It sounds funny, but it's true; lots of students practice but don't make any progress.  Why is that?  Well, the short and quick answer is that they're not focused.

We all know how important goals are, but a lot of us don't know how to choose attainable goals.

Having goals like the following are pointless:

• I want to be a great guitarist
• I want to play a song
• I want to get better

Why are they pointless?  Because none of them can be measured, how do you know when you've reached your goal?  How do you measure whether or not someone is a great guitarist? Jim Hall is a legendary jazz guitarist who knows so much about playing jazz and guitar, that it would blow your mind.  By comparison, BB King plays the same blues based progressions over and over and uses the same five note box shape on the neck to solo with.  Both are great guitarists, but they do totally different things.  They also have very different skill sets, so how can you measure that? How do you know if you can play a song?  That's pretty vague unless you specify on the level of proficiency you wish to attain.

A goal needs to be something specific that you can easily reach, like the following:

• I want to play the main theme of "Always with Me Always with You" (Joe Satriani) from memory, up to tempo, 4 times in a row.

Wow!  Very specific and for the right guitarist, easy to do.

How about this example:

• I want to be able to play all the notes on the 6th string through the cycle of 5ths at 120 bpm

Again, very specific and easily attainable.

What do you think happens if you set out to accomplish a series of these small goals?  Most likely, you'll achieve each one and start to develop a sense of accomplishment.  Not to mention, that you'll boost your confidence and send yourself on a steady path of success.

Without appropriate goals or goals that lack specifics, we're always feeling like we're getting nowhere. The reality is, we aren't.  Too many students use vague goals or ones that aren't easily attainable and are left feeling like they've failed.  I don't know anyone who is motivated to feel like a constant failure, do you?

So remember the following tips:

• Keep track of your practice and progress
• Make small goals that are easy to attain
• Goals should be slightly challenging to ensure progress and success
• Stay focused! Spreading yourself to thin will make you a "Jack of all trades and a master of NONE!"

Accept the fact that you can't be the best at every style and that there will always be someone better than you.  Big deal, are you doing it for them or yourself? 

Have fun with it, otherwise what's the point