Mind of a Maker

A daily blog inspired by Matthew Dicks

“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.”

— James Clear, Atomic Habits

To become better at something, you have to practice. What better way to become a better writer and storyteller than to practice by making a habit of writing daily?

In this daily blog, we’ll discuss Maker-related topics as well as what inspires projects, including YouTube videos, Movies, TV Shows, Disney, Star Wars, LEGO, Books, and more. Everything is on the table, and nothing is off-limits.

Disclaimer: The thumbnail images featured on this blog are often AI-generated. See Disclosure page for more information.

David Southern 6/24/25 David Southern 6/24/25

Simple (But Effective) Pieces Of Advice I'd Give Anyone Starting To MAKE Things

I have been MAKING things for 8 years.

These are the 3 simple (but effective) pieces of advice I'd give anyone starting out (or who wants to get started):

David Southern 6/24/25 David Southern 6/24/25

If You're Interested In Learning To MAKE Things, Subscribe To These 3 YouTube Channels

Learning to MAKE things is hard.

Luckily, all the inspiration and education you need to know to get started and building projects of your own is available online—for free.

Just subscribe to these 3 YouTube channels:

David Southern 6/18/25 David Southern 6/18/25

2 Simple Tips For Busy Professionals To Maximize Their Time In The Workshop, Create More Projects, And Tap Into Their Creative Side

Time is a struggle for just about everyone, but especially busy professionals juggling work, family, friends, and other responsibilities ahead of hobbies.

Fortunately, I found these 2 simple tips helped me get more out of my limited workshop time, which helped me create more projects, and gave me the time to think creatively as well.

David Southern 6/16/25 David Southern 6/16/25

The 1 Superpower Making Things Gives You (But It's A Duel-Edged Sword)

After I had been Making things for about a year, I realized it was an unexpected superpower.

The superpower? You believe that you can Make anything!

The kryptonite? You believe that you can Make Anything...

David Southern 6/15/25 David Southern 6/15/25

Something Weird Most People Don't Know About MAKING Things

There are a lot of things most people don't know about Making things.

Some things are common, like stains not looking as good as the actual hardwoods. But, here's the weirdest thing most people don't know about Making things:

David Southern 6/12/25 David Southern 6/12/25

1 Big Mistake I Made When I Was First Getting Started Building and Making Things

Like most beginners, I made a lot of mistakes when I first started Making things (and still do).

But this was the biggest one, by far:

David Southern 6/11/25 David Southern 6/11/25

1 Tip I Would Give Someone Who Wanted To Start Making Things For Themselves

I have been Making things for 8 years now. And what I can tell you (from experience) is that in order to succeed as a Maker, you need to be willing to learn, willing to fail, and willing to think big.

So, here's the 1 tip I would give you if you wanted to pursue being a Maker:

David Southern 6/10/25 David Southern 6/10/25

The Best Piece Of Advice I Was Given About Making Things

In 2022, I was in a rut as a Maker and no longer enjoyed building things.

Until I read Adam Savage's "Every Tool's A Hammer," and he recommended giving in to obsessions. It changed my trajectory as a Maker for the better

David Southern 6/7/25 David Southern 6/7/25

The First 3 Projects You Should MAKE When Starting Out

The opportunities for what you can build are nearly endless! Which is amazing, so you can always learn something new and continue to grow as a Maker. However, it's easy to become paralyzed by choices when first starting.