How We Grow

That’s the headline, but you know what’s missing?

The messy, chaotic, not-so-glamorous truth behind it.

The truth that “overnight success” is just what people call the years of work they didn’t see.

Thanks for reading How We Grow! This post is public so feel free to share it.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit howwegrowtoday.substack.com/subscribe

On November 15th (my husband’s b’day), I woke up to see How We Grow marked with that shiny Bestseller badge.

Three months after going all in on Substack, and I hit a milestone I wasn’t even sure was possible this fast.

🎉 26,000 subscribers in 3 months 🎉

That’s the headline, but you know what’s missing?

The messy, chaotic, not-so-glamorous truth behind it.

The truth that “overnight success” is just what people call the years of work they didn’t see.

Thanks for reading How We Grow! This post is public so feel free to share it.

The Reality Behind the Numbers

Let’s rewind. By the time I launched How We Grow in September, I wasn’t starting from scratch.

I brought over 5,000 subscribers from my email list and social media, built over years of showing up, writing, testing, and sometimes failing.

Here’s what those three months really looked like:

* Over a decade of refining my voice—working with clients, building personal brands, and studying what connects with people.

* Hundreds of LinkedIn posts to a professional audience, figuring out how to simplify ideas and resonate.

* Launching and failing with other projects, learning what works (and what doesn’t).

* Stayed Consistent (Even When It Was Hard)

The unsexy truth about growth? Consistency is king. I showed up every single week, no matter what.

* I wrote when I was tired.

* I posted Notes when I wasn’t sure they’d land.

* I kept engaging, even on slow days.

Those three months of growth were built on years of foundation.

So, no—it wasn’t “just” three months.

It was a culmination of everything I’d done before.

You don’t grow a newsletter by being perfect. You grow it by showing up.

How Substack Changed Everything

For years, I’d been on LinkedIn, building my personal brand. I’d seen success there, but the platform often felt noisy and transactional.

Substack? Substack felt like home.

* Here, people actually read.

* They engage.

* They stay for the depth and connection, not just the surface-level soundbites.

When I moved to Substack, I realized I could create something more meaningful: a space where solopreneurs, creators, and high-performers could learn to build portfolio careers and multiple income streams—without burning out or selling their souls to the hustle grind.

That clarity became the backbone of How We Grow.

What Worked (And What Didn’t)

What worked:

* Notes as a discovery engine:

* I posted daily, shared insights, and connected with others.

* This wasn’t just growth—it was community building.

* A clear value proposition:

* I made sure new readers knew exactly what they’d get—practical strategies, hard-won lessons, and no fluff.

* Optimized My Newsletter Page (and Made It All About Them)

* Smart pricing:

* My annual plan at 91% better than subscribing monthly was a no-brainer for many readers.

* Built Relationships with Creators (Not Competitors)

* I didn’t treat other creators as competition—I saw them as allies. Substack is a community, and leaning into that community was one of the smartest moves I made.

* What I did:

* Cross-promotions: I partnered with newsletters in complementary niches to feature each other’s work.

* Engagement: I didn’t just promote myself—I genuinely supported other creators, sharing their posts and commenting on their work.

* Genuine connections: I reached out to creators I admired, not to “network,” but to learn and collaborate.

* Told My Story (and Shared My Journey)

People subscribe to people, not just content. I made my newsletter about more than just tips—I made it personal.

I shared:

* Why I left my executive role to start over and build a portfolio career.

* The struggles I faced along the way (like the fear of starting at zero).

* The wins: Like being featured in Forbes and landing my first major brand deal.

* Wrote with Relentless Value (and a Dash of Controversy):

* From personal stories to actionable strategies, I made every post count.

* Every post & note had a purpose:

* Actionable tips they could implement immediately.

* Contrarian takes that made them think differently.

* Stories they could relate to.

Don’t just write—overdeliver. Make free readers feel lucky to get your content, and make paid subscribers feel like they’ve found a goldmine.

What didn’t work:

* Cold DMs: Not my thing, and frankly, they rarely work.

