Not too long ago, I pitched a university on becoming the certifying partner for my course—certifying completion. It’s not essential to the course, but it’s a meaningful enhancement. A signal of rigor. A stamp of credibility. A bridge.
I prepared basic collateral a few days ahead of time. Reviewed it. Thought I was ready.
Then they arrived.
I focused on building rapport first. Then I moved into the presentation. And as I was talking, I could feel it—there were things I wasn’t saying quite right. Slides that suddenly felt thin. Points that needed more clarity. I could hear my own internal editor kicking in mid-sentence.
And here’s the thing: I noticed all of that because I’ve grown.
I kept going. I finished the presentation. It wasn’t perfect—but it was real. And when I later looked back at the slides through a different lens, I knew exactly what needed to be stronger next time.
That’s progress.
I’m closer today than I was yesterday to securing a certifying partner. And sometimes that’s the real win—not perfection, but forward motion.
Did you catch that?