Michael Lim | Solopreneur Launch
🏆 x 5 Award-Winning Entrepreneur. Sold my first one-person business at 28. Living and working across Southeast Asia. Sign-up below for my daily emails documenting my journey
“I’ve always wanted to write a book” ✍️
G'day G'day friends, I was at a farewell dinner for my Swedish friend in Bali. He was leaving for Stockholm in a few days. I was able to start speaking with his lovely mum. She’s in her 50s and has always dreamed of writing a book. For the last decade, she’s had a fictional novel in her mind. In their previous home, they stayed near an abandoned psychiatric hospital. It’s as creepy as it sounds. But whenever she would walk past it, she would develop a plot in her mind. I was so impressed by...
Sell before you build 🏗️
G'day G'day friends, After yesterday's email, I got a bunch of questions about my book. (Thanks again for all your support) One question that kept coming up was some variation of: “How did you know what to write?” It’s a simple question. But one that most authors don’t think about. Simple: I tested the idea with my audience BEFORE I started writing. I compiled every DM and message I’ve received. I studied the transcript of every coaching call that I’ve ever been on. I looked at Google search...
I need to explain where I've been 🤓
G'day G'day friends, I've disappeared for a few weeks. Sorry for the radio silence. Towards the end of March, I decided to step away from writing online. I paused writing on Substack, LinkedIn, and emails. Why? I wanted to focus on finishing the draft manuscript of my book. This book has been a labour of love for the past 1.5 years. I could see the finish line approaching, so I decided to go for it. For the last 2 weeks, I've been editing for up to 6-7 hours per day. I won't lie, it's been...
I’ve beat Mark Manson 🤠
G’day G’day friends, I stumbled upon something that made me smile. Mark Manson has 80,000 followers: This is Mark! Michael Lim (that’s me!) has 92,000 followers: This is me! It’s a weird flex, I know. But I’m a nobody. Like more than a nobody. I’m a child of working-class immigrant parents with a limited year 9 education. Zero writing talent. Zero expertise. Zero good looks compared to Handsome Mark Manson. I'm no 2x bestselling author. Yet, I’ve managed to pass Mark Manson in followers on...
the Solopreneur Content Trap 🪤
G’day G’day friends, You post, and then you get ghosted. You pour your heart out, and no one cares. You copy every single guru’s tricks, and you are still sitting at 0. Sound familiar? This is as frustrating as eating a bad-tasting durian. (happened to me in Singapore a few weeks ago). But getting ignored is common for most solopreneurs. This is what I call the Solopreneur Content Trap. Being diagnosed with SCP can be deadly for your business. Leads dry up and no one buys from you. But it’s...
I'm sick but still selling 🤒
G'day G'day friends, I'm slightly unwell. A few days ago, I went to bed with sore throat. I slept for 11 hours and my Whoop still told me my recovery was poor. Since then, I've been struggling with fatigue. I've spent most of my days sleeping, eating, and not doing much. But despite this, my content that I wrote weeks ago are attracting leads. My email sequences are nurturing these leads. And my automations are converting them into customers. Even when I'm in bed feeling like a train hit me....
a day of complete silence 😶
G’day G’day friends, Today is a special day in the Bali calendar. It’s the Balinese New Year or Nypei. This is my 2nd time being in Bali for the New Year. During Nyepi, the local tradition is a full 24 hours of silence. You can’t turn on any lights. You can’t make any noise. This dark and silent time is meant for personal reflection. For 24 hours, you can’t even leave your room. Even the airport shuts down. It’s a beauuuuutiful (and quiet) time in Bali. But silence applies to more than just...
drink money & make mojitos 🍹
G’day G’day friends, Imagine making 2.4k while at a Hen’s party. From an email you sent the day before. That only took you 30 minutes to write. This is what one of my clients messaged me: WhatsApp message from a client We’ve been working on installing an email system into her clinical business. Prior to working together, she struggled to write nurture and convert leads. Making a sale was left to chance. Conversions were a stroke of luck or good will. She was always worried about the next...
my immigrants parents taught me this 👨🏫
G'day G'day friends, I'm the youngest child of Chinese-Singaporean immigrants. When I was 3, my parents moved the family to Australia. (I've got two older brothers). They imagined a better life for us in the land down under. Growing up, we saw our parents work every hour they could. They always picked up extra shifts. Never bought new clothes. Always shopped when there were sales and discounts. I'll never be able to repay my parents for their sacrifice and hard work. One thing core thing I...
Vague ambition creates anxiety 🙈
G'day G'day friends, I was on a 1:1 call with a coaching client. We've been working together for a few years now. He is a successful entrepreneur that grows quickly. But lately, he has felt disconnected from his business. It's a common pattern I see in successful solopreneurs. Most solopreneurs say something like this: “I just want to be successful.” Or: “I want to grow my business.” Or: “I want more freedom.” These sound great. Everyone pats you on the back and nods in agreement. But they...
🏆 x 5 Award-Winning Entrepreneur. Sold my first one-person business at 28. Living and working across Southeast Asia. Sign-up below for my daily emails documenting my journey