Pickleball reminded me of a truth that’s simple, yet quietly profound.
I started playing pickleball recently, and yesterday when we got to the court, I noticed someone practicing with their coach. Not playing a full game. Not switching drills every few minutes. Just hitting the same shot, over and over, for 15 minutes straight. It instantly brought me back to my days playing competitive badminton. We’d spend hours on a single stroke until our bodies could hit it with our eyes closed. We didn’t judge ourselves if we missed. We expected repetition. We knew that mastery came from muscle memory, not from perfection. But in the world of high-achieving women, especially CPAs, I often see something very different. One mistake, one imperfect result, one moment of doubt... And suddenly the self-criticism kicks in. The pressure to get it right the first time. The belief that if it’s not easy, you're not meant for it. Here’s what I’ve learned from coaching and from life: You're not failing. You're training. Growth doesn't come from perfection. It comes from presence. From repetition. From allowing yourself to practice. Because repetition isn't a weakness. It's how confidence is built. ✨ What’s one area of your life or work where you could give yourself more permission to practice?