🎩 What Ricky Jay Taught Me About the Power of Coaching 🎩

Have you ever seen something so incredible that it made you rethink your limits? That was me, watching Ricky Jay perform the one-handed Faro shuffle. It wasn’t just a card move—it was art. Smooth. Effortless. Absolutely impossible.

Naturally, I had to learn it.

Spoiler alert: I couldn’t. Not on my own, anyway.

I tried every trick in the book (and a few that probably aren’t in any book). My hands cramped, cards flew across the room, and my frustration level hit new heights. I realized something important: I was stuck.

That’s when I found someone who knew more about cards than I did. A coach. They walked me through it step by step, corrected my grip, and reminded me to slow down and trust the process. It took months, but eventually, I got it.

Here’s the thing: Watching Ricky Jay inspired me. But learning from someone else empowered me.

This story was part of my recent TEDx Salon talk, where I shared my Four Suits Framework. The Clubs represent mentors, teachers, and coaches—the people who have the skills, wisdom, and patience to help us level up. Without that coach, I’d still be over here turning cards into confetti.

What’s your “Faro shuffle”? The thing you can’t master on your own? And who’s the coach who helped you get there—or the one you’re still looking for?

Let’s celebrate the mentors who’ve helped us shuffle through life (pun intended). Tag yours in the comments!