3 lessons from my hardest year in business (and what’s next)

In this solo episode, Mariana reflects on the biggest lessons from 2025 after opening a studio, navigating major health challenges, and rethinking how she runs her workshop business and the Crafts Workshop Academy. She shares three shifts: build for sustainability (not intensity), choose clarity over endless ideas, and remember that workshops are a community business. Plus, a glimpse into 2026: travel, collaboration, hiring support, and expanding Field Notes. What we cover in this episode ✎ a quick recap of 2025: opening a studio, health challenges, and the reality check that followed ✎ lesson 1: stop building for intensity and build for sustainability ✎ protecting your energy as a real business asset ✎ the peru reset: what shifted after time offline and away from the noise ✎ lesson 2: clarity is more valuable than ideas ✎ the shadow side of always seeing how things could be better (and how it affects satisfaction) ✎ lesson 3: a workshop business is a community business ✎ why people don’t just buy a craft, they buy a feeling ✎ what to expect in 2026: systems, hiring, collaboration, and travel starting July ✎ Field Notes: the vision for documenting and analyzing workshops around the world ✎ a life-first reflection: what do you actually want your life to look and feel like? Mentioned in this episode ✎ a related episode on the “two lanes” of workshop businesses (community-first vs experience-first) [episode like here]✎ sign-up to the Crafts Workshops Academy [in this link] Resources for your workshop business 📌 Free Guide: How to Start Your Own Workshop Business [link here] Stay connected with Mariana 🌎 Website: craftymariana.com 📷 Instagram: @craftymariana🎨 Facebook Community: Crafting Workshops Community 📩 Exclusive content, resources, and deals: craftymariana.com/newsletter Let’s make this interactive Have questions or topics you want covered in future episodes? DM me on Instagram or email [email protected]  If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review or share it with a workshop friend. And if something landed for you, send me a message with your biggest takeaway :)