I didn’t mean to start another book project, but I am an author, so my brain does think in book. So, in some ways it was inevitable.
What wasn’t inevitable was Jari Roomer, Sinem Günel, and Philip Hofmacher saying yes to my idea to build an anthology based around repurposing viral content from some of the best and brightest writers on Substack.
And yet, sometimes you put something out into the world and it catches fire. Anthologies built my career, and they’ve built many of the most important relationships in it.
$10k Secrets is no exception. Not only was it a fun project, but it’s also filled with a dozen of the best thinkers in the business space giving their best strategy to having a $10k/mo.
Why that metric? Because six-figure careers are built on five figure months, and five figure months are built on systems.
The book is out, it is awesome, and best of all…it’s completely free to read at
👉 10ksecrets.substack.com
All you have to do is subscribe and we’ll email it out to you.
It’s more than a book. It’s a snapshot of what actually works when you're trying to build a sustainable creative business from scratch.
Anthologies Built My Career
Here’s something we talked about in the livestream—but maybe didn’t say loud enough:
My first $10K month came from an anthology.
And that anthology turned into a $25,000 Kickstarter campaign.
That project wasn’t just a win. It was a launchpad.
It helped me:
Build my creative network
Grow an audience that stuck around
Launch a publishing career that’s still going strong
Learn how to lead collaborative projects with real stakes
It taught me a truth I’ve leaned on ever since:
If you’re willing to do the work of collecting something great—
if you’re the one who says “I’ll organize it,”
if you’re willing to build the container—
you can bring a whole lot of awesome together.
That’s what an anthology is.
It’s a magnet for talent.
A permission slip for collaboration.
A structure that turns good ideas into real results.
10K Secrets was built with that same spirit.
And I can tell you firsthand: if you’re feeling stuck, if you’re unsure what to build next, if you want to grow your platform without burning out—creating an anthology might be the smartest move you can make.
Why This Book Matters (and Why It’s Free)
We didn’t just invite people to write something random.
We asked contributors to bring their best work. The pieces that had already made an impact. Essays that helped them hit their first $10K month. Frameworks they use in their own businesses.
Each chapter shows a different path:
Turning a Substack into a revenue engine
Building a high-ticket offer from scratch
Using digital products to create leverage
Building a community that converts
Repurposing content into books (mine!)
And more
These aren’t theories. They’re systems that work in the wild.
That’s why we made the book free. Not because it’s disposable—but because it’s essential.
Why You Should Consider Building One Too
You don’t need a massive audience. You don’t need to be famous. You don’t even need to write most of the book.
What you need is:
A strong concept people want to be part of
A structure that holds it together
The courage to lead
If you’re building a blog or newsletter, you’re already halfway there. My chapter walks through exactly how I turn those pieces into a book—and how that system can be adapted into an anthology model like this one.
Because you’re not just publishing content.
You’re building relationships.
You’re building credibility.
You’re building a library of assets that grow your business, open doors, and expand your reach—without doubling your workload.
If you’re ready to make a leap, this is one of the smartest ways I know to do it.
And if you’re not ready to organize your own yet, start by reading this one: 👉 10ksecrets.substack.com
Final Thought
10K Secrets isn’t just another anthology. It’s a celebration of the different ways creative people make this work work.
It’s also proof of something I learned the hard way:
You don’t have to do this alone.
You just have to be willing to start.
—Russell
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