Welcome to another issue of the no-BS newsletter dedicated to demystifying the world of passive income, where we share practical, reliable strategies to build and sustain income streams that work for you.

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In today's issue:

• The Monster Under My Bed

•  The Best Sales Pitch You'll Ever Hear

• Are You Interested In Success— Or Committed To It?

• Social Justice And The Dark Side Of Activism with Simone Vincenzi

• Whales, Million-Dollar Bets, & the Vegas Hustle

FROM MY WORLD

The Monster Under My Bed

I used to fear change like it was a monster hiding under my bed. Growing up in Ukraine, a country where change usually meant disaster—currency collapses, violence, or political upheaval—I learned early on that change was bad news.

I was just a kid in post-Soviet Ukraine, trying to survive in a rough environment as a Jewish family in a non-Jewish area. 

We didn’t advertise our religion because, if you know anything about post-Soviet Russia and Ukraine, you know it wasn’t exactly welcoming to Jews. 

I remember this one bully in school who made it his mission to get under my skin. He crossed the line one too many times, so I eventually beat the living crap out of him. The next thing I knew, his mom was complaining to mine, asking why I did it. 

My mom’s response? “Why did your son call mine a kike?”

That’s just one example of the kind of hostility we lived with. But as bad as that was, it wasn’t nearly as terrifying as what happened during the 1998 presidential elections. 

I’ll never forget seeing my mom’s face turn pale with fear as she watched the news. One candidate, Kuchma, was more or less neutral toward Jews. But the other guy? A full-blown anti-Semite. My mom, in panic mode, said, “This man hates people like us.” 

Thankfully, Kuchma won, but the fear of change and instability never left our household.

Then we moved to Israel, thinking things would improve. 

But surprise, surprise—now I was getting beat up for being a Ukrainian in a Jewish country. 

It was like I couldn’t win no matter where I went. 

These experiences drilled into me the idea that change was something to be avoided at all costs. By the time I was 18, I hated change so much that I’d do anything to avoid it.

But here’s the twist: I was more afraid of staying stuck than I was of change itself. That fear of stagnation eventually pushed me to start an online business—a journey where change is not only inevitable but necessary for survival.

The first five years were brutal. Everything was in constant flux. Google AdWords, SEO, email marketing—you name it. Just when you thought you’d figured something out, the rules would change. 

For example, back when I taught people how to build solo ad businesses, all you needed was an autoresponder and a decent email sequence. Fast forward a few years, and it became so complex that 90% of solo ad sellers got wiped out. Only a handful of us who adapted survived.

That’s when I realized something crucial: change is a gift—if you learn how to handle it.

A perfect example?  I lost my 100,000-subscriber email list overnight. That list brought in $3,000 daily with minimal effort. 

Losing it felt like a disaster. 

I spiraled for days before snapping out of it. That setback forced me to innovate, leading to a new traffic strategy that skyrocketed our revenue from $50,000 a month to over $250,000.

The lesson? Change is only a problem if you see it that way. Lean into it, and it can be your biggest growth driver. Life doesn’t happen to you—it happens for you. The choice is yours to turn obstacles into opportunities.

The discomfort you feel is a sign you’re on the right track. 

If I could overcome my deep-rooted fear of change and turn it into a tool for growth, so can you.

MY GIFT FOR YOU

I Want To Ship You a Copy of My Book

As our way of saying thanks for subscribing to the newsletter, we’d like to ship you a free copy of the Amazon best-seller List Building Lifestyle: Confessions of an Email Millionaire. This book shows how to build a scalable passive income online even if you’ve got no previous experience.

Claim your no cost copy by texting the word BOOK to +1-917-979-4483.

You can also just click the button below if you’re reading this on your mobile device.

This book costs $20 on Amazon, but if you text the word BOOK to +1-917-979-4483, you’ll receive a special link allowing you to get a free copy of the book plus $3,251.88 in bonuses (just chip in on S&H).

