Let me ask you a simple but powerful question:
"Are you happy with what you're doing?"
Scared of the answer?
You are not alone! Actually, you're in good company. This question has ruined the life of today's show guest
.His 90-year-old Chinese grandmother from Singapore asked him this exact question at the beginning of last year.
Michael answered:
“Yes.”
…at least he thought he was happy.
Michael had the fancy corporate title - he got promoted to a Director (wow!).
He had the house.
The income.
On paper, he "made it."
He Had All These Things That Society Tells You Should Make You Happy
Also, she always had one piece of advice: "Travel while you're young." And not just once, but every time she saw him, she'd say it again and again.
“She stared, silent and waiting.
She used her Asian grandmother powers on me.
So I admitted I wanted to travel the world,
and pursue a new business idea.
She asked, "What’s stopping you?"
I listed the reasons—work, routine, responsibilities.
She shook her head and said,
"Excuses."
"Life doesn’t wait for you to be ready."
She was right.
I was holding myself back.”
Deep down, he felt stuck and his grandma felt it with her Asian grandmother power.
"I had all these things that society tells you should make you happy… but I was miserable inside," he told me.
Michael Wasn't Building a Life He Loved
That's when he realized: He wasn't building a life he loved—he was chasing titles, promotions, and a version of success that wasn’t his own. Within 30 days, he quit his corporate job, and booked a one-way ticket to Singapore.
He became a rock that rolls down a hill and no longer stays in the same place.
He traded boardrooms for beaches. Suits for swim trunks. A rigid schedule for freedom.
And while that might sound bold (or terrifying, I know!), Michael said something during our interview that really stuck with me:
"The worst-case scenario is I go back to my old life. But the best case? I live the life I actually want."
Isn’t that the truth? Sometimes the real risk is not taking the leap of faith!
Now Michael is “High on Life”
After already building and selling multiple one-person-businesses, Michael is now building a new thriving one-person business and scaling it to $100,0000+ by writing online and helping others create freedom for themselves.
He wakes up every day with what he describes as a "high on life," saying:
"I feel unburdened, unshackled… it's an intense level of freedom that I've never had before."
Look at him!
Can You Imagine That Kind of Freedom?
Here’s my takeaway from my chat with Michael:
Sometimes the most "secure" path is actually the riskiest, because it keeps you stuck.
Taking a leap isn’t about being fearless. It's about deciding which risk you're willing to live with.
The worst-case scenario is rarely as bad as we imagine.
So, let me ask you so you can tell us in the chat:
“What’s your version of freedom? What would it look like to design a life you actually love?”
Michael’s story is a powerful reminder that it's never too late to pivot. To choose yourself and create something in the cracks of time. To create something that might only exist as a daydream.
Are You Dying a Slow Death in Your 9-5? Want Your Life to Look a Whole Much different?
By listening to Michael sharing his life lessions and the 6 most valuable steps he took to set up his one-person business you’ll take one step today toward the life you want - even if you have only a few minutes or hours a day.
Once you listened, you’ll have a plan how to build a one-person business and how it could feel like.
So hopefully this is the kick in the butt to let your life look different.
Because those small steps? They add up to something big.
🎙️If you say, “Kristina, let me listen to the show!”🎙️
You can listen to it as Substack podcast, on Spotify or watch it on YouTube.
Enjoy the show!
If you’re listening via Spotify it would be awesome to get a review from you ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. You can really make a different with this small gesture. Thanks 🙏🏻
Here’s the video interview:
🎤 Meet Michael Lim LIVE - MASTERCLASS
2025 will be the year of the solopreneur.
So see this interview as a nudge to finally start it!
The majority of writers, creatives, influencers and dreamers are solo publishers. And more and more are entering the market. So it's time to build a soulful and joyful one-person business to finally feel the freedom you deserve.
Join the paid member’s masterclass with Michael Lim on
finding the courage to quit and start a one-person business on the side as a normal person,
finding the time,
quitting your 9-to-5,
building the life you love,
monetizing your existing skills,
experiencing the freedom you’re craving for
building a soulful and joyful one-person business in 2025.
Bring all your questions and get them answered by Michael in our LIVE masterclass.
