“Un poquito todos los días” is Spanish, meaning “a little bit every day” in English; “un poquito” translates to “a little bit” and “todos los días” means “every day.”
I’ve heard this phrase from many people, and it holds for everyone. We all engage in little activities daily; we usually recognize what we are building. Over the last year, I have been learning guitar. Initially, I didn’t practice regularly but became more disciplined, dedicating at least 15 minutes daily. I have rarely experienced the impact of compound interest as powerfully as I have in such a short time.
I started almost from scratch, having only dreamed of playing guitar since college. I had never played any musical instrument before.
Thanks to YouTube, many more videos are available for training and learning guitar. After browsing extensively and self-learning for some time, I got bored, which led to thoughts like “This may not be for me” or “Maybe I should try something else.”
Learning guitar comes with challenges, such as the pain and sensitivity in my fingertips, backaches from prolonged bending, and eye strain. Sometimes, these difficulties make me consider giving it up and trying something else. However, I’ve found a patient teacher who guides me through this long and tedious journey.
I focus on making small progress daily, setting tiny targets to conquer and gradually improve.
The initial few weeks seemed absurd, but the learning process began to feel more normal as time passed. I progressed to a higher level with my teacher, and sharing my music with friends—receiving their criticism and appreciation—helped me move forward. Looking back, I realize this experience taught me a valuable lesson: life is often a race of endurance, not speed. If you remain consistent long enough, you will outpace many who do not. As Steven Pressfield once said, “Enthusiasm is common; consistency is rare.” Personal, professional, academic, and experiential growth should occur daily, even in small ways, as these small steps can lead to significant progress.
Before I consider myself proficient at guitar, I still have a long way to go. However, I have improved in ways I never imagined in such a short time. I plan to write about guided practice in future articles, as it is a significant topic. For now, I emphasize that doing a little bit daily is more effective than doing a lot infrequently. Most people tend to practice a lot only once in a while, but the compound effect of minor, consistent improvements is undeniable; sooner or later, these efforts will pay off.
I am pleasantly surprised by the skills I have acquired in such a “short” time. I want to apply this learning to other areas of my life. To do this, it’s essential to design effective systems. It’s easy to dive into something and give up when circumstances don’t go as expected or when I feel unprepared. Perseverance is a quality I’m working on, and I realize that if I can apply the same level of dedication I have shown in my recent guitar learning, I can achieve things I can only imagine right now.
