Love it. A 'smart' strategy can ruin your life if it doesn't suit you. That's why I don't believe in 'one size fits all'. You have to test in real life what works for you and what fits your circumstances. That takes courage and time.
It’s funny how seductive those ‘24-hour turnaround’ promises are when the real work of changing a life feels more like tending a slow-growing forest than flipping a switch. I appreciate how you call out the lie without losing sight of the longing underneath it, that ache for relief and control. Reading this felt like being reminded to walk back to the basics: one small honest choice at a time, instead of scrambling for the magic lever.
Loved reading this. I fell for the pre-built compass sold for 5k that didn’t work. This is exactly why I have built my own compass. Thank you, my friend.
This is a nice affirmation for me. I've been watching some YouTubers who have some really good things to say about building systems for their entrepreneurial life. However, generally speaking I'm at least 30 years older then they are. I keep thinking that they have the answer for what I'm trying to do as I redesign the end of my career, but then I think, "Wait a minute, these folks have never known a time before the internet." I have. I learned to develop relationships very differently. Then just last week, one of them mined the lessons of Elon Musk's success. I simply had to unsubscribe. I realized that if you are going to use your platform and find the good lessons in Elon Musk's business strategy, then it is very likely that I have a different set of values. I have no desire to strive for that. Click. Unsubscribe.
Reading this makes me believe that marketing and content creation shouldn’t be mixed into one. But that’s how the internet works. That’s how we earn money on the internet. The antidote, I think, is awareness, which you perfectly describe here. With that, I say thank you for giving our industry a better future.
I think they shouldn’t be mixed because we don’t need more content creators. We need more artists. And we need more artists who build, so marketing is actually essential. Maybe I’m too idealistic but I strongly believe they can go well together. Awareness as you said is an essential ingredient.
Let me don my conspiracy theory tinfoil hat for a second here...
Substack knows that if their writers fall down the well of despair, they'll stop producing. Or worse, quit the platform. So at the very least, they *tolerate* the get-subscribers-quick peddlers who sell hope to wannabes.
But since the algorithm so frequently favors the growth gurus, I often wonder if Substack is quietly conspiring with the peddlers to keep writers from fleeing or burning out.
The whole ecosystem sometimes feels like writers fighting a war of attrition. The prize is attention. Everyone needs to work harder to win a greater slice of the pie. Those who don't produce lose their already-meager slice.
In this quiet war, the get-subscribers-quick peddlers are the arms dealers and undertakers. They are the ones who profit while the combatants tear each other to shreds.
And the algorithm is the mastermind sitting quietly in the background, in a shadowy room, pulling the strings Illuminati-style to keep this war alive and profitable.
Tinfoil hat on: I think the peddlers are great because they increase the numbers and they bring in new peddlers. So I guess burnout is not much on their radar because these people are replaceable commodities.
Brilliant letter my friend! These lies that we are told are just dopamine fixes that just keep us addicted. A new perspective is to look at these as doorways to doing things differently. They may lead you down a new path that you’d never think of on your own.
"By the time they package their "map to reach the top 1%" into a course, the system has already shifted."
This is the facts.
The game changes too quick now, and the guru either lacks the self awareness of the conditions required for them to win OR they are blatantly selling something that doesn'twork.
Love it. A 'smart' strategy can ruin your life if it doesn't suit you. That's why I don't believe in 'one size fits all'. You have to test in real life what works for you and what fits your circumstances. That takes courage and time.
Yes, the 'one size fits all' mentality causes a lot of pain.
The quotes remind me of a best of of Dan Koes newsletter titles.
Because it is. The 500 k follower guy
It’s funny how seductive those ‘24-hour turnaround’ promises are when the real work of changing a life feels more like tending a slow-growing forest than flipping a switch. I appreciate how you call out the lie without losing sight of the longing underneath it, that ache for relief and control. Reading this felt like being reminded to walk back to the basics: one small honest choice at a time, instead of scrambling for the magic lever.
The basics never get old, they just don’t sell anymore.
In 2026, the real work is blocking out the noise and distractions. So you can stop planning to build the thing - and actually start building it.
I got inspired by Charles Darwin’s daily routine. Helps a lot that he was pre-internet.
