One of the nicest things about this video is that your hearing aid battery went out and you didn't cut it out, you just went and dealt with it. I'm slightly hearing impaired and it'll likely get worse, and I had hearing aids as a kid. You have no idea how much it means to see this not erased
Absolutely this, i had no idea about Adam's hearing loss before this video but it made me lookup his video detailing his congenital hearing loss and the destigmatizing of it.
Thank you so much for answering my question Adam. Since I asked it I've had the time to get started and I already recognize a lot of what you said. Fortunately I do have a full time job as a mechanical engineer(product developer/project manager) so I've got the luxury of being able to just say "No, I don't feel like it today" and not put in any work at all in my own company for a week. For me the balancing act of doing fun new things while thinking "What can I get income from soon?" is tricky. I've got so many product ideas and stuff that I want to do, but I've also come to realize that I need to focus on one thing for a while in order to get it to liftoff. I really feel what you're saying in that it's not the same kind of fun anymore, but it's still some kind of fun. Yes, there's a lot of tedious stuff but like you're saying it feels nice knowing that my hard work goes into my own account. It really reminds me of when I used to work as a carpenter, some jobs were really boring so I'd calculate how much money I made every minute and let that keep me going. Well, now it feels like I'm rambling on too. Thanks again and it was an honor having my swedish name butchered by you. :D (My international friends usually just call me Mike).
I love seeing and reading the follow up to this video. I've watched this video twice - once because I related to it and wanted to finish, and a second to absorb just how perfectly it captured my feelings on a lot of this same topic.
That's basic economics baby. You gotta find where supply meets demand to make the most money. Too much demand to meet the supply? Jack up the price till you can produce exactly what is demanded or expand, which is hard in trades because you can't always trust a new comer will meet the same standards. Too much supply not enough demand? Lower prices or find ways to increase the demand with advertising, higher quality, etc.
Every other old timer has said, “You’ll never work a day in your life if you enjoy what you’re doing” Such BS. Thank you Adam for the honest and insightful responses, as it’s still WORK. Being in the automotive fabrication field for over a decade, I’ve been moonlighting doing sheet metal restoration work and actually prefer the side hustle rather than the pressures to make ends meet. My customer base knows they’ll receive full dedication to a project when I’m motivated and inspired rather than trying to finish for the sake of a deadline. I say this loosely, “I’d rather have a day job I hate and come home to enjoy the hobbies that I love.”
I wouldn't say its bullshit. I think you are taking it too far. Like he said, work yes but it also comes with the good that you won't get when you have a boss. You can't have it all man.
Well said Greasemonkey. I'm a full time auto tech by day, then when I get home, I work on classic/antique vehicles. It's pressure all day, then it's more relaxed in the evenings and I enjoy it. But the evenings are different in that I get to do what I like to the vehicle in terms of putting my own "twist" on them. I've got a 66 vette and a 70 GTO at home that I'm doing custom work to. The vette is getting vintage air, and it's taking me too long, but it's a custom job that I'm making it look past factory looking. The GTO is getting engine upgrades but looks different from what anyone else would do. Can't do that stuff during the day
I think thats why a lot of makers, builders and cosplayers go to events like dragon con, wasteland weekend, and burning man. It's inspiring seeing people different spins on concepts and ideas.
Maybe set aside some time every week/month for new ideas, experiments. Maybe friday afternoons or one day every month are a tinker time, or a half day go prototype new things that will keep the excitement levels up for what it is you want to be doing.
@@CalderwoodPercussion I’m 💯 in agreement with you buddy, damn this makes it hard to go to work tomorrow 🤣 this really refreshed my thinking process, awesome. ✝️🇺🇸🤙🏻🅰️
Not entirely sure why, but this video brought me to tears. Thank you for making this :) I’ve felt so lost recently, and it’s so refreshing to hear someone actually be honest about life difficulties and still enjoying being alive. Nice to know it’s possible :)
I just started a chainsaw carving company this year and I feel this so much. It can get tedious but I love it. But there are deffinately moments at midnight when I'm sand and staining that I'm pulling my hair out lol. But it's worth it to be my own boss and make art. Sure I go through imposter syndrome midway on every single carving but I always pull out a great piece by the end. That's the process! This video was so on the button for me. Thanks Adam!
If we're talking about prop making, my experience is A) make inventory and sell it rather than taking orders, as this lets you control your workload; and B) phase out projects and develop new projects to avoid getting bored of doing the same thing. Thanks for the great questions and answers!
I took my favorite hobby, photography, and turned it into a business. I had a blast for years but eventually it took its toll and the fun went out of it and I eventually closed it down. These days I find it difficult to pick up a camera. Great video that I identify with.
Adam, you're one of the most wonderful, humble, and well spoken person I've seen. It often gives me confort knowing there's people like you out there. Thank you so much for being yourself, that is to say, being an inspiration.
If you are serious about your hobby, make your hobby fund itself. Do this before trying to live off it. Make 3-5 of that item at the same time, sell those other things to at least pay for that one thing you need, so you break even. If you can get a small + of cash each time, you can fund a very expensive thing you need in short time.
I concur. Don't go into debt to monetize something you love. I'll give another example: I used my main job to pay for my first professional camera and lens. Then, while still working the other job, used the equipment I had to get clients. I bought 2nd hand equipment and each time I had a photography job it went towards getting more pro-quality equipment and education. Then, when I had enough, I quit being employed by others and started a business with no debt, and all the equipment I'll need to sustain it.
I turned my hobby into a business. It feels like work a lot of the time but some projects hit that fun spot still. A challenge to do something new or different feels great. I work 12 to 15 hrs a day but it goes by fast. Never enough time in a day. But I am blessed to do my art for a living. I grow every day. My skill grows with every blade.
I started a videoclip buisiness in 2015, traveled a big part of the world with it and now I'm disolving the company, partly. Adam, you hit the nail on the head with this one a few times. Thanks for your wisdom ❤️
I love the term you used, "Generalist". I've always felt like I never really drilled into one particular creative outlet, and in some ways that has made me feel sad because I know that if I really stuck with one thing I could be so much better. But on the other hand, I love being a generalist. Sometimes I write, sometimes I draw, sometimes I program, sometimes I play music, etc. I can do whatever suits my creative mood at the moment and know that I'll be able to accomplish something. It might not be perfection, but it still makes me feel fulfilled.
There are times when not specializing in one thing is a benefit. It allows for more creative problem-solving. You are able to come up with ideas that no one else can see because you have been involved in so many different outlets.
That's how contractors work. Learn little bundles of each trade every so often and it builds up, Eventually you can become a one man building machine with equal practice in each thing to the point where it becomes second nature. I learned all kinds of things on repairing my house and items in it just from UA-cam, DIY books, service manuals, etc. One day I'm rebuilding dead laptops to resell, the next week I am snaking a clogged drain in the floor with rented tools, the next time I'm fixing the fan on the oven or the door seal on a washing machine, or sealing the foundation or refurbishing the lawnmower engine. Many people say a master of one trade/item is always better over someone that is average at several different tasks, but that is just all relative to the amount of experience each person has with those tasks. If you do each task in equal amounts it's not gonna be overwritten in your brain, you just know it. It just takes longer to get there because you're not hammering that skill into your head every day all day long.
@@MrWolfSnack I had to do that as a foreman for a small construction company. I made sure I knew a medium amount of each tradesman's job so that I could tell when they were doing it right or wrong, because MY boss would ask ME how the overall job was going.
I made a costume prop a couple of years ago, based on a video that Odin Makes had posted. At the Con I went to someone asked if they could either buy it from me outright or commission one for him. I had to stop and think: how do I put a dollar amount on this "thing" I made? I turned him down. Having seen Kamui Cosplay's video on commission cost, I would have undersold myself by a lot. Like you said, it becomes a question of how much money would motivate me to do the thing again? I also have to thank you, Adam, for turning to UA-cam. You helped a LOT of us get through COVID last year. You were like the friend we could always rely on for sage advice, inspiration, and sometimes a good laugh. Keep up the good work!
As someone who is currently job hunting for a very stable professional job but considering turning to photography full time instead, this was a much needed pep talk. Especially with the way this was shot - intimate, personal and honest - it was really like receiving advice from an encouraging and wise father (sorry Adam xD). Some really useful nuggets in here, much appreciated Tested team!
You have made me so nostalgic for when I worked in freelance sound design for live theatre here in Australia... I've since moved on to study psychological science after a decade in the theatre, but I miss that challenging, invigorating way of living.
RE: Pricing What You Make For Sale - Start with a price three or four times the number you think it should be. I find that I always under estimate what I should charge. Then go back and try to figure out what it really costs to make the thing or do the service. Add every minute, resource, favor, etc. you need to get it done. Your goal is profit. Profit is not what you make on a sale. It is having money left over in the bank AFTER you paid all your bills, including paying yourself, and its there working on your behalf making interest, etc. Those things are a few of the hardest lessons I learned running my own business. Thanks for the encouraging words Adam!
I do arcade maintenance. It's my dream job. But really my job is %50 filling/fixing tickets, %30 turning game off/on, %10 showing guest to how play/ use something, %10 actual fixing stuff. The days become the same and blend into one.
As someone I work with told me - work is what you do so you can do the things you enjoy. Working sucks at times for everyone(okay, most times) but if you are doing something you like and it is your company, you will enjoy it more. The big difference between a hobby and job is that the hobby is for you and the job is work for someone else so in the end you have to put your feelings aside and do the work as they want(within reason of course). You won't enjoy it all the time but if you enjoy it better than your current job, then it's a plus and worthwhile.
