Yeah when the_linda said "we all just guess until the numbers get too scary to ignore" that hit home lol. I put off raising prices for my prints for a year because I was so worried. Then I actually looked at my shipping costs and the new price for my paper stock and my stomach dropped. I was basically paying people to take my stuff. It's a horrible feeling when you see the math doesn't work anymore.

That's a huge deal, man. The part about your style changing really hits home. It's easy to get stuck just making what you think people want. Finding your own flow is when it stops being a job and starts being your actual work, you know? That anvil being the only constant is a cool way to see how far you've come. Congrats on 500, that's a serious amount of focus.

Oh, a one in a million thing, sure. Right up until it's your million and you're the guy explaining to a client why there's squirrel pee on their new white couch. That plywood isn't for the squirrel, it's for my sanity.

Honestly I was the same way for years, just grabbed whatever card gave me cash back. Tbh I saw points and miles as way too much work. Then a buddy showed me how he booked a free flight to Japan with a sign up bonus, and it totally flipped my thinking. Now I see cash back as leaving a ton of value on the table if you ever want to travel.

My uncle was a finish carpenter for thirty years and he swore by a rubber mallet for trim work. The claw of a hammer can slip and mar the wood, even if you're careful. It's not just about bending nails, it's about protecting the surface you spent money on. Calling it a game changer might be strong, but it's a legit tool for a reason.