In 2019, I started a little email called Good Morning Sunshine.

One drawing. One short note. One goal:
To spread joy in a world that desperately needs it. 

247 emails later—it changed my entire life.

Here are 5 unexpected ways starting a newsletter changed everything 

1. It got me my first paid illustration contract.
No pitch deck. No outreach. Just someone on my list who saw the joy—and hired me.

2. It helped me find my voice.
Not just as an artist. But as a writer. Turns out I had a lot to say. I just needed a place to say it.

3. It made me a better creative director.
Writing every week taught me what makes people feel. That’s the power of consistent copywriting.

4. It gave me the guts to self-publish my first book.
No waiting for permission. Just my audience, my words, my way.

5. It literally got me a book deal.
Yup. Someone on my list read my emails…And offered me a deal.
You never know who’s reading.

If you’re a creative who’s been thinking about starting a newsletter…this is your sign.

I made a workshop to help you launch your damn newsletter already → https://socurious.co/newsletter-workshop/

I made one of the biggest decisions of my life – I quit my job to follow my passion for creating something meaningful.

In this video, I take you behind the scenes of my journey from a stable corporate job to launching my own greeting card business.

It’s been challenging, but I’ve never felt more alive. If you’re thinking about taking the leap, this video is for you. Let me show you what it’s really like to follow your dreams!

It’s funny how life works.

Sometimes the universe gives you a soft whisper.
Other times… you get cast on a reality show.

Yep, you read that right.

Earlier this year, I was cast on a reality show for entrepreneurs.
It’s called The Blox. Kind of like Shark Tank meets Iyanla: Fix My Life.

And honestly?

It feels like the exact push I needed. The fire under my creative ass.

The “no more playing small” moment I didn’t even know I was waiting for.

Here’s the catch:

I have to raise $4,000 by this Saturday in order to secure my spot. No extensions. No exceptions. Just a big ol’ deadline staring me in the face.

But it’s bigger than the show.

It’s about momentum.

It’s about claiming the future I’ve been slowly building.

Because this isn’t just about a TV appearance.

This is about SoCurious — the people-powered media company I’ve been manifesting into reality.

We’ve already made meaningful progress:

– 3 Joy is the Revolution pop-ups: one funded by me, one funded by you, and one funded by the City of Austin

– 1 creative collage-making workshop for middle schoolers, in collaboration with Outreach Productions

– 29 creative professionals in the Launch Your Damn Newsletter workshop

– Nearly 500 orders of joyful products from happy humans — leading to, let’s say, 10,974 smiles across the U.S.

– And countless posts and videos to inspire, uplift, and remind people they’re not alone.

Now I’m asking for your help.

Not just for me — but for what we’re building.

I want 1,000 Founding Patrons to seed $100,000 into this vision.

To prove that Joy is the Revolution.

And this $4,000 milestone?
That’s just step one.

A signal to the universe that we’re serious.

That we’re betting on joy.

That we’re not going to let fear win again.

So if you’ve ever thought,
“Damn, Justin is weird, but he’s got vision.”

Or

“This world really could use more joy and less noise…”

Then I’m asking you to chip in.

Give $99 (or whatever you can).

Become a Founding Patron of SoCurious.

And help me prove that joy is a business model — not just something for someday in the future.

Here’s the link to contribute: 👉 https://socurious.co/support/