Justin Welsh

I left the rat race 24 months ago.

My secret sauce is less ambition.

I don't:

- want to change the world.
- want to build the next unicorn.
- want to be featured on any lists.
- want to get the highest valuation.

Instead:

- I want to spend my time working on things I enjoy with people I enjoy.
- I want to be able to travel wherever I want to, whenever I want to.
- I want to spend way more time with my friends and family.
- I want to stop doing things I don't like doing.

Thinking about what you actually want in life can force different behavior.

Take you down a different path.

A path towards living more intentionally.

Are you copying someone else's life?

Or designing your own?

✌🏻

1,012 tech companies have laid off workers in 2023.

21,000 Meta employees - cut.

12,000 Google employees - gone.

The “safe“ job might not be as safe as you think it is.

And some people are pissed off.

But behind the anger, there's a bigger opportunity.

An opportunity to prepare.

Because when profit is down, shareholders are panicked, and board members are upset, layoffs are the next thing coming.

One moment you're a valuable piece of the “family“, and then suddenly you aren't.

That sucks.

No matter how loved you feel, no matter how close you are to your boss, no matter how much they rolled out the red carpet...in the end?

It's a math decision.

You're a number on a spreadsheet.

I've been there.

Is it fair? Maybe not.
Is it true? 100%

The earlier you realize this in your career, the better off you are.

So start future-proofing yourself.

If you're fortunate enough to be employed, start building out your online brand, share your thoughts & learnings, and engage with other talented people.

Create small side hustles and projects.

Network like crazy. Make yourself impossible to forget.

Become synonymous with something that can generate a little income should you need it. Anything.

If you've been let go from your job, don't put the “Open for Work“ badge on your profile.

Instead, go create something:

- Attention
- Content
- Software
- A newsletter
- A blog
- Audio
- Video

Whatever. Just create!

Don't tell people you're open for work. SHOW them you're worth working with.

Stand out.
Make noise.
Be different.
Be in as many places as you can be.

And when you get hired again, please don't stop.

Always have a plan B.

Always be prepared.

Here’s 2 ways to start: https://lnkd.in/eGzFY6Tg

You can lose the job.
Lose the business.
Lose the money.

But you *cannot* afford to lose yourself.

So why do so many people ignore the one thing they'll live with forever?

Themselves.

I see people do it all the time:

They'll spend 10 hours grinding at work.
Zero minutes asking, "Who am I becoming?"

Plan their weeks down to the minute.
Haven't thought about their life in years.

That was 2018 me.

I thought "winning" meant optimizing everything around me:

- The ideal productivity system
- The perfect morning routine
- Bigger title, more money
- Crazy company growth

Meanwhile, I wasn't living my life mission.

That's when it hit me:

The only asset that matters is the person you become.

So I started treating myself like the #1 project that matters.

My whole life changed after that.

Most people invest in everything except themselves.

They'll drop $5k on a watch but won't spend $50 for self-improvement.

That's backward.

Start with you.
Everything else follows.

Interested in following a similar path?

I documented everything I learned quitting my job in 2019, then going from $0 to eight-figures in 6 years.

(without losing myself in the process)

It's a 100% free read.
↓
https://buff.ly/taCFAUc

Is today the day you go all in on yourself?

77% of the world can't afford my products.

I think that sucks.

So, I finally changed that today.

This morning I introduced Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) on my website.

That means, that when you come to my website from outside of the US, you'll be automatically offered a coupon that helps the price make more sense given your local currency.

Some examples:

India: 60% discount
Brazil: 50% discount
Colombia: 50% discount
South Africa: 50% discount
Uruguay: 40% discount
Croatia: 40% discount
Greece: 30% discount
Spain: 20% discount

The system isn't perfect.

It won't help every single person.

But it's a good start.

And this is aligned with my mission of providing accessible products to everyone who wants to grow their audience and business online.

Regardless of where they live.

I hope that this is one of many small steps toward democratizing access to information.

Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/eVcVEhQa

The ultimate career hack:

Build the company you want to work for.

There's a solopreneur movement right now.

And for good reason.

Think about it:

The majority of people I know wish for:

- A boss who values their ideas
- Work that aligns with their passions
- A schedule that fits their personal life

Why wait for someone else to create that for you?

You have the power to build your ideal workplace.

It is *not* easy.
It will likely take years of hard work.

But is it worth it? Hell yes.

Because at the end of the day, no one will invest in you more than you'll invest in you.

Want to take the first step to building your own business or side hustle here on LinkedIn?

Get started here: https://lnkd.in/e5JPZTHm

Remember:

Your dream job isn't out there.

It's within you.

Energy doesn't lie.

Listen to it.

When something is right for you, it will give you energy.

That's how you know.

Not because it's easy.
Not because it's comfortable.

But because it lights you up!

Most people ignore this.

They chase things that drain them.

The job that pays well but kills their soul...
The project that looks good but feels heavy...

And they wonder why they're exhausted.

Energy is the signal.

When I started writing online, it gave me energy.

Not because it was easy. It wasn't.
Not because I was good at it. I wasn't.

But it felt right.

Every piece of content, even the bad ones, made me want to write the next one.

That's how I knew.

