Satya! This is really what I needed to hear today. I’ve been pondering a lot of the same things over the last few weeks, as I became super stressed due to my growth on here slowing down and other related things, and I decided to take a two week break from Substack. What I realized was that so many of these negative feelings were not related to Substack at all, but were my own judgments which, when my newsletter was out of the picture, had moved on to other aspects of my life! I’m hoping I can approach my newsletter more kindly after this break, and be much more grateful to the 350-odd people who’ve found me in the past year, even if my goal for the end of the year is 500.
Hi Andrei - so glad you could resonate - and how interesting (and annoying!) that the feelings moved with you. 350 is a lot! Imagine them all in a space together.... wishing you lots of gentleness with your future writing here 🙏🏻
This is an inspiring read, Satya. Thank you for sharing! 🙏
“as Buddhists know, all is impermanent… we do what works for as long as it works, and then something changes, and so we try something different.” This really resonated with me. I’ve recently made a big career change and this is exactly what it felt like to come to that realisation, albeit after a lot of deliberation!
thank you for this. for me i don't plan on charging any of my substack writings, as i checked with my nervous system and Defined ESP authority, it's my own charity work for myself (in a way that works for me) hehe. but i keep my expectations zero hehe. thanks for sharing, Satya. i love internal family systems too. yes, i am a human being too!
I love that folk are using Substack in lots of different ways - it's whatever works for us! And you're making a great offering. Welcome to this space & good to 'meet' you.
Asking yourself what success looks like is really important. When I began "Wormhole Stories" I was really hoping for paid subs. Now I don't care that much about paid subs anymore; I'm just happy to have people reading my fiction in the first place.
I’m sure that’s right about feeling the need to serve paid subscribers. I’m already thinking about what extra I can offer when I open a paid option, and that’s a way off yet. I love your acceptance of the numbers rising … and sometimes falling …
Talk about manna from heaven ... that's what this post is, Satya. So sweet! While I'm very happy for you and your success (and, okay, a bit envious, I admit), I also see that this post is a perfect example of why Going Gently is doing so well. Your voice, your authenticity, you generosity are the keys to why we keep coming back ... and reading ... and supporting. Signed, One of Your 1,000 Fans
Aw thanks Jeanne! Smiling wryly at being on the other side of the 'compare compare despair' dilemma, and welcoming your jealous parts - I have ones that totally get it!! So appreciate your support as always, and your amazing writing xx
So true. Best to find your inner centre, your deepest feelings and motivations, and stay true to those no matter what. Success will come, probably not in the form you wanted, but definitely in the form you need.
Funnily enough, I have come to realise (and embrace) that I may think that I know exactly what I need and want, but experience has shown that I am actually clueless, because what actually ends up happening tends to exceed all my expectations or disrupt all my plans in magnificent ways. Life can be truly unexpected and amazing.
Congratulations on your zeros! And thank you for sharing this. As a starting at the bottom Substack writer, I appreciate the advice. The first question really stuck with me - defining success. This is a save and reference piece for sure. Thanks again.
Thanks Brenda I'm glad - happy to pass things on that others have given to me. And 'the bottom' doesn't sound so good to me - maybe you're starting at the ground? Like a happy plant?
Satya, this is wonderful, thank you. It's so nice to hear a more balanced version of my wacky "12 Days of Substack" post from last week. Writing can be difficult enough, however rewarding. Substack adds self-imposed (for most of us) merit badges that can be tough. I have fewer than 100 subscribers at the moment, which is just fine with me. I try my best not to look and to focus instead on what people write in the Comments when they do. Those are meaningful irrespective of whether the person subscribes. But that doesn't mean it's not nice to see in my Activity list that Jane subscribed. On a more important note, if you ever need someone to look at a draft or edit, which I love to do, I'm happy to help. And I love Brownies. :)
That's a great reminder Ben - that each comment is written by a person who's taken time out of their day to read and comment - the quality of that is more important than the quantity. And yes, also good to celebrate the subscriptions etc when they do happen. Both, somehow! Thank you. And sending you a virtual brownie - not as good as the non-virtual kind but hopefully you can receive the gesture :)
I love the "ask for help" one. So true, so powerful!
Satya, I hope to see you on the other side of a thousand here pretty soon, as I mentioned in Notes. Thank you for providing me with just a little extra motivation both yesterday and today!
Glad to hear it - yes am sure you'll be joining the club very soon : ) (it's pretty much the same in the club as it was out of the club, but still - worth being in it!)
Satya! This is really what I needed to hear today. I’ve been pondering a lot of the same things over the last few weeks, as I became super stressed due to my growth on here slowing down and other related things, and I decided to take a two week break from Substack. What I realized was that so many of these negative feelings were not related to Substack at all, but were my own judgments which, when my newsletter was out of the picture, had moved on to other aspects of my life! I’m hoping I can approach my newsletter more kindly after this break, and be much more grateful to the 350-odd people who’ve found me in the past year, even if my goal for the end of the year is 500.
Hi Andrei - so glad you could resonate - and how interesting (and annoying!) that the feelings moved with you. 350 is a lot! Imagine them all in a space together.... wishing you lots of gentleness with your future writing here 🙏🏻
Thank you! I followed you. Looking forward to talking more in the future!
