How do you get to Carnegie Hall?

You could stand in front of a mirror and practice delivering your pitch, but it would not be the same as having a few work friends sit in the conference room while you pitch them.

Call it whatever you want –practice or role-playing– but either way, you won’t learn faster or better unless you emulate real-life scenarios and make mistakes in front of another live human being.

Practicing elements of your customer interactions will build your confidence fast and yield helpful feedback from your peers. You’ll be working on your skills, too, by giving them feedback when you ”switch roles.”

Today, pick an upcoming client meeting that is kinda-super-important and practice with a work peer.

Here are a few ideas of things to practice:

1. How does your value prop sound to this customer? What needs altering?

2. What are the objections that require live prep and rehearsing?

3. Haven’t asked for enough referrals lately ’cuz you don’t know the exact words to use? Practice it.

Whether you have read the book Peak (recommended by MySalesDay on October 10), or been coached in sports or music by someone maniacal about the details, you’re familiar with the concept of perfect practice.

Although nervous in her TED Talk, the very charming, classically trained piano player Claire Tueller will inspire you to think critically about how you practice. She’ll grab you right away, claiming that ”practice does not make perfect,” but instead, ”perfect practice makes perfect.”