💪Girl dad 🛋️Psychologist 🌅I pulled back from a prestigious (but overworked) clinical path to design a 6-figure career around my family 🤝🏾I help therapists build and make money from their online courses and podcasts

I didn’t come from a family of entrepreneurs or business owners.
I thought I’d spend my life doing therapy work.

But in 2015, a snowstorm changed everything.

The power went out. Roads froze over.
I had to cancel 21 therapy sessions in one week.

We were saving for our first home.
And just like that, my income was gone.

That week I asked myself:

👉 What kind of business really supports the life I want?

A few months later, I started the Selling the Couch podcast.
It didn’t blow up overnight. But step by step, it grew into:
	•	🎙 One of the top 0.5% podcasts in the world
	•	🌍 1.82M+ downloads in 100+ countries
	•	💛 A quiet community of thoughtful therapists and founders

Then life shifted again.
Our daughter was born 8 weeks early.
The sound of NICU machines is something I’ll never forget.

That season taught me this:
It’s not just what you build.
It’s how you build—and who you become while building.

⸻

Now I help others create businesses that fit their lives:

✅ 245+ therapists launched podcasts ($344,000+ in course sales)
✅ 50+ founders built courses inside my mastermind ($300,000+ earned)
✅ I’ve shaped my own business around hiking, deep work, church, golf, and unhurried time with loved ones.

Here’s the truth:
Good work doesn’t always speak for itself.
People need to see it.

But you don’t have to hustle or burn out to be seen.

If you’re a therapist, quiet founder, parent, or leader who wants to grow without losing yourself—I’d love to connect.

🟡 I share stories and lessons on slow growth each week
🟡 Follow for simple, calm business ideas
🟡 My DMs are open

And if you want to go deeper—

I write The Quiet Builder:
A paid newsletter for thoughtful builders.
$97/year. Two soulful issues a month.
It’s for people who want to grow slow—but strong—even in uncertain times.

👉 sellingthecouch.com/quietbuilder

Because that snowstorm taught me one thing:

A business worth building protects your life.
It doesn’t swallow it.

Melvin Varghese, PhD

🍁 𝗔𝗻 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲

Hi friends —
I’ll be stepping away from social for the rest of the week, but before I go, I wanted to say a quiet, heartfelt thank you.

If you’re here in the U.S., I hope this season brings you:
🌿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁
🥧 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱
🫶 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲

And wherever you are in the world —
thank you for being part of this little corner of the internet for Quiet Builders...
where we value depth over noise and steady growth over spectacle.

⸻

🌱 𝗔 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗲 (𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗼)

Over the past two years, I’ve started to move many of my online connections into real-life conversations.
📞 Phone calls
🤝 Sometimes longer collaborations.
💬 Sometimes simply human connection.

If we’ve had a call this year, thank you.
These moments matter more than metrics.

⸻

📣 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻… 𝗔 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀

We’re hosting a new, free workshop:

🧠 How to AI-Proof Your Online Course Idea
📅 Wednesday, December 10
🔗 https://lnkd.in/edPNSaqu

It’s for therapists who are:
→ Building their first course
→ Revisiting something they’ve already created
→ Or trying to future-proof their income stream without hustle

I’ll be sharing:
🧩 What I’ve learned from working with 50+ therapist course creators
🧠 How to think strategically about content and longevity
💡 What actually works in this shifting economy

⸻

🍂 𝗨𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻…

Wishing you a warm, grounded Thanksgiving.

Let’s keep building slow, meaningful things —
Together. Quietly. 🙂

Melvin Varghese PhD

💪 Girl dad + Psychologist + New Golfer ⛳ Helping therapists & quiet builders grow calm, strong businesses ✍🏽 Sharing slow growth lessons since 2015

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You don’t have to launch like that again.

Even if it worked.
Even if it made you money.
Even if people said it looked successful.

In our mastermind, one-course creator shared something raw:

“𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥... 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦.”

It’s easy to build strategies that check the boxes…

But miss your body’s wisdom.

Burnout isn’t always loud.
Sometimes it hides in polished slides and packed calendars.

Here’s your permission slip :

The next launch can feel aligned, calm, and gentle. You get to create it on your terms.

𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹.
Not a newsletter.
Not a story.

Just a quiet announcement:

We’re opening enrollment for 𝙃𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣 in Dec, a new community for therapists shifting from clinical work to online income.

No funnel.
No urgency countdown.
Just a Notion page and a simple “Join the interest list if it speaks to you.”

We’re taking 50 people max, including beta members.
As of this morning, 20 are already on the list.

Will all 20 join? Probably not.
But honestly, that wasn’t the most surprising part.

What surprised me was 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹.

Encouraged.
Not just by the numbers.
But by what those numbers confirmed.

⸻

When I started Selling the Couch 10 years ago, wise mentors told me:

“𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁.”

I didn’t get it then.
But I do now.

93% of everything I’ve ever sold has come from email.
Not social media.
Not a Reel.
Not a carousel.
Not even a post like this one.

Podcast → email → product.
That’s been the path all along.

And it’s led to two products each crossing $400,000 in lifetime revenue —
proof that quiet trust can still build big things.

⸻

And now that I see it... I want to protect it.
To tend to it.

But I’m still unsure what “growth” looks like.
Everyone talks about viral lead magnets.
And maybe I’ll try one someday.
But when I download them, I rarely read them.
And when I see creators push one every week, something in me trusts them less.
It’s like watching someone yell “value!” instead of simply offering it.

⸻

Launching something new — even with past success — is still scary.
But this week reminded me of something I’ve quietly believed all along:

𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴.
And slow can still scale — if it’s built on the right foundation.

Haven will grow slowly.
That’s by design.

Because I’m in a season of
→ Raising a daughter
→ Caring for aging parents
→ Practicing golf
→ Writing books
→ And building something that gives me space, too.

If that resonates, we’ll have more to share in the weeks ahead.

But for now, I just wanted to share that little Monday moment.

Sometimes the strongest signal isn’t a viral post.
It’s an email with no subject line gimmick.
And 20 people saying quietly:
“I’m interested.”

Every course starts with one small lesson.

It might not feel like much, but 1% progress beats 0% every time.

But there's something safe about staying in that 0%.

Each step you take gets you closer to your finished course.

Consistency compounds. Keep going—you’re building something valuable.

How are you moving 1% forward today?

Hi all. We’re opening up 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘀 for the Selling the Couch podcast. 🎙️

Several of our long-time partners have already renewed, so we’re down to our 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 TWO 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 for the year.

If you run a company that serves mental health therapists and want to:

✅ Reach a highly engaged, values-aligned audience
✅ Build long-term trust through story-driven content
✅ Partner with a show that therapists have trusted for over a decade

— I’d love to explore a fit.

⸻

The STC Podcast is now in its 𝟭𝟭𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿:
🎧 400+ episodes
🌎 2 million downloads
📈 Ranked in the 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝟬.𝟱% 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆

We’ve proudly partnered with companies like 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝗹𝗺𝗮, 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹, and would love to add yours to that list. 🙂
⸻

📌 You’ll find a link to our 2026 sponsorship sheet at the top of my profile.
🎥 I’ve also included a short behind-the-scenes video to show how we produce and promote sponsor content.

With full in-house audio + video editing, your message reaches:
→ Podcast listeners
→ YouTube viewers
→ 𝟯,𝟰𝟬𝟬+ 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀

If you’re interested, please 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗗𝗠 with the subject line:
👉 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽

Let’s create something meaningful together. <3

There’s a kind of exhaustion that has nothing to do with how full your calendar is.

I recently experienced this with our most recent mastermind launch. 

You can have every email scheduled.
Every launch piece in place.

And still feel like you’re moving through molasses.

It’s not the logistics.
It’s the emotional weight behind the scenes.

An argument at home.
A parenting moment that wrecked you.
A deep fatigue you can’t name.

These are the parts of business no one teaches us to plan for.

But they’re the very things that impact our capacity to show up.

Grace has to be part of the business model.

Especially when life is happening behind the content.

🔥 I’ve been thinking a lot about a phrase lately:
𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲.

It’s how I’d describe so many of us building things quietly —
Not for show.
Not for scale-at-all-costs.
But for meaning, health, and longevity.

