Let me tell you a thing about firsts

Firsts are always different. They come with excitement, nerves, and a million "𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟" scenarios playing in our minds. The first interview, the first day at a new job, the first time speaking in front of a crowd. We build up these moments, expecting them to unfold in a certain way. And yet, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝.

There are two kinds of people. Some take things as they come, embracing the unknown. Others, like me, 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐭. I like to believe that preparation sets me up for success, but sometimes it 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬.

Like the first time 𝐈 𝐛𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐩𝐢𝐳𝐳𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡. I obsessed over the ingredients, the dough, and the perfect fermentation time. But I didn’t pay enough attention to the actual baking part. The result? 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐭. Inedible. 𝐀 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭. The next time, 𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩, not just the ones I thought mattered most. The result? 𝐀 𝐩𝐢𝐳𝐳𝐚 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐨𝐟.

It’s the same with interviews, jobs, and career growth. The first interview feels overwhelming. We overthink our answers, play out different scenarios in our heads, and sometimes miss the most important part is 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. The second, third, and tenth interviews feel smoother. We refine our approach, we learn what works, and we stop holding onto that fear of the unknown.

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭. They are unpredictable, exciting, and sometimes messy. But that’s what makes them memorable. So before any first, whether it’s an interview, a big presentation, or stepping into a new challenge, be prepared, 𝐛𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐭. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭.

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