Ethan paced nervously in his small dorm room, phone clutched tightly in his hand. His mind was buzzing with a mix of excitement and fear. This call could be the one that changed everything for him and his team. He had prepared for this moment—meticulously reviewing his notes, outlining pricing options, service offerings, and questions to ask. But no matter how much he prepared, the butterflies in his stomach wouldn't go away.
The screen of his phone lit up: Incoming Call: InnovateTech Solutions.
Ethan took a deep breath and answered. "Hello, this is Ethan."
A confident voice greeted him. "Hi Ethan, this is Daniel from InnovateTech Solutions. Thanks for taking the time to speak with us. We've reviewed your portfolio and were impressed. We're looking for a dedicated team to handle our website and ongoing digital solutions. Can you tell us more about what your team offers?"
Ethan relaxed a little, his confidence growing as he launched into his pitch. He explained their services—custom web development, UX/UI design, SEO optimization, and ongoing maintenance support. He spoke about their recent projects, their flexible workflow, and their ability to tailor solutions to each client's needs. Every now and then, he heard sounds of approval from Daniel's end.
"That all sounds great," Daniel said after a pause. "What's your pricing model?"
Ethan's pulse quickened. This was the moment he had been preparing for. He'd spent hours researching, calculating, and weighing his options. "We offer flexible pricing—either a project-based rate or a long-term retainer model. For ongoing development and support, our retainer starts at $3,000 per month."
The line went silent.
Ethan's heart raced. Did he ask for too much? Maybe it was too early to charge that high? He second-guessed himself for a brief moment.
Then Daniel spoke again. "That's reasonable. We were actually expecting a bit higher, honestly. Let's do a trial period—three months, and if all goes well, we'll extend it to a full year."
Ethan could hardly believe what he was hearing. He quickly composed himself. "That sounds perfect. I'll send over the contract today."
The call ended, but Ethan just sat there for a few moments, staring at his phone. His hands were slightly trembling as he processed what had just happened. He had secured a three-month contract worth $9,000.
He wasted no time and messaged his team. "We did it. We have our first big client."
His phone buzzed almost instantly. Priya sent a string of excited emojis, Marco called him immediately to celebrate, and Ryan's message was simple but powerful: "Time to level up."
Ethan leaned back in his chair, a grin spreading across his face. It wasn't just about the money—it was the realization that he wasn't just scraping by anymore. He was leading a real business.
And this was just the beginning.