Thank you for this community, Justin. I unsubscribed almost three years ago by quitting my highly paid and “important” job. I stayed in that job for six years. For the last five, I thought about leaving, but I couldn’t do it until one of my best friends asked me, “What kind of role model do you want to be for your first daughter? Someone who is highly paid but unhappy, or someone doing what they truly enjoy and living life on their own terms?” That question opened my eyes immediately. I started writing my resignation letter and have never looked back.
However, I’ve noticed that I still carry a lot of old programming. I find myself constantly checking emails and WhatsApp to see if someone needs me, instead of thinking about what I need. I keep accumulating more and more knowledge instead of thinking for myself and taking action. When I feel unfocused or overwhelmed by all the freedom I now have, I procrastinate by watching YouTube. I could work on anything, I could live anywhere, and yet I don’t know where to start at least, not yet.
Oh, and there’s one companion I forgot to mention: my own voice asking how I will eventually make money when my financial backup comes to an end.
This community seems to have appeared at just the right time.
Damn. This really resonates: "I find myself constantly checking emails and WhatsApp to see if someone needs me, instead of thinking about what I need. I keep accumulating more and more knowledge instead of thinking for myself and taking action."
To be honest, I still feel like this all of the time. Checking email. Looking at WhatsApp. Those are some tough habits to break. Instead of trying to break them 100%, I've focused on building some NEW habits that are good ones. Doing research, taking one action step, getting feedback, etc. I'm hoping this is a place that can help you do that, too.
One thing I have done is mini lifestyle experiments combined with travel. When you arrive in a new location, it is easier to take on a different persona. Last year, I went to a conference in Playa del Carmen. I decided to develop my exercise routine with 6:30 AM workouts. For some accountability, I shared these with the conference attendees and scheduled them in the park near my apartment. Even the people that did not join the morning workouts recognized me at the conference as the crazy person that's exercising at 6:30 AM. Returning home, I decided to retain this new identity as someone that exercises each morning and that is how I start my day even today. The new habit became part of my identity during that trip and returned with me when I came back home.
You said, "Inside, we'll explore a totally different way of thinking about success, work, and life. We'll challenge conventional wisdom. We'll share ideas for building lives that feel meaningful and rich, not just impressive on paper.
Most importantly, we'll do it together—with thousands of thoughtful people who are asking the same questions that you are."
What resonates with me is exploring different ways of thinking and sharing ideas for building lives together.
That's part of why I built this, Tony. Even though I'm a "solopreneur", I wouldn't have made it this far if I hadn't been surrounded by amazing people. My business (and life) have grown because of the support, the behind-the-scenes, etc. Hoping to provide something similar. Thanks for being a customer, Tony. Looking forward to conversing.
Yes, I am a paid customer, and my invite to you and others is that we connect deeper and become collaborators in a sustainable support human ecosystem that impacts humanity for the greatest good.
Hi Justin. I am hopeful I fit here, as I am a novice when it comes to business, but I’m SO game to learn!
🔹 I was BigLaw lawyer in NYC 1996-2016. I have 3 girls in their early 20s.
🔹 I stopped being a lawyer in 2016 and stayed home doing nothing for several years (mostly drinking 😔);
— quit drinking May 1, 2021 🎉;
— started little business/“hobby” in 2021;
found LinkedIn in 2021;
discovered I’m a writer;
published a book in 2024;
it’s been a ride.
🔹 BUT I am making a teacher’s salary. I want to get OFF my husband’s dime and be independent again SO much. (I was breadwinner for a lot of years 1998-2012).
🔹 I also find I have “ptsd” from my BigLaw days of being a workaholic. Now, if I start to get too busy, I drop or turn away clients out of fear that workaholism will take over my life again.
🔹 I also crave community, as I find being a solopreneur (if I can use that term notwithstanding my low income) quite isolating.
