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’ll never forget the look on Sammy’s face.

I pulled up in my brand-new $86,000 car—cash purchase, no loan, no payments. I was strutting into my favorite coffee shop when Sammy, this factory-floor philosopher who once thought he was better than me, stopped me dead in my tracks.

“Hey, are you a drug dealer? Can I buy some drugs?”

He was joking, of course.
But you know the kind of joke that’s not really a joke?
That was one of those.

See, when you’re on your way up, nobody believes in you.
They laugh. They talk behind your back.
And if you’re lucky, they mock you to your face.

When I started building my online business, it wasn’t glamorous.
It was brutal.

Two jobs. Late bills. Borrowed cash. A laptop paid for by selling my only PC. A $100/month mobile hotspot just so I could sneak work hours while “guarding” some empty warehouse overnight.

And English? Don’t even get me started.
Back then, my accent was so thick, you could cut it with a knife.
I couldn’t record a video without sounding like a lost Bond villain.

But none of that hurt as much as the doubt.
Not from strangers—but from the people closest to me.

My girlfriend (now wife)? Didn’t believe.
My dad? Tried to talk me out of it.
My best friend from the Air Force Academy? Ghosted me like I faked my own death.

I was the punchline.
The “he thinks he’s gonna get rich online” joke at family dinners.

And then… the $86K car happened.

Suddenly, the laughter stopped.
Suddenly the “drug dealer” jokes started.

Funny how people don’t know what to do with success when it shows up in front of them.
They don’t believe it’s real—because if you did it, then what the hell’s their excuse?

Here’s the truth most people don’t want to hear:
Every successful person you know? They got dragged through hell first.
If it looks easy, it’s because they’re not telling you the whole story.

So if you’re in the mud right now…
Working two jobs.
Eating last month’s ramen.
Listening to “well-meaning” advice from people who’ve never done what you’re doing…

Keep going.

Because one day, you’ll roll up in your $86K car, and they’ll ask if you’re a drug dealer too.

And you’ll just smile.

Most marketers keep pounding the same traffic platforms…

Meta. Google. TikTok. All saturated. All expensive. All crawling with tire-kickers.

But Tomorrow at 8 PM EST, we’re peeling back the curtain on something different, a low-profile traffic source that smells like the golden days of online marketing.

High intent. Low competition. And shockingly affordable.

You’ll watch us fire up a real campaign, live on the call.

Ever tried to climb a mountain with someone pulling you down by your ankles?

Yeah, that’s what it feels like when you announce you’re going into business for yourself—and your friends, family, and broke cousin Larry all start giving you advice they’re not qualified to give.

Here’s a brutal truth:
Most people don’t want you to succeed.
Not because they hate you.
But because your success reminds them of everything they’re not doing.

That’s why, when you tell your circle you’re ditching the 9-to-5, their reaction usually isn’t, “Go get it, champ!”
It’s more like:

“What are you, crazy? That won’t work!”
“Get a real job. Go into construction!”
“Be realistic.”

Translation: Please don’t change, because if you do, I’ll have to confront the fact that I didn’t.

But here's the kicker…
You don’t need their permission.
You don’t need anyone’s permission to chase your dream.
Not your mom’s. Not your spouse’s. Not your broke coworker who still brags about the same raise he got five years ago.

The best way to shut up your critics?
Ron calls it the “Shut-Up Check.”
Get your first win—no matter how small—and wave that check in their faces.

Now, it’s not about proving them wrong (okay, maybe a little), but more about proving to yourself that you’ve got what it takes.
Confidence doesn’t show up fully formed. It builds with each small win. Each little victory. Each “screw you” to the voice that says, “You can’t.”

Another nugget:
Stop trying to do everything yourself.
You can’t build empires with your bare hands. You need to delegate, automate, and get the hell out of your own way.
That’s not weakness. That’s wisdom.

So, if you’re still stuck waiting for permission, here it is:

Go. Do. Screw up. Win. Repeat.

And don’t forget to keep one hand free…
You’ll need it to wave that Shut-Up Check.

Ever feel like you’re posting non-stop but no one’s buying? In this episode, I sit down with Garin Etcheberry, founder of Lazy Longform and Sixty Second Shows, to dismantle the idea that going viral equals getting paid.

We dive into why viral content kills trust, how to build binge-worthy media that sells, and how to create content that fuels your list, not just your ego. Garin shares wild behind-the-scenes stories from working with Mike Dillard and James Altucher, to helping a Miss Olympia open up about body image.

If you’re ready to stop chasing likes and start building a brand that converts, grab your coffee and hit play.

If you’re already making some money online and wondering why the big leap to seven figures still feels like climbing Mount Everest with a broken sandal—this book is your Sherpa.

Austin Netzley doesn’t mess around with fluffy motivation.
He gets down to brass tacks and shows you what separates the hustling six-figure earners from the seven-figure ballers.

Hint: It’s not just about grinding harder.
It’s about systems, scale, and thinking like a CEO, not a freelancer.

I especially loved how he breaks down the exact mindset shifts and strategic pivots that allowed him (and many of his clients) to multiply income without multiplying hours.

This is a slap-in-the-face kind of read—in a good way.
It’ll make you rethink the way you’re running your business and expose every bottleneck you didn’t even know was there.

Bottom line?
If you’ve already built the engine, this book shows you how to bolt on the nitrous.

In markets and auctions, I come and go,

Your price goes high, mine stays low.

The better you know me, the more you earn.

Ignore me, and your money won’t return.

What am I?

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