Rue's Master Plan v4 · The Detailed One · Restarted August 15, 2026
From PH to Spain.
Step by step. No skipping.
Day 1 is Saturday, August 15, 2026. The reset weekend is for audit and setup; execution begins Monday, August 17. This plan tells you exactly what to do, when, how to say it, and what to do when things go wrong. Written for a clean restart — no shame, no catch-up.
Aug 15 — Day 1 reset
Month 4 — Job income
Month 10 — DNV threshold
Mid-2028 — Spain
Aug–Oct '26
Zero income. Build. Apply. Survive on savings.
Nov '26–Apr '27
Job income starts. Rue first clients. Both growing.
May–Oct '27
Hit DNV threshold. Sustain 6 months. Collect docs.
Nov '27–Jan '28
Buffer months. Finalize time-sensitive documents.
Q1 → Mid-2028
Apply, then return to Spain on your own DNV.
🌿
This is a clean start — not a catch-up. The previous timeline is archived. Nothing from it is overdue. August 15 is for a system audit and clean setup, August 16 is rest, and execution begins Monday, August 17.
August 15 — Day 1 · Audit, Reset, Set the Anchor
Three setup tasks. No applications or outreach today.
Audit the roadmap and confirm the new baseline
Open the roadmap pages and confirm: reset August 15, rest August 16, first execution August 17, Month 4 in November, and Month 10 in May. Archive any July paper notes instead of treating them as overdue.
Anchor
Set up your physical workspace if not already done
Pick a dedicated spot — good light, no distractions, not your bed. Your brain needs a physical cue that says "this is work mode." This matters more than you think.
Build
Write one sentence in your notes app
"I am building Rue Solutions so I can go back to Spain on my own visa." Pin it somewhere you see every day. This is your why on the days you don't want to show up.
Why
🎯
Goal this week: Job applications started. Website fixed. Tools set up. BIR registered. No outreach yet. No clients yet. Just building the launchpad.
🗓️
Four-week cadence: Reviews Friday Aug 21, Aug 28, Sep 4, and Sep 11. Buffers Saturday Aug 22, Aug 29, Sep 5, and Sep 12. Sundays Aug 23, Aug 30, Sep 6, and Sep 13 are full rest days.
August 17 — First Execution Day · Job Applications First
Your most urgent task. Income is the priority over everything else this week.
Update your resume for remote ops roles
Your updated resume is already done. Open it, adjust the headline and summary to match the role you're applying to. Lead with: Spain operational experience, Notion expertise, systems thinking. Remove any Spain-specific language.
Admin
Create accounts on all 5 job boards TODAY
Go to each one and make a profile now — don't wait:
→ weworkremotely.com — best for ops + customer success
→ remoteok.com — filter by "operations" or "Notion"
→ dynamitejobs.com — many part-time roles
→ justremote.co — strong for admin/ops part-time
→ LinkedIn Jobs — filter: Remote + Operations + Part-time
Admin
Apply to 10 jobs today. Not tomorrow. Today.
Target: Operations Coordinator, Customer Success, EA/Chief of Staff, Notion Specialist. Pay range: $800–1,200/month. Part-time preferred (15–25 hrs/week).
What NOT to apply for: VA roles at $5/hr, data entry, anything Spain-based (won't count for DNV), anything requiring you to work EU hours exclusively.
💡
DNV rule: Before accepting any offer, ask the employer: "Can you provide an official remote work contract showing my role and salary, suitable for visa applications?" If they say no — the job doesn't count for your DNV evidence. Move on.
Apply
Update LinkedIn for both audiences
Headline should mention BOTH: "Operations Consultant @ Rue Solutions | Open to Remote Ops Roles." You're building a business AND looking for a job — both are real, don't hide either.
LinkedIn
Change all € to $ across the entire site
Backend €400 → $800. Automation €300 → $600. Website €500 → $900. Add Monthly Retainer at $700/mo. Remove Content Systems card (€200) from the main nav — keep it available but not front-and-center.
Framer
Create your Cal.com account + fix the booking button
1. Go to cal.com → create free account (use "richelle" or "ruesolutions" as your handle)
2. Create ONE event type: "Free 20-min Discovery Call" — set your PH timezone (GMT+8)
3. In Framer, find every "Book a call" button and change the link to your real Cal.com URL
Why this is urgent: Right now the booking button goes to cal.com with no username. Anyone who clicks it hits a dead page and leaves. You lose them forever.
