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Well, this sucks…. BUT…
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Everything you’ve mentioned rings true as someone with ADHD, speaking from experience here… I scored high on multiple doctor assessments and am currently aided by medication and therapy. It would be so powerful for someone in your position to talk about running a successful business as a neurodivergent person. It would give so much hope to your followers and fans! I hope you know this isn’t a failure, just another experience. Love the new place! Keep going, David!
He and especially Bob are not going to get diagnosed. As someone who did in my mid thirties, I see so many signs of adhd as well. This video is a list of them. Some people think getting diagnosed will change who they are. It doesn’t, it explains things
@kschaub62 I think alot of people still think of it as a weakness. For me, it just explained my strengths and weaknesses and made it easier to make decisions and choices that were more optimal. I can see why people get bothered by being diagnosed by other people though, feels uncomfortable to be pushed “into a box”. Even though I understand alot of people are doing it out of love, I guess the difference is that I had less then 10 close friends and family saying it to me, where as they get hundreds of strangers (even though the intentions are good)
@michaelwandling pretty much came here to say something like this just minutes in to the video. Burning out on projects and needing externally enforced deadlines sounds exactly like my experience with ADHD.
Having heard about this on the podcast, and now seeing this… thank you for sharing the struggles and the “having to pivot” when things don’t work out quite like you hoped. Life is an open ended journey and an adventure, not a neatly packaged novel. Thanks for bringing us along on yours. 🙂
Maybe easy Christmas gift projects would be a good video to knock out lots of smaller projects
Like others said: it was a smart thing to do and a nice pivot – not a failure. Speaking for myself: I don’t see it as brag but as honest and open, which is great. But if you don’t mind: at some points you sound almost apologetic but you absolutely shouldn’t. Something that took me long years to learn but finally I got it, approaching 50 in couple of years, is that whatever bothers you, whatever pain or trouble or whatnot you feel, you are always fully entitled to feel it. It’s never a “competition of feelings” and you cannot feel bad about feeling bad only because you believe someone’s struggle is worse – that is not the way. So, never apologize for your feelings (good or bad) and never depreciate them – they are yours and that means they are real for you. Sorry if it sounds like gibberish – English is not my first language – but I believe you know what I mean. Anyways, I admire what you did and how you told that story. And I wish you overcoming your creative burnout soon, I’m sure you will! All the best!
@adamwp527 I echo this. Sharing this is how you feel and how you’ve focused on what you can control (not letting it control you) might help someone to do the same. I certainly appreciated it.
FWIW, at no point did this come off as a brag. It felt honest and genuine and I wish you luck on this next endeavor!
From one endless-to-do-list-project digester to another – nicely done. That was a bold move.
Man Dave, does this ever hit home!! I work 12 hour shifts 4 days a week and then get 4 days off. So in my spare time I build stuff. I live in the pacific northwest and cedar is so plentiful that I use it alot for outdoor furniture and accessories. I absolutely love it, but i find myself about Sept every year start to lose the drive to do both, or either for that fact! Lol! But because I am sought-after for my pieces, I feel obligated to take projects on that I know I shouldn’t. Burn out is real!! And recognizing it is very difficult to accept! It takes alot to sell your house after you were so jacked up at first, so kudos to you for being able to see that and make the change. I have 4 projects left to finish from summer orders and am taking a couple months off from building stuff! Hopefully that will get my drive back before spring to get cracking again!!
17:31 About 7 years ago I had ADHD burnout. I spent about 6 months winding down an IT business I loved and at put over a decade of hard work into. I spend the next three years working in maintenance. I also took that time to learn it’s okay to talk about my struggles. Whether it is with family/friends or in therapy.
That lesson came from an unexpected place, my dad. Who never once complained or opened up about stuff.
Anyway this was my long ADHD way of saying all work is real work and everyone’s struggles are real and valid.
My few years away from IT and programming taught me that it’s okay to pivot, it’s okay to diversify what I do. It keeps me grounded, always learning, and most importantly engaged.
You got this!
