I learned something in my early 20s that has shaped how I approach every challenge since:
The first step is always the hardest—but it changes everything.
Back then, I was working for one of the major cell phone companies. I had never been in professional sales before, and to be honest, I was terrible at it. My role was a mix of customer service and sales, and I felt constant pressure to perform.
I was self-conscious. I doubted myself. And, as happens with many of us, that doubt became a limitation.
So, I decided to change my mindset.
Focusing on the First Sale
Instead of comparing myself to my coworkers—some of whom were selling three, four, even five phones a day—I shifted my focus to one simple goal:
Just make one sale.
That was it. Not to be the top salesperson. Not to outperform anyone. Just to prove to myself that I could do it.
It took me three months to get that first sale. But once it happened, it was like the floodgates opened.
Now I believed I could do it.
Now I knew what success felt like.
Within six months, I became the second-highest performer in my region, which covered about 15 stores. All because of one sale.
Why the First Step Matters
That first success, no matter how small, changes everything. It gives you a reference point—you’ve seen it, felt it, witnessed it. And once you know what success looks like, it’s much easier to repeat.
The same principle applies everywhere. Right now, I’m working on making my house pristine. Looking at the whole picture feels overwhelming—just like I felt looking at my coworkers selling five phones a day.
So I focus on one thing:
Make one room look perfect.
Once I feel that sense of accomplishment in one room, it becomes easier to do the next. The same was true with my first sale, and the same will be true for you—whether it’s sales, fitness, relationships, or even overcoming negativity.
Start Small. Start Now.
Don’t get lost in the big picture. Don’t compare yourself to the people who are ten steps ahead.
Focus on just one step:
- Make the first sale.
- Clean one room.
- Have one good conversation.
- Take one meaningful action.
Once you succeed once, momentum builds. And before you know it, you’re no longer struggling to start—you’re simply continuing.
✅ Your Turn
What’s your “first sale”? What’s the one small win you could aim for today that would open the floodgates for tomorrow?
Start there. Everything else will follow.
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