First Time Hits Hard

Read time: 2 minutes

The first time always hits harder than expected.

Whether it's

• Introducing yourself to someone new

• Trying a new workout for the first time

• Tasting a dish you’ve never eaten before

No matter the situation — your first time is inevitably always going to be the most challenging.

Whether you like it or not.

I remember when I first started my self-improvement journey...

My friends and family around me all repeated the same things over and over:

• "It's just a phase!"

• "When did you change?"

• "How long is this going to last?"

Truthfully, hearing this from those closest to you isn't easy.

It makes you question yourself and everything you’re doing.

But, here's the thing:

Change — by definition — is unfamiliar.

For both you and those around you.

It's not your fault. Nor theirs.

Your brain is wired to seek out the familiar. And as such, to resist the unknown.

Because what's already known — whether it’s good or bad — feels controllable.

And what’s controllable feels predictable.

This is why...

• Some people stay in jobs they hate.

• Others cling to toxic relationships.

• And many hold on tightly to their past.

It’s not because they want to feel more pain.

It’s because the known pain is easier to tolerate than the unknown discomfort of change.

The truth?

The future is uncertain, yes. But many of us mislabel that discomfort as “painful,” “fearful,” or “nerve-wracking.”

In reality, anything uncertain is simply unfamiliar.

Because you haven’t experienced or been exposed to it just yet.

Key word: YET.

The solution?

Put yourself in the very situation you’ve been avoiding.

No matter how unfamiliar or uncomfortable it feels — that’s where true progress lies.

Easier said than done, yes. So — here's a mindset shift for you:

The first time is hard, but it’s also the hardest it will ever be.

Once you pass the initial hurdle, you gain confidence, clarity, and the courage to do it again.

In other words, you've just deposited for the first time into your "Evidence Bank".

Now, it's just a game of compounding.

Every “first” gets easier because you’re building momentum.

Therefore, whether you’re:

• Wearing new glasses for the first time & enduring the comments from others,

• Launching a side hustle while still working your 9-5, or

• Embarking on your first psychedelic journey...

That initial resistance — from your brain and those around you — is temporary.

Soon, it will pass.

And before you know it, something new will take its place.

I'll never forget my first time on stage coaching people.

My mind was racing. The stakes were high. The stress felt suffocating. And self-doubt snuck in like an uninvited guest.

But today?

Looking back, giving speeches on stage feels natural.

It's just something I do.

Even those around me barely make a big deal about it anymore.

Because the hardest hurdle is always the first one.

Once you overcome it, the easier it becomes.

With that, my friends, remember:

Every first hump you surpass isn’t just a win — it’s proof that you’re capable of so much more.

The sooner you start, the stronger you become.

We Keep Moving!

Thanks for reading.

Much Love,

Julian

PS. What’s one “first” you’ve been avoiding? Reply to this email & let me know — I’ll personally share a tip based on my experience coaching 350+ entrepreneurs.