Jessica Hawks – Digital Creatives Academy

Jessica Hawks – Digital Creatives Academy

Digital Creatives Academy Review: How I Quit My Toxic 9-5 in 4 Months

I still remember that Monday morning when I lost it. Like, really lost it. Sitting in my car in the parking garage, hands shaking, literally sobbing before another day at my corporate marketing job. I was making $67K a year but feeling like the walking dead. My boss had just texted me at 11pm Sunday night asking for “quick edits” to a presentation due Monday morning. The fifth weekend in a row she’d done this.

I’d tried EVERYTHING to escape: applied to other jobs (got rejected or offered LESS money), started a sad little Etsy shop that made $215 in 6 months, even looked into teaching English overseas. Nothing was working. I was 32, drowning in student loans, and starting to think maybe this soul-crushing existence was just… life?

That’s when I stumbled onto Jessica Hawks on TikTok. I was initially super skeptical of her whole “leave your 9-5 and build an online business” thing. Like, yeah right, another privileged person telling us wage slaves how easy it is. 🙄 But something about her no-BS approach made me keep watching.

Four months after joining her Digital Creatives Academy, I handed in my resignation letter. No trust fund. No rich husband. No BS. Just me, implementing what she taught, step by messy step.

This isn’t one of those “I made $50K in my first month!” fake reviews. The reality was messier, harder, and ultimately way more sustainable. Here’s my unfiltered experience with DCA, including what worked, what didn’t, and whether it’s actually worth the investment…

 

Who is Jessica Hawks (and is she legit)?

Before dropping cash on her course, I did some hardcore stalking. Jessica didn’t start as some trust fund baby – she was a corporate employee who built her online business as a virtual assistant and eventually scaled into a 7-figure business coach.

What made me trust her more than other online coaches was that she’s refreshingly upfront about the behind-the-scenes of her business. She regularly shows her actual business financials and client results rather than just lifestyle photos on a beach somewhere.

I spent a solid week before buying DCA watching literally EVERY piece of free content Jessica put out. Her podcast interviews, YouTube videos, TikToks – everything. What convinced me was how many times she said things that went AGAINST typical “guru” advice. She’d actually say stuff like “not everyone is meant to be an entrepreneur” and “this isn’t going to work overnight.” When someone’s willing to be that honest instead of just saying what sells, it makes you trust them way more.

What’s Actually Inside Digital Creatives Academy?

The course is organized into six modules that build on each other. I’ll break down each one with my unfiltered thoughts:

Module 1: Skillset, Niche & Business Positioning

This module helps you figure out what services to offer based on your natural skills and interests. I was honestly dreading this part because I felt like I had zero marketable skills (thanks, imposter syndrome). But Jessica’s skill assessment worksheet was eye-opening.

I realized my “useless” corporate skills in PowerPoint, project management, and content writing were actually in high demand. The market research framework helped me understand what small business owners were ACTUALLY struggling with versus what I assumed they needed.

The most helpful part was the niche selection process. I was terrified of “niching down” because I thought it would limit opportunities. Jessica showed exactly why the opposite is true, and helped me focus on the wedding industry, which I was already interested in.

What felt missing: More examples of unique service combinations. Most examples were standard services like social media management or virtual assistance.

Module 2: Business Foundations

This module covers the boring-but-necessary stuff: legal structure, taxes, client contracts, and pricing. I almost skipped ahead because it seemed so dry, but I’m glad I didn’t.

The pricing framework completely changed my perspective. I was planning to charge $20/hour because I had no experience (lol), but Jessica explained why that would be a disaster for both me AND my clients. Her pricing formula helped me set rates that started at $35/hour equivalent, which felt terrifying but turned out to be on the LOW end for my industry.

The contract templates alone saved me hundreds in legal fees, and the business structure decision tree made what seemed like a complicated choice super simple.

What could’ve been better: The section on taxes was a bit US-centric. As someone in Canada, I had to do additional research for my situation.

Module 3: Brand Identity & Socials Setup

This is where things got real. Jessica walks through setting up your Instagram business account, creating simple branding, and building a basic website.

I was intimidated by the branding part because I’m NOT a designer, but the DIY branding tutorial was actually doable. I created a simple but clean brand identity using Canva in one afternoon, following her exact process.

The Instagram optimization lesson resulted in immediate improvements. I went from 0 to 17 profile visits just by implementing her bio formula – before I even posted any content!

The website walkthrough was helpful too, especially because she shows how to create one that actually CONVERTS visitors into client inquiries, not just looks pretty.

What I struggled with: The amount of technical work felt overwhelming at first. I had to take this module in small chunks over a week rather than trying to do it all at once.

Module 4: Creating Converting Content

This was the module I was most nervous about. I’m naturally private and the thought of putting myself out there on social media made me want to vomit. But Jessica breaks it down in a way that feels doable even for introverts.

