My email list is real.

90,000 subscribers…

Built in a little over a year.

Not bots.
Not scraped junk.
Not click farms.

Mostly Americans.
Heavily women 40–60.
Actual humans who open, read, and reply.

I moved the entire thing to an open-source platform.

No middlemen.
No surprise throttles.
No ransom disguised as “features.”

Same list.
Same emails.
Just fewer ways to get charged.

At its worst, keeping this list alive was costing me $700 a month.

The costs kept rising.

Now it’s mine.

What used to be a liability is now an asset with real weight.

Something that compounds instead of leaking cash.

I mentioned the list to an old client.

He asked about buying ad space.

That was a quiet reminder:
This isn’t theoretical.
This is a small city’s worth of attention.

Here’s where I’m being direct.

If you back me as a paid Permission to be Powerful subscriber, I’ll make you a lifetime VIP member of my Vacation Vault.

That means a constant feed of legitimate vacation giveaways.
Caribbean.
South America.
Europe.
More.

You get more entries than you could reasonably find on your own.
Sponsored.
Above board.
No guarantees, because reality exists.

You still have to enter.
Your name still has to be drawn.

That’s the game.

Alongside that, I’m going to teach exactly how I built this list.

Not guru fluff.
Not theory.
The actual decisions that mattered.

One of them was simple and brutal:
I decided I would get rich or die trying.
Which meant accepting that things could get worse before they got better.

I burned down my old life to get here.
AI was disrupting my industry.
I could evolve or go extinct.
So I stopped being just a writer.
I became a publisher.

Another insight:
The internet is much bigger than you think.

That single sentence led me straight to the system that worked.

This list could survive a nuclear blast.
It’s as real as a piece of land.

I’m still cultivating it.
The harvest is coming.
I’m buying time to do it right.

Early backers matter.
They always do.

Thanks for reading.
And for being here while this thing grows teeth.

Before it detonates.

If you would like to support this Substack at a rate above the standard, you can choose the Founder’s option.

You decide how much you would like to contribute.

You’re early.

And this thing is just getting started.

If you would like to support me through Patreon, you can also subscribe to the Vacation Vault there directly.

Thank you.

Subscribe now

Tony
Editor-in-Chief
Permission to be Powerful

I don’t mean to alarm you, but…

We are friends.

Right?

You value my work.

Right?

What do you like about Permission to be Powerful?

What made you subscribe?

I want to know who my real friends are.

So I’m asking outright.

Are you a real one, or not?

Not to be confrontational.

I’m asking because I need friends right now.

Real ones.

The kind who help in small, consistent ways.

Here’s the ask.

If you value my work, I’m asking for $3.

That’s it.

A real-friend amount.

Support that’s easy to say yes to.

Yet actually changes my life.

Every $3 coming in makes what I’m carrying feel a pound lighter.

So here’s why I’m asking now.

Last year, I made almost no money.

I made so little I qualified for Medicaid.

That was intentional.

I went broke on purpose.

I exhausted my savings.

And I spent the year doing one thing.

Building an audience from scratch.

This wasn’t a dream.

This wasn’t a side hustle.

I locked myself in a room for a year.

And I bet my life on this mission.

It was a full-blown escape plan.

After Tony Robbins fired me, I was done being a copywriter for hire.

Done being someone’s bitch.

Done letting my income depend on moods.

On whims.

On which way the wind was blowing that week.

That model is broken.

AI only made that clearer.

I had to evolve or die.

So I went all-in on building my own machine.

And it was brutal.

I got nuked.

I built my list to 15,000.

Substack wiped it out overnight.

I rebuilt.

I moved to MailChimp.

Wiped again.

Twenty-three thousand gone instantly.

I rebuilt again.

I taught myself email deliverability from scratch.

The hard way.

How to protect a domain.

How not to get flagged.

How to build something real without Big Brother breathing down your neck.

I’ve moved email systems four times.