When I was about 10 years old my mother got me a crystal radio kit. I assembled it and loved doing it. I bought parts and designed my own, making it smaller and smaller, until I made one that fit inside a pen. I became obsessed with electronics. I went to the library every week (this was long before the internet) and took out books on electronics, and built other circuits, for years after. Long story short, I ended up building prototypes for a living. Every job had frustrations, and there was always the threat of getting laid off when the project ended. There were times that I didn't want to go home at the end of the day and other times when all I thought about was getting out of there, but overall, I look back today and realize I was good at it and was having the time of my life. The bonus was, it paid well. Next year I will retire, and it will still be my hobby.
@Adam Savage’s Tested sincerely.... thank you, this.... is what I have been wondering ALL time, since appears that people like to scum or argufy the hobbies I DEFINATELY enjoy 🙂, and would make me the must humble, and yet happy man in my future, cause its what I REALLY love 😊, cause almost all of the time, I fantasize about not only making profit from them, but also sharing my experience and skills: I swear it for my life, it is 2:44 in the morning, and just 10 minutes of this video... lead me maybe to more than half an hour philosophizing about this, JUST because of people trashing my little enormous passions 🙂, I definately and without doubt would keep doing through my life; this....... is an eye opening realization, (jajaja,😅 I´m 19, sounds like an adult making philosophy. But seriously, the way Adam speaks, these are words filled with wisdom, from someone who took the best and the worst willing to not only succes, but while doing his passion, accept mistakes made from exhausting work, and learn from them), it is a great motivation to keep doing the things I enjoy, and to have the will to reach for the best of them, while fulfilling myself from learning and perfecting these humble stuff... painting, drawing, carving, sculpting, making jewerly, making bread, pastries.... you name it, these things... I have always desired with my soul to make them... they might not be a big deal, and... like the bread, I recently made it twice, I LOVED IT, made me learn no only the measurements (and fails in order to improve 😁), but also admire the laborious process that takes to make my favorite food in the world,🥰simple as freshly baked bread . I´ve been having a TON of issues lately with myself, and...taking the time to think about this, ....... really gives me strenght to keep looking forward and cope with calm, respect, awareness, maturity and determination 😁; with the best intentions to be able not just to realize myself doing what I enjoy, ... but also to lay the foundation, to be able to help every person within my capabilities to achieve it too. By this little things, or maybe by applying my studies as a civil ingenieer in service for the community.😊🤗👷♂️ As the love of my life once told me...♡ That your goal today is to beat your best excuse thank you for sharing your wisdom with us, you are... simply awesome, and I will be looking forward to meet you someday, someday!!!! It would be a dream Hugs from Guatemala🇬🇹☺️🤗
By this explanation, I get why a lot of artists make “limited edition’s” or “limited run’s”. You don’t gets stuck in doing the same thing over and over, but also means you need to have some new idea to move on to whether it be a new version, new style, etc or you will put yourself out of business. And if it’s something that great, creating a limit could start a frenzy for your product making the decision to raise prices much easier. On the other side, if it’s not something like an art piece but more like Adams Sharpie example, you would need to start thinking about automation in some way. Your “fun” at this point is to come up with a solution or process that limits the work on your part while making it possible to increase production rates without sacrificing quality.
This is a really great follow up to your shark week commentary video- the bit about finding more information/what would you tell 30-year-old Adam. You have a lot of experience that I’m happily soaking up!
I was thinking about this the other day and came to the same conclusion about 90% of work not being fun. I think that it is important to normalize that expectation. It won't be fun most of the time, so there's nothing wrong with you if you aren't having a great time all the time. I guess the main thing is what are you doing for work now, and would you enjoy making things for work more than that? Many jobs come with bonus parts that you can benefit from. I had one job that came with a company car. That was great to have. So making things you will have access to all your shop tools and machines for your own use outside of work, and the skill to use them to make things. That's a pretty incredible bonus.
Adam i think one thing that is important to note is that how people react to frustration will also determine wheter or not the passion will deminish. For example. If I work on something that once was a passion and then get frustrated, then going away from this task will mean -> going away is pleasurable. When I do that all the time I will literally teach myself to get away from the frustration. But when I switch from that frustration to a more comfortable task(within that passion) I teach myself that this passion is still pleasurable and I can still feel achieved. Now there is no negative association with the passion anymore.
I think this is one of the better episodes I have watched, as I can so relate to it . . . I am a clay artist, primarily a functional potter - mugs and bowls - . . . .I also get bored or burned out from specific work, but because this field is so diverse, when I tire of making one thing I go on to make something else, or experiment, or play . . . nearly 15 years in this business . . . because I work for myself I work when I want, but I still work every day - that I'm not selling at markets - , so I can switch doing things like a reno project, doing laundry, shopping for materials or food, getting wood in for winter, and all the other aspects of life . . . . every year I evaluate my product and raise prices accordingly, especially if something is selling off the shelf . . . I don't stick to a permanent line of work, I am always changing to feed my creativity . . . I cut corners with time cause time is my most precious commodity . . . .I've come to understand that I need to live life as I want to, and not be restricted by anything I do . . . my only dread is custom orders thatr are outside of what I normal make . . . a deadline is like a lead weight around my neck choking me to death, but I still do them because I value my customers not because of the money they pay but because of the joy they have from having and using my work . . . we all have an effect on other people from the work we make, and that might be what drives me to continue . . . thanks Adam, enjoying every moment
I've done a couple side hustles, and like Adam said, you'll get good at it and learn a lot. The best part of it being a side hustle that was unsaid, is that if it ever gets boring you can just stop. If you eventually want to turn it into your full time work, then great. If not, you can always stop and go back to everyday life while you look for something else at any time
I can I apply this explanation into my life of cooking. I find most enjoyment when I can cook my own food and it just brings a smile and a full belly to the thousand and thousands of people I’ve cooked for over the 10 plus years in family/chef owned restaurants. But I know once all that is on my shoulders it’s so much more to handle to be the owner of my own. But I absolutely loved that whole answer you gave. I’d keep it fun by surrounding myself with good people with the same drive. ❤
This is one of the most helpful videos I watched in a long time. I'm currently in the process of becoming self employed and it's really scary and having a difficult relationship with my passion which is also my job its a big challenge. It's great to hear these thoughts from someone else who has a somewhat similar mindset and it really builds confidence to hear from someone who has made the experience with all its ups and downs
The answer to your dilemma is simple young one. it is continuous GROWTH in what you choose to do. As for Adam's case, he constantly monitors his shop, improves his tools, his toolcases, his work ethics, his processes. That is how you keep the "fun" in anything that you do... you GROW with and in it.
Whether you work for yourself or for someone else, you will lose that first blush of excitement. I was a nurse for over 43 years. I LOVED what I did. I felt excited that I was helping people. And yet, the drudgery of the job could be soul crushing. But finding the nuggets of either 'WOW' or 'Hey, we did that', shine through. Keep on the lookout for those. They make the drudgery survivable.
Adam, I have to say how much I appreciate the reminder about *drudgery* and *tediousness* . You've spoken about it before and truly it has changed the way that I approach life and the way that I work. But the fact that you have given us a reminder (whether knowingly or unknowingly) has made me realize that despite my current situation, I need to pull myself together and work past being burnt out and stop procrastinating some very important things to move onto the next step within my life. I know the chances of you seeing this are slim, but if you happen to see it, I want you to know that I extent a lot of appreciation because this is exactly what I needed in my life right now.
"I don't like hustle culture" is, in my opinion, one of the most under spoken about things in society today! I personally cannot stand hustling for the sake of hustling, and think that working mindfully is just as, or maybe more advantageous for some. Not only that, but I also feel like it'd be nice if society accepted that different humans have different ways of working and while one person may work MORE than another, that doesn't necessarily mean that the other person hasn't worked as HARD. Anyways, just really appreciated hearing that! haha
This is definitely good advise. I definitely would say the "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life" is one of the biggest loads of hogwash in the popular conscience. It's probably a "grass is always greener" effect from people looking at what others do and hating their own drudgery, but as Adam said, every field is mostly drudgery. On the one hand, I'm burned out. I used to enjoy coming home and programming after programming at work. It's been so long I can't even remember when I stopped that, and now it's a struggle to be motivated at work. I no longer care if I get the greenfield projects that let me express my creativity. If anything, I'd rather the new people around me get them so at least someone can enjoy them. But on the other hand, it's solid work that I fit into like a glove. I can be half-asleep and productive because the logic involved is almost like muscle memory. I've paid my dues, I've gained the skills and institutional knowledge, and I can do things I couldn't before in exchange for the things I can't do anymore. As Adam said, you should do what you are good at, even if that means giving up a hobby you enjoyed and making it into a career to pay the bills you no longer get creative fulfillment from. But as the enjoyment fades, find a new hobby, a new outlet for your creative fulfillment. And make sure you balance your life in a way that lets you enjoy the non-work so you don't get burned out on the work.
As a fellow generalist, much of what Adam says here resonates with me. If I'm just "making the one thing", I too would get bored with it quickly and want to move on to something new. However, I've known some people that really enjoy "perfecting the one thing", making it better, making it more efficiently. If that is you, Mikael, then you may find longer term enjoyment in your pursuit. My advice would be: make a business plan. Figure out what you are making, how you are going to sell it, how many people might want to buy it, and what they will pay for it. Then figure out what your costs are in making that thing(s). Make sure to account for paying yourself a rate that you can be satisfied with.
