I have learned to try not to be too clever – nor too ambitious. “Half of something is better than all of nothing.” How many of us have unfinished projects that seemed like a good idea at the time? Better to have made, finished and used a simple bookcase in relatively cheap pine, than to have a half completed, oak, breakfront set, taking up room in the workshop. Ambition can be a terrible force. Most worthwhile accomplishments are a “brick on brick” operation. Lots of patient practice built into experience and eventually confidence.
— John Brown, Issue 81 of Good Woodworking magazine
Well there goes my plan of getting over to help clean out my shop and drink coffee with a lot of woodworking talk!
Seriously though……. I truly admire your work ethic and honesty. You inspire so many and myself completely. They news is great for you and for us as well. And hooray! For BOOKS!!!!!
The coffee invite still stands….. I’ll clean up the shop beforehand 😁
Why has John Brown been making fun of me the last two days?
How is it that I never discovered John Brown when I lived in the UK? His ethos is consistent with everyone I worked for over there, and with my own in so many ways. I’m really looking forward to reading this book and am thrilled you’re publishing it.
Damn best advice I’ve heard in a long time. Rings loud and true. Now to clear out some of those old projects…
Damn good advice. Rings embarrassingly true. Inspires me to go clear out some of those incomplete, not yet perfect projects.
John Brown a true anarchist woodworker. Love the shop and the workbench, a true bodger bench. His shop says it all as he stands there behind that bench,a simplification of the hands on life, eschewing the complicated foo foo.
Loving this entire series, but this is my favorite yet. Inspiring for its realistic approach. A really good reminder.