Compare that to corporate.

Every email felt heavy.
Every meeting drained me.
Every project took more than it gave.

Same effort.
Different energy.

One was right for me. One wasn't.

If you're doing work that drains you, maybe it's not your work.

If you're ready to build something that gives you energy instead of taking it, 45,000+ students (including 200+ LinkedIn Top Voices) used the LinkedIn Operating System to find work that feels right, talk about it, and grow an audience that cares about it.

You can watch it here: https://buff.ly/soidgrf

Energy doesn't lie.

Follow it.

True wealth isn't in your wallet.

It's the time you spend living life.

I've downgraded my life several times:

Fewer possessions.
Simpler business.
Easier routine.

Each subtraction added more luxury.

What I gained:

- Days with room to think.
- Time to think without interruption.
- Sleep that actually feels like sleep.
- The ability to be present with my wife.

But, we're sold the opposite:

More meetings, faster responses, constant updates, bigger everything.

But here's the thing:

I might make less money when I create less content.

I might miss “opportunities“ when I don't respond to DMs.

I might fall behind the new trends when I read books, not feeds.

But I don't care.

I'm not interested in being busy and important.

I want the freedom *not* to be.

What small thing could you subtract today to add a little luxury to your life?

Delete it.

The real flex?

Being yourself.

Most people build for the image.

The likes.
The followers.
The validation.

They post what sounds impressive.
They share what looks good.
They hide what's real.

But here's what I learned:

Authenticity is the only competitive advantage that can't be copied.

When you're real, people trust you.
When you're honest, people connect with you.
When you're yourself, people buy from you.

I stopped trying to sound like everyone else at 38.

Started writing like I talk.
Sharing what I actually think.
Building in public with all the messy parts.

That's what grew my audience to 800K.

Not by being impressive.

By being real.

The flex isn't the image you project.

It's the courage to be yourself when it's easier to fake it.

That's the foundation of everything I teach.

The Creator MBA shows you how to turn who you actually are into a business people truly want to buy from.

111 lessons on building an authentic brand that attracts, connects, and converts.

It's how I turned my experience, expertise, and personality into an 8-figure business.

Zero fakeness required.

It's 75% off for early Black Friday: https://buff.ly/JZMm8gU

(ending soon)

Be yourself.
Build from there.

Every big change in my life started the same way —

I was afraid.

Quitting my job? Terrifying.
Moving to the mountains? Uncomfortable.
Starting my business? Felt impossible.

But fear shouldn't be a stop sign.

Think of it as an arrow.

The phone call you don’t want to make.
The idea that won’t leave you alone.
The move that feels risky.

They’re not obstacles.
They’re invitations.

So, I try and follow a simple rule:

If something makes me nervous, I try my best to lean in.

Not because I like fear. I don't.

But because I know what’s on the other side — something great.

What you resist gets bigger.
What you confront gets smaller.

What's scaring you right now?

Maybe that's exactly where you need to go next.

Your words build a prison or a palace.

It's your choice.

People spend years telling themselves:

"I'm stuck."
"I'm exhausted."
"I can't figure it out."

Guess what happens?

They stay stuck, exhausted, and confused.

Words aren't just words.
They're blueprints.

Every "I'm tired" reinforces fatigue.
Every "I can't figure it out" keeps you stuck.
Every "I'm not good enough" proves itself right.

Change your vocabulary and you'll change your life.

Start saying:

"I'm learning."
"I'm building."
"I'm growing."

It might feel fake at first.

But your brain will start looking for evidence to support your new story.

You'll find opportunities instead of obstacles.
Lessons instead of losses.
Progress instead of problems.

Your reality follows your words.

Change your words.
Change your world.

If you want to change your story from "stuck employee" to "successful entrepreneur," consider watching my masterclass.

The Creator MBA will teach you everything you need to know about building your first online business.

- Choosing a profitable niche
- Standing out amongst competitors
- Marketing that brings in attention
- The right offer to make
- How to convert lookers to buyers
- And how to scale up when ready...

From "I can't" to "I'm an entrepreneur."

Start your new story here: https://buff.ly/GwdMMLj

Nobody's going to give you permission to change your life.

Stop asking for it.

Your family will tell you no.
Your friends will tell you no.
The corporate machine will tell you no.

Go build it anyway.

They're not protecting you.
They're protecting *their* worldview.

Your freedom questions their choices.
Your success challenges their lifestyle.
Your happiness threatens their excuses.

I asked for permission for years.

Got answers like:

"Too risky."
"Be realistic."
"What about security?"

I finally stopped asking and started building.

Now those same people are asking me for advice.

Funny how that works.

The life you want is waiting.
But it requires disappointing some people.

Starting with the version of you that needs approval.

Build first.
And don't apologize for trying.

The fastest way to stop asking for permission is to grow your own valuable audience online.

There's no better way to start.

Here's my playbook from 2,000 to 800,000 here on LinkedIn: https://buff.ly/BhszdAa

Permission is for employees.

Creators...we just build.

I used to spend 3-4 hours in meetings.

Now I write for 3-4 hours per day.

And I reach an audience of 1.4M.

Same time investment.
Completely different outcome.

Most people think the problem is "too much work."

