Month One Of Leader Unlock: What You Have Already Built
A thank you, a quick peek at the numbers, and the first life this project gets to impact.
A little over a month ago I hit “publish” on the first Leader Unlock post.
No big launch campaign.
No perfect funnel.
Just a simple conviction:
Help leaders clear the chaos, live in rhythm, and leave a legacy.
I honestly was not sure who would show up.
You did!
Before I go any further, I just want to acknowledge two Substack creators that convinced me to join in late October… thank you The Culturist and Dino | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 🇺🇸
What You Have Built In 30 Days
Here is what has happened in roughly our first month together:
487 subscribers on Leader Unlock
Readers in 28 states and 37 countries
A 30 day open rate just over 40 percent
A growing circle of followers, nearly 650, who are reading, replying, and sharing
8 paid subscribers (2 Founders Circle members) who decided, “I am in”
For a brand new publication written by a full time tech leader, husband, and dad… I am deeply grateful and honestly a bit shocked.
You turned a quiet idea into a real community.
Who Leader Unlock Is For
Leader Unlock is not a newsletter about “thoughts on everything.”
It is for a specific kind of person:
You carry real responsibility at work.
You care about your marriage, your kids, and your faith.
You are tired of living in permanent crisis mode.
You want to build something that will still matter ten years from now, not just hit the next quarterly target.
Around here we talk a lot about four quadrants of legacy:
Physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial.
Most of the world asks you to trade the first three to get the last one.
Leader Unlock exists to help you steward all four.
A Quiet Milestone: Hiring A Media Manager
There is another piece of month one I want you to know about.
I have decided to contract hire a long time friend of mine as a Media Manager for Leader Unlock.
This is someone I have walked with for decades.
Someone I have mentored through a lot of life’s ups and downs.
They are in a season where they could use some financial help and fresh opportunity.
So here is what I am doing:
I am pouring the proceeds of Leader Unlock Subs into them.
Not because this is some big business move.
Because this is what we are here for.
You are not just helping “grow a newsletter.”
By reading, sharing, and especially by going paid, you are:
Creating real work for a real person
Helping them refine media skills that can serve their own calling
Turning this project into something that lifts more than one life
That matters to me most.
If Leader Unlock only ever benefits me, I have missed the point.
What I Am Hearing From You
In DMs, email replies, and comments I keep hearing the same themes:
“I thought I was the only one feeling this level of pressure.”
“I did not realize how much chaos I had normalized until I read this.”
“Thank you for talking about leadership and faith without pretending either one is easy.”
Your notes confirm something important:
You do not need more generic motivation.
You need clear language, honest stories, and simple frameworks that help you lead tomorrow differently than you led today.
What You Can Expect Next
Here is what I am committed to as we head into month two and beyond:
1. A steady weekly rhythm
You will keep seeing:
3 long form posts per week
A regular flow of Notes with short, practical hits about leadership, chaos, and calling
Occasional “behind the scenes” posts from my Substack365 experiment for those of you who are building your own work in public
2. Deeper series on the big pressure points
In the next stretch I am planning focused runs on:
Executive presence in high stakes rooms
The hidden cost of chaos on your family
How to build a weekly rhythm that does not collapse every time work explodes
Stories of failure, recovery, and redemption from my own life and career
3. A community that actually talks to each other
I REALLY do not want Leader Unlock to be a one way broadcast.
I want this to become a place where leaders who feel the weight can be honest, ask questions, and sharpen one another.
You will see more simple surveys, comment prompts, and chances to share your own story.
A Special Thank You To Paid Subscribers
To everyone who has already gone paid in month one… thank you.
Because of you:
I can justify carving out focused time each week to write and respond.
I can hire my new Media Manager and invest in their life and skills.
I can keep the majority of Leader Unlock free so the leaders who most need it can still access it.
My goal is not to shove everything behind a wall. My goal is to make paid feel like a deeper dive in the same pool.
If you are not in a place to support financially right now, I am still glad you are here. Keep reading, replying, and forwarding posts to leaders who need them.
If you are in a place where you can support this work and you sense that Leader Unlock is speaking into your life and leadership, I would love for you to consider becoming a paid member as we head into month two.
How You Can Help Shape The Next 30 Days
If Leader Unlock has encouraged you at all in our first month, here are three simple ways you can help this community grow:
Forward one post to a leader in your world who is carrying too much weight right now.
Hit reply on an email and tell me what you are facing. Your real stories shape future posts.
Consider going paid if you want to invest in this work and help me keep building it for the long haul.
Month one has confirmed something I have believed for a long time:
Leaders are hungry for clarity.
They are desperate for rhythm.
They care deeply about the legacy they leave behind.
Thank you for trusting me to walk with you in that.
We are just getting started.
Much Love,
Chris Antonelli
If you enjoyed this article, I believe you’ll like this one too:
FAQ: Starting A Substack And Actually Succeeding
In this post I am sharing my real Substack metrics from the first 30 days so you can see what a new leadership newsletter for busy executives actually looks like in month one… how fast it can grow, what worked, and why I am using the early income to hire a Media Manager instead of pocketing it.. Here are some additional FAQ’s I build based upon questions I have received.
Q: Is Substack still worth starting in 2026, or is it too late?
A: It is not too late to start a Substack. Readers are hungry for clear, trusted voices, not more noise. If you choose a focused audience, publish consistently, and write emails people actually open and forward, you can still grow a successful Substack newsletter from scratch.
Q: Can you really be successful on Substack without a big audience already?
A: Yes. Many writers start Substack with no list at all. The keys are simple but non negotiable: a clear who, a specific problem you solve, and a consistent publishing rhythm. Substack’s built in network, Notes, and recommendations can help you grow beyond your existing followers if your content keeps people reading and subscribing.
Q: How do I start a Substack newsletter the right way?
A: Start with one sentence: “I help this specific person with this specific problem.” Set a realistic cadence you can keep for 90 days, even with a full time job. Then write posts that answer real questions your reader is already asking. You can always upgrade design and funnels later. Clarity, consistency, and quality come first.
Q: How long does it usually take to see growth on Substack?
A: Most creators underestimate how much can happen in 6 to 12 months of consistent publishing. You might only see a trickle in the first few weeks. As you ship more posts, show up in Notes, and get into recommendations, growth can compound. Treat your first 90 days as a learning lab, not a verdict on your potential. Then do another 90… and then another.
Q: What makes a Substack newsletter successful in the long run?
A: Long term success on Substack comes from three things working together:
A clear niche and point of view.
A trustworthy relationship with readers through honest, useful writing.
Simple systems for growth, like recommendations, collaborations, and asking readers to forward posts. When those three line up, Substack can become both meaningful impact and meaningful income.
Impressive numbers for 1 month Chris!
Congrats man! Well deserved. You ut in the work and get great results. Way to go.