Drop Funnel

Picture this: I’m at a campfire with some buddies, the kind where the smoke stings your eyes and the stories get wilder as the whiskey flows. One of ‘em tosses out, “How do you wanna retire?” I start dreaming—maybe a rusty van cruising backroads, chasing sunsets and greasy diners, or a cabin where the only deadline is when the fish stop biting. But then I get real. Retirement ain’t just about fading out; it’s about keeping a fire lit, something to poke at when the days stretch long. For me, that fire’s GoHighLevel (GHL), the marketing platform I’ve been leaning on since 2018 when I hauled my pal Sarah’s dog grooming shop out of a lead-chasing trainwreck. Even when I’m retired, creaky and sipping cheap bourbon at 5:36 PM in 2045, I want GHL humming in the background, keeping my side gigs alive. Why’s this seven-year-old software my retirement wingman? Grab a stick, roast a questionable hot dog, and let me tell you why GHL’s sticking with me like a scar from a bad bar fight.

My Retirement Vision: Freedom, Sparks, and a Side Gig

Retirement for me isn’t golf or cruise ships—that’s like signing up for a nap that never ends. I want freedom—maybe road-tripping in a van with a busted radio, hitting every hole-in-the-wall BBQ joint from here to nowhere. I want sparks—messing with passion projects, like a podcast about diner coffee or coaching young hustlers on the cheap. And I want a side gig, just enough to keep my brain from rusting without chaining me to a desk. That’s where GHL fits in. It’s been my marketing lifeline for years, and I ain’t ditching it when I retire. It’s like that old pocketknife you carry everywhere—nicked up, but sharp as ever.

Back in 2018, I was a freelancer with a bank account that laughed at me. Sarah’s grooming shop was a hot mess—leads on napkins, bookings missed, emails that went nowhere. I heard about GHL, this platform by Shaun Clark and Varun Vairavan that claimed to be a CRM, funnel builder, and automation genie. Sounded like a tall tale, like a $2 steak that’s actually good. I grabbed a $97/month Agency Starter plan, and it was like finding a lighter in a blackout. Seven years later, in 2025, I’m still cracking open GHL every day to run campaigns, book calls, and keep Sarah’s shop barking. When I retire, I see GHL running my low-key hustles, so I can chase sunsets and still cash checks.

What’s GHL Gonna Do for My Retirement?

GHL’s a cloud-based beast, like a dive bar with every booze you could want. It’s got:

• CRM & Pipelines: Tracks leads like a bloodhound, so I can manage gigs without Excel nightmares.
• Funnels & Sites: Builds pages or sites for my diner podcast or coaching biz, no tech degree needed.
• Emails & Texts: Fires off campaigns—newsletters, reminders, or nudges for my projects.
• Bookings: Calendars so folks can book chats without me playing email volleyball.
• Payments: Hooks up with Stripe and PayPal to grab cash for whatever I’m peddling.
• White-Labeling: Lets me rebrand it as my own software to sell to others, even when I’m half-checked out.
• Reports: Shows me what’s cooking or burning, so I can tweak without a meltdown.

Right now, I use GHL to send “Book your pup’s haircut!” texts for Sarah, which jacked her bookings by 18%. In retirement, I’ll use it to automate a podcast’s email list, book coaching calls, or sell a $15 “Diner Coffee Rankings” PDF. It’s my daily ritual now, and it’ll be my part-time pal when I’m parked by a river with a fishing rod.

Why GHL’s My Retirement Ride-or-Die

Why cling to a seven-year-old platform when I’m old and grizzled? Here’s the unfiltered truth, straight from my own scrapes and what’s kicking around on X and sites like SupplyGem.

1. It’s a Hustle That Won’t Kill Me

Retirement means less grind, not zero. GHL’s all-in-one deal—CRM, funnels, emails, texts, bookings—lets me run a side gig without breaking a sweat. I don’t wanna juggle HubSpot, ClickFunnels, and Calendly when I’m trying to nap by a lake. SaaS Metrics says GHL can replace 5-10 tools, and it’s saved me $80/month since 2018. In retirement, I’ll use it to push a podcast’s lead capture or book calls, so I can hustle an hour and chill the rest.

