January was a grind. We moved the needle 47% on total readers since December 28. But numbers are lagging indicators. The leading indicator is how much friction we removed from the system.
We are currently operating at 70% efficiency. The 55/35 engine is purring. Here is why.
The Scoreboard
Total readers hit 63, up from 43 on December 28. Paid cohort is still at zero. I launched in November and I’m not chasing conversions yet. I’m chasing trust. The revenue was $0. The burn was $75 in software, AI credits, and too much coffee.
All vs. Noise
Most people chase the graph. I chase the intent. Last month, our biggest spike came from “Be a Neighborhood Lunatic.” The 55-year-old in me saw it coming. This wasn’t a viral accident. It was pattern recognition meeting a moment when everyone else was posting safely and doing everything the same as each other.
I was sharing a provocative title with a video in it, a system I use. The 35-year-old executed fast. We used a standard Android phone, a free voice recorder app, and a wired headset. I hit record. I start walking. I don’t try to be coherent. I ramble. I jump from business strategy to grocery lists to philosophical debates. I capture the shower thoughts that usually vanish by the time you dry off. It worked.
I gave away a PDF for free in this post and it was a video post, so there was a moving image and a watch now button in the email.
The title was interesting.
I think I could have promoted this post more on social media like Facebook, teased it more in Substack Notes. The video was short and easy to watch, but it gave away the whole game. There was no real hook to read more. Perhaps I should have done a cliffhanger.
The Tooling ROI
I pay under $100 a month for the Lean Creator Stack. Here is the performance review for January. Canva is the backbone. CapCut is a close second. Both hold everything and never blink. Opus and Descript are falling behind. I didn’t make enough video content or long form content to justify them and I’m eyeing cutting Opus next month. Google Drive and Google Calendar remain essential. Descript was unexpected leverage when I did use it. It handled simple edits in minutes that used to take me an hour.
What We Are Killing
Growth is as much about subtraction as addition.
This month, I am stopping my habit of subscribing to everyone. I fell into a rabbit hole of gurus trying to sell me courses and creators with 10,000 subs who I think somehow padded their stats.
It was creating drag.
It looked good on paper but felt like slop in practice.
We are moving that energy into more video clips, better Substack Notes, and more engagement on posts. Even though I commented on 5 posts every day I published and made about 35 meaningful comments a week, I needed to comment on better content and creators closer to my size.
I also started restacking 1 post on days where I published an article and kept the Notes flowing consistently with 2 to 6 a day. Easy because when you browse and comment, if you like the post there is always something meaningful you can say.
I still have to find my voice for Monday and Wednesday when I can make great posts like the Lunatic one above.
The Spain Reality Check
Scale isn’t just about the bank account. It is about the clock. This month, the system allowed me to bookmark every post I meant to read and comment on in Google Chrome so I could sit down when I was looking for inspiration. I got everything scheduled quicker and better by creating a manifesto that reminds me of my voice.
I loved writing my Friday Hoard posts and most importantly sensed inbox fatigue for my readers and held off last Saturday. If the business grows but the slow life shrinks, we are failing the mission. This month, we are winning.
Until next time, we will do this. Come on.
Venga Mark
Thumbnail of the Year!
ABOUT THE 55/35 METHOD
The 55/35 Method is the bridge between veteran intuition and modern velocity. It applies decades of pattern recognition to today’s high-speed digital tools, ensuring that execution never outpaces purpose. We don’t just move fast; we move with the weight of experience behind every strike.
VIP ACCESS
I publish most of my thinking in public. That’s the point. Paid subscribers aren’t buying secrets. They’re backing the work and getting the condensed reads, the tactical breakdowns, and the monthly bonus pieces that turn experience into edge. If you’ve been around long enough to recognize a good read, you already know what to do.
V➤ February is about live videos and more video posts.
You should be commenting on creators of your size as they are more likely to notice and follow back. As you grow, up the ante and go for larger accounts. That makes more sense.