Urgent
Fill the About page
Add: a photo of yourself (natural light, plain background — doesn't need to be professional), 2–3 paragraphs about who you are and why you built Rue Solutions, and 3–4 simple stats like "50+ hours saved per client" or "Systems built for 3+ countries." This page is checked by every serious client before they book.
Framer
Fix or remove the Projects sub-pages
The 4 sub-pages (automation-systems, website-builds, etc.) are likely empty. Option A: Remove Projects from the nav entirely — cleanest. Option B: Copy the case studies from the homepage into the right sub-pages. Either is fine. Empty pages are not fine.
Framer
Submit sitemap to Google Search Console
Go to search.google.com/search-console → Add property → enter ruesolutions.com → verify ownership (Framer makes this easy via DNS) → submit sitemap. This speeds up how fast Google finds and indexes your site. 5-minute task.
SEO
Open Wise Business account
Go to wise.com → "Open a Business account" → register as self-employed/freelancer → verify with your passport. Takes 1–3 days. Do it NOW so it's ready when your first client wants to pay you. This is how you receive USD from international clients. Without this, you can't get paid.
Admin
BIR registration — go to your RDO
Bring: valid ID, TIN card (you already have a TIN).
File: Form 1901 (Application for Registration)
Pay: ₱500 registration fee
Get: Form 2303 (Certificate of Registration)
Why you need this: Your BIR Form 2303 is required DNV evidence. It proves you're formally registered as a self-employed freelancer in the Philippines. Without it, your consulate application is weaker.
Admin
Create DNV evidence folder in Google Drive
Make this folder structure now:
📁 DNV Application — Rue
📁 Income Evidence (Wise statements + invoices)
📁 BIR Documents (Form 2303, ITR)
📁 Clearances (NBI, Spain criminal record)
📁 Identity & Insurance
Save your BIR Form 2303 here the moment you get it. Save every Wise statement the moment it's available. Don't play catch-up later.
DNV
Apply to 10 more jobs
Keep this going every single day until you have an offer. 10 applications per day, 5 days a week = 50/week = your job search is active and aggressive.
Apply
15 minutes of planning — then laptop closed
Write ONE goal for each day of Week 2. Don't over-plan. Then close the laptop and live your life.
Rest
🎯
Goal this week: LinkedIn fully optimized. 30-person outreach list built. First 10 connections sent (no pitch yet). Buffer queue 2 planned (next 15 posts). Keep applying to jobs daily.
August 24 — LinkedIn Deep Update
Your LinkedIn is a storefront. Every word is sales copy.
Rewrite your LinkedIn headline
Your headline is the first thing anyone sees. It must answer: "what do you do and who do you do it for?"
Format: [What you do] for [who] | [Secondary: open to remote roles]
Operations & Systems Consultant | Helping remote founders build backend systems that run without them | Open to remote ops roles
Don't be clever. Be clear. Clients don't hire clever — they hire clear.
LinkedIn
Rewrite your LinkedIn About section
3–5 short paragraphs. Structure:
Para 1: Who you help + what you do (the problem you solve)
Para 2: How you do it (your approach/method)
Para 3: What clients get (outcome)
Para 4: A tiny bit of you (why you built this)
Para 5: CTA — "Book a free discovery call: [cal.com link]"
I help remote founders and small business owners fix the backend chaos that's costing them 10+ hours a week — scattered tools, no systems, everything living in someone's head.
I build the operations infrastructure that lets businesses actually run: Notion workspaces, workflow systems, SOPs, and automations that work while you focus on growth.
Most of my clients go from "I can't step away for a day" to "my team knows exactly what to do" in 10–14 days.
I'm based in the Philippines, working with international clients. Book a free 20-minute call: [your Cal.com link]
LinkedIn
Update Experience section
Add Rue Solutions as your CURRENT role: "Founder & Operations Consultant — Rue Solutions." Start date: Sep 2025. Description: 1–2 sentences of what you do. You are not a dependent. You are a founder. The profile needs to say so.
