I taught myself how to play the guitar, so I basically learned by a system of making mistakes.

I'm a lucky guy. I don't take for granted, for one minute, what I do.

Dare to fail. If you never fail, you're never taken risks and that's no way to take on this life.

Seize every opportunity you have to learn. Keep your eyes and ears wide open and seize life — don't let the moments slip through your fingers like a fistful of sand. Be your own teacher. Let life write your textbook.

Don't look over your shoulder and don't use or abuse others to get ahead. Keep your eyes focused on your goals and keep working for what you believe in and what you want to accomplish.

As a musician and a guitar player, I can noodle as well as anybody. But from my background as a session musician, I always try to play what is called for by the lyric and listening to the song. As a writer, that's what I do, too.

For me, success is being able to give back to your friends, your family, your community, those in need and the world entire.