It's not. It's the wrong kind of work.

Corporate work scales linearly:

→ More clients = more meetings
→ More revenue = more reports
→ More success = more pointless calls

LinkedIn work compounds:

→ One post reaches thousands
→ One framework sells for years
→ One system runs while you sleep

When I quit my corporate job, I didn't work less.

I just stopped doing work that meant less.

After helping 45,000+ people (including 200+ LinkedIn Top Voices) make this same shift (use the playbook → https://buff.ly/8weY0jL), here's what I've learned:

The people who complain about "hustle culture" are usually grinding the hardest.

They're just grinding on work that doesn't compound.

If your work disappears when you stop doing it, you're renting your results.

The goal isn't to work less. It's to build assets instead of completing tasks.

Your dream doesn't die all at once.

It dies slowly.

One day, you'll realize that your dream died because you chose comfort over effort.

Don't let that regret haunt you forever.

Most dreams don't die from failure.

They die from inaction.

From "I'll start next year."
From "I'm not ready yet."
From "Maybe when things settle down."

But things never settle down.

And one day you wake up and realize the dream is gone.

Not because you tried and failed.
But because you never tried at all.

That's the regret that stays with you.

I almost let it happen.

I spent years in corporate telling myself "someday."

Someday I'll start that business.
Someday I'll build something mine.
Someday I'll take the risk.

But someday never comes unless you make it today.

So I started posting on LinkedIn.

Scared.
Uncertain.
Unprepared.

But I started.

And that decision changed everything.

If you're tired of choosing comfort over your dream, 45,000+ students (including 200+ LinkedIn Top Voices) used the LinkedIn Operating System to finally start.

Grab it here: https://buff.ly/soidgrf

Your dream is waiting.

Stop choosing comfort.

People are surprised I’m an entrepreneur.

“Did you get your MBA?“ No.
“Do you live in the Bay Area?“ No.
“We're your parents entrepreneurs?“ No.

I read a few books.
Watched some YouTube.
And just...got started...

There's no magic class that makes you an entrepreneur.

It's about learning how to teach yourself daily.

I've noticed this pattern repeatedly:

Those who wait for instructions stay stuck.

Those who figure out how to learn keep advancing.

This isn't just about business.

It applies to your hobbies, creative pursuits, relationships, etc.

School teaches facts but misses teaching how to learn.

That's why a lot of straight-A students struggle when structure disappears.

When you master self-learning, the world opens up.

You stop needing permission to grow.

The most useful skill isn't on your LinkedIn profile or resume.

It's your ability to sit with confusion, work through it, and teach yourself what nobody else can.

What have you taught yourself lately?

--

If you enjoyed this, learn how, simply by writing, I've amassed 700K+ followers and 375.6M impressions on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/eh9pVVuf

The most successful people I know are a bit nutty.

They believe they can build anything.
They know their weird idea will work.
They think they'll compete with $1B+ companies...

Everyone else calls them crazy.

"That market is already too crowded."
"You need experience in that industry first."
"You can't start a business without funding."

But here's the thing about "crazy" people:

They don't listen to the noise.

They start anyway.
They build anyway.
They work anyway.

While rational people are making spreadsheets and conducting market research, crazy people are already selling their first product.

The business world needs more delusional optimists.

People who know they can win.
Who believe their voice matters.
Who are willing to look silly while building.

Every major company started with someone who was "crazy enough" to think they could do it better.

It all started with people who ignored the experts telling them it wouldn't work.

Your "crazy" idea might be exactly what the world needs.

Stop listening to reasonable people giving you reasonable advice.

Start building something unreasonable.

Ready to turn your "crazy" idea into a profitable business?

I've helped 45,000+ people start talking about and marketing their ideas right here on LinkedIn.

(inlcuding 200+ LinkedIn Top Voices)

Here's the entire playbook: https://buff.ly/ALO2j0P

Once you watch it, go promote that new idea and see what happens.

Slow progress beats no progress.

Every time.

Most people quit right before it works.

They post for 30 days. No traction.
They build for 90 days. No revenue.
They show up for 6 months. Nothing.

So they stop.

And they never know how close they were.

Because results don't show up on schedule.

They show up after consistency.

I posted on LinkedIn for 8 months before anything happened.

8 months of doubt.
8 months of crickets.
8 months of "will this work?"

Then it clicked.

Not overnight. Not all at once.

But it happened.

And it only happened because I didn't quit.

The people who succeed aren't the most talented.

They're the ones who stayed in the game long enough to win.

If you're ready to understand how to use data and analytics to grow on LinkedIn, join 45,000+ students (including 200+ LinkedIn Top Voices) inside of the LinkedIn Operating System to shortcut the game and (finally) grow.

Start here: https://buff.ly/8weY0jL

It won't happen overnight.

But it will happen if you follow this plan.

85% of what you're doing is pointless.

I know because I was doing it too.

All the meetings.
All the networking.
All the "opportunities."

I was busy as hell, going nowhere fast.

Then I realized something:

Most of my effort was producing zero results.

So I cut everything that didn't directly build my business.

No more meetings.
No more "quick calls."
No more chasing shiny objects.

