On the first step, if the effort, but one step higher than one step. Not after pondering, the gem will not shine.

上如阶尽管费力，却一步比一步高。不经过琢磨，宝石也不会发光。

youdao

But others now say this period after the Civil War was a necessary step in creating a different kind of South from the one which had existed before.

VOA: special.2010.02.04

You just take one step after another, setting new goals all the time.

CNN: ASIANOW - Asiaweek

"One step after another, steps were taken by the government which were counter-productive for any meaningful transition to real democracy, " Mehboob said.

CNN: Bhutto's death clouds Pakistan campaign

One step went right after another.

NEWYORKER: The Checklist