I recently stumbled on an email I sent on August 9, 2002—over two decades ago. Seeing it again brought back memories and gave me a good laugh. Those were the early days of GSM telephony, when the telecoms industry was the new gold rush. Everyone wanted to work there. Bankers were leaving their jobs in droves to join telecom companies and I wanted to jump ship too.

At the time, someone gave me the email address of a senior executive at one of the telecom firms. Full of enthusiasm and confidence, I sent off an email introducing myself. Reading it now, I can’t stop laughing.

Back then, I started out in operations (back office) and had just moved into sales. My experience was quite limited, but I had a very ambitious outlook. I don’t know how the recipient of this mail would have felt but having a 27-year-old describe himself as possibly the greatest salesman ever was audacious.

Although I never got a response from the recipient, there are a few clear lessons I’ve taken from that experience. First, I don’t type in CAPS anymore. Typing in CAPS connotes you’re shouting. This was 2002; I didn’t understand email etiquette at the time. I’ve also learnt the importance of tone—how to sound confident without coming across as brash or overbearing.

With the benefit of hindsight, I was too forward and even impudent. I can imagine the HR guy got furious when he received my mail. Or maybe not. In any case, I’ve grown since then. My communication has improved. I write better. I think more carefully about how my words may be received and I will certainly craft my mail better should such an incident arise again.

I recently read an email I sent over 20 years ago. It made me laugh, but it also reminded me how powerful self-belief can be, even before experience catches up. Share on X

However, I’m glad I had that self-belief that I can be the greatest salesman ever. Keep believing in yourself even if there doesn’t seem much to you at the moment. Don’t allow your present situation to blur the beautiful images of your future. 

Think positively. Speak good things always. Guard your mind against negativity, especially in moments when it feels like nothing is working out. The truth is, things are often taking shape gradually, behind the scenes. Growth takes time. Progress is not always obvious. But if you stay consistent and refuse to give up, what you are forming will eventually take shape.

And when it does, you’ll look back—just like I did—and smile at how far you’ve come.