The Maker’s Quest – Details, episodes & analysis

If you’ve ever dabbled in CNC machining or dreamed of turning your garage into a mini manufacturing hub, you’ll know that the journey is equally thrilling and frustrating. In this episode, Brian and Greg take you through their CNC journey—from their first modest machine to new upgrades.

 

Hosted by Brian Benham

Portfolio: https://www.benhamdesignconcepts.com/

Brian On Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benham_design Brian On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benham_design/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXO8f1IIliMKKlu5PgSpodQ

Greg Porter

https://skyscraperguitars.com/ Greg On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregsgaragekc/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SkyscraperGuitars  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GregsGarage

In this episode, we talk about influential people who shaped us into makers. Brian and Greg reminisce about people from their past who helped guide them and inspired them as they journeyed along the path of becoming makers.

Hosted by Brian Benham

Portfolio: https://www.benhamdesignconcepts.com/ Brian’s Woodworking Plans: https://www.digitaldesignconcepts.art/ Brian On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benham_design/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXO8f1IIliMKKlu5PgSpodQ

Greg Porter

https://skyscraperguitars.com/ Greg On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregsgaragekc/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SkyscraperGuitars  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GregsGarage

Show Notes Mel's Influence on Greg's Curiosity

Greg's grandfather Mel was an influential figure who taught him to pursue his interests and make things himself. Despite having limited resources, Mel built his own house by learning from books and lived in the basement for years while saving money to complete the top floor. Every year, he would take on a project to make something for his grandchildren, like box kites. When Greg expressed interest in having stilts as a child, Mel immediately dropped what he was doing to make a pair with him, exemplifying his willingness to explore new skills and nurture curiosity.

Embracing Failure in Creative Endeavors

Greg and Brian discussed the importance of allowing children to experience failure in their creative endeavors. Greg shared his childhood experiences of building a skateboard ramp and a pair of stilts, which were not successful but taught him valuable lessons. Brian emphasized the value of spending time with children, even if the projects they work on are not perfect, as it fosters problem-solving and thought processes. They also discussed the concept of failure as a necessary step towards success and the importance of understanding what is acceptable in a project. Both agreed that failure should not be an endpoint but a milestone in the creative process.

Mentors and Teachers' Lasting Impact

Greg and Brian discussed their experiences with mentors and teachers who had a significant impact on their lives. Brian shared his experiences with his saxophone teacher, James Phillips, who taught him the importance of learning from others and not taking life too seriously. Greg shared his experiences with Mr. Canetto, who taught him about guitar making and the importance of seeing the process of building a guitar from start to finish. Both agreed that these experiences had a profound impact on their lives and shaped their future careers. They also discussed their admiration for guitar makers like Les Godfreed and Lloyd Lohr, who are known for their intricate designs and craftsmanship.

Lessons From Craftsmen and Risks

Greg and Brian discussed their experiences with craftsmen and the lessons they've learned from them. Greg shared his experiences with Dan Rockhill, a professor who taught him how to weld well and the importance of modifying tools to suit the purpose. Brian shared his experience with a client who had a decommissioned Boeing 727 compressor. They also discussed the importance of learning from others, taking risks, and not letting roadblocks deter them from realizing their vision. They concluded that sometimes, it's necessary to compromise on the design to achieve the desired outcome.

Design, Problem-Solving, and Software Evolution

Greg shared his experiences and insights about design and problem-solving, emphasizing the importance of not being limited by tools or others' opinions. He recounted a story about a challenging ceiling design that was initially dismissed by a contractor, but was successfully executed by a skilled carpenter. Greg also discussed his evaluation of software for architectural design, highlighting the need for tools that don't hinder creativity. Brian then shared his own experiences of learning from clients and how they pushed him to develop new skills. The conversation ended with a discussion about the software Rhino, which was in its infancy when Greg first encountered it.

Lessons Learned and Knowledge Sharing

Brian and Greg discussed their experiences and lessons learned from various projects and mentors. Brian shared how clients have pushed him out of his comfort zone and helped him develop new skills. Greg talked about the influence of his wife's family on his construction skills and how they continue to inspire him. They also discussed the importance of learning from others and passing on knowledge to the next generation. Greg shared an example of how he taught a high school student about blacksmithing and machining, hoping to inspire him and potentially change his life trajectory. The conversation ended with Greg expressing his desire to continue teaching and influencing others.

Personal Journeys and Entrepreneurial Passions

Greg and Brian discussed their personal journeys and the impact of influential people on their lives. Greg shared his experiences as a corporate employee and his plans to retire and focus on his passion for making things. He also mentioned his YouTube channel and his desire to leave a legacy through his work. Brian shared his admiration for Sam Maloof and his aspirations to become a furniture maker, teaching apprentices and creating jobs for them. Both expressed their desire to pass on their knowledge and skills to others, and their passion for entrepreneurship and making things. They ended the conversation with plans for their future endeavors.

