From Craigslist Hustle to CEO Glow-Up
Dear Diary,
As I write this, it's a rainy day here in California, the kind where the sound of raindrops tapping against my window feels like a gentle nudge to pause and reflect. And as I sit here with my cup of tea in hand, I can’t help but think back to the hustle days—the days when life as a VA felt like an uphill battle with no end in sight.
Let me paint a picture for you: It’s late at night, and I’m scrolling through Craigslist in my small one room studio apartment, desperately searching for clients. The listings are either scams promising "exposure" instead of payment or so-called "volunteer gigs" where people genuinely believed free labor was a fair exchange. I’d spend hours crafting thoughtful email proposals, only to hear nothing but silence. Every rejection felt like a little punch to my confidence, and every scam made me question if I’d ever make this dream work.
It’s 2004-ish…There were no mentors. No roadmaps. No one on social media is posting 20X per day saying, "Hey, Monica, this is how you do it, just give me $5K." Yea, no, just me, a laptop, and a determination that often felt like it was hanging by a thread. There were days I wanted to quit—days when the idea of going back to a "real job" felt easier than the constant hustle.
Looking back? Those days shaped me. They taught me how to advocate for myself, how to spot red flags from a mile away, and how to build something that didn’t just pay the bills but gave me freedom. They forced me to learn resilience when it felt like the world was working against me.
That’s why I poured my heart into creating The Glow Lab. It’s more than just modules and strategies—it’s an intimate guide I wish I had back then. It’s for the VA who’s tired of working for pennies, the one who’s sick of being ghosted by clients, and the one who knows they’re capable of more but doesn’t know where to start.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re sending proposals into a void, like no one sees your value—trust me, I’ve been there. And I want you to know, it doesn’t have to be this way forever. You can attract high-value clients. You can build premium offers that showcase your brilliance. You can scale your business without sacrificing your mental health.
The hustle days were hard, but they didn’t break me. They built me. And I want to help you turn your hustle days into the foundation of your glow-up.
So, to those late nights, endless Craigslist scrolls, and moments of self-doubt—thank you for the lessons. And to you, dear reader, here’s to your glow-up journey. It’s not just possible; it’s inevitable when you have the right tools and support.
Same bat channel next week.
Current Mood: Reflective and grateful—the rain has me in my feels, but in the best way.
Peak of the Week: Seeing a message from a VA who just landed her first high-ticket client after implementing strategies from The Glow Lab. That’s the kind of glow-up I live for!
Gratitude Moment: Grateful for the hustle days that shaped me and for the chance to turn my lessons into tools that help others thrive.
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--Monica ✌🏽❤️