Not the burn-it-down kind of fire.
The kiln kind.
Steady, intentional, high heat that reshapes things permanently.

⸻

This mindset has been quietly shaping everything I build.

🧱 Earlier this year, I launched the 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 — a $97/year letter for people building long-game, life-first businesses.

We’re now at 59 paying members with ~80% open rates per issue.
Not huge revenue.
But huge signal.

It tells me Quiet Builders are out there.
People who crave stillness, not spin.
Depth, not dopamine.

https://lnkd.in/ekm_yFtG
⸻

Next year, I’ll be rolling out something new:
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵.

It’s a private, 1-day golf experience for high-performing people in high-pressure roles —
surgeons, investors, operators, pilots, founders —
who need their 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 when the stakes are real.

We use 𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹,
𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺,
and 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 to create one of the most personalized executive coaching days available.

⸻

Quiet fire isn’t fast.
But it compounds.
And what it builds tends to last.

For years, I tried to squeeze more in.

More productivity.
More hours.
More blocks on the calendar.

Because that’s what we’re taught, right?

Maximize every minute.
Fill every open slot.
Push to the edge.

But somewhere along the way, I realized something I didn’t expect:

𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲.
𝗜𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻.

The space between.

Today—after nearly a decade of trial and error—I work a rhythm that finally honors my brain and my body.

🕘 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Deep work
🥾 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. – Daily hike in the woods
😴 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Power nap + school pickup
🎨 3:30 to 5 p.m. – Creative time

I work Monday through Thursday.
And I build margin into every day.

𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗜’𝗺 𝗹𝗮𝘇𝘆.
𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆, 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲.

If you’ve been burning the candle at both ends—
consider this your permission to leave some space.

🟡 This week’s podcast unpacks this idea in more depth: https://lnkd.in/e-nM3qu3

Excited to announce a new partnership with the Kartra team! 🎉

Honestly, if you told me 9 years ago that I’d have opportunities like this, I wouldn’t have believed it.

Kartra has been the backbone of Selling The Couch, and I can’t imagine running STC without it.

Here’s what it powers for us:
📧 Our email list
🎓 Online courses
📊 Surveys
🎥 Video hosting
...and more things I’m probably forgetting!

The Kartra team has been incredible to work with, and they’ve hooked us up with a special deal for the STC community.

If you’re a therapist or business owner looking for an all-in-one platform, it’s worth checking out.

➡️ sellingthecouch.com/kartra

P.S. For full transparency, this is an affiliate link. I only recommend products I’ve personally used or whose teams I trust to stand behind STC’s mission and my name. 😊

I remember the first time I thought about starting a podcast.

Before I ever hit record, there was a deeper fear running the show:

“What if I share my voice... and people judge it?”

I didn’t have a "radio voice."
I stumbled over my words.
I worried I’d say something wrong—or worse, not say anything worth hearing.

But here’s what I learned:

Visibility feels scary because it 𝘪𝘴 vulnerable.

And if you’ve been trained to stay small or quiet, stepping up can feel unnatural.

But your lived experience has power.

And someone is waiting to hear your perspective in your voice—not a polished version.

If you’re a therapist thinking about podcasting but holding back because of fear, I created something that might help:

🎙️ From Therapist to Thought Leader: Why Podcasting Could Be Your Next Big Move

It’s a free workshop that covers how to start a podcast grounded in purpose—not performance. 🙂

You can find it at the top of my profile or at:
https://lnkd.in/eXCZAmhb

On a mission to become a better writer, thinker, and entrepreneur • Ex-dentist, now building an internet business (at ~$500k/year)

When I was 16 I was diagnosed with a brain tumor and broken neck.

Doctors found them by accident during a scan. Without surgery, I'd be disabled by 30. I'm 32 now.

It was the best thing to happen to me.

Let me tell you why.

I came out of that period wanting to make an impact. That's why I became a dentist.

I enjoyed helping patients, but I didn't enjoy the lack of leverage. I wanted to make a difference on a broader scale.

The problem was I was working two jobs, so I had no space to think. 

Then I discovered the power of the Internet, and began writing in my spare time.

