Reposted by Tim Richardson

Practice the Basics: Why Repetition Builds Success

If you have ever taken music lessons, you have likely spent time playing scales. Scales can feel repetitious, time-consuming, and not particularly fun. Yet scales are essential to playing music well. I have been taking jazz piano lessons off and on for seven years, and I tried to avoid scales. That choice held me back.

Musicians know that scales develop speed, accuracy, and confidence. Without them, playing at a high level is nearly impossible. In my speaking career, I have often resisted memorizing speech content or rehearsing. Tailoring material for specific audiences is not thrilling. Yet each step is necessary to deliver an effective presentation.

Leaders face a similar challenge. Most managers do not practice giving performance reviews, preparing thoughtful interview questions, or developing their coaching skills. Without practice, they miss opportunities to become more effective. Most sales professionals are extroverted and enjoy connecting with people. The details often feel less engaging. Writing scripts, practicing presentations, and recording accurate CRM notes may not feel energizing. Yet these tasks are vital for success.

Preparation and Follow-Through The best sales professionals commit to preparation and consistent follow-through. Growth requires ongoing learning and practice. My father was a classically trained pianist. I often watched him practice highly complex pieces for hours. When a section gave him trouble, he slowed it down and repeated it until he mastered it. He knew that deliberate repetition was the path to mastery. That same principle applies to leadership, sales, and personal growth. My father loved to tell the story of a young man in New York who, without knowing who he was addressing, asked famous pianist, Arthur Rubinstein for directions to Carnegie Hall. His reply was simple and profound: “Practice, practice, practice.” Maybe we all need to slow down and return to the basics. When we commit to practicing the fundamentals, we see results.

Practice can be monotonous. Practice can be time consuming. Practice can be transformational.

See Original Post