The grit scripts from 13 years at iDropped—licensee to franchisee to franchisor.

**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.

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.

—–

Here’s to lucky number 13. Thanks for trusting us with what matters most.