His subconscious had figured out what his conscious mind refused to accept. The topic wasn’t aligned with who he was becoming. The business that looked perfect on paper was slowly making him miserable. This realization became the doorway to everything that came next.
Today, Jari runs Write Build Scale alongside
and , teaching creators how to grow on Substack, build digital products, and create sustainable income through their writing. But what makes his story worth telling isn’t the success. It’s the honest reckoning about what it actually takes to build something real.Show Notes
[00:00] - The “Unemployable” Advantage
Jari always had the itch to build something for himself, even though he thought business meant million-dollar loans and factories
After multiple full-time jobs at startups, he realized he was wired differently: even great environments made him miserable when he didn’t control his own schedule
Discovered Medium by accident and started writing about self-improvement and productivity
Met Sinem on Medium, turned on the Partner Program, and suddenly the online business became real
[06:00] - When Success Stops Feeling Like Success
After four to five years running a profitable productivity business, boredom set in
Started asking the hard question: “How did I become the productivity guy when this isn’t what I’m meant to do?”
Recognized self-sabotage patterns appearing in clever, subconscious ways
The pivot to Write Build Scale came from following what actually energized him: business building itself
[10:00] - The Alignment Principle
Kicking against a rock for 18 months because the work wasn’t connected to core values
Even a “successful” business can break you if it’s not aligned with who you are
Sometimes you have to go through misalignment to know what alignment actually feels like
The hard path often teaches exactly what you needed to learn
[13:00] - The Partnership Question
Jari, Philip, and Sinem knew each other for years before forming a business together
Monthly mastermind calls built a foundation of trust before any formal collaboration
Regular check-ins where everyone can voice struggles or concerns prevent things from building up
Within the team, each person maintains independence in their creative work
[17:00] - Fear as a Navigation Tool
Fear, resistance, and imposter syndrome are natural for content creators because you’re sharing yourself, not just a product
At every new stage of business, there’s a new level of “Can I really do this?”
If you’re completely comfortable all the time, you’re probably missing out on growth
The first Substack Live was nerve-wracking. Now it’s one of the most enjoyable parts of the week.
[24:00] - Collaboration Without the Tactics
Moving from Medium (where content could just get selected) to Substack required a completely new muscle: reaching out to people
The rule: only collaborate with people who would be fun to meet in real life
If someone causes stress or brings negative energy, the collaboration ends regardless of their audience size
Connection that starts from genuine human interest often leads to the best business outcomes
[33:00] - AI and the Coming Rebalancing
AI-generated comments are easy to spot and immediately kill the impulse to connect deeper
If everyone uses AI for content and comments, what’s even the point of social platforms?
We’re in the “terrible twos” of AI use, still figuring out where the balance point lives
In-person community and real human connection will become more valuable, not less
[38:00] - The Universal Block
The biggest pattern Jari sees across creators: the feeling of not being good enough
This shows up differently for different people: not knowing enough, not being consistent, not believing people will pay
The execution gap isn’t a strategy problem. It’s a pattern problem.
That’s why their programs pair information with three months of group coaching
Key Quotes
“Knowing and not doing is the same as not knowing.” - Jari Roomer
“I started self-sabotaging, basically. I had on paper a successful business. It was generating good money. But my subconscious found clever ways to self-sabotage.” - Jari Roomer
“If I would just be super comfortable the whole time, I know that I’m probably missing out on some cool things and a lot of growth.” - Jari Roomer
“I always have this idea: who would I be? What would it be like to just show up on a Substack Live and be totally loose?” - Phil
“We only work with people that we truly feel it’s a pleasure to work with. Even if there’s creators with big audience sizes, but they’re a hassle to work with, we don’t work with them anymore.” - Jari Roomer
Resources Mentioned
- publication on Substack
The Four-Hour Workweek by
Medium Partner Program
Where to Find Jari
Check out the
publication here on Substack. Whether you’re focused on growing subscribers or launching digital products, they’ve organized content by stage so you can find what’s most useful for where you are right now.
Want to go deeper?
Here’s how we can help you get clear, get visible, and get clients:
Take the Harmony Map Assessment (Free): Find out which pattern is blocking your clarity, visibility, or ability to get the right clients. 8 minutes. You’ll see exactly what’s been in the way, and why strategy alone hasn’t fixed it.
Read the Sacred Business Manifesto (Free): The full philosophy behind how we work, why inner patterns create outer business challenges, and what it means to build from both sides.
