Make your own magic
Just saving a child’s life from a pulley. You would do the same. (Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums)
Having spent over a decade teaching music lessons, I can say for certain:
Music lessons aren’t where you learn to play an instrument.
Sure, they help. But the real work is done without your teacher, by yourself, playing and evaluating.
If you are unable or unwilling to spend this time “in the woodshed,” you will not achieve your goal of playing an instrument, no matter how much time and money you spend on the lessons themselves.
Whether we want to get fit, save money, or change our thinking, it’s our daily choices that matter. It doesn’t matter how many personal trainers we follow on Instagram, how many Dave Ramsey podcasts we listen to, or how many Tony Robbins workshops we attend if we don’t do anything differently based on what we learn.
The magic isn't always what we think it is. It’s not about being discovered, creating the ideal conditions, or finding that perfect mentor. There’s no way to escape actually doing the work.
When I was interested a career as a singer/songwriter, I dreamed of having the opportunity to meet one of my favorite music producers, like Jon Brion, Nigel Godrich, or Rick Rubin. However, as I attempted to move forward in as the music industry, I realized that, should I ever meet one of these people, I would have nothing to offer them: no professional, up-to-date demo that represented my best work and my own belief in myself; no readiness to deliver, on the spot, a confident, well-honed performance that would stop them in their tracks. If I wasn’t willing to do the painful, unglamorous work behind the scenes, there would be no moment of glory. Ultimately, abandoning the dream of being “discovered” was the beginning of a much more fulfilling musical path.
Along the way, how many excuses did I make to rationalize my lack of meaningful progress in music? (If you need a really robust one, try “I’ve got to clean my house first.”) I did the same thing with writing for the longest time, until Pia Silva said, “just write.” And friends, that’s what happens when you finally do meet someone you’ve admired: With all of their experience, expertise, and insight, they to tell you to do the thing you know you’re supposed to do anyway. There is no magic.
That said, when I’m able to drop my rationalizations and fears and make things happen (or simply make things), it does feel like magic. It feels like everything is aligning to help me create the impact I seek to have in the world, however tiny it may be. Instead of reaching for some far-off talisman of tomorrow, I’m appreciating the opportunities right in front of me and the people I have around me today.
Maybe you have a dream or a goal along with a particular way you think it’s supposed to go, or a particular hangup about it. I’m not about to say that the ruby slippers are already on your feet — you may, indeed, need some fresh support. But be open to the idea that though the advice you receive may be frustratingly mundane (keep a journal, go for a walk every day, name three things you’re grateful for), that doesn’t mean it won’t work. Speaking now from my perspective as a teacher and mentor, the most boring, useless-seeming actions can lead to massive results over time if you actually follow through. You never know where your breakthrough will come from — but chances are, it will come from you.