And now I’m moving one more time.

Because I want full control.

Open source.

Zero fixed costs.

Total ownership.

This weekend, I almost finished the migration.

It took all weekend.

I can’t believe I’m almost there.

And the payoff is coming.

The list is at 87,000 subscribers.

Next month, I expect to cross 100,000.

That’s a big deal.

It’s also the most dangerous moment.

Because I’m in the ugly middle.

The bridge.

The part where everything works…

Except the money hasn’t caught up yet.

And right now, I’m out of cash.

Not “tight month” out of cash.

Collections out of cash.

I won’t be homeless.

I moved into the Rochester Zen Center.

So I could survive the build.

Monk life is not for the weak.

Hours of meditation.

Manual labor.

A stripped-down existence.

I’m grateful.

And I’m ready for this chapter to close.

This has been the hardest year of my life.

It’s also the year this finally starts to work.

So I’m asking.

Not for a miracle.

Not for a rescue.

For something small.

Something consistent.

$3 per month.

From the people who actually value what I’m building.

If my work has mattered to you.

If you’ve felt seen.

If you’ve learned something.

If you’ve enjoyed the stories.

This is the moment it actually helps.

This is happening either way.

Support just determines how I cross this bridge.

Steady.

Or exhausted.

Pledge $3 Now

Thank you.

USE THIS CODE TO ENSURE YOUR DISCOUNTED PRICE: 29DB7
(the artist formerly known as Anton)

Tony

Editor in Chief
Permission to be Powerful

P.S. As a thank-you, I’ll make you an honorary member of the Vacation Vault.

The Vacation Vault is normally $8/month.

Today, I’m asking for $3.

That $3 helps me get through this month.

After that, the regular price is $8.

You can cancel.

No hard feelings.

I’ll still be grateful.

What matters most is making it through this month.

Here’s what’s open right now:

• Miami Beach (ends 03/09)

• Bali (ends 03/06)

• Santa Fe (ends today 02/15)

• Austin, TX (ends 02/28)

• Charleston, SC (ends 03/02)

And coming soon:

Nashville. Malibu. Costa Rica. Cancun. Key West.

All locked inside the Vault.

👉 ENTER THIS CODE AT CHECKOUT TO SECURE YOUR 62% OFF DISCOUNT: 29DB7

Join the Vault for Just $3

($8/month after that)

How are we liking my hot takes on the Epstein files?

Genuinely curious to know.

I also wanted to take a moment to ask for your support.

Either by becoming a paid subscriber here on Substack…

I have big plans for the paid subscription that I’m working on right now…

I’m highly trained in the art of persuasion.

I also built a real email list of 88,000+ people in just over a year.

I’m also learning some insanely cool shit about AI that nobody’s really talking about.

All of that’s coming in the pipeline and more.

You can also join my new Vacation Vault.

I’m doing my slow army crawl to my first 100 paid subscriber for the Vault.

Premise of the Vault is simple:

I keep feeding you new vacation giveaways to enter.

I keep giving you new chances to win a free vacation.

To the Caribbean…

Latin America…

Europe…

Even Southeast Asia…

These are all legit giveaways.

I vet the people behind every giveaway.

It’s like The Price is Right in your inbox.

Already, we’ve had giveaways to:

Costa Rica

Bali

Puerto Rico

The Bahamas

Iceland

Mexico

And so much more.

We’ve also had a number of domestic vacations.

To Miami…

San Diego…

Austin…

Malibu…

Charleston…

and many more.

The main thing people keep asking me is if they can really win the free vacation.

YES.

You 100% can win.

Obviously the odds are not very high.

That’s I keep bringing you new vacations.

To increase your shot of winning over time.

Most people may enter a sweepstakes like this once in their life and forget about it.

But you're getting dozens of chances over time.

This is now you engineer you own luck.

You can try the Vacation Vault for free for the first 7 days.

I would really appreciate it.