 

Is social media still a viable way to promote your business, or is the new business model to be a content creator, making products secondary?

Today, we talk about our past successes and our future strategies for getting our products out in front of people.

Show Notes

• Instagram Top 9 in the hashtags, is it still a thing
• Brian says Social Media no longer sends him much passive income
• Organic growth on social media is dead
• You  have to sell your sole to the algorithm to grow
• Social media companies have lost the importance of community
• Selling on Amazon is a huge pain but can pay off
• Passive income can bring in big dollars but takes time to build up.
• Andy Birkey: "Some days you make art, some days you make rent."
• Aprentachips will teach you a lot; do it before you have responsibilities.
• SEO and blogs might make a comeback if social media totally falls apart.
• At the end of the day, it's still an outlet to get your message out in the world; you just have to keep up with the changes

Hosted by Greg Porter

https://skyscraperguitars.com/ Greg On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregsgaragekc/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SkyscraperGuitars  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GregsGarage

Brian Benham

https://www.brianbenham.com/ Brian On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benham_design/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXO8f1IIliMKKlu5PgSpodQ Custom Furniture https://www.benhamdesignconcepts.com/

Tonight, we talk about how to price your work so you can run a successful business and put food on your table.  Whether it is pricing a custom piece or a mass-manufactured piece, we've got you covered with a few tips you can implement today to price your work for success!

Hosted by

Brian Benham  https://www.benhamdesignconcepts.com/

Greg Porter https://skyscraperguitars.com/

The Unhealthy Pursuit of Perfection, we have all been there.  Every one of us who makes things tries to make it perfect, but perfection is a fool's earned and unattainable.  The more you know, the more you know you don't know.   In this episode, we talk about how the pursuit of Perfection can reach unhealthy levels and what we do to stay sane and continue our maker's quest. Hosted by

Greg Porter https://skyscraperguitars.com/ Greg On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregsgaragekc/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SkyscraperGuitars YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GregsGarage

Brian Benham https://www.brianbenham.com/ Brian On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benham_design/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXO8f1IIliMKKlu5PgSpodQ Custom Furniture https://www.benhamdesignconcepts.com/

This is a common issue for creatives that make things. We all have active imaginations; we can visualize lots of things.  Then the distractions come into play. We are drawn to the new shiny project or derailed by a project that we have to do to make money to keep the bills paid.

https://www.themakersquest.com/how-many-projects-are-too-many-projects-ep17

Greg Porter https://skyscraperguitars.com/ Greg On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregsgaragekc/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SkyscraperGuitars YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GregsGarage

Brian Benham https://www.brianbenham.com/ Brian On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benham_design/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXO8f1IIliMKKlu5PgSpodQ Custom Furniture https://www.benhamdesignconcepts.com/

In this episode, the guys talk about the power of staying curious and how it will help you stay creative in your journey as a  maker.

Show notes: https://www.themakersquest.com/how-to-stay-curious-to-stay-creative

 

Hosted by

Greg Porter https://skyscraperguitars.com/ Greg On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregsgaragekc/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SkyscraperGuitars YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GregsGarage

Brian Benham https://www.brianbenham.com/ Brian On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benham_design/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXO8f1IIliMKKlu5PgSpodQ Custom Furniture https://www.benhamdesignconcepts.com/

In today's episode, Brian and Greg Talk about different techniques for gathering inspiration for their designs and then iterating from basic design principles to more abstract concepts and techniques.

Show Notes:

https://www.themakersquest.com/gathering-insperation-for-designs-ep15

Hosted by

Greg Porter https://skyscraperguitars.com/ Greg On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregsgaragekc/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SkyscraperGuitars YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GregsGarage

Brian Benham https://www.brianbenham.com/ Brian On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benham_design/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXO8f1IIliMKKlu5PgSpodQ

In this episode, Brian and Greg talk about how learning new things by learning how to learn.

Setting aside preconceived notions about what you think something is about will help you approach learning with an open mind. Then they talk about Chat GPT and how to use it to help us learn and become better critical thinkers.

 

Show notes: https://www.themakersquest.com/learn-how-to-learn-ep14

Hosted by

Greg Porter https://skyscraperguitars.com/ Greg On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregsgaragekc/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SkyscraperGuitars YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GregsGarage

Brian Benham https://www.brianbenham.com/ Brian On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benham_design/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXO8f1IIliMKKlu5PgSpodQ

In this episode, we talk about how makers handle challenges. We talk about acquiring tools, acquiring skills, acquiring new clients, and how social media algorithms are diluting creativity.

Website: https://www.themakersquest.com/

Greg Porter https://skyscraperguitars.com/

Greg On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregsgaragekc/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SkyscraperGuitars YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GregsGarage

Brian Benham https://www.brianbenham.com/

Brian On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benham_design/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXO8f1IIliMKKlu5PgSpodQ