February in Review, March Forecast
7 Questions to Help You Reflect and Plan for a Better Month
If I were to rank the best months of my life like a dramatic reality TV show, February 2025 would easily clinch the bronze medal—number three, right after January 2022, when I earned $1500 for ghostwriting a nonfiction relationship book on ‘online dating’ and the next month, when I got my first client from Pinterest.
February 2025 was a masterpiece of growth, small wins, and the kind of lessons that slap you gently but firmly. And it all started on February 1st with a tour of Abuja that promised culture, adventure, and just a sprinkle of chaos.
The day began with an urgent WhatsApp decree: "Be early! 8 AM sharp! No African time!" Naturally, I showed up at the designated spot on time with my friend, only to find a queue longer than my life expectancy. People were standing like they were auditioning for a survival reality show, and I—being the slow, contemplative walker that I am—was left behind. That’s when my friend Gifty, channeling the speed of a Marvel superhero, dashed through the crowd and secured us a seat on one of the buses. We climbed in, front-row seats, baddie status activated with fellow baddies.
First stop: Nike Art Gallery. Now, art is supposed to make you feel something, but I mostly felt rushed and judged. The attendants had the warm hospitality of a toll gate operator on a Monday morning, and before I could even pretend to understand an abstract painting, we were ushered out.
Then came Tukur Farms—a place of nature, peace, and apparently, snake indigestion. One unfortunate reptile, clearly overworked and underpaid, decided it had had enough and regurgitated its stress all over an unsuspecting human. A poetic moment, really.
The grand finale? Zimbabwe. No, not the country—the local restaurant spot. A charming place where the food was great, but the real experience was the palm wine vendor. This entrepreneurial queen tried to charge us an extra ₦500 on a ₦15,000 bill because, and I quote, “cash only is the policy.” I assume this policy was written in invisible ink because none of us saw it coming.
And that was just February 1st—the opening act to a month that felt like a Nollywood blockbuster with a little bit of everything. There was growth, there was love, there were Valentine’s Day shenanigans with friends, book club, and my dear Pooks (because what’s life without a little extra sweetness?). There was an unexpected adventure or two, a birthday shoot where I tried—and possibly failed—to look effortlessly iconic, and a personal war with authenticity as I wrestled with finding a look that didn’t make me question my entire existence. And through it all, one universal truth stood firm: no matter how early you try to be, Nigeria will always humble you.
We are on March 2nd today, my birthday of course, let’s take stock of what worked, what didn’t, and how to move forward with intention. Template from our FCM class.
1. How did February go? What goals did you meet, and which ones did you miss?
February was a solid month for me. I achieved some personal goals, including finishing my course on responsive web design on FreeCodeCamp.org
2. How much did I earn?
Around $800.
3. What were my biggest achievements? What were my biggest challenges?
Biggest Achievement: Wrapping up two pressing projects.
Biggest Challenge: Billing or asking clients who do fixed rates to approve milestones and update milestones. Not having enough curators to speak with for Prazzle Arts.
4. What did I learn from both?
I’ve learned that hourly rates are basically my anxiety repellent. It creates a transparent atmosphere where the effort I put into the work shows and is paid for. Nothing soothes the soul like knowing that every keystroke, genius idea, and revision is accounted for and compensated. Fixed rates, on the other hand? A playground for opportunists. Some clients hear writer and suddenly think ‘Yes! We’ve got a designer, scriptwriter, project manager, and part-time therapist. And sure, I can do all those things, but let’s not mistake skill for free labor. Undefined roles are where boundaries go to die, and somehow, the colleagues behaving weirdly always get away with it. Wild.
I also realized that landing a client does go beyond:
1️⃣ A strong proposal hook to capture attention.
2️⃣ A compelling call-to-action to get them to message me.
3️⃣ Selling myself well during the interview process to close the deal.
Sometimes the client is not ready yet and is occupied. It is not you.
5. What will I be doing differently in March? What are my top priorities?
I’ll focus on applying for jobs that align with projects I’ve already completed—this should improve my visibility in Upwork’s algorithm. Seek more hourly gigs once I buy my connects.
6. How will I achieve my goals?
Income Goal for March: $1,500
Non-Income Goal: To be intentional about my finances—every dollar I make should be put to good use to expand and grow more on my personal brand and get clients outside of Upwork. I utilize other platforms but not often as much as I do referrals, direct pitching, and Upwork.
How will I make it happen?
Applying for more jobs and following up with past clients.
Refine my portfolio to be sharper and more refined to address the pain point of my target audience.
Strengthening my relationship with God—praying for guidance and favor.
7. LONG-TERM (2025 PLANS)
Am I on track with my 2025 vision? Yes, by the grace of God.
School begins soon and I pray for ease to see this to the finish.
What I learned on TL
Whoever feeds you can also starve you.
Control your life, or someone else will—and trust me, their plans for you aren’t as generous as you’d hope.
Own your decisions so you can own your future.
Stay in the driver’s seat and give yourself options. Lots of them.
If necessary, go back to school.
Make your own money—your bank account shouldn’t depend on anyone’s mood.
Build a safety net and a safe community so you never have to beg for a lifeline.
Learn new skills and turn them into a system that works for you.
Keep an eye on job opportunities, even if you’re comfy now—comfort is temporary, and bills are forever.
Stack your income streams like Jenga blocks. If one falls, the whole tower shouldn’t come crashing down.
Distance yourself from people who prefer you small, used, quiet, or dependent.
Build your brand publicly— struggle with this personally but I am trying to be a yapper because apparently I love yapping.
Move fast. You need time to actually enjoy the life you’re building.
Your progress is your responsibility. Own it.
Feeling stuck? Ask yourself:
→ Am I the one blocking my own way?
→ Have I given someone else the keys to my progress?By the end of the day, take stock: How much of what you did was for you, and how much was just to keep others comfortable?
That answer alone will tell you everything you need to know about where you stand.
Thanks for reading. I hope you’re well.