Recently, the in the Ruidoso News highlighted something our family is incredibly proud of: hard work, consistency, and a commitment to serving the community.
The article talks about how my daughter Bailey set a goal for her Girl Scout cookie season—and then absolutely crushed it. By the end of the season she had sold more than 2,100 boxes of cookies, far exceeding her original goal.
For a young entrepreneur on the mountain, that is a big number.
But the story isn’t really about cookies.
It’s about learning how effort, consistency, and relationships create success—lessons that apply everywhere from a cookie booth to real estate sales in Ruidoso and Alto.
Learning the Value of Work
Anyone who has spent time selling Girl Scout cookies knows it’s not just standing behind a table. Bailey and her mom spent many weekends out in the community, including selling cookies in front of one of my former real estate offices here in town.
They showed up consistently.
They greeted customers.
They talked about their goals.
And they kept going.
Over time, people began recognizing them. Customers returned. Friends brought friends. Sales grew.
If that sounds familiar to anyone who works in sales or business, it should. Whether you are selling cookies, homes, or helping people find property with a Sierra Blanca view, the formula is often the same:
Consistency builds trust.
Trust builds relationships.
Relationships build results.
Creating Value for Customers
Another thing Bailey learned during this experience was something every successful salesperson eventually understands: people like to feel part of something meaningful.
Many customers didn’t just buy cookies. They sponsored boxes to be donated to others.
Those sponsored cookies were delivered to a local assisted living center here in Ruidoso, where seniors could enjoy them. Bailey and her mom also directed a portion of the proceeds to support the Humane Society of Lincoln County.
This is something we try to teach in our family. Sales are not just transactions. They can also be a way to create value and give back.
That principle is something I try to bring into my own work in real estate as well.
Sales on the Mountain
Living and working in the mountains of southern New Mexico means business often happens in a unique environment. Whether it’s cookie sales in Ruidoso, Alto cookie customers stopping by the booth, or visitors from across the region enjoying a weekend near Sierra Blanca, our town thrives on personal connections.
People come here because they love the community.
They love the mountains, the wildlife, the cool summer air, and the welcoming nature of the people who live here.
Those same qualities make Ruidoso and Alto incredible places to own a home.
And just like Bailey learned during cookie season, success in this community often comes down to showing up, working hard, and treating people right.
Service Above Self
One value that guides our family is a simple idea: service above self.
That principle shows up in many places around Ruidoso—from local volunteers and nonprofits to civic organizations that help strengthen the community.
For Bailey, it meant making sure that cookie sales weren’t just about hitting a number. It meant making sure those sales helped someone else as well.
Seeing her take pride in donating cookies to seniors and supporting the humane society was one of the most meaningful parts of the entire experience.
Goals matter. Success matters.
But using success to help others matters even more.
Surpassing the Goal
Setting a goal and surpassing it is one of the most powerful experiences anyone can have, especially at a young age.
Bailey set a sales goal.
She worked hard.
She stayed consistent.
And in the end she sold over 2,100 boxes of cookies.
That is a lot of Thin Mints.
More importantly, it was a lesson in persistence and confidence that will carry forward into whatever she chooses to do in the future.
A Family Lesson
One funny takeaway from the newspaper article is that the name “Bigger” showed up quite a bit in a story about sales.
Maybe that’s fitting.
After all, whether it’s Girl Scout cookies, community fundraising, or real estate across Ruidoso, Alto, and the Sierra Blanca area, our family believes in working hard, building relationships, and giving back.
In a small mountain town, those values tend to travel through families and across generations.
And sometimes, they start with a simple cookie booth.
If you’re curious about the story that inspired this blog, you can read the original article here:
https://www.ruidosonews.com/big-bigger-cookie-seller/
Gavin Bigger, REALTOR®
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate – Steinborn & Associates
Ruidoso & Alto, New Mexico
🌐 https://gavinbigger.com
📞 575-973-8275
