12 Things I learned from a life serving the drum corps activity (Updated)





So I have been thinking about this a lot lately. Here are some life lessons I learned from 6 years of marching drum corps, 18 years judging and 8 years teaching, that have served me well in life.

1) Work hard at everything you do and, when you think you can't go any further, you are wrong because you can.

2) Once you learn the true joy of quality repetition, you will never have a bad day. Stay in present-time! Always!

3) Sometimes, you work hard, do all of the right things and you still do not reach your goal, but quitting is the only way you truly lose. Be process-focused in a performance-focused medium and you will reach your goals.

4) It takes a village to achieve anything great; no one person knows it all or can do it all--trust me when I say, you do not want to see me teach color guard.

5) The strength of your will is directly related to the clarity of the goal--dream big and be relentless.


 6) Discipline your mind and your body will follow.

7) Never, ever, let your circumstances determine your attitude, work ethic or performance level; you cannot always control your environment but you can control your performance.

8) When things do not go your way and you perceive an injustice, for whatever reason, being great is the best revenge.

9) Learn to value honesty and genuine criticism--it is the only way to truly grow.

10) Friends forged in the toughest of circumstances are the people you know you can always count on, no matter what...($5 to anyone who can find me in this picture.Suncoast people are not eligible.)
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 11) Whatever your circumstances are at the present time, the situation does not constitute your list of excuses, it is your reality. You must find a way to overcome and be stronger than your current situation.
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 12) Approach every task, job, rep, challenge with enthusiasm and intensity. It is contagious and it makes you feel better too.
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 PS: Run back to your sets, drink more water than your think you should, always look at people when they are talking to you, and focus on the job in front of you. All of this will help you live a better more productive life. 
"If it was easy, it would not be any fun." A. Poor
"Good is the enemy of great." Voltaire
Location: Suwanee, GA, USA

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