May 2, 2023

If you have an idea, just make it

It’s simple, but profound – if you have an idea, just make it. Sure, it almost always won’t meet the expectations you had set for yourself; things never seem to come out as good as you can see them in your head. But, if all they do is swirl around your head as ideas, things get worse, not better. We build a list of all the things we haven’t done, not all the things we’ve accomplished.

Finishing is important. If you have an idea, and you make it, you’ll learn something. And if you learn something, you’ll find another idea, and another, and eventually, if you make enough of your ideas, you might even find yourself improving – or, at the very least, iterating toward something you can be proud of. And, regardless of if anyone pays for anything you make, isn’t the idea that we had fun along the way? After all, yesterday’s work is the best we can do, which means tomorrow’s will be better.

Other observations
February 24, 2026

Can I do this?

Where does the motivation for beginning mark making come from? Why would I even try in the first place?

February 17, 2026

Visibility and confidence

How might we become less reliant on other people’s reaction to our work and the confidence to make more of it?

February 10, 2026

Proof of existence

Why do I feel compelled to share my work with anyone at all? Isn’t it enough just to make it for me?

February 3, 2026

Something beyond raw materials

Some work, like some meals, stand out more than others. So what’s on the plate or canvas that goes beyond ingredients or paint?

January 27, 2026

Effort has value

Whether we’re aware of it or not, humans tend to be able to feel the human effort behind work.

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