‘I Don't Have to Make Money Anymore': NYT Bestselling Author of ‘You Are a Badass' 10 Years Later

Jen Sincero, author of the New York Times bestseller "You Are a Badass," still does not feel "made it" a decade after its publication.

Sincero told CNBC Make It that she feels like she's "made it" and then also like she's not. "Not that I am nowhere, but there is so much more I could do."

The success of the "You Are a Badass!"

Sincero's series, including "You Are a Badass At Making Money" in 2017, helped her go from earning under $30,000 to "making $7 figures as an Author and Success Coach," according to the book.

Sincero says, "The fact I'm no longer motivated by money has been unheard-of for me for most of my life." Sincero says, "That's always been my motivation to be ambitious and work hard. Then all of a suddenly I realize that I don't need to earn money any more.

Her focus has shifted to financial freedom

Money was the motivation for Sincero before she achieved success. She often chose her activities based on the cost and how much money she could make.

Sincero says that having the money to do whatever she wants is one of the greatest things about it. Contrary to the notion that building wealth would make you more focused on money, her financial success did the opposite.

Sincero says, "When you are broke, you only think about money. Every decision you make is based upon how much money you have or do not have." "I don't think about money all that often."

Sincero says that after achieving financial independence, she spent "a good year watching birds and doing puzzles." It took her a while to find her new "why".

Now my motivation is: Is it fun? She says. "Is this going to give me energy, or will it drain my energy?" Does it have any meaning? "I filter everything I do through this filter these days."

Sincero is now able to 'give back.'

Sincero says that one of the benefits of having a disposable income is the freedom to donate generously to the charities she cares about. Sincero has always been generous, but being able to express that generosity even more has been an amazing experience.

Sincero says, "[Having money] makes me more authentic. I can take better care of the people and friends I love." "I can give back to the community, donate to charities and express my generosity more freely than I could when I did not have money."

Develop new talents

Her approach to money can seem strange or illogical. Sincero can have strange aversions to spending money on cheap items.

Sincero: "I am better at paying large sums of cash than small amounts of money." "I will spend hours online researching the best wooden teaspoon, but I won't mind spending 10 grand to fix my backyard fence. It's strange, it doesn't make any sense."

Sincero has been able to discover parts of her that she never knew existed and have developed new talents.

"I am a true design enthusiast." Sincero says, "I didn't know that." "I had never owned a home before and I could never afford anything. But I bought the house, renovated it to the hilt and fell in love with the design process, architecture and everything else -- I didn't know that I was that way.

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