“All big things come from small beginnings.
The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision.”
– James Clear (Atomic Habits)
The Moment That Changes Everything: Elon Musk’s Spark of Innovation
A Simple Win, A Lifelong Passion
Long before he became the well-known and often-polarizing public figure that he is today, Elon Musk had his first spark—the moment that set him on the path to becoming one of the world’s most influential entrepreneurs. It wasn’t with the launch of SpaceX, the revolution of electric cars at Tesla, or even the creation of PayPal. It came much earlier, at just 12 years old, with a simple video game called Blastar.
At that young age, Musk demonstrated an incredible drive to create. He coded the game himself and sold it to a magazine for $500. It wasn’t a groundbreaking invention, nor did it make him famous. Yet, it was significant. That small moment of turning his own idea into money was the spark that ignited his lifelong passion for innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Power of a Small Win
Imagine the impact of that first small win. For someone with the curiosity and vision Musk had, it was a pivotal moment. He had learned that it was possible to take an idea, make it real, and sell it for a profit. That first taste of entrepreneurship—no matter how modest—planted the seed for what would later grow into the creation of some of the most influential companies in the world. It was that spark that pushed him forward, fueling his constant drive to think bigger, build bolder, and transform industries.
But not everyone experiences their “spark” at such a young age. For many of us, it takes years of trial and error, personal struggle, or even moments of frustration before that defining realization hits. Sometimes, that spark can come from a life-changing decision. Other times, it’s from a quiet moment of reflection or a sudden epiphany. The important thing isn’t when it happens—it’s that it does happen.
What’s clear from Musk’s story is that the spark is a catalyst. It’s the realization that you can create something that matters, something that has the potential to change your life or the world around you. It’s the moment you stop wondering if you can make a difference and start taking steps to do it. That first spark can change the direction of your life, giving every decision and every action a new sense of purpose.
Whether your spark comes early like Musk’s or later in life, it has the potential to shape everything you do moving forward. What’s important is recognizing it when it comes and allowing it to guide you toward something greater—just as Musk did.
How My Spark Set Me on the Path to Financial Independence
Early Entrepreneurial Habits: The Kindling For Success
Looking back, I’ve always had a passion for entrepreneurship. As a kid, you could find me selling apples from the two apple trees in our yard at a humble roadside stand I set up in the shade of one of our front yard maple trees. I also sold hostas and daylilies I had divided from the plants in our family’s garden beds at the local farmers’ market on Saturday mornings. What’s better than a product that’s free, except for a little elbow grease? Throughout the rest of the year, I peddled my services around the neighborhood—mowing lawns, raking leaves, and shoveling snow. This was the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey. I suppose I’ve always had a knack for saving, too. I could never bring myself to spend much of the money I earned and preferred to let it accumulate in the little red toy safe I kept on the desk in my bedroom.
At the time, I didn’t think much of these characteristics—I just was who I was. But in hindsight, I see these decisions and actions as the kindling for something greater. Like the underbrush that grows on a forest floor, with the right spark, both can catch fire and quickly lead to a roaring blaze. My early entrepreneurial mindset of earning, saving, and investing was no different. All it needed was that spark to ignite it.
The Unexpected Spark: A Goal Bigger Than a Job
That spark came a few years later, at the most unexpected time and in the most unexpected way. Fast forward from childhood to young adulthood: I had worked several summer jobs throughout high school and college. With college graduation and my wedding date approaching, I was now looking for my first “real” job. Unfortunately, I had chosen to follow another childhood passion—music—and earned an undergraduate degree in Music. I was about to face a tough economic reality. To make matters worse, I graduated during the worst economic downturn the U.S. had seen since the Great Depression. After hundreds of applications and rejections, and countless people telling me I was intelligent, passionate, and driven but couldn’t be hired, the only job I could find paid $7.35/hr—far less than what I made per hour working summers in high school. To say this felt like a soul-crushing defeat would be an understatement.
