
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.

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.