5 Lessons I Learned About Life and Business from My 8-Year-Old Daughter

There are so many things we have to teach our children that we sometimes forget or just don’t even know that if we slow down and stop to listen, our children will teach us invaluable lessons that can be applied to our lives and business.  

2 years ago, my daughter and I set out to launch AlessiaAdora®, a modern lifestyle brand that combines beauty with functionality. Our first product we designed together was the sousShelf, a kitchen organizer for the digital age. Since we've started our entrepreneurial journey together back in 2020, there are so many things my entrepreneurial daughter has taught me about the world of business, but here are 5 lessons that I will never forget.

1. Only do things that make me (us) happy

There is no point in embarking on an entrepreneurial journey to do things that are not bringing us joy and happiness. This is anything but cliché. Happiness is not a cliché, neither is passion. Anyone can research trending products and start a dropshipping business, but eventually the lack of enthusiasm about it will bleed through and your target market will pick up on that.

“AlessiaAdora® will only ever offer products that we personally researched, tested, and truly use. If we don’t love it, you won’t see it in our store. It’s that simple.”  – AlessiaAdora® Founder/Principal, Mirabela

2. Understand that I will make mistakes along the way

Mistakes happen. It’s a part of life and it’s an especially big part of being an entrepreneur. We must learn to understand that all we can do is our best to fix them, whatever our best may be, and then move on without dwelling too much on them. This is always easier said than done which is why so many brilliant ideas get thrown away. Don’t let mistakes stop you.

"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill

3. Enjoy life now and live in the present

We can plan and then plan some more for the future, and while that is great and it’s something we should do, remember nothing is set in stone. Life sometimes has its own idea in mind for our destiny. If we must change our plans, and inevitably we will have to multiple times, learn to find happiness in the new path we’re headed and even if it’s just the little things about life. We must always remember to make a conscious attempt to live our lives in the present. This becomes incredibly harder as an adult so we must really make deliberate attempts to do so. Don't wait for future happiness, find it in the present.

4. Do not take life too seriously and don't let other people's opinions affect you

If your thoughts instantly went to social media, we understand those feelings. When we first announced AlessiaAdora® on social media, it attracted a lot of negative comments that we weren’t fully prepared for. The thought of negativity can really stop amazing people like you from sharing your story, but only if you let it. There will always be haters but there will also be 10X the amount of people that love your idea and want to hear what you have to say! Always try to see the good in people, remember that hate stems from someone that was hurt or who is severely hurting, and do not let negativity and judgement affect your opinion about yourself and your choices.

5. Understand that anything is possible

Finally, and most importantly, dare to dream big. Pursue your wildest dreams, chase them down, and never give up. Your dreams will turn into reality, you just have to pursue them.