Welcome to launch/anyway 🫶
it's great to have you here
I’ve been writing this Substack for over 5 months now, but haven’t taken the time to write an introduction or welcome, especially for new people who’ve joined. Until now!:)
So, this is a little special issue, to give you some context. Thank you for being here.
The context
Launch/anyway started because of one simple question a stranger asked me:
“What’s holding you back from going all in?”
This was all I could think about for a while. And a couple of months later, I quit my job. Funny, how simple questions asked at the right moment in time can be so impactful.
I’ve always been multi-passionate. Have a Bachelors in Russian & music psychology (fun fact), then transitioned to Digital Marketing, moving to Dublin and doing my Masters, before moving back to Berlin, where I’m based now.
For about 2 years, I worked full-time as a marketer in a role I loved – it was flexible, fun, great people, a fantastic mission.
And yet, I still couldn’t shake the thought that I want more.
More diversity in my days. More freedom to pursue all of the projects I wanna tackle but never have the time for. A way to make decisions for myself without “asking the manager”. A way to have intense or more relaxed work phrases in life, depending on what I want to prioritise (work / relationships / family / health / etc).
And, of course, a way to eventually achieve financial freedom, which to me means being able to support my family in times of need without scrambling. Feeling like if I do get to live a long and healthy life, I’ll be able to take care of myself and people I care about.
Maybe you’ve felt the yearning for all of these things, too.
Funny (or I guess, a bit sad?) that this idea feels like a huge privilege. And even the fact I get to try to build my dream life feels like a privilege, of course.
So, in August of 2025, I decided I need to follow that urge, my gut, and so… I quit.
If I never try, I’ll never know, right?
I had a few months of savings, an audience of 18k on LinkedIn that I’ve grown while working full time.
I want to live a life that excites me. That makes me feel like I’m growing into a better person every day. Like I’m bringing value into other people’s lives. Present, alive and grateful.
I’m writing this “welcome email” on December 6th of 2025. December will be the first month I’ll out-earn my ex-monthly salary.
It’s been a rocky journey, but I feel like slowly I’m getting the hang of what I can offer that lights me up AND pays my bills:
1. linkedin / personal branding coaching (1:1’s, workshops, course, products)
2. content creation (sponsorships, collaborations with brands)
3. community building (this community, marketer community)
This year I embraced that I loveeee people and I loveeee teaching. I think I was resisting the idea, so it took me a while.
I was brainwashed to dislike meetings and “trading time for money”. Mostly by people saying that passive income is the way. But while I think “passive income” is great, I also think that the key is doing more of the things you enjoy.
And if that for me is meeting people and talking to them and spending time on it, I’ll do that. And I’ll do other things. And I’ll feel great about it:)
This Substack is my thinking space. And if it pushes you to build a life you actually love instead of just dreaming about it, that’s amazing! <3
As I’ve gotten into sports this past year, one thing I also learned, is that nothing is really impossible to achieve. I believe that.
In calisthenics (basically gymnastics for non-gymnasts, if you don’t know what it is), any move can be “unlocked” with enough discipline, coaching, and repetitions. And it’s the best feeling ever when you learn a new move.
That is the mindset I’m bringing with me on this solopreneur journey. Nothing is impossible.
Everything is achievable, IF I take the right next steps, put in the reps, have a growth mindset, trust my gut, and ask for help when I’m stuck.
I’m figuring all of this out as I go, and I’d love for you to come along for the ride.
Here’s what you can expect to land in your inbox weekly-ish:
Reflections on my lessons and mistakes, like about the days when I eat too much chocolate while procrastinating on doing my taxes lol… what I think is helping me, what’s stalling my growth… honest reflections on building this new life.
I also try to make you ponder from time to time about your life. The questions I ask myself, I also share with you, so you can reflect with me.
Lastly, this isn’t just me talking at you. I’d love to hear your thoughts - there’s truly nothing better than reading what you think about these concepts and if you’ve felt similarly before.
Side note: This Substack is separate from my regular email newsletter, where I talk about workshops, events and resources related to Personal Branding and Marketing.
I want this Substack to be focused on the honest behind the scenes of building a life-first solopreneur business. Hence I keep these 2 newsletters separate.
But if you’d also like to get informed whenever I announce my LinkedIn / Personal branding workshops, resources, courses & more, I’d be happy to add you to my email list. You can sign up for my email list here.
Cheers,
Maria
P.S. If you wanna hear more from me day-to-day, you can find me oversharing on LinkedIn pretty much daily :)
P.P.S. if you’re a full-time solopreneur/founder based in Berlin, reply to this email, so I can add you to the events calendar with co-working / hangouts I host 🫶