Full circle moment
Just received a personal, signed note from my childhood hero — the legendary Dan Gable. As a young wrestler, I looked up to him not just for his dominance, but for the values he stood for: discipline, grit, humility, and relentless work ethic.
What I didn’t realize back then was how those same lessons would shape the rest of my life — especially as an entrepreneur building EVOTEK from the ground up.
Wrestling taught me:
1. Mental Toughness = Resilience in Business
In wrestling, you're constantly pushed to your limit — there's no one else to lean on. That same mental toughness is crucial when launching a business. There are moments of doubt, setbacks, and tough calls — but like in a match, you learn to keep your head down and push through.
EVOTEK wasn’t built overnight. It took the same resilience I learned on the mat — showing up every day, especially when it’s hard.
2. Weight Cutting = Sacrifice for the Bigger Picture
Cutting weight teaches delayed gratification and sacrifice. Building EVOTEK required long nights, personal sacrifices, and betting on a vision that wasn't guaranteed. That discipline gave you the edge to stick to the plan, even when it got uncomfortable.
Success in business, like making weight, is about being uncomfortable for a reason that matters.
3. Practice Repetition = Mastery of the Fundamentals
Wrestling drills are all about repetition — perfecting the basics. In business, especially in tech and client service, excellence comes from doing the little things right, consistently. That attention to detail and relentless preparation translates directly to building a high-performance company.
At EVOTEK, we don't skip the reps. We master them.
4. One-on-One Competition = Owning the Outcome
On the mat, you can't blame the team or the ref — it's just you. That accountability shapes leaders. When starting EVOTEK, you took full ownership: the wins, the mistakes, the growth. Wrestling taught you to look inward and lead forward.
Wrestling taught me to own every outcome. That mindset built EVOTEK’s foundation.
5. Adaptability = Business Agility
In a match, your opponent is always adjusting — so you must anticipate, react, and pivot quickly. Business is the same. Markets shift, customers evolve, and competitors emerge. Wrestling prepared you to stay composed and agile in any scenario.
Being agile isn’t optional — it’s instinctive when you’ve wrestled.
Dan Gable's influence runs deeper than wrestling. He helped mold my mindset, and receiving a personal note from him is something I’ll never forget.
Thank you, Monica Challingsworth — this meant the world to me 🙏 ❤️
#Gratitude #DanGable #WrestlingMindset #EVOTEK #Entrepreneurship #BusinessLessons #Leadership #FullCircle Don Yaeger #VisionQuest
