I've spent nearly three decades tracking the rise and fall of online business tools—from the blog explosion of the early 2000s to the podcast boom of the 2010s. But nothing has captured my attention quite like what's happening with email newsletters right now.

Here's the shift nobody saw coming: In just the last 2-3 years, newsletters have transformed from simple email updates into legitimate business empires generating 6, 7, and even 8-figure paydays.

Two stories that prove this isn't hype:

Sam Parr started The Hustle in 2014 as a basic promotional tool for his conference. Seven years later, he sold that "simple newsletter" for $30 million.

Shaan Puri and Ben Levy launched The Milk Road in January 2022 to explain crypto in everyday language. Before their first anniversary? Acquired for over $10 million.

Now, I'm not sharing these examples to convince you that you'll be a millionaire by spring. I'm sharing them to show you what's actually possible when you build a valuable newsletter with consistency and strategy. Your eight-figure exit might not happen next month—but your first $1,000, $5,000, or $10,000 month absolutely can.

Here's what has me genuinely excited:

The technology barrier has completely disappeared. Platforms like Beehiiv (which I use to publish all three of my newsletters) now give you everything you need to deliver a premium multimedia experience—written content, audio versions, embedded podcasts, sales pages, email automation, and sophisticated audience segmentation. Features that would've required a team of developers five years ago are now available to anyone willing to hit "start."

But the real reason I'm all-in on newsletters? They let me deliver an excellent experience to my subscribers. And that's the secret sauce nobody talks about—when you consistently take care of your audience, they take care of you.

In this article, you'll discover:

The entrepreneurs who will dominate 2026 are the ones making their move right now. While everyone else is "planning to start" after the holidays, you'll already have subscribers, traction, and revenue.

Let's get you positioned for your best year yet.

Here's to your success,

Hugh Lee Johnson
Publisher of Venture AIX Money, Venture AI Art, and The Digital Nomad

P.S. Share your feedback and questions with me HERE

Let me tell you something wild: while everyone's busy arguing about the "next big thing" on social media, the smartest entrepreneurs are quietly building newsletter empires that print money like ATMs. (Okay, maybe not literally like ATMs, but you get the picture.)

Here's the truth bomb nobody wants to hear: you don't own your social media followers. Instagram could change its algorithm tomorrow, and poof—your reach vanishes faster than free donuts at a Monday morning meeting. But an email list? That's yours. Forever. Like a digital kingdom you actually control.

Think newsletters are boring? Think again, friend. We're living through a newsletter gold rush, and the smart money is getting in now—before 2026 kicks off.

Here's what's happening:

The beautiful part? You don't need to be a tech wizard or have a marketing degree. You just need something valuable to share and the right tools to share it.

Let's break this down in terms even my neighbor's fifth-grader could understand:

1. You Own Your Audience: When you build an email list, those subscribers are YOURS. No algorithm can take them away. No billionaire can change the rules overnight. It's like owning property instead of renting.

2. Direct Access to Your People: Your email lands right in their inbox. No fighting for attention against dancing videos or cat memes. Just you, your message, and someone who actually wants to hear from you.

3. Monetization Is Built-In: Want to sell something? Send an email. Want to promote your coaching? Send an email. Want to share affiliate products? You guessed it—send an email. Try doing that consistently on Instagram without getting shadowbanned.

4. AI Makes You Look Like a Pro: Tools like ChatGPT and Claude help you write better content faster. Midjourney creates stunning editorial art. Canva designs gorgeous graphics. You literally have a creative team in your pocket.

Right now, three things are converging to create the perfect opportunity:

Timing: We're four weeks from 2026. Everyone's making plans and setting goals. Your newsletter can be LIVE when the New Year motivation hits.

Technology: Platforms like Beehiiv have made newsletter publishing ridiculously easy. (I run three successful newsletters on Beehiiv, and I'm not even that tech-savvy.)

Audience Hunger: People are desperate for quality content delivered directly to them. They're tired of scrolling endlessly through garbage to find one good post.

Here's where it gets exciting. A newsletter isn't just a hobby—it's a business engine:

I personally use newsletters to connect with AI enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and digital nomads across my three publications. Each newsletter serves a specific audience, solves specific problems, and generates specific income streams.

Let's talk about the dream team of newsletter creation:

Beehiiv (My platform of choice): This isn't sponsored—I just genuinely love it. Clean interface, powerful features, and they actually care about your success. I publish "Venture AIX Money," "Venture AI Art," and "The Digital Nomad" all on Beehiiv.

Midjourney: Creates jaw-dropping editorial art that makes your newsletter look like a million bucks. Your fifth-grade self would think you hired a professional designer.

Canva: Design promotional graphics, social media posts, and newsletter headers without needing a design degree. It's like having a graphic designer who never takes breaks.

AI Writing Tools: ChatGPT, Claude, and others help you write faster, better, and more consistently. Writer's block becomes a thing of the past.

Here's the thing about New Year's resolutions: everyone makes them, but few keep them. But launching your newsletter in December 2025 means you hit January 2026 with momentum while everyone else is still "planning."

The 4-Week Advantage:

By the time your competitors are "thinking about maybe starting a newsletter," you'll have paying subscribers and real traction.

Look, I get it. Starting something new feels overwhelming. That's exactly why I created the Newsletter Launch Kit—a weekend-launch system designed for busy professionals who want results, not complicated theory.

This isn't about spending months planning the "perfect" newsletter. It's about getting your newsletter LIVE before 2026, building your audience, and positioning yourself for success.

The smartest entrepreneurs aren't waiting. They're launching now, learning fast, and building email lists that become their most valuable business assets.

The question isn't whether you should start a newsletter. The question is: what are you waiting for?

Your future self—the one running a profitable newsletter in 2026—is counting on you to start today.

Let's make it happen.