I felt like I had made choices that put my life in an impossible situation. I ended up working seven days a week, picking up any shift I could to try to scrape by during that first year of marriage. The work was uninspiring, and I quickly found myself dreaming about how to get out of that situation for good. I did some rough napkin math, making assumptions that in retrospect were ill-informed like CD interest rates—those rates were doomed to decline and never fully recover, and I didn’t yet understand how poor of a financial vehicle CDs are compared to investments. Nevertheless, I arrived at a number that became my goal. If I could ever save that much money, I could live off its interest in perpetuity—free from financial worry.
Much like how revenge consumed Edmund Dantès in The Count of Monte Cristo, reaching that number—the number—became my singular focus. Financial independence would be the key to doing whatever I wanted with my time, energy, passions, and interests. Although reading that goal while earning $7.35/hr seemed mathematically impossible, simply having that goal gave my life purpose every day. Instead of waking up to go to a job I found no meaning or satisfaction in, I now woke up with the knowledge that every hour worked brought me one step closer to my dreams.
This focus—this spark—changed everything. Although I didn’t fully realize it at the time, it set the kindling of my childhood entrepreneurial traits ablaze.
From Kindling To Flame: Finding the Spark to Ignite Your Success
As I look back on my own journey, I can see how every decision, every challenge, and every step I took led me to the spark that changed everything. But here’s the thing: your spark is out there, too, waiting for the right moment to ignite your kindling.
Recognizing and Harnessing Your Strengths
Have you ever looked back on your own life and realized that, like me, you’ve been collecting your kindling all along? Maybe you’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit or a knack for problem-solving. Perhaps you’ve been saving and planning for the future, even if it hasn’t felt like much of a strategy. Your strengths, your unique habits, and even the things you’ve struggled with could be the exact kindling waiting for the right spark to set everything in motion.
What are your strengths? Maybe you’re naturally resourceful, like me with my childhood roadside stand, always finding a way to turn what you have into something valuable. Or perhaps you’re disciplined, able to stick with a project or goal for the long haul, even when it feels like a grind. Maybe you’ve always had an eye for opportunities, spotting trends or patterns that others miss. Whatever they are, those qualities are the foundation—the kindling—for your own entrepreneurial journey, waiting for the moment when everything clicks.
It’s Never Too Late: Building Habits That Spark Change
But here’s the thing: Not everyone feels like they’ve had the right kindling yet. You might look at your past and think, “I haven’t made good financial decisions. I’ve spent impulsively, I’ve ignored budgeting, or I’ve just been struggling to keep my head above water.” That’s okay. The past doesn’t define where you’re headed next. What matters is what you do now.
If you’re thinking that your financial habits have been anything but “kindling,” you’re not alone—and that’s the first step. Recognizing where you’ve gone off track is key to changing the trajectory of your future. The good news? It’s never too late to start building the habits that will lead to the spark you’re looking for.
Start small. Even if you’ve been caught in a cycle of poor spending or missed opportunities, there’s still time to reframe your habits. Begin by tracking your expenses, setting a simple budget, or finding ways to cut back on unnecessary spending. That could be the first spark. Then, work on setting goals—short-term and long-term—and focus on how you can incrementally improve your financial situation.
Perhaps you’ve never seen yourself as a “saver,” but the truth is, anyone can develop the habit of saving, even if it’s just $20 a week to start. Perhaps investing seemed like a far-off dream, but the more you learn, the more you’ll realize how attainable it really is. And perhaps you’ve never felt the joy of growing your money, but I promise, there’s a deep satisfaction that comes when you see your efforts beginning to pay off, no matter how small the gains may seem at first.
This process doesn’t require perfection. It requires action. Each small step, each decision to choose a better path, is adding kindling to your fire. You might not see the spark immediately, but with every good habit, every lesson learned, and every action taken, you’re making your future brighter. And soon enough, that spark will appear.
What’s your first move going to be? Are you ready to commit to building the habits that will ignite the fire of financial independence and personal growth? It all starts now, with one step, one decision, one spark.
Whatever your next move is, I look forward to taking the journey with you.