1/
I gave a talk and it was good.
But I wanted it to be great.

I looked at the evals.
I had a trusted colleague give feedback.
I practiced.

I gave the talk again.
Incorporated those insights.
And it was great.

But I wanted it to be greater.

2/
I asked someone I respect to watch the talk.
And give some immediate feedback.
They did.

Then, they asked me to send my slides.
And I did.

They took some time and looked at them.
Then gave me even more feedback.
Specific and laser focused.

On my "great" talk.

Yup.

3/
Like, slide by slide feedback.

"Keep this."
"Maybe ditch that."
"Consider tweaking this."
"Develop that more."

Yup.

They also asked what I thought.
Because that part matters, too.
And we incorporated that into even more feedback.

Yup.

4/
So now, I’m sitting at my computer.
Practicing this talk that I have given before.
Even though I know most of the slides with my eyes closed.

But now I see them differently.
And will approach them differently, too.

Even though the talk was good.
Great even.

Yup.

5/
But this is how deliberate practice works.

Practice isn’t enough.
It has to be the right kind of practice.

With coaching.
And failure.
And feedback.
And success.
And feedback again.

Which reminds me: Have you read this book?

If not, you should. It's all about this.

6/
A favorite line from one of my favorite old school hip-hop songs says this:

“Bust a move--we show and prove.”

Let me explain:

Giving the talk?
That’s how you "bust a move."

But elevating it through coaching and feedback?
That’s how you "show and prove."

Word!

7/
No matter what it is you’re trying to master.
It won’t happen without consistent, deliberate practice.
And deliberate calls for direction.

Bust a move.
*get feedback*
Show and prove.

Bust a move.
*get feedback*
Show and prove.

Over. And over. And over again.

Feel me?

8/
DougE Fresh & Slick Rick were right.
So was Anders Ericsson—author of the book #Peak.

Want to step your game up?
Deliberate practice is the pièce de résistance.

Bust a move.
*get feedback*
Show and prove.

And repeat.

I’m excited to give my talk again soon.

Word.