Hey Adam, thanks, man. I really needed that today. Just finished a huge project making a new drum line for West Point that I'm super proud of. Most complicated build I've ever done, biggest paycheck I've ever gotten, but... yeah, it doesn't feel like it used to, and that's been weighing very heavily on me lately. Thanks for this; it really helps to hear other folks go through the same stuff, and that, to some degree at least, it's the same no matter how far you get.
Two things to note about this, that Adam touched on: 1. Whether something becomes "a job" compared to "a hobby" can entirely depend on how much you depend on doing it. If your hobby was "I spend 3 hours painting something once a week" , and you can make enough money from that one session to not need another job, that doesn't really fundamentally change your hobby. If you have to increase productivity, in having to spend 3 hours a day painting, 7 days a week, to make enough to live on .. then that starts to feel like a job; because you've taken yourself out of your normal comfort level, and put it onto an assembly line to make money. Someone who can do something infrequently, or not have to worry about how much they make from it, will continue to see something as a hobby far longer than someone who lives day by day now doing it in order to barely get by. 2. Just because you do something frequently, doesn't mean it becomes tedious or boring. Some people love to drive, they probably also have to drive daily to work. The act of driving to work doesn't automatically ruin that experience. If your job is entirely to drive, you can still enjoy it just as much as you did before getting paid for it. What some people need is "the reason to drive" fulfilled each time. A drive out to the country side, into the mountains, along the coastline, etc.. If you can constantly give yourself that "new scenery" every time you drive for work, you've maintained your normal hobby / eagerness. A lot of the reason work is seen as monotonous / soulless is because its typically one dimensional, you do the same activity over and over without variance. If you made the same exact chair, or drove the same exact stretch of road, every day the enjoyment of it would wain; just like the pleasure factor of eating a peanut butter cup. The first time is extremely enjoyable, the second time about as enjoyable, and the 12th time you start to feel sick. If you had a different candy bar each and every time though, you could probably continue on for way longer, and even repeat candy bars on a rotation. This is why co workers end up being very social during a job; it's an inevitable experience because socializing is a very diverse and entertaining activity, and it's something that "breaks up the monotony". It's also why employers tend to dislike it since it can easily distract employees and reduce productivity if it gets out of hand. But that's the point, to find ways of maintaining your "job", while also maintaining your ability to break up the monotony of it; whether that's a different, but similar project, or a different way of doing it, or collaborating with someone on it. The job should be "eating candy" , rather than "eating only Reeses". And you're never prevented from doing something else at the same time, and seeing if you can get paid for that too. The whole idea is to get paid for what you want to do, so why do people think they have to stop trying once they get their first activity paid for? If you love to drive ...you can drive different vehicles. Adam has a good type of hobby / business because he very much has the opportunity to create so many different things, which means he can get excited / inspired / distracted easily, the process which lead to you have something as a hobby to begin with. If all he did was make Iron Man replicas .. it wouldn't be nearly the same thing for him.
I have 2 guys helping in my business. They ask me the other day "When do you stop thinking about work?" My reply was "The day I start to work for a Boss again. This is the best video Adam. Only if you work for yourself you will fully understand this video.
I tried my luck as a board game author. Spent lots of time and money for conventions and promoting my product - my super cool innovative fun game (or so I thought). But... It failed financially. Wow! That was frustrating! I'm happy that only my artist-ego took damage, not my income and financial security. I was suddenly very thankful for my (well, not really boring, but often thankless and stagnating) job as a teacher. After that excursion into self employment (light - without real risk ;) I realized that trying to make my hobby a business was a hobby by itself, in a certain way. The thing Adam talks about : always finding a new thing to do. For me it helps to see my excursion into making a business is the same thing like learning to 3d print, learning to paint or suddenly having a strange fascination for octopuses =). Seeing that helped a lot to make peace with not wanting to continue a business. Still, I'm looking forward to my next try - from the warm (sometimes wet and sticky) safety of my employment. =) Thanks for all the input fellow comment writers. Hope my contribution was a little bit helpful.
I am not self-employed, but I did turn my niche hobby into a job, and for me, while the hobbyist enjoyment has gone down as pointed out, another thing is that you find other avenues of enjoyment you wouldn't necessarily if it remains just a hobby. Now, I have "customers" in a sense, and when something I've done really resonates with them, I've found FAR more enjoyment from that than I ever would if it were just some side thing I was doing for fun. I get to go places and do things I wouldn't otherwise. Even some of the more critical things, from not-so-happy customers to orders from on high can give me overall a sense of pleasure because working to solve issues big and small can be fulfilling too, even if the doing is itself unpleasant or frustrating. I think a lot of this is getting to the general point Adam was kind of circling around in that it will not be the same in the end, but it opens up so many other possibilities that, if you're ready and looking for them, are very enjoyable in their own right. He's kind of alluded to that in other topics--that his dream was joining ILM and building models for movies, and yet here we are watching him after he's done television and tours and all sorts of things that he wasn't even aiming for that now he clearly wouldn't trade for anything else in the world now that he's experienced them.
I've enjoyed making art most of my life. I recently decided to start venturing into selling paintings and doing other illustrations for a side hustle at the moment. And making the paintings are fun but some of it isn't that fun. The best part is seeing the joy it brings others.
I really feel this video. I was in a band coming out of high school. Things started taking off and we started making money at shows and were touring around our province. Eventually it became tedious and it was …work… we all needed a break from it. The band folded and I started driving truck. It was and still is a blast, and I’m self employed as a truck driver now, but I’m kinda looking towards the next chapter. Not that I’m giving up driving (That is after all where the money is coming from!), I just want to slow down a bit. At the same time I started uploading UA-cam videos of driving truck, and now even that is starting to become “work.” Again, I don’t want to stop uploading, I can just feel the tediousness and deadlines from it starting to suck the fun out of it. The last week and a half I had time off, and I completely retooled my garage and it was so much fun just tinkering around and getting little jobs done that I’ve been pushing off for so long. I’ve been dabbling in wood shop and metal work, and may or may not be looking at purchasing a milling machine in the somewhat near future… Haha! Basically I am looking forward to getting my own truck sized shop and just taking the time to tinker around and go down to a part-time kind of driving schedule. There’s a bunch of hurdles to conquer first but that’s all part of the fun of the journey! Keep putting out these shop videos, even if they may feel like work sooner or later 😉😉 And remember kids, often times the chase is better than the catch, always keep looking out for the next step! Even if it’s taking a step back!
As someone who has been self employed (crafter) for many years, I appreciate the advice to remember your time is your own. At the moment I’m super stressed trying to keep product on the shelves during my first sales event in 18 months, and I needed that reminder. Thanks!
I decided a while back, as a Maker and antique furniture restorer, the reason I had so much fun was that it was enjoyable and made me happy. If I had turned it into a business it would be another job I had to do which would have turned it into that hated thing I had to do. Since I do one off jobs, that's all I do. I won't do production work I'd rather keep it that way, so it stays a hobby and fun.
In the past few years I turned my woodworking and wood turning hobby into a side business. I had this same fear but then I realized the extra income from selling the items allowed me to purchase bigger/better tools faster then saving over time. When I am cranking out the same item the 50th time I think if I sell all 50 I can purchase this new tool.
A few comments to contribute: Even if aspects become less fun, it almost certainly feels better than working at a job you dislike. Find other ways to keep it fun. I like to do a few workshop modifications, upgrades, or even just adding decorations to my shop prior each project. The product you build may go to a client but your workspace is *yours*. Keep finding ways to improve your process & quality. Desire to build each project better than your previous ones. Keep looking for new design details to perfect.
I totally get it. I got into woodworking as a hobby/around the house a few years ago and thought to myself "man, I love this so much. And people will pay for my work". But like you said, when you have several jobs lined up, it's harder and harder to find motivation to do it even though it's my favorite thing in the world. I mean I find it therapeutic. But yes, theres always the other side of that
I did that with furniture making. I work for a shop but I love what I do even more using other people's money to make amazing stuff that gets great acclaim!
This is exactly what I needed to hear right now. I've been doing 3d art for the past 3 years now, entirely self taught, and started this year trying to turn it into a form of self employment. It's been tough, sales are super low and I can't even afford rent some time. Watching this video though and hearing this sort of advice is genuinely giving me some more flame for this passion of mine. Thanks for the excellent advice as always Adam.
As someone who is just now diving into a little bit of his own creative "side hustle," I want to thank you for the extra "rambling" in this video. Going above and beyond the initial question shows you really care about giving the best advise possible, and there was so much I hadn't considered before going into this. It's great to have a little more perspective on what I could potentially be facing so that I can be a little more prepared for it when it comes up.
Hobby into job... really good question and a pretty good answer. It got a little murky but ... I think perhaps I don’t fully understand this because I started in the commercial art world and changed my whole mindset and turned to, “Fine Art.” From then on everything , no matter how hard or tedious became necessary to being the very best I could be. This has always driven me. Today I thought, a studio. Assistant should be doing this. Two bandaids later I saw something I only guessed I might accomplish.
Not self employed, but related comment. I am working my dream job right now so I went from doing art as a hobby and just creative exploration to a full time job. One thing that keeps the drive for me was finding a love for the process. I find new funs honing my skills and finding ways to make the workflow better for future me.
