☕️💪Exciting news from A Cup of Ambition

Enjoying a *literal* cup of ambition

Hi friends,

I’m sending you a Monday email to share some big news: As of today, I have added a paid subscription option. I have more details below, but the abridged version is:

The main newsletter will remain free to everyone, but I am adding some exciting new features for paid subscribers, including regular ask-me-anything posts, community threads, and fun swag as a way to build a stronger community of fellow readers.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Everyone will continue to receive the weekly Thursday newsletter. This will continue to be a mix of essays, interviews, and the read-connect-reflect monthly series. This content will stay free and open to all.

• For paid subscribers, I will be starting a monthly ask-me-anything column called “Spill the Tea”. You will have the opportunity to submit whatever burning questions are on your mind. These emails will have a more personal tone to them. If there’s enough demand, I will start doing them twice a week.

• Paid subscribers will gain access to a new weekly discussion thread. I’m hoping that through this, we will begin to form a meaningful community of ambitious* (however you’re currently defining that term) moms* (and progressive dads and grandparents ☺️).

• Paid subscribers will have access to searchable archives of the newsletter.

• Finally, there will be three tiers of paid subscriptions. Monthly subscriptions are available for $6/month. Those who opt into an annual subscription, for $65/year, not only get a discount, but also get a Cup of Ambition laptop sticker. And, those of you who feel particularly generous and would like to sign up for a Founding Membership, will receive a literal cup of ambition—a mug to hold your inevitably-lukewarm, caffeinated beverage of choice 😉

Why is this is happening?

“I can tell that we are gonna be friends”

A few months ago, I sent a survey to my top 100 readers. They gave me some great feedback, and also let me know that they were eager to connect with other readers—fellow parents who value career development and being an involved parent.

With the paid option, I’m looking to develop this online community. My hope is that we can begin to develop the “mom group” that so many of you are looking for and haven’t found yet. I want to create a safe, constructive, and helpful forum to ask questions and share wisdom. Limiting this community to paid subscribers only provides added privacy, so that people can share their experiences with like-minded people.

“She works hard for the money”

The paid subscription model provides writers the opportunity to be compensated for their hard work. Each article takes hours to research, write and edit. I hold myself to a high standard, and I invest a lot of time each week in turning out—what I hope is—helpful content. I’m not going to make enough to quit my day job, but it would be nice to cover some of the costs associated with writing this newsletter (books, journal/magazine subscriptions, childcare, etc.)

One more thing!

As a thank you to all of you who are already loyal readers… if you purchase a paid subscription by midnight on June 17, you will be entered to win a free one-hour coaching session with me (founding members will receive two entries in the raffle).

Concluding thoughts

I want to finish by saying: I love writing this newsletter each week. I want to share my articles with you and I want you, in turn, to share them with your friends, your boss, your HR manager, and literally anyone else who will listen, because I believe the working parents are incredible and should be celebrated. I believe that parenthood is, truly, a leadership asset. If, for any reason, the subscription fee is not affordable for you, please reach out and I will provide a gift subscription.

I recently came across a poem called “Publication Date” by Franz Wright and these words resonated with me:

One of the few pleasures of writing / is the thought of one’s book [newsletter] in the hands of a kindhearted / intelligent person somewhere. I can’t remember what the others / are right now.

And, so, I want to offer my most sincere thanks to each of you kindhearted, intelligent people for your readership.

Warmly,

Jessica