3 Reasons A Maker Mindset Will Unblock Your Work Flow
Many coworkers likely discount being a Maker as "just a hobby," but they are wrong.
Learning to Make things can unlock parts of your brain that are rarely found without Making things. The cool thing is that it doesn't matter what you make! Just that you Make something.
If you're still believing your coworkers that Making is "just a hobby," here are 3 reasons it'll help your day job.
Reason 1: Your Perspective On Solvable Problems Shifts
Whether at our day jobs or in the workshop, we run into all kinds of problems.
At work, the problems can come from unresponsive groups, sudden "urgent" requests, or just mind-numbing repetitiveness. For Makers, we usually create the problems ourselves. Regardless of where they come from, Makers are uniquely equipped to solve problems because we're used to being both the cause and solution.
Every problem is fixable and Makers understand that and take them head-on (although in the workshop, you don't need management's approval).
Reason 2: You Automatically Look For Efficiencies
Finding shop time is difficult between a full-time job, family, friends, and catching up on the latest Star Wars show on Disney+, but Makers figure out how to Make it work (see what I did there?).
With limited time, Makers constantly look for ways to maximize the time in the workshop so that they can get projects finished sooner and get on to the next project. We Make because we want to continue Making things (it's an infinite game) and more time in the shop gets us to that goal. If we can save 10 minutes on a recurring task, that's more time we can tinker around thinking of our next brilliant idea.
Looking for efficiencies is second nature for Makers and bleeds into all areas of life, including work.
Reason 3: Your Standards Are Raised
After you've made things for a few months, you start getting frustrated when shopping because you know you could make something better yourself.
Now, this is a dual-edged sword because it means you're constantly adding things to your build list (to the chagrin of your spouse). The point is that you'll start getting frustrated at solutions to problems that are "fine." Once you've been Making for a few years, you'll also discover that line where you're not chasing perfection either (it's a fine line).
Not accepting "acceptable" solutions helps you create better, more fully thought-out solutions in the workplace as well.
