Mind of a Maker
A daily blog inspired by Matthew Dicks
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.”
To become better at something, you have to practice. What better way to become a better writer and storyteller than to practice by making a habit of writing daily?
In this daily blog, we’ll discuss Maker-related topics as well as what inspires projects, including YouTube videos, Movies, TV Shows, Disney, Star Wars, LEGO, Books, and more. Everything is on the table, and nothing is off-limits.
Disclaimer: The thumbnail images featured on this blog are often AI-generated. See Disclosure page for more information.
How My First Build Project Completely Changed How I See Myself
Today, I couldn't ever see myself not Making things.
It's engrained in my brain and I love it. When we've gone to Disney, I see little pieces and parts that spark ideas for components or entire projects (throughout Disney, and not just Galaxy's Edge thankyouverymuch).
But I didn't start with all this inspiration and confidence that I can build something or figure out how to.
1 Simple Framework for Turning Your Weekend Projects Into Online Posts
You've been working away on weekend projects for months and have thought about posting them online, but don't know where to start.
Makers want to connect with other Makers. Posting your projects online helps you join that community that you might not have locally (or know where to find them). But how do you get started?
The Number 1 Thing You Should Do To Start Making Things This Weekend
Whether you've had dreams of redecorating your house, finally building that patio furniture, or just want to have a new hobby, Making things is a fantastic thing to start doing. However, it can be tough to figure out exactly where to start, leading you down countless rabbit holes online. While online, all you see are people with massive workshops making it look simple to create whatever they want, which can make it even more difficult to get started.
The 3 Lies Makers Tell Themselves That Keep Them From Making Progress On Projects
Everyone has a long list of things they want to accomplish and Makers are no different with project lists.
When looking at a long list of projects, some likely already in progress, it is easier to lie to ourselves than knock one out.
Simple (But Effective) Pieces Of Advice I'd Give Anyone Starting To MAKE Things
I have been MAKING things for 8 years.
These are the 3 simple (but effective) pieces of advice I'd give anyone starting out (or who wants to get started):
If You're Interested In Learning To MAKE Things, Subscribe To These 3 YouTube Channels
Learning to MAKE things is hard.
Luckily, all the inspiration and education you need to know to get started and building projects of your own is available online—for free.
Just subscribe to these 3 YouTube channels:
2 Simple Tips For Busy Professionals To Maximize Their Time In The Workshop, Create More Projects, And Tap Into Their Creative Side
Time is a struggle for just about everyone, but especially busy professionals juggling work, family, friends, and other responsibilities ahead of hobbies.
Fortunately, I found these 2 simple tips helped me get more out of my limited workshop time, which helped me create more projects, and gave me the time to think creatively as well.
The 1 Superpower Making Things Gives You (But It's A Duel-Edged Sword)
After I had been Making things for about a year, I realized it was an unexpected superpower.
The superpower? You believe that you can Make anything!
The kryptonite? You believe that you can Make Anything...
Something Weird Most People Don't Know About MAKING Things
There are a lot of things most people don't know about Making things.
Some things are common, like stains not looking as good as the actual hardwoods. But, here's the weirdest thing most people don't know about Making things:
1 Big Mistake I Made When I Was First Getting Started Building and Making Things
Like most beginners, I made a lot of mistakes when I first started Making things (and still do).
But this was the biggest one, by far:
1 Tip I Would Give Someone Who Wanted To Start Making Things For Themselves
I have been Making things for 8 years now. And what I can tell you (from experience) is that in order to succeed as a Maker, you need to be willing to learn, willing to fail, and willing to think big.
So, here's the 1 tip I would give you if you wanted to pursue being a Maker:
The Best Piece Of Advice I Was Given About Making Things
In 2022, I was in a rut as a Maker and no longer enjoyed building things.
Until I read Adam Savage's "Every Tool's A Hammer," and he recommended giving in to obsessions. It changed my trajectory as a Maker for the better
The First 3 Projects You Should MAKE When Starting Out
The opportunities for what you can build are nearly endless! Which is amazing, so you can always learn something new and continue to grow as a Maker. However, it's easy to become paralyzed by choices when first starting.
Being A Maker Requires You To Be Uncomfortable
In 2021, I was so overwhelmed with a project, that I almost quit making things online.
The Number 1 Thing New Makers Struggle With On Their First Project (And How To Get Past It)
When I decided I wanted to be a maker, I did my research, got some tools, and wrote down ideas, but didn’t actually make something for months.
1 Habit All Successful Makers Have In Common
Most successful people share the same handful of things in common:
They are disciplined with their time
They know how to stay focused on one goal at a time
They have mentors and other influential people they can turn to for advice
They have mastered one (or multiple) valuable skills
Etc.
But most successful Makers have this 1 habit in common:
Why You Shouldn't Buy High-End Tools When First Starting To Make Things
When I first started Making things, I spent countless hours on YouTube watching other Makers. I wanted to do what they did, so researched the tools they used, but that was a mistake.
How I Got Interested In Making Things
After being completely burned out in my corporate job, I went down the YouTube rabbit hole of Makers.