Projects How do y'all refill your motivational "tanks"?

I love hotrods, welding and fabrication, it's what makes me happy at the end of the day. But here lately I've lost all gumption to set foot in the shop and get shiz done! Therefore making me unhappy! How do you hambers get back into it when you've lost it?

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Help someone else out on their stuff OR Watch something inspirational from Atomic Hot Rods or Mad Fabricators Society.

It also doesn't hurt to take a spin in an old car even if you're just in the passenger seat.

 

I tend to go through the same thing from time to time. Best to just take a break for a while. If this is your hobby, and not your day job, it's supposed to be fun. Walk away for a bit, or focus on a different area of your build for some variety.

 

I move on to another project for a little bit. I also read hours of pages here on the H.A.M.B! I can always find something new or an old tech tip that gets the wheels turning and then im back in the garage at it again!

 

I look at pictures of other cars, read magazines, read online other people's build threads.. but the best motivation is to take one of the hot rods for a drive and remember why I am building a car in the first place.

 

Spend a couple o' hours on the HAMB. Maybe watch American Graffitti for the umpteen time.

 

Most guys understand the dollar commitment to building a car. Very few understand the emotional costs. It's a drain.

My buddy, Tim, told me to quit worrying about the long list of items on the To Do list. And the bills. And everything else bothering me. It will overwhelm you, make you lose your determination. He instructed me to think about only- and I mean only- whatever I had to accomplish today. He told me to go the the shop every day, but focus on the job at hand. Period.

Timmy also promised that one day I'd knock off work, sit down, look at the project and realize how much I'd gotten done. And I'd ask, "How did I do all that???" And one night about three months after I took his advice, I sat down, cracked open a beer and had that exact experience. I realized my mojo was back!

It's a mental exercise. Simple, but not easy....

I understand where you are. Focus on the tasks of today. Tomorrow- and everything else- will take care of itself.

 

I look at all the money sitting on the garage floor not being enjoyed....

 

Honestly the best seems to be take a ride in an old car. If its a friends old car that's even better, you'll be talking about getting yours on the road before your done with the ride!

 

I drink and smoke.

 

I go out and pick a fight with someone. I find that is always motivational for me.

The truth is that I have not felt real motivated lately myself, too much going on I suppose. Sometimes I just do it by the numbers, after a while I get back into it. Other times I find something else to do for a while then come back to it.

 

My father in law asked me yesterday how I can keep plugging away. He said that he has to get a job done or he loses interest and just drops it. I know that isn't really the case for him as he is a successful farmer. I think he was just referring to hobby stuff. I have two cars that I am working on, and both of them were drivers at one time. I guess I can just see the finished project and am in no hurry to get there (even though I am 68 years old!)

 

I break my projects down into bite sized portions, so I am always finishing somethig up. No one eats a pig in one setting.

 

Time, money, motivation: pick two.

 

I bought another hot rod.
I was working on a 'glass 29 roadster with a big block Chevy when my wife had her second go around with cancer. I was too busy with her to work on the car, and after she passed away, for some reason I just couldn't go out there and work on it.
Wasn't the car's fault, but nothing was happening. Then I fell in love with a friend's 47 and talked him out of it.
Been working on that car non-stop since I got it. Go figure......

 

I go over to a friends house and help him work on his car. The friendship and doing it "just for fun" reminds me why I do it for a living too.

 

I go home, tell the wife: "there's nothing to do", she hands me a honeydew list and BANG!!! - I'm motivated once more to head back to the garage

 

I refuse to move to a different project. That's exactly the recipe for me not to finish anything.....for me at least. If I don't feel like working on my car there are tons of things I can be doing around the house or with my son until I do.

Right now I need to get my car back on jack stands and go through the entire car and tighten the bolts. I also have to figure out why the car is not charging like it's supposed to but I don't have the motivation these past few days. It'll come back though...

 

Normally I don't have a problem staying motivated,,if I have a problem with one of the cars I just move to the next.