* Big discounts: My pricing strategy was already compelling. Flash sales weren’t necessary.

* Overthinking: I kept it simple—write, post, engage. That’s it.

Why the Bestseller Badge Matters

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Isn’t this just vanity?

Maybe. But here’s what it’s done for me:

* Credibility: It’s proof that my strategies work. If I’m teaching others how to grow and monetize, I need to walk the walk.

* Visibility: The badge adds weight to my profile and attracts new readers and opportunities.

* Exclusive perks: Advanced stats, access to Substack’s Product Lab, and Business School. These tools have been game-changers for understanding growth and retention.

The Article That Broke It All Down

Recently, I gave an interview about my Substack journey—how I went from burnout in the corporate world to building a thriving newsletter.

One thing I emphasized was this: growth isn’t about luck; it’s about systems.

I leveraged every channel I had—LinkedIn, social media, even Forbes articles—to create a flywheel of growth. It wasn’t a casual effort; it was an intentional strategy.

If you haven’t read the full interview yet, check it out here. It’s packed with insights and practical tips for growing your Substack.

What’s Next?

Now that How We Grow is thriving, I’m doubling down on helping others:

* The Growth Challenge: Deepening engagement with my audience through personal challenges and community-building.

* Private Chat: Exploring new ways to collaborate with brands and creators.

Our private chat is where strategies, tips, and real conversations happen. It’s also where we share Note boosts because why not help each other win?

* Scaling my paid subscriptions with even more exclusive value:

* $2,500+ worth of tools for content creation and monetization.

* Access to exclusive webinars on Substack growth and branding.

* Weekly Q&A sessions and live workshops.

* Notes boost

* Monthly Challenges

* and more

What I Want You to Take Away

Success isn’t linear. It’s messy, iterative, and often slower than you want. But it’s possible.

If you’re starting out, here’s my advice:

* Build trust first. Your audience won’t pay for something they don’t believe in.

* Show up consistently. You don’t need perfect posts—just honest, valuable ones.

* Experiment. Try Notes, test pricing, engage with your readers. Growth lives in the attempts.

So, if you’re ready to grow—join me in the challenge, upgrade to paid, or just keep showing up.

The audience will come. You just need to start.

P.S. What’s one step you’ll take today to grow your audience? Let me know—I’d love to hear your story.

Here’s to your growth,Ana

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In 2016, I was stuck in a successfully dead-end 9-to-5, with a looming question:

“Is this all there is?”

Today, I’ve built multiple income streams, diversified my career, and work on projects I’m deeply passionate about—all without abandoning financial stability.

At the heart of this transformation lies the concept of a portfolio career.

It’s a simple yet powerful idea: instead of relying on one job or one paycheck, you leverage your unique skills and interests to create a variety of income streams.

Before we go on, if you find this helpful, please consider resharing. Substack creators need to know they got options, and these reads makes a huge difference! ♻️

When you become a paid member you get all these benefits. Claim them below:

(P.S. Annual membership is now at 52% off, only until November 16th. Spots are limited, claim it now)

* Free live masterclass on Monetising your content online (recorded)

* Free live masterclass on Brands pitching (upcoming)

* Your media kit template to pitch brands

* 50 headline templates for inspiration

* My swipe file of most successful Notes yet

* Content idea generator

* 10 prompts for your content creation

* How to identify your ideal target audience - practical guide

* Creating an expert marketing strategy prompt

* How to get inspiration form your favorite Youtube videos

* My favorite tools so you can grow your portfolio

* Access to weekly live streams.

* Plus, you will get invited to a Notes boost every day.

* And more

While many assume building a portfolio career requires extraordinary talent, resources, or a significant time investment, I’ve found that the secret lies in small, consistent actions—and in understanding how to break the mental barriers holding you back.

Here are 3 key mindset shifts I’ve mastered to unlock new income opportunities, and how you can use them too.

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How do I get people to subscribe?

How do I start with monetisation?

How to balance a 9-5 job with family and side projects?