One of the things I had to come to grips with when I was self-employed for 17 years was that when I was working, I was not selling myself and when I was selling, I was not working.
Speaking as someone who took a hobby and turned it into a side business I can totally relate to most of this. This is some really good advice. Willl it ever replaced my day job? probably not but I still enjoy it to a certain extent but sometimes it feels like a second job. Also I have raised my prices for certain items that are complete pain in the butt to build but people want So it's totally like a bribe. Really enjoying the channel keep up the good work.
I started building websites as an "coding interest" in 1995. I started my business in 1999 and went full-time in 2001. After 20 years I concur with Adam that it all changes when you take a hobby and make your living at it. It's been a wonderful experience and has allowed me a life that regular employment would not have, but it's not without compromise. Think of having 100 points of motivation - in the beginning, it's 100 of interest and passion, but over time, 80 of them will morph into duty, responsibility, stress and concern. That said, I consistently want to take my motorcycle obsession and turn it into another business - but I stop myself and think, do we want to do that again or shall I keep this just for me? Time will tell ...
I was trying to give my niece advice on this exact situation just the other day. I saw this and shared the video with her, because you said it better than I ever could.
Turning a hobby into a business is hard. When you are being creative just to please yourself it's easy. When you have a customer, client or a boss to please, it's COMPLETELY different. I've been through that process. I was lucky, I found something that I could do that was a valuable and marketable skill. I made the transition to self employment 25 years ago. I don't regret any of it, but if I had known then what I would have to go through, maybe I wouldn't have taken the leap.
Escaping what I got successful at (and, separately, going solo) was my event of the year, and a painful, costly odyssey of at least 5yrs! Oh this video rings so true. My personal motto has become: DO WHAT'S NEXT!
I am a seamstress and volunteer at my church doing alterations for any who come. All you said is true, but there will be times that reward your heart. We had adult proms and making attendees feel good about themselves is indescribable! That smile at the final fitting rewards me more than I can say.
@8:21...sort of like being in the most popular, successful band in the word and suddenly it is no more. McCartney has spoken "words of wisdom" about this very topic.
As a self employed artist I really feel like my thoughts about creative process and "prices" were just spoken by Adam. Especially about pricing for work. :D
This is such a useful set of insights. Thanks Adam, as a generalist it’s often hard to find one’s way in the world as so much of working life requires one to define oneself one way or another. As a freelancer I agree with everything you’ve said here. Work is work. But when you’re doing it because you believe in it, and you won’t get successes and failures, it’s much sweeter. Even professional artists need to do the slog in order to have those sublime moments. They have to buy their supplies and clean their studios and cook breakfast and prepare canvases and mix pigments in order to make the time and space for creativity to actually happen and even then those awesome discoveries and moments aren’t guaranteed to happen. It’s work. And that’s what being a professional is - taking the whole picture seriously. One of the hardest parts I’ve found about freelancing is that unlike when you have a job, your trajectory of advancement is entirely up to you - which is great, but also burdensome. You have to factor in your own training, learning and the growth of your business into what you do. It’s easy to be complacent about that and find yourself in that place where you’ve done the thing you’re doing to the point where you’re actually going bonkers from the boredom. Keeping it fresh through constantly adding levels of challenge to the work, or deciding what you won’t to for money anymore is a good way to keep i yourself evolving and the work from being stale. Anyways. Good ramble. You’re an inspiration.
Adam, I want to sincerely thank you. It is a pleasure and inspiration to hear you speak on the philosophy of self-employment and work/life balance. I would love to hear to speak on this topic more, although you often ver into it spontaneously, and randomly anyway. In a podcast maybe about a year ago, you were talking to Frank. And he mentioned he had started seeing a therapist, and it was really helping him out. I know you are a strong advocate of mental health maintenance. A check-in on that would also be really appreciated. Again, Thank you Adam. I watch these for way more than seeing what you're "making". BTW the video you released with Fon this week broke my heart. Thank you for that intimate look inside. Lastly, I saw a Robert Rauschenberg exhibit of his "White" paintings in NYC in 1989. Thank you for that memory blast!
Definitely did this, and I also found new hobbies lol. I love my damn job, and only certain parts get boring. However I very rarely ever do my job just for fun anymore.
Inspiring words Adam. I guess fear of the unknown and sticking with what you know best is human nature at its very core. You've to dare to take that leap and discover new things. Far easier said than done.
Thanks especially for the tip on not doing your own taxes. At the point that you have about $300 a year to pay for tax prep this is great advice. I don't think I can do this every year but I've decided to go to a pro whenever anything changed and ask questions and look for deductions.
I'm totally with you. Being a generalist is the only way to enjoy work for me. Constantly switching between types of work keeps you enjoying it like a point and click game always tackling new puzzles instead of the same puzzle over and over. That's the crux of it. Modern henry ford model style hyper-specialized work took the enjoyment out of it. One person turning the same bolt might be more efficient, but it's depressingly boring for the worker.
@10:20 GREAT QUESTION!!!... 'you should rise your price': In the beginning of your selling...the pleasure of making the thing is 50% of total income...and at some point point you are tired of making the same thing over and over again...so the pleasure dropped down to almost a 0 so the price of the product has to double...or you can find the next pleasure in a little different kind of your selling... develop your project!
Hi Adam. I loved Mythbusters and would watch it avidly over here in Kent, England. Now I have discovered Tested I am loving that to. As a model maker I especially enjoy the one day builds you do and the suits and props you make. Really great, please do stay safe and keep on doing what your doing. All the best to you mate!
I have found that when I have turned a hobby into work... the greatest thing is that I feel what I am doing at any given time, even if it is tedious, is worthy. When someone else tells you what to work on, sometimes(Hopefully not a lot, but at least sometime) they will have you work on stuff you do not think brings value. And doing things that you do not think brings value drains your soul. And at least my hobby-work have never been that. Tedious yes, but not soul-draining
The singer Ernest Tubb was talking to Merle Haggard about Merle being tired of playing Okie from Muskogee. Ernest told him you dance with the girl who brought you. You can do other things as well, but don't forget what brought you success in the first place.
Thank you for your differentiation between creative work and Hustle Culture. Hustle Culture and Rise and Grind ideology is at its core corrosive to living. I'd love to hear your full thoughts on this.
I need to thank you SO MUCH for this video. It wasn't an unecessary rambling! I was running my side business for around 4 years and I could safely say I was getting really burned out over time because my actual work is getting harder and my side business is also getting as hard because of the complexities and volume to make. Brightened up my moods a little on this. Now back to working on that side business haha
I've been making Mando helmets fulltime now for 5 years! I agree with your thoughts and advice completely! Being debt free or as close as possible is a must then knowing your market and price points are 2nd. Then quality is always more important than quantity and then so forth and so on....you learn them as you go...just saying!
Starting with a ten gallon aquarium, then step up to a 20-29-40-etc, etc, etc yet there is room for growth. May hobbies have room for change. So people work toward increasing levels and can keep some fun in your hobby.
I'm a filmmaker/videographer but I make my money as a fitness trainer, which is also being self employed. i'm fortunate enough to make money as a trainer so that I don't have to do video jobs that I don't want to do and can keep my creative appetite fresh and only do what I want to do. Training has become work, but it's so easy at this point, and pays good money for such a simple routine.
I've done some professional photography. I hate shooting weddings. A father at church came to me and said his daughter wanted me to shoot he wedding. I told him I don't shoot weddings... he kept on and on. I gave him an obnoxious price to shoot the wedding -- and he pulled out a checkbook and paid me on the spot. I hired two other talented wedding photogs to shoot with me and we all had a blast... and made darn good money doing it. Everyone has their price!
I dabble leather and kydex and I'm just good enough to makes stuff for myself when I need to. I almost always turn down opportunities from friends because I just can't do it fast enough to make a profit
![[UA] Eternal Fire проти NAVI | EPL Season 20 Malta](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/chvlsDygrZM/mqdefault.jpg)
One of the nicest things about this video is that your hearing aid battery went out and you didn't cut it out, you just went and dealt with it. I'm slightly hearing impaired and it'll likely get worse, and I had hearing aids as a kid. You have no idea how much it means to see this not erased
Absolutely this, i had no idea about Adam's hearing loss before this video but it made me lookup his video detailing his congenital hearing loss and the destigmatizing of it.
Thank you so much for answering my question Adam. Since I asked it I've had the time to get started and I already recognize a lot of what you said.
Fortunately I do have a full time job as a mechanical engineer(product developer/project manager) so I've got the luxury of being able to just say "No, I don't feel like it today" and not put in any work at all in my own company for a week.
For me the balancing act of doing fun new things while thinking "What can I get income from soon?" is tricky. I've got so many product ideas and stuff that I want to do, but I've also come to realize that I need to focus on one thing for a while in order to get it to liftoff.
I really feel what you're saying in that it's not the same kind of fun anymore, but it's still some kind of fun. Yes, there's a lot of tedious stuff but like you're saying it feels nice knowing that my hard work goes into my own account. It really reminds me of when I used to work as a carpenter, some jobs were really boring so I'd calculate how much money I made every minute and let that keep me going.
Well, now it feels like I'm rambling on too. Thanks again and it was an honor having my swedish name butchered by you. :D (My international friends usually just call me Mike).
