Ep 24 - A Not-So-Vanilla Year: My Honest 2025 Review

<p>In this first episode of 2026, Roberta Rechena shares an honest and reflective review of her 2025 — a year she initially thought was “a bit vanilla”, but quickly realised was full of lessons, challenges, and meaningful wins.</p><p>Roberta opens up about the quieter side of business, fewer leads, starting a second business with her husband, and navigating a PTSD diagnosis, while also celebrating the many ups: awards, returning clients, personal growth, fitness, networking, and the evolution of the Core Brands podcast.</p><p>She reflects on what 2025 taught her as a business owner, designer, and human, and shares her intention for 2026 — simplification, boldness, and visibility. This episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and acknowledge both the highs and lows of your own year.</p><hr /><h2><b>Takeaways</b></h2><ul><li>A “quiet” year doesn’t mean an unimportant year</li><li>Reflecting helps you see growth you may have forgotten</li><li>Fewer leads doesn’t always mean less meaningful work</li><li>It’s okay to build projects slowly when life is full</li><li>Awareness and support are essential when navigating mental health</li><li>Returning clients are a powerful sign of trust</li><li>Personal growth and business growth are deeply connected</li><li>Simplifying your business can create more clarity for everyone</li><li>Visibility is a choice — and a practice</li><li>Both ups and downs deserve to be acknowledged</li></ul><p></p><h2><b>Sound bites</b></h2><p>“It felt like a vanilla year — until I actually looked at it.”</p><p>“Quiet doesn’t mean unsuccessful.”</p><p>“Simplifying is not removing value, it’s keeping what matters.”</p><hr /><h2><b>Chapters</b></h2><p>00:00 Welcome to 2026 &amp; why this episode was delayed</p><p>03:00 Reflecting on a ‘vanilla’ year</p><p>04:30 The quieter side of business &amp; fewer leads</p><p>07:00 Starting a second business with my husband</p><p>10:30 Mental health, PTSD &amp; transparency</p><p>13:30 Adobe Max, fitness &amp; personal growth</p><p>17:00 Awards, returning clients &amp; proud moments</p><p>21:00 The brand photoshoot that changed everything</p><p>24:30 Networking, podcast growth &amp; six years in business</p><p>28:30 Simplification, boldness &amp; intentions for 2026</p><hr /><h2><b>Stay connected with Roberta:</b></h2><p>Follow on Instagram: ⁠<a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://instagram.com/designbyroberta" target="_blank"><b>@designbyroberta</b></a>⁠ and <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/coreandformdesign" target="_blank"><b>⁠@coreandformdesign</b></a>⁠</p><p>Connect on ⁠LinkedIn⁠: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertarechena/" target="_blank"><b>Roberta Rechena</b></a></p><p>Subscribe to the Core Letters newsletter for updates</p><p>Visit the ⁠<a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://coreandformdesign.com/" target="_blank"><b>Core and Form website⁠</b></a></p><p>Book a <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://hub.coreandformdesign.com/public/appointment-scheduler/67507ecbea2d9b003ab8aa5f/schedule" target="_blank"><b>Free Discovery Call</b></a> if you’re interested in collaborating!</p><hr /><h2><b>Keywords</b></h2><p>year in review, business reflection, entrepreneurship, branding, creative business, personal growth, mental health, podcasting, simplification, visibility, small business journey, 2025 review, 2026 intentions</p>