What You'll Discover In This Episode:
I’d like to tell you about the last day of my son Erik's 9th grade year just a couple of weeks ago.
I was up early, drinking my coffee, and getting all sentimental about my 15-year-old's last day of school. You know how it is when you start realizing how fast they're growing up? Well, I decided I was going to ask ChatGPT to help me create a summer bucket list for us.
Now, you have to understand—I've been doing summer and winter bucket lists with Erik since he was old enough to walk and talk. It's our tradition. But this year? I had a strong feeling it probably wasn't going to land the same way it had in years past.
So here's exactly what I asked ChatGPT: "I've done a summer bucket list with my son since he was little. I know it's corny, but I want to do it for us this summer. But he's 15 years old. Any ideas for Las Vegas?"
And ChatGPT responded with: "Not corny at all! It's awesome that you've kept that tradition alive. A summer bucket list can be just as meaningful and fun at 15. It just needs to evolve with his interests and independence."
I was SO excited about the incredible ideas it gave me. On the way home from school that day, I handed Erik my phone so he could read the bucket list ChatGPT had come up with. He handed it back to me and said, "Yeah, mom. It's a little corny."
So I asked, "Well, what IS it that you want to do for your summer break?"
His response? "I want to go to Wet'n'Wild six times, wrestling practice, and mostly just play video games with my friends."
It took everything I had not to break down in tears... even though that was exactly what I was expecting. But that moment reinforced something I already know and practice in my business daily - that I need to be super intentional with my time and make the most of every season in life and business
Since the season of summer fun bucket lists with my son has clearly evolved, I decided to switch my focus to creating both a personal AND business bucket list this summer. Just because he's not excited about our tradition anymore doesn't mean I should abandon the strategy entirely. I have countless incredible memories over the years because I used the bucket list approach.
So today, I want to make a strong case for why YOU might want to create both personal and business bucket lists this summer—because this strategy works whether you're planning family adventures or business growth.
In this episode of the Small Business Straight Talk Podcast, I dive into how to create personal and business bucket lists that support each other and how to turn those seasonal opportunities into real progress!