Her content pillar framework transformed how I thought about social media. Instead of posting random things hoping something would work, I had a strategic approach. The caption formula was pure gold – my engagement immediately improved once I started using it.

The content planning Notion template saved me HOURS each week. Instead of staring at my phone wondering what to post, I had a system that took maybe 2 hours each month to plan everything out.

What I didn’t expect: How much Jessica emphasizes that you don’t need to post every day or create highly produced content. Her approach is much more sustainable than what other business coaches teach.

Module 5: Sales Strategy & Finding Clients

This module was a game-changer. Jessica teaches a relationship-based approach to finding clients that doesn’t feel sleazy or desperate.

The engagement strategy completely changed how I used Instagram. Instead of just scrolling mindlessly, I had a specific process for connecting with potential clients that led to my first inquiry within 2 weeks of implementing it.

What surprised me most was how much she emphasizes providing value BEFORE trying to sell anything. This approach felt so much more natural than the “cold DM 50 people a day” advice I’d seen elsewhere.

My favorite part: The script for moving conversations from casual Instagram DMs to an actual sales call without being awkward or pushy.

Module 6: Booking & Onboarding Clients

The final module covers sales calls, client onboarding, and day-to-day client management. The sales call script and objection handling guide were invaluable for someone like me who gets nervous talking about money.

The client onboarding workflow helped me look professional from day one. My first client actually commented on how organized and professional my process was (if only they knew I was literally following Jessica’s template step by step from my bedroom, lol).

The client management Notion template was a lifesaver for keeping track of multiple projects once I started booking more clients.

What I appreciated most: The guest expert training on client experience that went beyond the basics and showed how to truly delight clients so they become repeat customers and refer others.

The Bonuses (Actually Useful or Just Fluff?)

Jessica includes several bonus trainings and resources with DCA. Some were incredibly valuable, others I barely used:

  • Canva Training: Super helpful for a non-designer like me. I use these skills daily for both my own business and client work.
  • Time Management for Side Hustlers: Practical systems for balancing a 9-5 job with your growing business. This was crucial during my transition period.
  • Showit Tutorial: I haven’t used this yet since I’m starting with a simpler website platform, but it seems comprehensive.
  • Facebook Community: Honestly kind of hit or miss. Some great connections but also a lot of beginner questions that get repetitive. Jessica does pop in regularly which is nice.

My Results After Implementing DCA (With Timeline)

Month-by-Month Breakdown

  • Month 1 (April): Set up business foundations, created Instagram profile and website, began posting content
  • Month 2 (May): Booked first client ($450 project for wedding planner), continued content creation
  • Month 3 (June): Added two more clients ($650 and $550 projects), started getting inquiries from Instagram
  • Month 4 (July): Reached $2,800 in booked projects, gave notice at my corporate job
  • Month 5 (August): First month full-time in my business, hit $3,700 in revenue
  • Month 6 (September): Expanded to $4,200, added a $1,200/month retainer client

Key stats after 6 months:

  • Instagram Growth: From 0 to 1,240 followers (not huge, but highly engaged)
  • Client Conversion Rate: About 70% of discovery calls convert to paying clients
  • Average Project Value: Increased from $450 to $1,100
  • Monthly Revenue: Consistently above $4,000 (still growing but already matching my take-home corporate salary)

It definitely wasn’t overnight success. Month 1 was just setup with zero income. Month 2 had ONE client that I was stupidly excited about. But the momentum built steadily, and by month 4, I felt confident enough to quit my job.

Life Before DCA

  • Dreaded Sunday nights/Monday mornings
  • Constant anxiety about pleasing my boss
  • Missed family events due to work “emergencies”
  • Fixed income with minimal growth potential
  • Exhausted and uninspired most days
  • PTO requests denied or questioned

Life After DCA

  • Work when I’m most productive (9pm-1am for me!)
  • Took my first 2-week vacation in YEARS
  • Income that grows with my skills and effort
  • Energy to actually enjoy my free time
  • No more panic attacks in the office bathroom
  • Work I genuinely enjoy with clients I chose

What Worked Best For Me

Not everything in DCA was equally impactful for my specific situation. Here’s what moved the needle most:

  • The Engagement Strategy: Jessica’s specific approach to engaging with potential clients on Instagram led directly to my first three clients.
  • Pricing Framework: This helped me charge appropriately from the beginning instead of undervaluing my work.
  • Content Pillars: Having a clear content strategy meant I never ran out of things to post about, which was a huge fear of mine.
  • Notion Templates: These saved me countless hours and helped me appear super professional from day one.

