RJ Nonan · Restarted August 15, 2026

The Full
Roadmap

Job hunt + learning + Rue Solutions + DNV. Everything in one map. Specific, not general.

Destination: Europe · Digital Nomad Visa · 2028
The Full Timeline
From today to boarding that plane. Every phase has one main goal — don't chase all of them at once.
Aug–Oct 2026 · NOW
Land the Job
Job Hunt Daily Notion Basics Figma Basics
  • Reset and audit August 15; rest August 16
  • Update LinkedIn from the August 17 execution start
  • 3 job applications per day, every day
  • Set up Upwork profile as backup client source
  • Learn Notion fundamentals (databases, relations)
  • Learn Figma fundamentals (Auto Layout, components)
  • Post 2x per week on LinkedIn to stay visible
  • Income is zero — this is planned, this is normal
Target Income
Zero — and that's okay
$0–300
Nov 2026–Jan 2027
Job Starts. Rue Begins.
Remote Job Active Make.com Figma Wireframes Framer Deepen
  • Remote ops job is active — floor income secured
  • First Rue Solutions client via Upwork (small project)
  • Learn Make.com — scenarios, webhooks, HTTP modules
  • Deepen Figma — user flows, SaaS UI patterns
  • Deepen Framer — CMS, interactions, Figma→Framer flow
  • Start Lumi wireframe contributions in Figma
  • Document all income — every invoice, every Wise transfer
Target Income
$800–1,400
Feb–Apr 2027
First Retainer. Systems Growing.
1st Retainer Full Ops Delivery Figma Applied DNV Docs Start
  • First Rue retainer client locked ($300–500/month)
  • Job + Rue combined income climbing steadily
  • Can deliver full operations system end to end
  • Figma being used in actual client website projects
  • DNV income documentation formally started
  • Wise account fully active, all payments recorded
Target Income
$1,400–2,000
May–Oct 2027
Hit the Threshold. Hold It.
€2,646/mo Target 6 Months Evidence
  • Total income reaches €2,646/month (~$2,900)
  • Hold it for 6 consecutive months — no dips
  • DNV document package being prepared
  • Rue Solutions is 2–3 retainer clients + project work
  • Job may become optional — Rue may be able to stand alone
  • Product Design skills applied to Lumi regularly
Target Income
$2,900+
Q1 2028
Apply for DNV.
  • Submit DNV application at Spanish Consulate Manila
  • 6 months of income evidence submitted
  • Processing time: 3–6 months
  • Continue working remotely while waiting
2028
Board the Plane. 🇪🇸
  • Return to Europe on your own Digital Nomad Visa
  • Rue Solutions is your primary income
  • Product Design identity fully developed
  • Lumi contributions are regular and formal
Week by Week
August 15 is reset and audit, August 16 is rest, and execution begins Monday, August 17. Reviews: Aug 21/28 and Sep 4/11. Buffers: Aug 22/29 and Sep 5/12. Sundays are full rest.
Month 1
August 2026
Goal: LinkedIn live, applications daily, Notion + Figma started
Week 1 Aug 17–23
Job Hunt
Update LinkedIn (done). Set up job alerts for "Operations Coordinator remote", "Project Coordinator remote". Send first 5 applications.
LinkedIn Jobs · Remote.co · Indeed
Ops/Notion
Notion databases — how relations and rollups work. Build a simple client tracker for Rue Solutions.
Notion official tutorials + Thomas Frank YouTube
Figma
Install Figma. Frames, groups, constraints. Start Auto Layout — this is the most important skill.
Figma YouTube channel — "Auto Layout Basics"
Rue Solutions client tracker built in Notion
Week 2 Aug 24–30
Job Hunt
3 applications per day. Start writing a reusable cover letter template for ops roles. Set up Upwork profile.
Upwork — "Operations" category
Ops/Notion
Notion formulas — basic to intermediate. Views: table, board, gallery, calendar. Build a tasks database with priorities.
Red Gregory YouTube — Notion formulas
Figma
Components and variants. Main component → instance. Build: button component with 3 states (default, hover, disabled).
DesignCourse YouTube — Figma components
Upwork profile live + button component library started
Week 3 Aug 31–Sep 6
Job Hunt
3 applications per day. Follow up on Week 1–2 applications. First LinkedIn post showing systems knowledge.
Ops/Notion
Notion native automations. Process mapping using FigJam — swimlane diagram. Write your first SOP for Rue Solutions onboarding.
FigJam free · Notion automations docs
Figma
User flows in FigJam. Low-fidelity wireframe of one webpage layout. Apply Auto Layout to everything.
FigJam flow template
1 Rue Solutions SOP written + 1 webpage wireframed
Week 4 Sep 7–13
Job Hunt
3 applications per day. Second LinkedIn post. Reply to any recruiter messages from previous weeks.