No matter if you’re mopping floors or being creative, working 40+ hours a week is hard. Each is a different kind of tired and has a different type of burnout but that doesn’t make either one less valid. The new place is awesome, congratulations and good on you for trying to secure a future after YouTube.
Others have already said this, but this video absolutely did not come off as a brag. In fact, I really appreciated your honesty and transparency. As someone who also has to do something creative each week, it can be tough. Creative burnout is real. After putting together an hour long presentation every week for 5 years I had to basically take a year off (switching to a monthly schedule) to recover. I think you absolutely did the right thing by switching properties and personally I would love to come stay at your new property and take some classes from you in the future if I get a chance to. Keep doing what you’re doing. Your videos are some of the most approachable woodworking videos on YouTube because of your honesty and your “just get out there and build something, it doesn’t have to be perfect” attitude.
Best of luck going forward David. Don’t get all hung up on the coulda/shoulda nonsense. Life is to short for that. Just keep doing what you do best and all of us will keep watching! 👍👍
That new place is gorgeous. I’ve been looking for a week-long getaway by a lake and it looks perfect. Gonna keep this saved for when I can go for it.
Also, don’t work on it for a while. Relax, enjoy things as they are for the moment. I got burned out as a UPS driver to the point I had to take time off. And doesn’t matter the job, burn out is burn out, chill man you’ve earned it.
Welcome to Michigan! I live about 30 minutes from Brooklyn and I can confirm that it is a beautiful area and a great summer getaway. Some of my wife’s family members had a lake house not far from Wamplers and spending time on the lake is a perfect getaway from real life. Best of luck with the rental and improvements!
DUUUUDE!! I am SOOOO happy for you and Kelly. When you bought the city house, I wasn’t sure if you’d recover that cost. The lake place! WITHOUT A DOUBT you’ll recover the investment AND get to find and enjoy even more peace!! HELL YEAH!! It’s why I love my little cabin on a lake in the middle of nowhere. I don’t rent it out, though – it’s my fortress of solitude.
Man the turn around for this video was fast, that Texas F1 Sprint race was just on last Saturday. From what I understand about YouTube videos that’s pretty fast.
Nice place ! Lots of different things to do in the area, lots of nature, town not to far…
You look and sound relieved. It’s sometimes harder to give up than carry on.
When a dream project becomes a burden, it’s not a dream anymore.
See you soon !
I love how humble you are, and how passionate you are about your projects.
You did a fine job setting expectations and intent. I didn’t know you were so close! I’ll definitely consider your new place, if we need a getaway, and I’ll keep an eye out for those workshops and classes.
Grats on letting go of sunk costs and finding a place that meets you where you are in life and energy.
If it works for you, I think it would be fun to see a video like, “Decorating with wood in record time” where you keep track of how long it takes you to whip up X number of projects. I have a feeling it would take less time than folks expect for a huge boost in style.
This is an awesome move for you and your family. We retired in 2018 but purchased a foreclosure lake home in 2015 and made the move in 2020. Best decision we made. Are there still things to get done – ALWAYS!! But it is cheaper and life is a bit slower which is what we needed. You could make unique things like a serving tray that houses a napkin/salt and pepper drawer under it. Go for items outside the box. Congratulations on this change!!
Quoting you to you: “Can we just have fun here?” This was honestly some of the best advice I’ve received. I’m a hobbyist woodturner that was trying to make a go at selling a decent amount of my work. And man, it sucked the fun right out of it. I invested so much time into the business aspects that it was just a second job. I HAD to keep making so I had enough inventory to sell. I had customer deadlines that got in the way of spending time with family. I pulled my family into it. They were happy to help and extremely helpful, but I don’t think that would’ve worked long-term. And then I remembered you saying in one of your videos, albeit extremely sarcastically, “can we just have fun?” I still sell an occasional project or get approached for something custom, but mostly now I make things for me or as gifts.
The awesome thing is that if and as circumstances change, I always have the option of trying again. Nothing is closed off to me. Maybe someday I’ll have time and resources to really throw myself into building and growing a business, or at least a decent side hustle. Who knows, right? But I know if I do, it’ll be fun.