The Report — Week One: Dust, clarity & doing the thing

Welcome to The Report — my weekly check-in as a founder building two businesses.

→ Grow by Charlotte - strategic marketing consultancy

→  Sojourn Pilates - boutique Pilates studio in the making

This week marked my first full week back in freelance. It’s a shift I made to support Sojourn, but also to return to what I love most: working with early-stage founders on clear, strategic marketing.

It’s been nearly seven years since I first took the leap into self-employment. The last two years in-house were a needed hiatus — a steady pay cheque, a sharp learning curve and a chance to figure out what I didn’t want as much as what I did.

But the itch has stayed the same:

To create strategic marketing solutions that actually help businesses grow.

On Strategy.

Some people think strategy slows them down. I think the opposite is true.

In a world where there’s a new trend around every corner, strategy is how you stay aligned when those new platforms, offers or ideas show up. It’s what helps you spend less time second-guessing — and more time moving with purpose.

That’s why strategy sits at the core of what I offer:

DIY Downloads

Free and paid resources to support the next phase of your growth — from guided workshops to strategic templates.

Strategy Calls

A focused 90-minute session to help you gain clarity on your next strategic move.

The Strategy Project

A one-off deep dive where we map your foundations, sharpen your message and build a bespoke growth plan — so you know what to focus on, what to ignore and how to move forward with confidence.

Summary of the Week

Grow by Charlotte

My highlight this week? Figuring it out.

It was my first proper week of full-time self-employment again and while I had a few ideas floating around from 2022, I didn’t have a plan.

Now I do.

I landed on a simple but strong system:

→ Stan and Beehiiv for content

→ LinkedIn and partnered DIY downloads for visibility

→ Tailored outreach where it makes sense

This foundation gave me clarity for how to build awareness, nurture trust and book in aligned projects.

→ Strategy Calls are now available on Fridays

→ I have space to take on one aligned Strategy Project client this month

If either are calling your name, reply or book (or find out more) here.

Sojourn Pilates

We’re in full build mode and it’s hard to see past the dust. This week, ceiling tracks were laid for electrics and we prepped for plastering and flooring to start next week. The reformers arrive in two weeks, with most things needing to be completed beforehand so urgency is on.

Digitally? I dropped the ball. While I’ve been heads-down on winding up full-time work and figuring out this next chapter, I’ve neglected our digital channels.

→ Website traffic is down

→ Social engagement has dipped

→ Waitlist signups slowed

While none of this is hugely impactful to my business right now, it does show that consistency matters. Having systems in place to manage busy periods is key. One for next week’s to-do list… I’ll keep you posted.

It’s also worth noting, I do expect stats to slow slightly — early hype has been great but was always unlikely to sustain. I expect to see three spikes in the next four weeks, with the following planned:

• Giveaway for Instagram followers (luxury wellness gift bags including items from brands including nodpod, jAGA adaptogenic drinks shots, Melisoles Pilates grip socks, London Nootropics coffee, Belly Dance kefir soda and more to be confirmed)

• Launch of memberships & class bookings (planned for 2 weeks before opening)

• Physical studio launch (weekend of activity + increased social engagement from visitors)

Before I wrap up, a quick wellness favourite from the week: 

I’ve had my nodpod weighted sleep mask for a few months now and it’s quietly become a staple. It’s soft, weighted (think gentle pressure, not tight squeeze), and according to my Oura stats, it usually has me asleep in 3–6 minutes.

Unlike most sleep masks, there’s no strap — it simply rests over your face. For me, that means it naturally falls off during the night, which I love as someone who prefers to wake with the light.

Thanks for being here and reading all the way through.

The Report is published weekly, sharing what’s working, what’s wobbly and what I’m learning in real time as I build both of these businesses from the ground up.

Enjoy your weekend,

Charlotte x