Full transparency: it’s seven days into the new year, and I haven’t sat at the pottery wheel even once. Crap—that’s a rough start.
I could point to a lot of variables: life’s busy, things came up, yadda yadda. But at the end of the day, I’ve just found it hard to get my mind right and focus on the goals I set for the new year. I was wildly ambitious with my resolutions, and now I feel stuck in that realm of fear that stops you from even starting. You know that feeling—you’ve got something you’re confident could be wildly successful if you execute it correctly, but the doubts creep in and hold you back.
It’s easy to sit on the couch and get lost in YouTube. Whether it’s Matt Carriker from Demolition Ranch trying to kickstart his resort, or Brandon Herrera cracking jokes on Gun Meme Review, it’s fun to watch others step out of their comfort zones. But let’s face it: it’s also a distraction. It’s a convenient excuse to do nothing.
So, what’s my reality? My evenings start with the bedtime routine for my kids. Around 6:30 or 7:00, we’re reading three bedtime stories, cuddling, and waiting for my son to fall asleep. It can take an hour or more, and when you’re curled up in a comfy bed with a warm little guy next to you, it’s so easy to fall asleep yourself. Before you know it, you’re waking up at 10:30 or 11:30, and the whole evening is gone.
My pottery schedule is supposed to run from 8:00 p.m. to midnight, Sunday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday nights are my free time—usually gaming with friends I’ve known for years. On most nights, though, I don’t actually get started until around 9:15 or 9:30, after my wife finishes her evening routine and takes the baby girl out of my arms. That leaves me about 2.5 to 3 hours, five nights a week, to handle everything related to my pottery business: prepping, throwing, trimming, glazing, firing—you name it.
And all of this happens after an 8-hour workday at my regular job (often longer because of meetings and events). It’s also after playing with my kids, helping my wife with dinner, and everything else life throws my way. So yeah, I could use the excuse that I’m tired. But let’s be real—everyone’s tired. I’m not special.
For 2025, I’ve set some big goals:
1,800 individual pieces
Launching a new line of slip-cast mugs
Five new earring designs—all in the first quarter of the year
Where am I now? Let’s just say the progress has been... minimal. Can I hit these goals? I’m not sure. But I have to get to work. There’s a lot of personal pride riding on this.
Last year, my first in business, I set the bar high: nearly $30,000 in sales. That’s phenomenal for a startup pottery company. There were no viral gimmicks, just quality, handmade pottery crafted in a garage late at night. To think I accomplished that blows my mind.
Why am I sharing all this? To remind myself (and maybe you) that hard work often sucks. It doesn’t always go your way. There’s nothing physically stopping me from achieving these goals—it’s all mental. Starting a “second shift” at the end of a long day isn’t easy. But you know what? I just need to suck it up, commit, and get it done.
I’m fortunate this is a passion project and not a necessity. Many people work second shifts because they have to. I get to choose this.
So, what’s the takeaway? Accountability. If I’m going to succeed, I need to hold myself accountable every single work night. To make it real, I’m putting my money where my mouth is—or rather, my mugs.
Here’s the plan: I’ll post my pottery work schedule at the beginning of each month. Every night I’m scheduled to work, I’ll go live for a check-in. If I don’t go live or post some form of public check-in by midnight, the first person to call me out will receive a mug—free of charge.
This will run for the next 8 weeks: Sunday through Thursday, 8:00 p.m. to midnight. If you don’t see me online working, and you’re the first to call me out, expect a mug in the mail shortly after.
Is this a bit insane? Absolutely. Is it ambitious? Yep. But it’s time to stop making excuses and start putting in the work. Let’s see how this goes.