Growing up, I was easily the shyest girl in the room. Not just quiet—debilitatingly shy.

I was so shy that I wouldn’t even ring the bell to get off the bus. I’d simply ride along to the next stop and get off with the person who’d had the courage to ring the bell!

I didn’t want to be seen or heard.

It was the kind of shyness that kept me from raising my hand, even when I knew the answer. That stopped me from asking questions, engaging in conversation, or building the relationships I deeply wanted.

It definitely kept me from becoming the best version of myself throughout high school and well into my college career.

Deep down, I knew I couldn’t hide forever. My mentor once told me: Everything can change with one decision.

Launching My Mindset March

One day I simply decided. 

I started what I now call my Mindset March: a daily and intentional push to challenge my fears, stretch outside the shell I had built, and start showing up—even when I felt uncertain, awkward, or afraid. I started a consistent, deliberate effort to chip away at the self-imposed barriers that had held me captive for so long.

That’s why, when I enrolled in the University of Houston, it was completely out of character for me to try out for the women’s basketball team.

I played basketball in high school. I wasn’t recruited. I wasn’t a star player. But I was determined to give it one last shot.

My dream of playing college basketball ended there.

I didn’t make the team, but that setback turned into one of the most defining and transformative experiences of my life.

Instead of walking away, I asked the coaches if they needed any help. That simple question opened an unexpected door: They needed a student manager. I signed on and received a full scholarship in the process!

Rebounding My Way to Inspiration

The real win wasn’t just financial. The real win was what I learned by pushing myself through the fear and standing courtside every day with a team operating at the highest level of excellence. I observed, absorbed, and contributed, gaining an insider’s view of dedication and high performance that no textbook could ever teach.

When the players had to complete 100 passes, 100 rebounds, or 100 shots before they could head home, I did the inverse. When they shot, I rebounded. When they rebounded, I shot.

Without realizing it, I was getting better each day—not by doing the exact same work they were—but by consistently engaging in the process.

That’s when I realized: Practice doesn’t make perfect.

It makes you feel natural, comfortable, and confident.

It’s not always about the exact skill itself. Sometimes, the repetition of being in the environment, even if you’re doing the inverse, sharpens your skills in ways you never imagined possible. This continuous immersion, this quiet dedication, builds a deep-seated competence that transforms how you approach any challenge.

Natural, Comfortable Presence Makes the Difference

That insight shaped how I view leadership, business, and sales.

Today, as a Sales Growth Advisor and Mindset Coach, I still live by the principle that practice doesn’t make perfect. It makes confident, natural, and comfortable.

It might seem strange but even with three decades in sales behind me I still role play and use index cards to rehearse presentations. Not for the prospective buyer—for myself!

The more natural and comfortable I feel, the more confident I show up. That confidence impacts the way I speak, and it changes the way I connect.

In today’s competitive sales landscape, that kind of presence matters. It’s the silent language of credibility, signaling to prospects that you are genuinely in control and authentically invested in their success.

Why I Do What I Do

About 88% of corporate buyers say they prefer working with a trusted advisor over a traditional salesperson. The confidence you’ve built from consistent, intentional practice supports your qualifications as an advisor.

It’s why I’m so passionate about what we’re building at Sales Gravy University.

We’re not here to turn you into a robotic script-reader.

We’re here to help you become more of who you already are—with sharper skills, stronger confidence, and a sales style that feels real, relevant, and effective.

Because when you show up comfortable in your own skin, clients listen and trust. When clients trust you, they can have stronger conversations and make better decisions.

So wherever you are in your sales journey—just starting out, rebuilding momentum, or already leading the pack—know this:

Practice makes you powerful.

Find more can’t-miss sales lessons from Cheryl Parks at Sales Gravy University.