💌 What’s happening this week:

• March gross vs. net revenue

• Journaling prompt: The Emperor

• The four types of creativity to cultivate

• Have you blocked your vacation time yet?

One of my biggest professional goals for Q1 was to create diversified income streams.

After a tumultuous two years where I saw work decline because of the impacts of AI and many of my clients getting cut as their work was DEI-focused, I realized…

I cannot ONLY rely on my marketing agency to be my main revenue stream! I needed to find other ways to make money so that it was not always reliant on my labor.

So, my focus from January-March was to find creative ways to make money…

And it worked!

Last month, I shared an honest breakdown of February’s gross vs. net revenue (you can read it here if you don’t remember). So let’s do it again for March!

March’s Gross vs. Net Revenue

*Just a reminder that gross is before taxes and expenses and net is what I get to keep!

GROSS REVENUE = 2812,90€

• In-Person Event (journaling event I hosted in Toledo) → 60€

• Education (new role as a professor & marketing group) → 304,99€

• Trial project (for a freelance role) → 52,91€

• Marketing consulting (2 contracts) → 2200€

• Plans to Progress Lounge Membership → 135€

Where my clients came from:

• Repeat clients

• In-person flyer in Toledo

• Referral

• Ads on Instagram

• Passive income (3rd party course platforms)

MARCH EXPENSES = 743,68€

• Instagram boosted ads

• Venue rental for my journaling workshop

• Accounting fees

• Freelancer registration fees in Spain

• Cloud storage

• Internet & phone

• Canva

• A marketing membership

• Scheduling tool for social media

• This newsletter platform

NET REVENUE = 2069,22€

While I didn’t exactly reach my monthly revenue goal of 4.000€, I’m happy with how March turned out. I think I ended up piling on too many projects during last month that I spread myself a littleeee thin 😅

Also, while reviewing all the numbers and data for my revenue, expenses, and income, I realized I’ve created some different revenue streams for myself, so I want to celebrate that! 🎉 I’m not relying solely on marketing services to bring in cash (even though it is currently my largest revenue stream).

What I DID realize, however, was that while having lots of diversified revenue streams seems great and exciting… so I’m not putting all my eggs in one basket 🧺 

My strategy for Q2 will be to continue with diversified revenue streams and secure at least one STABLE one. That means it’s back to the drawing board to find a part-time or contractor freelance role where I have the peace of mind knowing that I have steady work and a ‘paycheck’ coming in each month.

Having that in place will help with my financial stability and give me the mental space to continue to diversify my revenue streams without the pressure of making one of them ~work~ immediately.

Slow and steady, y’all. Slow and steady progress 💖

✍️ THIS WEEK’S JOURNALING PROMPT

“Recall a time in your life when you felt totally in control of events. What did you do to get into that position?  How did you feel? When do you feel most in control of your life?”

Ok, this was probably 3 journaling prompts in one! This week, I pulled the tarot card, The Emperor, which connects to order, control, and authority. Last year, most of my life felt out of control and chaotic, so this was a great journaling prompt to remind me of the things that I can control and how I can cultivate more of that feeling.

💻 THINGS THAT STUCK OUT TO ME ON THE INTERNET

• HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW: In this article from HBR, the authors share that there are 4 types of creativity, but most of us often approach creativity in just one way. Here’s how we can cultivate the others.

• STUCK IN PLANNING? If you find you’re stuck in the planning phase of your goals and ideas, check out my Instagram post on how to move past that and take action.

• SPRING ACTIVITIES: The weather is getting warmer in Spain (a lil’ too warm, tbh) and that means outside activities are in full swing! Not sure WHAT to do? Here’s a list of 85+ Spring activities to take advantage of!

🗓 PREPARING FOR THE WEEK AHEAD

🌻 GOODIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

SMALL BUSINESS VLOG 💻 behind the scenes of launching a membership

Come behind the scenes with me as I prepare to launch my planning and goal-setting membership, Plans to Progress Lounge! I’m SO proud of myself for taking this idea and turning it into reality! 

🤝 HOW TO WORK TOGETHER

Want to work together to create time and space for intentional connections? Here are a few ways to do that through marketing support, journaling, and education.

• 📓PLANS TO PROGRESS MEMBERSHIP: A quarterly membership for big dreamers to intentionally plan each month with the accountability to transform your ideas into actionable steps and projects. Join us inside the Lounge here!

• ⭐ SIGNATURE BRAND & WEBSITE DESIGN + COPYWRITING PACKAGE: Get 2 brand strategists on your team to elevate your brand visuals, website, and messaging for your next stage of business. Learn more and apply here.

• 👀 WEBSITE AUDIT: DIYed your website copy and want to get an expert’s feedback and edits? Book a Website Audit and get feedback on what’s working and where to improve in just 2 weeks.

TBH, I started this quarter kinda questioning what I wanted to focus on and what I wanted to do…

Q1 felt very clear - lay the foundations, build the base…

Q2? Not so much because I still feel like I’m building a bit and don’t have a steady foundation, just yet.

Instead of usually trying to strategize everything in my life to be the most optimal, I’m leaning into more joy and creativity this quarter. I’m giving myself more space and time to play, be outside, and connect with more people in my local community.

So far? VERY pleasure-filled! Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful week ahead and see you next Sunday.

Until then…

💖 #stayfierce,
Cassandra