Most people who ever pursue a worthy goal, such as the guitar, do so with only a vague idea of where they are going. It may seem like enough to simply try to be like your favorite guitarists, or become determined to be “good enough” to play your favorite technique, but these things will never get you there on their own.
It’s difficult to avoid clichés when talking about something like this. But one way to think of this is to compare it to going on a long journey to some destination. If you set out with only the goal of getting there, and the road is difficult and filled with distractions, it’s unlikely that you will arrive. It’s not enough to simply know where you’re going. Knowing how to get there is obviously important, but some of that you can learn on the way. The most critical factor to ensure that you actually reach your final destination is to know why you are going there.
Think about this. You set out on that journey and find it to be extremely difficult at times. Along the way, there are things you can enjoy that are easy by comparison. You could stop at this or that destination along the way and not have to push forward anymore. In fact, you’ll be tempted to stop rather frequently. Maybe it’s just meant as giving yourself a “well deserved” rest for a few days. But if you stop and lose your momentum, what is going to spur you forward again? How can you be sure that you’ll continue on?
The truth is, the vast majority of people who set out on that journey never actually arrive at their original destination. And the reason for this is simple. Their reason for getting there was not strong enough to justify the challenges along the way. That’s it. There really isn’t anything else to it.
The guitarists who reach their goals, become masters, become professionals, become successful and famous, do so by having reasons that are more important to them than being comfortable or having fun. They have reasons that give them such intense excitement and motivation that they can’t help but give their all. If they begin to falter, all they have to do is think about those reasons and their motivation reappears in full force.
For some, this might sound impossible. Maybe you’ll think to yourself that you couldn’t possibly find a reason strong enough. If you do think that, I’m happy to tell you that you’re wrong. It might take you some work and a good deal of introspection, but if you take the time to figure it out, you absolutely can find a reason that will push you forward harder than you could imagine is possible. And working towards something that you feel that strongly about is more rewarding than any entertainment or distraction can ever be.
Dan Mumm
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