What did you learn the hard way that you wish you had known at the beginning of your drumming career?

I am definitely not a "looking back" and "piling up regrets" type person. I believe in taking your very best swing each and every time at bat, but some impressions are:

 

Remember when you are starting out that you are embarking on a process, and your learning curve is going to be different than anyone else's is. Meaning, there are going to be skills that may take you longer to master than others around you, and some you may grasp quicker than others. There will be those who, at some times along the way, are flashier than you, faster, louder, fancier. Never be intimidated by this. I believe one of the main goals is to be able to express yourself and your own uniqueness and individuality on the instrument, so stay focused, and be committed to learning your instrument. Step by step. Keep working hard, and remember that your musical journey is a marathon, not a sprint.

The other very important thing is to always protect your hearing, from the very start. Do it early, so you will have plenty left for later on, when you are a highly skilled, awesome player!

Were there any cool syncronicities that changed your course, or were instrumental in bringing you to where you are today?
I had a partner in crime for a couple years before I chose to learn drums. My starting studies coincided exactly with his starting bass. We encouraged and totally supported each other, and started playing together as soon as either of us could even play anything at all on our instruments. Kinda like learning to swim, we jumped in, armed with the basics, and were off to the races. This friend was The Great Cliff Burton, a wonderful and legendary musician and man, who left us far too soon.

Another important development, I think, was the massive shift in music and culture that happened a year or two after I had started studying drums. I grew up as much an obsessed metal fan as anyone I knew. Punk Rock came in, shaking up a scene that (to me) had begun to stagnate. The message this new music conveyed was that you don't need to be perfect and fancy to be expressive and creative. It was a massive encouragement for anyone and everyone to jump in and do it for yourself. In many cases you had bands out there where self expression and creativity far outweighed technical skill. (This was also a time where you started seeing women in bands in large numbers, besides The Wilson Sisters who had obviously been in Heart for several years.) Equal opportunity means everyone can go for it!