If you’ve ever felt moved by my work, this would be a great way to let me know.

Thanks.

Tony

Editor in Chief

Permission to be Powerful

Big announcement.

I have partnered with brands like Forbes, People, SELF, and many others.

To bring you the largest private collection of vacation giveaways on Earth.

I call it The Vacation Vault.

I’m offering you a rollercoaster ride of fun in your inbox every single week.

And yet, I won’t be charging you your left kidney for the privilege.

The travel industry is rigged.

Instead of paying an arm and a leg for one trip…

You try this radical new approach to travel.

You join the Vacation Vault.

You enter many giveaways.

Dozens or even hundreds over time.

And let probability do the work.

Think of it like The Price Is Right for your email inbox.

I feed you a steady supply of vacation giveaways.
You enter to win.

More entries = more chances to win.

This is a numbers game.

When you enter a vacation giveaway, your odds are roughly one in 25,000.

Basically impossible.

But your probability increases every time you enter another one.

The Vault is how you tilt the odds in your favor.

In January, the Vacation Vault saw giveaways to:

Iceland
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Cancun

We just opened a new Turks and Caicos getaway,
plus a 3-day food escape in Charleston, SC.

But that’s just the start…

Bali
Texas
Santa Fe
Mexico

All still open.

Barely.

They’re closing any day now.

Coming live this month (February 2026):

Miami Beach
Spain
Nashville
and more.

Even more to follow.

Malibu
Cancun
Cozumel

We’re also hosting a major wellness spa giveaway this month
in partnership with SELF magazine.

Do people really win?

I can’t promise you will win.

That part’s completely out of my control.

It’s up to the judges to decide.

They have their own criteria.

But make no mistake:

People really do win.

Your chances are just as good as any.

IF you actually take the time to enter.

Here’s one example:

This is a fun way to plot your next escape.

To give yourself something unreal to look forward to.

To spoil yourself.

Even if you’re broke.

Beat a rigged travel industry.

Stop letting them rip you off blindly.

And maybe get bragging rights for life.

Are you in?

Roll the dice.

You might end up somewhere far away
with someone you love.

Far from your boss.
Your inbox.
Your responsibilities.

Even when life sucks…

And the world feels unhinged.

Tony

Editor-in-Chief

Permission to be Powerful

Ready to trade your inbox for ocean waves?
We’re sending one lucky winner (and their favorite person) to Rincón—Puerto Rico’s laid-back Westside paradise—for an unforgettable 3-night beach escape.

Here’s what’s waiting for you:

• 3 nights at Casa Isleña Resort — steps from the sand

• Private surf lessons for two with Mar Azul

• Paddle board rentals from Rincon Paddle Boards

• Poolside dinner for two at Casa Isleña

• $100 brunch credit at the iconic English Rose

Sun. Salt. Tacos. Repeat.

No purchase necessary. Just enter before November 2, 2025, and you could be waking up to ocean breezes and beachside breakfasts.

👉 [ENTER NOW]

Because some invitations are meant to be taken literally.

—Anton

Dear Permission to be Powerful Reader,

Imagine strapping on something that doesn’t just tell time — it watches over you. That’s what the Apple Watch Series 11 is built to do.

We’re giving one away (yep, free), and I’m about to walk you through exactly why someone would want to win it (because otherwise it’s just another shiny gadget).

Why the Apple Watch Series 11 actually matters

Health insights, not just data

• It can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure and notify you of possible hypertension.

• The Vitals app delivers overnight metrics — heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, sleep duration — and flags when things stray outside your norm.

• You can take an ECG right from your wrist to check for signs of AFib. Apple

• Sleep Score: you don’t just see how long you slept — you see how well you slept (including stages, consistency, interruptions) and get suggestions to improve.

• This is the thinnest Apple Watch yet — comfortable enough for 24/7 wear, even while you sleep.

• The display is 2× more scratch resistant than the Series 10 (thanks to Ion-X glass with a special coating).

