Capable and good are different things — Kelford Labs Daily

There are many things I’m bad at, including juggling and playing guitar.

But being bad at something is not the same as being unable to do it at all. In fact, I’m infinitely better at both these things than someone who can’t do either.

Give me a few round-ish objects and I can juggle them for a minute or two, but fairly shakily and without much showmanship. Don’t give me anything that can’t hit the ground without breaking.

Hand me a guitar and I’ll clumsily strum one of the very few songs I know, as my pitchless singing voice clears the room. And don’t expect me to be able to play any songs you’ve ever heard of.

The thing is, years ago I crossed the threshold between not knowing how to do either of these things at all, to knowing how to do these things.

But I’m still not very good at either of them.

Why?

Because I don’t practice.

Which means I’m really in no position to complain that I’m bad at those things, or that no one wants to pay to see me do them.

Performance comes from practice, not from reading a book, watching YouTube videos, or taking a course. Those things might be important first steps before practicing, but they do not constitute practice itself.

Practice is just something we have to do.

And yes, there are more and less effective ways of practicing anything, so the time we spend doing it may be more or less efficient.

But the principle is the same: To get better, we have to keep working at it.

And we have to pay attention to the feedback we’re getting, from ourselves, our prospects, and our market.

Being able to do something at all is the necessary first step before practicing, but practice is how we improve.

So if we’re not practicing our marketing, how could we ever complain that we’re not getting better, or that no one’s paying attention?

That’s why we show you the way to always knowing what to say.

And then we show you what to practice, and hold you as accountable as you want to be to it, so you get better and better every day.

Reply to this email to tell me what you think, or ask any questions!

Kelford Inc. shows communicators the way to always knowing what to say.