You obviously were well taught Norm. In terms of dignity, compassion, humor, and being a genuinely good soul- you're a STRAIGHT A student!

Thank you so miuch for this statement. I dropped out of high school after spending a summer in College, and worked tough blue collar jobs to support myself. I fell in love with Zoology and Anatomy, and ended up with an MD, PhD degree. I have been a section chief at the National Institutes of Health, and worked as an entrepreneur in biotech, with 3 successful start-ups under my belt. Boy, when I was carrying 50 lb bags of cement at a construction site, I never thought one day I would be a success at anything. But you are right - let your passion dictate what you do, and you will never regret it. Thank you so much! - Dr. Gerry Higgins

Norm, thanks for this, pretty cool. I've heard, from very wise people, that 85% of life is showing up, and you showed up every day!! Awesome. As Bill Belichick is supposed to have said, the most important ability is availability. Also, you were quite fortunate to have gone to The Lear School. Love the blue Jag in the tweed case towards the end. At 68, I am 6 months into my guitar journey and am already doing a custom Jaguar build as it is my fav. guitar. I love to play surf tunes on guitar even though I play jazz on bari sax, sop sax, flute, bass clarinet. Starting to transcribe tenor sax surf music parts to bari. Thanks for the song, love this channel, mostly because of what a genuinely good human you seem to be.

So many people need to hear this Norm. Good for you. In my 63 years of experience I've also found that intelligence and education are not the same thing. One can have either without the other...and that can get messy.

The future is daunting for the younger generations. As a tool maker I can say I don't know of any 25ish tool makers and hardly any machinists. Industry here in the US is in DIRE need of machinist, electricians, plumbers, sheet metal workers. There is nothing to be ashamed about earning a decent living. The guidance counselors steer everyone into a BS degree where in fact a person can realize 80K working in the above mentioned fields. Of course I will never own a collection of pre 1960 guitars! Oh Well!

“I don’t feel tardy!” Lol. Thanks for all you and your staff do, Norm. Would love to visit the shop one day.

My parents passed away in 2007 and 2009 respectively. My older brother was living in their home and he passed away last summer. In cleaning out the house for sale we found that my mother had kept all of our report cards (a family of six kids) from grade school through high school. They were all in the attic. I'd forgotten how stupid I was.

An old saying I heard a good while back ... "If you find a job doing something that you love, you'll never have to work a day in your life". Of course, not quite as easy as that, although the principle is there and I would think Norm's 'business ethos' over the years is a testimony to that.

Hey thanks Norm I appreciate what you are saying. Not to mention how many guitars that you have saved from being destroyed. You have definitely preserve guitar history.

GREAT ADVICE NORM!!!

Great video Norm, and the song is really growing on me! I absolutely love it 😀 😍

In a Manly Bro way, I love you Norm. You are an inspiration and a funny guy. P.S. Tim Pierce super nailed the guitar parts on this song, it sounds great. 👍😎✌️

This song sounds great still, second time around Norm!🎶🎤🎸🎹🥁💥👍

Great post Norm. Speaking words of wisdom... let it be, yup let it be.

Good on you, Mr. Norm!! Love that you care about people! Thank you!! By the way ... I graduated Florida State in 1974! GO NOLES!

One of your BEST video messages & a Great Toon as well! 👍🎉 We Love YOU NORMAN!!❤️

Words of wisdom Norm.

Holy cow! What fine guitar work on that outtro!!

Well said! You set a great example, you’re a class act my friend

Great message Norm so true.Love the song.

Right on Norm, exactly right! Thanks.

Love that tune!

Your absolutely right. It's got to make sense to you to make a living at it.

Norm you are truly an inspiration to anyone who has a passion for life and drive to achieve at being the best at what you know, guitars and people. I’m a Joe B fan boy and that’s how I stumbled on your videos. Guitar of the day is part of my daily routine every day. When so many people want to have gear from your store (me too hopefully one day) and with all the folks that truly have love and respect for you, you can be proud of yourself and all you have accomplished.

You're a prince, Norm. Great advice.

Great advice norm.

You are a good man Norm!

Great advice for the young'uns Norm...😎

cool and so is temptation.

You're a good man, Norm.

Great voice, Normy!

Your point is well taken. It’s still easy to get into U Miami if you play guitar like Steve Morse or football like Bernie Kosar.

I am 42 and just figured out I’m autistic, guitar was always my special interest. School i was a straight D- student. Because I put the bare minimum to pass

Wisdom!

You are not an idiot, Norm, and you never were. The problem with the education system is it’s a one-size-fits-all proposition. To do well, all one has to do is memorize and regurgitate. Creative guys like you and I knew what we were interested in from a young age and were chomping at the bit to leave school and do it. The artistic kid is better suited for an apprenticeship. We get bored easily and just want the facts. Many classes are padded with useless lessons to fill a prescribed schedule. I’m glad I’m not a child today. They would have pumped me with drugs so I could pay attention in this short-sighted system. Marks don’t matter in the real world or reflect intelligence. Heck, there are people with degrees who are baristas.

The Holy Grail Emporium 🎉

Norm , very cool here, I Got Straight ''A''s in 1971 in High School, Chasing Chick's with Mini Skirts, I wish I could do it all over Again, Cousin Figel

Who was in the accompanying lineup of this jingle along with Norm? It is so uncannily Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, I wouldn't be surprised if Mike Campbell was on guitar instead of Michael Lemmo.

Everybody is good at something, you just have to find out what it is.

@Normam'sRare guitar s I WOULD SO LOVE TO TRAVEL FROM MARINE CITY MICHIGAN and have the money and pick through the the place and meet you and Michael Lemmo and walk out of there with something in my protective hand!!!!!

Find something you like to do and do it well. Get whatever education you need to fo it right. This country is run on hard work not by genious's sitting back doing nothing. If I can make it from the mountains of east Kentucky it should be easy for others. Stay focused and work hard. Be observant and able to take advantage of opportunities as they come your way. A report card, I don't need no stinkin' report card. Just hard work.

Good advice. Btw, not everyone should go to college. Trade work is in demand and pays well. I have a nephew who is a plumber and he is financially do better than his college educated father.

I'd show you one of my high school report cards, but I think my mother burned them.....😂

Back when an education was actually provided to students.

I suck at everything

4 times tardy? Did he feel tardy?

They should implement anger management now-a-days, too much violence Let's teach the kids something they actually need to learn