LinkedIn
Add Featured section → link to ruesolutions.com + Cal.com
The Featured section appears right below your About. Add two links: your website and your booking page. This is free real estate that most people ignore.
LinkedIn
Search LinkedIn for ideal clients
Use these search terms:
→ "Founder" + "remote" + "operations"
→ "CEO" + "small business" + "systems"
→ "Online business" + "Notion" OR "ClickUp"
→ Search people posting about being overwhelmed, scaling, hiring help
Who you're looking for: Founders of 2–15 person companies. E-commerce, SaaS, coaching, agencies. They post about being busy, overwhelmed, or wanting to scale. They don't have a formal ops team.
Research
Build a Notion outreach tracker with 30 targets
Create a Notion database with these columns:
Name | Company | What they post about | Connection status | Message sent | Reply | Call booked | Outcome
This is your pipeline. Outreach without tracking is just hoping.
Notion
Send connection requests to all 30 — with a short note, NO pitch
The connection request note is NOT a sales pitch. It's an introduction.
Hi [Name] — I follow your work in [ops/e-commerce/whatever they do] and would love to connect.
That's it. Short. Human. No pitch. You pitch after they accept and you've engaged with their content first.
Connect
Engage on 5 prospects' posts per day
Leave real comments — not "great post!" — actual thoughtful replies. This warms them up before you message them.
Example of a bad comment: "Great insight! Love this." (Says nothing, gets ignored)
Example of a good comment: "This exactly — most founders I talk to underestimate how much the lack of a task system costs them. The mental load alone is exhausting."
Real comments get you noticed. Noticed = they accept faster and reply to your DM.
Warm-up
Plan next 15 LinkedIn posts for Buffer
Rotate 3 types:
Teach (Mon): "3 Notion databases every founder needs" / "How to automate your client onboarding in 4 steps"
Show (Wed): Screenshot of a system + brief explanation of what it does and why
Story (Fri): Real moments — "I just moved from Spain to PH to build this business from scratch. Here's week 1."
Hook is everything. First line must stop the scroll. "Most founders waste 10 hours a week on this one thing." Start with the pain, not the solution.
Buffer
Build a demo Notion workspace (if not done)
Build a complete fake client workspace — task tracker, SOP starter, project dashboard, client database. Make it look real and polished.
Then record a 2–3 min Loom walkthrough: "Here's a backend ops system I built for a [type of business] client." This becomes your #1 sales asset — attach it to every proposal.
Build
Keep applying to jobs — 10 per day
Do not let this slip. Job applications take weeks to convert. The job you land in Month 4 is from applications you sent in Week 2.
Apply
🚀
This is the real launch week. Website goes live. Cold outreach starts. PandaDoc proposal template finalized. Your first discovery calls could happen this week. Be ready.
August 31 — Publish the Website
Run final site check before publishing
Click every button. Submit the contact form (check it arrives in your inbox). Preview on mobile. Check all prices are in $. Confirm Cal.com link works. Confirm LinkedIn footer link is correct (linkedin.com/in/richellenonan).
Check
Publish in Framer
Hit the publish button. ruesolutions.com is live.
Launch
Post on LinkedIn: "Rue Solutions is live"
Short post, not a big announcement. Confident, not desperate.
After months of building, Rue Solutions is officially live.
We help remote founders build the backend systems that let their business run without them in every decision — Notion, automation, workflows, SOPs.
If that sounds like something you or someone you know needs — I'm booking discovery calls now.
ruesolutions.com
LinkedIn
Message accepted connections from Week 2 — 10 per day
The 2-message system:
Message 1 (opening — no pitch):
Hi [Name] — I noticed you're building [specific thing from their posts/company]. Quick question — how are you currently managing your backend ops and workflows?
Wait for reply. Then:
Message 2 (after they respond — soft pitch):
Got it — that's actually exactly the kind of thing I help founders fix. I build backend systems (Notion, automations, SOPs) so the team can run without the founder in every decision. Not sure if it's something you need right now, but I'd love to do a free 20-min call if it sounds useful. Here's my booking link: [cal.com link]
Rules: Never pitch in Message 1. Never send a wall of text. One ask per message. If they say "not right now" — reply "totally understand, I'll check back in a couple months" and move on.