REALLY excited to be part of this. Lastly, thank you. And I’m sending YOU mojo for this new project. 💌 Amanda
Thanks for being so open and transparent, Amanda. Sounds like you're just the kind of person who will make a great member here. The best thing you can do is be open to learning and also sharing your experiences. Sounds like you're already ahead of that! :) I'm so glad you're here.
Great work, Justin! (And great first name, by the way.) This article really spoke to me.
I’ve been feeling that quiet “Is this it?” for quite a while now -- honestly, for the better part of a year. During that time, I’ve been slowly building a phased approach to help me fully “unsubscribe.” If all goes to plan, I’ll be making that shift in the next 4 - 6 months. And thankfully, with minimal risk.
As a husband, father of three young kids, and someone who’s naturally risk-averse, taking a thoughtful, low-risk path was essential for me. Therefore, in the event someone's reading this who is in a similar position (e.g., risk averse, breadwinner, etc.), here’s what’s helped me thus far:
1. Be transparent with your spouse or partner from the start. (You’re in this together; give them a voice in this process.)
2. Define what “unsubscribe” means for your family. (It’s clearly going to be different for everyone.)
3. Map out a phased path forward. (For me, that was to map out a journey that allowed me to keep supporting my family while gradually shifting toward the "unsubscribed" life we want.)
4. Build accountability. What's worked well for me was sharing our plan with people we know, trust, care about us, and who will frequently check in on us to see how things are going.
I hope this is helpful for someone. And once again, Justin, great work!
100% agree, Justin Mosley! I really like the 4 steps you articulated. Thanks for sharing. It aligns with the process I also went through to make sure my husband and 2 kids were on board with this new path. Being very clear to map out the financial roadmap together to make this happen was critical in taking the leap. Definitely agree with taking a "phased path forward."
Absolutely, Justin Mosley. Aligning my wife with the decision to leave the corporate world after nearly 25 years was where I needed to spend a lot of time leading up to this point. Talking to family regularly and sharing progress/ milestones in a transparent manner helped.
I turned 60 last December and it really got my attention. Being a grandfather is the only thing left on my bucket list, and it will happen any day now. Our grandson is due to arrive soon. I have some ambitious business goals, but they're all to spend more time with my family. Thanks for making "Unsubscribe" available, Justin. I'm excited for it.
Congrats Dale! We're expecting our first child in the fall.
You're off to a good start understanding that you want to prioritize family time.
I've been considering how to best involve grandparents without being in the same town. So far I like a barbell approach - lots of short messages/photos/voice notes asynchronous and not expecting timely or thoughtful responses, and then on the other end a couple multiday family meet-ups for creating memories 'in real life' (IRL)
Have other ideas here but trying to come up with our own definition of 'family time' instead of only planning around IRL
I quit my last corporate job last fall and started my own company. One of the things I've noticed is I feel like I'm cheating when I go to the gym in the middle of the day, or take a long walk when I would have normally been in meetings. It feels like I'm doing something wrong, until I realize that this is exactly why I wanted to start my own company, to have this flexibility. This is a feature, not a bug.
Hey Greg. Good to see you, brother. I'm about to head to the gym at 9a and it definitely feels like "cheating". I get that. 6 years in, still getting used to it.
When I had my corporate job and I'd take a day off, I would go to the gym in the middle of the day and think, "Who are all these people and what do they do for a living?" Now that I am one of them, I still feel like I don't belong. That imposter syndrome thing is always there.
I feel the same way! Being a solopreneur with free time during the workday means I visit my retired parents or go to swim laps at the pool with a bunch of seniors more often than I'd like to admit. But I'm not complaining at all. Glad to be part of this community of likeminded folks.
This is really well said---I am in a similar spot and find myself anxious when I am at the gym during "normal" work hours. My entire career I have focused on what I accomplished versus time spent but there is still that nagging voice saying I should be working at this time etc.
