No B.S. Progress Report #1

The start of an honest report of the past weeks growth

It’s officially been one week since I started my SubStack publication! 🤩

This post is going to be a little different from what I’ve shared so far. You’re getting a more raw, unfiltered version of my thoughts as I break down this week’s performance, lessons learned, and what’s coming next.

I want this to be a recurring series—not just to document the journey, but to share the growth with those of you who are supporting the project and connect with others who are building something of their own.

Celebrating wins matters, and it’s always better doing it together.

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Before we dive in, I have to give a huge shoutout to A Letter For, captained by my friend Andrew Henke. I strive to reach the bar that he’s set, both in business and in writing. This is my version of his series “A Letter For Process & Progress”. If you’re into sharp ideas, creative insights and kick-ass writing, you’ll definitely want to check out his work.

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Weekly Breakdown

Above is the summary of engagement that we’ve experienced in the last seven days of writing here on SubStack.

Wow, wow, WOW!

When I started this journey, my goal was simple: write one post every day for 30 days. I wanted to get in the habit of putting my thoughts into words— writing them out instead of letting them sit in my head. But more than that, I wanted to train myself to think like a writer—to actually structure my ideas instead of just dumping them onto the page.

After the 30 days, I’ll step back, see what worked, what didn’t, and figure out what I need to refine.

Just one week in, the support has already put me into hyperdrive toward that goal. Seeing these posts resonate with you all has been beyond exciting.

Learnings from Week 1

Throughout the week, I’ve made small tweaks to my posts see what patterns emerge. It’s still too early for concrete conclusions, but here’s what I’ve noticed so far:

✅ Ideal read time is between 3-5 minutes.

✅ Posts promoted on Instagram/LinkedIn perform better than those that aren’t.

✅ Voiceovers get more engagement than text-only posts.

✅ Posting time doesn’t seem to significantly impact views.

These are elements I’m going to continue to tinker with week after week. I will keep you updated on what I learn.

I’ve also posted a few Notes this week with little engagement on them. Some did okay, given the fresh start, but nothing significant to report. I consume a lot of “How to grow your SubStack” content and see them consistently mention Notes as a great way to do so.

It’s not about going viral, it’s about building connections with likeminded creators and readers.

This fact will be my guiding light as I continue to interact with my audience in the future.

What’s Next?

So far, I’ve been focused on articulating more abstract ideas that I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about. Things that really fire up the philosophical and spiritual elements to my being. That won’t change, but I also want to share insights from other aspects of my life that have shaped me.

Over the next three weeks, I’ll be exploring new themes while staying true to the ethos of Soul Mana. Here’s what’s coming:

📌 Week 2 – Lessons as a Young Professional (Business)

📌 Week 3 – Tech: To Our Benefit, and Demise (Technology)

📌 Week 4 – Mending the Great Divide (Politics)

These are all areas that have played a huge role in my life, and I’m excited to open up those conversations with you.

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I’d love to hear from you! What do you want to see more of? What’s resonating with you, and what isn’t? Your feedback is a huge part of what we’re building together. It’ll help us shape this community into something real—something truly special!

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A Week of Gratitude

I couldn’t be more grateful, honored, and excited about the start of this project. The support from those in my network has been absolutely unbelievable.

This past week, my posts have reconnected me with old friends—from college, from back home in Minnesota, and even as far as 3,500 miles away in Alaska.

Small moments, like reminiscing with one of my very first friends in life, Jack, about seeing Interstellar for the first time together, have meant the world.

And then there are messages like these:

💬 From my friend Jacob—an old colleague, golf partner, and someone who’s always felt like an older brother to me. Hearing this from him means more than he knows.

or..

💬 From my friend Logan—one of my first college friends and a former classmate, now making waves in his company in Philadelphia. He’s a killer. We’re catching up tomorrow.

It’s hard to put into words what it means to hear that my posts have resonated with you all. It’s the purest form of fulfillment.

To everyone who’s been a part of this journey so far—from the bottom of my heart, thank you. There’s so much more ahead, and I’m beyond excited to keep walking this path with you all.

With love and admiration,

Brady

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