& more…

Thought we’d do something a bit different today.

I reached out to the community recently and asked you all for your questions, anything you’re curious about, whether it’s about building your portfolio career, growing your Subst…

Let’s get one thing straight: You’ve been sold a lie about building a career. Actually, you’ve been sold nine.

The world is full of half-truths, especially when it comes to success and wealth.

For years, we’ve been sold the idea that the only way to become a millionaire is aiming for the stars—launch a startup, create the next big app, or revolutionise an industry.

But what if I told you that the future millionaires aren't working on the next Facebook? They’re not in Silicon Valley. They're a lot closer than you think—probably even in your own backyard.

Let’s talk about how we’ve been sold a lie—and the truth behind the millionaires who are quietly building their wealth right under your nose.

November Special. Get everything in the full membership at 53% off. Prices go up to $120/ annum on Nov 16th. Only 13 days left!

Do you want to get your business/ service in front of 25,000 engaged creatives? Then let’s talk.

🚀 Book a strategy call with me to grow your personal brand and portfolio career.

I’ll teach you my system for building an impactful online presence that led to 1B+ views and $1M in brand deals. Learn more and read client success stories.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit howwegrowtoday.substack.com/subscribe

Let’s get real for a second: I also used to believe the biggest lie on social media—that more followers equals more success.

We’ve all been there, scrolling through Instagram, seeing those influencer accounts with hundreds of thousands of followers and thinking:

“That’s what I need to land brand deals.”

But here’s the truth: it’s total b**s**.

I’ve landed more than 27 solid brand deals without ever hitting 100K. In less than 3 months!

And guess what?

You don’t need 100K either.

You don’t even need a fraction of that.

Why?

Because it’s not the numbers that brands are chasing anymore—it’s authenticity and connection.

Let me tell you how I did it, stopped chasing the follower count, and started landing deals that actually matter.

Start your portfolio career is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

1. How My Niche Audience Became My Superpower

I’ll admit it—I used to try to appeal to everyone.

I thought casting a wide net would attract more opportunities.

But then I realized something: nobody cares about broad, generic content.

The key to unlocking brand deals is to go niche. But with a catch.

Here’s what I did:

I stopped trying to be everything to everyone and focused on my people.

Solopreneurs, freelancers, portfolio career builders—people who are done with the 9-5 grind and want to build their own thing.

Once I was clear on that niche, things changed.

My engagement skyrocketed, and that’s when brands started to notice.

Shortform, for example, one of the best reading hubs out there, reached out to me after I posted a simple tip on growing a personal brand.

They didn’t care that I wasn’t clocking 100K followers—they cared that I was speaking directly to the people they wanted to reach.

We are now partners beyond a brand sponsorship as I became their lifetime ambassador too. (I only recommend products that I love and I mostly end up partnering for a longer period of time with brands like these):

That’s the beauty of a niche audience: you don’t need to shout, because your people are already listening.

2. Authenticity Is Your Currency

(And It’s Worth More Than Followers)

Here’s where it gets really controversial: follower count is becoming irrelevant.

What really matters to brands? Engagement.

And that comes from authenticity.

So, stop trying to play the algorithm game or follow the latest trend—your audience can smell when you’re faking it.

When I started being myself—sharing stories about my struggles building a portfolio career, my wins, and even my screw-ups—my audience responded.

And guess what? Brands responded too.

One deal I landed wasn’t because I had thousands of followers; it was because I had an audience that trusted me.

Here’s how you know you’ve got authentic engagement:

* When your followers talk back.

* When they ask questions

* Respond to your content

* And genuinely care about what you have to say.

That’s the kind of engagement that brands drool over, and you don’t need 100K followers to get it.

3. Quality Over Quantity (Or Why Posting Less Helped Me More)

In the beginning of my social outreach, I was obsessively posting on LinkedIn every day, thinking that the more I posted, the more likely brands would find me.

Spoiler alert: it didn’t work.

In fact, it was burning me out, and my content was getting weaker.

