Welcome to another issue of the no-BS newsletter dedicated to demystifying the world of passive income, where we share practical, reliable strategies to build and sustain income streams that work for you.

If you want to help someone else make money while they sleep, forward this email to them.

In today's issue:

I’ve been doing this internet marketing thing for so many years, and if I had a dollar for every delusional biz opp junkie I’ve seen, I’d probably be rich enough to retire from yelling at them.

But hey, then I wouldn’t get to give out awards like these.

Welcome to the First Annual Biz Opp Junkie Awards — where we crown the most ridiculous, excuse-making, progress-paralyzing behaviors in online marketing. Spoiler alert: the competition is fierce.

Nominee #1: “The 30-Day Millionaire Dropout”

This brave soul invested hundreds of dollars (yes, plural) and gave the whole thing a try for a month. A month! And then… concluded the entire industry is a scam. Yep. Building a full-time income from scratch should apparently take less time and money than buying a new iPhone. Makes perfect sense.

Nominee #2: “The List Hoarder”

These folks actually build a list… and then never email it. Like, ever. Or maybe once. On a full moon. With Mercury in retrograde. They complain about not making sales, but haven’t sent an email since the Obama administration. Look — your list isn’t a pet. If you’re not emailing it, it’s not going to magically make you money.

Nominee #3: “The Traffic Martyr”

They say paid traffic is “too expensive,” but they’ve got no problem throwing away 3 hours a day on traffic exchanges and spammy Facebook groups that convert worse than dial-up internet. They’ll waste weeks posting memes and motivational quotes… but $97 for solo ads? That’s outrageous! 

Nominee #4: “The Shrink-Wrap Scholar”

These folks buy info products, leave them unopened, and then ask for a refund because it didn’t work. I had one guy say our bridge page system “wasn’t effective.” When I asked if he had tried it? Crickets. The only thing he tried was typing his email in the refund request box.

Nominee #5: “The Netflix Hustler”

And finally, the king of contradictions — the person who says “I don’t have time,” then binges on two hours of Netflix daily to unwind. I once sent a book to a friend who said he wanted to get rich. A week later, I asked if he read it. “Didn’t have time,” he said — right before telling me how amazing the new season of “Squid Game” was.

Here’s the cold truth:

People aren’t broke because they don’t know what to do. They’re broke because they refuse to do it.

We all deserve the life we’ve created — even if we don’t like it. That’s a tough pill, but if you can swallow it, you’re already ahead of 90% of the population.

So here’s your trophy, Biz Opp Junkies.

May it remind you that success ain’t a microwave dinner… It’s a 16-hour smoked brisket.

There’s a window in every online entrepreneur’s life where they ask:

“Why the hell am I working so hard… and still not making real money?”

I hit that wall years ago. Then I built something that flipped the script.

I wrote this short book to show you exactly what I did — the system I still use today to turn emails into income, without chasing trends or dancing for clicks.

And yeah — it costs less than gas to get to work.

But don’t let the price fool you.

This isn’t a book you buy. It’s a fork in the road.

Let’s get something straight.

Just because you work for yourself doesn’t mean you’re free.

In fact, if you’re not careful, you’ll end up trading your 9-to-5 job for a 24/7 prison… with no lunch breaks, no PTO, and a boss (you) who’s a total jerk.

That’s the dark side of entrepreneurship no one posts about on Instagram.

Here’s the real talk: the “hustle” doesn’t lead to freedom. Design does.

So many folks go all-in trying to build a business—only to realize that the business owns them. They brag about six-figure months, but they can’t unplug long enough to eat dinner without checking stats. Their marriages take hits. Their kids grow up while they’re still optimizing funnels.

Why?

Because they never stopped to ask: Is the business I’m building actually leading to the life I want?

There’s a hard truth hidden in plain sight:

If your business requires you to be there 24/7… it’s not a business. It’s a job. With worse hours.

The solution? Start with clarity.

Don’t build your life around your business—build your business around the life you actually want. Sit down. Map out your ideal day. From the moment you wake up to the moment you crash. Then reverse-engineer a business model that lets you live that day.

And no, this isn’t woo-woo. This is strategic. Because when you align your business with your values—relationships, time freedom, health, impact—you don’t just grind. You build with joy. You scale with intention. And you wake up wanting to do the work… not dreading it.

Here’s the kicker: this doesn’t happen by accident.

You’ve got to schedule the life you want. Time with your spouse? Schedule it. Personal development? Schedule it. Adventures, vacations, workouts, even fun—put them on the calendar. If it’s not scheduled, it doesn’t happen. Period.

Bottom line?

Discipline = Freedom.

Not motivation. Not luck. Not some miracle product launch.

Discipline to work on the right things, for the right reasons, in the right order.

And that’s how you stop building a business that buries you—and start building one that sets you free.

In this episode of The ListBuilding Lifestyle, I’m joined by Keala Kanae, a former full-stack marketer behind a $20M/year business opportunity empire, who walked away from it all after realizing something remarkable: His most successful students weren’t just following the tactics…They were doing the inner work. 

We dig into: Why do your goals keep losing to your values? The real reason discipline fails you and how to unlock insane clarity, drive, and follow-through without hustle or hype? 

I also share a personal story about back pain, football, and how aligning with your values makes hard things effortless. This episode hits deep, hit play and unlock your Power Code.

If you're in the online game—copywriting, marketing, list building, offer creation—then you’re in the business of creating magic out of thin air.

Which is why this book? It’s not just recommended—it’s required reading.

Rick Rubin isn’t just a music producer. He’s a creative whisperer. The guy behind legends like Johnny Cash, Jay-Z, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers… and now he’s whispering directly to you through this masterpiece.

But don’t expect step-by-step tactics or productivity hacks.

This is a deep dive into the mind of creation itself. It’ll teach you how to listen to your instincts, remove ego from the process, and—most importantly—stay in the zone long enough to bring your most powerful ideas to life.

Think of it like a compass for your inner genius.

Rubin strips down the BS and shows you that creativity isn’t about talent or luck—it’s about presence, intention, and space. And yes, even marketers need that. Especially us.

If your brain feels cluttered, your copy feels forced, or your campaigns feel mechanical… this book will help you reconnect with why you started creating in the first place.

I make you feel good, but I rarely last.

I burn your budget crazy fast.

You see big numbers, likes galore,

But no one's knocking on your door.

What am I?

Think you've cracked the code? Reply to this email with your guess, and see if you're right!