What Didn’t Work As Well

In the spirit of total honesty, these aspects weren’t as helpful for my situation:

  • Cold Pitching Methods: While Jessica does cover other client-attraction methods, I personally found that the Instagram strategy worked so well that I didn’t need to cold pitch much.
  • Facebook Group Networking: This just didn’t yield results for me, though others in the program seemed to have success with it.

Is It Actually Worth the Investment?

What’s Great

  • Step-by-step process that doesn’t leave you guessing what to do next
  • Focus on sustainable client attraction vs. quick hacks
  • Templates and scripts that save hundreds of hours
  • No fluff or unnecessary theory – all actionable content
  • Jessica’s honesty about the work involved (no get-rich-quick promises)
  • Regular updates to keep content current (Instagram stuff was recently updated)

What Could Be Better

  • More examples from diverse niches (many examples are from typical creative fields)
  • International business considerations (mostly US-focused)
  • More advanced scaling strategies for when you’ve maxed out client capacity
  • The Facebook community moderation is somewhat inconsistent
  • Limited coverage of Pinterest and YouTube (focuses heavily on Instagram)

What Makes This Course Different

I’ve tried other business courses before (waste of money, honestly), and what sets DCA apart is how practical and step-by-step it is. There’s no theoretical fluff – every lesson leads to a specific action that builds your business.

Jessica also doesn’t sugar-coat the work involved. She’s clear that this isn’t passive income or an overnight success story, but a real business that requires consistent effort.

The other key difference is the focus on client relationships over flashy marketing tactics. This approach felt so much more sustainable and aligned with how I wanted to run my business.

Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Join DCA?

Based on my experience, this course is perfect for:

  • Corporate employees who want to transition to freelancing or online business
  • People with transferable skills who aren’t sure how to package them for clients
  • Anyone who wants a step-by-step roadmap rather than figuring it out alone
  • Side hustlers ready to take their business more seriously
  • People willing to consistently implement, even when results aren’t immediate

This course is probably NOT right for:

  • Anyone looking for passive income or get-rich-quick schemes
  • People unwilling to put themselves out there on social media at all
  • Those who need extensive 1:1 coaching (this is primarily self-paced)
  • Anyone wanting to build a product-based business (it’s focused on services)
  • People who aren’t willing to start small and build gradually

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Digital Creatives Academy cost?

When I joined in April 2023, DCA was $997 (or 3 payments of $397). Honestly, I had to put it on a credit card because I was so broke from holiday expenses, which is NOT ideal. But I made that money back within the first two months of implementing the strategies. I believe the price has increased since then as Jessica has added more content and updated the course.

How much time does it take to implement?

I was working full-time when I started, so I dedicated about 10 hours per week to implementation. The first month was the most time-intensive as I was setting everything up (about 15 hours/week). After that, it became more manageable. I think the minimum to see results would be at least 5-7 hours per week of consistent effort. If you can’t commit to that, you might want to wait until you have more bandwidth.

Do I need to already have a business idea?

Not necessarily. I had a vague notion that I wanted to do “something with content creation,” but no clear business model. The first module helps you narrow down your skillset and choose service offerings that make sense for you. That said, it works best if you have SOME idea of the general direction you want to go in.

Is this only for creative fields?

While many examples in the course focus on creative services (design, writing, social media, etc.), the principles apply to virtually any service-based business. I’ve seen students in the Facebook group who offer bookkeeping, tech support, legal services, and more. The client attraction and business foundation principles are universal.

The Bottom Line: Is DCA Worth It?

So here’s my honest take after 6+ months: Digital Creatives Academy completely changed the trajectory of my life, but it wasn’t magic or overnight success.

DCA gave me exactly what I needed – a clear roadmap to follow when I was completely overwhelmed with where to start. Following Jessica’s frameworks allowed me to build a business that replaced my corporate income within 4 months and gave me back control of my time and life.

Was it easy? Hell no. I worked evenings and weekends for months. I felt like an impostor constantly. I had moments of panic wondering if I was making a huge mistake. But having a proven path to follow made all the difference between actually succeeding and just dreaming about it forever.

The most valuable shift wasn’t even the practical business skills – it was the mindset change from “employee” to “business owner.” That alone has opened up possibilities I never would have considered in my corporate job.

My final rating: 9.1/10

I knocked off points for the areas that could use more depth (international considerations, diverse niches, advanced scaling), but the core content that helps you go from zero to replacing your income is absolutely solid. If you’re at the point I was – desperate to escape the corporate grind but stuck in analysis paralysis – this could be the structure and guidance you need.

“Your corporate skills are valuable outside the corporate world. You just need to learn how to package and sell them differently.” This quote from Module 1 literally changed how I saw myself and my potential. I’d been so focused on what I COULDN’T do that I completely missed how valuable my existing skills actually were.

 

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Also, See: Monica Froese – The Digital Shop Experience

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