Article - July 17, 2015
I occasionally receive emails from woodworkers who feel discouraged and need a pep talk. Recently, local woodworker Keith sent me this message:
“Just watched your video on your outdoor sitting bench. You make everything look so damn easy. I am in awe of how everything you touch comes out so perfect. What you do is a piece of art that some of us strive for but will never attain. Thank you for showcasing your talent. The only problem someone like myself has is I won’t do anything that you have done, because when it doesn’t look like yours, I feel I have failed. That is another reason I won’t be nearly as good. You have to practice to be good and I expect perfection because I see you make it look so easy. Still enjoy watching you work. Your neighbor, Keith.”
First off, Keith, I appreciate the kind words. But I have to set the record straight—this mentality is something I see a lot, and it’s the wrong way to look at your woodworking journey.
If you’ve ever felt this way, keep reading. Woodworking Discouragement Is Normal—Here’s How to Overcome It
Look, I get it. You watch skilled woodworkers build flawless dovetails, execute seamless glue-ups, and produce furniture that looks like it belongs in a museum. And then you step into your shop, make a mis-cut on your first board, and suddenly feel like you’ll never measure up.
But let’s pause and look at this fairly.
Keith is comparing his work to mine, but is that a reasonable comparison? Let’s break it down:
Most people reading this don’t have that same setup—and that’s okay. You might have a full-time job, a family, and only a few hours a week to dedicate to woodworking. Your path is different from mine, but it’s just as valid.
Your goal isn’t to be me. It’s to be your personal best.
Keith used the word perfect in his message. Here’s the truth: my work is not perfect.
If you look closely at my projects, you’ll find small gaps, tiny tear-out spots, or finishing flaws. And if you compare me to other woodworkers, there are plenty who make me look like a beginner.
But I don’t let that discourage me. Instead, I use it as motivation.
Back in the early 2000s, I’d sit in my garage, looking at photos of dream woodworking shops, thinking:
👉 “That’s impressive. I’d love to have a shop like that. What steps can I take today to get there?”
Ten years later, I built my dream shop. Not overnight. Not in a year. A decade of small steps.
And that’s the mindset you need to adopt when looking at other woodworkers’ skills. Instead of thinking, “I’ll never be that good,” ask yourself:
If you’re feeling discouraged, here are some real ways to turn that frustration into progress:
At the end of every project, take 10 minutes to evaluate it. Ask yourself:
If you can pinpoint when an issue occurred, you can prevent it next time.
Most woodworking mistakes have simple solutions. For example:
Half the battle is spotting the issue. The other half is learning how to fix it.
Be honest—how many times have you rushed a cut or skipped a step because you were impatient?
Many woodworking mistakes aren’t due to a lack of knowledge. They happen because we take shortcuts or get lazy. Commit to doing things right, even when it takes longer.
Instead of saying, “I want to build a perfect chair,” break it down:
✅ Learn and practice mortise and tenon joinery.
✅ Build a simple stool first.
✅ Improve sanding and finishing techniques.
✅ Then, move on to a full chair.
This keeps your progress manageable and your confidence high.
Woodworking isn’t a competition. You’re not here to beat anyone else. Your only goal is to be better than you were yesterday.
If you’re struggling with self-doubt:
Instead of daydreaming about being better, take an action today that gets you one step closer.
Because before you know it, you’ll look back and realize how far you’ve come. And ironically, you won’t care about your place in the “hierarchy” anymore—because you’ll just be having fun, making things you love.
So, what’s one woodworking skill you’re working on right now? Drop a comment and let’s talk about it!
Ready to super-charge your woodworking education? Check out our extensive woodworking courses in The Wood Whisperer Guild!
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