Yesterday, I was reading a forum and a question came up regarding what keeps a guitarist motivated to practice? Now, there were several answers and I found them to be good and I could certainly put my own in there but I make a point not to write on forums; however, it started me to think, not just in terms of a guitarist, but more in terms as a person. I will certainly at some point, either here or in class, share with you what has made me pick up a guitar almost daily and practice; however, today I feel it is more important to share with you what keeps me motivated as a person. What makes me get up everyday, set goals and work to achieve them? Well, here are a few of my thoughts.....

1) Always keep the end in sight - If you do not know where you are going, how in the world do you expect to get there? Surely not by happenstance. It just doesn't work that way. Set a goal that is higher than you think you can achieve. Be intentional in creating a plan to achieve your goal and put it into play. Your goal can always change, but your structured plan and exercise thereof will always be a positive toward achieving your new goal. Keep your eye on the target.

2) Identify your "WHY"? In other words, who is the person or group of people in your life who are your Driving Force?  Who depends on you? Who has invested emotionally in you? Are these the people who you feel you would disappoint should you fall short of your goal or are they depending on you for their livelihood? For me, my parents are my cheerleaders. They've invested financially and emotionally in me throughout my life. I could not disappoint them; however, the thought of that possibility has always driven me to be the best I can be at anything I have undertaken. My family has invested in me emotionally and throughout the years in the same way I did my parents. The need and desire to provide for them financially and emotionally has kept me getting up every morning.

3) Fear of Failure- Yes fear of failure is one of the strongest motivators of all. As an educator, I knew and understood my students and their parents depended on me to lead them toward making sound and high quality educational choices. I knew  my words and suggestions carried a ton of weight with them. I could not sleep at night if I ever felt in anyway I had misled anyone in a way that hindered them from keeping all career options in front of them. The fear of failure will drive you mercilessly toward your goal.

4) My faith in God- I should have listed this first for it is the most important. I, and hopefully for you as well, feel wherever I am in life, I want it to be where Christ uses me to glorify Him. That means I trust Him to put me there at all times. By that trusting Him to do this, I have to keep moving and striving each day to achieve my goals and He will do the rest. If I just stay stagnant and not seek His guidance, nothing happens. Really, enough said after that.

These are just a few of my thoughts on what has kept me motivated throughout the years. How does this apply to "Strings Attached"? Since I've retired from education, Strings Attached is now my business, my job. Growing it to be the "go to" place to learn guitar has become my new goal. My promise to you is that I, as your instructor, or potential instructor if you haven't quite wizened up yet, will apply all of these motivators to you as my client while I teach you how to play guitar. I will prepare, be attentive to your needs, and supply you with the tools with which you need to be successful. Will you apply these to yourself in all aspects of living? 

Keep Picking
Mike

I'm still impressed with the dedication of you all. As we are heading into a "Make-up" week, which for most of you means no instruction this coming week, I have evaluated your progress. First let me say, I am tremendously happy with your results. There has been a vast amount of improvement each week. Where you actually do struggle, it is exactly where I expected you to struggle and are in the same areas in which I struggled as I was learning. In other words, do not be discouraged; you are not alone.  As you practice and work, it will come to you and I will help you get through it. I will be available for you this coming week if you run into any issues we need to work out together. Also, I am doing a little "self evaluation" and am asking myself how I can become a better instructor so I can give you the best available anywhere. Just to kind of let you know one thing I am considering maybe come January is to offer Zoom classes. Thus I am educating myself thanks to the suggestion of one of my clients and I will see if I can work out all the kinks in Zoom, to make this happen.  Meanwhile, utilize this week to assimilate yourself and get comfortable to what we have done so far. For those of you in level A, smooth out your transitions, chord clarity, and rhythm techniques because when we get back together in two weeks, this will be getting "real". 
If you are thinking about joining up with Strings Attached but not yet sure about doing a free consultation. Maybe you are just thinking about it and have need of some questions answered in a "no pressure" environment. If so, send me an email to [email protected] with your question and I'll do my best to provide you with a detailed answer. If you are interested in doing a consultation, just click here and I'll get right with you to make it happen.
Have a great week ahead and practice long and smart.
Mike