead author of The Practical Guide to Estate Planning. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Review of Books, among other outlets.
Episode Links:
Professor Ray Madoff’s Book: The Second Estate: How the Tax Code Made an American Aristocracy
My FAQ page on how to Tax the Rich
Get your FREE visual guide to tax deductions
Order my book: Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed
Anna Burgess Yang: Why Self-Employment May Be More Secure Than a Traditional Job
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In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I sit down with Anna Burgess Yang to discuss her journey from corporate banking to solopreneurship. We explore the skills that helped her make the leap, how she approaches business decisions and financial management, and what it really means to navigate risk as a self-employed business owner. Anna also shares practical insights on freelancing and building a sustainable solo business while having effective financial planning.
Listen and Subscribe Here
“It's stressful to work for an employer and it's stressful to work for yourself. It's just like choose your stress.” – Anna Burgess Yang
In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I sit down with Anna Burgess Yang to discuss her journey from corporate banking to solopreneurship. We explore the skills that helped her make the leap, how she approaches business decisions and financial management, and what it really means to navigate risk as a self-employed business owner. Anna also shares practical insights on freelancing and building a sustainable solo business while having effective financial planning.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
00:10 Introduction to Solopreneurship
06:01 Transitioning from Corporate to Freelance
10:25 Common Mistakes Solopreneurs Make
12:26 The Risks of Employment vs. Self-Employment
17:10 Current Economic Landscape for Freelancers
22:20 Navigating Career Pivots
28:04 Financial Management for Solopreneurs
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences.
About Anna Burgess Yang:
Anna Burgess Yang is a freelance content marketer and journalist specializing in B2B SaaS and fintech. She is also a solopreneur educator focused on back-end business operations. A former corporate executive, she now writes long-form content for clients. She also maintains her own blog, newsletter, and a tutorials site. Within her content, she teaches other solopreneurs and marketers how to use AI and automation to work more efficiently.
Check Out Anna’s Work:
FREE RESOURCE: Budget Health Check
Episode Links:
Join the Workshop:Save Like a Millionaire: Using Tax-Smart Accounts
Get your FREE visual guide to tax deductions
Order my book: Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed
What are your money concerns?
Suggest a blog topic for Hannah here.