This was July 2020. I fell in love but I sucked. For 13 months, I created content  without crossing 1,000 followers. 

But on August 21st, I shared the story about my neck and it went viral.

 I had hundreds of DMs saying how my ideas had helped. 

I learned the most important lesson about writing that day: 

It’s not about the number of impressions. It’s about making an impression.

I quit dentistry 2 weeks later to go all in.

It was a rough start. I made my first dollar 18 months after my first blog post. But gratefully, over the next 31 months, I made $1,000,000. 

250,000 people read my content and 35,000 enjoy my newsletter.

My aim is to help you make more impact with your ideas. The Internet is our greatest gift to serve at scale and be rewarded well.

But there's a lot of noise, superficiality, and generic content out there. Especially with AI on the rise.

Which is why writing is so powerful. 

It is a magnet for opportunities. 

And the entrepreneur who builds the best bond with their audience best, wins.

I’ll help you grow your business through meaningful relationships. You’ll see how to sell without being sleazy. And how to write so that you can earn with your mind and not just your time. 

If we haven't met before, a few ways I can help:

1. Daily insights to sharpen your writing and grow your business
2. Deep-dive newsletter and free resources to build your system
3. Courses and coaching used by 3,000+ students, with occasional coaching programs for closer support

It's a pleasure to have your attention.

Kieran Drew

If you want to stand out as a writer, let me give you a crucial tip. 

I recently started on YouTube.

And whilst it’s a video, the same principles apply for attracting an audience.

You must become known for one thing.

The mistake early writers make is spreading themselves too thin. I understand why. I love to write about various ideas too. But specificity is the shortcut to authority. The key is to build a reputation in one area, then use this to springboard your success.

But this does not mean you must limit yourself to one topic. 

Instead, the key is to niche down by transformation. 

This way, you can cover more ideas, so long as you tie it in to a specific transformation for your One True Fan. For example, on YouTube, my first 100 videos will (almost entirely) focus on how to build your writing business. 

Because this way, I'll earn the trust and attention of a specific group of people.

So if you are early in your writing journey, make sure you narrow down:

• Who you serve
• How you serve them
• Why it is important

Focus is the answer.

**
P.S.

Do you want to grow your brand and business by writing online? You’d love my YouTube channel. I share videos twice a week to help you make an impact with your ideas.

https://lnkd.in/gmi_m3nB

On a mission to become a better writer, thinker, and entrepreneur • Ex-dentist, now building an internet business (at ~$500k/year).

My first viral post was a personal story.

I had been writing for 13 months with no wins. Then, I shared a story about a medical issue I had, and my audience doubled overnight.

It made me realise the power of storytelling. 

Not because it went viral.

But because of what I saw in the DMs.

I had hundreds of people reach out to say how my ideas impacted them. They shared their own struggles and stories. And it led to many deep, meaningful conversations.

The truth:

There is a difference between the number of impressions and making an impression.

And storytelling is the best way to create a connection.

So I set a rule:

I have shared a story online every single day since. I don’t post without at least a couple of sentences sharing an anecdote from my life.

At first, this was a hard commitment.

But storytelling is a skill like any other. The more reps you put in, the better you get.

And importantly:

The better your business goes.

Trust me on this, share more stories.

Your audience will thank you for it.

**
P.S.

Do you want to grow your brand and business by writing online? You’d love my YouTube channel. I share videos twice a week to help you make an impact with your ideas.

https://lnkd.in/gmi_m3nB

One of Charlie Munger’s best ideas:

Take a simple idea and take it seriously.

It changed my life because when I started online, I was seriously overwhelmed. There are so many things that you can do, you end up pulled in many directions.

But then I decided to take Munger’s idea seriously. I committed to three things:

1. Write every day
2. Share personal stories
3. Be damn useful 

Because writing is the most powerful skill in the world. Personal stories lead to the deepest connection. And you will always do well within your business if you keep solving problems.

When you put the reps into these 3 domains, great things happen.

You attract a quality audience.

You become a niche authority.

You open many opportunities. 

You just gotta be patient enough for the results to roll in.

Simple ideas get serious results.

