Technology is on the verge of radically changing human kind.

Artificial intelligence has the potential to disrupt every industry on earth.

In this new, ever expanding technological greenspace, what is the most valuable skill to have?

Coding? Computer science? A degree in machine learning?

Nope.

It’s the ability to write and communicate.

If you’re interested in Web3 or any other industry that touches the internet, the most valuable project you can work on is a newsletter.

Why Start a Newsletter?

This may seem counter intuitive.

Sure, all this technology is amazing.

But technology doesn’t buy things and make decisions that affect those around us. Not yet, at least.

People do.

If you want to make an impact, either through growing a business or starting a project or a community, you have to interact with people.

The internet has made us forget that there are living, breathing people behind all these screens.

But it goes deeper than that.

No matter what industry you’re interested in, the quality of your ideas, or intellectual capital, is what determines how far you’ll go.

Writing a newsletter builds that intellectual capital.

“But Savant, what about video? It’s all about short form video now.”

Every video begins with a script. Which needs to be written.

But most people don’t own their writing.

4.6 billion people on social media don’t own their writing.

They are guests on someone else’s platform. And the only way to own your own platform (for now) is through email.

How to Get Started

Ironically, the hardest part about starting a newsletter isn’t the writing.

It’s the STARTING.

Zero to one is the hardest milestone.

When I started this newsletter I felt like I was shouting into the void.

There’s always that fear that no one will read it.

But if you focus on output instead of the outcome, you’ll be better equipped to handle that rat bastard voice in your head telling you to give up.

In December of last year I made the goal to write one newsletter a week for a year.

52 newsletters, rain or shine, regardless of how many people read it.

This is newsletter #8. And I can tell you it gets easier and more enjoyable as you progress.

I write this newsletter primarily to help shape my ideas, to learn and to help others a few steps behind me.

Oftentimes I won’t even know how I feel about a subject until I write about it.

I’ll finish writing, take a walk. Then sit in front of my computer and re-read it.

“Well I’ll be damned. I didn’t even realize I thought that until now.”

I know what you’re thinking.

“But Savant, writing a newsletter takes too long.”

I struggled with this too when I started.

I would spend hours researching, writing and editing.

Then I found this thread from Keiran Drew and it changed how I thought about the process.

Instead of writing about things I needed to do hours of research for, I started writing about things I already knew and had experience with.

And I found myself getting more subscribers than when I was writing for hours on end.

We have this idea that what we know isn’t good enough. We forget how far we have come. And how much we know.

Most people have six-figures worth of annual income in their brains in the form of knowledge and experience, they just don’t realize it.

Starting a newsletter helps you solidify your ideas, builds topical authority, allows you to help others, and opens the door for you to get paid for what’s inside your brain - rather than trading your time for a few shekels.

How to Get Started

All you need is a topic you find interesting and an internet connection.

For help on finding your niche, check out this article by Dan Koe.

While there are many newsletter platforms out there, here are three that are top of mind:

• Substack: super easy to use, very beginner friendly and free.

• Beehiiv. This is what I use and it’s free. It has a bit more functionality than Substack.

• ConvertKit. Much more functionality and for serious entrepreneurs.

The barriers to entry are as low as they have ever been in history.

If you’re struggling to get started, reply to this email. Let’s brainstorm on topics and how to get started. I love interacting with readers as I know your time and attention is valuable.

Resources

I subscribe to over 100 newsletters. You’re probably thinking, “that’s impossible to read 100 newsletters a week!”

And you’re right. I don’t have time to read 100 newsletters a week.

Most of them I subscribe to for research.

I want to see what other people are doing and what’s working.

But here are 10 newsletters that I read religiously:

The Koe Letter is what inspired me to start a newsletter. Dan is a legend and talks about human potential, lifestyle design and one-person businesses.

The Coin Bureau sends out a newsletter every Sunday that sums up what’s going on in crypto and why.

Forefront sends out a thought provoking weekly newsletter that dives into Web3 social.

Rob Lennon is the best source for writing and AI related content. He gives away so much valuable info that it’s surprising this newsletter is still free.

Ship 30 for 30 Dickie Bush and Nicolas Cole send out actionable advice each week on how to write online, including how to start a newsletter.

Fifty Fridays is a weekly newsletter about crypto and personal finance - two things everyone should understand if they want to make it.

Digital Freedom - Keiran Drew breaks down how to make it writing online with a sharp sense of wit and humor. Highly recommend.

1% Better by NFT GOD has had a meteoric rise on Twitter and it’s because he puts out consistently good content.

The Saturday Solopreneur is short but packs so much value into a 3 to 5 minute read. Justin Welsh runs a solo business that makes over $3 million a year. Dude is killing it and his newsletters teach you how to do the same.

Curiosity Chronicle by Sahil Bloom always makes me stop and think. It’s a nice break from the daily grind.