Week 4 What keeps me motivated?

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