I’m turning 60 soon. Started my career at Microsoft and climbed the ladder to the point where I could see that there’s nothing at the top. And ambitious people like me? Blindly climbing rung, by rung to get there? So I quit the rat-race, married my high-school-sweetheart-turned-fabulously successful-rock-star and traveled the world on a tour bus. What did I learn? Fame & fortune were worse than the corporate chaos I left! So I quit that, too, ran off to the mountains of Vermont and studied spiritual stuff. Life goes on. Things change. The mountains got boring. So I became a parent and began parenting my own parents - through cancer, Alzheimer’s and, yes, death. My parents are gone now and my kids are beginning to forge their own ways.
Now I am “free” - but am at a loss. Caregiving and parenting were the most fulfilling “occupations” I’ve ever experienced but I know they’re not the path forward for me. I tried returning to “real work”and, once again, found myself in the same kind of chaos and dysfunction that I ran screaming from in the 90s.
I now know I’m not capable of returning to that kind of “normal” … I was writing exactly that in my journal this morning when your email hit my inbox, Justin. The Universe spoke, so here I am!
Great idea - very much looking forward to seeing how this unfolds :)
I know the feeling Pam. I came to the conclusion that I need to unsubscribe as my Mom was going through last stages of Alzhimers and one of new born twin was in NICU fighting for his life for 8 months. We brought him home on feeding tube and breathing tube and I had to decide what was important, be with my family when they need me or regret it forever that I wasn't there when they needed me. I know as a parent and a daughter I have a responsibility to earn and take care of them and that is what scares me. Am I doing wrong by being selfish and potentially putting their future at risk? I don't know how to stop worrying about all this!!
That’s an ongoing challenge for me too, Uttama. As I write this, I am in the emergency room with my daughter. She is chronically ill … so very hard to balance work and life when life feels more important than work.
Excited for this! Unsubscribed from my corporate marketing gig eight years ago next month. Being self-employed is the longest running “job” I’ve ever had, and while I wouldn’t change it for anything, I’ve never really felt like I’ve got past being a freelancer. Constant swings between feast and famine periods, always on the lookout for the next project, and never not busy with something or other. I know it’s possible - just not quite sure how to get there.
I know the feeling Chris. I hate these ups and downs though. Even though between me and my husband we have 2 ventures but due to recent changes in the economic outlook both ventures are going through big down turn! Hopefully will learn from others how to get beyond this constant turmoil. Love the fact that literally all of us are opening up and discussing our deep rooted feelings and emotions while going through the process of unsubscribing!
Justin, this really resonated. My wife and I have been living a version of this “unsubscribed” life for over 15 years—intentionally choosing what we allow in, and saying no to everything else.
In 2011, I spent six months living and studying in Barcelona, thanks to a business I could run from my laptop. Since then, we’ve lived by a simple rule: no crossing oceans for trips under a month. We own a modest, mortgage-free home in rural NC and generate passive income through REITs in a Roth—no 2 a.m. plumbing calls.
But the part no one talks about? Responsibility. With total freedom comes total ownership. You can't blame work for missed birthdays or a lack of presence. Every choice is yours—including the trade-offs.
This year alone, we’ve turned down several travel invites because my wife is deep in her PhD. Her professors are baffled when she says she doesn’t care about the stipend—she’s here purely to learn. That’s what freedom looks like: clarity. And the willingness to choose discomfort when it aligns with your purpose.
In a few years, we’ll resume long-term travel—6+ months abroad, scouting our second home base. Until then, we stay subscribed to what matters, and viciously unsubscribe from what doesn’t.
Thanks for putting words to a life we’ve quietly chosen.
This is so cool, Frank. I resonate with a lot of this. We live in very rural NY (a hamlet with a population of 500 and no cell phone) and I'm loving the life of total ownership. Glad to have you here, man.
Thank you for bringing this to us, Justin. Joining the community from the other side of the world :) It's sunny Singapore ladies and gentlemen!!!
This couldn't have come at a better time for me.
After being in the corporate world for 25+ years, I finally left last month to explore the creative side of me.
I have been wanting to take this leap for the past couple of years, but always found myself engulfed in the fear of uncertainty until I asked couple of questions last Christmas - 1) how would my life be, if I continued to be on this path for the next 10 years 2) what is it that I want to do such that I don't look back with regret .. and I never heard my voice about the next title, or any other job in a different company. It was always about building something that allows me to live life on my own terms as well as leave a legacy.
