---
aliases: ["April 2024"]
Is A: Month
Created at: "2024-04-28"
Belongs to: "[[24q2]]"
Rating: "😄"
---
# April 2024

## Focus

- Kick off [[24q2-hire-editor]] search — post the role, screen candidates, run test edits
- Start [[24q2-10-pillar-articles]] strategy — identify topics, outline first 3 articles
- Begin building [[24q2-sponsor-crm]] in Notion

## Highlights

- Posted the freelance editor role on LinkedIn and two newsletter job boards — received 45 applications in two weeks
- Shortlisted 5 editor candidates and ran paid test edits on a sample newsletter issue — two stood out clearly
- Outlined the first 3 [[24q2-10-pillar-articles]]: "Staff Engineer vs. Manager," "How to Prioritize Technical Debt," and "The 1:1 Framework That Actually Works"
- Started building [[24q2-sponsor-crm]] in Notion — pipeline view, deal stages, revenue tracking
- [[person-paco-furiani]] took over invoicing — freed up ~3 hours/month of admin work
- Newsletter at 38.5k subscribers — steady growth, no spikes
- Cycling: ramping up volume — 480 km this month, including a 120 km long ride in Tuscany

## Reflections

A transitional month. Not flashy, but the groundwork being laid is important. The editor hire is going to be transformative if I get it right — spending Sunday evenings editing is my least favorite part of the workflow. The test edits revealed that most applicants can fix grammar but few can preserve voice. The two finalists both "got" the Refactoring tone, which is rare.

The pillar articles strategy feels right. Instead of grinding out a new topic every week, investing in fewer, deeper pieces that can rank on search and compound over time. It's a bet on long-term value over short-term output. [[person-paco-furiani]] quietly picking up the invoicing was a small moment that mattered more than it looked — the team is starting to function as a team, not just a collection of helpers.
