In partnership with

💌 What’s happening this week:

• Working through the liminal space

• Journaling prompt: What does creativity look like?

• Masters in marketing from Hubspot

• This time last year, I was in Vietnam 🇻🇳

Hi friend,

I’ve been having a lot of conversations with clients, peers, and in the DMs about this idea of ‘being stuck’ or ‘feeling lost’...

And I can TOTALLY relate to that state of being… 

This week, I connected with a fellow marketer who shared that he’s trying to pivot his own business model and is feeling lost in all of the decisions and HOW to make it happen. 

Then I was talking to a client, a luxury image consultant who just came back from Cannes Film Festival, who was sharing how she felt she had all this momentum from the energy of her red carpet event, but wasn’t sure where or how to channel it.

And then I was talking to my youngest sister, who was caught between two competing decisions and feeling the push/pull of how it could make or break a specific outcome she’s been working towards.

What’s the common theme in all these scenarios?

The feeling of ‘being stuck’ because you don’t know what step to take next, what the best choice could be, and the BIGNESS of what could happen (good or bad).

Trust me, I’ve been there… I was there for the past 2 years navigating a declining business and then an adult gap year where I felt ~stuck~ and kind of just floating through life with no clear direction.

In those years, I felt stuck because I didn’t have:

• A clear roadmap to follow

• A solid identity - like… WHO WAS I NOW?!

• Clear values that guided my decision-making (I was mostly operating on autopilot because that’s what worked in the past)

While in situations like this, it can feel like you’re stuck and any decision you make is steeped in uncertainty because WHO KNOWS WHAT CAN HAPPEN…

I want to present a different perspective from the idea of ‘being stuck’, which is actually living through a liminal space… the in-between of what was and what could be. I’ve talked about this before on my podcast in an episode exploring identity deaths, and I’m sure I’ve talked about it in this newsletter!

I’ll be honest that when you’re working through the liminal space of what was and what could be, it’s extremely uncomfortable… almost like a stretch of who you are, the life you want to live, and the fear of letting people down (or even yourself down) if things don’t work out or you ~made the wrong choice~.

And while I want to hold space for all of those feelings that come up, I also want to hold space for the other side of it (we’re big on nuance here if you didn’t know 😉)... which is the liminal space I like to call the Twilight Zone. The area that we get to MAKE SHIT UP, EXPERIMENT, AND TRY NEW THINGS because who knows what can happen anyways.

Instead of throwing y’all into the Twilight Zone (aka liminal space) with no tools, here’s how I approach working through any liminal spaces that are stretching me in my identity, perspective, or even how I want to live life or show up in my relationships:

• DEFINE MY VALUES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES: Usually, when I’m in a liminal space, I’m feeling very overwhelmed and confused because I don’t know what to do, and I don’t know what decision is best. This often boils down to the fact that I need to redefine my values and guiding principles. Here’s a lil’ snapshot of what my dashboard looks like for this

• EXPERIMENT AND GATHER EVIDENCE: After I’ve defined my values and guiding principles, I like to experiment with them and take on a new identity (yes, with imposter syndrome and all). For example, as you’re reading this, I’m currently spending my day at an in-person 2nd-hand book fair as a vendor! Have I ever vended before at an in-person market? Nope. Am I showing up as a maker and creative vendor anyway? Yes! I’ve brought handmade bookmarks I have sewn, stationery supplies, and second-hand books. Do I feel like an imposter? Yes, but I am also having fun experimenting and gathering evidence that this identity can be a reality for me.

• GIVE MYSELF SPACE AND GRACE: In the Twilight Zone, I am pretty sure I look very cringey and a lil’ all over the place. I’ll own up to it! But something I’ve learned after my maternal grandma’s death is that all the rules are fake anyway, so might as well give myself the space to play and experiment and grace if (and when) I ever fuck it up and do something dumb. All a learning lesson!

So my challenge to you this week is to find some experiments you can participate in that test this new ‘identity’ you want to try on.

Is it being a runner? Crafter? Business owner? Something else? HIT REPLY and let me know so I can cheer you on!

Of course, if you want to do this alongside a supportive community of folks, join us inside the Plans to Progress Lounge! You’ll also have access to our 3-day virtual retreat at the end of June for a mid-year reset.

✍️ THIS WEEK’S JOURNALING PROMPT

“What does creativity look like?”

I journaled on this prompt this week, and instead of just answering the question, I tried to stretch my imagination by thinking about creativity in different areas of my life… things like:

• What does creativity look like in exercise and movement?

• What does creativity look like in food and recipes?

• What does creativity look like in my wardrobe?

TBH, answering all those questions was harder than I thought! I hadn’t ever considered what creativity could look like in exercise or even my clothes… which got me reflecting on different ways I can bring more creativity to things that sometimes seem like a chore to me).

💻 THINGS THAT STUCK OUT TO ME ON THE INTERNET

Unlock the Social Media Tactics That Work Right Now

Is your social strategy ready for what's next in 2025?

HubSpot Media's latest Social Playbook reveals what's actually working for over 1,000 global marketing leaders across TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Facebook, and YouTube.

Inside this comprehensive report, you’ll discover:

• Which platforms are delivering the highest ROI in 2025

• Content formats driving the most engagement across industries

• How AI is transforming social content creation and analytics

• Tactical recommendations you can implement immediately

Unlock the playbook—free when you subscribe to the Masters in Marketing newsletter.

Get cutting-edge insights, twice a week, from the marketing leaders shaping the future.

Download The Report

🗓 PREPARING FOR THE WEEK AHEAD

🌻 GOODIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

First time in Vietnam 🇻🇳 (as an adult) | returning after 24 years with parents, healing inner child

This time last year, I was in Vietnam with my family!! So here’s a throwback to my Vietnam vlog of northern Vietnam 😍

🤝 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.

Don’t think I forgot about catching you up on my Ment-Art program for social entrepreneurs! 😜

I dove into our course content around inclusive communication and design strategies this week, and I AM SO EXCITED. A lot of the material is familiar to me for now, since I approach my marketing in the same way with a culturally competent and inclusive lens… but it’s refreshing to be the student and learn different approaches.

This upcoming week, we have our first in-person meeting with the group, so I’m excited to meet some of the other participants in Spain.

I’ll fill you in more and,

Until then…

💖 #stayfierce,
Cassandra