📅Tuesday, March 18
⌚7am EST / 6am CDT / 5am MDT/ 4am PDT/ 12 pm CET
🔗ZOOM link: If you’re an annual member, you can add the event to your calendar HERE or find the Zoom link HERE.
⏺️Replays: Michael is joining us from Asia so it’s a bit earlier than usual. You can’t make it live? No worries. You can catch up and also send me your questions beforehand in the comments or via email/DM.
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Besides my content library with more than 80 posts, you’ll get:
Access to all 35+ replays
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1 Month Substack Content Planner (value $29)
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NEW Substack Course “From Beginner to Substack Pro” (value $149)
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Invite to weekly LIVE workshops with my interview guests & with me and the tribe
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That’s ALL included in an annual membership!
Similar to Michael's relationship with his grandma, my grandfather also played a big role in my decision to leave everything behind, move to the west coast of Germany and live a simple life with my children at the beach and working from home.
I’m grateful for all the wonderful conversations we had. Helmut, my granddad, already crossed the rainbox bridge, but I can feel his spirit in my part-time business. I even have a photograph of him on my desk. It shows him, sun-tanned and in swim tanks, at the beach with me and my brother. I know, grandpa would be proud of me.
Maybe there’s one person in your life who triggered a change? Who asked a questions or told you a story that would change your life forever?
See you in the show & our masterclass with Michael!
PS We’d sooo love to hear from you! Hit reply and let us know your thoughts! We’ll answer all your questions and reply to everyone.
PPS Say 👋🏻in the comments, Chat, or via email.
Very inspiring. But also, Michael, you don't need to make any excuses for following your dream. Don't let others push their social expectations onto you. If you love what you're doing you can keep doing it until you're no matter how old!
Absolutely loved being on!! Thanks for having me
Thanks Kristina!
Thanks very much for this interview, Kristina. It landed right where I’m standing regarding my writing experiences. I’m in the process of learning the marketing side of business. It’s a lot of work, which, takes away from my time making connections on Substack. However, I know in order for me to make the right connections I have to be clear about what to offer and to which market. I found this interview very helpful. Thank you!!!
📅Tuesday, March 18
⌚7am EST / 6am CDT / 5am MDT/ 4am PDT/ 12 pm CET
Hi Kristina. I’m up. I should be able to log on Live. Most of my days, this week, will be occupied with other, important business. However, I’m glad I realized I can tune in this morning.
Super! See you in a bit
I need a link. Video not showing up in my feed.
No worries. I catch the replay if possible.
Link was here: https://substack.com/chat/443311/post/ee3eb009-8906-4388-aad9-cd69cd800011
Will share replay within the next days
Super! 😊 Thanks very much for your thoughtful feedback. It’s great to hear that our interview resonated with you. The marketing side of business can definitely feel like a lot, but getting clarity on your offer and audience is a game-changer. Keep going—you're on the right track!
And remember, tomorrow is the live session with Michael. Hope to see you there! It might be a bit early though ^^
Thanks for the encouragement and the tip about tomorrow’s session. My plans for this week suddenly changed so I will probably miss what’s going here on Substack this week. If it gets recorded, I’ll try and take a look. 🙏🏾
❤️ this. I have mad respect for Michael in his decision to leave all the normal trappings of success and a good life to follow his true desires at a reasonably young age. It wasn’t until I reached the #50PLUSCLUB that I actually knew what I truly wanted.
Although my wife and I did move out of the US at 45 to start our adventure in Latin America, after making bad decisions and hitting my bottom. It is my dream to help more people live the life of their dreams that they want, not what others have imposed on them. To break past conditioned limits and soar in life, business and relationships and to have more joy and fulfillment.
Hi Shawn! Love this. ❤️ It’s amazing to hear how much Michael’s journey resonated with you. His decision to walk away from the conventional path (corporate ladder, house, fancy title) and pursue his true desires is something I deeply respect as well. It takes courage to break free from what’s expected and create a life that truly aligns with WHO you are.
And wow, your own story is inspiring too! Moving to Latin America at 45 and turning things around after hitting rock bottom—that's no small feat. It’s incredible that you’re now helping others break past their conditioned limits and design a life filled with joy, fulfillment, and purpose. Is your wife on Substack too?