Excited and grateful to be here with you all. Let's create a path that others would envy and be pulled towards :)
Justin, huge thank you for starting this amazing community of like-minded Unsubscribers!
Like everyone here, I am done with “sleepwalking through life.” After recently turning 50, I was finally done with abusive toxic corporate cultures and quit my job running marketing in Silicon Valley tech. At first, I felt lost in a free fall. Then found a way to start a company to solve a problem in the world that I care deeply about.
Being a solopreneur is very lonely, but in the backdrop I found your voice. And your writings have given me strength. So when I saw that you were building the inner circle, there was no hesitation. I’m in! And so glad to find my people. Already can’t wait to connect with others and learn together on this new path. Thank you! So grateful. Cheers, -Kris
I’m a year and a half into the process of actively Unsubscribing from 25 years of autopilot. That mode gave me life-changing opportunities and financial freedom, which I’m now using to remodel what life looks like from day to day. Specifically that means pivoting out of my “first career” over the next year or so, while simultaneously building up a portfolio career balanced between passive real estate and active creator pursuits. My motivation are two kids on the cusp of their teen years. It occurred to me I am replaceable in every role I hold except one - being their mom. Whenever I get that Imposter Syndrome itch, I remind myself of that. Like any remodel, there have been a lot of surprises pop up so far in this process, and it costs more and is going to take longer than I expected. I’m grateful to have found your work, Justin, and appreciate what you share with others. I’m here for accountability and motivation to keep going. I second the battle around old programming, and am hoping that surrounding myself with others creating a path through this process helps inspire daily steps forward.
Hello. I am new to Substack but not new to your work Justin. Hopefully I am in the right place having joined the inner circle. Love the name Unsubscribe - clever 👌 I am here to learn and share. I am in the business of helping mid life professionals reinvent themselves so this is a perfect place to be inspired and inspire.
Gwendy, it's so great to have you. Looking forward to making this a space where people can learn the skills, meet the people, and become the person (and businessperson) they want to be.
"Maybe it means building a business that stays deliberately small so you can travel with your partner without asking permission." I can relate to that so much. Looks like I am in the right place to meet other solopreneurs and freedom chasers. Thank you for creating that space Justin. And next time you're in France for 90 days, let me know! I live between Paris and Nice.
Awesome, Tom! Thanks for being a member. Jennifer and I love Paris, so we'll likely come back and do a dinner at some point. A big reason we built this is to meet interesting people face-to-face. Not enough of that anymore, IMO.
Thank you for this community, Justin. I unsubscribed almost three years ago by quitting my highly paid and “important” job. I stayed in that job for six years. For the last five, I thought about leaving, but I couldn’t do it until one of my best friends asked me, “What kind of role model do you want to be for your first daughter? Someone who is highly paid but unhappy, or someone doing what they truly enjoy and living life on their own terms?” That question opened my eyes immediately. I started writing my resignation letter and have never looked back.
However, I’ve noticed that I still carry a lot of old programming. I find myself constantly checking emails and WhatsApp to see if someone needs me, instead of thinking about what I need. I keep accumulating more and more knowledge instead of thinking for myself and taking action. When I feel unfocused or overwhelmed by all the freedom I now have, I procrastinate by watching YouTube. I could work on anything, I could live anywhere, and yet I don’t know where to start at least, not yet.
Oh, and there’s one companion I forgot to mention: my own voice asking how I will eventually make money when my financial backup comes to an end.
This community seems to have appeared at just the right time.
Damn. This really resonates: "I find myself constantly checking emails and WhatsApp to see if someone needs me, instead of thinking about what I need. I keep accumulating more and more knowledge instead of thinking for myself and taking action."
