Thank you so much for this informational video. I’m a 67 year old retired systems engineer who is dying of boredom. I’ve been looking at the Saturn 4K printer because I am interested in creating objects using the lost wax method. I also am proficient with Fusion 360 for drafting items and using Daz 3D modeling for creating human models. I never considered creating a business from my hobbies but, after watching your video, it sure sounds like fun. Since I live in rural eastern North Carolina I probably won’t drum up music business but, like I said, it will be fun. Again, thank you.
Let me know if you get into selling anything I’d like to be one of your first buyers , I’m 28 struggling with my creativity and I hope to be 67 still wanting to try new things
definitely the most down to earth advice, he didn't go with clickbait like how to make 100k sales in 3D printing but just the humble beginning of his journey! Love it
The death cubicle bit really hit me, I just graduated and I'm working as a mechanical design engineer right now and I hate that stupid cubicle. Thank you for posting this video, it helps me see that the freelance design and modeling I've always wanted to do isn't just a fantasy
as fellow mechanical engineer whos been out of school for 6 years now, 3d printing as a hobby and now as a side hustle has been a huge boost for my moral post-grad life. I feel like I'm innovating again. i wish i bought a 3d printer right out of school.
Lmfao, everyone hates the cubicle until they need a job. Every single graduate nowadays thinks they can start their own business or freelance full-time and never have to work for a company. It rarely ever works out
Mate, I love one thing and hate another one…I love that your entire video it was you, no cuts on the video, no edits, I love when people don’t cut videos and show all the errors, etc etc…what I hate? The background music, turn it 50% more down. I love your naturalness and story! Thanks for sharing!!!
Thank you. I didn't realize how much I needed to watch this video. I've always wanted to start a small prototyping/manufacturing business and this was like seeing what a successful version of myself could be if I just got out of my own way for once. Fingers crossed this will be the push I needed to finally do it.
You have a very relatable way of explaining things. I'm basically the exact target audience for this video. I'll be taking you up on that email offer this weekend!
Bro, when you say, “I wanna leave my death cubicle that I hate” that really hits hard, that’s exactly how I feel. I would almost sell my legs and arms to get away from the vicious cycle.
Love the fact that you make the meaty content relatable while keeping the cool factor to attract people. Your story is fantastic and that’s the route I want to take. Make a product that’s repeatable and related to an industry. If I can get some nerdy stuff going sure that’s cool but otherwise I like the mom and pop factory like design.
This is fantastic. I love your honesty, I can see why your clients have approved of your services. I know when I was providing photography part time, it was difficult for me to price my own work based on competition & confidence in my own work. All of which is quite difficult when teaching yourself new skills. 3d Printing is much more approachable for me. A wider range of services/products. I appreciate how supportive you are of the community. Thank you for this video & inspiration.
Joe thanks for the walk through. You share your experiences in an honest way and surely I can see why you have gained customers over the course of the business. You are indeed a marketing genius with or without a logo!
"Just start moving in that direction" That's the quote of a lifetime right there. I remember when my parents got me my first 3d printer. It was about 6 years ago. An original Ender 3. I have printed thousands of hours of prints on it. I fell in love. I am currently a software engineer so I get the "death cubicle" reference. I sold to family friends on my website for a while and recently moved to etsy where I got my first real client. It is still early but I hop to work with them for months or years to come. Keep inspiring and remember we are bringing imagination to life one layer at a time!
"The product or service that you offer is what makes the name". This, is the gold. I'll modify that statement in one way. "The service you offer on the product you make is what makes your name". Nothing is ever without flaws. Your ability to service the client and make it right, when it's wrong, is what defines your company. Great stuff. Pair this with "perfection is the enemy of the possible" and I've got what I need for today in moving my efforts forward. THANKS! Subscribed!
All I can say is WOW! Finally a video that is really down to Earth and so many of us in the 3D printing community can relate to. This video was very well done and full of so many nuggets for anyone wanting to get into 3D printing as a business. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Subscribed and sent you out an email. Will watch your other videos now, thank you again. Best of luck with your business
You have no idea how much I needed this video right now. I've been a tool design engineer for about a year now and graduated at the end of last year. I want to make my own business, but had so much trouble figuring out where to start and what the best strategies are. Now I know that I just need to start simple and let it grow. I've got my job to fund my startup and I already have a printer that I am proficient at using + countless designs of my own. Thank you for this.