Just four things:

1. Writing daily
2. Publishing on LinkedIn
3. Building products people wanted
4. Spending one hour a day helping people

Every single day.

For six years.

That's when this business changed.

Not because I worked harder. I didn't

Because I stopped wasting time on stuff that didn't matter.

The truth is that being busy feels productive.

But only focus creates results.

Do what I did.

Write and publish content, listen to your audience, build products and help people.

Here's the system I use to write and publish: https://buff.ly/8weY0jL

45,000+ students (including 200+ LinkedIn Top Voices) use it too.

So, cut the 85%...

And double down on what works.

You don't owe your employer your loyalty.

Harsh? Maybe.

But every layoff is a reminder that loyalty often flows in one direction.

Up.

Not down.

Companies are built by people, but managed on spreadsheets.

It's not personal.
It's business.

So why do you keep treating your career like it's personal?

Your security doesn't come from your employer.

It comes from your ability to create value anywhere.

That's why I started building my own brand and business while I still had a job.

Not because I was unhappy. I loved the company!
But because I knew the company didn't owe me tomorrow.

So I built skills that made me valuable everywhere:

Writing.
Marketing.
Creating products.
Building an audience.

Skills nobody could take away.

When I finally left, I didn't need permission.
I didn't need a safety net.
I had options.

That's absolute security.

If you're ready to build skills that make you valuable anywhere, 45,000+ students (including 200+ LinkedIn Top Voices) used the LinkedIn Operating System to start building their own security: https://buff.ly/ALO2j0P

Remember:

Your security comes from your ability, not your employer.

When someone says: “She's a good closer“

Here's what they really mean:

- “She sets a great agenda“
- “She does in-depth discovery“
- “She uses a strong upfront contract“
- “She maps solutions back to customer pain“
- “She talks through potential obstacles“
- “She gets multiple stakeholder buy-in“
- “She sets appropriate expectations“
- “She walks through implementation“
- “She positions the right pricing package“
- “She shows them how to purchase“
- “She asks them to move forward“

“Closing“ isn't a thing.

It's an aggregation of many things done extremely well.

✌🏻

Your success isn't measured by the square footage of your house.

Or the car you drive.
Or the watch you wear.
Or the zip code you live in.

The most fulfilled people I know?

They're building businesses that serve their lives, not consume them.

3-4 hours of focused work daily.

The rest? Actually living.

No more:

• 60-hour weeks
• Missing family dinners
• Trading time for money
• Asking other people for permission

Just the freedom to design your days.

Want to build a business that fits your life (and not the other way around)?

I've helped 5,000+ entrepreneurs do exactly that inside The Creator MBA.

You'll learn:

→ How to pick the right business model
→ Systems to work less, earn more
→ Ways to automate everything
→ My exact tools and templates

Stop building someone else's vision...
Start building your freedom.

Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ewfient9

The ultimate career hack:

Build the company you want to work for.

There's a solopreneur movement right now.

And for good reason.

Think about it:

The majority of people I know wish for:

- A boss who values their ideas
- Work that aligns with their passions
- A schedule that fits their personal life

Why wait for someone else to create that for you?

You have the power to build your ideal workplace.

It is *not* easy.
It will likely take years of hard work.

But is it worth it? Hell yes.

Because at the end of the day, no one will invest in you more than you'll invest in you.

Want to take the first step to building your own business or side hustle here on LinkedIn?

Here's your playbook: https://lnkd.in/eh9pVVuf

Your dream job isn't out there.
It's within you.

Most people sabotage their own business.

Not with bad work.
Not with poor strategy.
Not with weak execution.

But with their mouth.

They talk about their struggles:

To friends
To family
To customers
To anyone who'll listen

Here's the hard truth about how business really works:

80% of people don't care about your problems.
20% are secretly happy you have them.

I learned this in 2017:
$20K invested.
6 months wasted.
Nearly quit.

Why?

Because I focused on the wrong things:

- Complaining about challenges
- Making excuses
- Seeking sympathy

Successful people build differently:

They work in silence.
They share victories.
They attract winners.

Most people get stuck in this cycle:

Start excited → Hit obstacles → Share struggles → Lose momentum → Repeat

They never learn how to build properly.

That's exactly why I created The Creator MBA.

5,000+ entrepreneurs have learned:

- Automated growth systems
- A proven business framework
- How to build profitable momentum

No fluff.
No theory.

Just the blueprint I used to build multiple 7-figure businesses.

Ready to build differently?

Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gBnHYrjW

Less talking.
More building.

Most people dream about an idea.

Almost nobody executes.

It's easy to:

• Pitch your concept to anyone who'll listen
• Seek a bunch of feedback before starting
• Get stuck in perpetual preparation mode

The outcome?

Your idea becomes just another story.

The best entrepreneurs I've met:

• Guard their ideas carefully
• Take an immediate first action
• Build their knowledge through doing

Here's the truth:

Execution beats ideation every single time.

The world pays for what you deliver, not what you discuss.

More action.
Less noise.

Ready to execute?

I created a blueprint covering the 23 exact steps I used to scale from zero to 8-figures in revenue in 5.5 years.

Read it free: https://buff.ly/HB22lcX

I overthought my first 100 posts.

