First time was when my mate, Pete gave me his VHS copy of Dire Straits Alchemy Live.  

I watched Mark Knopfler in awe.

His fingers gliding over the fretboard like Torville and Dean on ice.

I figured I could never ever come close to licking his toenails. 

I was devastated.

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But I got over that by realising that I wasn’t looking to become the next Mark Knopfler. 

I carried on practising the guitar.

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2nd time was when I’d been through my local band phase.

I didn’t have the energy/desire/acumen to see through how I could make a living as a creative producer/artist/creator.

I sold pretty much all my gear and felt free.  

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I got over it when song ideas still came to me when I wasn't even looking for them.

Started buying gear again... 

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3rd time was when I realised that everyone on the internet music marketing courses I was signing up to was 20 years younger than me.

Were prettier.

Were more informed.

Had existing fan bases.  

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I got over it quickly.

I remembered that it all starts with a good song.

And I had plenty of those.

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Last time was when I realised I’d been engineering and producing my own tracks for many years...

...but hadn’t been practising my core music skills.

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My vocals were poor…

My guitar playing techniques needed a lot of oiling…

My piano skills were still too rudimentary...

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But then I started to practice.

More and more.  

And you know… 

Each time I’ve given up… 

It’s kinda strengthened my resolve. 

I've always bounced back bigger.

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I’m like a great-grandparent with three kids, half a dozen grandkids, and 20-fold great-grandkids.  

I see one misbehave and I want to disown them. 

Then a minute later they’re making me belly laugh. 

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That’s what songs do to me. 

That’s why I’m still hacking it thirty years on. 

That’s why I’ll still be doing it until I meet my maker. 

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Come hell or high water. 

I’ll still be doing it. 

For me. 

And you too…  

If you’re on board.

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Just as Rick said.