• It’s water resistant (WR 50M) and dust resistant (IP6X) — you can take it swimming or wear it in gritty environments without fretting.

• Up to 24 hours of battery life on normal use.

• In Low Power Mode, it can stretch much further (up to 38 hours)

• Fast charging: just 15 minutes gives you up to 8 hours of use.

• Equipped with 5G cellular (on models that support it), so you can call, message, stream — all without your iPhone nearby.

• Workout Buddy: gets real-time motivation, guidance, and encouragement tailored to you.

• Smart Stack hints, wrist-flick gestures, seamless integration with iPhone apps — features that make it feel less like a toy and more like an extension of your brain.

• Safety features like Fall Detection and Emergency SOS are built in.

What’s the value you’re actually getting?

Retail for the base Apple Watch Series 11 starts at $399.

If you chose the cellular version, or a titanium finish, the price can climb higher.

So if you win this, you’re saving yourself hundreds of dollars — and getting a health, fitness, and safety tool in return.

Enter now — because possibilities are better than regrets

[Enter to Win Your Apple Watch Series 11]

Take two seconds. Those two seconds could turn into 24 hours of battery life, valuable health alerts, smarter workouts, better sleep… or maybe just one very cool wrist accessory. Either way: you have nothing to lose.

Enter now, and let this watch stop being a “someday gadget” and start being your gadget.

Until next time,

Dancer, Writer, Buddhist.

Dear Permission to be Powerful Reader,

I sent this message out last week, and I wanted to make sure you got it.

(Feel free to hit reply to let me know you signed up. That would make my day!)

There’s still enough time to win a 3-night cruise for up to 4 people aboard the MSC Seashore

This is a no-brainer.

Don’t pass up your chance to be sipping Mojitos in the Bahamas — on me...

This is a REAL sweepstakes.

As a sponsor, I’m pitching in to cover the cost of the cruise.

Make sure you tell the other people you will travel with to enter, so you multiply your chances of winning.

I’ll make it easy for you with this pre-written message you can send to them immediately.

So you don’t even have to think of what to say.

Just enter their email and hit SEND.

The cash value of this prize is $1,778.56.

That’s how much you could save just by signing up.

Your Bahamas Cruise Includes:

✅ Complimentary Dining

With your choice of main restaurants and buffet-style dining, you can enjoy a wide selection of menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

✅ World-Class Entertainment

Watch your evenings come to life with theatrical performances, live music, and themed parties for all ages.

✅ Exciting Onboard Amenities

Unwind and recharge at our sparkling pool areas, open-air sports facilities, and well-equipped gyms with panoramic ocean views.

✅ Kids and Teens Clubs

Our dedicated programs are packed with sports, games, parties, and more to keep your kids entertained all day long.

Here’s what I want you to do RIGHT NOW before you forget:

Click here to get your chance at a 3-night cruise for up to 4 people aboard the MSC Seashore

Don’t be allergic to fun.

You deserve this.

Until next time,

Dancer, Writer, Buddhist.

Dear Permission to be Powerful Reader,

Here’s the smart way to beat the odds: don’t just enter for yourself.

If you’re planning to bring your spouse, kids, or family on this trip anyway, have each of them sign up too. Every entry is unique. That means if four family members enter, you’ve just quadrupled your odds of winning — a 400% boost, without lifting a finger.

👉 [Enter Now for Your Chance to Win]

The Prize

• A 3-night sailing from Port Canaveral (Orlando) to the Bahamas

• Accommodations for up to 4 guests aboard the spectacular MSC Seashore

• All taxes and fees included

This ship is a floating resort: infinity pools overlooking turquoise waters, world-class dining, Broadway-style shows, kids’ clubs, and endless activities for every age. You’ll wake up each morning in a new paradise without ever repacking your suitcase.

Even if you’ve already entered, don’t stop there — send this to your spouse, your kids, your friends. Whoever you want to travel with. Each sign-up adds another ticket in the hat.

