Lesson #1- The Firsts

The first time we do anything in our lives is always the time we feel most nervous and apprehensive. It’s the time when we will try and convince ourselves out of doing that thing as we don’t want to potentially fail or not be as good as we would like. However, overcoming that FIRST is integral to be able to get to where you want to be. If we look at the billionaires in the world, they couldn’t make a billion until they made their first pound/dollar. The influencers and celebrities who have millions of followers had to start by having their first follower. You see, we need the first to be able to get to the many.

AND GUESS WHAT? Your first will be the worst quality as you will only ever get better and better, but that’s okay. It’s something I learnt from my first ever shift in the police force.

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THE STORY GOES….

First shift, early shift. 05:00 alarm call for the 07:00 start and what better way to prepare for one of the most important days of my working life than 4 hours sleep. Wasn’t the best way to start, was it? It was a Saturday morning and when everyone else were enjoying their long lies from the working week, I was just about to start mine. The station I was assigned to was an hour’s drive from my house so an early shift ended up being an early early start for me… Especially when you only have 4 hours sleep.

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As I made my long journey to work, I kept telling myself, ‘Just don’t do anything silly’. That sounded like good advice for a first day in a new job. I arrived at the station early to ensure I made a good impression. However, immediately I couldn’t figure out how to get into the barricaded entrance and ended up parking my car in the civilian car park (after many failed attempts). The CCTV cameras would have caught an individual driving up to the barrier numerous times before examining it closer on foot… I don’t think the CID was going to be for me. Eventually I thought, I’ll just go in and get ready. However, no-one had showed me the changing rooms, so I patiently waited in the entrance for someone to pass me and show me what to do. 10 minutes before shift starts and no-one had come. That early start and good impression wasn’t off to the best of starts. I remembered the donuts though, surely that’ll count for something I thought to myself.

Eventually someone came out and saw the nervously looking fresh faced individual continually checking his watch.

“You must be the new recruit,” he said.

“I am, nice to meet you,” I replied shaking his hand with my sweaty palm.

“Where do I get changed?… I brought donuts.”

“Amazing,” he smiled.

Go in with the food and they have to like you I thought. And this wasn’t just any donuts. This was the premium kind. That good first impression might not get off to the worst of starts after all. My new colleague showed me where to go and I rushed to get ready as the clock ticked on.

06:57… I ran upstairs to be greeted by…. no-one. Now, I wasn’t expecting a hero’s welcome, even though I had hoped the news of the donuts had filtered through, but no-one to show me what to do was a bit unfair. I looked into different rooms and eventually found one filled with cops and a sergeant starting the briefing. This was my new team, my new sergeant, 07:02… Not great...

The start of my first day didn’t go to plan but I reframed it and said to myself, it’ll only get better from here.

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THE LESSON…

Never let the first stop you from starting or continuing. If I had allowed that first to stop me, I wouldn’t be here today with my stories. We must understand we will most likely suck for our first time and that’s okay. Reframe it and accept it, as the only way is up.