1001 Ways to Lose and Find Yourself.

Today’s story may be a bit unusual.

Or maybe not—still deciding, haha.

Consider this letter a form of intellectual exhibitionism (yep, I actually wrote that) or just some thoughts out loud.

I read newsletters from a range of writers.

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Each has their own approach.

• Some write brief, practical updates every day.
• Others, like Dan Koe (who was a big reason I started writing), post once a week. It’s useful, interesting, makes you think—though his endless essays, while I enjoy them, sometimes leave even me struggling to keep up.
• Justin Welsh, who influenced how I see myself, writes with what I think is an ideal balance. But, respectfully, he doesn’t hit me emotionally.

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Side note:

Turns out, NOT A SINGLE universal basic income experiment in ANY country has delivered the expected results.Most participants (randomly chosen from low-income groups) didn’t pursue new learning or try to escape their circumstances. In fact, these same people just spent more time on “extra leisure.”

Of course, you could offer all sorts of excuses—the wrong people, not enough money, etc.But that’s the point of experiments, right? To test theory against reality.And reality showed that free money just went to entertainment.

Even with all the useful information available these days, letting us learn nearly anything for free. You just need the drive.
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Bottom line—idleness dulls the mind.

Endless reading and watching (even educational content) without action is meaningless, just a quick dopamine boost.

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Here’s what’s interesting.

My (former) business nearly crushed me.

And I only see it now that I’m free to create without limitations. I finally understand what I want in my business and my personal mission (note the date!).

I think this insight has cemented my choice of the solopreneur path, especially with the almost limitless potential that technology offers today.

I feel more committed to my mission—to help solopreneurs live fully, to create rather than just survive.

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We live in an era of information overload.

Everything competes for our attention: ads, influencers, our kids and spouses, clients, employees, and somewhere on the edges—our dreams and hobbies.

Try prioritizing all of that without burning out or getting divorced—forget about reading even helpful newsletters.

Where’s there room for musings from some random guy (aka me)?

We’re all busy, myself included. No one has time for long reads or sees the point.

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Experienced writers rightly say that if you don’t grab attention right away, your work’s wasted.

No one will read it—any value you’ve created, lost.

Keep it short, keep it short.

We’ve stopped reading thoughtful, challenging books.

YouTube, Netflix, TikTok have taken over.

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Everyone wants quick answers, the “silver bullet,” something useful right now.

An easy dose of success, no struggle, enjoy life and don’t think too hard (just like in the experiment above).

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And here’s the fun part.

I’m like a kid again, with this rush of freedom to explore. That special joy in discovery and curiosity.

And the inner struggle that comes with writing.

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I need to put all the pieces together:

• myself and my worldview,
• my curiosity,
• creativity,
• the challenge to stand out without going too far,
• the value I want to offer, to really help.

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It’s a true intellectual challenge that stirs up emotions.

All of it new, strange, and incredibly exciting.

The business side is clear, more or less.

But personally, creatively, as an author—nothing is certain.

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It’s a journey to find my own path.

In writing, in meaning, even in visuals.

I don’t want to become “just another guy.”

Everyone has credentials, logos, success stories, achievements—but there’s hardly anything personal, anything real beneath it. You can’t even tell who’s who.

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Then again, everything has a cost—maybe it just won’t work, haha.

Readers and followers might just not get the creative vibe.

I need to keep trying, keep experimenting.

Exploring new ways to present myself.

First feedback—too dark.

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Well, you know, I like it.

Because it’s my world and my freedom.

Yes, with all the puzzle pieces to put together.

But I’ll fit them as I see fit—to create something unique.

I’ve always loved stories, sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, anime, and beautiful characters.

I love creating universes, heroes, their adventures with monsters (aren’t those like business challenges?) and noble feats (what’s a story without a win, right?).

For my agency, I even created a whole universe with characters and stories, even made comics and a game... but…

But the lack of freedom and skills back then didn’t let me bring it to life the way I’d envisioned.

And somewhere, that dream of building my own world still lingers.

And now two worlds?

Why not?

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And okay, let’s be honest.

In a world flooded with noise, a bit of boldness and originality are at least something that stands out from the gray masses. So I keep searching for my voice and style.

And how to combine it with what will be valuable and engaging for readers.

Started with one idea, shifted to another, and now I’m on a third.

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Of course, I’ll continue to share valuable stories.

And if you think about today’s one, there’s even some value here.

Not a straightforward “do this” checklist, but I’d love my stories to offer more than just utility. Emotion, experience, knowledge, and maybe even a reason to use what’s up on your neck.

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After all, I have my Hero Mission—to help solo entrepreneurs.

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If you want to know more about other mess-ups and lessons on my entrepreneurial journey — subscribe to Eugene’s Stories.

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See you soon!

- Eugene

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