How do you all measure your success? [Archive] - The Melting Pot

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dudleybivens

05-31-2011, 12:39 PM

Like the title says, I'm wondering how you all measure your success rate, or if you consider yourself a successful lamper.
I just wonder cuz I know this dude who acts like he's god's gift to lampworking, he feels like a successful lamper cuz he's gotten a few pieces to live here and there, but I'm wondering how you all measure success?
I have a 90% success rate on everything I've touched since I started 3 yrs ago. that means 90% of everything I've made has lived and sold. even the early days. I've got boxes and boxes of this kids broken pieces I've had to throw away over the last 2 years. he's broken more pieces this year since we asked him to move out of our studio than I have in my entire career blowing glass but he acts like he's the best lamper in town. doesn't affect me, just wondering what goes through people like that's minds and if you can ever really break through to them

just getting some opinions. to me successful means my beautiful glass is in someone else's hands being enjoyed and I don't have to throw anything away or have wasted time from broken or repaired pieces.

Julian

05-31-2011, 12:57 PM

I'd view it as a checklist. Success to me means you

enjoy what you're doing
have financial stability
are satisified with the amount of acclaim or feedback you receive from peers and your audience

Details like 'sold a piece for xx amount', 'have a piece in the collection of xx person', 'sell to xx gallery/store' are subjective. It's up to you, as an individual, to set your own goals.

As far as egotistical people, and Majaba knows the glass world has plenty of those, it's worth noting that often this is a cover for some sort of insecurity. The most successful and talented people are humble, and don't feel a need to project their egos.

l33t:weasel

05-31-2011, 01:01 PM

my success is measured in sandwiches and beautiful women.

BoroZillacate

05-31-2011, 01:46 PM

word^^^^^^

vetropod

05-31-2011, 02:26 PM

Success means you are content/excited with what you are doing and/or achieving. So this is obviously different for everyone.

Success is measured one step at a time.

dudleybivens

05-31-2011, 04:45 PM

sounds like you all are into free love and what not. do any of you run your own business? I thought most lampers did. last time I sent a sandwich to pay my bills I got a pink letter back in the mail. lol. kidding guys really, guess I was looking for something more concrete.
I guess I should have stressed more the success rate. be honest with yourselves, self assessment is critical to progression. I wasn't asking if people are happy with their life. businesses have standards, think of your lampworking career as a business and how do you measure your success?

so to answer my original question "Like the title says, I'm wondering how you all measure your success rate, or if you consider yourself a successful lamper."

I agree with Julian totally, I could care less if my glass is in a certain store, or in the hands of a certain collector, or whats the most I ever got from a piece. that's why I like what I measure myself by, it can be applied to a lampworker of any skill level.
I'm proud that 90% of the glass I've ever attempted to create goes on to be in the hands of someone who appreciates pretty things. that's one of the measures I use. some people may feel successful even attempting a certain creation even though it never gets completed, so It's nice hearing from everyone how you measure your success and success rate

JBob

05-31-2011, 05:17 PM

The less broken shit around my house/studio the more successful i have been lately

ALIEN!

05-31-2011, 05:29 PM

with a micrometer. Working my way up to a ruler.

l33t:weasel

05-31-2011, 06:54 PM

but seriously i think its about finding the sweet spot where you are pushing yourself to improve you skills and gain experience, but not making alot of janky shit that breaks or is just too crappy to sell. the "chance to live" on most of my pieces is close to 100% so that tells me im not going out on a limb enough. sometimes i discount pieces but rarely do i make something that goes in the trash or ends up in pieces on the bench.

success is having what you need and being on the way to where your trying to go. so its really depends on your goals and your overhead.
paying your bills on time is a pretty good measure of success.
so is having time to relax.

not changing the oil in your car, having your phone shut off or eating plan bread without any turkey, bacon, tomato or cheese are all indications u might bet be real successful at the moment.

Greymatter Glass

05-31-2011, 07:17 PM

(net worth / (length*girth))^2 / 4

budman8778

05-31-2011, 07:43 PM

i constantly check my midi-chlorian count.... only then am i successful...

Greymatter Glass

05-31-2011, 07:51 PM

if you use that method you should really consider midichlorian/thetans

smolder holder

05-31-2011, 08:00 PM

Just get a transfusion from yoda :)

B-Rye-oNeR

05-31-2011, 08:43 PM

I'm pretty hard on myself, as I think we should be. I set high standards for pieces, because I know they will end up in a shop and I may see them again. This has done nothing but help me progress. Sometimes I see others pieces in the stores I go to sell my stuff, and think to myself how bad some of them look, many of them have flaws that would prevent them from ever leaving my studio if I had been the maker. What I'm trying to say is: It's got your name on it...How do you want to represent yourself?