To be honest, I still feel like this all of the time. Checking email. Looking at WhatsApp. Those are some tough habits to break. Instead of trying to break them 100%, I've focused on building some NEW habits that are good ones. Doing research, taking one action step, getting feedback, etc. I'm hoping this is a place that can help you do that, too.
You're talking to me!
One thing I have done is mini lifestyle experiments combined with travel. When you arrive in a new location, it is easier to take on a different persona. Last year, I went to a conference in Playa del Carmen. I decided to develop my exercise routine with 6:30 AM workouts. For some accountability, I shared these with the conference attendees and scheduled them in the park near my apartment. Even the people that did not join the morning workouts recognized me at the conference as the crazy person that's exercising at 6:30 AM. Returning home, I decided to retain this new identity as someone that exercises each morning and that is how I start my day even today. The new habit became part of my identity during that trip and returned with me when I came back home.
Justin,
You said, "Inside, we'll explore a totally different way of thinking about success, work, and life. We'll challenge conventional wisdom. We'll share ideas for building lives that feel meaningful and rich, not just impressive on paper.
Most importantly, we'll do it together—with thousands of thoughtful people who are asking the same questions that you are."
What resonates with me is exploring different ways of thinking and sharing ideas for building lives together.
NONE OF US IS EVER AS SMART AS ALL OF US.
That's part of why I built this, Tony. Even though I'm a "solopreneur", I wouldn't have made it this far if I hadn't been surrounded by amazing people. My business (and life) have grown because of the support, the behind-the-scenes, etc. Hoping to provide something similar. Thanks for being a customer, Tony. Looking forward to conversing.
Justin,
You said, "Thanks for being a customer."
Yes, I am a paid customer, and my invite to you and others is that we connect deeper and become collaborators in a sustainable support human ecosystem that impacts humanity for the greatest good.
Hell yes. Just language I'm used to using :) All habits are tough to break.
Justin, I appreciate your awareness and vulnerability. It confirms my sense about you before I became a paid member.
Let's schedule a Zoom call when you have time and energy.
https://calendly.com/tony-547/30min
Hi Justin. I am hopeful I fit here, as I am a novice when it comes to business, but I’m SO game to learn!
🔹 I was BigLaw lawyer in NYC 1996-2016. I have 3 girls in their early 20s.
🔹 I stopped being a lawyer in 2016 and stayed home doing nothing for several years (mostly drinking 😔);
— quit drinking May 1, 2021 🎉;
— started little business/“hobby” in 2021;
found LinkedIn in 2021;
discovered I’m a writer;
published a book in 2024;
it’s been a ride.
🔹 BUT I am making a teacher’s salary. I want to get OFF my husband’s dime and be independent again SO much. (I was breadwinner for a lot of years 1998-2012).
🔹 I also find I have “ptsd” from my BigLaw days of being a workaholic. Now, if I start to get too busy, I drop or turn away clients out of fear that workaholism will take over my life again.
🔹 I also crave community, as I find being a solopreneur (if I can use that term notwithstanding my low income) quite isolating.
REALLY excited to be part of this. Lastly, thank you. And I’m sending YOU mojo for this new project. 💌 Amanda
Thanks for being so open and transparent, Amanda. Sounds like you're just the kind of person who will make a great member here. The best thing you can do is be open to learning and also sharing your experiences. Sounds like you're already ahead of that! :) I'm so glad you're here.
Beautiful reply, Amanda! Long list of amazing accomplishments! Can't wait to learn from you in the coming days, weeks, months, and years! :-)
I can relate to your journey in many ways. Nice meeting you here!
Great work, Justin! (And great first name, by the way.) This article really spoke to me.
I’ve been feeling that quiet “Is this it?” for quite a while now -- honestly, for the better part of a year. During that time, I’ve been slowly building a phased approach to help me fully “unsubscribe.” If all goes to plan, I’ll be making that shift in the next 4 - 6 months. And thankfully, with minimal risk.
As a husband, father of three young kids, and someone who’s naturally risk-averse, taking a thoughtful, low-risk path was essential for me. Therefore, in the event someone's reading this who is in a similar position (e.g., risk averse, breadwinner, etc.), here’s what’s helped me thus far:
1. Be transparent with your spouse or partner from the start. (You’re in this together; give them a voice in this process.)