I love seeing and reading the follow up to this video. I've watched this video twice - once because I related to it and wanted to finish, and a second to absorb just how perfectly it captured my feelings on a lot of this same topic.
I think it was Peter Hurley who said that the way he determined his pricing was he kept on increasing it until he wasn't fully booked every month.
💯
I found every time i raised my prices, it was the clients I didn't like working with that went away.
That's basic economics baby. You gotta find where supply meets demand to make the most money. Too much demand to meet the supply? Jack up the price till you can produce exactly what is demanded or expand, which is hard in trades because you can't always trust a new comer will meet the same standards. Too much supply not enough demand? Lower prices or find ways to increase the demand with advertising, higher quality, etc.
This is absolutely so true 👌🏼
Every other old timer has said, “You’ll never work a day in your life if you enjoy what you’re doing”
Such BS. Thank you Adam for the honest and insightful responses, as it’s still WORK. Being in the automotive fabrication field for over a decade, I’ve been moonlighting doing sheet metal restoration work and actually prefer the side hustle rather than the pressures to make ends meet. My customer base knows they’ll receive full dedication to a project when I’m motivated and inspired rather than trying to finish for the sake of a deadline.
I say this loosely, “I’d rather have a day job I hate and come home to enjoy the hobbies that I love.”
I wouldn't say its bullshit. I think you are taking it too far. Like he said, work yes but it also comes with the good that you won't get when you have a boss. You can't have it all man.
@@Rufio1975 Agreed.
This is spot on, "been there done that"
Nah, I have so much more time to do whatever I want. Working a set schedule every week for someone else does not sound cool at all.
Well said Greasemonkey. I'm a full time auto tech by day, then when I get home, I work on classic/antique vehicles. It's pressure all day, then it's more relaxed in the evenings and I enjoy it. But the evenings are different in that I get to do what I like to the vehicle in terms of putting my own "twist" on them. I've got a 66 vette and a 70 GTO at home that I'm doing custom work to. The vette is getting vintage air, and it's taking me too long, but it's a custom job that I'm making it look past factory looking. The GTO is getting engine upgrades but looks different from what anyone else would do. Can't do that stuff during the day
Feeling this way a lot lately, need to dive into new things to get me excited again.
I think thats why a lot of makers, builders and cosplayers go to events like dragon con, wasteland weekend, and burning man. It's inspiring seeing people different spins on concepts and ideas.
Maybe set aside some time every week/month for new ideas, experiments. Maybe friday afternoons or one day every month are a tinker time, or a half day go prototype new things that will keep the excitement levels up for what it is you want to be doing.
One of my favorite leather craftsman commenting on one of my favorite generalist makers...this is the kind of thing that makes me love UA-cam.
Yeah, man. Same. Somehow it helps to know I'm not the only one, ya know?
@@CalderwoodPercussion I’m 💯 in agreement with you buddy, damn this makes it hard to go to work tomorrow 🤣 this really refreshed my thinking process, awesome. ✝️🇺🇸🤙🏻🅰️
Not entirely sure why, but this video brought me to tears. Thank you for making this :) I’ve felt so lost recently, and it’s so refreshing to hear someone actually be honest about life difficulties and still enjoying being alive. Nice to know it’s possible :)
I just started a chainsaw carving company this year and I feel this so much. It can get tedious but I love it. But there are deffinately moments at midnight when I'm sand and staining that I'm pulling my hair out lol. But it's worth it to be my own boss and make art. Sure I go through imposter syndrome midway on every single carving but I always pull out a great piece by the end. That's the process! This video was so on the button for me. Thanks Adam!
I’m starting my adventure of selling my woodworking, I sold my first lamp the other day and it felt awesome
I found when I was self employed, I had the worst boss ever. Every hand shake was a sales pitch. But when the money cam to you first, what a feeling.
If we're talking about prop making, my experience is A) make inventory and sell it rather than taking orders, as this lets you control your workload; and B) phase out projects and develop new projects to avoid getting bored of doing the same thing. Thanks for the great questions and answers!
I took my favorite hobby, photography, and turned it into a business. I had a blast for years but eventually it took its toll and the fun went out of it and I eventually closed it down. These days I find it difficult to pick up a camera. Great video that I identify with.
Adam, you're one of the most wonderful, humble, and well spoken person I've seen. It often gives me confort knowing there's people like you out there. Thank you so much for being yourself, that is to say, being an inspiration.
I'm way more humble than he is!
“Customizing Sharpies” is now my go-to expression for any semi-creative activity.
If you are serious about your hobby, make your hobby fund itself. Do this before trying to live off it.
Make 3-5 of that item at the same time, sell those other things to at least pay for that one thing you need, so you break even.
If you can get a small + of cash each time, you can fund a very expensive thing you need in short time.
I concur. Don't go into debt to monetize something you love.
I'll give another example: I used my main job to pay for my first professional camera and lens. Then, while still working the other job, used the equipment I had to get clients. I bought 2nd hand equipment and each time I had a photography job it went towards getting more pro-quality equipment and education. Then, when I had enough, I quit being employed by others and started a business with no debt, and all the equipment I'll need to sustain it.
Hit the nail on the head.
“Perspective is Everything.”
That is the best line ever and apply to more things than you think.
I wish this was a 360 cam just to look at all the cool things in the shop
Volumetric!!!!!
Volumetric!!!!!
I turned my hobby into a business. It feels like work a lot of the time but some projects hit that fun spot still. A challenge to do something new or different feels great. I work 12 to 15 hrs a day but it goes by fast. Never enough time in a day. But I am blessed to do my art for a living. I grow every day. My skill grows with every blade.
I've seen your work and it's fantastic! It's inspired me to try something way outside my skill-set for a costume I'm working on!
I started a videoclip buisiness in 2015, traveled a big part of the world with it and now I'm disolving the company, partly. Adam, you hit the nail on the head with this one a few times. Thanks for your wisdom ❤️
I love the term you used, "Generalist". I've always felt like I never really drilled into one particular creative outlet, and in some ways that has made me feel sad because I know that if I really stuck with one thing I could be so much better. But on the other hand, I love being a generalist. Sometimes I write, sometimes I draw, sometimes I program, sometimes I play music, etc. I can do whatever suits my creative mood at the moment and know that I'll be able to accomplish something. It might not be perfection, but it still makes me feel fulfilled.
As a generalist, I always hark back to Heinlein's quote about "specialization being for insects" :)
There are times when not specializing in one thing is a benefit. It allows for more creative problem-solving. You are able to come up with ideas that no one else can see because you have been involved in so many different outlets.
That's how contractors work. Learn little bundles of each trade every so often and it builds up, Eventually you can become a one man building machine with equal practice in each thing to the point where it becomes second nature.
I learned all kinds of things on repairing my house and items in it just from UA-cam, DIY books, service manuals, etc. One day I'm rebuilding dead laptops to resell, the next week I am snaking a clogged drain in the floor with rented tools, the next time I'm fixing the fan on the oven or the door seal on a washing machine, or sealing the foundation or refurbishing the lawnmower engine.
Many people say a master of one trade/item is always better over someone that is average at several different tasks, but that is just all relative to the amount of experience each person has with those tasks. If you do each task in equal amounts it's not gonna be overwritten in your brain, you just know it. It just takes longer to get there because you're not hammering that skill into your head every day all day long.
@@MrWolfSnack I had to do that as a foreman for a small construction company. I made sure I knew a medium amount of each tradesman's job so that I could tell when they were doing it right or wrong, because MY boss would ask ME how the overall job was going.
I made a costume prop a couple of years ago, based on a video that Odin Makes had posted. At the Con I went to someone asked if they could either buy it from me outright or commission one for him. I had to stop and think: how do I put a dollar amount on this "thing" I made? I turned him down. Having seen Kamui Cosplay's video on commission cost, I would have undersold myself by a lot. Like you said, it becomes a question of how much money would motivate me to do the thing again?
I also have to thank you, Adam, for turning to UA-cam. You helped a LOT of us get through COVID last year. You were like the friend we could always rely on for sage advice, inspiration, and sometimes a good laugh. Keep up the good work!
As someone who is currently job hunting for a very stable professional job but considering turning to photography full time instead, this was a much needed pep talk. Especially with the way this was shot - intimate, personal and honest - it was really like receiving advice from an encouraging and wise father (sorry Adam xD). Some really useful nuggets in here, much appreciated Tested team!
Thank you for the comment! Means a lot to us.
You have made me so nostalgic for when I worked in freelance sound design for live theatre here in Australia... I've since moved on to study psychological science after a decade in the theatre, but I miss that challenging, invigorating way of living.
RE: Pricing What You Make For Sale - Start with a price three or four times the number you think it should be. I find that I always under estimate what I should charge. Then go back and try to figure out what it really costs to make the thing or do the service. Add every minute, resource, favor, etc. you need to get it done.
Your goal is profit. Profit is not what you make on a sale. It is having money left over in the bank AFTER you paid all your bills, including paying yourself, and its there working on your behalf making interest, etc. Those things are a few of the hardest lessons I learned running my own business. Thanks for the encouraging words Adam!
I do arcade maintenance. It's my dream job. But really my job is %50 filling/fixing tickets, %30 turning game off/on, %10 showing guest to how play/ use something, %10 actual fixing stuff. The days become the same and blend into one.
Wow, interesting job!
