The rising tide

One of my favorite quotes is: "a rising tide lifts all boats."  I think it's not hard to see why, if you know what it means.

The way I see it, we help ourselves when we are willing to help others and our drumming community as a whole. 

For example, let's say you are a senior in your Drumline, you have a lot of experience and can do things most freshman cannot do.  If you take the time to show the freshman the ropes, teach them a few things and help them learn their beats, you are indirectly helping yourself.  Why? Because you are helping your Drumline get better and you've indirectly helped yourself because you are now a member of a pretty dang good Drumline.

Of course, this also works for the greater drumming community; why do you think I spend so much time helping others?  If the greater drumming community gets better, we create better relationships, we expand the activity and we give ourselves even more opportunity to do something that we love (yes, I mean this monetarily)!

Yet, I can never understand why people hoard all the knowledge to themselves.  Maybe they just don't know how to teach or maybe, if they help someone out, they're afraid they might lose their spot at the top of the mountain.  But as you can imagine, the only thing this does is give less opportunity for everyone because the activity can't really grow.

This is part of the reason why I created my Facebook group Drumtech Drumline.  Have you checked that out yet?  If you're not a member, search "Drumtech Drumline" on Facebook, request access and join a group of positive drummers that are there to learn AND help others!

Either way, when presented with an opportunity to help others in the community, be generous, help out and see to it that the activity you are a part of continues to grow and thrive!

What do you think? If it better to help out others or just focus on your own growth and development? I would love to hear from you!