Make.com
Start Make.com. What scenarios are. Triggers — webhook, schedule, email. Build your first simple automation.
Make.com Academy — free, official
Figma
Recreate one SaaS interface you admire. Full screen. Practice Auto Layout + components together.
First Make scenario live + SaaS UI recreation in Figma
Month 2
September 2026
Goal: Make.com solid, Figma applied to Lumi, first Upwork client
Week 5–6 Sep 14–27
Job Hunt
3 applications per day. Start bidding on small Upwork projects (Notion setup, operations help). First Upwork proposal sent.
Make.com
Webhooks, HTTP modules, filters, routers. Connect Notion + Tally via Make. Build client intake automation.
Make.com Academy Modules 3–5
Figma
Map 2–3 Lumi user flows. What happens when a user logs in? What's the reflection flow? Make it real.
Framer
Framer CMS collections. Interactions and scroll animations. Start Figma → Framer workflow.
Framer University — free
Client intake automation (Tally→Notion→Make) + 2 Lumi flows
Week 7–8 Sep 28–Oct 11
Job Hunt
Continue applications. Follow up on interviews. First Upwork client response — deliver fast and well.
Ops Package
Build a complete client-ready Operations System: Notion OS + Make automations + SOP template. This is your portfolio piece.
Figma
Full wireframe of one Rue Solutions client website. Use Figma as your design step before Framer.
Framer
Build a Framer site from your Figma wireframe. This is your reusable client website template.
Full Operations System package ready to sell + Framer website template
Month 3
October 2026
Job starts OR more clients. Both tracks running.
If Job Started October
Job
Show up fully. Learn how they operate. Apply everything you know about systems to your role. This is paid education.
Evenings
1–2 hrs max. Apply for Upwork projects. Deliver for first client. Don't burn out.
Weekends
Figma practice (1–2 hrs). Apply to Lumi. No pressure projects.
If No Job Yet October
Job Hunt
Increase to 5 applications per day. Widen search — include EA roles, project coordinator, ops associate. Consider contract roles.
Rue
Push harder on Upwork. First paid client must happen this month. Even $100 is a proof of concept.
Daily Structure
Two versions — one for now (no job), one for when the job starts. Stick to the structure or the learning never happens.
Phase 1: No Job Yet (Now)
Treat every day like a work day. No sleeping in.
8–9AM
Job Hunt Block
Send 3 applications. No exceptions. Write cover letter. Submit. Done. Move on.
Rule: No learning until this is done.
9AM–12PM
Operations Learning
Notion → Make.com → Process mapping. Follow weekly plan. Build something every session, don't just watch tutorials.
Resource: Make Academy, Thomas Frank, Red Gregory
1–3PM
UI/UX Learning — Figma
Auto Layout → Components → User Flows → Wireframes. Apply every session to Lumi or a Rue Solutions project.
Rule: Every Figma session must produce something real.
3–4PM
Framer Practice
Deepen Framer. CMS, animations, client site work. Or: apply Figma wireframe into Framer.
4–5PM
LinkedIn + Rue Solutions
Write or post 2x a week. Reply to messages. Update portfolio. Check Upwork bids.
Evenings
Rest + Writing
AO3, BINI stuff, rest. You need this. Don't guilt-trip yourself for having a life.
Phase 2: Job Active
Job is the priority. Everything else is secondary.
Work Hours
Remote Job — Full Attention
Show up fully. Deliver well. Learn how they operate internally — it teaches you what clients need.
After Work
1–1.5 hrs
Alternating Learning
Day 1: Operations/Make. Day 2: Figma. Day 3: Framer or rest. Don't try to do all three every day.
Weekends
Rue Solutions Work
Client work, Upwork projects, portfolio updates. Max 4–5 hours total per weekend or you'll burn out.
Learning Tracks
Three tracks running in parallel. Ops is primary. Figma is secondary. Framer is maintenance. In that order.
⚙️
Track 1 — Operations & Automation
70% of your time · Months 1–3 · Your revenue engine
01
Notion Advanced
Databases, relations, rollups, formulas, filtered views, native automations. Build your own Rue OS as the practice project.
Thomas Frank Explains · Red Gregory · Notion.so/learn
Week 1–3 · ~3 hrs/day
02
Process Mapping + SOP Writing
Swimlane diagrams in FigJam. Write SOPs using a repeatable template. This is what clients actually pay for — the thinking.
FigJam · Whimsical (free)
Week 3–4 · 2 hrs/day
03
Make.com Core
Scenarios, triggers, webhooks, HTTP modules, filters, routers. Don't learn Zapier simultaneously — Make only.
Make.com Academy — free and official
Week 4–8 · 3 hrs/day
04
Notion + Make Integration
Connect them. Client intake via Tally → Notion → automated welcome email via Make. This is your flagship deliverable.