This is an inspiring read, Satya. Thank you for sharing! 🙏
“as Buddhists know, all is impermanent… we do what works for as long as it works, and then something changes, and so we try something different.” This really resonated with me. I’ve recently made a big career change and this is exactly what it felt like to come to that realisation, albeit after a lot of deliberation!
Sounds like exciting times for you! Thanks for being here & so glad it was inspiring 🙏
thank you for this. for me i don't plan on charging any of my substack writings, as i checked with my nervous system and Defined ESP authority, it's my own charity work for myself (in a way that works for me) hehe. but i keep my expectations zero hehe. thanks for sharing, Satya. i love internal family systems too. yes, i am a human being too!
I love that folk are using Substack in lots of different ways - it's whatever works for us! And you're making a great offering. Welcome to this space & good to 'meet' you.
thank you human!!!
Congratulations, Satya!! That is so awesome! Thanks for sharing how you did it! Good for you!!
Thank you!
Asking yourself what success looks like is really important. When I began "Wormhole Stories" I was really hoping for paid subs. Now I don't care that much about paid subs anymore; I'm just happy to have people reading my fiction in the first place.
Great example of tuning in to what you actually want... and maybe the paid subs will follow anyway as a by-product!
Thank you for sharing your journey. It becomes a relief for me as a new writer here.
I'm really glad to hear that Melva. Writing is stressful enough without extra stress! And welcome to Substack!!
I’m sure that’s right about feeling the need to serve paid subscribers. I’m already thinking about what extra I can offer when I open a paid option, and that’s a way off yet. I love your acceptance of the numbers rising … and sometimes falling …
The most sobering, confounding, wise, terrifying and liberating Buddhist idea is hiding in the margins here: “who knows what is good or bad.”
Yup!
Such a lovely message and helpful guide. Thank you for sharing - and congratulations!
Thanks Bruce and lovely to have you here.
Talk about manna from heaven ... that's what this post is, Satya. So sweet! While I'm very happy for you and your success (and, okay, a bit envious, I admit), I also see that this post is a perfect example of why Going Gently is doing so well. Your voice, your authenticity, you generosity are the keys to why we keep coming back ... and reading ... and supporting. Signed, One of Your 1,000 Fans
Aw thanks Jeanne! Smiling wryly at being on the other side of the 'compare compare despair' dilemma, and welcoming your jealous parts - I have ones that totally get it!! So appreciate your support as always, and your amazing writing xx
So true. Best to find your inner centre, your deepest feelings and motivations, and stay true to those no matter what. Success will come, probably not in the form you wanted, but definitely in the form you need.
Absolutely Robert - sometimes I hate that (when it's not in the form I wanted) but in the long run it seems to mostly work out! (welcome)
Funnily enough, I have come to realise (and embrace) that I may think that I know exactly what I need and want, but experience has shown that I am actually clueless, because what actually ends up happening tends to exceed all my expectations or disrupt all my plans in magnificent ways. Life can be truly unexpected and amazing.
Yes to that!!!
Thanks. An indulgent moan. Listening to rain, with Stanley the cat at my feet.
We need them too sometimes. Glad that Stanley is there. SO much rain here today!!
Congratulations on your zeros! And thank you for sharing this. As a starting at the bottom Substack writer, I appreciate the advice. The first question really stuck with me - defining success. This is a save and reference piece for sure. Thanks again.
Thanks Brenda I'm glad - happy to pass things on that others have given to me. And 'the bottom' doesn't sound so good to me - maybe you're starting at the ground? Like a happy plant?
I like that better. Thank you!
Satya, this is wonderful, thank you. It's so nice to hear a more balanced version of my wacky "12 Days of Substack" post from last week. Writing can be difficult enough, however rewarding. Substack adds self-imposed (for most of us) merit badges that can be tough. I have fewer than 100 subscribers at the moment, which is just fine with me. I try my best not to look and to focus instead on what people write in the Comments when they do. Those are meaningful irrespective of whether the person subscribes. But that doesn't mean it's not nice to see in my Activity list that Jane subscribed. On a more important note, if you ever need someone to look at a draft or edit, which I love to do, I'm happy to help. And I love Brownies. :)
That's a great reminder Ben - that each comment is written by a person who's taken time out of their day to read and comment - the quality of that is more important than the quantity. And yes, also good to celebrate the subscriptions etc when they do happen. Both, somehow! Thank you. And sending you a virtual brownie - not as good as the non-virtual kind but hopefully you can receive the gesture :)
I love the "ask for help" one. So true, so powerful!
Satya, I hope to see you on the other side of a thousand here pretty soon, as I mentioned in Notes. Thank you for providing me with just a little extra motivation both yesterday and today!
Glad to hear it - yes am sure you'll be joining the club very soon : ) (it's pretty much the same in the club as it was out of the club, but still - worth being in it!)
I'm still blown away by the 10% paid rate. You're doing a lot right!
Thank you! 😊
Thanks for taking time to break down the journey for us.
Thanks for being here Colleen 🙏