Issa Rae has built a career on using her life experiences for art, and now she’s channeling some of those lessons into her latest book, I Should Be Smarter By Now . On Tuesday (Aug. 26), the Emmy-nominated producer and actress released her six-essay collection that gets candid about the challenges, triumphs and hard-earned wisdom she’s garnered.

In one particular essay, Rae got candid about one characteristic of hers that nearly cost her every dollar she had ever made. “My impulsivity, the character trait I’ve benefited from and paid dearly for, is both a gift and a curse,” she wrote, reflecting on how her drive sometimes can be detrimental to her success.

The Insecure creator revisited a pivotal moment in 2014 when she and ColorCreative partner Deniese Davis set out to produce

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