How to set variable only on first time through workflow

I'm trying to set a variable on a transition in my workflow, but I'd like it to only be 'triggered' on the first time through the workflow. In other words, once this variable gets added to the file on the first time through, the next time through this variable will not be over-written. Please let me know if there is any tricks or simple ways to do this that I may have over looked.

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