A few weeks ago, I tweeted something simple:

“I suck at hockey.”

And it’s true.

9-year-olds skate circles around me.
I fall more than I’d like to admit.

But I keep showing up.

Because every time I step on the ice, I’m reminded of something I tell my clients all the time:

Learning technology works the same way.

You Don’t Start Confident

One of the most common things I hear from older adults is:

“I’m just not good with technology.”

I get it.

Because when I’m on the ice?
I’m not good either.

I wobble.
I hesitate.
I overthink every move.

Sound familiar?

That’s exactly how tech feels when:

you can’t find a password
your printer won’t connect
your email won’t load
something just doesn’t make sense

It’s not just frustrating.

It’s exhausting.

The Lie That Holds People Back

Here’s the lie:

“Some people are just naturally good at tech.”

They’re not.

They just have more reps.

That’s it.

Nobody starts confident.

Not in hockey.
Not in technology.
Not in anything that matters.

What Falling on the Ice Taught Me

Every time I fall, I’ve got two choices:

Sit there and be pissed off
Get up and try again

And I’ll be honest…

There are days I want to stay down.

But I don’t.

Because I know something most people overlook:

Progress doesn’t feel good in the moment.

It feels awkward.
It feels slow.
It feels uncomfortable.

But it’s working.

Small Wins Compound

Here’s what most people miss.

Small wins don’t stay small.

They compound.

One success leads to another.

Then another.

Before long the person who once avoided their computer is:

• organizing photos
• paying bills online
• sharing memories with friends
• joining Zoom calls
• managing their digital life with confidence

Not because someone forced them to learn.

But because they collected enough small victories to believe in themselves again.

What a “Small Win” Actually Looks Like

When I sit with a client at their kitchen table in New York City, we’re not chasing some big breakthrough.

We’re looking for small wins.

Simple things like:

Printing a document without help
Logging into an account without panic
Finding a file in seconds
Sending a photo to someone they care about

To someone else, that might look small.

But to them?

It’s everything.

Because that’s the moment something shifts.

Confidence Doesn’t Arrive. It Builds.

Confidence isn’t something you wake up with.

It’s something you build.

Quietly.

Slowly.

One small win at a time.

The same way I learn hockey:

One better stride
One less fall
One moment where something clicks

That’s how it works with tech, too.

You’re Not Behind

If you’re struggling with technology right now, I want you to hear this clearly:

You’re not behind.

You’re just early in the process.

That’s it.

And the only way forward is the same way I get better on the ice:

Show up.
Try again.
Stack small wins.

The Real Goal Isn’t “Being Good at Tech”

It’s not about becoming some tech expert.

It’s about:

Feeling calm when you open your device
Knowing you can figure things out
Staying connected to the people and things that matter most

That’s the real win.

Final Thought

I’m still going to fall on the ice.

A lot.

But I’ll keep getting up.

Because I know where it leads.

And if you stick with it—
with your phone, your computer, your email, all of it—

You’ll get there too.

One small win at a time. 🏒💻

What’s Your Next Move?

If this resonated with you, pass it along to someone who might need it.

And if you’ve had a small tech win recently—no matter how small—hold onto it.

That’s how it starts.

I Suck at Hockey. Here’s Why That Matters for Learning Tech