Corporate Delayed Me. Creation Said Keep Going.

Yesterday, someone bought my $1 recipe and grocery list guide.

It was my first sale under Just Monique.

Not my first sale ever. I have sold digital products before, worked with sponsors, and built a following.

But this felt different.

It was my first sale since returning to my creative work after everything I have been through — burnout, financial reset, and learning how to build from a grounded place again.

The timing caught me off guard, in the best way.

Earlier in the day, I found out I did not get the promotion I had been working toward at my full-time job. It was not unexpected. I had been out for two months on leave, so the decision made sense. I understood it. I was not sad.

I'm disappointed because the raise would have helped…but that was the extent of it.

Still, it was a clear reminder of something I already knew: I cannot wait for outside approval to move forward. I cannot build my future on someone else’s timeline.

That afternoon, I opened my email and saw the sale notification. Someone had purchased my $1 guide!

I had almost talked myself out of sharing it. I kept wondering if it mattered, if $1 was too small, if people would see it as unimportant or assume I was just trying to make something out of nothing. But I sent the newsletter yesterday morning to promote it anyway.

And someone said yes.

That one small sale reminded me that my work moves people. That when I show up and offer something helpful, even in the middle of uncertainty, it still connects.

It still reaches the right person.

There is so much I want to create with Just Monique. I want to build tools that help women start over without shame. I want to make resources that feel honest, clear, and hopeful.

I want to keep telling the truth about what it looks like to rebuild your life while you are still in the thick of it, not after everything is polished… but right here in the middle.

To the person who made that first purchase, thank you. You reminded me that what I am building matters.

And to anyone else who is working a job while trying to create something on the side, I hope this encourages you.

You do not have to wait for someone else to say yes before you take your next step.

Even if things are moving slowly. Even if you feel behind…

You are still building, and that counts.

Thank you for being here.

You can purchase the meal plan below…

What’s inside:​
*5 real-life beginner-friendly recipes
​*Ingredient swaps if you’re missing something
*A clean, printable grocery list
No fluff, just flavorful food that won’t break the bank