As someone I work with told me - work is what you do so you can do the things you enjoy. Working sucks at times for everyone(okay, most times) but if you are doing something you like and it is your company, you will enjoy it more. The big difference between a hobby and job is that the hobby is for you and the job is work for someone else so in the end you have to put your feelings aside and do the work as they want(within reason of course). You won't enjoy it all the time but if you enjoy it better than your current job, then it's a plus and worthwhile.
When I was about 10 years old my mother got me a crystal radio kit. I assembled it and loved doing it. I bought parts and designed my own, making it smaller and smaller, until I made one that fit inside a pen. I became obsessed with electronics.
I went to the library every week (this was long before the internet) and took out books on electronics, and built other circuits, for years after.
Long story short, I ended up building prototypes for a living. Every job had frustrations, and there was always the threat of getting laid off when the project ended. There were times that I didn't want to go home at the end of the day and other times when all I thought about was getting out of there, but overall, I look back today and realize I was good at it and was having the time of my life. The bonus was, it paid well. Next year I will retire, and it will still be my hobby.
@Adam Savage’s Tested
sincerely.... thank you,
this.... is what I have been wondering ALL time, since appears that people like to scum or argufy the hobbies I DEFINATELY enjoy 🙂, and would make me the must humble, and yet happy man in my future, cause its what I REALLY love 😊, cause almost all of the time, I fantasize about not only making profit from them, but also sharing my experience and skills:
I swear it for my life, it is 2:44 in the morning, and just 10 minutes of this video... lead me maybe to more than half an hour philosophizing about this, JUST because of people trashing my little enormous passions 🙂, I definately and without doubt would keep doing through my life; this....... is an eye opening realization, (jajaja,😅 I´m 19, sounds like an adult making philosophy. But seriously, the way Adam speaks, these are words filled with wisdom, from someone who took the best and the worst willing to not only succes, but while doing his passion, accept mistakes made from exhausting work, and learn from them), it is a great motivation to keep doing the things I enjoy, and to have the will to reach for the best of them, while fulfilling myself from learning and perfecting these humble stuff... painting, drawing, carving, sculpting, making jewerly, making bread, pastries.... you name it, these things... I have always desired with my soul to make them... they might not be a big deal, and... like the bread, I recently made it twice, I LOVED IT, made me learn no only the measurements (and fails in order to improve 😁), but also admire the laborious process that takes to make my favorite food in the world,🥰simple as freshly baked bread .
I´ve been having a TON of issues lately with myself, and...taking the time to think about this, ....... really gives me strenght to keep looking forward and cope with calm, respect, awareness, maturity and determination 😁; with the best intentions to be able not just to realize myself doing what I enjoy, ... but also to lay the foundation, to be able to help every person within my capabilities to achieve it too. By this little things, or maybe by applying my studies as a civil ingenieer in service for the community.😊🤗👷♂️
As the love of my life once told me...♡
That your goal today is to beat your best excuse
thank you for sharing your wisdom with us, you are... simply awesome, and I will be looking forward to meet you someday, someday!!!! It would be a dream
Hugs from Guatemala🇬🇹☺️🤗
By this explanation, I get why a lot of artists make “limited edition’s” or “limited run’s”. You don’t gets stuck in doing the same thing over and over, but also means you need to have some new idea to move on to whether it be a new version, new style, etc or you will put yourself out of business. And if it’s something that great, creating a limit could start a frenzy for your product making the decision to raise prices much easier. On the other side, if it’s not something like an art piece but more like Adams Sharpie example, you would need to start thinking about automation in some way. Your “fun” at this point is to come up with a solution or process that limits the work on your part while making it possible to increase production rates without sacrificing quality.
This is a really great follow up to your shark week commentary video- the bit about finding more information/what would you tell 30-year-old Adam. You have a lot of experience that I’m happily soaking up!
I was thinking about this the other day and came to the same conclusion about 90% of work not being fun.
I think that it is important to normalize that expectation. It won't be fun most of the time, so there's nothing wrong with you if you aren't having a great time all the time.
I guess the main thing is what are you doing for work now, and would you enjoy making things for work more than that?
Many jobs come with bonus parts that you can benefit from. I had one job that came with a company car. That was great to have.
So making things you will have access to all your shop tools and machines for your own use outside of work, and the skill to use them to make things. That's a pretty incredible bonus.
Adam i think one thing that is important to note is that how people react to frustration will also determine wheter or not the passion will deminish. For example. If I work on something that once was a passion and then get frustrated, then going away from this task will mean -> going away is pleasurable. When I do that all the time I will literally teach myself to get away from the frustration. But when I switch from that frustration to a more comfortable task(within that passion) I teach myself that this passion is still pleasurable and I can still feel achieved. Now there is no negative association with the passion anymore.
I think this is one of the better episodes I have watched, as I can so relate to it . . . I am a clay artist, primarily a functional potter - mugs and bowls - . . . .I also get bored or burned out from specific work, but because this field is so diverse, when I tire of making one thing I go on to make something else, or experiment, or play . . . nearly 15 years in this business . . . because I work for myself I work when I want, but I still work every day - that I'm not selling at markets - , so I can switch doing things like a reno project, doing laundry, shopping for materials or food, getting wood in for winter, and all the other aspects of life . . . . every year I evaluate my product and raise prices accordingly, especially if something is selling off the shelf . . . I don't stick to a permanent line of work, I am always changing to feed my creativity . . . I cut corners with time cause time is my most precious commodity . . . .I've come to understand that I need to live life as I want to, and not be restricted by anything I do . . . my only dread is custom orders thatr are outside of what I normal make . . . a deadline is like a lead weight around my neck choking me to death, but I still do them because I value my customers not because of the money they pay but because of the joy they have from having and using my work . . . we all have an effect on other people from the work we make, and that might be what drives me to continue . . . thanks Adam, enjoying every moment
I've done a couple side hustles, and like Adam said, you'll get good at it and learn a lot. The best part of it being a side hustle that was unsaid, is that if it ever gets boring you can just stop. If you eventually want to turn it into your full time work, then great. If not, you can always stop and go back to everyday life while you look for something else at any time
Preach...! 🖖😎💨
Master Adam San, you're a maker-rockstar....awe-inspiring.....thanx for always sharing your wisdom so honestly.
I can I apply this explanation into my life of cooking. I find most enjoyment when I can cook my own food and it just brings a smile and a full belly to the thousand and thousands of people I’ve cooked for over the 10 plus years in family/chef owned restaurants. But I know once all that is on my shoulders it’s so much more to handle to be the owner of my own. But I absolutely loved that whole answer you gave. I’d keep it fun by surrounding myself with good people with the same drive. ❤
One of the greatest pieces of professional advice ever spoken!
This is one of the most helpful videos I watched in a long time. I'm currently in the process of becoming self employed and it's really scary and having a difficult relationship with my passion which is also my job its a big challenge. It's great to hear these thoughts from someone else who has a somewhat similar mindset and it really builds confidence to hear from someone who has made the experience with all its ups and downs
The answer to your dilemma is simple young one. it is continuous GROWTH in what you choose to do. As for Adam's case, he constantly monitors his shop, improves his tools, his toolcases, his work ethics, his processes. That is how you keep the "fun" in anything that you do... you GROW with and in it.
Amazing communication, Adam. IMHO this is one of the best videos you've ever made. Thanks for taking the time!
I'm really happy you went to youtube
Whether you work for yourself or for someone else, you will lose that first blush of excitement. I was a nurse for over 43 years. I LOVED what I did. I felt excited that I was helping people. And yet, the drudgery of the job could be soul crushing. But finding the nuggets of either 'WOW' or 'Hey, we did that', shine through. Keep on the lookout for those. They make the drudgery survivable.
Plot twist: Person asking the question actually does have a custom sharpie hobby.
Adam, I have to say how much I appreciate the reminder about *drudgery* and *tediousness* . You've spoken about it before and truly it has changed the way that I approach life and the way that I work. But the fact that you have given us a reminder (whether knowingly or unknowingly) has made me realize that despite my current situation, I need to pull myself together and work past being burnt out and stop procrastinating some very important things to move onto the next step within my life. I know the chances of you seeing this are slim, but if you happen to see it, I want you to know that I extent a lot of appreciation because this is exactly what I needed in my life right now.
"I don't like hustle culture" is, in my opinion, one of the most under spoken about things in society today! I personally cannot stand hustling for the sake of hustling, and think that working mindfully is just as, or maybe more advantageous for some. Not only that, but I also feel like it'd be nice if society accepted that different humans have different ways of working and while one person may work MORE than another, that doesn't necessarily mean that the other person hasn't worked as HARD. Anyways, just really appreciated hearing that! haha
This is definitely good advise. I definitely would say the "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life" is one of the biggest loads of hogwash in the popular conscience. It's probably a "grass is always greener" effect from people looking at what others do and hating their own drudgery, but as Adam said, every field is mostly drudgery.
On the one hand, I'm burned out. I used to enjoy coming home and programming after programming at work. It's been so long I can't even remember when I stopped that, and now it's a struggle to be motivated at work. I no longer care if I get the greenfield projects that let me express my creativity. If anything, I'd rather the new people around me get them so at least someone can enjoy them. But on the other hand, it's solid work that I fit into like a glove. I can be half-asleep and productive because the logic involved is almost like muscle memory. I've paid my dues, I've gained the skills and institutional knowledge, and I can do things I couldn't before in exchange for the things I can't do anymore.