What is this ? All I found was what we would call today time block or ultradian. Is it ?
Fully agree. The challenge is as much in what you have to stop than what you have to do.
That’s what I found for me at least …
But this is not very popular and does not « sell »
Yes that’s a crucial distinction… not always so easy.
Loved reading this. I fell for the pre-built compass sold for 5k that didn’t work. This is exactly why I have built my own compass. Thank you, my friend.
I’m glad you have your own compass ready.
I bought into several of these pre-built ones (or maps). Just made mine more resilient.
‘If you try to turn an oak acorn into a mighty tree in 30 days, you don’t get a tree. You get a dead nut.’ — I adore a good nature metaphor!
Great read, as always, Philipp.
Thanks! 30% of the time was spent on this line
It shows!
This is a nice affirmation for me. I've been watching some YouTubers who have some really good things to say about building systems for their entrepreneurial life. However, generally speaking I'm at least 30 years older then they are. I keep thinking that they have the answer for what I'm trying to do as I redesign the end of my career, but then I think, "Wait a minute, these folks have never known a time before the internet." I have. I learned to develop relationships very differently. Then just last week, one of them mined the lessons of Elon Musk's success. I simply had to unsubscribe. I realized that if you are going to use your platform and find the good lessons in Elon Musk's business strategy, then it is very likely that I have a different set of values. I have no desire to strive for that. Click. Unsubscribe.
And in most cases it’s just second-hand survivorship bias.
I have fallen countless times for the "get rich in 30 days" schemes.
When you see it, it's perfect.
You just have to create a faceless YouTube channel or whatever and ta-da, you're financially free.
Yeah, it doesn't work like that.
Because you didn't buy their course.
"You didn't made it? That's because you got something wrong. Why don't you buy my course and then I help you get there?"
Those schemes are just guru talk to sell you a shitty course.
Something truly valuable takes time to build and grow.
Stop falling for get rich quick schemes.
I have been burnt so many times and in some weird, unexpected way it made grow a lot.
Reading this makes me believe that marketing and content creation shouldn’t be mixed into one. But that’s how the internet works. That’s how we earn money on the internet. The antidote, I think, is awareness, which you perfectly describe here. With that, I say thank you for giving our industry a better future.
I think they shouldn’t be mixed because we don’t need more content creators. We need more artists. And we need more artists who build, so marketing is actually essential. Maybe I’m too idealistic but I strongly believe they can go well together. Awareness as you said is an essential ingredient.
Let me don my conspiracy theory tinfoil hat for a second here...
Substack knows that if their writers fall down the well of despair, they'll stop producing. Or worse, quit the platform. So at the very least, they *tolerate* the get-subscribers-quick peddlers who sell hope to wannabes.
But since the algorithm so frequently favors the growth gurus, I often wonder if Substack is quietly conspiring with the peddlers to keep writers from fleeing or burning out.
The whole ecosystem sometimes feels like writers fighting a war of attrition. The prize is attention. Everyone needs to work harder to win a greater slice of the pie. Those who don't produce lose their already-meager slice.
In this quiet war, the get-subscribers-quick peddlers are the arms dealers and undertakers. They are the ones who profit while the combatants tear each other to shreds.
And the algorithm is the mastermind sitting quietly in the background, in a shadowy room, pulling the strings Illuminati-style to keep this war alive and profitable.
Tinfoil hat on: I think the peddlers are great because they increase the numbers and they bring in new peddlers. So I guess burnout is not much on their radar because these people are replaceable commodities.
Brilliant letter my friend! These lies that we are told are just dopamine fixes that just keep us addicted. A new perspective is to look at these as doorways to doing things differently. They may lead you down a new path that you’d never think of on your own.
Thanks Sam, happy to see you here again.
Beautiful. Glad I landed on your Substack from Taylin's recommendation (who himself is a behemoth).
Shoutout to @Taylin John Simmonds. He is a great guy.
Every time I read your note or article, my nervous system says, “Thank you, thank you—I’m not crazy.
"By the time they package their "map to reach the top 1%" into a course, the system has already shifted."
This is the facts.
The game changes too quick now, and the guru either lacks the self awareness of the conditions required for them to win OR they are blatantly selling something that doesn'twork.
Either way its BS.