Point 1: Start Stupidly Simple (Then Make It Simpler)

You need a system so simple that you can maintain it even on your worst days.

Start with what feels manageable, then make it even simpler. If you think you can write three posts a week, start with one. If you think you can create five Notes daily, start with two.

The goal isn't to impress anyone with how much you're doing. The goal is to build a habit so natural that not doing it feels weird.

Point 2: Find Your Growth Engine (Not All of Them)

You don't need to master every growth tactic. You need to find the 1-2 things that actually work for YOUR audience and double down on them.

Find what clicks for you, then resist the temptation to add more until you've mastered what you have.

Point 3: Build Your Sustainable Daily Routine

Example:

Every morning: I write and post my first Note of the day. On Notes Boost days, I set that up in Chat. Then I write 2-3 more Notes to post throughout the day. I also handle emails and DMs.
Morning LinkedIn: I write and post my LinkedIn content. It's not always directly linked to Substack, but my profile does drive some organic traffic.
Afternoons: I export new subscribers to my email platform and add them to my welcome sequence (a few times per week). I write my weekly newsletter posts—usually 2-3 per week, not daily. I also send emails to my separate email list.

Point 4: Create Content Cycles, Not Content Chaos

Instead of frantically trying to come up with new topics every day, I work in cycles.

I'll write about a specific topic for 2-3 weeks. This lets me go deep, provide real value, and build authority around that subject. Then, naturally, I'll promote a related digital product—usually with some bonuses to make it fresh.

This approach serves multiple purposes:

I'm not constantly brainstorming new topics
My audience gets comprehensive value on subjects that matter to them
Product promotions feel natural, not forced
I can batch similar content creation
Each cycle builds on the previous one

Content cycles eliminate the pressure of daily inspiration while keeping your newsletter feeling fresh and valuable.

Point 5: Know When to Say No

This might be the most important point: protecting your energy by saying no to tactics that don't serve you.

Medium? Could be valuable but doesn't fit my current schedule.
Substack Lives? Might work for others but felt like unnecessary pressure for me.
Twitter/X growth? Probably effective, but I'm already seeing results without it.

Every "opportunity" you say yes to is energy you're not investing in what's already working.

The most successful newsletter writers I know aren't the ones doing everything—they're the ones who found their lane and stayed in it long enough to see compounding results.

Your goal isn't to build the most complex newsletter business. It's to build the most sustainable one.

You Don't Have to Do What Everyone Else Is Doing

Your job isn't to build someone else's Substack. It's to build the one that works for YOUR life, YOUR strengths, and YOUR audience.

The writers who burn out are the ones constantly chasing other people's definitions of success. The ones who thrive are those who define success for themselves and build systems that support that vision.

Trust the process. Trust your instincts. And most importantly, trust that consistent, sustainable action will get you where you want to go.

Year Two