Hmmm… Sounds familiar. Musician. Creative. Intelligent. Can write. Can speak. Heck, was president of the debate team, and was in all those “smart-people” classes.

I’ve always had “potential” coming out of my butt, but I’ve never really cracked down and focused. Never really had to.

But I’ve got reasons to do so now (three of them).

Thanks for the gentle kick. I needed that.

-John

That was a painful realization. I was thirty-two
at the time, no longer young, no longer having
fun doing the things that had pleased me so
thoroughly just a year or so earlier.

I was done with having potential.

Screw potential.

Potential can murder your life.”

These words cant be truer to me. It’s as if John
is speaking to me.

All thru my 34 long years in this world, I am
always counted as “someone with potential”

Results to show - Not much I can be proud of.

Atleast to the level I am capable of, I am yet to
reach that place.

Though I have to start two years later than John,
it can’t come at a more oppurtune time.

Being good at a craft, to learn the craft - Man
word oozing with wisdom and prophecy.

Hey John mark my words here, I’ll give a report
to you in a years time and I’ll show how much I
have learned my craft and how much I achieved
because of that.

thanks John. My grandchildren will be thanking you for this.

Sincerely,
Edward Santosh
http://your-credit-score-n-you.blogspot.com/

“You don’t just become world-class because
you really, really, really want it.”

it sort of ruines the positive thinking concept
that is so precious to many. Plays nicely
along with chasing every quick-fix-push-that
button. Never get into anything and basically
never really understand any one thing in
particular.

Of course, I’m a musician so I would get away
with lots of crap. But I choose not to. It’s boring.

Scarier words were never spoken to a mother. I have two kids - the oldest struggles with EVERYTHING. The youngest floats effortlessly through life - truly gifted at anything he touches.

While I never wish pain and struggle on anyone, I do see how challenges make you step up to the plate.

“Character-building”, right? It still sucks when you’re going through it.

Bruce

That was great. I’m a musician who often talks like you do about learning the conventions first before you can go post-conventional. Nobody likes to hear it. They want to be “free” and “spontaneous” which translates into “learning the rules is a pain in the ass” and “you can’t tell me what to do.”

And you kicked my ass because I’m tired of showing potential. I’ve zigzagged through much of my life and I’m only just getting acquainted with the straight line.

Thanks for the inspiration!

Graham

I began playing bass when I was 15 and was told to learn everything. ‘Listen and play’ was the mantra I received from my teachers. (and no, they weren’t public school) Street musicians. Guys who played music for a living. They had to come up with the goods or starve. It was a real proving ground for me. Being 20 and working with a bunch of guys who called me a kid. But they liked my drive and interest. I was a sponge for the music.

Sadly, many of the musicians I met later on were mostly ‘College Educated’ Muso’s. Tons of chops, but nothing interesting to say. As Miles Davis said to Bob Berg (saxophonist), “You got to take the horn outta’ ya’ mouth.” “Problem is, that guy never stops playin’.”

I guess we don’t all here the message.

Regards, Andrew

Funny how hard work — effective work not busy thinkingless activity is very often the only real barrier to entry and later success.

Like Henry Ford said: thinking is the hardest work and that´s why so few will do it. What could require more thinking than learning?

Makes me happy to live in a time of such unlimited opportunity - so much change, so much to learn…
and so few prepared to do it!