Reflecting, Rewriting, and Finding My True Purpose in Business
A personal journey of rediscovering creativity, purpose, and the joy of writing—beyond the strategies and numbers.
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It’s been a while since I wrote a newsletter just for the sake of writing something personal—without trying to teach anything.
Two days ago, I couldn’t sleep because my thoughts were spinning. I had a tough day and started questioning whether I was still on the right path with my work.
I wondered: Why did I even join Substack in the first place?
When I first heard about Substack in January 2023, I was hooked. I discovered beautifully written and inspiring newsletters I hadn’t seen before. At that time, Notes wasn’t what it is today.
I joined to read, with the idea of writing a newsletter too. It was an exciting feeling.
I launched my German publication, sending weekly newsletters for over 60 weeks, until I switched to writing in English. That’s when I decided to delete my German publication, but that’s another story.
One of the most enjoyable parts of my German business was writing my weekly newsletter. I’ve sent out more than 400 newsletters. Although I struggled at first with timing and topics, I found my rhythm after three months.
The secret?
There was none!
I just started writing—no worrying about SEO or trying to make it perfect like a blog post. I shared stories from my life, often connecting them to my latest blog post.
I wrote these newsletters mostly on my phone, in places like cafés or on my balcony with a cup of coffee. Soon, my readers made it a Sunday ritual to read my newsletter, and I received many letters thanking me for the inspiration and motivation I shared.
It became so popular that I turned my best newsletters into a small e-book, which I sold or gave away as a bonus with other products.
But as I was lying awake two nights ago, I wondered when I stopped writing like that.
I’m not exactly sure, but I think it was around the time Notes became more popular on Substack. A lot of writers started posting about strategies, growth, and numbers. It felt like everyone was focused on building a bigger, more successful Substack. I got caught up in trying to follow the crowd, until I realized that wasn’t me.
Yes, I want to help writers and creators build purposeful businesses and lives of freedom. But I also want to write creatively—not just share strategies.
After a day off, clarity hit. Inspired by
and her post “What 2025 Holds for Content Creation" (who feels like a kindred spirit), I’ve decided on a new direction for my business:I’ll publish one long-format teaching blog post per week.
I’ll share a shorter version of that post on Substack, focusing on building a business on purpose.
And I’ll send out one personal newsletter, with more casual thoughts, and less strategy.
This is living business.
Sometimes you think you're on the right path, but other times you need to pause, reflect, and choose a new direction.
And that's okay—it’s all part of building a business with purpose.
📚 My Latest Reads
I’ve recently discovered some fantastic new publications that are hard to find but totally worth reading. I’d pay just to access them!
Both writers consistently inspire me with their posts. I can’t stop reading once I start.
What’s interesting is that both posts focus on development—one looks at the future, and the other offers amazing insights into the past.
The first post is by
, the owner of Little Things That Matter. She shared some fascinating facts about seashells that I’ve never heard before. And the projects she talks about in her post are wonderful. Check out Seashells: Natural Treasures or Stinky Waste?The second post is by
, the author of The Late Harvest. I’ve been following him for a while, and his recent post was filled with great insights. It’s called The Briefest History of Hunting.💡Here’s my tip for you
Go through all your posts and check if you’ve restacked them on Notes. You can restack the article without adding a note or just include a short hook to explain why it’s worth reading. This will help your followers (even those who aren’t subscribers) and others find your work.
Make sure to do this every time you publish a new article.
Don’t miss the chance to share your work!
P.S. As I write this, I’m sitting at Ann’s Cafe in a small town on the Indian Ocean.
I’m with you. I’ve been thinking why I want to write on Substack in the first place. I want to make my writing more enjoyable, for me and for my readers. I like the direction you are going, what feels more aligned to you.
Katja, thank you so much for mentioning my post! ♡ We went through really similar experiences this year in terms of business and Substack. 2024 was a year of experimenting and finding clarity; 2025 will be a year of growth. Happy Holidays!