Takeaways From My 10K in 10 Days Challenge (It’s Not What You Think)
In December, I decided to try the 10K in 10 Days challenge I read about in Rachel Rodgers’ book. As she described it, something inside me started to buzz. I couldn’t tell if it was excitement or nerves, but my first thought was, I can do this and that surprised me.
I’ve been craving a challenge, something structured, something that offers accountability and support. Entrepreneurship already asks for deep personal growth, and when you layer parenting on top of it, my patterns come into sharp focus. This challenge accelerated that process in ways I didn’t expect.
Before I made the challenge public, a familiar anxiety surfaced. My thoughts raced, my body felt ungrounded, and I noticed myself beginning to detach. Instead of pushing through, I paused. I named what was happening: fear of failing was taking over. Creating even a small amount of space between myself and my thoughts helped me return to my body. I grounded myself, used compassionate self-talk, and pressed send on my email declaring the challenge.
Going in, I assumed the challenge would be about external action—new clients, new offers, more visibility. I worried I’d have to sell myself in a way that felt inauthentic. What happened was very different.
In ten days, I made $8,362.50. Only about half of that came from anything new (new clients, new packages, new sales). The rest came from money I had already earned but hadn’t fully allowed myself to receive—unpaid invoices, uncashed checks, and payment systems that delayed income. I realized I had quietly built structures that made it harder for me to be paid, rooted in long-standing beliefs about money, worth, and ease.
Another insight surprised me just as much was that my fear around visibility has been quietly shaping my business. I’ve had workshops outlined, trainings nearly complete, and ideas scattered across notebooks. Even when clients asked for information I knew I already had, I hesitated. The fear of being seen on a larger scale kept me stuck. This challenge applied just enough pressure to push me into action—to gather the notes, open the slide decks, and take steps forward.
So, what now?
1. I’ve restructured payment options in my practice in ways that feel more supportive for both my clients and myself.
2. I’ve also committed to sharing my work with diverse audiences at least once a month in 2026—through workshops, podcasts, conferences, or community spaces.
This challenge wasn’t about hitting a number. It was about going Upstream and noticing where I’ve been standing in my own way.
If you’re feeling even a small nudge of curiosity after reading this, consider trying a challenge of your own. It doesn’t have to be financial. It could be the 10K in 10 Days challenge, a workout commitment, a detox from something that’s been draining you, or any short, contained experiment that asks you to show up differently.
What matters isn’t the outcome—it’s what gets revealed in the process. Challenges have a way of surfacing our patterns, fears, beliefs, and strengths with surprising clarity. The learning is almost never what you think it will be.