An even better feeling is seeing one of your pieces from a year or so ago and seeing how much your own personal standards have changed.

Shonski

05-31-2011, 09:50 PM

in this fucked up world, if you're smiling, you're successful... And I am talkin financially...

budman8778

05-31-2011, 09:51 PM

im glad a few people are as dorky as i am... and yes dougE, you take the cake...

hwcglass

05-31-2011, 11:52 PM

I was so disturbed by the implications of that question that I ended up building my whole business around the answers.

Among other answers, I keep the best of what I make. Have for years. My collection is more than 2,600 pieces, all of it absolutely the best work I have ever made. One highly referenceable pile of truth.

It is seriously mind boggling.

There are a lot more painful questions out there than the one you are asking; for example, your question implies you believe it is only a question of just how sucessful you are going to be.

Waite till you start wondering if success is even possible. And then, the next mind screw, even if achieved do identified goals actually mean anything in The End.

I say: KEEP THE BEST OF WHAT YOU MAKE EVERYDAY.

Check this bullshit here; for the last say four years I have worked a stern steady-eddie in the shop that gets me a solid 9 hours glass in flame every day. I keep a minimum of about 10% of what I make.

To me this shit hear is real: 540 minutes a day means I make 54 minutes of every working day of my life live forever. Every week I stack almost five hours of my life.

The stated purpose of my little bead shop is to "Build the finest single-source collection of beads in the history of mankind."

Possible? We're gonna find the hell out, I can tell you that right now. 2600 pieces of the best effort I have. And there is a whole story and business model to go with it: The American Trade Bead.

To all of you I say: KEEP THE BEST, SELL THE REST.

Here is a pic of about . . . 600? beads in a display that I will be taking to Milwaukee for Bead and Button (a big bead show) here in about a week. Let me tell you how good it feels to bring hundreds of the best things that ever came off my bench into public and not sell a one of them.

I can easily give a hundred solidly good reasons to keep LOTS of you own work.

Ask questions, brother. Consider my 'permanent collection' concept as an answer. PM me anytime for more info on refining the process.

I have a couple of questions that are hard to answer.

1) Do you love lampworking?

2) Where is the proof?

I don't know for sure what people think when they see my collection or when they think about my concepts, but I know this, to me, it's the reason for it all.

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/255669_1923229012143_1584655273_1870118_3579672_n. jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/255764_1923228852139_1584655273_1870117_298445_n.j pg

more pics and hippie bullshit on facebook if you're into it.

Julian

06-01-2011, 12:28 AM

Damned hippie.

CripSkillz

06-01-2011, 12:48 AM

HEHEH HIPPIYS

so anyways,, Im fully successful,, cuz I have fun,, dont have a scedg,, and can pay my rent n bills,, but thats bout it,, but what else do ya really need.. . and my success doubled once I moved outa my girls place,, heheheh.. weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...

Bo Diddles

06-01-2011, 06:10 AM

themoch

06-01-2011, 07:13 AM

the higher my stack of Woodrow Will$on$ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_denominations_of_United_States_currency#.241 00.2C000_bill) the more succesful i'm doing!!

Swampy

06-01-2011, 07:42 AM

I like learning new stuff, if what I sell buys me enough time to learn new stuff then everything else is gravy. Also sitting on the front step drinking tea at 4 O'clock, watching my grandson ride his bike and knowing I own everything in my yard and not the bank.

Success is sweet :o)

Icarus

06-01-2011, 08:02 AM

I measure it by post count.

I'm rich, bitches!

Icarus

06-01-2011, 08:03 AM

Then I see this thread has posts by Crip, Greymatter, Swampy and Alien...

I guess I'm not that rich... bitches.

06-01-2011, 10:49 AM

By the size of my balls. Im a baller.

FizZle

06-01-2011, 11:03 AM

how often i am able to take time out and talk about safety in a day

smolder holder

06-01-2011, 01:02 PM

I guess I've never really thought to much about it.

I do what I need to do and try and have fun at the same time.

dudleybivens

06-01-2011, 02:18 PM

Ohhhhhhhhh....... now I get it.
The OP and Indiependant are having a bit of a lover's quarrel and the intent of this thread is to embarass / call out an ex-bf.

