In life, and in fashion, we often chase the after shot, the polished version of ourselves that looks effortless, even though behind the scenes is filled with mood boards and unrealistic goals.
15 November 2025
This year reminded me that real success is not filtered or finished; it is raw, awkward, and stitched together by persistence. The photos might not show it, but this was the year I found that, amongst many anxieties, I can be an achiever.
Written By Precella Ishac
In a 2017 article by Vogue Magazine, writer Elena Shepard refers to this exact feeling as, mutual, although you might not see it, everyone is in the same boat.
“Every single person agonizes and feels vulnerable and weird. Every. Single. Person,” she says.
For me, there were no dramatic wins until I really thought about it. Saying to myself, there was never an ‘I made it’ moment in times I was feeling down, but maybe small wins I could label as successes. Goals? Perhaps not. Instead, the exact path God or whoever you may believe in set you upon.
According to an article by Synergita, 80% of individuals perform better with specific, challenging goals compared to those with vague or no goals. But is this even true?
This year, I set no goals, but I did know some things I wanted in my life. I wanted my business to sell more items and grow in new followers. But I never set a goal, often joking about reaching 10,000 followers, yet I took any followers I gained as a win. Now, coming to the eleventh month of the year, I am 10 followers away from 4000 followers.
This may not feel like a success, but it was.
Challenging yourself can be a whole new game, especially when you work in fashion. A career that is oversaturated and has a very toxic work and social environment. It is the path NO ONE wants you to take, and when you do take it, you slowly learn why it is not for the weal. But when you do slowly succeed, the surprise is how many people actually begin to root for you, and that is the real win.
When Australian Fashion Week in Sydney came in May 2025, I was always interested in it, but thought it was something either in my distant future. As the eventful week progressed, I was attending my university tutorial and received a notification on my phone from Instagram. I was tagged by a customer from my brand, VisuelStudios, who happened to be an influencer attending Fashion Week and wearing a bag she purchased from a collection I dropped at one of the many shows on that day. I was unable to participate in Fashion Week, despite it being a long-held dream of mine. However, having someone wear my bag to a show has fulfilled and boosted my confidence in ways I now believe I was meant to be doing fashion.
This may not feel like a success, but it was indeed one.
An article by The Medium describes the ‘small things’ as small wins, often alluding to the incremental steps forward that may seem insignificant at the moment, but over time, they are monumental.
“We often believe that major transformations in life come from huge, dramatic shifts, a sudden change in direction, a life-altering decision, or an overwhelming burst of motivation. But what if I told you that it's not the big changes, but the small, consistent actions, that truly drive lasting success,” it says.
Visuel Studios First Sourcing Trip in Tokyo, Japan. Image by Patricia Ishac
This year, I completed my university degree, traveled overseas, my brand featured in fashion week, and I further developed my small business. Amidst all that, I feel a sense of validation and freedom within myself after reflecting on what I really achieved this year. For many, these might not be huge achievements, but who really cares what people think, and I am young; there is plenty of time to be an overachiever.