welcome, Creator.
You’ve taken the first step, you’re here. The biggest question you need to ask now is Why?
Let’s get started 🚧
Why do you want to create? Is it to solve problems? To bring ideas to life? To inspire change? Your “why” will help get you from 0 to 1. Creating is similar to jumping into cold water. The hardest part is pushing off.
Creating is not about being ready. It’s about courageously pursuing the action of [creation].
Your creativity is sacred to you. No one can take that from you.
[your name],
You have full permission to produce your creative art in whatever way you express it best. Even if no one else sees it yet, the world is waiting for your ideas and your uniqueness.
I am with you.
– Mario (A fellow creator, eager for more people like you)
Redefine what it means to create.
For me, I redefined what it meant to create within engineering as a field. After quitting my job, I felt like I removed my identity as an engineer. In ways, I did separate my identity from my job title, a liberating task.
Engineering is not about the degree or the latest technologies, AI, defense, or whatever else comes to mind with larger tech companies. The word “engineer” comes from the Latin word “ingenium,” which means “natural talent or creativity.” So, at the core, “engineer” is about action—about creating, building, and solving. Engineers are doers, people of action. Engineers are problem solvers, who create. Engineers are creatives who solve problems in ways that are unique to themselves.
I suggest you read the following posts I wrote about this topic in case you’re not convinced:
- A Manifesto: On [Redefining] the Meaning of Being an Engineer or Technical Creator.
- A New Future of Engineering: Reimagined (almost ready🚧)
- The Universal Method of Engineering Design for Non-Engineers
- What Makes Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurial?
- “I just left my engineering job, am I still an engineer?“
New to Creating? Start Here (⌐■_■)
Find Your Why
Take at least 30 minutes to reflect on what excites you about creating. Engage in deep self-reflection to identify your motivations and core values that drive you.
What emotions or impact do you hope to feel with your work?
What personal experiences inspire you?
How would your creations potentially benefit others or contribute to the world around you?
Ask yourself, “why do I create?”
Make sure to write these down. There is power in doing so. This clarity will guide you when things get tough.
I also suggest you go further to identify your Ikigai.
Start Small and Learn by Doing
Every breakthrough begins as a simple experiment. We only need to get started and see what happens.
Just make it EXIST first. You can make it good later.
Open a notebook and sketch something, anything
<Link here>
Start with random shapes and connect them. Get wild. Do not focus on creating something productive.
Reimagine ordinary products and sketch a way to make it better or completely different.
Start with an Arduino simulation on TinkerCAD.com
<Link here>
Create anything that looks fun.
Use Random sensors.
Burn an LED.
Then move into more advanced projects. Program an LED to blink using an Arduino.
Repurpose old products around you or redesign them
<Link here>
Take apart an old toy, appliance, or gadget (caution: be careful while using tools, electricity, etc…use your judgement and do it at your own risk).
Look inside, learn how it works, imagine ways to improve it.
Make a list of everyday problems.
Big or small, jot them down. Now, brainstorm three ways to solve one of them using engineering or design.
Try rapid prototyping.
Use cardboard, tape, and scissors to create a physical model of an idea. It doesn’t have to work—it just needs to represent your thought.
Experiment with free design software.
Tools like Fusion 360 or SketchUp let you play with 3D modeling and bring ideas to life digitally.
Create a Rube Goldberg machine.
Use household items to create a chain reaction—a fun way to combine creativity with engineering.
Design a problem-solving game.
Use a deck of cards or paper to sketch out a game where players overcome challenges by building, designing, or creating.
Break It Down
Every project has steps. Every step has learning. Focus on what’s next, not the finish line.
Take the First Step
This is your moment. Whether you’re sketching, prototyping, or coding, remember: the hardest part is starting.
So don’t wait for perfection—start courageously.
Let’s create.
