Purpose: To help you clarify why you’re building an email list, who you’re building it for, and how you want to show up—so every email you send is rooted in truth, not trend.

Part 1: Your Personal WHY

"If you don’t know where you're going, any road will get you there." – Lewis Carroll

Q1: Why do I want to build an email list right now?

Q2: How does this email list support my bigger business (and life) vision?

Q3: What do I want to feel when I send emails to my list?

Part 2: The People You're Writing For

Your list is a room full of real humans. Who are they?

Q4: Who is your list really for? Describe them in a sentence or two.

Q5: What do they dream of, worry about, or crave more than anything?

Q6: How do I want them to feel after opening one of my emails?

Part 3: Your Values + Voice

Your emails don’t need to sound like everyone else’s. Let’s claim your vibe.

Q7: What values do I want my emails to reflect? (e.g., honesty, humor, integrity, curiosity)

Q8: What tone/voice feels most natural to me? (e.g., warm and witty, calm and confident, bold and sassy)

Q9: What kinds of stories or topics light me up to share?

Part 4: Your Rebel Rules

These are your boundaries, non-negotiables, and truths you’ll come back to when self-doubt creeps in.

Q10: What will I NOT do just to “grow fast”?
(e.g., use fear tactics, lie about urgency, pretend I have it all together)

Q11: What will I commit to instead?
(e.g., consistency over perfection, honesty over hype)

Q12: What does “success” look like to me when it comes to email list-building?

Part 5: Write Your Manifesto

Now pull from all your answers and write your manifesto. Keep it short. Keep it true. Make it yours.

Prompt:

“I’m building my email list because…”
“I write to…”
“My list will be a space for…”
“I promise to…”

(You can write this as a paragraph, a poem, a set of affirmations, or even a list of rebel truths. You do you.)

Final Step: Make It Visible

Print it. Post it. Screenshot it. Tattoo it on your brain. Your manifesto is your anchor when the algorithms get loud and imposter syndrome kicks in.

Optional: Post your manifesto in the community to inspire others—and remind yourself that you’re not doing this alone.