As Adam said, you should do what you are good at, even if that means giving up a hobby you enjoyed and making it into a career to pay the bills you no longer get creative fulfillment from. But as the enjoyment fades, find a new hobby, a new outlet for your creative fulfillment. And make sure you balance your life in a way that lets you enjoy the non-work so you don't get burned out on the work.
As a fellow generalist, much of what Adam says here resonates with me. If I'm just "making the one thing", I too would get bored with it quickly and want to move on to something new. However, I've known some people that really enjoy "perfecting the one thing", making it better, making it more efficiently. If that is you, Mikael, then you may find longer term enjoyment in your pursuit. My advice would be: make a business plan. Figure out what you are making, how you are going to sell it, how many people might want to buy it, and what they will pay for it. Then figure out what your costs are in making that thing(s). Make sure to account for paying yourself a rate that you can be satisfied with.
Hey Adam, thanks, man. I really needed that today. Just finished a huge project making a new drum line for West Point that I'm super proud of. Most complicated build I've ever done, biggest paycheck I've ever gotten, but... yeah, it doesn't feel like it used to, and that's been weighing very heavily on me lately. Thanks for this; it really helps to hear other folks go through the same stuff, and that, to some degree at least, it's the same no matter how far you get.
Two things to note about this, that Adam touched on:
1. Whether something becomes "a job" compared to "a hobby" can entirely depend on how much you depend on doing it. If your hobby was "I spend 3 hours painting something once a week" , and you can make enough money from that one session to not need another job, that doesn't really fundamentally change your hobby. If you have to increase productivity, in having to spend 3 hours a day painting, 7 days a week, to make enough to live on .. then that starts to feel like a job; because you've taken yourself out of your normal comfort level, and put it onto an assembly line to make money.
Someone who can do something infrequently, or not have to worry about how much they make from it, will continue to see something as a hobby far longer than someone who lives day by day now doing it in order to barely get by.
2. Just because you do something frequently, doesn't mean it becomes tedious or boring. Some people love to drive, they probably also have to drive daily to work. The act of driving to work doesn't automatically ruin that experience. If your job is entirely to drive, you can still enjoy it just as much as you did before getting paid for it. What some people need is "the reason to drive" fulfilled each time. A drive out to the country side, into the mountains, along the coastline, etc.. If you can constantly give yourself that "new scenery" every time you drive for work, you've maintained your normal hobby / eagerness.
A lot of the reason work is seen as monotonous / soulless is because its typically one dimensional, you do the same activity over and over without variance. If you made the same exact chair, or drove the same exact stretch of road, every day the enjoyment of it would wain; just like the pleasure factor of eating a peanut butter cup. The first time is extremely enjoyable, the second time about as enjoyable, and the 12th time you start to feel sick. If you had a different candy bar each and every time though, you could probably continue on for way longer, and even repeat candy bars on a rotation.
This is why co workers end up being very social during a job; it's an inevitable experience because socializing is a very diverse and entertaining activity, and it's something that "breaks up the monotony". It's also why employers tend to dislike it since it can easily distract employees and reduce productivity if it gets out of hand. But that's the point, to find ways of maintaining your "job", while also maintaining your ability to break up the monotony of it; whether that's a different, but similar project, or a different way of doing it, or collaborating with someone on it.
The job should be "eating candy" , rather than "eating only Reeses". And you're never prevented from doing something else at the same time, and seeing if you can get paid for that too. The whole idea is to get paid for what you want to do, so why do people think they have to stop trying once they get their first activity paid for? If you love to drive ...you can drive different vehicles.
Adam has a good type of hobby / business because he very much has the opportunity to create so many different things, which means he can get excited / inspired / distracted easily, the process which lead to you have something as a hobby to begin with. If all he did was make Iron Man replicas .. it wouldn't be nearly the same thing for him.
I have 2 guys helping in my business. They ask me the other day "When do you stop thinking about work?" My reply was "The day I start to work for a Boss again. This is the best video Adam. Only if you work for yourself you will fully understand this video.
I tried my luck as a board game author. Spent lots of time and money for conventions and promoting my product - my super cool innovative fun game (or so I thought). But... It failed financially. Wow! That was frustrating! I'm happy that only my artist-ego took damage, not my income and financial security. I was suddenly very thankful for my (well, not really boring, but often thankless and stagnating) job as a teacher. After that excursion into self employment (light - without real risk ;) I realized that trying to make my hobby a business was a hobby by itself, in a certain way. The thing Adam talks about : always finding a new thing to do. For me it helps to see my excursion into making a business is the same thing like learning to 3d print, learning to paint or suddenly having a strange fascination for octopuses =). Seeing that helped a lot to make peace with not wanting to continue a business. Still, I'm looking forward to my next try - from the warm (sometimes wet and sticky) safety of my employment. =)
Thanks for all the input fellow comment writers. Hope my contribution was a little bit helpful.
I am not self-employed, but I did turn my niche hobby into a job, and for me, while the hobbyist enjoyment has gone down as pointed out, another thing is that you find other avenues of enjoyment you wouldn't necessarily if it remains just a hobby. Now, I have "customers" in a sense, and when something I've done really resonates with them, I've found FAR more enjoyment from that than I ever would if it were just some side thing I was doing for fun. I get to go places and do things I wouldn't otherwise. Even some of the more critical things, from not-so-happy customers to orders from on high can give me overall a sense of pleasure because working to solve issues big and small can be fulfilling too, even if the doing is itself unpleasant or frustrating.
I think a lot of this is getting to the general point Adam was kind of circling around in that it will not be the same in the end, but it opens up so many other possibilities that, if you're ready and looking for them, are very enjoyable in their own right. He's kind of alluded to that in other topics--that his dream was joining ILM and building models for movies, and yet here we are watching him after he's done television and tours and all sorts of things that he wasn't even aiming for that now he clearly wouldn't trade for anything else in the world now that he's experienced them.
What a modern philosopher with the utmost eloquence and genuine kindheartedness.
I've enjoyed making art most of my life. I recently decided to start venturing into selling paintings and doing other illustrations for a side hustle at the moment. And making the paintings are fun but some of it isn't that fun. The best part is seeing the joy it brings others.
I really feel this video. I was in a band coming out of high school. Things started taking off and we started making money at shows and were touring around our province. Eventually it became tedious and it was …work… we all needed a break from it. The band folded and I started driving truck. It was and still is a blast, and I’m self employed as a truck driver now, but I’m kinda looking towards the next chapter. Not that I’m giving up driving (That is after all where the money is coming from!), I just want to slow down a bit. At the same time I started uploading UA-cam videos of driving truck, and now even that is starting to become “work.” Again, I don’t want to stop uploading, I can just feel the tediousness and deadlines from it starting to suck the fun out of it.
The last week and a half I had time off, and I completely retooled my garage and it was so much fun just tinkering around and getting little jobs done that I’ve been pushing off for so long. I’ve been dabbling in wood shop and metal work, and may or may not be looking at purchasing a milling machine in the somewhat near future… Haha!
Basically I am looking forward to getting my own truck sized shop and just taking the time to tinker around and go down to a part-time kind of driving schedule. There’s a bunch of hurdles to conquer first but that’s all part of the fun of the journey! Keep putting out these shop videos, even if they may feel like work sooner or later 😉😉
And remember kids, often times the chase is better than the catch, always keep looking out for the next step! Even if it’s taking a step back!
As someone who has been self employed (crafter) for many years, I appreciate the advice to remember your time is your own. At the moment I’m super stressed trying to keep product on the shelves during my first sales event in 18 months, and I needed that reminder. Thanks!
I decided a while back, as a Maker and antique furniture restorer, the reason I had so much fun was that it was enjoyable and made me happy. If I had turned it into a business it would be another job I had to do which would have turned it into that hated thing I had to do. Since I do one off jobs, that's all I do. I won't do production work I'd rather keep it that way, so it stays a hobby and fun.
In the past few years I turned my woodworking and wood turning hobby into a side business. I had this same fear but then I realized the extra income from selling the items allowed me to purchase bigger/better tools faster then saving over time. When I am cranking out the same item the 50th time I think if I sell all 50 I can purchase this new tool.
A few comments to contribute:
Even if aspects become less fun, it almost certainly feels better than working at a job you dislike.
Find other ways to keep it fun. I like to do a few workshop modifications, upgrades, or even just adding decorations to my shop prior each project. The product you build may go to a client but your workspace is *yours*.
Keep finding ways to improve your process & quality. Desire to build each project better than your previous ones. Keep looking for new design details to perfect.
I totally get it. I got into woodworking as a hobby/around the house a few years ago and thought to myself "man, I love this so much. And people will pay for my work". But like you said, when you have several jobs lined up, it's harder and harder to find motivation to do it even though it's my favorite thing in the world. I mean I find it therapeutic. But yes, theres always the other side of that
I did that with furniture making. I work for a shop but I love what I do even more using other people's money to make amazing stuff that gets great acclaim!
This is exactly what I needed to hear right now. I've been doing 3d art for the past 3 years now, entirely self taught, and started this year trying to turn it into a form of self employment. It's been tough, sales are super low and I can't even afford rent some time. Watching this video though and hearing this sort of advice is genuinely giving me some more flame for this passion of mine. Thanks for the excellent advice as always Adam.
As someone who is just now diving into a little bit of his own creative "side hustle," I want to thank you for the extra "rambling" in this video. Going above and beyond the initial question shows you really care about giving the best advise possible, and there was so much I hadn't considered before going into this. It's great to have a little more perspective on what I could potentially be facing so that I can be a little more prepared for it when it comes up.