YouTube: "Make.com Notion integration"
Week 7–8 · Build it, don't just watch it
🎨
Track 2 — UI/UX & Figma
20% of your time · Months 1–6 · For Lumi + websites + future products
01
Figma Fundamentals — Auto Layout
Frames, groups, constraints, Auto Layout. This is the most important Figma skill. Don't move on until it clicks.
Figma YouTube · DesignCourse · Mizko
Week 1–2 · 1–2 hrs/day
02
Components & Variants
Main components, instances, variants for different states. Build a small component library: buttons, inputs, cards, nav.
Figma official tutorials · YouTube
Week 3–4 · 1–2 hrs/day
03
User Flows & Wireframing
Flow diagrams in FigJam. Low-fidelity screen wireframes. Screen states. Apply to Lumi — this is your design school.
FigJam · Figma Community templates
Week 5–6 · Apply to Lumi every session
04
SaaS UI Patterns
Study how real apps are designed. Dashboards, sidebars, modals, empty states. Teardown 3 apps you use every day.
Figma Community · Mobbin.com (free)
Month 2–3 · Weekly study, not daily
05
Variables & Advanced Prototyping
Design tokens, light/dark mode variables, interactive prototypes. Only after steps 1–4 are solid.
Figma official docs · YouTube
Month 4+ only
🌐
Track 3 — Framer & Websites
10% of your time · Existing offer — deepen, don't start over
01
Framer CMS + Interactions
CMS collections for blog/portfolio sites. Scroll and hover interactions. Animations that don't distract.
Framer University — free · Flux Academy
Month 2 · 1 hr/day max
02
Figma → Framer Workflow
Design in Figma. Build in Framer. This is your client delivery process — design first, build second.
Framer docs · YouTube tutorials
Month 2–3
03
Reusable Client Template
Build one Framer website template you can customize per client. This is your efficiency engine — one template, many clients.
Your own work — build it
Month 2–3 · This is a deliverable, not a tutorial
Not Now. Seriously.
React · Next.js · TypeScript · Zapier · Webflow · Flutter · Backend Engineering · Advanced JavaScript. These are not your path right now. Not because they have no value — but because they have zero direct impact on getting you hired or getting Rue Solutions clients in the next 6 months.
DNV Income Path
Every peso documented. Every month tracked. Spain happens when the numbers are held — not just hit once.
Month 1–3 · Aug–Oct 2026
Building
Foundation. Zero income is normal.
  • LinkedIn updated and optimized
  • 3 job applications per day
  • Upwork profile live
  • Wise account active and ready
  • Start saving every invoice and receipt
Job
$0
Rue
$0–300
Total
$0–300
Month 4–6 · Nov 2026–Jan 2027
Growing
Job starts. First clients. Floor established.
  • Remote job income begins — document every payslip
  • First Upwork or direct client payment received
  • All income through Wise — creates traceable foreign income record
  • Invoice every client formally — even small amounts
Job
$800–1,200
Rue
$200–500
Total
$1,000–1,700
Month 7–9 · Feb–Apr 2027
Scaling
First retainer locked. Both tracks growing.
  • First Rue retainer client secured ($300–500/mo)
  • Notion OS cheat sheet used on deliverables
  • DNV document checklist started — what you'll need
  • Revenue Tracker in Notion updated every month
Job
$1,000–1,200
Rue
$500–1,000
Total
$1,500–2,200
Month 10–15 · May–Oct 2027
At Threshold
Hit €2,646/mo. Hold it for 6 months straight.
  • Total income at or above €2,646/month (~$2,900)
  • Six consecutive months of income at threshold
  • DNV document package fully prepared
  • Health insurance arranged (required for DNV)
  • Proof of remote work contracts ready
  • Criminal background check processed
Job
$1,200+
Rue
$1,700+
Total
$2,900+
Month 16–18 · Nov 2027–Jan 2028
Buffer
Finalize time-sensitive documents and protect the Q1 application window.
  • Book and prepare the Q1 2028 Spanish Consulate appointment
  • Obtain time-sensitive clearances and medical certificate at the correct validity window
  • Maintain threshold income while the final package is assembled
Q1 2028 · January–March
Apply
Submit. Wait. Board the plane.
  • Apply at the Spanish Consulate Manila
  • Continue working fully during processing
  • Mid-2028: Return to Europe on your own visa
The Summary
$0 for 3 months is not failure.
A job while building Rue is not settling.
A slow income ramp is not falling behind.
Spain still happens at the end.
🇵🇭 Aug 2026  →  💼 Nov 2026  →  📈 May 2027  →  📄 Q1 2028  →  🇪🇸 Mid-2028
RUE Solutions Master Roadmap · Restarted August 15, 2026
Update this every 3 months. The plan should evolve — you should too.