So I stopped. I slowed down. I started focusing on quality over quantity.

I remember creating one in-depth, meaningful post about the challenges of personal branding. It wasn’t flashy, but it resonated with my audience.

That post got me a brand deal, not because it went viral, but because it was valuable.

Here’s how they approached me:

The brand loved the depth of the conversation in the comments—people weren’t just “liking” it, they were engaged with it.

My takeaway?

You don’t need to post every day.

You don’t need to play the numbers game.

You need to post value (for your audience), and that’s what will attract brands.

They want to see creators who understand their audience and bring real insight.

4. How I Turned My Audience Into My Leverage

If you think brands are only looking for huge influencers, let me tell you something: brands are getting smarter.

They know the return on investment for working with smaller, more engaged creators is better than throwing money at mega-influencers who can barely scratch the surface of connection.

Here’s what I did: I leveraged my audience’s loyalty.

Instead of waiting for brands to come to me, I reached out to the brands that I genuinely loved and used. And, even more important, that I knew my audience would love and want to use.

I reached out to the best brand deal hubs and put myself out there.

I showed them my engagement metrics, shared examples of content where my audience responded enthusiastically, and—this is key—I pitched ideas that aligned with their brand’s goals.

Brands don’t just want to know how many followers you have; they want to know how your audience trusts you and how you can help them tell their story.

One brand I worked with literally said, “We don’t care about your follower count. Your engagement is what hooked us.”

5. The Rise of the Micro-Influencer (And Why It’s a Game Changer)

Here’s the kicker: micro-influencers (creators with smaller, highly engaged followings) are becoming the sweet spot for brands.

Why? Because smaller creators build real relationships with their audience.

They’re seen as more authentic, and their followers actually listen when they recommend a product.

I remember one of my best deals came after a campaign with another creator completely flopped.

Why? Because that creator had a huge following but zero connection with their audience.

Meanwhile, my smaller, engaged following showed up and actually converted for the brand.

That’s when I realized: small doesn’t mean less valuable. It means more targeted.

So, What’s the Real Secret?

You don’t need 100K followers. Heck, you don’t even need half that.

What you need is to understand your audience, build genuine connections, and focus on creating value for them (aka what they need to solve their problems)—because that’s what brands are looking for too.

Here’s what I want you to take away from this:

* Engagement beats followers every time.

* Be authentic—don’t be afraid to share your real story.

* Pitch brands—don’t wait for them to come to you.

* Leverage your niche—it’s your superpower.

I stopped chasing followers, and guess what? The brand deals came anyway.

Share this ♻️ Someone out there might need it!

What’s next?

Join our chat for daily growth tips and twice a week notes boost.

Say hi in the comments and share your questions about starting a portfolio career.

If you enjoyed this, you will also benefit from reading these:

Share this ♻️ Someone out there might need it!

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No fluff, no jargon — just pure, actionable insights.

It’s a harsh truth, but a headline is your first and only chance to make a good impression. It’s what people see in search results, in their social feeds, and in those overstuffed email inboxes. So if you’re stuck with bland, boring titles, your masterpiece is going to end up like a fine wine at a frat party — completely overlooked.

But don’t worry; I’ve got you covered. Today, I’m pulling back the curtain on our top 9 article headlines that brought in millions of visitors.

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But first, 3 ideas to consider about building a portfolio career this week:

I.

II.

Working for one company, in one role, is riskier than you think. Look at the local heroes—tradespeople, small business owners, and blue-collar experts. They’re the ones creating real, sustainable wealth.

A portfolio career lets you diversify your income, hedge against uncertainty, and build something that’s yours.

Ownership is the ultimate job security.

Restack this

III.

Let’s get one thing straight: You’ve been sold a lie about building a career. Actually, you’ve been sold nine.

The world is full of half-truths, especially when it comes to success and wealth.

For years, we’ve been sold the idea that the only way to become a millionaire is aiming for the stars—launch a startup, create the next big app, or revolutionise an industry.