I've been stuck in the "I want to start a side gig" for decades now. You speak so chill and matter of fact. I love that! I'm subbed and appreciate your style. Thanks!
Thank you for the Video Joe, you gave me an insight to how 3D printing business actually is and what a beginner should be looking out for. Keep up the good work!
This is a ton of excellent advice in this video. I disagree somewhat about the single client idea because such arrangements always end at some point, but it is totally fine to start that way.
What seemed to me a great laid back down to earth inspiring take on starting up and getting through, thank you and I'll keep you in mind and 'grow' with that in the back of my head ;) Wish you prosperous years !
This was a great inspirational video, thank you for being so "sober" (or light is the correct word here idk tbh) it was really relatable and enlightening!
This video has been so encouraging. I too have come up with a product i'll be doing through Amazon, following your example. So your videos, (seen two so far) have took so much of the fear out of this process. thanks.
Thank you for sharing in a down to earth kinda way which everyone can understand. You just shared from your experience and kept everything simple. You didnt try to speak fancy etc etc like some people do. And it inspires me .
It's always a pleasure to watch your videos. They're very enlightening, quite inspiring, and laid back - which is just the way I like it. Keep up the good work.
Very nice video! The key takeaway is making what your client wants, be a service and going with the flow. I think this approach can be very hit-or-miss in the sea of 3D printing people competing to sell such service, especially in a metropolitan area. I develop products to sell and arguably can make models to sell whatever is trending, but damn I love making my own things too much so the market just isn't reacting my stuff. Marketing is tough too, no one buys from a no-body with an unfamiliar product that he/she doesn't know in the first place! Really it's hobby (things you make out of passion) vs business (popular things that sells) and the two rarely overlap.
I'm an engineering student with an ender 3 pro. I have a design idea I want to pursue, and I occasionally fulfil design and printing requests from other students because the campus printing lab costs too much. Right now it's just printer maintenance money, but this video shows me that I can do much more! Thank you.
I have seen this video before. It came across again today. I liked it the first time around. I like it again this time around! Love the real person story. Great work!
Great video I have an Ender 3 Pro and just invented a product. I've been printing for about 4 years but now retired and having fun with my own machine. It is tough but all it takes is one or two clients and it's on... Thanks for the inspiration and I will follow you. Cheers Steve
I really enjoyed this video! It was very encouraging and the parallels as I am starting out really emphasize to keep moving forward. Just do it. Trying to solve future problems is the anxiety a lot of consciencious people face. I have definitely learnt that the hard way and pleased to now solve the problem if/when it happens. Thank you, you have a sub.
Wow the most straightforward video I’ve seen and not all about wasting money and trying to sell us on anything. You sir got yourself sub. I have a ender 3 pro and a reason printer just sitting here and was thinking about doing side jobs and you really encouraged me to start
Hey Joe, Im here in Australia, and your videos are great mate! I appreciate the chilled vive of your videos and your calm voice, There no bullshit and thats what i like!
I've watched videos with with similar titles nonetheless, when I clicked on this vid, I had no idea I would be this inspired. You have a gift of conveyance.....incredibly personable.
I have been 3d printing for 2 years myself. I have created in house parts for my previous boss. He paid well for my time spent Cad'ing up the part and printing materials. Sold a few things on facebook market place and like you put an ad on craiglist. The amount of spam i got from that ad really discouraged me. I still 3d print and create my own design. Thanks for the video, it encourage me to try again and hopefully land something worth while. Video liked.
Thanks for this video! I am about to get out of the military, and getting my first 3d printer to start a side business in my small garage in southern California. Appreciate the advice!
Thank you for this video. I really want to start a business like you and I started with the same printer at the same time at an apartment. This gives me perspective.
i started my 3d printing and modeling service in 2020 and it definitely had its ups and downs but i was always excited to do a project and the amount of stuff I've learned was definitely the best
love this man.. keeping it raw and not so polished or expensive commercial or something to explain whet you just did. I really want to get into this. So many thing i want to make for myself but why not make a little money as well. Just lost as to where to begin. got ideas and all that. i just need to take the step
Just watched this and it hit me hard. I am in the same boat. Wanted to start something new and have a passion to create. Looking how to get my first start and the honesty and truth behind your video gave me some hope. Thank you.
