How I Became a Salesforce Ranger in 28 Days as a Newbie Trailblazer

I started my Salesforce Trailhead journey 28 days ago. Today, I reached the rank called “Ranger” by earning 50000 points and 108 badges having blazed through 15 Salesforce trails. Here are my tips.

1. Decide what you want
2. Choose your path
3. Write your plan
4. Work the plan
5. Seek mentors
6. Ask for help
7. Stay focused
8. Track your progress
9. Keep yourself accountable
10. Celebrate your wins

Let me explain my tips in detail.

Ten Tips for Becoming a Salesforce Ranger Fast

1. Decide what you want

Salesforce is big, deep, wide, and feels infinite (to me); that's why you have to decide what you want. But how? If you're just getting started, there are 217.5 paths you can take... Yes, that's why I'm writing this article to help you decide. After studying hundreds of successful Salesforce aficionados, I realized that everybody begins with the salesforce admin trail and passes the admin cert exam as step one. I decided to go all-in on this, and I did. That's what I recommend YOU do, too.

2. Choose your path

Don't blaze multiple trails at once. The Salesforce bootcamp that I started on 5/23/22 helped me choose my path, and I followed it and finished. You can start with this Prep Trail and stay on it till you finish.

Note: during my workouts at home on the trampoline, I started listening to the Salesforce Principal Instructor Caitlin Nguyen on Trailhead live:

• https://trailhead.salesforce.com/live/broadcasts/a2r3k000001Lc2m/preparing-for-your-admin-certification---profiles
• https://trailhead.salesforce.com/live/videos/a2r3k000001WFJH/preparing-for-your-admin-certification-profiles-and-permission-sets/
• https://trailhead.salesforce.com/live/videos/a2r3k000001WFd9/preparing-for-your-admin-certification-exceptions-sharing-rules-teams-and-manual-sharing/
• https://trailhead.salesforce.com/live/videos/a2r3k000001WFU6/preparing-for-your-admin-certification-standard-and-custom-objects-page-layouts-record-types-and-business-processes/

3. Write your plan

I use a notebook, a pen, and some quiet time in silence and solitude to make step-by-step simple plans. I did that for my Salesforce journey. It all fits neatly on just one page. I recommend you do this. When you spend time dumping your brain on a blank piece of paper, magic happens: you commit to your goal and you become resolute and unshakable!

4. Work the plan

Nothing will happen if you just think and make plans. Execution is key, and it has to be consistent. I made the plan and started executing it right away. There were many days when I felt overwhelmed with all the new information. I'd go make some tea or do an ab workout or even take a 10 min nap... But then I'd get on working my plan. You're human, so give yourself grace, but then do the work because you are worthy of the effort your goals require. Put in the work. Do it now!

5. Seek mentors

Mentors are people who want to help you and are equipped to do so. Where do you find them? uh! I'm glad you asked! I had no clue... But I did start attending Salesforce events. I attended Salesforce-authorized community meetings with Salesforce practitioners to see how they use Salesforce to solve real-life business challenges in many many different industries and job functions. At one of those events, I asked the leader (Aditya) to mentor me, and he kindly said yes. I asked him many many questions, and he generously answered all of them!

Aditya Pothukuchi encouraged me to take small steps and advised me regarding what to focus on and how. He shared his own inspiring journey, and I felt supported, so I did not feel alone on my trails blazing unfamiliar territory and trying to look a mile ahead.

What else?

I got involved in the Trailblazer Community.

I joined the Ohana slack. And there, I connected with Lissa Smith who also generously got on a video call with me and mentored me kindly. Not only did she share her salesforce journey but also advised me regarding my feelings of overwhelm: she taught me her meditation technique.

I can go on and on, but I'll stop right here because you got the point already: find mentors and ask for help. The Ohana community is so friendly and helpful... You are not alone!

Reach out to me in the comments here, I'll do my best to help you with resources or tips. Don't be quiet or shy! I do not bite.

6. Ask for help

I had to figure out what help I needed and I had to ask my mentors: help me with this and that. Examples? I reached out to Caitlin and said: "I love your videos. Do you have more?" She sent me an entire spreadsheet! I asked Jonathan: "Can you help me develop my thinking when it comes to specific Salesforce scenarios." He said: "Let's schedule a video call." I'm telling you: ask and you shall receive! That's our Salesforce Ohana! But YOU have to know what help to ask for and then do the asking part. It's your journey, you must do the work of actual trailblazing.

7. Stay focused

There's a lot to learn when it comes to Salesforce, and there are many "gurus" out there. Use Salesforce-authorized Trailhead to learn, watch Trailhead live videos, read through modules, complete hands-on challenges, answer quizzes, and you'll quickly earn your points and badges and reach the rankings as a trailblazer.

Read this article on Medium.

8. Track your progress

Remember the plan you wrote on a blank piece of paper. Keep it front and center and check things off as you complete your steps. Hopefully, with the steps, you also set a timeline. I did. And I measured my progress against my exam-prepping timeline. If you can't measure it, you can't manage it. And if you need a break and can't learn all the extra-things you originally planned, prioritize!

9. Keep yourself accountable

This work is for me. The preparation is for my certification exam. The bootcamp is something I decided to do. I am the one accountable for this journey and the destination I reach. If I take the steps following the right path, I'll get to the right destination. No one is checking on me. I'm in charge, I'm accountable. Take charge, make progress in the desired direction, remain tenacious when facing obstacles, and be accountable for your Salesforce journey.

10. Celebrate your wins

Focusing requires sacrifice. I sacrificed going to the pool, hiking actual real-life wooded trails... all for the sake of prioritizing Salesforce trails on Trailhead, and I was able to grasp the information. We will see how I do on the Admin exam on 6/23 in 3 days lol ??

But I went out with my friend Elizabeth to celebrate the completion of all my bootcamp modules and hands-on challenges. We had an early dinner at my favorite restaurant, then watched a movie at a theater, then had a great time at a local rooftop restaurant outside watching the river and the fireworks, then had a late dinner... lol It was awesome! Here's a picture of me outside my favorite local restaurant.

And then? Exam prep! Celebrating milestones is a good reset, but stay focused on the ultimate goal! I hope my tips helped encourage you if you're a Salesforce newbie like me. I don't know everything of course, there's so much I'm learning, but I do want to share whatever helps me on this journey - in hopes to help you.

Did my article help you? Comment below!