In today’s Spotlight Session, I’m talking to Sola Howard, creator behind Solaurum House, and the winner of one of my challenges last month.
She’s building something born from devastation.
A framework for escaping survival mode.
In September 2024, Sola lost everything in Hurricane Helene.
Everything.
But in the wreckage, she discovered something.
A pattern.
Most people are stuck in what she calls a “survival operating system.” Childhood trauma. Feeling unsafe. Loss. It keeps us small. Reined in. Playing defense instead of living.
She learned how to escape it.
And now she’s teaching others to do the same.
To step from survival OS into what she calls “sovereign OS.”
Where you stop reacting and start creating. Where you share your real gifts instead of hiding them. Where you contribute the full force of what you’re capable of.
Sola has a master’s in counseling psychology. She’s been obsessed with AI since ChatGPT launched (much like me). She shipped four or five apps last year using Replit, Make, Manus, and N8N.
She built those herself.
And now she’s built a tool for her Substack: the Survival OS Audit.
A three-minute assessment that uncovers the patterns keeping you stuck.
No PDF. Interactive. Personalized insights.
Watch the video to hear her story and learn:
How surviving Hurricane Helene led to building a framework for escaping survival mode
The difference between “survival OS” and “sovereign OS” (and why most people are stuck in the first)
Why being “strategically consistent” beats just being consistent (stop repeating what doesn’t work)
How to build a container around your business so it fits your life (not the other way around)
Why managing energy matters more than managing time (especially with a demanding day job)
Where to put your lead magnet on Substack so people actually see it (publication description, free tier column, welcome email, about page)
You’ll also hear how Sola:
Gets up early to create before work (capitalizing on high-energy hours)
Uses AI and automation to handle repetitive grunt work (just like I do)
Ships real apps with no-code tools (Replit, Make, N8N, Manus)
Balances energy across family, job, recreation, and business (bucket management)
Would do exactly what she’s doing now if money wasn’t an issue (the abundance mindset signal)
If you’re building a Substack while working a demanding nine-to-five (like me and Sola), you’ll love this conversation.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in survival mode, reacting instead of creating, you’ll love it even more.
And remember to take her FREE Survival OS Audit - an interactive assessment that uncovers the patterns keeping you stuck.
Wanna have your own Spotlight Session?
You can take the place under the spotlight in one of the next sessions and talk about your personal story and your Substack!
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I see you inside!
Yana
P.S. If Substack still feels overwhelming, check out this link.
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