Practice: Why What Looks Effortless Often Isn't

Have you ever watched someone do something and they make it look effortless? Almost like you could stand up there and do it just as well without practice?

Perhaps you went to the US Open and thought, for a brief moment,

"I could play tennis like that."

Or maybe you saw someone walking in heels, parking their car in a tight spot, or folding a fitted sheet perfectly. Not to compare tennis pros with folding a sheet, but here we are.

This past weekend, I became that person.

I saw a group of about 40 young bikers riding up and down the street, doing pop-a-wheelies next to the outdoor patio where I was sitting, enjoying lunch with my dear friends and husband. Out of the blue, I had the impulse to ask one of them if I could get on their bike and try it because he made it look so easy!

A young 17-year-old looked at me like I was losing my mind but said, "Yes!"

So there I was, riding his bike down the street, and at one point, I tried to do a pop-a-wheelie and failed miserably. With slight embarrassment and a lot of self-deprecating laughter, I gave him his bike back, but I had a great time at least trying!

It made me think about speaking. We’ve all seen someone give a TED Talk or a keynote presentation and thought, "I could do that."

They make it look so easy, as if they just stood up and started speaking effortlessly. But the truth is, like me trying that pop-a-wheelie, what looks effortless is often the result of a lot of practice.

When you first step up to speak, just like I got on that bike, it might not go perfectly. You may feel the embarrassment of a missed point or a stumble. But the key is putting yourself out there and being willing to try, even if you don’t nail it the first time.

With each attempt and a little coaching, you will get better.

So, the next time you’re tempted to think public speaking is as easy as it looks, remember that it's all about the willingness to practice, fail, and keep going. That's how you get from riding the bike to doing wheelies—or from giving a simple talk to delivering that signature talk that moves your audience to take action!

As for me, I’m not sure I’ll dedicate time to refining my pop-a-wheelie skills, but at least now I know I can just sit back, watch with delight and appreciate their mad skills! ✨