"Man, you're an absolute natural on stage!"

Someone teed up this compliment for me last week after The 2025 CFO Accelerator LIVE. But instead of pride, I felt a twinge of frustration because "natural" erased the real story behind those smooth keynotes:

• $100,000+ spent on speaker courses, private coaches, and video gear.
• Hundreds of shaky reps at Rotary Clubs, workshops, podcasts, and webinars.
• Dozens of forgotten lines, awkward silences, and post-mortem debriefs.

Nothing "natural" about it. Excellence came after intentional (and expensive!) effort.

And it's a dangerous trap to fall into. If we label top performers as "born with it," we give ourselves permission to stay mediocre.

It's comforting—but corrosive.

Why We Love the "Natural" Myth

The idea of raw talent is seductive for two reasons:

1. Ego protection. If someone's gift is hard-wired, I'm not failing, I'm just different.
2. Simplicity. Stories of overnight success spare us the messy middle filled with practice, coaching, mistakes, and missteps.

But my experience and the data tell a different story: mastery is engineered.

My Backstage Price Tag

Here's a snapshot of the real costs behind "natural" stage presence:

• 4-day speaking course $30,000
• 2-day live stage presence workshop $5,500
• 12-week 1:1 coaching program $10,000
• Travel & lodging $12,000
• Cameras, mics, lighting, other gear $18,000
Total: $75,500

Add in the opportunity cost of nights and weekends spent writing and rehearsing instead of relaxing, and the figure breaks six digits.

That's what "natural" really costs.

The Investment Curve of an Elite Fractional CFO

Speaking isn't the only craft where mastery has a steep paywall.

It's similar in sports, music, art or just about any other discipline.

In fact, the best Fractional CFO firm owners I know treat their professional growth the same way.

• Sales skills
• Marketing training
• Leadership coaching
• Personal brand building
• Hiring and talent retention skills

Then you factor in the opportunity cost of testing, failing, and testing again.

When you tally time and money, the number often rivals (or surpasses) the tab I had to cover for speaking.

But the return?

Higher retainers, deeper impact, and massive brand reputations.

Worth it!

What the Research Really Says

Over the years, I've come across countless studies that show that investing in yourself pays off exponentially.

• Deliberate Practice (Anders Ericsson). Focused, feedback-rich reps from coaches beat mindless repetition every time.
• Growth Mindset (Carol Dweck). Believing skills are learnable increases resilience after inevitable mistakes (say, a forecast that misses by 20 percent).
• Professional-services study (McKinsey, 2024). Firms whose leaders invest 20+ hours per month in up-skilling grow 30 percent faster than peers.

Interestingly, of all the studies I've read, not a single one concluded that "some people are just natural born Fractional CFOs."

Maybe I need to keep looking? 

Re-framing the Compliment

When you see someone that truly excels at their craft, instead of saying, "You're a natural," try:

"You do such an amazing job at (x). I can tell you love the work but approach it with discipline. I'm curious: what did the road to that level of skill look like for you?"

This not only honors their journey but also opens the door for you to learn what it takes.

Remember... 

Whether you're looking at a professional pickleball player, an amazing speaker, or an uber-successful Fractional CFO firm owner, remember that the excellence you witness is the byproduct of significant investment (definitely time, probably financial).

I find it remarkably empowering knowing that I can close the gap between where I'm at and mastery if I choose to make the investment. 

The only thing left is choosing to do something about it.