Sam Vander Wielen
My weekly newsletter, Sam’s Sidebar, is where online business meets real life — the legal tips you need, marketing strategies that actually work, and the perspective to build something that sustains you, not just your bottom line. One honest email a week. “Possibly the best emails I’ve ever read from someone I’ve not met IRL.” - Phil, subscriber. JOIN 48k SMART CREATORS ⤵️
putting this off?
🌶️ A Spicy Opportunity Want to reach 50k online business owners at once? I’m opening up a handful of (paid) sponsorship / ad slots in Sam’s Sidebar. If you’ve got a product, service, or resource that helps entrepreneurs grow, simplify, or protect their businesses, this could be a great fit. Hit 'reply' if you’re curious, and I’ll share pricing & details! [only a few spots left for 2025!] Sometimes You Just Need to Start A few days after I signed my Big 5 book deal, I sat staring at my...
Your ultimate fall (digital) cleanup
Ready for a Fall (digital) Clean-up? ✏️ It feels like no matter how old you are, or how long you've been out of school, the entire world runs on a school schedule. I'm not mad about it. I still routinely call weeknights 'school nights' and operate on a Monday to Friday schedule, despite the fact that I've built a business where I can do whatever, whenever. Maybe it's because my husband, Ryan, is a university professor. Our house is filled with language about when classes start, grading...
the most awkward email I had to write
🌶️ A Spicy Deal Not sure what to do when a client owes you money? Scoop up my Late Payment Email Template that shows you what to say, when and what not to do to accidentally waive your rights. Get paid and avoid legal hot water? Yes and yes. Download my $7 Late Payment Email Template → not the email I planned to write The funny thing is, today I had planned to write to you about doing a digital fall cleanup. 🍂 [cue the falling leaves, a pumpkin spice latte warming up my hands, and bringing my...
Want to see my email list?
Remember me?! So apparently there was some weird tech snafu, and you got stuck in what could only be described as email list purgatory. If you haven't heard from me for a bit, that's why. In case you don't remember, I'm Sam Vander Wielen, an attorney-turned-entrepreneur who helps you keep your business out of legal trouble and learn how to build a profitable business that doesn't require 24/7 content creation. If you wouldn't mind, would you hit "reply" and say "got it!" so I know this went...
Your First Pancake (needs to be made)
Your First Pancake (needs to be made) 🥞 "Don't worry, you aren't missing anything. I don't even know how to run a book club... I'm treating it like the first pancake," the bookstore owner told me when I asked about joining her new book club. Book club got so full (2x capacity!) she had to close it. Her bookstore hasn't even been open for 1 month. 🤯 As I walked away, I couldn't help but laugh at how much I could use a dollop of her "first pancake" -- the idea that your first attempt isn't...
You're tired of fighting for your content to be seen
But Can You Build a Business Without Social Media? You have days where you want to throw your phone in the ocean (but of course you wouldn't because, littering. ♻️) In your dream scenario, you delete your go-to social media app, pop your favorite *NSYNC CD into your walkman, and live out your 90s-kid summer: smashing bricks on Mario Bros, catching Carson on TRL, riding your bike to your friends house to see if they could play, and eating so much cherry water ice it looks like you got a...
Why I really started a podcast
Remember me?! So apparently there was some weird tech snafu, and you got stuck in what could only be described as email list purgatory. If you haven't heard from me for a bit, that's why. In case you don't remember, I'm Sam Vander Wielen, an attorney-turned-entrepreneur who helps you keep your business out of legal trouble and learn how to build a profitable business that doesn't require 24/7 content creation. If you wouldn't mind, would you hit "reply" and say "got it!" so I know this went...
can you change?
🌶️ A SPICY WORKSHOP ($0!) Moana knew it. So do you. The call you’ve been searching for — in other people’s formulas, strategies, and methods — has been inside you all along. On July 24, 2025, ex-Girlboss and current [something] Tarzan Kay is hosting WAYFINDER, a free 2-hour live facilitated workshop to help you find clarity in business through self-leadership and the wisdom of the collective. REGISTER HERE→ Tarzan's free Wayfinder workshop Finding my Way I'm not being dramatic when I say, the...
the lesson I needed to learn?
If It Feels Like You're Going Nowhere I muttered curse words under my breath nearly the entire 12-mile hike up the steepest mountain I'd ever set foot on. Step-after-step, I felt like I was hiking on a road to no where. My hangry alarm had gone off hours ago. I'd eaten all the trail mix and turkey sticks I'd had in my pack. I refused to drink water, because I was sick of peeing in the bushes. I felt sweat dripping down my back and calves. "We're almost there, Sam" our guide, Karina, said....
You step onto the stage 🎤
I Never Thought This Would Be My Story "I have no idea whether my business is going to work out or where the heck I'm headed." ^ Raise your hand if you've had this thought already today. (Woah! I think I just felt the flutter of 48k+ hands flying up in the air!) Whether you're just starting out or taking your business to the next level, it's really hard to have faith that this whole business thing is going to work out. Even as someone with an established business, I have so many days where...
My weekly newsletter, Sam’s Sidebar, is where online business meets real life — the legal tips you need, marketing strategies that actually work, and the perspective to build something that sustains you, not just your bottom line. One honest email a week. “Possibly the best emails I’ve ever read from someone I’ve not met IRL.” - Phil, subscriber. JOIN 48k SMART CREATORS ⤵️