6. 2025 Recap: First year in business

It’s funny, we often look back on a year and think we haven't done much. But in reality, where we are now is what the version of ourselves 5 years ago dreamed we’d be. That is one of the reasons I find journaling and a reflective practise like this so valuable. Grab your phone and go through your camera roll, reflecting on the year. I have my own personal development practise in this respect but this is the first time I’ve truly applied it to my career. 

‘The days are long but the years are short’

I have reflected on Sole in One’s first year in business using Mel Robbins framework of; Highs, Lows, Learnings, Start, Stop & Continue - and I have subsequently broken down this recap applicably.  

Highs

• A gaggle of “Firsts” - first business, first sale, first fulfilment, first office, first tradeshow, first stock landing. 
• Support from family and friends
• Grants secured = validation 
• IP Secured = protected 
• 3 viral videos 
• Stocked in 20+ shops around Ireland 
• Working remotely in Australia for a month. Freedom. 

Lows

• Teething pains - it feels really really shit to let people down. 
• Rejection and people not believing in you or the idea. Oddly, I have found rejection to be valuable most of the time but as the Smiths said… please please please let me get what I want. 
• Financial pressure - there is always someone to pay - not even this but letting it get the better of me in a couple of instances. 
• Not a low, but staying focused - I have shiny object syndrome

Learnings

• Figuring out what you don’t like or want is as important as learning what it is you do enjoy
• Soooo much business bits (how to do financial accounts, digital marketing, in person sales, road sales, roadmaps, supply chain, influencer marketing, advertising, set up business, register company, file IP, design and fulfil packaging etc. etc. etc.)
• Brand vs Business vs Product - there is a difference
• This journey can be a lonely and isolating place - which can lead to a lot of overthinking… I function best surrounded by people and energy. 

Start

• Giving even less fucks 
• Better habits - wake up earlier 
• Selling… I avoid this everyday. 
• Get more detailed - or get someone who is more detailed so I can focus on the fun bits :)
• Draining 10 footers

Stop

• Doubting myself or second guessing - trust your instinct and go
• People pleasing or playing it scared
• Being paralysed by decisions… this can be as small as what sandwich to order or as big as whether to rebrand the business. 
• Shanking it off the tee. 

Continue

• Focus on the process and learning. Not taking shortcuts - I want to learn and build transferable skills for the future as well. 
• Believing in your pursuit and affording yourself the space to GO FOR IT
• Prioritise my own health, relationships, mentals and growth
• Having fun. Doing it my way. 
• Sucking at golf. 

2026 Goals

• Listed on Amazon
• Secure major retail partner(s)
• Go Global
• Explore Investment Opportunities
• Launch second product (eyes)
• Build SiO team
• 10k followers 
• 100k revenue 
• Collabs

Looking back, 2025 was a wild year and starting this business is one of the proudest things I’ve done. Yet, there is still so much I want to do. It is funny cause there are some days you feel on top of the world and some days you wonder why the hell you’ve put yourself in this situation - betting on a feeling with no guarantees. I have to constantly remind myself why I am doing this and reframe my thinking if I do fall in these mental traps. But I love building stuff - I saw my friend taking minutes and working on a deck recently for their tech job and it made me feel ill. I try to attack everything I do with gratitude, presence and process. After that it’s about finding the balance of delusional belief and letting go… surrendering to the outcome. Fuck it, we ball. 

Let’s Goooooooo