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.

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In today's issue:

I used to think gratitude was for softies.

You know, the types who scribble in pastel journals and sip herbal tea while whispering affirmations into a Himalayan salt lamp.

Meanwhile, I was raised in a “don’t ask, don’t thank” kind of household. If I wasn’t yelling at you, that meant I liked you. If I didn’t criticize your work, that meant I was impressed. In my twisted emotional economy, silence = appreciation.

Yeah, real healthy.

But then… Canada happened.

Moving there forced me to strip my life down to the studs. I’m talking about a complete rebuild: a new home, new rules, a new country, and a new everything. From dealing with immigration paperwork to getting my driver’s license and moving my finances across borders, I had to juggle more bureaucratic nonsense than a government office on fire.

And guess what? I couldn’t do it alone.

For the first time in years, I found myself working 90 minutes a day, tops. The rest of the time? I was on the phone with helpers, advisors, accountants, lawyers, and yes, friends. I had to lean on people—a lot of people.

That’s when it hit me like a slap across the ego:

“My life—my success—is held up by a village.”

There are at least 30 people I depend on every single week just to function. Not counting customers. I’m talking about the real humans I speak to regularly—my team, mentors, legal squad, financial sherpas, and the guy who helped me set up my insurance.

And I used to think I was self-made?

That’s not just wrong. That’s delusional.

The lone wolf narrative is a sexy myth we like to tell ourselves, but it’s a trap. Because success is not built in a vacuum—it’s built in a community.

And here’s the kicker…

If I had to start from scratch tomorrow, I wouldn’t go solo. I’d build my network first, lean on people early, and move faster because of it.

Gratitude isn’t just about being nice.
It’s about being smart.
It’s the fuel that powers collaboration, connection, and compounding results.

So if you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like you’re grinding in isolation — maybe you don’t need another strategy.

Maybe… you just need to say thank you.

And mean it.

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.

Have you ever gotten smacked in the face by your genius?

I did. And it wasn’t with a failed ad campaign or a refund request—it was with a bouquet of roses.

Let me explain.

Being a systems guy, I thought I was being clever. I set up this sweet little automation to send my wife flowers every other week. Gorgeous bouquets. Big, Instagram-worthy ones. Delivered like clockwork. No missed anniversaries, no forgotten birthdays—just “thoughtful” surprises that cost me zero effort.

Turns out, that was the problem.

The moment she realized the flowers were part of a system, she was pissed.

Not mildly disappointed. Not passively annoyed. Full-on furious.

She told me she’d rather get a janky $15 gas station bouquet picked up on a whim than a premium floral arrangement ordered by a robot. Why?

Because one felt like love.
The other felt like… well, a glorified Zapier integration.

And that’s when it hit me like a train full of forgotten anniversaries:

People don’t want automation. They want intention.

And this mindset shift doesn’t just save marriages—it supercharges your business.

Most marketers think personalization is just sticking a {First Name} tag into an email. But anyone with a half-decent autoresponder knows that game. The real power? It’s relevant.

Knowing what your audience is struggling with.
Understanding where they are in their journey.
Speaking to their experience, not just their inbox.

This is where the idea of “buckets” comes in.

Imagine trying to sell a marriage coaching program to:

You can’t use the same message. You just can’t.

Each one hears you differently. Each one needs to feel like you get them.

And when you personalize like that—not just with names, but with empathy—that’s when people lean in, listen, and buy.

Because what your customer wants deep down is the same thing your spouse does:

To feel seen.
To feel understood.
To know you actually give a damn.

There’s a moment in every entrepreneur’s life when the grind just… grinds to a halt.

Not because you’re lazy.
Not because you don’t want it anymore.
But because your mindset hasn’t caught up to your ambition.

Enter: "The Pivot Year" by Brianna Wiest.

This isn’t your typical self-help fluff. No “wake up at 5 a.m. and drink celery juice” nonsense. This is raw, real, and brutally reflective.

Wiest lays out 365 daily essays that cut deep — each one like a mini intervention with your higher self. No sugarcoating. Just straight talk about letting go, showing up, and finally doing the damn thing you've been putting off.

If you’re at a crossroads—whether it’s in your business, your relationship, or just your identity as a person who wants more—this book doesn’t pat you on the back.

It kicks you in the soul.

And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.

You placed an ad, and they walked right in—

But how’d they get here, where’d it begin?

They saw, they moved, but didn’t tap.

Yet I can still uncover the map.

What am I?

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