I hit $50K+ months šŸ’ø

but here’s what no one saw behind the number

I made $50K+ in April and June but I still felt like I was falling behind.

Context: This is officially my second-year as a solopreneur (I cannot believe that…)

And if you ever felt like it’s too late to start over. It isn’t.

Here’s how I went from getting fired in in my first job in 2015 to landing a TEDx speaking gig in 2025, and now doubling my income in 1 year.

Btw, I came back from THE conference for founders, creators, and operators.

While the energy was so inspiring the quiet voice of feeling a MAJOR imposter got even louder.

  • Do I deserve this?

  • Am I doing enough?

  • Should I be doing more?

From the outside, it looks like ā€œI made itā€, but the truth is?

Growth without intention + purpose will leave you feeling empty.

šŸ“£ Before we jump in — a big thanks to today’s sponsor: Tango.

People always ask how I manage content, coaching, and running a business without losing my mind…

Here’s the secret: I don’t waste time on work that doesn’t need me. I automate it.

That’s why I’m a fan of Tango. It captures your process while you work — no extra effort, no overthinking. Just click through, and it builds your documentation for you (like having a personal assistant on standby).

✨ Save yourself hours on onboarding and how-tos, and focus on the work that actually matters.

Try it — your future self will be glad you did šŸ˜‰

Here’s what I learned

I opened this book all about building the life you want by Oprah (I love her).

She broke down happiness into 3 parts:

Purpose + Meaning + Enjoyment

And it made SO. MUCH. SENSE.

Think about it…

When things are handed to you, it doesn’t feel rewarding.

You want to strive towards something.

And after, that brings joy because you know you worked hard for it.

So I asked myself:

What actually felt good about April?

→ Walks with my husband, dinners with no phone

→ Creating content that resonated > vanity metrics

→ Not working or being on social media on weekends

→ Coaching students inside PMA and seeing their wins

→ Helping someone rewrite their story and land a dream role

This is the definition of success (for me).

And for a split second, I had lost sight of that.

5 Lessons I’ve Learned About Money + Success:

1/ Money is not the goal. Freedom is.

What I actually wanted:

→ Freedom to rest without guilt

→ Freedom to say no to misaligned work

→ Freedom to build slow, and still feel proud

I realized money is a means, not the end goal.

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2/ Define your ā€œenoughā€ number.

If you don’t do this, no one will.

Here’s the formula:

→ Monthly life expenses

→ + Business ops + taxes

→ + 30% buffer for joy, rest, and emergencies

So I redefined my monthly revenue to $30-50K.

Anything beyond that is a bonus :)

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3/ Comparison trap is literally a silent killer.

For a second, I forgot what I was building was enough.

But here’s the truth:

If you’re not grounded in your own path,

you’ll mistake someone else’s highlight reel as your goal post.

Define what success looks like for YOU.

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4/ You do not need to hustle to build a successful business.

In fact.. most of my biggest breakthroughs came

when I slowed down, rested, simplified and said no.

It’s okay to let things come easy.

__

5/ The real win is becoming someone you’re proud of

I’ve made more as a solopreneur than I ever did at Meta or LinkedIn.

But what I’m most proud of isn’t $$$.

It’s that I built something that honors me (my goals, my values)

That’s my true north star.

Okay, so what made up my $54,013.88 month in April?

Here’s the real breakdown:

This didn’t happen overnight.

It took 2 years of showing up consistently.

Owning my story.

Getting really clear on who I help and how.

And building systems that supported the lifestyle that I want.

If you’re building something of your own — whether it’s a business, a new career path, or a version of you that feels authentic to you...

Let this be your reminder:

You can grow and still feel grounded.

You can earn more and still live a healthy/happy life.

You can build something big without losing yourself in the process.

xo,

Jean

P.S. I’m so excited to launch my first digital course. It’s designed for professionals who want to articulate their value, gain clarity, and truly own their story.

I built the most comprehensive PM resume course out there. It’s helped people go from overlooked to landing 3–5+ interviews / week.

And yes, there are plenty of testimonials to back it up.

Inside, I teach the exact system that’s helped over 100 people land interviews and offers at Meta, Microsoft, TikTok, Airbnb, and more.

If you want early access when it drops, sign up below:
šŸ‘‰ https://lnkd.in/eKijbsQU

P.P.S Grateful I get to build this course in partnership with Kajabi. It’s literally one of the best creator platforms (and their customer success team is šŸ’£)

It’s THE tool to build digital products that run on autopilot, nurture your community without burning out and stay consistent without being constantly online.

Building a business isn’t about doing it all. It’s about doing what works and doing it well.

If you’ve been sitting on a big idea, this is your sign:

  • Launch that guide, course, or coaching offer

  • Set up 1 automation using AI that saves you hours

  • Build a business that supports your dream lifestyle

If you have any questions or want to join me as I build in public, follow along here.

And you can read all the previous newsletters here šŸŽ‰ 

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