2025 Year in Review
It’s been a few years, but I’m back with Year in Reviews. I started this back in 2021 and wanted to revive it. These reviews focus on the work I do outside of my day job, as well as some aspects of my personal life.
Previous Reviews
What happened in 2025
Work
Startup.
I shut down the startup that we spent 2 years finding product-market fit. My cofounder and I realized that, despite havingcan some traction and revenue, it wasn't a venture-scale opportunity.
Buying a business.
After shutting down the startup, I seriously explored buying a business and went deep into the ETA space. I jumped in and figured it out as I went. At one point, I was looking at 100+ deals per week, narrowing those down to 5 qualified deals to meet with sellers, and out of those 5, maybe 1 made sense for an LOI. I put out 5 offers total. Every seller told me I was their favorite buyer and believed I could take good care of their business. But money talks, and in early 2025, there was a bubble in the ETA space. I wasn't going to overpay for a business doing under $1M EBITDA. Those businesses all sold to the highest bidder. God had other plans, which led me back to Austin. I think I'll buy a business at some point.
Process Improvement Consulting.
While searching for a business to buy, I spent my free time consulting business owners on improving their operational processes.
Amazon.
I eventually took a job at Amazon, where I work with business owners to help them grow.
Sergio’s Collection
7% YoY revenue growth. 2025
45.2% YoY revenue growth. 2024
79.1% YoY revenue growth. 2023
2025 was the first year I took any real profits out of the business. Never would I have imagined this would grow into a permanent thing. I spend about 3-4 hours per week on it now, managing finances and planning, while all inventory, fulfillment, customer service, and operations are handled by my brother and sister-in-law. They are the real MVPs. Bringing them on in 2024 is one of the best decisions I've made for this business. Revenue has stabilized, and I'm content keeping this as a side thing.
Angel Investments
0. Hasn't been a focus for the last few years, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
Personal.
Mentorship. A few years ago, I tried to pull back on how much time I spent mentoring others, but I believe it's something I'm naturally called to do. I spent a lot of free time helping people navigate their careers and find new jobs, and mentored business owners through my consulting. I want to do more of this in 2026, and one day I'd love to do this full-time.
Volunteering. My board position with the Dream Come True Foundation came to an end, my first nonprofit board. Towards the end of 2024, I was elected to the Board of the Association of Former Yell Leaders. After moving back to Austin, I committed to giving back more, saying yes to more volunteer opportunities that came my way. I'm grateful that I get to use the gifts God has given me to serve others.
Back to Austin. In April, I moved back to Austin from Fort Worth. Should have done it sooner.
Travel. Minneapolis, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and San Francisco domestically. One international trip to Johannesburg, South Africa.
Fitness. My goal for the year was to get back into top shape. Mile time under 6:30, 400 meters under 60 seconds. When I started back up, I was running 300s in 70 seconds. By year's end, I hit both goals: 400 in 59 seconds, mile in 6:05. I've since progressed further, and I'm excited about where 2026 takes me.
Sleep. I've averaged 7 hours per night for several years now. I'm at where I need to be, but the consistency isn't there; some nights, 5 hours, others 9.
Relationships. 2025 was a challenging year in a lot of ways, but this takes the cake. I entered the year engaged to someone I thought I'd spend the rest of my life with and ended the year single. Everything happens for a reason.
God's plan is better than any plan I could come up with, and I'm excited for what 2026 has in store.
Lookback
Will return with this section next year.
Plans for 2026
Rest. The last few years have been a lot. Take time to rest, recharge, and enjoy life.
Faith. Daily Bible study on Ecclesiastes. One chapter per month, going deep into the Word.
Business. Grow profitably. Turn Sergio's Collection into a holding company, where I can experiment with different opportunities with the existing profits.
Mentorship. Find new ways to scale this without scaling the hours I spend mentoring.
Volunteering. Don't join any new boards, but say yes to more volunteer opportunities.
Travel. Reach 20+ states visited. Currently at 18.
Sleep. Consistent bedtime and wake times every day.
Fitness. Setting the bar high as I turn 33 this year: Mile time sub 5:15, 400 meters sub 55 seconds.
Until next time.
✌🏾
Shaq