Start small,
create something big
Just Start is a 6-week cohort for curious people who want to try something new, without walking away from the stability they’ve worked hard to build.
When the rules of work change, it’s time to change with them.
There’s no doubt that work feels uncertain right now—layoffs, AI, and increased pressure from leadership on your output.
After years of climbing the corporate ladder and doing “what you were supposed to do”, you’re at a crossroads—continue on the same, stable path or take a risk into something new.
The life we thought we wanted doesn’t fit our future selves needs. She wants impactful work, a flexible schedule, and lots of freedom.
That’s why more than ever, it’s important to define how this version of you wants to uniquely show up, so you can start taking action toward that dream today.
In this program, we take a look at your skills and interests, brainstorm possible directions, and launch a mini career experiment where you’ll build momentum through small wins, get clarity for your next step, and walk away with an aligned 1-year roadmap you’re excited about executing.
You’re curious, creative, and multi-dimensional.
You also have a million ideas of what you could do, which makes it’s hard to decide which path feels right.
And, while you want work that has meaning, you fall victim to scrolling on LinkedIn, applying to the same jobs you’ve held before because of the paycheck or because you don’t know anyone else choosing something different.
Together, we’ll tackle three key pieces:
Your money: What you need to feel secure and confident now and in the future
Your ideas: How to narrow all of the ideas you’re curious about and choose one with the highest potential
Your time: How you’ll fit this mini career experiment into your schedule, plus where you’ll go next
Along the way you’ll also build ties with other multi-dimensional humans that are choosing to re-write their way of working in a way that works for them.
This program is for you if…
You’re a curious, creative, multi-dimensional (and sometimes indecisive) human who doesn’t fit neatly into one box
You want to find work that’s meaningful but find yourself applying to similar roles you’ve carried in the past
You’ve been spinning on ideas and are ready to take action
You have lots of skills, interests, and ideas but aren’t sure how to package them in a way that’s simple and compelling
You want support and accountability form a community of other people carving their own paths and those who have already made the leap into what you want to do next
You’ve been feeling a bit under appreciated and stuck in a job that puts pressure on your output, rather than feeling valued for your contributions
The details
We’ll meet weekly over ~6 weeks. The inaugural beta cohort of Just Start will open for enrollment in September, kick off the week of October 20th, and go through early December. The sessions include:
A 1:1 career strategy meeting with Maggie
6 weekly group community calls (with lessons)
1 guest speaker Q&A session
Matched with an accountability buddy
Voxer support during the program and thru the end of 2025
Lifetime access to your cohort via a community in Slack
Weekly exercises, challenges and homework to support your growth
An in-person celebration event for those in NYC
Cost: $299
I’m offering this program at 50% off (normally $599) since this is the first time I’m running it. If you sign up for the waitlist, you’ll get an additional 10% off.
“I’ve gained so much clarity about my strengths, values, and next steps, and I feel much more confident moving forward.”
— Former 1:1 Coaching Client
The itinerary
Week 1: Your journey starts here: how you uniquely show up in the world
Week 2: Build a financial bridge: where you are now vs where you want to go
Week 3: Design your experiment workshop
Pause on live weekly meetings and facilitate async over last two weeks of November for Thanksgiving
Week 4: How to prioritize experimenting alongside your job (and life!)
Week 5: How to package your unique skills and interests into a compelling offer
Week 6: Create your 1 year roadmap to a creative, fulfilling career
Guest speaker: To be chosen and slotted into the schedule based on the group’s wants and needs!
More than just memories,
you’ll take away…
Clarity on your unique strengths and personal positioning
A validated experiment that you can iterate on beyond the life of this program
A financial game plan that you feel confident in how to turn your experiment into a full-time offer
A tangible 1-year roadmap to your unique fulfilling career
Connection to others choosing non-traditional paths
Join me on this adventure!
If you don’t know me already, I’ve pivoted my career from Consulting to Product Marketing to Events / Retreats / Career Strategy / Community (you truly don’t have to just do one thing)!
I struggled finding the perfect idea for awhile when really all of my answers have been from experimenting with the things that I’m interested in.
I’d love to share the lessons I wish I’d known before and for us to build something of your own, together.
P.S. Is it meta that this is also an experiment I’m running in my own business? :)
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Just Start is for multi-passionate humans who want to try something new, without walking away from the stability they’ve built.
You’re earlier on in your career decision journey, but you know you want to make a change. You may have started dabbling with ideas already or are stuck spinning your wheels but ready to take action.
If that sounds like you, then I welcome you to join! -
That’s ok! I’ll send out recordings of each session. However, I’d love for you to be there life for the majority of them.
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All sessions will be hosted on Zoom so need to be in NYC! If you are in NY though, I’ll plan a fun celebration event for us that are interested. If there are other people where you live in the program, you’re welcome to host something of your own together!
FAQ
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Nope! You just need curiosity and openness to the process.
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Yes, you can split the payments into two payments! If you have needs beyond that, please email me: m@maggie-blackburn.com.
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After having lots and lots of coffee chats with you on LinkedIn and IRL, I noticed a theme. You all wanted to pivot your career but weren’t sure how to make it happen. You’re also not in a place yet to completely quit and leave the job you don’t love.
I’ve been exactly where you are, and I wish I had a community of people I could have turned to who were at the same place (or one step ahead).
That’s what I want to build with this, and I want you to build it alongside me!