Goodbye, counting subscribers

Hello, creating more

AI image created with Dall•E (by me)

"I was just wondering if your newsletter is going in a different direction. I still love what you write, but is it intentional? You might lose subscribers who follow you for the 'building an online business' content?" My mom recently asked me this.

It's a very accurate observation. My newsletter has been going in another direction for the last few months. I have been wondering, too, if this is costing me subscribers. But I'm not counting or analyzing.

I decided to change my life completely, and writing about building an online business wasn't an option because I had nothing to share. So, I wandered in another direction and wrote about whatever was on my mind. The different topics still seemed to resonate with many of my readers, and in one way or another, they were also related to building something.

When your life turns upside down, building a side business—or anything else—becomes the last thing on your mind. I had no energy to focus on it. And luckily, my income is not dependent on this writing endeavor.

I can imagine everybody copes differently, but that was how I dealt with it.

However, I remained faithful to my mission, which I had set up from the start: share what it takes. So, I kept writing my weekly newsletters. Luckily, my commitment is so strong that not writing them is simply never an option.

It took me three months off, three months 'lost' of potential online growth, but I gained three months of personal growth. Also, my piece, ‘From really crazy growth to a painful downfall’, gave me so much peace as I let go of the goals and standards I set for myself. I permitted myself to freeride.

Now, I feel my drive and dedication slowly returning. I noticed it before, but it was not strong enough. However, this revival is real. This week, I spent over 8 hours replying to every comment I missed on Substack. I liked all the comments on my notes. Next on the list is to send all new subscribers a personal welcome message, like I used to do, and to return to all DMs I have not yet replied to.

My mom's question sparked something inside me, along with finding and settling into my new routine in my new place. Ideas started flowing again, and I realized I missed this cozy internet place.

So, I'm ready now.

I'm ready for the next climb, bringing everything I've learned in my backpack.

The biggest lesson?

I will not set new subscribers or paid subscriber goals. That is in the past. It did not help me in a good way. From now on, I will be setting publishing goals. I want to write more, experiment more, and spoil my paid subscribers with more content.

Writing this made me think about the image of my best-performing piece to date:

I just reread it, and I'm surprised myself. It's actually good.

The image of me climbing a mountain, that mountain being x amount of subscribers, x amount of revenue. In the last few months, I made a slow descent, but today I'm at the start of a new climb, and the mountain top looks different. No more numbers, but activities: creating more, inspiring more people, impacting more lives, and sharing my perspective on life with the world.

The new view is spectacular.

Let's start climbing again.

Goalsetting tip

What I won't do is share my new exact commitments. I listened to A. Hubermans' podcast episode about goal setting with great attention, and apparently, it is counterproductive to talk about your goals upfront to people.

It doesn't sound very intuitive, but when you talk about your goals before you start, people will encourage you and say things like 'you'll do amazing' and 'great idea'. Which gives you dopamine shots and already satisfies you, almost like you already done the thing, so you won't do it. That's my basic explanation; I'll link the episode here if you want the full scientific explanation. It's a very interesting episode!

The term for setting your goals should be a maximum of 3 months, and then break it down to weekly goals. Keep it realistic, with a bit of a challenge. Too easy is not motivating, and too hard is neither.

Also, a big thank you to

William Lutz

, who shared some helpful insights on goalsetting with me: focus on output and on what you can control. Your words inspired me!

Learnings

As I mentioned in last week's edition, I am participating in a Substack Mastermind with fellow Substackers. This week, we had our first call, and I was immediately inspired to experiment more with video. Substack is moving towards becoming a full-stack creators platform that offers short-form text, long-form text, video, podcasts, etc.

Since recording the videos for my AI course, I've felt an inner pull towards video content more and more. I really liked doing that, and it's also a way to get to know me better.

I will try video in the coming weeks, and I'll share my 75-hard journey in video format. I only have an iPhone and no experience with editing or anything like that, but we will see where it goes. It's something new, exciting, and out of my comfort zone.

By the way, if you are interested in joining the mastermind, reply to this email or send me a DM on the Substack app. I can explain more and see if you are a fit. In full transparency, know that I get a 50% commission.

Earnings

I know I said no more counting subscribers, but... I just want to scream from excitement: we are close to hitting 4000 subscribers 🤩

Here you have the current numbers:

Screenshot from my Stripe payout

Some small joys from last week

• I have a new coffee machine ☕️

• I’m really enjoying my daily walks.

• Lola has been a little pain in the ass, but the love keeps growing.

• I discovered an amazing Thai place super close by.

• I finished the Ginny & Georgia Netflix series, a perfect guilty pleasure!

As always,

thank you for reading and following along.

Have a fantastic weekend!

With love,

Marie