“Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose.” – Ayrton Senna
Do you speak up first? Do you go first in for testing, for an interview, or for other things? Most people prefer to wait and let another person go first. But this is often not the best strategy to find success.
What is the problem of not going first? There might be a few. It leaves you a follower rather than a leader. Other people will set the trend for what goes next, and you will have to follow. If you go first, you become the trend-setter, you have more of an impact on how things are going to develop next.
Another disadvantage is that you no longer get to make the first impression. Someone else does, and they might come off as being braver or more willing to take risks, which can sometimes make a difference in how you are perceived, especially if there is some sort of competition.
You also might lose out on things and chances. If you don’t talk to that person first, maybe they will not talk to you, and you will miss out on a potential friend or partner. If you don’t take the first step, you have no guarantees that the other person will. You might not always succeed, but you will know that you tried and took the chance.
Give yourself permission to be first. It’s very freeing. Introduce yourself first and see how much easier it makes your relationships. Go on stage first. Answer the question first. Be the volunteer to do the thing first, and others will look up to you for being brave and challenging yourself.
If you want to become a leader, you need to assume the risks and responsibilities of going first. It’s not always fun or easy, but it can help you achieve some amazing things.
It’s not easy to go first. Here are a few ideas to make it simpler. Focus on the current moment. Don’t worry about what will happen after or the ways things go before. Just center your mind on what is going on now.
Then, consider what you are afraid of. Usually, there is nothing wrong with going first. You won’t get hurt or mocked. It might be a little awkward. Consider what the truly worst case scenario might be but also allow yourself to imagine alternatives. Then, focus on an alternative scenario and try going first. See what happens.
