Elbert Hubbard has said “Improve your opportunities, that’s the thing! Decide on what you want to do and what you want to be and go after it! You’ll win, and those fellows who chase the pee-wee, manipulate the pasteboards, and inhale cigarette smoke, will be coming to you for advice, to borrow money, and for passes to the poor house.”
You notice he said “improve” your opportunities. He didn’t use that old phrase about “grasping” them. And I believe this was intentional on his part. Opportunity doesn’t come to us so much as is commonly said. Opportunity is ever with us. Opportunity is just what we make it. If we have the imagination to see the golden chances before us and to improve them, we’ll make good.
You are enjoying an unusual opportunity in the Musical world in that you are permitted to learn to play your instrument the quick and easy way. Are you improving your opportunity?
Exercises 5, 25, 26, and 27.
LESSON 16.
In learning to lift weights, athletes start with a very light load, and by steadily increasing it a little at a time, they are eventually able to develop tremendous strength.
You remember that old story about the farmer’s boy who, just a few years ago, made a practice of picking up a calf and carrying it across the barn yard. Of course, as the calf grew and became heavier, the farmer boy’s strength increased. It had to, otherwise he couldn’t have continued to carry the calf around. And so it went, month after month, year after year. And now, so they say, the farmer boy is able to throw the bull.
It’s a terrible story, but we’ll overlook that fact if only it impresses upon you one point I wish to make.
The new exercise in this week’s lesson is based on the same principle as the weight-lifting methods. You will see that you apply auxiliary pressure for the finger muscles to work against. By using greater and greater pressure, you can develop almost any amount of finger strength that you may desire. So you should stick to the careful use of this exercise for many weeks to come.
Speaking of doing an exercise week after week, I sincerely trust that you are not neglecting your review work. You are studying these lessons for what you get out of them. If you really want to get your money’s worth, you must keep going over the lessons time and again. And each time, I can promise you, you will find new benefits and pleasures.