Practice Makes You Better

08/18/2008

Lifestyle

Baby_drummer_play_time
Over the weekend I thought about how much time it takes to actually become knowledgeable, proficient or good at something like a hobby.

As I have been training for triathlons I’ve noticed one thing that has made me better at the sport is practicing the sport. As I look at blogging, one thing that has made me better has been blogging more. As I look at my life as a drummer, one thing that made me better at the craft was playing more.

People tell me they would never be able to run a marathon or do a triathlon, But all I tell them is it just takes a little practice to get started and the determination to dedicate some time to it.

When I was a kid learning to play the drums, a teacher told me once that I needed to spend at least two hours a day practicing the drums if I wanted to be a good drummer. So I did…and my family can tell you…I played every day. They had to hear it.

Since getting into blogging, I spend a little part of each day either blogging or educating myself on how to do it better. That education helps my marketing side come up with ideas to try online and ways to make things work a little smoother in the world of online presence.

Now that I’m full on into doing triathlons, I spend a considerable amount of time each week training and trying to become a better athlete. I’m not the fastest or the best at it, but I’ve done it.

With anything you do, the more time you spend on something, the better you become.

So…if you want to try a new hobby of some sort, jump in and give a little time. Maybe for you this is time everyday or whatever you can handle during the week. Start small, find other people who do that hobby and ask them questions, learn and have fun trying.

As we say often when we are training for triathlons, if this isn’t going to be fun, then why are we doing it? I know…you must be thinking, you call putting your body through all of that fun? Well…if you didn’t by yourself all the time, then no…it’s not…but when you learn and progress with others, then yes…it’s fun because the community around it makes it more fun.

Enjoying what you attempt to do some times is the one thing that keeps you from quitting.

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  • lisa

    So true. So inspirational!!!! Let me tell you how inspirational this is. Seven years ago I did a Sprint triathlon in Santa Barbara to alleviate the stress of dealing with a parent with terminal cancer. I remember how much I loved the endorphines you had for 5 days. I remember the personal, individual and group training. I remember how great I felt.

    Somehow I got off the track… until the last few months. I have started walk/running almost each day. I start Marathon training next week for the LA Marathon. I have decided to do another Sprint Triathon (next year).

    Thanks Spence for sharing.

  • http://www.beyondJEMS.wordpress.com Amy (BeyondJEMS)

    It’s funny you posted this now b/c I’ve been sucked in to Tri world as of last Thursday. How poetic! Dan Perkins suggested it a couple months ago as something to shoot for. And I laughed at him but was intrigued by his confidence and encouragement. You, of course, are contagious. But a new friend talked me in to going for it. So I will be training this winter and gearing up for a sprint tri next year. I blogged about it “See Amy Tri” just a couple days ago. How I’m crazy for doing it. How I can’t swim and dont own a bike (of any kind). But how thrilled I am with the challenge! I’m diving in. Ha!