**
P.S.

Do you want to grow your brand and business by writing online? You’d love my YouTube channel. I share videos twice a week to help you make an impact with your ideas.

https://lnkd.in/gmi_m3nB

I used to be a dentist.

5 years ago, I started writing online because I didn't enjoy my career.

My plan was to build something slowly. Maybe quit dentistry after 5 years. But I soon became obsessed, and every day I drove to work felt like a massive mistake.

So I went hard:

• Learned to write at 5 am before (long) work shifts
• Studied in evenings and weekends
• Quit well before I was ready

I know the advice is to wait until you replace your income before you take the leap.

And absolutely, you should make sure you don’t take stupid risks (save FU money).

But if you've proven you could do something in 10 hours a week, what happens when you give it 50?

If you love something enough, give it your all.

Life's too short to live lukewarm.

The hardest part about writing a book is not writing a book.

It’s having the energy to do anything else.

I have found myself doing less and less in my business. But it’s not a bad thing. It’s been great to realise how much energy I was wasting on things that don’t move the needle. Or how lazy I had been with hiring help, or setting up automations and systems. 

Writing a book has been the most challenging yet freeing project of my life.

We’re operating much leaner and more efficiently now. 

And I’ve started sending out chapters to clients, so it’s starting to buy back time now. I can see that once it’s done, I will have endless material to repurpose for content and offers. Not to mention an asset that works day and night to build relationships at scale. 

Can’t wait to get it out.

Can’t wait to write many more.

**
P.S.

Do you want to grow your brand and business by writing online? You’d love my YouTube channel. I share videos twice a week to help you make an impact with your ideas.

https://lnkd.in/gmi_m3nB

Last week, a client asked me:

”What’s one mistake you see early writers make often?”

I gave one answer:

A lack of specificity.

Many newer accounts try to model people with established reputations. They write about many topics, but have depth in none.

They don’t clearly state what problem they solve…

Or how they solve it.

But here’s the problem:

The aim of the game online is to be remembered. Big brands already have social capital. They don’t need to try like you do.

If you are vague about your value proposition, you are easy to forget.

Another commodity in a crowded market…

Instead, you need to zoom in.

Focus on:

1. Who you serve
2. What problem you solve
3. How you solve it
4. Why you’re different

This way, you become a big player in a narrow niche. Your reputation grows 100x faster. You can use this to expand later on (although you might not want to—they say the riches are in the niches for a reason).

Specificity creates authority.

Don’t get stuck with the crowd.

The biggest mistake online brands make:

Writing about one topic.

I know this spits in the face of what you’re told, but let me explain. 

I spoke with a popular brand yesterday. They were feeling deflated because they felt trapped by their content. They thought they could only speak about one topic because that is what they were known for.

But this is a mistake, for three reasons:

First, people follow people. 

Despite what social media gurus say, you are not a USP. You are a unique blend of interests and beliefs. You are your best differentiator. And the more you share of yourself, the stronger the relationships you build.

Second, how you feel seeps through into the page. 

If you are bored when you write, people will be bored when they read. And boring is a digital death sentence. You need to explore your curiosity, or you’ll soon join the crowd. 

Third, the writer who persists wins. 

Sure, you might gain an advantage banging one on a drum. But nobody can compete with you if you are having fun. You must love what you write, or you will not last.

So what’s the solution?

Yes, you have your vehicle for transformation. This is the service you provide. 

But the key is to write about your life too. Then tie it back into the overarching purpose. You’ll stand out more as a result because you are bringing a new perspective on an old problem.

Don’t get stuck in the web of superficial marketing. 

Play games you will win.

I got called a fraud this week.

It was a great compliment. Let me explain. 

I sent an email about my experience with Somatic Therapy. Someone replied saying that they were unsettled.

Why?

Because, in their words:

The therapy and personal struggles you've described seem to be somewhat at odds with the vision of an ideal, unencumbered life of freedom that you typically project. A truly free and fulfilled individual isn't plagued by depression, doesn't struggle with self-acceptance, and, frankly, doesn't require a therapist.

For context:

I’ve been doing Somatic Therapy for 6 months because I am fascinated by self-awareness. I’ve spent my life running from fear, living to impress other people, and making stupid choices.