Great video! Thanks for being so candid, honest and encouraging to all your viewers, this down-to-earth genuine approach is actually helpful to likeminded budding entrepreneurs. Keep up the great work!
Thank you, thank you so much for these great pieces of advice! I'm myself thinking about starting this hobby to get away from my death cubicle too! Wonderful video, keep it up!
Great video. You and I think very similarly, and I am usually in my own way when trying something new. I also love designing new products to solve a problem and printing them out. I only do it for fun right now but would certainly enjoy it as my full-time job. Once I get better at the CAD software, maybe I'll think about doing something similar, even if only as a side hustle. Take care.
Thank you for sharing your story. I started my own business as an electronics design consultant when I had a falling out with my employer one Friday in 1980. I am still not sure if I quit or was fired. Over the weekend my wife and I arranged our 4 kids into 2 bedrooms to free up a room for me. On the Monday I had a contract from the company to finish the project I was on. That enforced relationship only survived that one contract, but by the mid 80s I had a $250K manufacturing contract, making fire alarm boards for Chubb Fire. Three years later I was staring at the prospect of a park bench. It was a roller coaster ride! I retired in 2015, bought myself a 3D printer and kitted myself out to do electronics at home, and settled down to doing what I wanted, not what my customers wanted. Over the years I had designed and produced timing systems and scoreboards for Omega Timing, controllers for Carrier, and "fired" a $30B Utah company who thought they could treat me like dirt. But the thing I get most pleasure from is having helped several one man startups to get sophisticated electronic controls in their products. There are two pieces of advice I would give anyone aspiring to start a small business that is going to deal with large business: 1 Register a limited liability company (LLC in the US, Pty Ltd here in Australia) on Day One. Never operate as a sole trader and never sign a director's guarantee to get credit on supplies. Cultivate good relations with your suppliers. 2. Watch your cash flow and keep clients on a short leash with payments. 3. Learn enough about business law to understand contract law, offer and acceptance, and be very fastidious with how you word your quotes/offers/proposals. I once had to put a large $35B air conditioning company back in their box when they tried to override the formal terms of my offer with alternate wording on their $300K purchase order. That actually was a result of a 1 semester "business" unit in my engineering course back in 1969!
Loved this video, really down to earth and approachable. Makes me think I can give it a go! Really good tips and information on getting clients, etc. Thanks for the video, really encourgaing!
Great Video, thanks for sharing your insights. I came across while researching 3d printers for my kids. Really can relate to the “death cubicle.” And wisdom on figuring it out when you get there. I have a couple outside business ventures and I have to figure it out. But that’s all part of the experience.
holy crap - when you pointed to your head I really understood why I couldn't stop watching. I feel it's my worst enemy. Can't think of anything useful print lately. Thanks for the video - very much.
OK, first congrat's on your business success- you come across as a good guy with a solid work ethic. I have worked for myself for a few years on and off mostly consulting - but I hate it because of the amount of travel required. So now I am in a regular 9 to 5 job which as it turns out in my recent job is really 7 to 7 plus Saturdays... yea, full on bull. i am tempted to go back to consulting but watching this video was super inspiring, maybe it hit me at just the right time I duno but I really do appreciate your information here, I am after all an engineer and you know what they say - you can take the boy out of the workshop but you can't take the workshop out of the boy! So now you got me interested in what else you have to say so I am going to go take a look and hopefully will see you around! Cheers.
Love your laid-back and down-to-earth approach... I to have a few idea's and putting them into practice with my one 3d Printer, and bigger ideas for another (bigger) printer I want, that I'm sure I could also make profitable too...
The advice at 12:30 was something I really needed to hear... I always talk myself out of fully committing to something because I'm worried the client will ask me for something advanced I haven't done yet. I'm also such a perfectionist, like when I'm designing something to print with ink I'm working down to the pixel for hours then zoom out and realize it won't even be visible underneath a microscope lol
"Cross that bridge when you come to it" is sound advice. I can relate to over analysis and it seems like you're learning to go with the flow. What I've taken from the video is that when you have a chance seize the opportunity and see where it takes you.