Outreach
Track every message in your Notion CRM
Status pipeline: Sent → Replied → Call Booked → Proposal Sent → Won / Lost
Why this matters: when you're sending 10 messages a day, you WILL lose track without a system. The tracker also shows you your real conversion numbers so you know if something isn't working.
Track
Finalize PandaDoc proposal template
Your proposal template is already built. Upload it to PandaDoc. Test it by sending yourself a test document. Make sure merge tags work. You need this ready BEFORE your first call — not after.
PandaDoc
When Someone Books a Call
Follow this exactly every time. Don't improvise.
15 minutes before — research them
Check their LinkedIn, their website, their recent posts. Find ONE specific thing to reference in your opening line. This alone separates you from every other freelancer they've talked to.
Prep
Open the call + set recording notice
Say this first — before anything else:
Before we begin — just so you know, I record my discovery calls so I can focus on our conversation and refer back when building your proposal. Is that okay with you?
Wait for "yes." Then proceed.
Call
Set the frame (Min 0–2)
Here's how I like to run these — I'll ask you some questions for the first 10 minutes or so, then I'll share what I'm seeing and whether I think I can help. Sound good?
This puts you in control and relaxes the client.
Call
Ask the 5 questions (Min 2–12)
Use your call sheet. The 5 questions:
1. "Tell me how your business runs day to day operationally."
2. "What's the biggest bottleneck — the thing costing you the most time or stress?"
3. "How much time per week is that costing you?"
4. "If that was fixed — what would be different?"
5. "How long have you been dealing with this, and what made you look for help now?"
Listen 70% of the time. Write their EXACT words. You'll use them in the proposal.
Call
Reflect their problem back (Min 12–15)
Based on what you've shared, here's what I'm seeing. You're spending [X hours] on [their bottleneck]. The core issue isn't just the time — it's that [underlying cause: everything in your head / no system / no visibility]. What that means is [consequence from their Q4 answer]. Does that sound right?
When they say "yes, exactly" — you've won. That moment = they've decided to hire you. Now just close.
Call
Prescribe the service (Min 15–18)
Based on this, I'd recommend a [Backend Org System / Automation / Website]. What I'd build is [describe it in their language, not yours]. The goal is [their exact words from Q4]. Timeline is about [X days]. Investment starts at $[price].
Then stop talking. Silence is not awkward. Let them respond. The first person to speak after stating the price loses leverage.
Call
Close (Min 18–20)
If they seem ready:
I'll send a proposal within 24 hours with the full scope, timeline, and investment. If everything looks good, we can get started [date]. Does that work?
If hesitant:
I'll send over a proposal so you can review everything properly. What's a good timeline for you to make a decision by?
Always end with a question. Always have a next step.
Close
Within 2 hours — send follow-up message
Hey [Name] — great talking with you today. Based on our conversation, the core challenge is [their words]. I'll have a full proposal in your inbox by [time tomorrow]. Looking forward to working together.
Follow-up
Within 24 hours — send proposal via PandaDoc
Open your proposal template. Fill in their specific problem (their exact words), solution, deliverables, timeline, investment. Send. Do not take more than 24 hours — proposals sent after 48 hours close significantly less.
Proposal
Day 5 — if no response, follow up once
Hey [Name] — just following up on the proposal I sent over. Happy to answer any questions or adjust the scope if needed. What's your thinking?
One follow-up is professional. Two is okay if there was genuine interest. Three or more is desperate. Know when to move on.
Follow-up
⏰
Two modes: Before job (August–October while applying) and after job (once hired). The rhythm is what keeps you sane. Follow it even on bad days — especially on bad days.
Before Job — August to ~October
6:00–6:30 · Morning quiet
Coffee. No phone. Write today's ONE task: "Today I will ___." That's it.
6:30–9:30 · Rue Solutions deep work
Most important task: build, write proposal, deliver client work, create content. Done before anything else. Sacred block.
9:30–12:00 · Job applications
10 job applications. Track in Notion. This is a non-negotiable block until you have an offer.
12:00–2:00 · Lunch + family
No laptop. Eat real food. Talk to the people who love you.
2:00–4:30 · Rue outreach + content
10 LinkedIn messages. Engage on prospects' posts. Check Buffer. Respond to any leads.
4:30+ · Life. Rest. Off.
Laptop closed. You are not your business.
