The Truth About 2025: My Raw Review of Small Business Reality
Host: Julie Riga | Episode Type: Solo Episode
Overview
This isn't your typical year-in-review episode. Julie Riga gets brutally honest about what 2025 really looked like as a small business owner: the hustle that led nowhere, the rejection that stung, the corporate friends who disappeared, and the Friday nights spent wondering if she should just get a "real job" again. But here's the twist: she's not quitting. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Julie shares the unspoken truth about entrepreneurship, the non-negotiable realities of building a business, and why finding your purpose is worth every frustrating moment. If you're a business owner, leader, or anyone chasing a dream while wondering if you should give up, this episode is your permission to keep going.
The Truth About 2025: My Raw Review of Small Business Reality
What You'll Learn:
Julie pulls back the curtain on her 2025: months of hustling with no results, feeling stuck, battling frustration and depression, and watching corporate connections fade away. This is the messy middle nobody talks about. But it's also a powerful reminder that transformation doesn't come from comfort zones, and legacy isn't built by quitting when things get hard.
Key Topics:
The Three Non-Negotiables of Small Business Success:
- Community Over Isolation - Why doing it alone guarantees you'll quit
- Sales as Your Lifeline - 80% of your first two years is selling (no sugarcoating)
- The Pivot-Fast Mindset - Learn what doesn't work and change it immediately
The Reality Check:
- Why 2025 felt harder than previous years
- Getting real about depression, frustration, and wanting to quit every Friday
- The corporate friends who disappeared and the strangers who stepped up
- What keeps Julie going despite the brutal journey
Memorable Quotes:
"2025 kicked my butt. If it didn't kick your butt, let me know in the chat."
"If you're not willing to say that 80% of my time in the very beginning is gonna be devoted to selling, just go get a job."
"Complete strangers will help me first than some of the people I worked very closely with."
"I am a catalyst for you to reach your next level of success."
Key Takeaways:
- Don't do it alone - Community is essential
- Embrace sales reality or get a job
- Pivot fast, learn faster
- Never get comfortable with your pipeline
- Take care of yourself through the brutal journey
- Remember why you started
About Julie Riga:
Julie specializes in helping leaders and business owners dig deep to understand their true purpose, facilitate that purpose in their lives, and break through to their next level of success with clarity and confidence.
Services: One-on-One Coaching | Leadership Programs | Training Programs | Brand Building
Ready for transformation? Schedule a call with Julie and start facilitating your purpose.
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