Why I Almost Sold The AI Solopreneur

Hey there, solopreneur!

Have you ever felt so burned out that hitting eject seemed like the only option?

3 months ago, that was me. My body was screaming for help – what I thought was simple tendonitis turned out to be my nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight mode.

Everything hurt. Sleep was a mess. And I started questioning if this whole AI business was even who I wanted to be anymore.

So I did something crazy: I decided to sell The AI Solopreneur.

Plot twist: I didn't. But holy shit, did I learn some important lessons along the way.

Here's the raw truth about everything I learned from trying to sell my online business (and why I'm so damn happy I kept it):

Lesson 1: The Survival Mode Trap

When your nervous system is fried, you make decisions from fear, not clarity.

I blamed the business for everything. But after 2.5 months of intensive nervous system work (sauna, breathwork, tech-free walks), I realized something profound:

It wasn't the business – it was my relationship with it.

Quick tip: Never make life-changing decisions when you're in survival mode. Give yourself permission to heal first, without deadlines.

Lesson 2: It’s Agonizingly Slow

Want to know what nobody tells you about selling? It's slow. Like, painfully slow.

We're talking 3-6 months minimum. Due diligence. Financial deep dives. Endless calls.

And that's if everything goes smoothly (spoiler: it rarely does).

Lesson 3: The Ghost Buyer Phenomenon

Here's something wild: I had "very interested" buyers throwing around big numbers... who then vanished into thin air.

Even with my VC connections, I was shocked at how people communicate (or don't) during these deals.

Remember: No deal exists until the money hits your account. Period.

Lesson 4: Real Money, Real Decisions

Plot twist: It wasn't all ghosting. I had legitimate buyers put real money on the table.

But here's the thing about having actual offers in front of you – it forces you to make a real decision, not just play with hypotheticals.

When someone's ready to wire the cash and you still can't pull the trigger? That's your gut screaming something important.

Lesson 5: An Accidental Clarity Bomb

Something magical happened while preparing my pitch deck:

I realized I'd built a fucking fantastic machine.

Sometimes you need to look at your business through a buyer's eyes to appreciate what you've created.

It's like seeing your kid through someone else's perspective – suddenly you notice all the amazing things you've been taking for granted.

Lesson 6: Trust is a currency

Here's the kicker that changed everything: Trust is worth 10x whatever number buyers throw at you.

That email list? Those aren't just subscribers – they're relationships. Relationships I've built over months of showing up, delivering value, being real.

The intrinsic long-term value of an audience that trusts me is worth more to me than short-term cash.

Lesson 7: The Vibe Check Nobody Talks About

Here's something that hit me hard during sale talks: Your buyer's vibe matters more than their wallet.

When you've built something from scratch, when thousands of people trust your recommendations – you can't just hand that over to anyone with a checkbook.

I found myself asking weird questions during buyer calls:

• "Would they treat my audience right?"

• "Do they actually get what we're building here?"

• "Would I trust them with my community's inbox?"

It's like trying to find a babysitter for your kid – except this kid is a whole-ass business with thousands of people who trust you.

Lesson 8: What Makes a Business Actually Sellable?

During buyer calls, I learned exactly what makes them drool:

• Systems that run without you

• Diverse revenue streams

• Predictable, recurring income

• Documented processes

• Strong email engagement

• Multiple traffic sources

• Happy customers (with proof)

But here's the plot twist that changed everything...

Lesson 9: My Real Breakthrough

After all the calls, spreadsheets, and negotiations, I discovered something unexpected:

I don't want to sell. At all.

What I needed wasn't an exit – it was evolution. Broadening the scope. Making it more personal. Less "AI tutorial factory," more "here's the real journey of building something meaningful online."

I’m loving it 10x more than before, and it seems like you guys do too!

The journey of entrepreneurship isn't just business – it's emotional, almost spiritual. It's about riding waves of uncertainty and coming out stronger on the other side.

To everyone reading this – thank you for being part of this journey. It's messy, it's real, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

This is just the beginning of a much more personal era :)

Ole’s Bookmarks

My favorite content I found on the internet this week:

Greg Isenberg’s “How to make $20M with a landing page.” Funnels is how you sell stuff on the internet. But most people don’t even understand the difference between a website and a funnel (hint: it’s like comparing Döner kebab to a piece of aluminum). Sidenote: This “cooking” live format that Greg uses in his podcast is a trend that will continue to grow.

How To Stop Living Life In Your Head - Jonny Miller podcast. I’ve done Jonny’s Nervous System Mastery course and it was a game changer for me. This podcast is a great boiled-down version of how you can rebalance your nervous system and live a more vibrant life as an entrepreneur.

My weekly “build in public” series update on Twitter. Been having a blast putting these together. It’s a great way “2 birds, 1 stone” exercise — you get to reflect on your week and grow your audience at the same time.

This is an amazingly simple framework to get started with content. If you don’t follow Jay, you are missing out.

That’s a wrap for this week.

Please let me know what you would love to learn more about, I read all the replies.

To your success,


Ole