Living the dream, how do you measure success?

Fred.Rowe

Fred.Rowe

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
May 2, 2004
Messages
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All of us are dreamers, its part of every humans makeup. When I began knife making in "99" I had this dream that if I worked hard I could be another Bruce Bump or Don Hanson. That didn't work out, I don't possess their artistic skill or their expertise. I never will. This was a shock to my ego. It took me a while to come to grips with the fact that I would never be great as a knife maker. I'd be just a run of the mill maker. After a while that seemed ok. Then as the years went by and I did get better, I realized that the early goal was silly; it wasn't really that important as long as I enjoyed the work. I still feel this way.
Now, as I'm getting ready to celebrate my 72nd birthday I realize that I am a success, I am living the dream. I don't mean measured in dollars and cents, for that is not really important, as long as I can buy belts. Today I find myself in my own shop, working with my only son, who I love dearly. Our days are filled with joking and discussions of the work being performed. Many days its just the satellite radio playing music as we are involved in the job at hand.

How much better can it possibly be? I don't think it can be. Every day is a treat, every day is special; Kevin and I and the sound of the machines running.

I am living my dream. Fred

PS How about you?
 
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Great post Fred. You truly are living the dream. I too am a pretty fair maker, but I do try to improve each time. I retired from a real job in 2011 and now I work in the knife shop and try to sell enough to buy more supplies. :)

I'm close to the grandchildren and our son and daughter. I must say that I don't think I could be happier.
 
Nice post, Fred. I hope you shared the thought with your son.

Even though I'm enjoying my dream (including good job, good health, good family, good dogs, good friends, etc...as well, thanks for reminding me to thank...:thumbup:) being a bachelor (when does one become confirmed?:confused:) which allows me the freedom to do what I want when I want, all the time, it must be nice to have a grown child to share time with.
 
Fred, You are truly living the dream. This is the American dream, to control our own destiny through hard work and opportunity. Very few can make enough out of opportunity to do what we do. You know the old saying, if you love what you do you will never work a day in your life. I have worked plenty of days as I'm sure you have too. But isn't it nice to go into your shop and create with your hands, your only boss is your conscience, and see satisfaction every day. Success is measured for me by three things. I eat everyday, I am safe and warm in my home and I'm fairly certain I won't have to eat cat food when I'm old(er).

Congratulations to you for your success. It is out there for those hungry and motivated enough to get it.
 
All my rich friends are happy on the outside miserable on the inside, all have protracted complicated lives.They made me realize I was chasing the wrong riches in life.
 
Bringing in the last of the cattle on our ranch with good friends to help.

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The wife looking for another calf that needs processing.

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Seeing your knives being used in the real world.

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Making a living selling the knives and cowboy gear you made... living the dream? Yeah.....pretty much.

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PS. Congrats Fred. Your little device made it possible to learn to grind, at least for me and many others I'm sure. Course years ago you told me not to wear my spurs when grinding. Don't always listen.
 
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Success is the quality of your journey. For some success is far too much of a moving target, they're always looking for more. and rarely appreciating where they're at. Congratulations to Fred and Horsewright for being wise enough to realize how successful they are and enjoying it.
 
i too have had dreams of being a famous knife maker. i realize how tiny the chances are and that it will probably never happen. but someday if i can get $500 for my knives, i will be satisfied and thrilled beyond belief and feel like i have " made it". it is impossible for me to go in my shop and make a $2000 knife. but every time i am in my shop, i am always concentrating on trying to make my solder joints smaller, my guards fit closer, my symmetry better, my joinery more seamless. i think it has even helped my health, life is happier when i am making knives. i am excited to draw a new pattern and choose handle materials and imagine what it will be like., i am excited to go cut out the profile and see how it looks. once its ground i am excited to go fire up the forge, , stamp my name and heat treat it. this happens through the whole knife with every step. i am almost having too much fun.. maybe i have already "made it" LOL
 
Working with your son has got to be the best thing- I was lucky enough to have a year of that, before my youngest enlisted. Great memories, you're living the dream, indeed!
Every work day I go out to the shop and think, "I get to make somebody's favorite cooking knife, how cool is that?"
I work out back and get to hang out with my dog at lunch and live close to my mom, who needs daily care. The people at the Farmers' Market are like another family.
I'm a happy guy. Grateful every day.
 