2. Define what “unsubscribe” means for your family. (It’s clearly going to be different for everyone.)
3. Map out a phased path forward. (For me, that was to map out a journey that allowed me to keep supporting my family while gradually shifting toward the "unsubscribed" life we want.)
4. Build accountability. What's worked well for me was sharing our plan with people we know, trust, care about us, and who will frequently check in on us to see how things are going.
I hope this is helpful for someone. And once again, Justin, great work!
Stay blessed!
This is helpful for ME, let alone other people, Justin. Not only a great name, but a great comment. Thanks for joining us, man. I appreciate it.
100% agree, Justin Mosley! I really like the 4 steps you articulated. Thanks for sharing. It aligns with the process I also went through to make sure my husband and 2 kids were on board with this new path. Being very clear to map out the financial roadmap together to make this happen was critical in taking the leap. Definitely agree with taking a "phased path forward."
Absolutely, Justin Mosley. Aligning my wife with the decision to leave the corporate world after nearly 25 years was where I needed to spend a lot of time leading up to this point. Talking to family regularly and sharing progress/ milestones in a transparent manner helped.
I turned 60 last December and it really got my attention. Being a grandfather is the only thing left on my bucket list, and it will happen any day now. Our grandson is due to arrive soon. I have some ambitious business goals, but they're all to spend more time with my family. Thanks for making "Unsubscribe" available, Justin. I'm excited for it.
Congratulations, Dale! And I'm so glad you're here. Let me know when the baby comes :)
Hi Dale...I am 3 years behind you! I enjoy business but love my family more. Doing my best to create the freedom to live a full life.
Congrats Dale! We're expecting our first child in the fall.
You're off to a good start understanding that you want to prioritize family time.
I've been considering how to best involve grandparents without being in the same town. So far I like a barbell approach - lots of short messages/photos/voice notes asynchronous and not expecting timely or thoughtful responses, and then on the other end a couple multiday family meet-ups for creating memories 'in real life' (IRL)
Have other ideas here but trying to come up with our own definition of 'family time' instead of only planning around IRL
Dale, I saw your comments and it reminded me that some of my clients and friends have enjoyed reading this book: https://amzn.eu/d/0JsJM6p
Just bought this for Kindle, Adam. Thanks for the recommendation. Looks like a great read.
I quit my last corporate job last fall and started my own company. One of the things I've noticed is I feel like I'm cheating when I go to the gym in the middle of the day, or take a long walk when I would have normally been in meetings. It feels like I'm doing something wrong, until I realize that this is exactly why I wanted to start my own company, to have this flexibility. This is a feature, not a bug.
Hey Greg. Good to see you, brother. I'm about to head to the gym at 9a and it definitely feels like "cheating". I get that. 6 years in, still getting used to it.
When I had my corporate job and I'd take a day off, I would go to the gym in the middle of the day and think, "Who are all these people and what do they do for a living?" Now that I am one of them, I still feel like I don't belong. That imposter syndrome thing is always there.
Well done, Greg! This is EXACTLY what I aspire to achieve as well! Super excited for you, Good Sir!
I feel the same way! Being a solopreneur with free time during the workday means I visit my retired parents or go to swim laps at the pool with a bunch of seniors more often than I'd like to admit. But I'm not complaining at all. Glad to be part of this community of likeminded folks.
This is really well said---I am in a similar spot and find myself anxious when I am at the gym during "normal" work hours. My entire career I have focused on what I accomplished versus time spent but there is still that nagging voice saying I should be working at this time etc.