2. Automation That’s Smarter Than Me

GHL’s workflows are like a jukebox that plays your jam without you asking. I set up a sequence for Sarah that texts leads 4 minutes after they hit her site, emails a deal if they don’t book, and pings them before their slot—dropped no-shows by 12%. I once tanked a workflow by forgetting to flip “active”—wanted to kick myself—but when it’s locked in, it’s magic. In retirement, I’ll use workflows to send “New diner episode!” emails or remind folks about coaching, so I’m not chained to my phone.

3. White-Labeling Keeps the Cash Trickling

GHL’s white-labeling is my retirement trump card. I can rebrand it as “Mike’s Hustle Hub” and sell it to small businesses, even when I’m barely working. Sarah’s clients see “Sarah’s Doggy Spa” on their booking portal, and it’s slick as a fresh buzzcut. I’ve resold GHL to two clients at $150/month each, and HighLevel’s site says agencies live for this. In retirement, I could sell it to a couple local shops for beer money, checking in once a week while I’m frying fish.

4. Payments That Don’t Make Me Wanna Scream

GHL’s Stripe and PayPal hookup means I can sell stuff—like a $10 diner guide or $40 coaching calls—right in a funnel or calendar. I set up a $35 grooming package for Sarah, and payments hit her Stripe quicker than a diner waitress refills coffee. SupplyGem says this seamless payment setup is why marketers stick with GHL. In retirement, I’ll use it to collect cash for my gigs without chasing checks.

5. A Crew That’s Like a Bar Fight Family

GHL’s got 60,000+ users, a Facebook group like a rowdy saloon, and support that doesn’t leave you swinging. When I botched Sarah’s SMS setup with a jacked-up Twilio token, support had me sorted in 9 minutes. X posts rave about the community dropping hacks, like tweaking funnels for mobile speed. In retirement, I’ll lean on this gang for tips to keep my side gigs lean, so I’m not starting from scratch.

6. Price That Doesn’t Gouge My Pension

At $97/month (or $970/year), GHL’s cheaper than my current bar tab. Compared to HubSpot ($50/user/month), ClickFunnels ($97-$297), or Calendly ($8-$16/user), it’s a deal. X users brag about saving $700+/year with GHL, and I’m nodding along. In retirement, I’ll keep the $97 plan to run my podcast or coaching biz without pinching pennies.

It’s Got Scuffs, But It’s My Kind of Mess

GHL ain’t perfect—it’s like an old van with a quirky starter. The dashboard’s like a bar fight—wild and messy. Sarah was lost for days, and I spent 7 hours figuring it out. I’ve hit bugs, like a funnel that ghosted ‘til I rebooted my Wi-Fi—wanted to chuck my laptop into the fire. X posts from 2024 griped about data glitches, but 2025 updates seem to have patched the holes. Migrating Sarah’s 900 contacts was like hauling a couch through a window, and SMS/email costs (Twilio or Mailgun) add $15/month. But for what it does, it’s my retirement roadie.

GHL in My Retirement Life

Fast-forward to 2045, me in my 60s, parked by a river with a fishing pole and a sunburn. My van’s got a laptop, and GHL’s running quiet in the background. I check it once a day—leads for my diner podcast, bookings for coaching calls, or payments from a couple shops I’ve sold GHL to. It’s low-maintenance, keeps my mind ticking, and funds my next greasy spoon crawl. GHL’s not just software; it’s my ticket to a retirement that’s free, sparky, and still a little scrappy.

So, how do you wanna retire? If it’s with a side hustle that runs like a dream, check out GHL at gohighlevel.com for a 14-day trial (or snoop for a 30-day deal). Need a nudge? I’m a quick X message away—let’s keep the fire burning, even when we’re old and ornery.