Edited them to death.
Spent hours on each one.
Waited for the "perfect" moment to publish.

Most of them flopped anyway.

Then I started posting faster.

Rougher drafts.
Less editing.
Just hit publish and see what happens.

Those posts did better.

Turns out nobody cared about the stuff I was obsessing over.

They cared whether the idea landed.

Overthinking feels like effort.
But it's usually just fear.

You can't think your way to good content.
You have to publish your way there.

The feedback is in the arena, not in your drafts folder.

If you've been stuck tweaking instead of posting, stop.

I put together a free 2026 LinkedIn Growth Guide to take the guesswork out of it.

Just follow the playbook.

It's everything I learned going from 2,000 to 820,000 followers.

You'll get it when you join my weekly newsletter for 180K+ entrepreneurs.

Get it here → https://buff.ly/44xK67t

Money isn't the goal.

It's the exit strategy.

Exit from meetings that waste your time.
Exit from bosses who don't value you.
Exit from work that drains your soul.

Most people get this backwards.

They chase money for money's sake.

I'm not here to judge, but you can use it differently.

Money can be permission to say NO.

No to toxic clients.
No to Sunday scaries.
No to anything that doesn't align with your values.

I didn't build a business to buy things.

I built it to buy options.

The option to walk away.
The option to choose better.
The option to live on my terms.

When you can walk out of any room, any deal, any situation...

That's leverage.

Not the balance in your account.
But the freedom to use it as your escape route.

Make money.
Not to impress people.
But to never be impressed by the wrong opportunities again.

Want to build your own exit strategy?

I've shown 175,000+ people how to create income that gives them options.

Every Saturday, I share the exact strategies that took me from trapped employee to free entrepreneur.

Join us: justinwelsh.me

Your exit is waiting.

People think they need a business plan.

They don't.

People think they need permission to pivot their career.

They don't.

People think they need approval to build something new.

They don't.

The biggest lie we tell ourselves?

“I need to wait for the right moment.“
“I need someone to tell me it's okay.“
“I need more experience first.“

Here's the truth:

You already have everything you need to start.

The work isn't waiting for permission.
The work is doing the thing.

How many people do you know who spend months planning instead of building?

How many people ask everyone else what they should do instead of just trying?

The most successful business owners I know didn't wait.

They started messy.
They figured it out along the way.
They gave themselves permission to begin.

Your competition isn't other people.

It's your own hesitation.

Stop asking if you can.
Start doing what you want.

You can borrow my entire playbook, which I've built over the last six years.

Watch it here: https://lnkd.in/gBnHYrjW

Image credit: tiffinikilgore (Instagram)

I've deliberately kept my business tiny —

Just me.

Because business isn't about scaling to infinity.

It's about designing a life you don't need to escape from.

I work focused hours, then close my laptop.

No investor calls.
No endless meetings.
No managing other people.

When people say, “You could 5x your business if you just do XYZ!“

I smile and say, “No, thanks.“

Why?

Because I've seen what happens when companies collapse under their own complexity.

It becomes about managing problems rather than doing what you love.

I've been there and done that.

Most people lose control of their business trying to impress others.

That's backward.

Keep it small.
Keep margins high.

Define what a wonderful life means for you — freedom to travel, pick up your kids, take Tuesdays off — then design your business to support that.

Your business is just a tool, not your life's purpose.
You're the architect.

Ask yourself:

“Is my business supporting my priorities or getting in the way?“

If it's destroying more than serving, redesign it.

You get one life.

Your business should improve it.

This is an excerpt from my essay, “Business should serve your life, not consume it.“

You can read the full 2-minute essay here: https://lnkd.in/es3S6tE9

99.9% of people have the “next big thing.“

0.1% actually build it.

It's addicting to:

• Talk endlessly about your idea
• Find validation before taking action
• Never move past the planning stage

The result?
The idea dies in conversation.

Real entrepreneurs:

• Keep ideas close
• Act on the first step
• Learn from taking action

Remember:

Ideas are worthless without execution.
The market rewards results, not intentions.

Less talking.
More building.

Want to build together?

Try my $1,000 New Business Challenge.

21 days.
21 small actions.
Free to participate.

8,000+ people have already enrolled.

Join today: https://lnkd.in/eN5XWs8F

One small action each day.
That's how you start building.

People think they need a business plan.

They don't.

People think they need permission to pivot their career.

They don't.

People think they need approval to build something new.

They don't.

The biggest lie we tell ourselves?

"I need to wait for the right moment."
"I need someone to tell me it's okay."
"I need more experience first."

Here's the truth:

You already have everything you need to start.

The work isn't waiting for permission.
The work is doing the thing.

How many people do you know who spend months planning instead of building?

How many people ask everyone else what they should do instead of just trying?

The most successful business owners I know didn't wait.

They started messy.
They figured it out along the way.
They gave themselves permission to begin.

If you don't know how to start, watch my 111-lesson playbook for building a profitable online business.

It's a behind-the-scenes look at building an online business (and audience) from scratch: https://buff.ly/2PQ6znM

Watch it, execute the plan, and see what happens.

Image credit: tiffinikilgore (Instagram)

Only foolish people dismiss hard work as "luck."

