I often look back on a specific childhood experience and think that it inspired me to be an entrepreneur.
One day my friend and I decided to blaze a trail from my house to his. We got our hands on a pair of machetes and ventured into the forest. All day we swung our machetes, cutting down stray tree branches and clearing debris that eventually connected our houses.
The next day, both of us woke up with the worst cases of poison oak that you’d ever seen. Our eyes were swollen shut, and lots of medical treatment was required.
Still, we were proud. We took a risk, dove into the unknown, and accomplished what we set out to do. Entrepreneurship is no different, and I think this experience helped me realize that as an adult.
What are some examples of childhood experiences?
From taking up swimming lessons to learning how to ride a bike, here are 11 answers to the question, “What’s a positive transformational experience that you had as a kid, that you still reflect on periodically today?” from the Terkel community.
- The Day I Found Passion
- Travel to Different Countries
- I Took Up Swimming Lesson
- Seeing the Movie Pink Floyd: the Wall.
- Be Creative and Take Risks
- Playing Soccer
- Learning How to Ride a Bike
- My First Job Was a Positive Transformational Experience
- Building Confidence by Building a Strong Physique
- My Dad Let Me Play Games On His Computer
- Moving to the Usa
The Day I Found Passion
I remember this one time when I was around 8 years old, my mom took me to see musician Renée Zellweger perform a live concert. I had never heard of her before then and, being intrigued about the music, I decided to give it a listen. What I experienced that day completely changed my life as an aspiring artist. Her incredible set of melodies were so beautiful and powerful that not only did they resonate in my soul, but they fueled a flame deep within me to go pursue my goals without fear. To this day, I keep reflecting upon that positivity of that transformational experience and am constantly reminded by it to stay creative under any circumstances.
Antreas Koutis, Administrative Manager, Financer
Travel to Different Countries
When I was a kid, I had the opportunity to travel to different countries with my family. This experience was transformational in so many ways. It opened my eyes to different cultures, ways of life, and values that were so different from my own. It also made me appreciate the world we live in, and the diversity within it – something that I still reflect on today. I’m grateful for those trips, as it has made me more understanding and open-minded when it comes to different people and cultures.
Ann Young, CEO, Fix The Photo
I Took Up Swimming Lesson
When I started taking swimming lessons as a youngster, it was a wonderful transforming experience I experienced. Even though learning something that was entirely alien was difficult, I discovered something wonderful along the way that has stayed with me to this day. Pushing myself to learn these new talents gave me strength and comfort, and the sense of accomplishment I experienced after becoming proficient in them was unmatched. In addition, my parents made sure I felt encouraged by flashing happy grins at me despite my amateurish attempts to execute the strokes correctly. Currently, whenever life presents me with a challenging or new challenge, I reflect on this event and take motivation from it, reminding myself of the core principles of tenacity and resilience instilled in me since childhood.
Jim Campbell, Owner, Camp Media
Seeing the Movie Pink Floyd: the Wall.
One of the biggest transformative experiences I had as a kid was when my parents took me to see the movie Pink Floyd: The Wall. I remember being completely captivated by this film and its message, which was that life is hard and there are no easy answers. In fact, it’s all about fighting for your dreams and working for what you want in this world. This film really changed the way I thought about things and gave me a sense of purpose that stayed with me throughout my life.
Rengie Wisper, Marketing Manager, Check CPS
Be Creative and Take Risks
As a kid, when I was in school, I had an amazing teacher who encouraged me to be creative and take risks. She always said, “Don’t be afraid to fail.” She used to stress the importance of learning through exploring and trying new things. She taught me that failure was not a bad thing and that it was part of the learning process. This experience taught me the value of taking risks and trying something new without fear of failure. I am so grateful for my teacher’s guidance and support, and this experience has stayed with me throughout my life and will continue to shape the way I approach new challenges and opportunities in life. I believe that this mindset has helped me to be more successful in my personal and professional life.
Tiffany Homan, COO, Texas Divorce Laws
Playing Soccer
I think the most transformative experience I had as a kid was when I first started playing soccer. I was always the kid who would play with the neighborhood kids, but they never wanted to play with me because they didn’t like that I was “too little” and couldn’t keep up with them. Even though they teased me, they also taught me how to play – and it wasn’t just about running around and being fast; it was also about strategy. Explore football cups and tournaments through Sport Score.
Nathan Hughes, Founder, Art Ignition
Learning How to Ride a Bike
A positive, transformative experience I had as a child that I still reflect on today is learning how to ride a bike. This was one of the first major accomplishments I achieved, and it instilled in me a sense of pride and self-confidence. It gave me a great feeling of independence, since I was now able to explore my neighborhood without relying on my parents to drive me around. I also gained a new appreciation for the outdoors, as riding my bike allowed me to experience nature in a whole different way. To this day, I still remember the joy and sense of accomplishment that came with learning to ride a bike, and those memories continue to bring me happiness. It is amazing what such a seemingly small event can have such a big impact on my life.
Martin Seeley, CEO, Mattress Next Day
My First Job Was a Positive Transformational Experience
A positive transformational experience was working with my father’s business as my first job. I mostly did office management work like filing papers, answering phones, running errands, and doing whatever was needed from me. Now, as an entrepreneur and experienced business professional, I see that this first job was crucial to my development and was a very positive experience for me. It gave me a taste of how the workforce operates, how an employee fits into regular business processes, and how things can change at any moment to a scenario where all hands need to be on deck to complete a specific task. Your first job is an important part of your professional development, and I was lucky to have a great experience!
Shaun Connell, Founder and CEO, Credit Building Tips
Building Confidence by Building a Strong Physique
Growing up, I had always been on the smaller side. I was constantly picked on and mocked for my size by those around me. This made me incredibly self-conscious, and I felt like I had no way to defend myself. It wasn’t until I began attending the gym that my life changed. The gym provided me with not only an opportunity to build a strong physique, but also the confidence to stand up for myself and gain respect from those around me. I began to understand the power of physical fitness, and how it can be used as a way to feel empowered and defy the odds. Although it has been years since I first stepped foot into a gym, I still reflect on this positive transformational experience from my childhood. It is a reminder that no matter how difficult life may be, we all have the power to overcome our challenges and become the best version of ourselves. This is something that I carry with me to this day and strive to live by.
Mark McShane, Marketing Director, Leeds First Aid Courses
My Dad Let Me Play Games On His Computer
My first memory with a computer was playing Minesweeper on a black-and-white laptop with a TrackPoint mouse. My preschool teacher said I had exceptional computer skills and I have the documentation to prove it. Over time, these skills developed into a successful career in Search Engine Optimization, with dozens of websites and campaigns under my belt. Thank you for your consideration, and I hope this helps! Best,
Nick Varga nick@eridejournal.com
Nick Varga, Chief Riding Officer, ERide Journal
Moving to the Usa
Having been born and raised in China until I was seven, moving to the US meant I needed to get accustomed to a new culture and find an identity that would help me cope. As an immigrant kid, this meant learning a new language, getting accustomed to a new education system, and embracing new food and way of life at short notice. The lessons I learned from this period are still pivotal in my life and career today, with my mind always embracing change positively and quickly. This ability to adapt is a superpower of mine that has allowed me to stay flexible even in uncertain times. I always reflect on this massive change and its effect on me and feel proud of how I managed the transformation.
Alvin Wei, Co-founder and CMO, SEOAnt
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