Everybody needs to step back every now and then and connect with the family,,the car will be there when you get back to it. HRP

 

Push it in the corner, throw some lawn chairs and boxes on it, and go buy another "fresh" project,-repeat!
Seriously though, I do have a really hard time staying motivated sometimes especially when "real life" stuff needs attention too. My biggest motivation right now is to get my garage back. I have parts scattered everywhere, and it's getting hard to move around in there, and with winter on it's way, I gotta get my cars inside, but I also gotta get paint on this thing first.
As far as finishing the car goes though, I rarely go anywhere anymore (I'm sort of a recluse), and I've already got too many choices of what to drive. Most car shows are pretty lame and don't interest me anymore, so I guess it doesn't really matter when I get this one done, since I don't know what I'll do with it when I do, and that makes it really hard to "stay motivated". Makes no sense, but that's how it is.

 

A few things that work for me, I've found that if I clean and organize my work shop it's much easier to want to get something done, there's nothing worse than spending more time looking for a tool than actually using it. Eliminate distractions, there are a few things in this world that I can get in the "zone" doing, building cars being one of them, however if the phone rings or someone comes in the door it completely effs that up so I turn off the phone, turn up the music (preferably with no words) and lock the door. Another things is getting out and getting to shows, walk around, immerse yourself in color and chrome, get inspired. BTW- those sure are some purdy welds.

 

I'll politely disagree and say that it IS my "to do" list that I have taped up on one of my cabinet doors that keeps me focused. I'll force myself to think out and pick the thing to work on that is the highest priority or else I get sidetracked and will spend hours on a task that could have waited a little longer. Plus, psychologists say that "scratching things off of a to-do list" does actually keep you motivated and headed in the right direction. I reprint my list every now & then, but I also intentionally wait until I have quite a few things scratched out before I re-post a new copy without anything scratched out. Seeing more and more pencil lines through the tasks and notes in the margins reminds me that I AM getting somewhere!

Going out for a drive in another one of the vehicles or going to a show or cruise night usually helps too.

Strangely, I find that occasionally changing how & where the project is sitting also helps. Even if you just turn the car "head out" instead of "head in" in the shop. My (OT) '71 Road Runner is under a cover and it always faces the same way in the garage and guess what...? "Out of sight, out of mind." I can't tell you the last time that I felt motivated to do a thing to that car. The '49 has been inside the garage, outside for a few weeks, and now it's back inside. But I've been working on that truck more than anything lately!

 

I sold my last old truck 2 years ago but picked up my current 56 Chevy 1300 last year. I've struggled with the same issue you're facing now. What helped me was to spend a day and mooed up my truck so I could physically see the end result. That in itself has kicked my ass right back into the game. I can't go another summer without cruising so I have to finish over the long cold winter. I also found that watching certain videos of similar trucks helped me stay motivated. One in specific you might like to check out on you tube is by Taylord Kustoms. I watch it at least once a week for some added motivation. You'll get it done I have faith in that

 

get that 27 3 feet closer to the ground.... sit in it.... make engine noises.....

 

The list idea helped out temporarily but I ended up losing it shortly after. Maybe my list was just too big, haha. And I do tend to jump around maybe that is effecting it also. The cold kills me also. But you know what they say, excuses are like assholes...

Let's see what I can manage to get done after work and after my workout today.

Thanks yall.
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Thanks man!


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I lock myself in the house with my lovely wife and my 12, & 14 year old daughters for one weekend.

If I escape with my wallet and sanity still somewhat in tact, I am usually good for another 4 to 6 months.

Mike H.

 

I take a break, and get back to it when i feel creative..pushing it doesnt work..it makes mistakes, and rushes things.

Its supposed to be fun..if it isnt, then you need to step back

 

Go buy a rusty, 195x running four-door. They can be had for ridiculously cheap and will get you driving an old car again. Eventually you'll get tired of the extra doors, rust and the sketchy wiring and start working on your real project again.

It's worked for me in the past.

 

I usually hit up a Swapmeet or car show, that gets me motivated to get back to it....


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