"They're lucky they can work from home."
"They're lucky their business took off."
"They're lucky they have that lifestyle."

Luck?

Behind every "overnight success" is years of work.

Pitching dozens of clients before landing the first one.

Failing at multiple business ideas before finding one that works.

Learning how to market, sell, and deliver value to people.

Reinvesting every dollar back into growing instead of buying stuff.

That's not luck.
That's called persistence.

Most people see the result, not the process.

Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.

And you create your own luck by showing up consistently, learning from failures, and pushing on when things get hard.

The only difference between people who "get lucky" and people who don't?

The lucky ones keep going when everyone else gives up.

I documented the exact 23 steps I took from failure to freedom.

No fluff.
No theory.
Just what actually worked.

Get the blueprint free: https://buff.ly/taCFAUc

Persistence beats luck every single time.

Image credit: impossibleachievers

The modern world wants us hooked.

Notifications that never end.
Meetings that steal our focus.
Social media that drains our energy.
Endless hustle culture that robs our peace.

But here's what I've learned:

True wealth isn't a number in your bank account.

It's having the freedom to:

• Think without interruption
• Rest without feeling guilty
• Move at your own pace
• Live life on your terms

The rat race promises success but delivers burnout.

Breaking free means choosing a different path.

Building something that serves you, not drains you.

That's why I created The Creator MBA.

It's helped 5,000+ people build businesses that prioritize freedom over hustle.

Inside, you'll learn how to:

→ Build a personal brand that attracts opportunities
→ Launch products people actually want to buy
→ Generate consistent monthly revenue
→ Create automated systems to run it all

Ready to redefine your relationship with work?

Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ebaNJrie

It's easy to confuse motion for progress.

“Rocking Horse Syndrome“

When it feels like you're moving forward but in reality, you're going nowhere.

Running in circles may burn calories but won't win races.

The same holds for work — direction matters.

So, start by establishing your goals.

What are you actually trying to accomplish?

Once you know, each task becomes a meaningful step, not just some random item crossed off on a to-do list.

If you're going to hustle, make sure it's aligned with your vision.

So, swap randomness for intention.

Here’s how: https://lnkd.in/en59u2R6

Follow this plan and watch your hard work transform into significant gains.

Back in 2015, I thought success meant grinding my butt off.

Working late became my brand.
Every meeting felt important.
Every opportunity seemed urgent.

But success isn't about building a life that impresses other people.

It's about building one that energizes you.

Morning coffee I actually taste instead of gulp down while checking emails.

Conversations that give me energy instead of draining it.

Evenings that recharge me instead of blur into scrolling.

The compound effect of all this isn't just about money.

It's about how your daily choices add up to the life you're actually living.

Most people optimize for metrics that don't matter:

Hours worked, emails sent, and meetings attended.

But your energy? It's finite.
Your attention? Precious.
Your time? Irreplaceable.

I've spent the last 5.5 years studying people who built businesses around how they want to feel, not just how they want to look.

The difference?

They treat their energy like their most valuable asset.

They design days that make them excited to wake up.

If you're ready to stop grinding and start designing, I documented everything I've learned going from $0 to 8-figures in 5.5 years (without sacrificing my life).

It's a completely free read here.
↓
https://lnkd.in/eABypvdg

I noticed something funny about decision-making.

When I'm agitated?

Every option seems important and urgent.

I quickly jump between choices, convinced each one could be the best or worst decision of my life.

But when I deliberately slow down and take a walk, sit quietly, sleep on it...

The noise fades.
The unimportant falls away.
The complicated becomes simple.
The options reduce to two or three.

That shift from complete chaos to clarity?

It's exactly what happened when I started building my writing practice.

Instead of frantically posting every idea, I learned to pause, reflect, and share only what truly mattered.

That patience transformed scattered thoughts in my brain into content that resonated with 800K+ people and generated 84.7M+ monthly impressions.

(You can see how I built this approach here: https://buff.ly/soidgrf)

The calmer I am, the more clearly I can see what matters and what doesn't.

This works for everything:

Business decisions, creative problems, and even relationship issues.

So, next time you're stuck or overwhelmed, try this experiment: Wait.

Do nothing for a day.
Let your mind settle.
Then decide.

Don't be fooled by the feeling that urgency equals importance.

Often, it's the opposite.

The best decisions come from a quiet mind.

Image credit: pathsofstoicism

I'm convinced: You'll never work for a better company than the one you build.

When you build your own business?

1. You get to play every role.
2. You build an insane amount of skills.
3. You're forced to take responsibility for all.
4. You can put your family and loved ones first.

Is it extremely difficult? Hell yes.

Will every day be sunshine and rainbows? Hell no.

In fact, it will be challenging, frustrating, difficult, and painful.

But, man, is it meaningful.

And at the end of the day, you'll have the only boss in the universe that has your best interest in mind 100% of the time.

YOU.

It feels like it's just one decision.

But, really, it's the start of a whole new life.

If you want to start building something for YOU, I put together a free 30-day system to help.

It's called The Expert OS.

One short video per day. All of my templates, sequences, pages, and AI prompts.

Everything you need to have paying customers in 30 days.

Start day 1 → https://buff.ly/1c87Alu

I stopped chasing more.

