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:

I compared my projects to those from experienced Makers.

Here's what happened:

I decided to make a Raised Dog Bed for our Labrador. Once I finished, I was really happy with it! That is, until I saw some of the amazing creations others had done online.

I went from being proud of my second project ever to embarrassed to compare it to what experienced Makers did.

But it's worth acknowledging that making this mistake taught me a ton.

I learned to only compare my recent project to those I have done in the past. Making things is a journey, not a destination (cliche, I know, but also true). While on your own Maker journey, focus on your own improvement and not what someone with years of experience and a workshop full of tools can do online.

This is why I encourage everyone to see their mistakes (and "failures") as necessary steps along the path.

There is always a lesson to be learned.