I met my wife in Rome. In Italy, I learned the art of slow living. 10 ideas for a balanced life:

Three years ago, I lost my job. In that dark moment, I started writing. Along the way, 10,000+ readers joined me in my journey. 10 lessons I wish I knew then:

In 2019, I lost my job at WeWork. Unfettered, I started writing. A year later, my book hit #1 on Amazon. 8 things I wish I knew earlier:

So good - same. And these.

POV: the scariest ride at Tokyo Disney

In 3 months, I built a 1-person ghostwriting agency to $10k MRR. The question I get asked most often is: "How did you land your first client?" Sales 101...

How to build a landing page that converts…

Dolce far niente: "Sweet doing nothing." Dolce far niente is the essence of doing nothing and enjoying it. Pleasant idleness. Watching time go by and enjoying every second in peace.

Here’s your loss leader:

Passeggiata: A leisurely stroll in the evening. On weekdays, it's a time for socialization before dinner. The phrase reminds me of my grandmother and grandfather, who took a stroll every night around dusk.

How to learn 10x faster. 11 systems to remember anything:

In 2015, Elon Musk donated $50M to OpenAI—today, it's a $30B business. Time for a story...

Things I know in my 30's that I wish I knew in my 20s...

Che sarà sarà: "What will be, will be." In other words, whatever happens, happens. A philosophy of predetermination—acceptance of the future. Don't worry about things you can't control.

Your writing doesn't suck. Your high school English class sucked. Mental models 101:

Your writing doesn't suck. Your 5th-grade English class sucked. Storytelling 101:

Mangia bene, ridi spesso, ama molto: Eat well, laugh often, love much. It might not be a phrase you hear often, but it's a cornerstone of Italian life. A reminder of what's important. It's an Italian version of mindfulness.

At 16, this entrepreneur was investigated by the FBI. Today, he’s worth $2.8 billion. Time for a story…

Two years ago, I was working at Amazon. For six months, all I did was write. The secret to Amazon's $1 trillion success:

Your writing doesn't suck. Your 3rd grade English class sucked. Online writing 101:

For the last three months, I’ve been incubating my second small business in private. My next biz is a small media company that I’ll build alongside my one-person agency. Biz 2 will generate leads for biz 1 on auto-pilot, while laying the foundation for future phases of my vision. Phase 1 (Done) Build a high cash flow business (Tweetjoy) that enables me to quit my 9-5. Phase 2 (In Progress) Reinvest profits from my agency into a media brand - build leverage and longevity. Phase 3 (To do) Build / acquire more small businesses to increase my personal empire’s sustainability. I’ll unveil more details as time progresses - if you’re on a similar path, I’d love to hear from you. Hmu.

Your writing doesn’t suck. Your 4th grade English class sucked. A proper potpourri of literary lessons...

How to win the weekend:

This secretive billionaire turned a lip sync’ing app into a $220 billion business. Today, he’s worth $45 billion. Time for a story…

Theo Rome Russo was born Sep 6, 2022. In 6 months, I rediscovered love, perseverance, and discipline. 10 lessons on life:

How to build a thriving 1-person agency:

Sprezzatura: A certain nonchalance to make life appear effortless. Studied carelessness. Depicted from how Italian men and women dress, or how one enjoys fine art and good literature. Sophistication without trying.

Time is your most precious asset. Here's why...

In 2009, I traveled to Munich. On a 17-hour night train. I learned an unlikely lesson. Time for a story:

Meriggiare: Meriggio means "noon," and meriggiare represents a midday rest. Utilized in poetry, meriggiare is like a nap under a shady tree. An enjoyed afternoon.

In 2015, Uber hit $10 billion in revenue. A month later, it became the world’s most valuable startup. Uber's explosive growth makes it a fascinating case study. Let’s break it down…

A tavola non si invecchia: "At the table, you don’t get old." When we eat a meal, we're surrounded by family, which is the foundation of our existence. Treat everyone with respect—from grandparents to siblings. Age is just a number.

My timeline

In 6 months, I scaled my ghostwriting agency from $0-15k/mo. Since then, I've worked with the most inspiring CEOs and VCs. Thank you to my clients, who make afternoons like this possible.

