Greetings from “Minnesota Nice” Minneapolis:
It’s been 12 months since I started writing “Opening Up.” Thank you. You have been on a choppy ride with me and helped me get to where “Opening Up” is now 52 issues (short stories) strong and ready for the next stage in its development.
WHERE “OPENING UP” IS AT RIGHT NOW
“Opening Up” now has 80 subscribers, 42 of which have so generously decided to take out paid subscriptions.
I’ve had up to 120 readers per week with an average 57 percent open rate on each weekly email.
Most of the present subscribers have been “Founder” supporters of my effort. You have given me the time to test the viability of “Opening Up” and chart the next steps in its development.
WHAT I’VE LEARNED DURING THE LAST YEAR
Over the last 12 months, I’ve learned that seniors want to do three things:
Cope effectively with new vulnerabilities so they can show their families and others they are still capable of helping decide how they will carry out everyday living.
Write their own life stories instead of having others define what life has meant to them.
Pass on to family and friends their insights and values.
I’ve been online since 1997. I know how to create online content and generate online content from others, but one of my biggest failures is not building an email list of my followers over the last 25 years.
So, I need more readers – at least 1,000 subscribers (free or paid) to make “Opening Up” truly interactive (subscribers sharing stories in response to my weekly discussion questions).
I plan to sidestep the online chaos coming soon because of artificial intelligence (AI) and do my own AI-free thing behind the wall of subsatack.com, which is the future (and more promising) publishing alternative to Google, Facebook, Twitter etc.
MY FOUR GOALS
Extend the reach of “Opening Up” to new people who need it.
Delegate marketing and promotion to another person so I can concentrate on creating content for “Opening Up.”
Get all my content in top form with a solid cash flow so I can eventually transfer ownership to another person.
Create more quality time with my wife, Pam.
MY THREE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWING “OPENING UP” SUBSCRIPTIONS
Recruit group subscriptions among organizations which serve seniors. They can add/delete individual subscribers on substack.com where they can manage their own private subscriber page and be a part of the “Opening Up” subscriber base.
Recruit corporate sponsorships of “Opening Up” across noncompetitive fields. I can clone “Opening Up” under a sponsor’s name and ID and new newsletter name. The sponsor becomes a publisher and can add/delete individual subscribers, but I do the publishing work for the sponsor.
Use group subscriptions to “Opening Up” as a fundraiser for nonprofits which serve seniors.
As you can see, the future backbone of “Opening Up” does not depend on individual subscribers who are outside of an organization. So, as this “Founders” year ends, I’m giving family and friends a free lifetime subscription. As a “Founder,” you’ve done your job. And I thank you on this anniversary number one.
HOW YOU CAN CONTINUE TO HELP
In addition to reading and commenting on my content, you can continue to be a great help for me by sharing my content with others, leaving a comment when you are so moved, suggesting that others consider taking out a subscription and giving a gift subscription to someone who would enjoy “Opening Up.” Think birthdays, anniversaries, holidays etc.
By the way, email me at jim@jimhasse.com, if you know of an organization which serves potential subscribers. I can provide deep group discounts per subscriber.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS
During the next six months, you can look forward to new short stories, new issues, new opportunities for sharing your own personal stories with family and friends. There’ll be some retreads of previous most-read “Opening Up” short stories – and hopefully more fellow readers/commenters on “Opening Up.”
Here’s to elderhood and vulnerability!
Jim Hasse, ABC, GCDF retired, author of “Opening Up” newsletter
“Story-guided Discussion for Finding Peace with Age-related Limitations”
Use “My Latest Legacy Nugget” resources to share your “Opening Up” comment with a family member or friend.
See all past issues of “Opening Up.”
Check guidelines for your “Opening Up” Discussion Group