Really appreciate you sharing this, and I’m so glad you enjoyed the interview. Keep soaring and showing up for tomorrow's life with Michael:
📅Tuesday, March 18
⌚7am EST / 6am CDT / 5am MDT/ 4am PDT/ 12 pm CET
Just me. She is so busy with all her stuff and our 7 year old son. I look forward to hearing more about Michael’s story.
Kristina,
Interesting post, but it doesn't fit me. How come?
I was born during WW2 on our kitchen table, while Budapest was bombarded. I grew up in communism under miserable conditions. Fortunately I received good education and acquiered high degrees with honor. I am proud of my MS (Telecom) and PhD (Electron Pysics). After schools, I worked 8-7 instead of 9-5 jobs for most of my life. (workaholic +) In Government, in University and in non-profit. (No corporate jobs.) In 90 % I thrived in my jobs. As a junior associate I learned a lot from my excellent bosses. (Lucky me) As a senior manager I forged fantastic teams and achieved great results serving the common good, and earned decent money. As an advisor to the prime minister I made a bold advice to negotiate with the Western alliance to get rid of the COCOM proscribed destinations list, and allow Hungary to access modern technologies. He approved, and I successfully carried out the negotiations. I set up the Export Control System, later the National Cyber Security Center operating smoothly with the relevant European and Global professional partners.
Our Theodore Puskas Foundation and its two wholly owned subsidiaries became respected players in the Hungarian IT industry. Among others we provided the National Security Services with world class large custom designed IT systems.
With my wife and our children we trotted the Globe over, the Bucket List covers six continents and a jillion pictures, mirroring unforgettable memories. In the wide attic of my late wife's medical office I have a respectable collection of beautiful safari trophies from six continents.
I have never had time to think about liberating myself from my (more than 9-5) jobs.
Then, as a lightning from the blue sky, with a change of goverment we lost everything overnight. The Foundation was closed down, the assets were nationalized. Not a phone call, not a letter or an email... no gentlemen.
We learnt it from the National Register.
I was left on my own, on my state pension. My colleauges - all good professionals - had to find new jobs.
For ten years this pensioner was licking his wounds and lost his marvellous wife to Leukaemia. At 80, he shrug his shoulders and came to Substack to find a new fraternity, and start writing.
I am honored to be here, in the company of so many smart and noble friends.
Thank you!
Kristina, I am still more then open to write about my adventures. Give me a spark to ignite my downloading process.
Kristina,
Thank you for restacking. Once, I had to tell the truth about how I related to my own story. I want to share it. One more thing: when I was young, in the fifties and early sixties, a private entrepreneur could be a tobacconist, a hairdresser, and not much else. Farmers and plumbers were forced into kolhoz-like cooperatives. Instead of a market economy, everything was state-run and state-controlled. Travel to the West was forbidden. Even visiting my family living in Romania was rare and difficult. It was called “real socialism”. After the brutal oppression of the 1956 revolution, a gradual normalization started, and freedom was regained drop by drop. The real freedom began in 1989-90. Democracy arrived. My thriving mainly occurred in the next twenty years. Then, it was gradually stolen by a nepotist hybrid Orbán regime we are suffering from now. Today, on our national holiday, a huge demonstration will show we have had enough.
Hi Zsolt, talked about you yesterday in my LIVE on Substack. I just love that you're meeting Gabby on a regular basis IRL and I also do like your openness. You dare to share all these stories. The bad things that happened and the good.
I'd be honored if you'd write a guest post about sharing your anecdotes and memoirs
Oh wanted to add some more but need to go outside with the kids. Will come back later
Thank you, Kristina.
As a child, I was an extrovert and adored performing poems in front of many people. In the first 25 years of my career, I was an intelligence officer working in the shadows and got used to staying in the shadows. My extraversion was muted. Thirty-five years have passed since, and I lived an exciting life. Extraversion unmuted. A few friends told me they saw my achievements but would prefer to see the man behind them. Kurz und gut: I would love to write you a guest post if we find a subject. Also, chatting on a podcast could be interesting one day.
👏👏👏✌️