But what if I told you that the future millionaires aren't working on the next Facebook? They’re not in Silicon Valley. They're a lot closer than you think—probably even in your own backyard.

Let’s talk about how we’ve been sold a lie—and the truth behind the millionaires who are quietly building their wealth right under your nose.

Lie No 1: You Need to Build the Next Big Thing

Let’s get one thing straight: You don’t need to be working on some world-changing, futuristic idea to get rich.

Sure, SpaceX might be launching skyscrapers into the sky, but the truth is, some of the most financially successful people today are fixing your furnace, not chasing Mars.

Today’s biggest dirty secret: there’s a rising generation of millionaires who aren’t working on the next app, they’re going to trade school and unclogging your toilet.

Take a queue from the latest WSJ article if you don’t trust me (yet).

Then take Joe Martinez, a guy who started as an electrician.

He didn’t come from money, didn’t have a fancy degree, but what he had was grit.

Joe noticed that there was always demand for good electricians, but the big companies were slow, overpriced, and lacked personal service. So, he set up his own small shop, offering a more personalized touch.

Fast forward five years, and Joe’s not just an electrician anymore—he’s running a fleet of service trucks, managing teams, and pulling in well over a million dollars annually.

Joe’s not the exception. Look around—there are thousands of “Joe’s” who are slowly and steadily becoming millionaires by offering services that the rest of us rely on every day. It's not glamorous, but it's profitable.

It makes you wonder — could I do it, too?

Lie No 2: You Need to Be a Tech Genius

We’ve all heard the stories—Mark Zuckerberg built Facebook in his dorm room, Elon Musk is revolutionizing space travel, and Jeff Bezos started Amazon in his garage.

The media loves these stories because they’re big, bold, and shiny.

But here’s what they’re not telling you: for every Musk and Bezos, there’s a “Larry the plumber” who’s quietly pulling in seven figures fixing leaky pipes and broken toilets.

Larry, like many others, started small.

He didn't try to invent the next Uber. He didn’t need to.

All he needed was to be good at his trade and understand that consistency beats novelty.

Larry invested in marketing, customer service, and efficiency. Over time, word of mouth and reputation did the rest. Today, his plumbing business brings in more than most small tech startups could dream of, and it’s recession-proof.

Whether it’s tech or not, people always need someone to fix their plumbing.

Lie No 3: You Need a Massive Audience to Succeed

Thanks to social media influencers, there’s this idea that you need a huge audience or tons of followers to make money.

That’s BS.

You don’t need to go viral to be successful—you just need to provide value to the right people.

Think local, think small scale, think niche.

Daniella Green was a teacher who wanted to break into the online education space. But with no audience and no name recognition, she wasn’t sure how to start.

Instead of trying to appeal to everyone, she focused on a very specific niche: homeschooling parents. Daniella started a blog and created downloadable resources specifically for them.

She didn’t need a huge following—just a dedicated one. Today, her small but loyal audience generates enough income for her to leave teaching and run her online business full-time.

It’s not about the size of the crowd; it’s about how well you serve them.

Success isn’t about having the loudest voice, it’s about solving real problems for real people. You can build wealth by focusing on a small, engaged community rather than the masses.

Do you want to get your business/ service in front of 25,000 engaged creatives? Then let’s talk.

Lie No 4: It’s All About Fancy Titles

There’s a dirty little secret no one likes to talk about: Fancy titles don’t mean wealth.

In fact, more often than not, the people with prestigious titles—VPs, Directors, and Senior Executives—are tied to their jobs. Their salaries might be high, but they often live paycheck to paycheck, leveraged by mortgages, credit, and lifestyle inflation.

On the other hand, the people who seem “less successful” on the surface—like Maria, the HVAC contractor—are the ones quietly stacking wealth.

Maria didn’t care about titles. She cared about control.

She started by working for a larger company, but as she built her expertise and connections, she realized she could do the same thing for herself. Now, she owns her own HVAC business, has multiple crews working for her, and her bank account speaks volumes.

Her title? Owner.

Her wealth? Growing.

