2014-06-02

Financial Independence and the Maker Movement

Had he attended Maker Faire, P.T. Barnum would have had some different ideas about "The Greatest Show on Earth".


a keyboard player jams in a Faraday cage on two huge audio-modulated solid state Tesla coils

Two weeks ago, I spent the day wandering a maze of wonders down in San Mateo.

There were robots that looked like art and robots that made art.  There were 3D scanners and 3D printers and 3D printers printing more 3D printers.  There was homegrown algae and homebrew and homebrewed indie electronics for homebrewing.  There were Tesla coils and drones and homemade radios and solar cookers and container houses.  There were artists, scientists, educators, engineers, and musicians.  There was teaching and learning and exploring and building and doing.

In a word?  There was Making.



Making is one thing the world could use a heck of a lot more of.  These Makers are combining old ideas with new (and old) technology to push the boundaries of 'do-it-yourself'.  They're getting people excited about science and engineering.  They're creating new tools and sharing their ideas and their designs, not primarily for money but for the love of creating and sharing.  They're making great things happen with limited resources and teaching the next generation how much better it feels to say "I made that" than "I purchased that".

And many of these Makers have full-time jobs and do all of this stuff on the side.

How cool would it be if they had more time to share what they've learned?  How cool would it be if we all had more time to explore and to learn and to Make?

Good news! This is entirely possible. All you have to do is solve the Personal Finance Problem.