“Whatever you practice, you will be good at.” This phrase jumped off the page at me.

I was reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s book called Big Magic. Gilbert was referring to creative endeavours.

'Whatever you practice, you will be good at.' Elizabeth GilbertClick To Tweet

For example, if you decide you want to be a writer – like she did – and you don’t think you have the experience, or know-how, or great ideas to become a writer, Gilbert recommends, simply, practicing.

It was in a section of her book where she was saying you don’t need to go out and hire expensive mentors and take copious amounts of schooling. If you want to be good at something you simply need to practice.

Isn’t it interesting how if she had said “practice makes perfect” I probably wouldn’t have seen this in the same way? When words are rearranged differently on the page, even if it’s the same sentiment, you will see them differently than if they are familiar.

Or was it just speaking to me?

And why? Why was it speaking to me this week?

Well, I had recently received notice that I had passed all the required tests and taken all the required courses to be recognized as a fully certified Co-active coach. Yahoo!

Two hundred hours of course time, 200+ hours of paid practice, many more hours of pro-bono practicing, and I could say that I am now a fully certified coach.

It was over two and a half years ago that I decided I wanted to serve others in this way – as a coach — and it took practice.

Practice, practice and more practice.

My daughter Amanda’s high school volleyball team made it to City Championships this past weekend. They definitely didn’t start out as one of the top two teams in the city.

They set their goals, and then practiced, and practiced and practiced!

They ended up as silver medalists. What a proud moment when you know you have worked hard for that achievement.

And how about any political figure (with the exception of Donald Trump, but that’s another story) who had to run and run again before they reached the peak of their political success?

It usually takes practice, before it turns into experience, before it turns into success.

It usually takes practice, before it turns into experience, before it turns into success.Click To Tweet

Gilbert talks about a 90-year-old woman she had met who was the world authority on the history of ancient Mesopotamia.

AND SHE ONLY STARTED LEARNING ABOUT THE TOPIC IN HER 80s.

Yes, not only does it take practice, it’s never too late to start.

So, here are:

Seven Steps You Need To Take A Big Leap Forward In Your Business or Your Life

  1. Set your goals
  2. Practice
  3. Persevere
  4. Practice some more
  5. Pick yourself up again
  6. Practice, practice, practice
  7. Realize success!

Doesn’t this list seem boring? It isn’t rocket science people.

It’s simply practice.

And that was my lesson this week. If I decided I wanted to do something new, I simply had to START. And then practice. And when I was discouraged, I needed to persevere. Then practice some more.

Perseverance is the key to success.

Perseverance is the key to success.Click To Tweet

And practice.

And sometimes it can be really hard. And long. And boring. And lonely.

And then, one day… Bingo! You wake up and you’re President of the United States, or an Award-Winning Novelist, or a brand new Leadership Coach, or Silver Medalists at your City High School Volleyball Championships.

It’s pretty hard to get there any other way. And anyone can do it… yes, every YOU… as long as you practice.

What do you want to do that you don’t feel you have the authority or the skills or the know-how to start?

What is it? I want to know!

And then I want to know what you’re going to do to create a regular routine of practicing it.

Because one day, practice will “make perfect” and you will wake up and you will be that person you always wanted to be… A Champion Tuba Player! or A Successful Small Business Owner, or an Expert on QuickBooks, or a Wine Connoisseur, or an Exceptional Painter.

Whatever your “thing” is, you can do it. You just have to START. Then PRACTICE.

Whatever your “thing” is, you can do it. You just have to START. Then PRACTICE.Click To Tweet

And when the going gets tough… call me! I work with clients who really want to start something new, and just don’t know where to start… or may not even know what that something new is just yet. They just know it’s time for a fresh start.

The thing to do is to begin. And I would love to begin it with you.

Contact me for a complimentary consultation and we will make a plan to get you that big leap forward in your business or your life! And together, we will work towards that finish line that you dream of.

And when you get tired of practicing, we will work on what’s getting in the way to maintain your motivation so you can keep practicing… until you succeed.

With gratitude,
Susan Elford

Alignment Equation

Susan Elford is a Leadership Coach and Business Mentor who especially loves to work with women who want it all: a fulfilling career or business while living a full and satisfying life. Through powerful career coaching and business mentorship to get their career or business to the next level, Susan helps her clients get real about their strengths and celebrate and promote them so they get more of what they want: success at work; success in business & success in life.

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