I’ve always played guitar to a decent level. I could do the cowboy chords and play a few songs decently.
When I was 25, I bought a decent Ibanez guitar and decided it was time to get a teacher.
This teacher was something else. I’ve never met anyone with that level of talent on the guitar and someone who could distinguish any note I played.
Nothing got past the guy.
I was feeling so discouraged, but I showed up.
Every day.
I didn’t feel like it most of the time. No matter how much I practiced, I never felt like I was at the level I wanted to be. I felt discouraged, but always showed up.
It took some deep breaths and patience, but I kept pushing.
Fast forward a few years of lessons, I got better. Shockingly better. I still can’t play everything I want to, but I can figure most stuff out and understand what I’m playing.
It took time to feel somewhat competent.
Get to the line
When I first got in contact with my guitar teacher. I had no idea what I was doing.
I just showed up with my guitar. I didn’t even have an amp or tuner, aka essentials.
What’s the worst that could happen? He thinks I suck and tells me I’m not worthy?
That’s not how these things go.
I think this is how we feel on any endeavor in life we want to explore. We feel like, if we show up, we’re just going to suck and get laughed at. As if we’re supposed to be excellent right when we pick up the skill.
Maybe Mozart did that, but it’s not how we mere mortals experience life.
Showing up to the line as your scrappy self is just fine.
Ready
Preparing for any endeavor should take some research. In my case, I talked to people in the guitar shop about this teacher and they all gave him great reviews.
Here is where I messed up. I developed something called G.A.S. It stands for gear acquisition syndrome. I shopped for gear all the time. New amps, pedals, guitars, everything. It was never enough and I spent too much time and money.
You are enough.
Showing up as your wonderful self is almost always enough. Yes, you’ll need basic tools, but don’t do what I did. If you spend excessive resources always looking, you’ll never find the “perfect” thing.
Pro tip: Just use what you have and get really good with that thing. Even borrow stuff if you can. Being resourceful is key.
Set
I believe this is the mental part of the game. You need to be set and realize that you may not like the thing, it won’t go perfectly, and pivoting is just fine.
Brace yourself for the inevitable. You’re going to get punched in the face.
There were times that I just wanted to sell all my stuff and give up. I still have those days when I pick up the guitar. Hell, I’ve done that a time or two in my life.
But you know what? I always seemed to come back to it.
Don’t worry about the setbacks. They’ll come. Just let the journey happen as you look to better yourself.
Pro tip: Find out what some of the pitfalls might be so you can avoid them. You can’t avoid everything, but having an expert or resource around to prep you on most stuff will keep you going at times.
GO!
You’ll literally feel like the gunshot went off and you’re trapped in the races. Your perception of the skill you’re pursuing will radically change as you immerse yourself into the wonderful realm of education.
Whether you are going fast or slow, just keep going.
Pro tip: Show up every day. Practice it when you can. You never know where you might end up.
Conclusion
I’m not going to be Eddie Van Halen. I’m not going to blow up Woodstock or headline Coachella.
I’m ok with that.
Set your expectations and do it anyway. It doesn’t matter what people think. It doesn’t matter if you don’t make bags of money. If it fills your bucket with life, hope, and wonder, I say charge forth with courage.
Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Finish Line
It doesn’t exist. Keep going.
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