Hey, it’s Dawn! As we approach our 13th year anniversary at iDropped, I’ve been reflecting on this wild journey of running a small business in the electronics repair industry. I wanted to share some of the hard-earned lessons—the good, the bad, and the humbling. Thank you all for your support over the years. It’s meant everything.
13 Lessons from 13 Years in the Repair Business
**1. The price of admission is everything you’ve got.** Your heart, your mind, your guts. Grit is what’s left after each one gets squeezed.
**2. You can’t bank on banks.** Rejection is part of the process, not a reflection of your potential. Expect it. Keep going.
**3. Service beats sales every single time.** Anyone can make a sale. Not everyone earns a repeat customer.
**4. People are basically the same.** Everyone cares about three things: their Contacts (loved ones), Communication (staying connected), and Photos (memories). We’re here to protect all three.
**5. Own everything—especially the disasters.** Review, reflect, re-adjust. Daily, weekly, yearly. Repeat until retired.
**6. Some employees will break your heart. Others will mend it.** Turns out we’re in the repair business in more ways than one.
**7. Adaptation is a superpower. Action is the answer. Ego is the enemy.** New iPhone drops every year. New problems arrive daily. Evolve or disappear.
**8. You will be tested constantly.** Growth or comfort? Character or convenience? Your choices reveal your values.
**9. Addition by subtraction: Cut what drains you.** What you allow is what will continue. Eliminate what doesn’t serve the mission.
**10. Beware the FOG: Fear, Obligation, Guilt.** It’s manipulation dressed up as communication. Clear skies only.
**11. Any sane person would quit.** Like Tyler Durden said, the longer you’re in the fight, the more you welcome the punches. Remember that before you pick a fight.
**12. Scaling isn’t just adding people—it’s changing how you operate entirely.** Running solo is like riding a motorcycle. Leading a small team is driving a car. Managing a bigger team with a lot of moving parts is like steering a bus. Beyond that? You’re flying a plane by instruments alone. Each transition requires adjustments. Master new skills or stay grounded.
**13. It’s all about the journey.** Stay mystified by how the path unfolds—especially from the bottom of a valley.
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Here’s to lucky number 13. Thanks for trusting us with what matters most.