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.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F***
Book Insights David Southern Book Insights David Southern

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F***

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*** by Mark Manson delivers a refreshingly blunt guide on focusing your energy only on what truly matters, with insights on meaningful problem-solving, internal motivation, and embracing life’s challenges to leave a lasting legacy.

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Great Ideas, Wrong Time
Project Ideas David Southern Project Ideas David Southern

Great Ideas, Wrong Time

Balancing the excitement of new ideas with the practicality of ongoing projects is challenging, but organizing ideas in My Second Brain helps me stay focused while still capturing inspiration when it strikes.

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Food Poisoning Is The Worst
Life Update David Southern Life Update David Southern

Food Poisoning Is The Worst

A weekend packed with plans quickly turned into a lesson on the importance of rest and recovery when food poisoning derailed my schedule, proving that taking time to recuperate is better for productivity in the long run.

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LEDs, Servos, and Arduinos, Oh My!
Future Plans David Southern Future Plans David Southern

LEDs, Servos, and Arduinos, Oh My!

I've recently dived into microcontrollers like Arduinos to bring lighting to my projects, inspired by Star Wars. After adding LEDs to my tool cart and mobile workbench, I'm now aiming to integrate dynamic, customizable lighting across my workshop and home office. While I'm still learning, I'm excited to bring some "Galaxy's Edge" ambiance to my creative spaces.

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I Didn’t Trick-or-Treat as a Kid
Life Update David Southern Life Update David Southern

I Didn’t Trick-or-Treat as a Kid

Halloween holds a special place for my family, but it wasn't always that way—growing up, I missed out on trick-or-treating, but discovering Halloween as an adult, especially with my daughter, has opened a whole new appreciation and inspired me to create themed decorations each year.

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My Second Brain
Digital Organization David Southern Digital Organization David Southern

My Second Brain

Struggling to organize and remember ideas, I created a "second brain" using Notion, which helps me manage tasks, projects, and thoughts more efficiently by leveraging its database functionality, and I recommend others explore a similar system for improved organization.

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Why not start today?
Life Update David Southern Life Update David Southern

Why not start today?

Inspired by "Atomic Habits" and "Someday is Today," the author commits to a daily blog to improve their storytelling and writing, sharing inspirations from their creative projects, media, and daily life while embracing imperfection as part of the Maker's journey.

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