Long before I became a businesswoman, I was an athlete. Sports engulfed my life. Under the guidance of my father, he trained my brother and me with the same vigor he trained his athletes (many of whom have gone on to play on national and international levels) as a soccer coach for well over two decades.
Echoed throughout every session was his voice repeating his trusted mantra:
Get your reps in.
Over the years, he perfected methods and formulas that, to those on the outside, were deemed ineffective; too simple, too narrow, and flat out boring. They didn’t have his vision or the intimate understanding that, before you can go faster or farther, you first needed to understand the mechanics of the game and yourself—every stitch, every groove—to reveal the parts of you that were needed when finally up against the real work; the moments that defined the kind of athlete you were destined to become.
Big on development, he knew that the work that showed up on the field, was built off of it, long before the sound of the start whistle. He understood the game like no other, and recognized how to carve out the path(s) to success:
Get your reps in.
In every training session, he repeated the same moves, play-by-play, to build muscle memory; he wanted it to come natural to us. My dad was teaching us the importance of getting your reps in, and throughout my life, this was the foundation to everything we did.
He taught me early on that good things take time to create, develop, and evolve. Though my days as an avid soccer player and competitive swimmer are long behind me, the way I approach every aspect of my professional career is still done by following the blueprint provided by my father. After being off the grid last year, I am back on the speaking circuit, and when I shared a recent clip on IG stories, I received some really great questions, one of which was, “How do you stop saying ‘umm’?”
Truth is, while it may seem like a natural occurrence, it was something that came with years of practice and dedication to becoming the kind of speaker who could command any room or stage, long before it came to fruition. I didn’t wait until an opportunity fell into my lap to get prepared. Just as my dad did, I allowed discipline to help me build that muscle memory, and with it, I stretched myself far beyond my initial comfort zones. Early in my career, I was intentional in creating the moments that would provide me with the challenges I knew would help me become the speaker I sought to be. From church Christmas plays that I loathed to my dad making us share our day at the dinner table, I was used to facing those uncomfortable feelings early on.
As I got older, that looked like investing in event spaces to headline my own motivational events, speaking at over 50 high schools where I knew keeping them engaged would be a challenge, and even hiring a videographer to film my speaking events so I could study my progress just as I did as an athlete. Whether there were 5 or 500 people in the room, I reached for that faithful blueprint and studied every stitch, every groove of myself so I was ready long before that start whistle blew; before the stage was ever booked.
Today, I’m now a high-demand speaker, and in just a few days, I’ll be on stage at a summit giving a presentation in front of 150 people. For the last 10 years, it’s been one of my most highly requested keynotes, and I’ve probably given it more than 100 times.
But even though most of you would assume I can give this presentation in my sleep, and I probably can, the only thing that was on my schedule to do today is practice. Nothing has changed. I know the material inside out, but every time I step onto the stage, I want to be 1% better than the last. While many of you explore what your speaking aspirations look like, my advice is to embrace the moments that stretch you. Those are the moments that help define the speaker you know you’re destined to be.
But though panels, fireside chats and shared stages are a great start, don’t be afraid to develop a solo talk or a keynote speech. Get comfortable leaning on your own voice, views, and presence to hold the attention of a room of 50, knowing one day it will be hundreds. At my next event, I’m the only person booked to take the stage alone, and that’s exactly what I want for you, too. Let’s see more women commanding the room, and speaking on topics no one else in the world can do better.
Whether virtually or in real life, look for me in the audience. I’ll be the one cheering you on the loudest!
A BIT ABOUT ME: Hi! My name is Pauleanna Reid. I’m the founder and chief storyteller at WritersBlok where I lead an all-women of color team of celebrity ghostwriters. As a collective, we help industry leaders and doers who are shaping the future turn their personal stories into brand assets so they can stay relevant in a noisy world, communicate to their audience at scale, and turn any conversation into a meaningful and profitable lead. Clients truly trust me with their reputations and their legacies. In fact, when they want to speak up on a hot topic and shake the room, I’m the woman they call. Many of them have me on speed dial, why don’t you?