Writing is like sculpting. Shaping and molding words into a cohesive and meaningful form. The allegories of writing...

Is anything sexier than vocabulary? Literary language 101...

Last year, I left a steady career in tech to restart my life from zero. As part of the process, I nearly disappeared off the face of the earth. Along the way, I scaled a one-person content agency from $0 to $30k/mo in one year. Today, I write for a few of your favorite voices on the internet. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of an amazing network. I’d like to return the favor, give back to the community, and pay it forward. For the next few weeks, I’m offering free coaching to aspiring solopreneurs. Hmu for the link - I’ll DM you.

Last year, 120 million users shared Spotify Wrapped to their social profiles, boosting Spotify's organic awareness. Let’s break it down…

Lo struscio: Lo struscio is a lifestyle where we put worries aside and take things slow. Whether it's a stroll with a neighbor or a glass of wine at the end of the day. Lo struscio means shuffling feet—it's at the center of Italy's appreciation for slow-living.

I have enough Google Chrome extensions. 10 stories on life, love, and loss:

Your writing doesn't suck. Your 2nd-grade English class sucked. The Paradoxes of Writing...

Your writing doesn't suck. Your 4th-grade English class sucked. Razors for writers...

I wander to unlearn (the untrue). In 28 years, I visited 41 countries. 9 secrets of happy living:

If you were laid off in 2023 from a job at a high growth tech company, I’m offering free coaching calls to anyone interesting in launching a 1-person business. My productized agency replaced my income in 1 month and tripled it within a year. I have 2-3 simple frameworks that most people like me can follow, as long as you have skills and a network. Reply to this tweet with a short bio (280 characters or less). If I think I can help, I’ll DM you a link to book a free call. I’ve been there - don’t give up hope.

November metrics: • $32k revenue • $25k profit • 0 employees Just me and a few GPTs.

I feel incredibly lucky to be working with some of my favorite people in tech and social media every day. It’s easy to get stressed out when you lose sight of ‘why you do what you do’—a simple reminder goes a long way. When times are good, I take a photo in my mind of where I am and how I feel in that specific moment. When times are tough, I return to my happiest memories to remind myself that bad times are temporary. Eventually, most of us find a way out.

What are your favorite productivity hacks? I never cared about productivity until I started working for myself. Now I obsess over ways I can maximize my time (so I can spend more time with family). Here's my system...

If you're unhappy 9-5, then start building from 5-9.

Just start: Stop holding yourself back. • Publish that article • Write that tweet • Send that DM Repetition builds confidence. Get started.

Today is my last day at a 9-5. Tomorrow, I start the rest of my life.

Tweetjoy success stories (past 48 hrs) Client A: • 2M+ views in < 24 hrs • +6,000 followers in 30 days Client B: • completes newsletter redesign Client C: • +2,000 followers in 14 days • launches newsletter Client D: • coins new industry terminology • reaction ↓

No question—just a quick testimonial. Your content gave me the confidence to leave the 9-5 grind. Your course gave me the path to my first $10k month. Grateful 🙏🏽

A ogni uccello il suo nido è bello: Every bird has a nest, or there's no place like home. Used when one returns home from a long journey. Home is where the heart is.

Transitioning from a steady corporate career to a one-person creator business can be a scary leap. Last week, I sat down with @ochoweath to share a behind the scenes of my financial journey.

👇🏽

Cum Romanus Eris: The idea dates back to 396 AD. You can find this idiom—"when in Rome, do as the Romans do"—in the letters of Pope Clement XIV. "An afternoon nap would not alarm you if you remembered we are in Rome and should do as the Romans do."

4 years ago, I lost my job at WeWork. In that dark moment, I started writing. I published 500 words per day for 90 straight days on LinkedIn. My audience grew from 0-10,000 followers in 3 months. It blew my mind. I didn’t realized LinkedIn could be used as an audience-building tool. In 2019, very few creators published long-form content on LinkedIn. By the time others cracked the cheatcode, the game felt a little less fun. I transitioned from LinkedIn to Twitter, Medium, Substack, etc. I started a family, published a book, and launched a business. If I had to start all over, I’d tell myself this: “There’s only one thing holding you back—and that’s you.” Don’t overcomplicate it. Press publish. Ship it. Move.

