The Marks That Matter…

The other day I was walking into our garage and happened to glance over at the doorjamb leading into our house. Now, to most people, it probably just looks like a collection of random lines, dates, and names scribbled on a piece of wood. To me, it looks like a history book.

For decades, that doorjamb has been our family’s official measuring station. It started with our kids when they were little. Every birthday, we’d have them stand against the wall while we made a mark and wrote down their height. Then we’d compare it to the previous mark and marvel at how much they had grown. At least that’s what we did with the kids.

Nowadays, I look at those marks and wonder if gravity is slowly making me shorter. When I mentioned that to my wife, she looked at me and said, “Don’t worry. You’re not shrinking. You’re just getting closer to eye level with the dog.” I felt very encouraged by her support.

As the years passed, those marks multiplied. Our children grew up and new names appeared as grandchildren arrived. More lines and more dates made more memories. Every time I walk through that door, I can’t help but stop for a moment and look at them. Each mark represents a season of life. What’s funny is that when those marks were first made, it seemed like just another birthday.

But years later, those simple little lines tell a much bigger story. They remind me that growth often happens so gradually that we barely notice it while it’s happening. Then one day, we look back and realize just how far we’ve come.

My wife caught me staring at the wall the other day and asked what I was doing. I told her I was reflecting on all the wonderful memories represented by those marks. She nodded thoughtfully and said, “That’s nice. While you’re reflecting, could you also remember to take out the trash?”

So, what does this have to do with running an online business? Well, I’m glad you asked!

One of the biggest mistakes many entrepreneurs make is forgetting to celebrate their own growth. We spend so much time chasing the next milestone that we rarely stop long enough to appreciate the ones we’ve already achieved.

We focus on the next subscriber, the next customer, the next sale and the next goal. Meanwhile, we overlook how far we’ve already come.

When you first started your business, you probably didn’t know nearly as much as you know today. You may have struggled to create content, build a website, write an email, understand marketing, or even figure out what direction you wanted to go. Yet here you are still learning, still growing and still moving forward.

The challenge is that business growth often looks a lot like those height marks on a wall. The changes happen little by little, day by day, week by week and month by month. You don’t always notice the progress while it’s happening. But when you pause and look back, the evidence is everywhere.

Here Are A Few Business “Growth Marks” Worth Celebrating

1. Your First Step Matters – Before every successful business comes a person willing to begin. Celebrate the fact that you started because many people never do.
2. Small Wins Add Up – Your first subscriber, first comment, first lead, or first sale may seem small. Years later, you’ll realize those moments were the foundation for everything else.
3. Progress Beats Perfection – Growth is rarely dramatic. Most success comes from consistent action repeated over time.
4. Track Your Journey – Keep records of your milestones, save screenshots, record wins and document lessons learned. One day you’ll be amazed by how much you’ve accomplished.
5. Make Time To Look Back – Reflection creates gratitude. Gratitude creates motivation. Motivation helps you keep moving forward.

The truth is that most successful businesses are not built overnight. They’re built one lesson, one action, one customer, and one improvement at a time. Just like those marks on my garage door. What makes those marks special isn’t the height itself. It’s the story behind each one.

The same is true in business. Your numbers matter and your growth matters. But the journey behind those numbers matters too. The challenges you overcame, the skills you learned, the confidence you gained and the people you helped all matter. Those are the memories that make the journey worthwhile.

That’s one of the reasons communities like the Internet Profits Academy can be so valuable. Building a business alone can feel overwhelming. Sometimes you need people around you who can help you recognize progress when you can’t see it yourself. People who can encourage you when growth feels slow and people who remind you that every small step still counts. Best of all, there is now a FREE option, so you can jump in, look around, and see if it is right for you

Because success is not always about giant leaps. Often, it’s about making one more mark on the wall and trusting that growth is happening, even when it’s difficult to see.

The next time you’re feeling discouraged about where your business is today, take a few minutes and look back. Think about where you started. Think about what you’ve learned. Think about the obstacles you’ve overcome. Then give yourself credit for the progress you’ve made. You may discover that your business has grown far more than you realize.

And if you happen to have a wall full of family growth marks nearby, take a moment to appreciate those too.

The other day I told my wife that maybe we should add one more mark for me. She looked at me, smiled, and said, “Sure. But based on all the snacks you’ve been enjoying lately, I think we need to start measuring width instead of height.” Somehow, she always knows exactly how to keep me grounded.

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” — Robert Collier

“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.” — Vincent van Gogh

And of course, a few VERY BAD Dad jokes:

I started tracking my progress. Unfortunately, most of my progress was toward the refrigerator.

I used to measure my kids’ height every year. Now I measure how quickly they can empty my refrigerator.

Until next time, STAY FRESH, Friends!

 

 

 

**If you are curious about building and maintaining a healthy online business, I invite you to subscribe to my newsletter here and continue following my blog. My hope is not only to create the freedom I have long desired, but also to share what I am learning with others who are working toward the same dream.