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🏊 Be the First to Jump In (Even When You Have No Idea What You’re Doing)

The marketers who rise fastest aren’t the most experienced—they’re the ones who go first, say yes, and figure it out along the way.

Author

Tom Snyder
October 09, 2025

Howdy, marketer! 

When I landed my first marketing job at a small digital agency, I made a quiet decision that ended up shaping my entire career:

I’d be the one who says yes to everything—and the one who goes first.

That mindset did two things for me.

First, it made me comfortable being uncomfortable.

Going first is scary.

It’s like being the first person on the dance floor – everyone’s watching, and no one wants to look foolish. But once someone breaks that seal, everyone else follows.

I figured if I could be that person – the one who breaks the threshold – it’d help me stand out.

I might look confident (even when I wasn’t).

And the funny thing is… after faking confidence enough times, I actually started to build it for real.

So I jumped in first. Whether it was sharing feedback on a strategy, offering my opinion in a meeting, or volunteering for something new. And I realized something powerful:

The first voice in a room often sets the anchor for everything that follows.

When you speak clearly and confidently, you define the tone of the conversation. Others will follow your lead. It’s not about being loud – it’s about being first, concise, and intentional.

The second rule that changed everything? Say yes and figure it out later.

That one’s straight out of the Richard Branson playbook:

“If someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you’re not sure you can do it, say yes — then learn how to do it later.”

I said yes to projects, clients, and challenges I had no clue how to tackle.

Technical SEO audit? Sure, I’ll do it. 🫡 

Lift analysis on our Facebook ads? Let’s go. 💪 

I’d Google my way through it, read every blog, test things, fail fast, and keep moving.

What I learned is that marketers who say yes more often grow faster. You build new skills, gain trust, and develop a reputation as someone who figures things out.

These two habits – going first and saying yes – turned me from a timid entry-level marketer into a confident strategist.

So if you want to grow in your marketing career, try this:

  • Be the first to jump in.

  • Say yes.

  • Figure it out later.

That’s how you get ahead – one bold, slightly scary “yes” at a time.

✌️,

Tom from Marketer Gems