And she’s got the freedom to enjoy it.

Lie No 5: You Have to Live in a Big City to Make Big Money

Another myth that needs busting: The idea that you need to live in a major city to make serious money.

Cities are where the opportunity is, right? That’s what we’ve been led to believe. But in reality, the real opportunities are often in smaller towns, rural areas, and the places where big corporations won’t even think to go.

Just ask Rick Anderson. Rick doesn’t live in New York or San Francisco—he lives in a small town in the Midwest.

Rick noticed something while working his corporate job: nobody wanted to deliver firewood. People in his town used it for their fireplaces, but nobody was doing it efficiently or reliably. So Rick quit his corporate job and started a firewood delivery business.

Fast forward 10 years—Rick now has a thriving local business with multiple trucks, and he’s earning more than he ever did in his desk job.

Rick didn’t need the hustle of the city. He found his niche right where he was.

🚀 Book a strategy call with me to grow your personal brand and portfolio career.

I’ll teach you my system for building an impactful online presence that led to 1B+ views and $1M in brand deals. Learn more and read client success stories.

Lie No 6: Only College Graduates Can Build Wealth

College degrees are great, but they’re not a ticket to wealth. Just because you’ve got a diploma on the wall doesn’t mean you’ll ever touch seven figures.

The truth is, the people racking up massive wealth are often those who go the less traditional route.

Meet Samantha Lee. She skipped college altogether and went straight into the trades. Samantha became a welder at 19, and by 25, she was running her own fabrication shop.

Today, she’s got a team of welders, contracts with multiple construction companies, and is pulling in high six-figure revenue annually.

Her classmates? Most of them are still paying off student loans.

Samantha’s story isn’t unique. The *Main Street Millionaire* concept proves it—you don’t need to take on six figures of debt for a degree to make seven figures in your business.

---

Lie No 7: Portfolio Careers Are Only for Freelancers and Creatives

Nope.

Sure, creatives have been doing this for years, but today’s economy rewards anyone willing to diversify.

Whether you’re a financial advisor, a marketer, or a nurse, you can build a portfolio career.

Take Chris Guillebeau’s “Side Hustle” methodology: it doesn’t matter what you do—you can always find ways to build additional income streams.

This could mean starting a blog, creating a course, consulting, or even buying a small local business.

The point is, it’s not just for the “gig economy” crowd anymore.

Lie No 8: You Have to Work 100-Hour Weeks to Get There

We’re all taught that to become successful, you need to grind—100-hour weeks, sleepless nights, and zero time for family.

But what if I told you that the future millionaires are actually the ones who work less but smarter?

Take Mike Peterson. Mike runs a landscaping business.

For years, he was doing all the work himself—mowing lawns, planting trees, and doing yard maintenance. He was exhausted and barely making ends meet. But then Mike had an idea—why not hire a crew to do the labor while he focused on growing the business?

Today, Mike’s company is thriving, with three crews working full-time while Mike manages operations and spends his weekends at the lake with his family.

The grind doesn’t equal wealth. Smart systems, delegation, and leveraging others do.

Lie No 9: You Have to Do It Alone

Another toxic myth. Building a portfolio career doesn’t mean being a one-person show.

In fact, the smartest portfolio career builders understand the value of collaboration.

Look at people like Pat Flynn, who openly shares how he partnered with others to build multiple income streams—from affiliate marketing to online courses.

The very way I grew to over 25,000 subscribers in less than 2 months is through collaborations.

Collaboration isn’t a weakness—it’s a power move.

The Lie Ends Here

The Millionaires of Tomorrow Don’t Look Like What You Expect.

The next generation of millionaires won’t be wearing suits in glass skyscrapers. They’ll be in work boots, running small local businesses, and seizing opportunities others overlook.

They won’t be building the next Instagram—they’ll be fixing the roof, unclogging the drain, and delivering firewood.

These lies about building a portfolio career are what keep so many people stuck in the rat race. But now you know the truth: a portfolio career isn’t risky, too late, or reserved for a certain type of person. It’s a path that anyone can take with the right mindset and action plan.

