Every Year, I Vow To Work Less And Live More

That’s right—every single year. 2025 marks another year reminding me that I’m edging closer to this vision of earning enough passive income. Just so you know, passive income is actually an income from the sources that I don’t have to be actively working on. My strategy to make it happen is solely dependent on Pelantar. FYI it’s a paid marketing newsletter. More than just a side adventure, Pelantar is my passion project, my attempt to build the largest online library of marketing articles in Asia. 

The truth is, I’m not a fan of working long hours forever. That’s why I’m prioritising these three things as part of my business model for Pelantar. 

1. Automated.
2. Cash-flow driven.
3. Profitable.

But right now, I still handle most aspects of Pelantar myself. From crafting subject lines and writing the articles week-in-week-out to analysing subscriber data, you are looking at the person who is running the entire operation. But with every passing week, I’m constantly refining my systems to make things automated as much as possible. The harder part to automate is the writing itself. While I enjoy sharing my marketing insights, it’s a time-consuming process and I’m not able to do it alone long term. That’s why, when Pelantar hits 2,000 subscribers, I’m going to bring in ghostwriters. They aren’t just any writers; they’re experienced marketers with a deep understanding of the niche. 

The cash flow is there already. Just that, it is yet to be profitable. Pelantar only has a small number but growing subscribers to date. But overall, I’m extremely excited about the potential. To me, this is how I want my legacy to be built. I hope my family can sustain themselves financially too should I step back from this business or no longer be around one day. Those three strategies will help make Pelantar sustainable, that’s for sure. 

So, this vision of mine will continue in 2025. I vow to work even less this time. All I have to do now is to up the ante when it comes to the automation part. This journey, to me, is the ultimate definition of success if I achieve it.