Grow Your Video Business with Ryan Koral 470. My 2025 Reflection: Lessons, Wins, and What's Next
In this special end-of-year episode, I'm getting personal and reflective about 2025 - the wins, the struggles, and what I'm cooking up for next year. If you've been following along this year (or if this is your first episode), grab a coffee and join me for an honest look at what it means to build a sustainable creative business while staying true to yourself.
What You'll Learn- Why I almost walked away from my production business this year (and what changed my mind)
- The power of collaboration over traditional client work (including my successful revenue-share partnerships)
- How being intentional about relationships transformed my business and life
- What's coming in 2026: new book, app launch, and a non-filmmaker mastermind
On Gratitude and Relationships
- Your personal relationships are your business foundation - the mastermind retreat in Austin was a career highlight
- The power of connecting people in your network (it brings more fulfillment than any film project)
- Why surrounding yourself with people who've gone before you is non-negotiable
On Business Evolution
- 2025 was the best year financially since COVID for Tell Studios
- Some relationships cook for a decade before they turn into six-figure projects
- Revenue-share partnerships (like the one with Susan generating $2M+ in sales) can be more profitable than traditional client work
On Content and Platform Building
- Nearly 500 episodes over 10 years - consistency compounds
- The podcast has opened more doors than any marketing campaign ever could
- Sometimes you need fresh audience to revitalize your offers
On Taking Action
- Took multiple swings this year - plenty missed, but the ones that connected were worth it
- Pitching creative collaboration ideas (like YouTube creator partnerships) creates new revenue streams
- Perfectionism will kill your momentum - share the journey, not just the destination
- A Book (Finally!) About the power of your story as a business owner and how to use it as your differentiator. Plus a kids book with an artist!
- New Collaboration Partnerships Following the success of revenue-share models, exploring 2-3 new strategic partnerships
- An App Launch Built in collaboration with former mastermind member Andrew - designed to benefit video business owners
- Non-Filmmaker Mastermind Expanding beyond the filmmaker space to work with entrepreneurs across industries
- Updated Budget Maximizer Brand new spreadsheet, templates, and training to ensure project profitability
- [00:00] Welcome to the show!
- [04:38] Before the GYVB Podcast
- [11:44] When The Podcast Started
- [17:45] Big Milestones In Life
- [21:03] Financial Highlight Since Covid
- [23:04] 2026 Hopes and Goals
- [26:59] Collaboration
- [30:35] Mastermind
- [36:27] Newsletter
- [39:05] Outro
"I've made a lot more mistakes than I have had successes, but I'm still here learning and growing." - Ryan Koral
"People pay me money to facilitate relationships and conversations. It's mind-blowing." - Ryan Koral
"Your word matters. Being a person of integrity means sometimes not announcing things until you're sure - but also learning it's okay to dream out loud." - Ryan Koral
LinksFind out more about the Studio Sherpas Mastermind
Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group
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