Two months ago, there I was, sipping a glass of wine and attempting to pull my 10-year-old daughter’s attention away from her iPad. It felt like talking to a wall—the wall being a screen full of Minecraft or whatever the kids are glued to these days. And just like that, an idea popped into my head.
“Alright, I’ll make you a deal…” I said, thinking I was oh-so-clever. “If you can go 31 days without your iPad, I’ll let you get a pet gecko.”
Now, for some context here: my husband and daughter have this annual ritual of going to Repticon, a trade show here in Charleston for reptile enthusiasts. It’s got everything from lizards to frogs to the dreaded snakes, which is why it’s a father-daughter affair (I’m not about that snake life). So, her eyes widened, and she asked, “Are you serious?!” And here’s where I thought I had it all in the bag. I was convinced this screen-loving kid wasn’t going to last two days, much less 31.
“Yes, but the second you use it, the clock resets. You’ve got to make it 31 consecutive days,” I said, smugly. Her response? “Challenge accepted.” She tossed that iPad aside and declared she’d start the very next day.
Lesson 1: Dream Big, and Don’t Let ‘No’ Stop You
So, here’s the thing about my daughter and this gecko obsession. She’d been dropping hints about a pet gecko for ages, and my answer was always a hard “Nope.” But she kept asking, kept dreaming, and here she was with an opportunity to make it happen. Sound familiar? As business owners, we’ve all had that one big idea that keeps coming back, whispering, “Take the leap.” Maybe it’s launching a new product or diving into a bold marketing campaign, but the point is, if you want it, you’ve got to go for it, and sometimes, you’ve got to take a big, scary leap.
Lesson 2: Map Your Journey, Put in the Work, and Own Every Step
On Day One, my daughter didn’t just set her gecko goal—she mapped out the journey to make it happen. She grabbed 31 sticky notes, one for each day, and lined them up on her door, creating a countdown she could see every morning. Every day, she’d rip one down—a small victory that brought her closer to her dream.
But it wasn’t always easy. Those first few days were rough without her iPad. Temptations were everywhere—friends with screens in hand, her favorite shows calling out to her—but she kept pushing. And it hit me: this is exactly what it’s like to run your own business. Every day isn’t sunshine and rainbows. You’re juggling a million things, and some days, the work feels hard and thankless. But if you want the “win,” there’s no shortcut; you’ve got to show up, do the work, and take full ownership.
In business, just like in her 31-day challenge, it’s about setting a vision, breaking it down into manageable steps, and celebrating each small win along the way. Success is more than the end goal—it’s in every step you take to get there, even when no one’s watching. The wins, the losses, and all the effort in between? It’s all on you. But when you stick to the journey, the reward is that much sweeter.
Lesson 3: Stick to Your Path, Even if Others Don’t Get It
At one point, a friend asked her why she was putting herself through this “torture” just to get a gecko. And here’s the thing: not everyone will understand why you’re chasing a certain goal or taking on a big business risk.
Maybe they think it’s impractical or risky, or maybe they just don’t get your “why.” And that’s okay. As an entrepreneur, you’ve got to have a vision and stay focused on it, even when people are scratching their heads. Sometimes, that makes all the difference between an “okay” business and a truly successful one.
Lesson 4: Celebrate Your Wins (Big and Small)
Fast forward to Gecko Day. My daughter was so thrilled she woke up at 2 a.m. to start the celebration. We finally headed out and picked up her very own lion dalmatian gecko, which she named David Pumpkins. If you haven’t seen Tom Hanks’ SNL skit, do yourself a favor and look it up. But here’s what stood out to me: this win meant the world to her, not just because she got the gecko, but because she earned it. She’d saved up her allowance, marked off each day, and put in the work.
In business, we sometimes forget to celebrate those moments—the first big sale, a glowing review, or hitting a key milestone. It’s easy to keep pushing forward without pausing to acknowledge the accomplishments that got you there. But those celebrations keep us energized for the next challenge.
Final Takeaways: Learning from Determination
In the end, this “gecko challenge” taught me more than I expected. It was a reminder that persistence and grit can lead to amazing results, no matter how big or small the goal. And it’s proof that, yes, sometimes, we can learn a thing or two from our kids.
My daughter got her gecko. She stuck to her goal, worked hard, and was proud of what she’d accomplished. And me? I’m inspired. Inspired to keep dreaming, to stay the course, to own every part of my business, and yes, to celebrate every win along the way.
And just to be clear, I won’t be taking any bets involving reptiles anytime soon - David Pumpkins, with his baby doll treatment, mini-meals, scooter rides, and endless photo ops, is more than enough excitement for this household. Much like a business, he requires care, attention, and a bit of creativity every day to keep him thriving. We’ll leave that energy for our clients.
Comentarios