Blockbuster operated 9,000 stores globally and made $5.9 billion at its peak. Today, the video rental company has shrunk to a single store. Time for a story…

Give me 60 seconds and I'll teach you my writing system: 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: Find writers you admire. • Dakota Robertson • Justin Welsh • Dickie Bush Study every word of their writing. 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀: Build a note-taking system. • Kindle • Apple Notes • Notion Good writing requires a system. 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁: Review notes regularly. • 1x/week • 1x/month Groom ideas like a backlog. 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲: Collect good ideas in a swipe file. • Tweets • Blog posts • Book quotes Drag and drop them into Notion. 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲: Good inputs: • Books • Podcasts Bad inputs: • TikTok • Instagram 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲: Rewrite your favorite writers. • Sentences • Paragraphs • Chapters Analyze their voice and rhythm. 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸: Set aside time to write each day. • Before work • At lunch • Late at night Earlier is better to win the day. 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘆: Aim for clarity and concision. • Short sentences • No jargon • Bullets Always outline your work. 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁: Leverage modern tools. • Hemingway • Grammarly • ChatGPT 10x writing with editing.

My little lifestyle business just crossed $250k ARR. > 90% retention > 95% referrals Just me (and some A+ clients).

That’s enough to give everyone on earth $1 million.

Old schedule: - wake up at 6 - shower and coffee - 90 min train commute - sit at a desk 9am to 9pm - 90 min train commute home New schedule: - wake up at 7 - play w/ my son - 3 hrs of deep work - workout; play sports - 3 hrs w/ my lovely wife How you work > how much you work

Find like-minded people: Millions of people share your goals. They hide in plain sight in places like Twitter. I met some of my best friends in NYC by writing online. Your ideas are an attraction.

Twitter these days

At 30 years old, I was promoted to a middle manager role at Amazon. I hated it. I wasn’t put on this earth to play politics, or push paper. I love building. Which is why I left. Don’t let a paycheck cloud your judgement.

Let's help writers find readers. • Thread • Blog • Newsletter 👇 Drop a link to your latest piece:

Curate your inputs: Unfollow celebs, athletes, and companies. Follow accounts that: • Inspire • Educate • Motivate Quality inputs > quality outputs.

Writer's block is purgatory. How to write better, 97% faster:

Tallitha is a beautiful font. I'll be using it in a few places, including as a logo for my personal brand. Anyone want to see their name in Tallitha?

If you want to stand out online, you have to be yourself. 10 stories from my life to humble, inspire, and teach: 𝐿𝑜𝓋𝑒 I met my wife in Rome. You never know where love will strike. Be open to every opportunity to meet your person. 𝐿𝑜𝓈𝓈 My best friend passed away when I was 21 years old. It's a constant reminder that life is short. Cherish time with loved ones. 𝐿𝒾𝒻𝑒 My son is 5 months old. He teaches me something new every day. You will always be a beginner at something. Discovering new things makes life worth living. 𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓁𝓉𝒽 In 2018, I suffered from burnout, depression, and anxiety. You only have one mind and one body. Prioritize mental and physical well-being. 𝐹𝒶𝓂𝒾𝓁𝓎 My parents divorced when I was 13. They live 3,000 miles apart on separate coasts. Visiting them is not easy. Don’t let distance stand between you and the ones you love. 𝒪𝒷𝓈𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒾𝑜𝓃 Ten years ago, I dreamed of being a pro tennis player. I made it as far as the Division 1 level, but the top 0.01% requires sacrifices I wasn’t prepared to make. To be the best, be obsessed. 𝐻𝓊𝓂𝒾𝓁𝒾𝓉𝓎 I've gotten everywhere I want in life through volunteership and apprenticing. Don't be afraid to do something for free. It's the best way to get to where you want to go. 𝐼𝒹𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓉𝓎 I lost my job when I was 28. Before that, I always tied work to my identity. Sometimes work is just work. There are other things that make us who we are. 𝐿𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 I studied business in college. I worked in finance for several years. Now I'm a writer. Everyone starts somewhere. Don't stress over what you study. Learn to learn. Your education is a foundation you build upon. 𝐻𝓊𝓂𝒶𝓃𝒾𝓉𝓎 I recently started writing on Twitter again. It's hard to be yourself online. Many people show a filtered version of themselves. My goal is to be myself and teach you something. The digital world needs more humans. Thank you for reading this far. If you would like to tell a story, share it in the comments below. I look forward to hearing from you ❤️.

