Cynthia Fails had a stable career in education. Then she started a publishing company that would pay authors 60% of profits instead of the industry-standard pittance. Here is what she learned about trusting yourself enough to take the leap.
The Non-Linear Path to Entrepreneurship
Most entrepreneurship stories follow a neat narrative: person has idea, person builds company, company succeeds. Reality is messier.
As Cynthia Fails shared on The Buck Stops Here podcast, her path wound through psychology studies, inspiration from the Kansas City Freedom Schools, work in youth services, and a career as a college educator—all while writing and publishing books at night.
It was not until 2017 that she launched LaunchCrate, the publishing company that would become her primary focus. The journey took decades, not months.
Disrupting an Industry That Squeezes Creators
Traditional publishing economics are brutal for authors. Distribution chains, publisher cuts, and marketing costs leave writers with a tiny fraction of the revenue their work generates.
LaunchCrate took a different approach:
- 60% of profits to authors instead of industry-standard minimal royalties
- Comprehensive services: editing, design, marketing, and social media training
- Skill transfer: equipping authors to self-publish independently afterward
- Innovative technology: QR codes embedding videos and courses within books
The model works because it treats authors as partners rather than content sources to be exploited.
The Brutal Reality of the First Years
Fails is honest about what the early days required: the first 2.5-3 years involved minimal income while building credibility. Without her spouse is financial support, the venture would not have survived.
This is not a story of overnight success. It is a story of sustained effort, financial cushion, and the willingness to endure uncertainty.
The Hardest Lesson: Learning to Delegate
For many entrepreneurs, the greatest challenge is not the market—it is themselves. Fails struggled with trusting others to handle aspects of her business.
Her solution was hiring an executive coach for internal work. Not business strategy coaching, but personal development that enabled her to let go of control and build a real team.
The businesses that scale are the ones where founders learn this lesson. The ones that stall are often led by capable people who cannot delegate.
AI as Tool, Not Replacement
When the conversation turned to artificial intelligence, Fails offered a nuanced perspective that many in creative industries share.
She views AI as useful for outlining and inspiration—but emphasizes that human voice, original perspective, and research verification remain essential for quality literature.
AI-generated content lacks the forward-thinking innovation that distinguishes great writing.
— Cynthia Fails, CEO of LaunchCrate
The technology is a starting point, not a destination.
The Core Message: Trust Yourself
When asked for advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, Fails is answer was simple: “Trust yourself.”
Ideas that frighten us are often the ones worth pursuing. The fear is not a warning—it is a signal that something significant is at stake.
But trusting yourself does not mean going it alone. Success requires:
- Financial cushion to weather lean startup years
- Willingness to ask for help
- Working with skilled coaches
- Continuous personal development
Proof That It Works
LaunchCrate is success is not measured only in revenue. The company published a 12-year-old author, Trey Glasper—demonstrating that their model empowers voices that traditional publishing would never consider.
Sometimes disrupting an industry means simply treating people fairly and giving them tools to succeed.
This article is based on Season 3, Episode 4 of The Buck Stops Here podcast: “How to Take a Leap of Faith” featuring Cynthia Fails.