161: 2025 Reflection, it wasn't as bad as we thought

Shaun and Rebecca are back to wrap up 2025 with their annual year-in-review tradition—and it turns out, it wasn’t all bad! In this episode, they share a candid look at the highs, lows, and the messy middle of running their interior design businesses this year. From surviving slowdowns and personal challenges to celebrating wins like tightened brand messaging and more aligned client projects, they prove that progress isn’t always loud, flashy, or Instagram-worthy.

They revisit the goals they set at the beginning of the year (in Episode 138) and dig into what worked, what didn’t, and why sometimes just holding steady is a success worth celebrating. Whether you’re a seasoned designer or new to the business, this episode offers inspiration and validation that your growth is happening—even if it’s slower than you expected.

In this episode they discuss:

• Why looking back—even when you don’t feel like it—is essential to growth
• How Shaun’s business remained resilient during a personally challenging year
• Rebecca’s experience finally finding the right bookkeeper and getting her finances dialed
• Their evolving relationships with designer on-call services and how to better qualify leads
• Why having fresh portfolio photography changed Rebecca’s marketing game
• How Shaun refined his brand voice and simplified his services for more aligned clients
• The value of investing in professional development through retreats and workshops
• The systems and automations they put in place to support bigger goals in 2026

Mentioned:

• Episode 138: What's out for 2025 - 6 goals for our businesses

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