If there’s one thing I know, it’s that nobody has all the answers when they start homeschooling. Forget what you see on Instagram—real homeschooling is messy, chaotic, and full of trial and error. I lived it. I was homeschooled with my siblings. I get it.

The key to succeeding in your homeschooling journey is remembering this: it’s your experience. You have to test, tweak, and adapt until it fits your family. That’s why we use the “Innovate, Experiment, Expand or Eliminate” (IEE) framework.

Sam Walton used this philosophy to build Walmart. He was obsessed with trying new ideas to improve results. That same mindset is what we need to bring into homeschooling.

We apply this mindset to all Four Pillars of Homeschooling. If something works—expand it. If not—eliminate it and innovate again. Failure only happens the moment you accept it as final.

We’ll give one example today (Pillar: Health), but remember—you can apply this to Education, Finances, and Communication too.

1. Innovate
   Keep evolving. Try new approaches to learning, discipline, routines, social development, or health. Innovation can include borrowing methods from others. The goal is to discover what works best for your family.
2. Experiment
   Not everything will work. Expect failure. That’s normal. The point is to test ideas and learn what doesn’t work—because that gets you closer to what does.
3. Expand or Eliminate
   If something works—go all in. Expand it with energy and resources. If something flops—cut it loose. No guilt. Start fresh and innovate again. Homeschooling is one long cycle of refinement.

Problem:
14-year-old Eddie refuses to exercise consistently.

Innovate:
You’ve tried everything: running, weights, gym memberships, CrossFit. Still no results. Time to think differently. You realize there are biking trails near your house and decide to introduce him to mountain biking.

Experiment:
Instead of buying a bike, you borrow or rent one. He tries it with friends—no pressure, just fun and testing the waters.

Expand:
He loved it. Time to go deeper:

• Research more trails
• Invest in a mountain bike
• Join a local biking group
• Send him YouTube links or tutorials

Eliminate:
He hated it. Got poison ivy. Crashed 150 times. Never wants to ride again. Eliminate the plan—and return to Innovate.
Next try: yoga or hot yoga? New idea. New test.