But these past two years, I can say with confidence that I am content.

I have my dream business. I make reasonable money doing what I love. I rarely feel anxious. I rarely feel like I’m ‘not enough’. I’ve almost kicked my people-pleasing habits.

It’s been a tonne of work, but a beautiful journey. 

And that’s the point:

This reader thinks that living a free life is free. But freedom has a price. You have to dive deep into your faulty wiring to peel apart your thoughts, you have to make difficult choices and go against the crowd.

And trust me:

I know many ‘big brands’ who seem like they are killing it. But their mental health and personal lives are a mess. Everyone has shit to deal with. 

So don’t consume content and think you’re learning from perfect people.

In fact, the more they project perfection, the more skeptical you should become. 

I couldn’t be more proud about the fact that I’ve had a lot of trouble in my life. If thinking clearly came easily, it wouldn’t be worth the work.

Hope this helps,
Kieran

**
P.S.

Do you want to grow your brand and business by writing online? You’d love my YouTube channel. I share videos twice a week to help you make an impact with your ideas.

https://lnkd.in/gmi_m3nB

I just finished building my Black Friday deal. Here’s a cool lesson on leverage:

The offer is a live training on how to grow your business by writing online. I break down the 4 phases, and how to systemise everything so the more you write, the more you earn.

On top of this, I have included 6 of my digital products at a massive discount. 

The training itself I am extracting from the book I have been writing. 

And the emails to sell it?

Mainly focused on client stories from the work I’ve done this year. These emails were fun to write, and I am just expressing my strong beliefs about writing.

To build the bundle, I spent 30 minutes on a call with my VA.

She is now handling everything:

• All content uploads
• Building the bundle
• Upsell pages
• Creating the training
• All customer communication during the weekend

So this means my Black Friday offer has taken me around 10 hours to prepare. And that’s just the writing and delivering a training. 

Which feels like play anyway. 

And the cool part? I get to offer a TONNE to my audience. 

All my best material, swipe files, etc. And I have zero doubt the training will be one of the best they’ve heard on the topic.

It is a great win-win.

And only possible because of leverage.

Leverage is your ability to get more done with less. 

An audience. A reputation. Popular courses. Useful products. Testimonials and case studies. A virtual assistant. Systems for every step.

All these things build like pressure behind a dam. 

If you are intentional with how you build, one day, you’ll completely disconnect your time from results. And this gives you the freedom to keep pushing for projects you love.

And on that note…

Adios. 

Back to the book. 

P.S.

The deal is only available through my newsletter, so check out your inbox. If you’re not subscribed, drop me a DM.

If you want to grow your business by writing online, here’s a bet I’m making:

Doubling down on long-form, story-driven newsletters. 

Why?

Because everyone is chasing the easy wins. 99% of content is just short bursts of dopamine-fueled garbage. 

But the aim of the game is to be remembered.

As competition increases, audiences aren’t looking for another surface-skimmer. They want a writer who makes them think and feel differently.

You should:

1. Post daily on social media with polarising points and personal perspective (short bursts to catch attention
2. Send a weekly story-driven newsletter
3. Build offers to serve different levels of your audience

Nail these 3 things, and you will have no problem with your business in 2026.

**
P.S.

Do you want to grow your brand and business by writing online? You’d love my YouTube channel. I share videos twice a week to help you make an impact with your ideas.

https://lnkd.in/gmi_m3nB

I started posting on YouTube 2 months ago.

Here’s a lesson I’ve learned about focus:

I wanted to start YouTube years ago—it’s a smart bet for any brand. 

But I also wanted to be a writer. So I made a commitment to spend almost all my time on the craft. I might’ve missed out on growth, but I re-invested that time into skill. As a result, I've begun building a strong presence online. 

Which has made growing on YouTube 10x easier. 

Too many creators think the key to success is attention. 

But it's not. It's reputation. Because attention doesn't mean shit if you haven't got anything worthwhile to talk about. 

Commit to your craft. Do something interesting. 

Share your journey online, but dont spread too thin, too early.

Focus is the answer.

An interesting observation:

Last month, I began an experiment.

I started sending longer newsletters that are personal and vulnerable.

