What is keeping you from trying an idea?

@DAB
You could partner with someone who may be a bit junior where you have an idea and you mentor them to help build it. You get your idea built and they learn from a very experienced mind

Hi Kas,

I thought of that, but I am having a problem finding a good candidate.

I have discussed the idea with my local university, they like to place students in good learning situations.

We will see, but yes, I really miss mentoring young engineers.  You can learn so much from them because they do not yet know what they cannot do.

DAB

Time

The great derail-er of all great plans. To which, I contend that time is a fictitious measurement. There is always too much if you are waiting for something, and never enough if you are on a deadline.

Time and talent.

In theory many things sound easy but the get harder whe I try them. Maybe I am lacking of dedication, also.

I already gave my comment about lack of time. The other relates to a level of passion. For some folks, it is a constant nagging to solve the unsolvable, for others, it is a need to gain knowledge, and for a few, it is because you are trying to impress someone. Whatever the reason, dedication is more persistence than effort. Edison said 10% inspiration, 90% perspiration.  I suggest watching a bunch of the Ben Heck shows for inspiration (the same kind you get when you watch the home improvement shows). Understand he has lots of people in the background, and great resources and a large measure of skill. But some of the stuff is just so cool. Do the small stuff first, don't start off rewriting an O/S. Make a lighting project, maybe for Christmas lights, or play around with some of the programming projects with Raspberry.  Don't go big right out of the gate, because, when you have expectations that are too high, you are more likely to be disappointed.

Keep trying,

Jack

Element 14 is trying to set up a Mentor program to take care of the talent.

Would you be more motivated if you had someone with a lot of experience available to answer questions and provide guidance?

DAB

Good call DAB, The problem I find most vexing, most of the time, is lack of someone to play with.  Having a great Idea and nobody around to share with is very demotivating.  Also being able to bounce ideas of someone who knows what you are talking about is priceless.

Jack

In my industry there are too many organisation trying to steal ideas, many organisations are losing funding from the government due to economical concerns and so they are looking at taking on new ventures. This has left me to prevent others from entering into a project I am working on. Along with cost, time and now health, these are the major reason for implementation.

One of the major problems are the cost of compliance in some area especially in a low market design, usually for disabilities which is my business. Compliance cost is the same whether you make small or large quantities.

Malcolm

I don't think time is the issue, everyone has the same time, all day, every day. I think the main issue is motivation, if we aren't working on a project, it is mainly because we have other, higher priorities. These can be very high priorities, like surviving, but usually if we want it badly enough, we will "find the time", it is just a higher level of motivation that is needed. There is a bit of a paradox if we think we want to become more motivated or want to find more time..... because we have exactly the same amount of motivation to carry out these wishes as we do to work on the project, and that is already not enough.

Ironically, other people can provide extra motivation for us, which is why this forum is so great. It provides praise, encouragement, badges, kudos, points, challenges and even a few goodies, all of which can help those of us who are motivated by such things.