Write to 1 person: If you write for everyone, you impact no one. Before publishing, ask: • Who is this for? • What's the big idea? • What's the primary benefit? A focused writer is a winning writer.

10 things I wish I knew 3 years ago: • Just start • Stop comparing • Write to 1 person • Curate your inputs • Stop doom-scrolling • Read timeless books • Write drunk, edit sober • Find like-minded people • Deliver actionable advice

Does time move faster as we age? Paul Janet, a 19th-century philosopher, explains: • At 2, a year is 50% of a lifetime • At 10, a year is 10% of a lifetime • At 50, a year is 2% of a lifetime If you feel like time flies, it does.

I quit my job and doubled my income. Now I work 20hrs/wk freelancing. Here's how I did it in 30 days:

Thank you for reading. Follow me @jamierusso for more threads on life and business. ↓ RT to share with your audience.

Stop doom-scrolling: Doom-scrolling is when you’re scrolling out of boredom with no agenda. You’re like a gambler playing a slot machine, pulling the lever repeatedly. Notice when you’re doing this and put the phone down. It’s fucking up your mental health.

Ghostwriters

This meme is so good it should be illegal

You don't need to work harder or smarter—you need to work less.

Read timeless books: IG offers a quick burst of dopamine. But it's destroying your attention span. Instead, consume content from: • Books • Podcasts • Long-form videos You’ll learn more and stress less.

Deliver actionable advice: Too many writers publish platitudes that will never be seen. Stop impressing; start teaching: • How-tos • Templates • Step-by-steps Your advice is a roadmap for another.

Write Monday, edit Tuesday: Get ideas out of your head: • Braindump • Word vomit Never edit on the same day. • Edit for clarity • Create a signature style

Stop comparing: Most beginners compare growth to other accounts. • You are not them • Stop trying to rush a good thing • Enjoy the process Compare yourself to you 6 months ago.

Accept: Life doesn't always go to plan. • Sh*t happens • It's part of life • Accept this When life bottoms out, the only way is up.

Example: ☐ 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 - publish one tweet ☐ 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫 - write for 15 mins ☐ 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 - sweat for 15 mins ☐ 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩 - read for 15 mins Never miss a day.

My 1-person agency just hit $25k/mo. But I also had my first client churn after 6 months of perfect retention. For freelancers, retention is a blessing—we can be patient with leads and pay off debts (for me it’s $100k in student loans). But retention doesn’t come without attention—the more clients we spread ourselves across, the harder it gets. Remind your clients you love them ❤️.

2023 by the numbers: • $165k revenue • 80% profit margin • launched newsletter • hit $35k in one month • gained 10.2k on twitter • launched Tweetjoy in Feb • grew email by 3k in 1 week • launched gmnyc on substack • helped a client gain 120k on twitter • scaled agency from 1 to 5 clients • celebrated son’s first birthday • tennis back to USTA 5.0+ • 1 yr self-employed 🎊

↓ Skip the line avatars.fyi

↓ Skip the line Avatars.fyi

Happy mothers day to all the amazing momma’s out there ❤️

What does your coffee say about you?

Imagine what $4 could do

I’m making avatars today. Who wants one?

You don’t need to work harder or smarter, you need to work on yourself.

9 writing tips (in 10 seconds): • Write daily • Get a thesaurus • Avoid passive voice • Delete the word “very” • Write at a 3rd-grade level • Don’t use the word “really” • Write Monday, edit Tuesday • Buy a Grammarly subscription • Focus on benefits, not on features

Plan: Where do you want to be in 5 years? • What is your job title? • Where do you live? • What is your lifestyle? Write it down. Work back from here.

Walking is an Olympic sport. We need more walking influencers. Should be its own genre.

You don’t need to read more books. You need to apply what you learned from the books you already read.

One of my biggest fears as a writer was being judged. Then I realized my most popular pieces were my most personal. Personality is the moat.

Your fear is someone else’s edge. Conquer fear, conquer competition.