The Book Creation Process: Behind the Scenes of Writing Once Upon a Balance Sheet

When I shared that Visions.One Consulting is now the official publisher of Once Upon a Balance Sheet, it felt like a major step in the book creation process.

And it was.

But what doesn’t always get seen is what comes next in the book creation process.

The hours. The screens. The quiet commitment.

This photo captures a small piece of that.

This photo captures a small piece of the book creation process—showing the detailed attention to each chapter as the book is being carefully edited

Three screens open.

And me—going through each page, line by line, preparing the manuscript for the proofreader.

It’s all part of the careful book creation process that requires patience and precision.

Not glamorous. Not share-worthy in the typical sense. But real.

This is what building something meaningful looks like—something that’s been shaped by the book creation process from start to finish.

Not just a book— but a body of work that reflects everything I’ve learned about finance, teaching, and clarity over the years.

Every sentence is being re-read. 

Every example refined. 

Every story checked again for purpose and tone.

Because I’m not writing this for performance. 

I’m writing it to help.

To offer something that lasts.

To make finance feel less like a test—and more like a tool for understanding, making decisions, and confidence.

It’s the same energy I bring to my training sessions— except this time, the audience isn’t in front of me. 

They’re holding the book.

Which makes the work feel even more sacred.

If you’ve ever built something on your own—quietly, carefully—you’ll know this phase.

The invisible part. The final edit. The version no one applauds, but that changes everything.

Books don’t come alive at the launch. 

They come alive in the editing. 

In the care. The clarity. The intention.

And if you’re walking your own version of this journey—I’m cheering for you, too.

James

The Financial Storyteller

Ready to turn financial confusion into clarity?

👉 If Once Upon a Balance Sheet resonates with you, we can change the way you see numbers.

Join the waitlist