6:00–6:30 · Morning quiet
Coffee. No phone. Today's ONE task.
6:30–9:30 · Rue Solutions deep work
Client delivery, proposals, building. Done BEFORE job starts. This block is more important than the job — protect it.
10:00–14:00 · Remote job block 1
4 hours focused. This pays the bills and proves DNV income. Take it seriously. Don't be on Rue during this block.
14:00–15:00 · Lunch with family
No laptop. Non-negotiable.
15:00–17:00 · Remote job block 2
2 more hours. Day's job done.
17:00–18:30 · Rue outreach + admin
10 LinkedIn messages. Check Buffer. Respond to leads. Low-energy work fits this slot.
18:30+ · Life. Family. Rest.
Laptop closed.
⚠️
Honest math: First 3 months = $0. Remote job realistically pays $800–1,000/month (not $1,800). First Rue client realistically takes 3–5 months. DNV threshold hit around Month 10. Apply Q1 2028 and target Spain Mid-2028. This is slower than you want — and it's survivable.
| Month | What's Happening | Job | Rue | Status |
|---|
| Aug '26 M1 | Apply, fix site, set up tools. BIR. Wise account. Buffer posting. | $0 | $0 | Zero |
| Sep M2 | Still applying. Outreach started. First calls maybe. | $0 | $0 | Zero |
| Oct M3 | Zero or barely starting. Savings covering life. Normal. | $0 | $0 | Zero |
| Nov M4 | Job starts. First stable income. Rue: first client or close to it. | $1,000 | $0–300 | Building |
| Dec M5 | Job stable. Rue: first client delivered. Testimonial collected. Outreach continues. | $1,000 | $300–600 | Building |
| Jan '27 M6 | Job stable. Rue: 2nd client. First retainer pitched. LinkedIn compounding. | $1,000 | $500–900 | Building |
| Feb M7 | First retainer locked. Combined ~$1,700+. Raise prices on new clients. | $1,000 | $700–1,100 | Building |
| Mar M8 | Rue growing. 2nd retainer pitched. Combined approaching threshold. | $1,000 | $1,000–1,400 | Building |
| Apr M9 | 2nd retainer locked. Combined $2,400+. Almost at threshold. | $1,000 | $1,400–1,800 | Building |
| May M10 | Threshold crossed. Combined $2,900+. 6-month DNV clock starts. Plan short-validity documents; do not order them early. | $1,000 | $1,900+ | M1/6 |
| Jun–Oct '27 | Sustain. NBI apostille. Spain criminal record. Health insurance. BIR ITR. | $1,000 | $2,000+ | M2–6/6 |
| Nov '27 M16 | Buffer and final documents. Maintain income; prepare the Q1 2028 consulate package. | $1,000 | $2,500+ | Buffer |
| Mid-2028 | ✈️ DNV approved. Back to Spain. Register on Padrón. 2-year citizenship clock starts. | — | $3,000+ | 🇪🇸 |
August 15, 2026 onward — Every single month
Income Evidence — Save Everything Immediately
→ Wise Business monthly statement (PDF — NOT screenshots). Download on the 1st of each month.
→ Every invoice you send (numbered: RS-2026-001, 002, etc.)
→ Every signed PandaDoc contract
→ Save to Google Drive → DNV Application → Income Evidence
Start this habit BEFORE you have income. The folder needs to be clean and organized.
Aug 2026 — Reset Weekend + Week 1
BIR Certificate of Registration (Form 2303)
Go to your RDO. Bring ID + TIN card. File Form 1901. Pay ₱500. Get Form 2303. Save it to Google Drive immediately.
Apr 2027 — Before consulate appointment
BIR Annual ITR (Form 1701) — due April 15
Hire a PH accountant (₱2,000–5,000). They file for you. Get BIR-stamped copy. This covers your Jun–Dec 2026 income and is one of your strongest DNV proofs.
August 2027 — within the evidence window
Begin NBI Clearance Application
Apply at nbi.gov.ph. Pay ₱130. Processing 1–3 weeks. Then DFA apostille = 1–2 more weeks. Start early — if you have a "hit" (name match), it takes 6–10 weeks total. Don't wait.
