“If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly.”

Here’s a thought you may want to ponder as we approach the new year: It’s a quote I read recently from G. K. Chesterton. Through his championing of common sense and traditional Christian belief; Chesterton’s novels, poems, essays and stories heavily influenced early 20th century thought and figures like C.S. Lewis.

G.K. Chesterton said in defense of hobbies and amateurs and general duffers like himself: “If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly.”

Maybe you want to read that again; I did. It contains no typos. This is a quote from a man so influential that the mental giant, C.S. Lewis often quoted him –so I thought it was worth pondering.

Here’s what I think he meant, and why I think it’s worth keeping in mind as many of us evaluate and try to set plans and priorities for the upcoming year:

I think this seemingly contradictory statement is a paradox that holds a deeper truth. From what I know of Chesterton, I also don’t think he meant it to endorse mediocrity, but instead to combat perfectionism and procrastination —arguing that we should attempt valuable things even if we’re initially unskilled, because the act of doing it, however poorly, is better than never starting at all —making the attempt worthwhile.

Here’s a classic, true-to-life example that happens so often that is’s taken for granted. Although most people would assume that infants walk and fall a lot, few would guess that the average toddler takes 2368 steps, travels 701 m —the length of 7.7 American football fields— and falls 17 times per hour. But walking is worth doing —so who would argue it’s worth doing badly at first? Of course, this all happens naturally; I’m not suggesting the baby or toddler has a well thought-out game plan, but you could assume he has a goal —walking— and he’s not embarrassed about what the process looks like.

As I thought more about Chesterton’s statement, FATC came to mind. I’m amazed at how many guys apparently thought learning to fly fish was worth pursuing (I agree)—some even went to the extent of taking Kenny’s fly fishing classes— and yet they never took the initiative to sign up and attend the final graduation class on the stream. Others graduated, but haven’t been fly fishing since. I’m not qualified to judge these guys, because I don’t know anything about what’s going on in their lives or their season of life.

I’m just trying to encourage guys to not be afraid to get out of their comfort zone —and I want them to know it’s well worth it. My experience has shown me that adventure begins and new worlds open up, once you leave your comfort zone.

One of the many reasons I love FATC is because I have yet to find a hint of fly fishing elitism or better-than-thou attitudes, or some sort of a fly fishing caste system. I personally have only found guys willing to share their knowledge, their time, their experience and often even their beloved equipment.

FATC has an ethos that is partly stated up front in their motto: It’s not just about the fly fishing. One of the few things you can do wrong in FATC is to call FATC a club —because as we all know, FATC is a fellowship; it’s not a club. We may be a “tribe” of sorts, but it’s a tribe with an ethos of welcomeness, brotherhood, encouragement and hospitality.

Let me state the obvious to all you guys, like myself, with perfectionistic tendencies —fly fishing is not brain surgery, or air-traffic control. If you forget to mend, or your backcast gets caught on a limb, or you fly cast like you’re still using a spinning rod and reel, or you get a wind knot, or heaven forbid you refer to a strike indicator as a bobber —nobody’s going to die because of it. And all those mishaps and missteps are part of the leaning process. (Remember the toddler learning to walk.)

In FATC, it’s ok to do things like fly fishing badly —because everyone does at first. It does take humility and patience that many men are lacking, but it’s worth the price because fly fishing in God’s beautiful creation… and fellowship with family and friends are worth it.

And for those of you, like myself, with some narcissistic tendencies; remember it’s not always about you. Fly fishing is also worth learning so you can teach your kids and then fly fish with them until you leave this earth to go fly fishing in heaven. And, as you may have recently read in the FATC Days of Christmas — GOD MUST BE A FLY FISHER.

What do you think? Share your thoughts on the FATC FORUM about this or whatever is on your mind. And please contact me if you would like to talk about this subject. Remember…It isn’t just about the fly fishing (and it isn’t brain surgery or air-traffic control).

John Muckerman

FATC Inspirational and Leadership Lead