"Wow, look how much money you’re making! You are so lucky!"
Lucky?
Sure, I am beyond grateful for the fortunate life I have, but I have also created a lot of my own luck.
You see, I’ve been working since I was 16 and I currently work in B2B technology sales, helping businesses improve their connectivity. I absolutely love what I do. I’ve genuinely never felt like I’ve belonged somewhere as much as I do here.
Of course I love the buzz of getting a sale, but I think the best thing is that I’ve found a career that genuinely feels like me. I’m only 23, and I know how lucky I am to be able to say that I enjoy going to work. That’s something that’s always been very important to me.
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Obviously, the money is a huge perk. I earn an average of £18,000 ($23,700) a month, which has given me opportunities and experiences that I’m incredibly grateful for.
I’m renovating my house, I love nice things and, trust me, I know how to spend money. I make sure I save at least 20 percent every month, but seeing that money doesn’t make me think I’ve made it. Rather, I am almost immediately wondering how I can earn even more.
When people think I’m just lucky, what they don’t see are the endless hours spent traveling the country, driving in my car alone, the long days and nights, and the countless social events I have missed.
Most days I leave the house at 6:30 a.m. and don’t get home until after 8 p.m. Even when I’m home, I usually spend another hour doing research for the next day’s meetings. If I’m too far away, I stay in a hotel, meaning yet another night away from my family.
I struggle to eat properly most of the time because I’m constantly racing between appointments. Don’t even ask me about the gym because I’m rarely home long enough to go.
I’ve missed more birthdays, weddings, dinners, housewarmings and family events than I can count, and there have even been times when I was physically sick from the adrenaline and pressure to perform.
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But honestly, it’s missing out on the little things that hurts the most.
My nan is 85 and we’ve always been incredibly close. We share the same birthday and have never spent one apart. This year will be the first, and that scares me because the older I get, the more I realize how precious time is with her.
That’s probably the hardest part of being so focused on what I want.
Sometimes it feels like I’m letting down the people I love, and I know they won’t always understand why. There’s a constant battle between knowing time is precious, and knowing I can’t take my foot off the gas if I want to achieve what I’ve set my sights on.
It’s hard when the people you love want more of your time, because of course you want to give it to them. But I’m incredibly fortunate that my boyfriend does the same job for a different company, so there’s never any explanation needed. He understands the pressure, the long days and why I’m so driven.
I’m not saying I have the hardest job in the world by any means. Although, I do think there’s this idea that you can make £20,000 within minutes from the comfort of your bedroom.
Maybe some people can do that, but I certainly don’t.
Social media has made success look instant, whereas mine has been anything but. For me, the money in my bank represents a lot of early morning starts, missed plans and nights in hotels.
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‘Being Underestimated Has Fueled Me’
The money gives you a number to chase, but the number itself isn’t the point. It’s something that feels slightly out of reach and it offers me the chance to prove that I can get there. I’m addicted to that feeling of chasing something I haven’t achieved yet.
Money may be the reward, but achieving the target I told myself I could reach is what I really love.
I have worked since I was 16 and have always had this slightly ridiculous level of self-belief. I’ll put myself forward for things before I seem ready because I trust myself to figure it out eventually.
Being young and a woman in male-dominated industries has definitely meant I’ve had to prove myself. Sometimes when a young woman is successful, particularly if she takes pride in how she looks, people are quick to attribute her success to that rather than accepting that she might actually be talented.
That is something I am determined to challenge.
I want to be an advocate for women in sales and show that you don’t have to change who you are to be taken seriously. If anything, being underestimated has fueled me. I don’t need to be the oldest or the loudest in the room—I just need the opportunity to show what I can do.
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I don’t believe that I fail at things, simply because I refuse to give up. I might fail the first time or second time, but once I’ve decided I’m going to accomplish something, I keep going until I do. Whether it takes me weeks, months or years, I will achieve it.
So yes, I’m lucky—massively so. But sometimes it’s about being brave enough to create opportunities for luck to find you.
‘That’s the Dedication People Don’t See’
I’m not sharing this as a means to flaunt my wealth, that’s not me at all.
I share this aspect of my life because I want people—especially young women—to see what is possible.
My advice is to surround yourself with people who are better than you (you never want to be the smartest in the room) and don’t let somebody else decide what you’re capable of.
If you fail, try again.
If you fail again, try differently.
Be delusional enough to believe you’ll get there, and stubborn enough to keep going until you do.
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In sales, you’re only ever as good as what you do next. You can have the best week of your career, but when Monday morning comes around, you’re back at zero. That’s the dedication people don’t see. It’s not having one amazing month—it’s the discipline to keep chasing the next one.
I’m 23, love fashion, vacations, spending time with friends and spending far too much money on things I don’t need. I’m not some corporate robot who wakes up at 5 a.m., drinks green juice and has her entire life figured out. I’m just incredibly ambitious.
I’m proud of the money, of course I am, but I’m much prouder of the person I’ve had to become to earn it. I want an extraordinary life, and I’m willing to work hard for it, but I’m also going to have a good time building it too.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Charlotte Nisbet and Tony Phillips.
Molly Green is a 23-year-old who resides in Liverpool, U.K. She documents her career and lifestyle on social media (@mollygreen40) to inspire others and show the highs and lows of working in sales.