I got my ABS JS stamp in 06.... and things went downhill from there. Back surgery, financial woes, depression as well as health issues came to pass... then, my Dad died this past February. My forge and shop became the exclusive property of my chickens. Now I like my chickens, but they have little business in my shop or forge. None the less, I'd just let things go to hell in a hand basket for several years now and last winter when my my Dad was in hospital, I nearly set my shop on fire via a bad propane hose/pilot light combo. Lucky for me I'd left the Dearborne heater in the middle of the room... soot everywhere but didn't burn down the building. That was the last straw; I just abandoned my shop. Until a few weeks ago. My wife Traci pushed me out the back door and said: "go make some knives!". So I did. But only after reclaiming an almost ruined shop....this put "Green Acres" to shame. It's a wonder what a broom, and some WD-40 will do for things (ok that's an understatement). Anyway two weeks of "after work", and my one day off, Traci and I had a glass or two of good whisky this afternoon, as my rebuilt forge achieved welding heat on the first try. I finally can say that the Cosa Mia Forge is back in business. Today... I felt successful; successful indeed.

regards, m

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In a world where success sadly IS measured in dollars and cents, it is refreshing to see some that some people still realize what is really important. Very happy for you Fred.
 
Very well said, Fred. I have been a self-employed goldsmith for 40 years. Had the same problems as any professional knife maker... customers, taxes, mouths to feed, providing my family shelter, etc. I closed my retail studio 3 years ago... and then decided to make knives. It was a mistake for me. I was never able to grind a blade to my standards. And it was about this time that I developed a new philosophy...IF IT ISN'T FUN...DON'T DO IT.

It is not about the money. It's about pride...pride in my work, pride in my life, and mostly, I just thank God because God has been so good to me.

BTW, I still can't get away from making knives...I just working on making VERY small knives...miniatures.
 
Fred,
Thanks for the mention of my name as an artist and successful. I never considered myself successful as a knife maker because there are still some unpaid bills. But the real definition of success isn't really an income high enough to meet the worlds definition but instead it is a state of satisfaction personally. If you enjoy what you are doing and have a close family that cares and loves you no matter what the income I believe that is more important. I have just recently began working with my oldest son and we are enjoying each other very much. That wasn't always the case as he left home and went his own way for over 20 years. Its so nice to have him back in the loop. Together we are building the knife business and are looking forward to the future together.
 
I hesitated to post this thread but i'm pleased that I did. Wonderful shares from you guys. We all seem to want the same basics. Peace in the home with family and friends to share the good and bad times with.
I've enjoyed reading all your post.
Bruce, thats special having your son come back to work in the shop. I spent years trying to impart what I got out of the work, to no avail and then one day it just clicked for my son.

Thanks for sharing guys, made my day, Fred
 
Sons are like that Fred... my old man and i didn't get along all that well the last few teen years and if it wasn't for james bond movies and hunting we likely would have not talked for about a 3 year stretch. Back then, all i wanted was to get rich, own a Lamborghini, marry a super hot blonde bombshell and travel the world searching for adventure like Indiana Jones. well, the world had different plans... i was too dumb to come up with a million dollar idea, too undecided to ever go to university and Most super hot girls got on my nerves... or wouldn't give me the time of day (I assume they were secretly lesbians). So i joined the infantry and let someone else pay for me to see the world, and the thing about seeing the world is, it can put a lot of things in perspective. The happiest people i have ever met had the least material things in their life... also less distractions but they have things most rich people just don't. They usually had Family, friends a purpose for their lives and took time to enjoy stuff that most people look past on their road to riches. Long story short, these days (20 years later) My version of "the dream" is a lot simpler... still not there yet, but I got a great wife and family and its coming. Just took a week off work to go hunting with my dad and 3 of my best friends... didn't even see a deer, but it was a damn good week.

sorry... wandered off there a bit
 
In my business world my personal motto has always been, "If my customers are not successful, I'm not successful." There's a whole bunch more to merely "selling" a product.
 
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