I really appreciate your honesty about work, it's why I hate an office job and would prefer my own freedom.
Taking the time to answer that question with that depth is what you makes you the best. You're the best.
Hobby into job... really good question and a pretty good answer. It got a little murky but ... I think perhaps I don’t fully understand this because I started in the commercial art world and changed my whole mindset and turned to, “Fine Art.” From then on everything , no matter how hard or tedious became necessary to being the very best I could be. This has always driven me. Today I thought, a studio. Assistant should be doing this. Two bandaids later I saw something I only guessed I might accomplish.
This is amazing. Well done Adam. I bet Mikkael feels like a million bucks and has unparalleled success as a result too. Well done.
Not self employed, but related comment. I am working my dream job right now so I went from doing art as a hobby and just creative exploration to a full time job. One thing that keeps the drive for me was finding a love for the process. I find new funs honing my skills and finding ways to make the workflow better for future me.
One of the things I had to come to grips with when I was self-employed for 17 years was that when I was working, I was not selling myself and when I was selling, I was not working.
Speaking as someone who took a hobby and turned it into a side business I can totally relate to most of this. This is some really good advice. Willl it ever replaced my day job? probably not but I still enjoy it to a certain extent but sometimes it feels like a second job. Also I have raised my prices for certain items that are complete pain in the butt to build but people want So it's totally like a bribe. Really enjoying the channel keep up the good work.
I started building websites as an "coding interest" in 1995. I started my business in 1999 and went full-time in 2001. After 20 years I concur with Adam that it all changes when you take a hobby and make your living at it. It's been a wonderful experience and has allowed me a life that regular employment would not have, but it's not without compromise. Think of having 100 points of motivation - in the beginning, it's 100 of interest and passion, but over time, 80 of them will morph into duty, responsibility, stress and concern. That said, I consistently want to take my motorcycle obsession and turn it into another business - but I stop myself and think, do we want to do that again or shall I keep this just for me? Time will tell ...
I was trying to give my niece advice on this exact situation just the other day. I saw this and shared the video with her, because you said it better than I ever could.
Turning a hobby into a business is hard. When you are being creative just to please yourself it's easy. When you have a customer, client or a boss to please, it's COMPLETELY different. I've been through that process. I was lucky, I found something that I could do that was a valuable and marketable skill. I made the transition to self employment 25 years ago. I don't regret any of it, but if I had known then what I would have to go through, maybe I wouldn't have taken the leap.
Escaping what I got successful at (and, separately, going solo) was my event of the year, and a painful, costly odyssey of at least 5yrs! Oh this video rings so true. My personal motto has become: DO WHAT'S NEXT!
Hearing Adam being excited were one will not be excited about earning on the hobby becoming work.. should be exciting 😁
I am a seamstress and volunteer at my church doing alterations for any who come. All you said is true, but there will be times that reward your heart. We had adult proms and making attendees feel good about themselves is indescribable! That smile at the final fitting rewards me more than I can say.
@8:21...sort of like being in the most popular, successful band in the word and suddenly it is no more. McCartney has spoken "words of wisdom" about this very topic.
As a self employed artist I really feel like my thoughts about creative process and "prices" were just spoken by Adam. Especially about pricing for work. :D
5 stars, will watch again.
Thanks Adam for being unflinchingly "real".
This is such a useful set of insights. Thanks Adam, as a generalist it’s often hard to find one’s way in the world as so much of working life requires one to define oneself one way or another. As a freelancer I agree with everything you’ve said here. Work is work. But when you’re doing it because you believe in it, and you won’t get successes and failures, it’s much sweeter. Even professional artists need to do the slog in order to have those sublime moments. They have to buy their supplies and clean their studios and cook breakfast and prepare canvases and mix pigments in order to make the time and space for creativity to actually happen and even then those awesome discoveries and moments aren’t guaranteed to happen. It’s work. And that’s what being a professional is - taking the whole picture seriously.
One of the hardest parts I’ve found about freelancing is that unlike when you have a job, your trajectory of advancement is entirely up to you - which is great, but also burdensome. You have to factor in your own training, learning and the growth of your business into what you do. It’s easy to be complacent about that and find yourself in that place where you’ve done the thing you’re doing to the point where you’re actually going bonkers from the boredom. Keeping it fresh through constantly adding levels of challenge to the work, or deciding what you won’t to for money anymore is a good way to keep i yourself evolving and the work from being stale.
Anyways. Good ramble. You’re an inspiration.
Adam, I want to sincerely thank you. It is a pleasure and inspiration to hear you speak on the philosophy of self-employment and work/life balance. I would love to hear to speak on this topic more, although you often ver into it spontaneously, and randomly anyway. In a podcast maybe about a year ago, you were talking to Frank. And he mentioned he had started seeing a therapist, and it was really helping him out. I know you are a strong advocate of mental health maintenance. A check-in on that would also be really appreciated. Again, Thank you Adam. I watch these for way more than seeing what you're "making". BTW the video you released with Fon this week broke my heart. Thank you for that intimate look inside. Lastly, I saw a Robert Rauschenberg exhibit of his "White" paintings in NYC in 1989. Thank you for that memory blast!
Definitely did this, and I also found new hobbies lol. I love my damn job, and only certain parts get boring. However I very rarely ever do my job just for fun anymore.
Inspiring words Adam.
I guess fear of the unknown and sticking with what you know best is human nature at its very core. You've to dare to take that leap and discover new things.
Far easier said than done.
Thanks especially for the tip on not doing your own taxes. At the point that you have about $300 a year to pay for tax prep this is great advice. I don't think I can do this every year but I've decided to go to a pro whenever anything changed and ask questions and look for deductions.
I'm totally with you. Being a generalist is the only way to enjoy work for me. Constantly switching between types of work keeps you enjoying it like a point and click game always tackling new puzzles instead of the same puzzle over and over. That's the crux of it. Modern henry ford model style hyper-specialized work took the enjoyment out of it. One person turning the same bolt might be more efficient, but it's depressingly boring for the worker.
@10:20 GREAT QUESTION!!!... 'you should rise your price':
In the beginning of your selling...the pleasure of making the thing is 50% of total income...and at some point point you are tired of making the same thing over and over again...so the pleasure dropped down to almost a 0 so the price of the product has to double...or you can find the next pleasure in a little different kind of your selling... develop your project!
Hi Adam. I loved Mythbusters and would watch it avidly over here in Kent, England. Now I have discovered Tested I am loving that to. As a model maker I especially enjoy the one day builds you do and the suits and props you make. Really great, please do stay safe and keep on doing what your doing. All the best to you mate!
I have found that when I have turned a hobby into work... the greatest thing is that I feel what I am doing at any given time, even if it is tedious, is worthy. When someone else tells you what to work on, sometimes(Hopefully not a lot, but at least sometime) they will have you work on stuff you do not think brings value.
And doing things that you do not think brings value drains your soul. And at least my hobby-work have never been that. Tedious yes, but not soul-draining
I share my creative experience by selling it and that shares it with others, and I still feel good about doing it.
I like Sheffield tape measures, i like how they stay out automatically. Its not necessary but i think its my favorite measure i ever used
I knew Adam would wax philosophical within 5 minutes.
I love Adam Philosophy.
On raising prices. Someone once said, if your clients aren't complaining you need to charge more.
The singer Ernest Tubb was talking to Merle Haggard about Merle being tired of playing Okie from Muskogee. Ernest told him you dance with the girl who brought you. You can do other things as well, but don't forget what brought you success in the first place.
Thank you for your differentiation between creative work and Hustle Culture. Hustle Culture and Rise and Grind ideology is at its core corrosive to living. I'd love to hear your full thoughts on this.
I need to thank you SO MUCH for this video. It wasn't an unecessary rambling! I was running my side business for around 4 years and I could safely say I was getting really burned out over time because my actual work is getting harder and my side business is also getting as hard because of the complexities and volume to make. Brightened up my moods a little on this.
Now back to working on that side business haha
I've been making Mando helmets fulltime now for 5 years! I agree with your thoughts and advice completely! Being debt free or as close as possible is a must then knowing your market and price points are 2nd. Then quality is always more important than quantity and then so forth and so on....you learn them as you go...just saying!
Starting with a ten gallon aquarium, then step up to a 20-29-40-etc, etc, etc yet there is room for growth. May hobbies have room for change. So people work toward increasing levels and can keep some fun in your hobby.
Classic example of the value of wisdom over knowledge. Good stuff.
I'm a filmmaker/videographer but I make my money as a fitness trainer, which is also being self employed. i'm fortunate enough to make money as a trainer so that I don't have to do video jobs that I don't want to do and can keep my creative appetite fresh and only do what I want to do. Training has become work, but it's so easy at this point, and pays good money for such a simple routine.
I've done some professional photography. I hate shooting weddings. A father at church came to me and said his daughter wanted me to shoot he wedding. I told him I don't shoot weddings... he kept on and on. I gave him an obnoxious price to shoot the wedding -- and he pulled out a checkbook and paid me on the spot. I hired two other talented wedding photogs to shoot with me and we all had a blast... and made darn good money doing it. Everyone has their price!
I dabble leather and kydex and I'm just good enough to makes stuff for myself when I need to. I almost always turn down opportunities from friends because I just can't do it fast enough to make a profit
I enjoy these 10 minute rambles