Do us a favour Dudley, either get over it or hug it out in real life. This forum is not here for you to air your beefs about a former student, whether he's an asshole or not.
Keep it to yourself, and grow up a little.
please stay on topic, this is a very valid topic and why haven't you been infracted for this post, i was infracted for insulting another member and never went any furthur with it, so this was way more insulting than anything I said about him so I wont be happy til you're dealt with. notice he never denied anything I said, and notice the thread in question has it explained

l33t:weasel

06-01-2011, 05:06 PM

^^ dude, i can totally see why you got an infraction for your post, you even announced in the post you expected one. .. and then for some reason it was reversed.

i honestly don't think diddles crossed any lines, and since you alluded to the drama in your first post it was in fact on topic.

kbinkster

06-02-2011, 12:26 PM

If to you success is a monetary thing, then it means that you make enough money to take care of all your needs and a lot of your wants.

If to you success is a reputation/recognition thing, then it means that people know your work and it is highly regarded.

Success is such a subjective thing. In business, it has been known for a long time that some employees prefer to be compensated or rewarded for a good job with more pay (a raise), while others are happier with receiving a more important title. I think that ties in with different perceptions of success. I think that each person can reflect on what drives them, personally, and what makes them happy and then if they go after that kind of success, they will feel more successful to themselves. But then, you have to be careful to not become complacent and you also cannot ignore the other kind of success.

If you work really hard to gain a good reputation, you pay attention to detail and you treat other people fairly, then your sales figures may or may not show that. But, on the other hand, if you are busting out numbers, make stuff quick and dirty, and run a hard bargain, you might be making bank, but you might also have a reputation for having lower quality work or for not being good to do business with.

Maybe real success would be a balance of the two perceptions of success. Balance is good.

Icarus

06-02-2011, 12:56 PM

please stay on topic, this is a very valid topic and why haven't you been infracted for this post, i was infracted for insulting another member and never went any furthur with it, so this was way more insulting than anything I said about him so I wont be happy til you're dealt with. notice he never denied anything I said, and notice the thread in question has it explained

http://xeb.xanga.com/ddc08205616b517662322/z12730911.jpg

kbinkster

06-02-2011, 03:03 PM

my success is measured in sandwiches and beautiful women.

Do the beautiful women make you your sandwiches? I mean, hey, if you're going for success, you might as well go all out.

kbinkster

06-02-2011, 03:08 PM

OP, after re-reading your first post... If you stay worried about other people and their success or illusions of success, then you aren't spending enough time ensuring your own success. If you invested all that energy into your own work, you would be that much further ahead. There's always room for growth.

l33t:weasel

06-02-2011, 05:56 PM

kbinkster: yes and that definitely adds to the feeling of success. this one in particular not only makes awesome sandwiches but also does all my shipping, and even places supply orders.

this thread makes me want a button in my shop that plays the "success" noise.

nodice

06-02-2011, 06:03 PM

Penis size

kbinkster

06-02-2011, 09:31 PM

Penis size

I'm so sorry to hear that. Hey, not everyone can be successful and that's o.k.. You'll adapt.

I am just razzing you. You left yourself open for that one! :lol

nodice

06-03-2011, 03:31 AM

My words always come back at me. That's why I wear protective glasses.

NUBBLET

06-03-2011, 12:15 PM

native americans used to hold a contest to see who in the tribe had the biggest and ugliest penis

Julian

06-03-2011, 02:12 PM

native americans used to hold a contest to see who in the tribe had the biggest and ugliest penis

You've been waving yours in the wind for like 6 years now... it must be pretty dried out.

po-boy

06-03-2011, 02:23 PM

If my success in lampworking is being measured in how much money I'm making I'd have to call it an utter failure. I have way more money in my studio equipment than I think I will make in a year. I don't sell many of my pieces, I have little over a year lampworking, no classes, no books just the occasional video and reading on here. My pieces are just getting into shapes people would want to buy but I don't use much color either (costly to learn with color).

If I measure my success with how much I like lampworking and my progression I would say extremely successful/moderately successful respectively.

NUBBLET

06-03-2011, 03:16 PM

You've been waving yours in the wind for like 6 years now... it must be pretty dried out.

winding my watch sir

hippi

06-03-2011, 04:00 PM

ive been on the torch for a year and 6 months... i dont have problems selling my glass and i dont have to work a normal 9-5 with a boss hanging over my sholder...i get to spend all day with my kid and i get to turn nothing into something.... i call that success...

in this bizz theres always gonna be someone "better" or more "successful" then you... no sence in trying to be better then them.....just have fun...fun=happy...happy=success...

FizZle

06-08-2011, 09:25 AM

smolder holder

06-08-2011, 11:44 AM