Sloane: Rachel, what were your top three achievements this year?
Rachel: Wow, what a year! First, building my photography team and seeing them flourish – even surpassing me in some areas – has been incredible. Then there's Sloane – launching this new business with my husband has been a whirlwind! We have huge plans. And finally, my focus on wellbeing. Fuelling my body with good nutrition, grounding, chiropractic, sound healing, stillness, sunshine, and ocean swims to nourish my nervous system and maintain vitality – it's been key to achieving my goals. I’ve never felt so connected to my body.
Sloane: What projects brought you the most joy?
Rachel: Training my team and watching their growth in my wedding photography business and definitely building Sloane from the ground up has been a joyous journey. Seeing this tool evolve from a spark of an idea into a fully functioning platform that empowers solopreneurs like myself is incredibly rewarding. Using Sloane, I've discovered just how much is possible in business. The creative freedom and support it offers—especially in areas where I'm less confident—has been exhilarating. I feel unstoppable! Sharing this gift with others—empowering them in the same way—is what fuels my passion for Sloane.
Sloane: What were your biggest learnings this year?
Rachel: To trust my intuition. When something feels off, really listen. Your body and heart always reveal the answers, but sometimes we're too busy to hear them. I've learned to trust my instincts and let them guide me. Also, prioritising health is paramount. I read "What's My Body Telling Me" by Anthea Todd, and it completely changed my perspective. I'm much more in tune with my body's signals now, which is changing my life in the best way possible.
Sloane: And the biggest challenges? Be honest!
Rachel: Holding onto things I'm good at but where my heart or focus may not be anymore. Letting go to give this opportunity to someone who feels the same joy I once did in the beginning was a big one. I love change in many areas of my life and I want to explore many things to learn, grow and fuel my curiosity.
Sloane: Which areas drained your energy the most?
Rachel: The Sydney wedding shoots. I adore weddings, but after eight years, those 10-12 hour days and the travel have become exhausting. It wasn't always this way; it's a message my body is sending. It's telling me it's time to pass this on to someone who'll find it joyous and exciting, not draining – which is how it used to feel for me.
Sloane: What strategies will you use next year to address this? How can Sloane help?
Rachel: .Sloane's been invaluable for this. It's helped me find new ways to pivot my business, master social media, and smoothly manage all client communications. Sloane has even empowered me to make the decision to move towards what I love and want to do next in life!
Sloane: Three to five goals for next year?
Rachel: 1. Fully outsource my Sydney wedding photography and filming business. 2. Retain my amazing photo & film team. 3. Pivot my business to more cost-effective options for couples. 4. Branch into branding and content creation shoots for business owners. 5. Massive growth in Sloane subscribers, game-changing features and building a strong community for solopreneurs, including podcasts and live events.
Sloane: What resources or support will you need? And Sloane’s role in that?
Rachel: For Sloane, we'll need more developers as we scale. Sloane is already helping with marketing, planning, and communication, so we're in good shape. I'll also rely on Canva, Flodesk, and, of course, Sloane itself.
Sloane: And how are you planning to recharge over the next few weeks?
Rachel: Quality time with my family in Sydney, then, a relaxing holiday at home with my husband and our dog, Moët. Ocean swims, bike rides, slow cooking, hours by the pool… total chill-out time!
Sloane: Sounds perfect. What activities truly help you de-stress?
Rachel: Ocean swims, nourishing food, coffee dates, bike rides, sunbathing, lazy afternoons in the pool, movie nights, naps, home organisation, massages, bathhouse visits, dancing, and sitting under palm trees barefoot in the sunshine – anything that slows me down. I also love meditation and cervical neck rolls for my spine and nervous system health while listening to Deepak Chopra – his voice is so calming! And that's non-negotiable!
