Advise for beginners....

From Ira Glass . . .
    “What nobody tells people who are beginners — and I really wish someone had told this to me . . . is that all of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, and it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase. They quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know it’s normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”

    ——————–

    Ira Glass is the host and producer of This American Life. Click here for the full original video (runtime 5:20).

Most people believe we learn somthing through our achievements, but actually it is through our failures. When we are courageous enough to step beyond the safe boundries of what we can do, trying something new and unventured, the result regardless of the outcome, is a step forward. Nothing ventured...nothing gained. As a beginner, it seems everything is difficult. If you think of each new objective, as simply another challenge, and approach it with a patient, open heart, learning will be an enjoyable never ending pursuit. The process is more important than the destination. It is how you handle yourself in the heat of battle that reveals your true intention. Fight or flight. The road to the top is narrow and steep with pitfalls around every corner. The outcome is always uncertain, but the capacity to keep trying is forever limitless. Enjoy your practice. May your life go well.

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Comments

Lonman October 25, 2011 at 5:14pm

Well said by the posters. I am finishing my 8th build and I continue to learn so much and I do not lose sight why I am doing these builds- as a hobby. Build 8 is actually for someone who wanted to pay me for building them, so of course this is special to me and I want it to be the best I have done so far. Being a hobby, I can do this at my speed with no deadlines. However, I do need to decide what I am going to do with these when I run out of room storing them in my closet. I don't have many safe places to put them. Happy building to you all.
phil noel October 25, 2011 at 11:50am

cheers jim, and everyone else.. will be back soon with moans and groans . hey yet im still smiling..
Chuck Dubman October 25, 2011 at 12:34am

Every craft has its own ways and techniques. Learning a new one is the same as learning a new language. Stick with it, and you become fluent.
Jim Mitchell October 24, 2011 at 2:28pm

Hey Phil, I actually started out building guitars, One day I was on the internet found Keni Lee playing a 3 string and I was hooked. My guitar building buddies would tell me building and instrument is about getting your process down. That worked for me, the only hard fast rule is don't take short cuts with safety.... If I can ever help please let me know. Jim
Ron "Oily" Sprague October 24, 2011 at 2:22pm

Phil,

Look at it this way. From a certain perspective, you're smack dab in the middle of a blues song. ;-)

Welcome to the Addiction.
phil noel October 24, 2011 at 1:44pm

great words of wisdom .... im going throught that phase now, only on my second build . and mistake after mistake, and enough oak firewood to last a decade . hair has gone grey. wallet is the size of a of a piece of paper..

dam cigar boxes costing me a fortune .. wife moaning ...

but im loving it , one day i will get it all together .. and boy will i be a happy chap....
Keni Lee Burgess October 22, 2011 at 8:27am

Most people believe we learn somthing through our achievements, but actually it is through our failures. When we are courageous enough to step beyond the safe boundries of what we can do, trying something new and unventured, the result regardless of the outcome, is a step forward. Nothing ventured...nothing gained. As a beginner, it seems everything is difficult. If you think of each new objective, as simply another challenge, and approach it with a patient, open heart, learning will be an enjoyable never ending pursuit. The process is more important than the destination. It is how you handle yourself in the heat of battle that reveals your true intention. Fight or flight. The road to the top is narrow and steep with pitfalls around every corner. The outcome is always uncertain, but the capacity to keep trying is forever limitless. Enjoy your practice. May your life go well.

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