I was scared about what people would think. But the responses have been amazing. The reply rate is 10x the norm. But more importantly, the depth of replies is fantastic.

People are sharing deeply vulnerable things about themselves, too.

I'm a firm believer that every brand should be embracing personal storytelling to share their ideas.

Especially in an AI-driven, superficial world.

Connection is everything.

**
P.S.

Do you want to grow your brand and business by writing online? You’d love my YouTube channel. I share videos twice a week to help you make an impact with your ideas.

https://lnkd.in/gmi_m3nB

This year, I ran several experiments that led to over 2,000 email subscribers.

No social media required.

And I even made a profit.

I shared how you can do the same on my most recent YouTube video. 

You can check it out at the link below.

Great to see 89 people picked up my Black Friday Bundle Deal.

Delivering the live training in 3 hours. Sharing the 4 phases to growing your business through writing online.

Love these strategy sessions. And grateful to be able to help people on their path.

Let’s go 💪

P.S.

Missed my emails? Here’s the bundle deal. We’ll take it down when I start the call. You get a recording if you want to pick it up now but can’t attend: 

https://lnkd.in/gDBtgvx5

Not gonna lie, that’s a hell of a compliment for yesterday's newsletter. 

On the right track 💪 

Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/g5nPJPXF

I used to take myself far too seriously.

But if you walk around with a face like a slapped arse, the world responds accordingly. 

You stop having fun, and joy is such an underrated tool for success. 

You should be serious about setting goals, but silly in executing them. I don’t mean doing things poorly, just lightly. With a smile. 

Because you must learn to get out of your own way. 

For example, I just finished the first draft of my book. I know it sucks. But if I gripped it too tightly, I would hate writing it. I would pressure myself to be better, pushing for perfection from day 1. I’ve danced that dance too many times to fall for it again. 

You work best when you feel at your best. And the simplest way to feel good is to learn to laugh at your lack of skill. 

You might suck now, but you won’t for long. 

When the purpose is play, work feels light.

The hardest part about online business:

Finding clients.

But only if you take the wrong approach. 

I shared 7 places you can search to get clients right now (even if you have no audience). 

You can watch it on my YouTube channel: https://lnkd.in/gmi_m3nB.

$1,000/month.

Penthouse. Pool. Gym. Sauna.

Good weather and good food.

It is incredible how much further your money goes when you work online.

Location is a choice.

“So what did you get up to in Paraguay?”

Eat steak.

Write book.

Speak Spanish (poorly).

Simple life. Very fun.

I’ve had 5 $100,000+ months with one method:

Launches.

That’s with just me and my VA, so almost all profit. 

The best part? 97% of the work is done before the launch. 

For example, this Black Friday, everything is scheduled, automated, and ready to go. Which means we can run launches without the business breaking down. I’m about to go explore Buenos Aires instead of putting out fires all weekend. 

We have one big SOP to do this. Here’s a summary:

1. Check customer/client feedback for core problems (AI analyses the data)
2. Decide the launch big idea (AI recommends)
3. Create launch incentives (essential—no reason to buy, people won’t. AI assists with the build)
4. Brainstorm email ideas (100% story-driven, AI will recommend 30 contrarian ideas after the big idea analysis)
5. Write emails, repurpose into social content (AI will check my 2nd and final drafts to suggest improvements)
6. Schedule content across platforms (VA handles)
7. Collect analytics (non-buyers, but also testimonials and feedback after incentive delivery, all automated with software)

All in all, it’s around 10-15 hours of work for me, and the same for my VA. 

A note on AI:

I never write with it. I’ve tried, I’ve trained it to use my voice, I still think it sucks because writing is thinking, so outsourcing it is dumb. But I use it for every single step of my business. As a friction remover and thinking partner. 

 A year ago, launches used to KILL me. Now it feels almost effortless. Which means I can focus on creating other assets for my audience (at the moment, my key priority is the book).

Don’t just work hard. Work smart.

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The Battle

Melvin Varghese, PhD

Kieran Drew

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The Battle

Melvin Varghese, PhD

Kieran Drew

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Engagements

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Melvin Varghese, PhD's LinkedIn Performance

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