Living the dream, how do you measure success?

Great post, Fred. I am glad for you! I can say that I am really happy where I'm at, too. I love where I live, have a great wife, good dogs, and old trucks. My shop is pretty much everything I'd have dreamed of 10 years ago. I make enough money to get by, and that's just fine.

Happy holidays to you sir, and to everyone else in this thread.

BTW, good to see you post here, Anvilring- I'm glad you are on a knifemaking arc again!
 
Larry D. Davis said:
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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Well said, Larry. In this world, there is such a thing as "win win win..." We've all been sold the idea of "dog eat dog" world. I disagree (bankers and lawyers don't) but i, and im sure many of my fellow artists do.
I've been smithing for 3 years, solo for the most part. Every smith i've met has been an exceptionally pleasant person.
Usually the old smiths are willing to share their knowledge with me. And i cant but help to think "arent you afraid of me steeling your secrets and business?" And i have come to the realization: the more they share the happier they are! And through their happiness and my growth we all benefit!
So... to you and every other smith... keep on keepin on!
 
Yes, You have it down. Well said.
mitri said:
Well said, Larry. In this world, there is such a thing as "win win win..." We've all been sold the idea of "dog eat dog" world. I disagree (bankers and lawyers don't) but i, and im sure many of my fellow artists do.
I've been smithing for 3 years, solo for the most part. Every smith i've met has been an exceptionally pleasant person.
Usually the old smiths are willing to share their knowledge with me. And i cant but help to think "arent you afraid of me steeling your secrets and business?" And i have come to the realization: the more they share the happier they are! And through their happiness and my growth we all benefit!
So... to you and every other smith... keep on keepin on!
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I am not a knife maker or maker of any object, but as an old guy reading this thread i feel uplifted, inspired.
This comment by mitri "Every smith i've met has been an exceptionally pleasant person." has prompted me to post my experience as a buyer of custom knives.
Over the years i have bought at least 100 sole authorship custom knives and all are well made useful tools. The 'average' level of craftsmanship among knife makers is i think very high.
But there are some knives that are more than a 'well made useful tool'. When in hand i feel uplifted and positive. It is as if there is a personality or 'energy' within the knife, that it is not simply an inanimate object.
My explanation for this is that through all of the concentration, focus and effort that the knife maker has so carefully put into making the knife, some of his 'energy' comes to reside within the knife.
If the knife maker is a contented, positive person, this energy is positive and is what i am sensing when i hold or use the knife. Hence mitri's observation is important because being a "pleasant person" makes for pleasant & pleasing knives.
I realize this is a thread for knife makers but i think most will appreciate hearing this feedback. Perhaps you have heard this before. I am sure there are other custom knife owners who have felt this same experience but usually there is no opportunity to relate this back to the knife makers.
Thank you all for efforts and extraordinarily fine creations.
kj
 
I would extend that comment from solely smiths to makers on the whole. i have visited quite a few in my quest to meet people and learn new things and it is a very small percentage who aren't really awesome people and share information openly. Usually the ones who aren't all that nice, or won't tell anyone anything really aren't all that great of makers either, and a lot of times they keep their "secrets" to themselves to hide the fact that they cut corners and do half arsed work. Sometimes these people use the wizard of Oz mentality of "don't look behind the curtain" to keep you from seeing that they really aren't anything special, while everyone else is glad to help. The old adage goes "your candle doesn't get any less bright by lighting someone elses" and it holds true.
 
"your candle doesn't get any less bright by lighting someone else"

Good quote there RustyRazor
 
Bruce Bump said:
"your candle doesn't get any less bright by lighting someone else"

Good quote there RustyRazor
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Bruce, I don't know if you remember, but some time a while ago (2006?) You were looking for an apprentice (if my memory serves correct).

I asked my wife if she would mind me quitting Law School and being an apprentice to learn knife making!

It was probably a very good thing she said no. I have no artistic ability!
 
...Rick, at the current exchange rate, that runs out to what, about $32 or so, USD, right?

:D

Two years ago I walked away from what most would view as a very lucrative career, money, benefits... Strange that making knives and sharing the camaraderie of the knifemaking community has reduced my blood pressure, increased my happiness, and allowed my wife and I to have yet an even stronger relationship, not to mention an even happier spoiled rotten bullmastiff.

I'd say you nailed it, Fred. I suspect most go to their graves not realizing just how much they missed in life.
 
That is actually Canadian Tire money, Matthew... worthless in the US.

I walked away from a job with a near 6-digit salary. I live on 1/6 of what I used to... but am 6 times happier.
 
Classic!!

I live so close to the Canadian border, you'd think for certain I'd know what your currency looks like, but the fact is I barely recognize my OWN country's currency! ;)

I suspect our circumstances were quit similar. Happier is healthier, all there is to it, man. Glad to see you're getting the shop you deserve, too. Hope all is going well for you there!
 
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