It changed everything for me.

We're told bigger is better.

More money, more stuff, more followers.

But what if that assumption is wrong?

I've discovered that “enough“ isn't a finish line you cross someday.

It's a decision you make today.

When you declare “enough,“ three things happen:

Your decisions get simpler.
Your focus gets sharper.
Your happiness expands.

Most successful people I know aren't trying to upgrade their lifestyles anymore.

They're downgrading commitments that don't matter.

They're saying no to distractions.

They're protecting their time like the finite resource it is.

The greatest wealth is having enough without needing more.

Ready to build a business around your definition of enough?

Check out The Creator MBA.

It's the blueprint I wish I'd had for creating a profitable business that serves your life, not one that consumes it.

Everything I've learned building a multi-seven-figure online business over 6 years, packaged neatly into 100+ lessons.

Watch it here: https://lnkd.in/gBnHYrjW

You think you're playing it safe.

You're not.

The longer you avoid risk, the riskier your life becomes.

Think about it:

The "safe" job that makes you irrelevant.
The business you don't start.
The post you don't publish.

Every day you play it safe, the world moves without you.

Your skills get stale.
Your ideas stay hidden.
Your network stays small.

Then one day, you realize the "safe" choice was the riskiest thing you've ever done.

I see this with people who want to build online but never start.

They wait to feel credible.
They wait for more to say.
They wait for the perfect post.

Meanwhile, people with half their experience are building audiences and creating opportunities.

The risk isn't publishing and failing.

The risk is staying invisible.

I took the risk six years ago.
Started posting with no idea what I was doing.

It felt uncomfortable.

But staying quiet? That was actually risky.

If you're ready to start building visibility, the LinkedIn Operating System gives you the exact playbook.

45,000+ students, including over 200 LinkedIn Top Voices, used it to go from undiscovered to growing and monetizing their LinkedIn: https://buff.ly/ALO2j0P

Remember:

The riskiest thing you can do is never start.

Your past doesn't define your future.

The best entrepreneurs?

They know how to turn setbacks into fuel.

You can't control what life throws at you.

But you can control:

• How you build from it
• How you grow through it 
• How your business reflects it

The hardest work isn't running from your past.
It's choosing to face it head-on.

And using it to help others who are where you once were.

That's what separates average from exceptional.

That's what turns struggle into strength.

Want to turn your experience into a thriving one-person business?

I recorded 10+ hours of behind-the-scenes business building to show you how.

It's called The Creator MBA.

It's helped 5,000+ people transform their struggles into success stories.

No fancy tech.
No massive team.
No venture funding.

Just you, your experience, and a proven system for turning it into income.

Ready to write your next chapter?

Start here: https://lnkd.in/gBnHYrjW

Your transformation awaits.

Your life will change when you finally learn how to stop.

Most of us keep chasing more in business and life without asking “why?“

More staff.
More stress.
More clients.
More revenue.

But what if “enough“ is actually the goal?

What if a healthy business and healthy mental state is the ultimate flex?

I've watched friends build empires they can't enjoy because they're too busy defending them.

I've seen people work 80-hour weeks for years to buy freedom they'll never use.

Here's my rule:

Define “enough“ before you start.

Enough money to live well.
Enough time to enjoy your life.
Enough work to stay engaged.

When you hit “enough,“ stop and celebrate.

That's not settling.

That's winning a game you love playing.

I wrote for 6 months before anyone cared.

A few "likes" and zero comments.

Absolutely no proof that it was working.

I kept going anyway because I thought it would work.

Believed it could.

That's the part nobody talks about.

Everyone wants proof first.

"Show me it works, then I'll commit."
"Show me results, then I'll believe."

That's completely backward.

You act because you believe.
Then the proof follows.

Most people wait instead.

Wait for permission.
Wait for the perfect moment.
Wait for someone to say, "You're ready."

Nobody is coming.

Not your boss.
Not your network.
Not some perfect opportunity.

You have to save yourself.

I started at 38 with zero followers and zero proof.

Just the discipline to find out what was possible.

Six years (and one successful business) later, I know the answer.

Want to go on the same journey?
The journey of finally sharing your expertise here?

I put together my 2026 LinkedIn Growth Guide to help kickstart that journey.

You'll learn:

- How to go from "nobody's listening" to "I see you everywhere."

- The exact strategy that built 815,000 followers starting at 38, with zero audience.

- How to go from months of silence to an asset that actually pays you.

Get it free when you join 180,000+ entrepreneurs in my newsletter: https://buff.ly/3TnoEsD

The truth about building in public:

• Most people won't understand how you work.
• They won't get why you're sharing.
• They won't support your business dreams.

But here's what successful people know:

• The opinions that matter are from the people doing the work.
• The ones who are building their own paths.
• The ones who understand the journey.

Everyone else?

They're spectators.
Commenting from the sidelines.
Waiting to see how your story ends.

Your job isn't to convince them.
Your job is to keep building.
Keep sharing.
Keep growing.

Because one day, they'll call your overnight success a “10-year journey.“

And you'll know the truth.

Come start your journey in The Creator MBA.

Over 5,000 entrepreneurs have joined to build businesses their way.