Feeling inspired yet? Good. But inspiration is worthless without action. Here’s what you need to do to start building your portfolio career today:

* Identify your existing skills: What do you already know that can be monetized? (Hint: it's probably more than you think).

* Look for gaps in your local market: Plumbing, landscaping, bookkeeping—these aren't glamorous, but they can make you serious cash.

* Start small: Launch a side hustle. Take one small step today, whether that’s buying a domain name or setting up a basic website.

* Collaborate: Don’t hesitate to find people you can work with to scale faster.

* Read: Get your hands on every book that will give you real-life examples of people who’ve done it and the blueprints you can follow.

If you’re tired of the rat race and waiting for your “big break,” it’s time to shift your focus. The opportunities are right in front of you—they’re just not where you’ve been told to look.

So, what’s stopping you? Go out there, seize the opportunities in front of you, and start building your portfolio career today.

Let me know in the comments how you’re planning to break free from these lies—I’d love to hear your story!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit howwegrowtoday.substack.com/subscribe

Back in the year 2018, I launched my first crowdfunding campaign online. Believe it or not, it all started because of an “ugly cat” portrait I made.

I was a “struggling artist”, barely making ends meet. I just quit my corporate career and started to do art for the first time, without any art network or even art making practice. So, it was challenging to say the least.

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Until one day, when I painted a fun portrait of my neighbour's cat. The cat was messing with my dogs, making them bark everyday so I wanted to immortalise how I saw her at that moment.

(hint: I am a dog person)

The cat portrait turned, well, let's say "aesthetically challenged."

But my neighbour saw it, loved it, and insisted even on paying me for it.

That's when lightning struck.

I thought, "What if I painted ugly pet portraits for money?"

Even better: “what if I paint ugly funny portraits of pets and put them on a tee?”

💡

So, I set up a crowdfunding campaign as a joke.

"Fund my quest to paint the world's ugliest (best) pets portraits! So you can wear them everywhere with you. Even on your tee"

I expected maybe a few pity donations from friends.

Boy, was I wrong.

The campaign went viral overnight.

Suddenly, I was flooded with requests and pledges.

People were fighting to have their pets painted ugly!

Here's what I learned from this bizarre experience:

* Embrace the weird: Conventional is boring.

* Humor sells: People love to laugh and share.

* Timing is everything: I hit a sweet spot of internet culture.

* Engage your backers: I shared progress updates religiously.

* Deliver on promises: Even if they're ridiculous.

* Adapt quickly: I learned to paint "ugly" really fast.

The campaign raised over $50,000 in 30 days. I went from starving artist to "that ugly pet portrait gal."

It wasn't just about the money, though.

I found a community of people who appreciated absurd art.

We laughed together at each hideous masterpiece.

It was my reminder that art doesn't have to be serious.

This experience taught me that sometimes the most unconventional ideas can lead to the greatest success.

After all, you never know which one might resonate with people and take off.

So, what's your weird idea that might just work? Don't be afraid to give it a shot.

You might be surprised at where it leads you.

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Did we solve world hunger and world peace already?Because we’re now nitpicking ketchup ads.Yes, ketchup ads.I remember when ads were just ads.We laughed at silly jingles, smiled at clever lines.Now, we're digging into every frame like it’s a crime scene.Take the Heinz wedding ad.People were furious because the dad wasn’t in it.Suddenly, it’s a symbol of erasing Black fathers.Then Heinz drops another ad.A man with ketchup on his lips.And boom, we’re talking about minstrel shows from the 1800s.Are we serious?In our quest for diversity, are we losing perspective?Here’s what I think:1. Context matters. So does intent.2. Not every ad is a social statement.3. Let’s not turn every mistake into a firestorm.4. Let’s focus on real change, not just outrage.5. Brands should do better, but let’s not overreach.The point? We’ve got bigger battles to fight.P.S. Are we focusing on the right things or missing the mark?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit howwegrowtoday.substack.com/subscribe