LESSONS FROM LEGENDS

The Best Sales Pitch You'll Ever Hear

Marketing legend Joe Sugarman, known for his sharp humor and unconventional methods, once pulled off a hilarious stunt while selling BluBlocker sunglasses. 

Sugarman was famous for using long-form copy that felt more like a conversation than a sales pitch, but he knew how to grab attention with something outrageous when needed.

In one of his ads, Sugarman flat-out called his customers idiots.

Yep, you read that right.

He wrote something along the lines of, “If you’re smart, you’ll buy BluBlockers. If you’re not… well, maybe you shouldn’t be reading this ad in the first place.”

This cheeky, reverse psychology tactic was meant to tap into the reader’s ego. The implied message was, “Are you really going to let someone suggest you’re not smart enough to buy these?”

The ad was a hit. 

People bought the sunglasses in droves—not just because of the product, but because Sugarman’s playful challenge hooked them emotionally. It was a genius blend of humor and psychology.

Sometimes, it pays to get a little cheeky with your marketing. If you can make your audience smile (or even laugh at themselves), you’re more likely to get them to pull the trigger on a purchase. 

People buy with their emotions first, logic second. And a funny, unexpected twist is often the fastest way to get them there.

MINDSET MAKEOVER

Are You Interested In Success— Or Committed To It?

Most people don’t realize there’s a massive difference between being interested in success and being committed to it. 

They think writing down their goals, repeating affirmations, and visualizing success is enough. But when things get tough, they slip back into old habits. They procrastinate, get distracted, and wonder why they’re still stuck in the same place year after year.

I used to be exactly like that.

I thought I was committed to success. I even wrote out detailed goals and put them on a vision board. But the truth? I was just interested. I wasn’t serious about upgrading my mindset, skills, or habits.

That all changed when I met a guy named Mr. Brown who asked me that simple question: “Are you interested, or are you committed?”

When I asked him what he meant, he explained: “If you’re interested, you’ll do what’s easy and convenient. You’ll let your excuses, limiting beliefs, and current circumstances control you. But if you’re committed, you’ll upgrade your identity, learn new skills, and develop the habits that align with the results you want.”

Boom. That hit me hard.

I realized I’d been fooling myself. I was more interested in feeling good than in actually doing the work that success required. 

That’s when I made a decision: no more dabbling, no more excuses. I committed to making real changes, no matter how uncomfortable it felt.

I upgraded three things in my life:

1. My Identity—I stopped seeing myself as a broke kid with no options and started behaving like someone who could achieve big goals.

2. My Skills—I mastered cold calling, closing deals, and handling rejection. Skills that scared me became skills that served me.

3. My Habits—I disciplined myself to do what needed to be done, day in and day out. 100 calls a day? No excuses, no shortcuts.

Within six months, I was making more money than I ever thought possible. The difference wasn’t magic. It was commitment.

Here’s the mindset shift you need to make if you want to stop spinning your wheels: Commit to the process, not just the outcome.

Being interested means you’ll do what’s easy. Being committed means you’ll do what’s necessary.  Which one are you?

FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE

Social Justice And The Dark Side Of Activism with Simone Vincenzi

Looking for an insightful conversation that delves into the world of entrepreneurship? Look no further than the latest episode of our podcast, featuring Simone Vincenzi! Whether you're passionate about activism or entrepreneurship, there's a place for you to make a difference. 

So tune in and let's make a difference together!

CURATED READS

Whales, Million-Dollar Bets, & the Vegas Hustle

Think Vegas is wild? Try the private jets, insane suites, and millions bet in a single night - that's the world of 'whales'. “Whale Hunt in the Desert” by Dake Castleman gives you a backstage pass to this high-roller scene and the casinos' tricks to keep 'em spending.

Part Ocean's Eleven, part masterclass in persuasion, this book reveals the psychology behind the gamble. Marketers? There's a goldmine of ideas here on treating top clients like royalty.

Want to know how the rich get reckless in Vegas? This book is more thrilling than watching a high-stakes poker game, and way less likely to leave you broke.

RIDDLE ME THIS

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