Solopreneurship in the next 10 years
Why I do weird, counterintuitive things sometimes.
I pivoted away from Fiverr about a year before the platform started declining. At the time, I often got 4-figure orders and I did them — I just stopped updating gigs, creating new ones, and paying for ads.
I even stopped selling my Fiverr course last year. It’s not that you can’t do okay there, but I don’t think it’s the best use of your time anymore. And it used to be, trust me — there are many millionaires on Fiverr, probably more than there are on Substack.
But the numbers don’t lie. Fiverr ended 2025 with 3.1 million active buyers, down 13.6% from the year before. The low-cost gig economy — the one built on volume and cheap execution — is being replaced by AI.
And instead of struggling now, when everyone else is complaining their work is down, I’ve already moved on.
Last year, I started a property flipping business. I started it in a moment when the real estate market was calming down, on purpose. As a flipper, you're both a seller and a buyer. In a calm market, you have more time to think about what to buy and at what price. Then what to do with it. It's an excellent opportunity to learn how to build this business before the market goes crazy again. That's when I'll already have a decision framework and will have learned the tricks that will keep me on top of the wave.
I frequently do these weird, counterintuitive things. I have off months and sometimes I get scared I’m wrong. But my yearly income has quadrupled over the past 7 years, and I haven’t had a day job in 12.
So, big picture considered, I must be doing something right.
Today I share my predictions for solopreneurship in the next 10 years. What will change in each type of solo business? What will matter and what won’t? Where to focus to keep succeeding even in turbulent times.
For content creators.
Insane humanity is in style.
Big online writers used to advise new ones to “sound confident.” Say “this is what’s happening” instead of “I think this is what’s happening.”
But you know who else sounds confident? AI.
I tested including my normal human doubts in a few pieces and they all ended up getting paid subscribers. Not saying my doubts were the reason — but they didn’t stand in the way. And I think they might be a reason for people to trust you more going forward. To trust your humanity and your judgment.
Paid newsletter subscriptions grew 138% in 2025 and this confirms the idea that people trust other people more than institutions now. They’re paying for a specific mind, with a specific perspective, on a specific problem. The more human and particular that perspective, the harder it is to replicate.