Inside, you'll find:

→ 14 chapters of real strategies I've used
→ 111 lessons on actually doing the work
→ My LinkedIn revenue growth systems
→ My Notion setup for running everything

Stop waiting for permission from other people.

Start building a new future.

Watch here: https://lnkd.in/gBnHYrjW

I've been thinking about money lately.

Not making it.

Spending it.

Specifically, how we spend money just to *look* like we belong.

The expensive handbag for work.
The co-working space you never use.
The networking events that go nowhere.
The drinks and food after work with co-workers.

Most people never calculate what their job actually costs them.

The wardrobe.
The commute.
The lunches.
The "looking the part" tax.

And when they finally escape corporate?

They bring the same trap with them.

New expenses.
Same mindset.

"I need this tool."
"I need this membership."
"I need to look legitimate."

But here's what I learned after 6 years of working for myself:

The people who fail aren't the ones with bad marketing.

They're the ones who spend money they haven't made yet on things they think they need to look successful.

In tomorrow's newsletter, I'm breaking down the real cost of "looking the part."

Including the moment I realized I was burning money just to feel legitimate.

And what happened when I cut it all.

Join free to read it → justinwelsh.me

The most expensive part of any job is the stuff you don't need.

Time to add it up.

The irony is brutal.

And nobody talks about it.

People are so afraid of failure that they never start.

But never starting is the only form of failure there is.

You can't fail at something you're actually doing.

You can learn.
You can adjust.
You can improve.

But you can't fail.

Failure only exists in inaction.

I see this constantly with people who want to build an audience and business.

They're terrified of:

- Being judged
- Looking stupid
- Getting no engagement
- Posting something "wrong"

So they don't do anything at all.

And that's the actual failure.

Not crickets.
Not a bad post.
Not low engagement.

The failure is staying silent while opportunities pass you by.

I wrote terribly for months when I started.

Cringe-worthy takes.

But I kept going.

And eventually, those posts turned into an audience.
That audience turned into a business.
That business changed my life.

None of that happens if I'm too afraid to start.

If you're ready to stop failing by never starting, 45,000+ students (including 200+ LinkedIn Top Voices) used the LinkedIn Operating System to finally take action.

Watch it now: https://buff.ly/8weY0jL

The only real failure is never beginning.

If your great career means a terrible personal life, you're hustling in reverse.

✌🏻

Only foolish people dismiss hard work as “luck.“

“They're lucky they can work from home.“
“They're lucky their business took off.“
“They're lucky they have that lifestyle.“

Luck?

Behind every “overnight success“ is years of work.

Pitching dozens of clients before landing the first one.

Failing at multiple business ideas before finding one that works.

Learning how to market, sell, and deliver value to people.

Reinvesting every dollar back into growing instead of buying stuff.

That's not luck.
That's called persistence.

Most people see the result, not the process.

Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.

And you create your own luck by showing up consistently, learning from failures, and pushing on when things get hard.

The only difference between people who “get lucky“ and people who don't?

The lucky ones keep going when everyone else gives up.

Ready to create your own business luck?

Here's a guide I wrote that breaks down how I built mine from $0 to 8-figures in 5.5 years.

Read it free: https://lnkd.in/ecdsCRDm

Image credit: impossibleachievers

Being magnificently delusional might be your greatest asset.

Here's what I mean:

Every creator entrepreneur who made it started with an "unrealistic" vision.

They believed they could:

- Build an audience from zero
- Create products people would buy
- Eventually leave their full-time job
- Design life on their own terms

"Realistic" people called them crazy.

"Be practical."
"Stop dreaming."
"That's not a real job."

But here's the pattern I've noticed after 6 years:

The delusional ones are the only ones who make it.

Because "delusional" is just another word for believing in yourself before anyone else does.

So stay crazy.
Stay unrealistic.

Stay magnificently convinced you'll get everything you desire.

Because you will.

Ready to turn your magnificent delusions into reality?

The Creator MBA shows you exactly how I turned mine into an 8-figure business.

111 lessons from building your audience, to perfecting marketing funnels, to scaling revenue without burning out.

Join 6,500+ delusional entrepreneurs here: https://buff.ly/NGNOytb

Most people wait for the perfect moment.

But here's the truth:

Perfect moments don't exist.
Perfect conditions don't exist.
Perfect plans don't exist.

The most successful people in business don't wait.

They build through consistent small actions.

A post.
A sentence.
A sketch.
A new belief.

This is how real work happens.

Not through some huge effort.

Through small steps that compound over time.

The question isn't “how do I create something massive?“

It's “what small thing can I build today?“

Start by building here on this platform.

- A better profile
- Better content
- Smarter openers
- Better calls-to-action
- A better system

Here's my 90-minute operating system you can set up: https://lnkd.in/eh9pVVuf

Watch it and start making impactful small changes today.

An interesting observation about business:

The harder you push for sales...

...the less you earn.

When you have fun online, spend time helping people achieve their goals, and invest in your own growth, revenue goes up.

Turns out this is a real thing:

'The Law of Reversed Effort'

Here's how I'd recommend overcoming it: https://lnkd.in/eJn9fi7V

Have you ever felt this yourself?