My 2025 Business Wrapped
An honest reflection on building a small business alongside a full‑time job, protecting mental health, and learning that slow growth still counts.
I’m a bit late to the Wrapped trend this year, mostly because, well… life. But taking the time to sit down and reflect has actually been really grounding.
If I’m being honest, I’m not exactly where I thought I’d be this time last year. And for a while, that made me feel like I hadn’t done enough.
But looking back properly, I can see that I have made progress. It hasn’t been fast or flashy, and it definitely hasn’t been linear, but it’s real, and it’s moving in the right direction. :)
A year of foundations
This year taught me something important:
The work that fits my energy is the work that grows.
2025 wasn’t about overnight success. It was about laying foundations and slowly figuring out what actually works for me, not just what looks good online.
I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that building a sustainable business takes time. And it takes even longer when you’re doing it alongside a full‑time, draining corporate job.
What I worked on this year
Behind the scenes, I:
Defined my freelance marketing services and experimented with what felt right (and what didn’t)
Took on a handful of small projects
Invested in professional headshots
Kept showing up, even when there weren’t instant results
Started learning how to build without burning myself out
That last one was a big lesson. I pushed myself hard this year, and by the end of it I was close to burnout. It’s been a wake‑up call that I can’t keep doing all the things while working full time and expect to stay mentally healthy.
Something has to give.
What I created
Despite everything else going on, I still created:
4 Skillshare courses
1 Skillshare Staff Pick (a goal I actually met!)
5 free marketing resources
Seeing that written down honestly surprised me. It’s so easy to minimise progress when you’re living it day by day.
The quiet growth
My students grew from 2,500 → 4,000+ (around a 60% increase)
Minutes watched for my courses increased from 70k → 105k+ (around 50% growth)
My website traffic grew by 247% year‑on‑year due to consistent, strategic blogging
My email list went from 0 → 70+ subscribers, completely from scratch, due to my free marketing resources.
None of this felt dramatic at the time. But together, it tells a story of steady momentum, and shows my strategies are working!
The impact (and why I keep going)
The most meaningful part of this year hasn’t been the numbers - it’s been the messages.
Hearing from people who felt encouraged, less alone, or more confident because of something I created has meant more than I can properly explain.
One message in particular reminded me why I started this in the first place:
“I was feeling quite defeated last night, but your classes were exactly what I needed to hear. Finding a new wave of courage through your work to go again.”
On the days I questioned whether this was worth it, messages like that stopped me from quitting.
The reality behind the scenes
This business this year was built alongside:
A full‑time corporate job
A house move
Declining mental health at points
Supporting friends through some really tough times
So this isn’t a big, flashy business wrapped. But it is a real one.
And I’m genuinely proud of what I’ve built within those constraints.
Looking ahead to 2026
There were moments this year where I seriously thought about giving up. But looking at the progress I’ve made, and the people I’ve helped, has given me the motivation to keep going.
In 2026, my focus is simple:
Streamline what I work on
Double down on what’s already working
Let go of unrealistic expectations
Build in a way that protects my mental health
I want to see where this can go, and I’m not ready to stop.
If you’re building something slowly too, this is your reminder to keep going. Be patient with yourself. Progress doesn’t always shout.
Success often shows up right when you’re on the verge of giving up.
Thank you
Finally, a huge thank you to everyone who has:
Taken one of my courses
Left a review
Sent a message
Engaged with my content
Downloaded a resource
Supported me quietly from the sidelines
It truly means more than you’ll ever know.
Here’s to 2026 🥂
Louise x
Want to explore my work?
If you’re building something of your own - especially alongside a busy job or limited energy - you might find these helpful:
🎓 My Skillshare classes on SEO, storytelling, and building a sustainable marketing strategy
✉️ My email list, where I share quieter, more realistic reflections on building a creative business