I’m turning 60 soon. Started my career at Microsoft and climbed the ladder to the point where I could see that there’s nothing at the top. And ambitious people like me? Blindly climbing rung, by rung to get there? So I quit the rat-race, married my high-school-sweetheart-turned-fabulously successful-rock-star and traveled the world on a tour bus. What did I learn? Fame & fortune were worse than the corporate chaos I left! So I quit that, too, ran off to the mountains of Vermont and studied spiritual stuff. Life goes on. Things change. The mountains got boring. So I became a parent and began parenting my own parents - through cancer, Alzheimer’s and, yes, death. My parents are gone now and my kids are beginning to forge their own ways.
Now I am “free” - but am at a loss. Caregiving and parenting were the most fulfilling “occupations” I’ve ever experienced but I know they’re not the path forward for me. I tried returning to “real work”and, once again, found myself in the same kind of chaos and dysfunction that I ran screaming from in the 90s.
I now know I’m not capable of returning to that kind of “normal” … I was writing exactly that in my journal this morning when your email hit my inbox, Justin. The Universe spoke, so here I am!
Great idea - very much looking forward to seeing how this unfolds :)
Thank you!
This was absolutely BEAUTIFUL to read, Pam! Thank you so much for sharing!
A beautiful share, and journey.
Reminds me of line I heard recently that struck a chord...
"What is life asking of me (now)?" Viktor Frankl
Thanks.
I know the feeling Pam. I came to the conclusion that I need to unsubscribe as my Mom was going through last stages of Alzhimers and one of new born twin was in NICU fighting for his life for 8 months. We brought him home on feeding tube and breathing tube and I had to decide what was important, be with my family when they need me or regret it forever that I wasn't there when they needed me. I know as a parent and a daughter I have a responsibility to earn and take care of them and that is what scares me. Am I doing wrong by being selfish and potentially putting their future at risk? I don't know how to stop worrying about all this!!
That’s an ongoing challenge for me too, Uttama. As I write this, I am in the emergency room with my daughter. She is chronically ill … so very hard to balance work and life when life feels more important than work.
Excited for this! Unsubscribed from my corporate marketing gig eight years ago next month. Being self-employed is the longest running “job” I’ve ever had, and while I wouldn’t change it for anything, I’ve never really felt like I’ve got past being a freelancer. Constant swings between feast and famine periods, always on the lookout for the next project, and never not busy with something or other. I know it’s possible - just not quite sure how to get there.
Look forward to getting to know you all. 👋
Awesome. Welcome aboard, Chris. Really pumped to have you and hope to help you work through some of those challenges. 💪
I know the feeling Chris. I hate these ups and downs though. Even though between me and my husband we have 2 ventures but due to recent changes in the economic outlook both ventures are going through big down turn! Hopefully will learn from others how to get beyond this constant turmoil. Love the fact that literally all of us are opening up and discussing our deep rooted feelings and emotions while going through the process of unsubscribing!
Justin, this really resonated. My wife and I have been living a version of this “unsubscribed” life for over 15 years—intentionally choosing what we allow in, and saying no to everything else.
In 2011, I spent six months living and studying in Barcelona, thanks to a business I could run from my laptop. Since then, we’ve lived by a simple rule: no crossing oceans for trips under a month. We own a modest, mortgage-free home in rural NC and generate passive income through REITs in a Roth—no 2 a.m. plumbing calls.
But the part no one talks about? Responsibility. With total freedom comes total ownership. You can't blame work for missed birthdays or a lack of presence. Every choice is yours—including the trade-offs.
This year alone, we’ve turned down several travel invites because my wife is deep in her PhD. Her professors are baffled when she says she doesn’t care about the stipend—she’s here purely to learn. That’s what freedom looks like: clarity. And the willingness to choose discomfort when it aligns with your purpose.
In a few years, we’ll resume long-term travel—6+ months abroad, scouting our second home base. Until then, we stay subscribed to what matters, and viciously unsubscribe from what doesn’t.
Thanks for putting words to a life we’ve quietly chosen.
This is so cool, Frank. I resonate with a lot of this. We live in very rural NY (a hamlet with a population of 500 and no cell phone) and I'm loving the life of total ownership. Glad to have you here, man.