Entries close soon. Don’t let your chance at a free Bahamas vacation slip away.

👉 [Enter Now for Your Chance to Win]

Bon voyage,

Dancer, Writer, Buddhist.

Dear Permission to be Powerful Reader,

How does a free getaway to the Bahamas sound?

We’re giving you the chance to win a 3-night cruise for up to 4 people aboard the MSC Seashore—a ship designed for adventure, luxury, and family fun.

Picture it: infinity pools overlooking turquoise waters, world-class dining, Broadway-style shows, kids’ clubs, and endless activities for every age. Plus, you’ll wake up each day in a new paradise without ever repacking your suitcase.

Your Prize Includes:

• A 3-night sailing from Port Canaveral (Orlando) to the Bahamas

• Accommodations for up to 4 guests aboard the spectacular MSC Seashore

• All taxes and fees included

Entering is quick, simple, and completely free.

👉 [Enter Now for Your Chance to Win]

But don’t wait too long—entries close soon, and your next vacation could be closer than you think.

Bon voyage

Dancer, Writer, Buddhist.

Dear Permission to be Powerful Reader,

After a long nuclear winter…

Dancing is back.

I worked so hard on Permission to be Powerful I went into exile.

But now, I’m back to my old routine.

And I couldn’t be happier…

Because dancing heals.

It made the pain of divorce vanish.

It brought joy, wonder, and adventure back.

It gave me confidence in spades.

I still have the faded wristband from my last Bachata Congress.

Almost a year ago.

I kept it because those nights tasted like forbidden fruit.

Like contraband from heaven’s black market.

But words could never do justice to the experience.

That’s why I started a YouTube channel called Mr. Congress.

I traveled far and wide in search of the best Bachata dancers on the planet.

It was the greatest adventure of my life.

Watch closely—I’m always behind the camera.

Documenting an insane secret society that most people have no idea exists.

Make no mistake: I’m in a dance cult — but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Here’s why.

Until next time,

Dancer, Writer, Buddhist. Pirate

Don’t miss out…

You could win a 3-Day Surf & Beach Escape to Rincón, Puerto Rico:

• 3 nights at Casa Islena (for 2)

• $500 AMEX travel credit

• $100 resort credit for cocktails by the pool

• 2 days of surf lessons for two

White sand. Warm waves. Drinks that taste like vacation.

The only question is—will it be your name on the ticket?

👉 [Enter Now to Win]

See you on the beach,

Publisher of Permission to be Powerful.

Pack your bags—adventure’s calling.

You could win a 3-Day Surf & Beach Escape to Rincón, Puerto Rico:

• 3 nights at Casa Islena (for 2)

• $500 AMEX gift card for travel

• $100 resort credit for poolside cocktails

• 2 days of personal surf lessons for two

The waves are waiting. The cocktails are chilled. The only thing missing is you.

👉 [Enter Now to Win]

See you there.

Publisher of Permission to be Powerful.

I’ve been seriously considering writing a print newsletter.

But I wanted to get your honest feedback about it — because it would be a huge undertaking.

If you took this 3-question survey, I’d be super grateful.

Take the survey here.

Thanks!

Anton

Subscribe now

Hey Powerful Reader,

I’m going fast.

Thank you for being so patient with me.

Moving forward, I’ll be reducing the overall number of emails I send out while maintaining the same volume of quality content.

Today I published three pieces. Each one will hit you differently:

🎬 The End of Hollywood

How capitalism killed mid-budget films—and turned stars into algorithms.

💔 The Worst Cases of Child Abuse Ever

The most haunting stories I’ve ever written. What happens when society fails its children—again and again.

🌌 Einstein’s Stolen Brain by Rick Brown

Another community poster is sharing his unique voice and perspective.

Tap any title above to read. Or catch them all inside the VIP Vault.

See you inside,

—Anton

Dancer. Writer. Buddhist.