Find the 23 in You and Take Flight! Practice is Confidence.

Let's go back... way back... to the era B.C. (Before COVID), to the last millennium, the last century... almost 3 decades ago, a time without smartphones for taking pictures and selfies...

While visiting Chicago, Illinois, I purchased a cheap ticket to a Bulls basketball game. The ticket was about $10, and my seat was where I would need plugs for my nose instead of my ears. As with most arenas, on the main level, you can see security guards monitoring entrances to stairs leading to the court floor. Upon entering (it was the 2nd half already), I walked up to get a better look before going up, up, up to my purchased seat. Suddenly, something was happening a few staircases over, and the guards left their post in front of me. I remember looking into the eyes of the guy next to me, and without a word, we rushed down the stairs to the court. I saw Michael Jordan running right in front of me at his prime. My life changed at that moment, witnessing how focused, ripped, and athletic someone could become... just seeing him helped my life aspirations take flight.

When I think of Michael Jordan, I think of relentless grit, work ethic, and dedication. "Some guys in the league right now, their regular seasons are different than the playoffs," Jordan once explained via ESPN. "Why is that? Because it's a different kind of pressure. Those guys, when it gets stripped down, don't believe in themselves. They aren't sure they can hit the big shot, so they can't. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy... If you have doubt or concern about a shot, or feel the 'pressure' of that shot, it's because you haven't practiced it enough. The only way to relieve that pressure is to build your fundamentals, practice them over and over, so when game breaks down, you can handle anything that transpires."

"People didn't believe me when I told them I practiced harder than I played, but it was true," Jordan pointed out. "That's where my comfort zone was created. By the time the game came, all I had to do was react to what my body was already accustomed to doing."

Before a big presentation, do you practice the entire speech in the mirror (at least three times), watch your body language (power pose), your tone, and your ability to have key points memorized? The best presentations of my career were the result of practice. When I memorized my entire presentation, I rocked it. I didn't even need to look at the slides because I knew what was coming. I even knew what questions would be asked and when because I practiced for it!

As a minimum, I recommend using a 3:1 rule. Practice at least 3 times more than your planned time. For example, if your scheduled time is half an hour, plan for 90 minutes to practice the live/final version 3 times. Commit to memory your message, your pitch, your proposal!

Jordan once metaphorically said he had to miss "9,000 shots" to finally find success. Missing shots is what helps you refine your practice to build the confidence and muscle memory to make them. I believe fanatical practice builds confidence and brings out your best. Practice, practice, practice until you unconditionally believe in yourself, then you will find the 23 in you!

Recommended TED Talk: Grit- Power of Passion and Perseverance

CBS Sports

RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

Flickr by Jason H. Smith

© Nuri Dimler 2025