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.
Why Most Makers Never Start a Newsletter (Even Though They Know They Should)
You've got great ideas.
You share them on social media.
You help people every week.
But when it comes to starting a newsletter, which you know would grow your audience, you freeze. Why?
5 Mistakes I Made When First Starting My Maker Content
In early 2017, I started an Instagram page for Southern Style DIY that was dedicated to posting my build projects online, but it didn't go as well as I thought.
I had watched tons of YouTube videos and thought I knew everything. After all, how hard could it be to post some pictures of my projects online and create a massive audience? In short, I didn't know what I was getting into, but I still think it was a great decision.
6 Reasons Makers Hold Themselves Back From Creating Content
For over a year after I created my Instagram account to share my projects, I built things, took photos, but rarely hit "share".
Since starting to post projects online, I've learned more, made friends with other Makers, and been incredibly inspired by this amazing community.
If you've thought about posting your projects online and feel like you can't, see if any of these reasons are holding you back (and why they are faulty beliefs).
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.
You Can't Find Inspiration, It Finds Makers
Most people think of Makers as being constantly inspired, but what happens when you can't find your creative inspiration anymore?
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):
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...
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 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.
Want To Improve Every Aspect Of Your Life? Start MAKING Things!
Making things has improved my relationship with my wife, my enjoyment of entertainment and travel, and even my full-time job.
Tired Of Boring Overhead Lighting? Create Your Own Custom Lights By Learning Arduino To Ditch The Jarring Overhead Lights, Program LED Strips, And Integrate LEDs In Your Builds
What's the alternative to jarring overhead lighting? Making your own with a micro-controller and LED strips
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.
Analysis Paralysis
Overanalyzing everything keeps me stuck in a cycle of indecision and guilt, but this blog is my step toward breaking free—because living with "what if" is far worse than taking imperfect action.
Good Days & Not As Good Ones Too
When struggling to start a task, I find setting a timer for just 25 minutes helps me overcome inertia, often leading to a productive flow—and I'd love to hear any strategies that help you get started too!
Why not start today?
Inspired by "Atomic Habits" and "Someday is Today," the author commits to a daily blog to improve their storytelling and writing, sharing inspirations from their creative projects, media, and daily life while embracing imperfection as part of the Maker's journey.