Issue #35 - November 4th, 2025
Written by Michael Gillespie
In this issue:
Perspective: It’s easy to lose perspective when you’re deep in the day-to-day of running a membership.
Insight: Recurring products are more than revenue - they’re a rhythm that enriches lives.
Outlook: When you take care of the business, the business takes care of you.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Good business isn’t about scale. It’s about stewardship - the quiet satisfaction of building something that lasts.”
Most operators I know are builders at heart.
We start because we want to make something meaningful - a space, a product, an experience that people care about. But as the months turn into years, and the dashboards fill with numbers, it’s easy to lose touch with that original sense of purpose.
Running a membership is relentless. It asks for your time, your creativity, your patience. It demands structure, consistency, and ongoing care. And because it’s recurring, there’s no finish line - just the rhythm of showing up again and again for the people who trust you.
But that’s also where the fulfillment lies. The heartbeat of a membership: the act of delivering value in regular increments isn’t just good business.
It’s something more than that.
Let’s dive in.
PERSPECTIVE
The Rhythm of Responsibility
The beauty of a recurring product is its rhythm. Every week, every month, every cycle - you have another opportunity to deliver something that matters.
That rhythm is what keeps your members connected, and what keeps you grounded. It’s not a one-time sale, it’s an ongoing promise:
I’ll keep showing up for you if you keep showing up for this.
But somewhere between retention charts and renewal campaigns, it’s easy to forget that this exchange - this steady heartbeat - is the point of membership.
Operators often focus so much on growth that they lose sight of the satisfaction that comes from consistency.
A healthy membership doesn’t just fund your livelihood - it rewards your discipline.
When you take care of the business - by keeping it honest, intentional, and steady - it quietly takes care of you.
INSIGHT
What “Good Business” Really Means
Good business isn’t about optimization. It’s about alignment.
It’s the peace that comes from knowing your growth is grounded in integrity - where every renewal is earned, not extracted.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
Keep the Promise Simple
Deliver value regularly. Don’t overcomplicate it. Your members crave reliability more than novelty.
The best memberships don’t reinvent themselves each month - they refine themselves.
Prioritize Sustainability
Set a pace that you can maintain. Growth built on exhaustion doesn’t last.
Build systems that protect both you and your members from burnout.
Celebrate the Routine Wins
Every renewal, every thank-you note, every piece of feedback is proof that your rhythm is working.
Take pride in the small, recurring moments - they’re the fabric of a durable business.
Lead with Care, Not Urgency
Urgency drives reaction. Care drives trust.
When you run your membership with intention, you model steadiness - and members respond in kind.
Good business isn’t loud.
It’s steady, honest, and deeply personal. It’s the craft of building something that serves both sides.
OUTLOOK
The Quiet Reward.
Running a membership is hard work, but it’s good work.
The kind that leaves you better for having done it.
Every recurring charge, every member update, every email sent is a quiet affirmation: you’re creating something ongoing, something that lasts.
The satisfaction of good business doesn’t come from big milestones, it comes from knowing you’ve built something that’s fair, sustainable, and worthwhile to those around you.
So as you move through the next cycle, remember this:
When you take care of the business, the business takes care of you.
And that’s precisely the kind of rhythm worth building around.
Think about it.