October 2027 — after the evidence window
Spanish Criminal Record Certificate
Request at sede.mjusticia.gob.es using your NIE + Cl@ve PIN. Check your Cl@ve is still active — if it expired, renew at Spanish Consulate Manila first. Takes 3–10 business days once requested.
November 2027 — Before applying
Health Insurance
Must cover Spain. No copayments. €30,000+ coverage. Get quotes from Cigna Global, Allianz Care, AXA. Budget $60–150/month. Buy it and get the certificate BEFORE you apply — not after.
December 2027 — close to application
BIR Certificate of Good Standing
Request from your RDO. Valid for a short window — get it close to your application date, not months before.
November 2027 — request current letter
Remote Job Contract Letter
Ask your employer for an official letter stating: your role, your salary, that work is fully remote, and that the company is non-Spanish. This is what connects your job income to your DNV application.
Q1 2028 — Application window
Apply at Spanish Consulate Manila
Address: 5th Floor, Libertad Building, 835 A. Arnaiz Ave (Pasay Road), Legaspi Village, Makati. Book your appointment weeks ahead — slots fill fast. Bring ALL documents. Fee: ~€75. Processing: 10–20 business days.
Mid-2028
✈️ Back to Spain — on your own DNV
Register on Padrón immediately on arrival. As a Filipino, 2 years legal residence = citizenship eligible. By 2030–2031, you apply for Spanish citizenship. This is real. This is yours.
The 10 Rules — for when it gets hard
- One task owns the day. Every morning, write ONE thing that must happen. Not 5. One. Everything else is bonus.
- Job hours are sacred. When you're on the job, you're on the job. Not Rue. Not LinkedIn. The job pays the bills and proves DNV income.
- Rue hours are also sacred. When you're on Rue, you're not checking job Slack. Boundaries protect both.
- No big decisions before 9am or after 7pm. Emotional decisions live at the edges of the day. Hold them until tomorrow.
- Grief is allowed at work. When it hits — stop. Walk. Feel it. 15 minutes. Then come back to the one task.
- Outreach happens even on bad days. 10 LinkedIn messages. Not optional. The client you land in Month 5 comes from messages sent in Week 2.
- One family meal per day — phone down. This is what keeps you together when business is slow and emotions are loud.
- Spain stays visible. A photo on your desk, a screensaver. On hard days — look at it. Remember why all of this exists.
- Bad days don't break the plan. A bad day is a Tuesday, not a failure. Show up tomorrow.
- Friday 5pm = laptop off. Saturday: 4 hours Rue only. Sunday: fully off. This pace is 18 months. You cannot sprint the whole thing.
No job after 3 months of applying?
Plan B: Apply to 15/week instead of 10. Lower expectation to $600–800/month temporarily. Take a contract VA role on OnlineJobs.ph as a bridge — max 20hrs/week so Rue stays primary. Keep applying for the right role.
First Rue client takes 5+ months?
Plan B: Fine. Your job is covering income. Rue grows on its own timeline. Not being desperate actually makes you more attractive to good clients. Keep outreach going.
Zero Rue income some months?
Plan B: Normal. It happens to every freelancer in year one. The DNV clock is carried by your job income. One empty Rue month doesn't break anything. Don't panic — keep outreach going.
Grief is too heavy some weeks?
Plan B: Drop to minimum viable week: job hours + 10 LinkedIn messages/day. Nothing else. Tell family. Rest. The plan tolerates 1–2 hard weeks per month. It doesn't tolerate stopping outreach for a whole month.
Rue takes off faster than expected?
Plan B: Rue hits $2,500/mo for 3 consecutive months → drop job to part-time. Rue hits $3,500/mo for 3 months → drop job entirely. But only after sustained proof — not after one good month.
You need to slow down for a bit?
Plan B: Built in. As long as the job is running, the DNV evidence continues. You can pause Rue outreach for a month. The floor is the floor. Sustainable beats optimized.
The whole point
"19 months is a long time.
But you've already survived something harder.
Every message sent, every invoice saved,
every Wise statement downloaded —
is a step that no one can take from you."
🇵🇭 Aug 2026 → 💼 Nov 2026 · Job → 📈 May 2027 · Threshold → 📄 Q1 2028 · Apply → 🇪🇸 Mid-2028 · Spain → 🎖️ Citizenship 2030+