5 Things I Learnt While Building My Own Guitar.
For the last 12 months I have been doing something that seemed completely unachievable a couple of years ago: building my own acoustic guitar. While I have always been interested in music and guitars, the idea of building my own instrument seemed well beyond my technical skillset. But just over 12 months ago I took the plunge and with a degree of uncertainly and apprehension I not only created a beautiful hand made instrument, I also learnt a few things about myself along the way.
Here's five of the more noteworthy learnings.
1. Challenge assumption and beliefs - We all hold on to underlying assumptions and beliefs that can limit our willingness and ability to try new things. For most of my life I have ‘believed’ that pursuits like woodworking and metal working were beyond me. Well, it turns out that with the right guidance and mindset, learning something completely new is possible (and I have worked in learning and development for more than 30 years). We just need to challenge ourselves and those limiting beliefs and assumptions.
2. Find meaning in the destination – I have always believed in the power of visualisation. I am constantly surprised at how often a visualisation realises. As I embarked on the building process, I started to envision the end result and working towards an ‘image’ that was both motivating and personally meaningful.
3. There is joy in the journey – That first chord on the guitar filled me with enormous satisfaction and a little emotion. But along the way, I also realised how joyful the journey can be. Throughout the build I spent time researching different types of timbers, exploring different building techniques, watching videos on the history of the guitar, and celebrating small and significant milestones. The destination is powerful but sometimes we become so obsessed with the end result, that we forget to enjoy and celebrate the journey. As Charles Fred in his book The 24 Hour Rule, said ‘pause is a discipline, not a delay’. Afterall, sometimes you simply must watch the glue dry.
4. Trust the process and the people around you - There were several stages across the build that quite frankly terrified me. The idea of bending wood and shaping a guitar neck seemed completely foreign. But there is a process to follow and with the support of others it is possible navigate things that seem impossible. Afterall, this is not the first time someone has bent wood or shaped a neck 😊. I had a wonderful instructor/coach who laid out the process, guided me along the way, and stepped in to provide support when things could have gone off track. I was also supported by other students with varying levels of experience who shared their experience and advice.
5. Most mistakes can be fixed – While it might sound like everything went perfectly to plan, it didn’t and there were several mistakes along the way. Some bigger than others. Not surprisingly these were often the most significant learning moments. Mistakes happen and even in a work context, most can be fixed or managed. Accepting that mistakes will happen, and can be fixed, gives us permission to try new things without fear of failure.
Perhaps the final lesson is that it is never too late to try something different. In the last couple of months, I have heard of two individuals in the later stages of their careers who have decided to take on completely different career paths. This takes a lot of courage, but the rewards can be immense.
While I may not pursue the career of a professional luthier, I have just started working on my third guitar build which suggest I have become a little obsessed. I look forward to honing my skills but perhaps more importantly continuing to learn something about myself.
Call out to the Australian Guitar Making School and my incredibly skilled and patient instructor, Steve Toscano, from Toscano Guitars.
Mark Busine
Founder and Chief Leadership Advisor