When I was eight years old, I played soccer.
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When I first started playing soccer, I used to get extremely nervous, hesitant, and unsure of myself before a game started. There was even a time when my mom had to literally drag me into the car and force me to get to my game, because I was being stubborn and refused to go. (Indian mothers don’t mess around.)
With time and practice, I started to get better and better, and eventually I began to really enjoy soccer. I realized that once I started playing and got engaged in the game, my confidence and competence grew, which made me enjoy the game more.
In hindsight, this has been the case with any skill I’ve developed: Consistent practice over time leads to improved skills and a greater enjoyment of the craft.
I’ve been playing the drums for over 12 years now. I started when I was 12, and when I started, I was bad. People didn’t enjoy playing with me, I couldn’t always follow along with the songs, and things often got awkward at church band practice.
But just like soccer, I practiced the drums a lot, and within a year I had made significant improvements. Then, numerous people began complimenting me and asking me to join their band.
Consistent practice over time made me better, and as I got better I enjoyed the craft more and more.
Whenever someone starts developing a new skill, they’re not a pro at it. Getting good takes time, consistent practice, and the desire to keep improving (no matter how long it takes).
Consistent practice + time + a relentless desire to get better = Awesome skills
Be patient, invest the hours in learning and practicing, and you’ll eventually be really good at your skill/craft. And as you get better, you’ll enjoy the craft even more. Don’t let mistakes and setbacks hold you down, everyone makes them as they’re practicing and improving.
Almost everyone who is good at something now was pretty bad at it when they started.
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