Today you have a choice:
It's easier than ever to build a six-figure business as a solo entrepreneur
Notice I said easier, not easy. But you get to choose a business that aligns with your revenue & lifestyle goals
You can intentionally build a solo business which is a lifestyle business- or choose to scale beyond that...
Only you can subscribe or unsubscribe
Love it, Wendy. Certainly not easy, but nothing good usually is.
Amen to this! Well stated, Wendy. Rome wasn't built in a day.
Easier but not easy- nothing worth doing is ever easy!
True. Although there are people who try to sell you on the otherwise
Thank you for bringing this to us, Justin. Joining the community from the other side of the world :) It's sunny Singapore ladies and gentlemen!!!
This couldn't have come at a better time for me.
After being in the corporate world for 25+ years, I finally left last month to explore the creative side of me.
I have been wanting to take this leap for the past couple of years, but always found myself engulfed in the fear of uncertainty until I asked couple of questions last Christmas - 1) how would my life be, if I continued to be on this path for the next 10 years 2) what is it that I want to do such that I don't look back with regret .. and I never heard my voice about the next title, or any other job in a different company. It was always about building something that allows me to live life on my own terms as well as leave a legacy.
Excited and grateful to be here with you all. Let's create a path that others would envy and be pulled towards :)
Amazing, Saikat! So cool to have a member from Singapore. I've read great things. Thanks for joining us!
Justin, huge thank you for starting this amazing community of like-minded Unsubscribers!
Like everyone here, I am done with “sleepwalking through life.” After recently turning 50, I was finally done with abusive toxic corporate cultures and quit my job running marketing in Silicon Valley tech. At first, I felt lost in a free fall. Then found a way to start a company to solve a problem in the world that I care deeply about.
Being a solopreneur is very lonely, but in the backdrop I found your voice. And your writings have given me strength. So when I saw that you were building the inner circle, there was no hesitation. I’m in! And so glad to find my people. Already can’t wait to connect with others and learn together on this new path. Thank you! So grateful. Cheers, -Kris
Thank you, Kris. What a kind and thoughtful comment. I appreciate you taking the time to write it. Welcome aboard and I'm glad to have you here.
I’m a year and a half into the process of actively Unsubscribing from 25 years of autopilot. That mode gave me life-changing opportunities and financial freedom, which I’m now using to remodel what life looks like from day to day. Specifically that means pivoting out of my “first career” over the next year or so, while simultaneously building up a portfolio career balanced between passive real estate and active creator pursuits. My motivation are two kids on the cusp of their teen years. It occurred to me I am replaceable in every role I hold except one - being their mom. Whenever I get that Imposter Syndrome itch, I remind myself of that. Like any remodel, there have been a lot of surprises pop up so far in this process, and it costs more and is going to take longer than I expected. I’m grateful to have found your work, Justin, and appreciate what you share with others. I’m here for accountability and motivation to keep going. I second the battle around old programming, and am hoping that surrounding myself with others creating a path through this process helps inspire daily steps forward.
Same motivation here - only difference is my kids are teens :)
Subscribe to Unsubscribe seems irresistible.
Appreciate you, Lisa :)
Hahaha! Love it!
Hello. I am new to Substack but not new to your work Justin. Hopefully I am in the right place having joined the inner circle. Love the name Unsubscribe - clever 👌 I am here to learn and share. I am in the business of helping mid life professionals reinvent themselves so this is a perfect place to be inspired and inspire.
Gwendy, it's so great to have you. Looking forward to making this a space where people can learn the skills, meet the people, and become the person (and businessperson) they want to be.
"Maybe it means building a business that stays deliberately small so you can travel with your partner without asking permission." I can relate to that so much. Looks like I am in the right place to meet other solopreneurs and freedom chasers. Thank you for creating that space Justin. And next time you're in France for 90 days, let me know! I live between Paris and Nice.
Awesome, Tom! Thanks for being a member. Jennifer and I love Paris, so we'll likely come back and do a dinner at some point. A big reason we built this is to meet interesting people face-to-face. Not enough of that anymore, IMO.