akgreg wrote:David,

Quit whining and just finish the thing. Social media blah blah isn’t gonna get it finished. The last plane you did looked absolutely stunning and I have no doubt that this one will exceed that. Stop posting unless it’s pictures of newly completed items on your punch list!

I’m saying all of this to spark a fire, not to piss you off.

I can send you a hug if you need one.

Ever think about becoming a motivational speaker?

i'm not one to vent frustrations online but I will say this exercise has been helpful.

Bagarre wrote:I think I’ll grab a broom and sweep the floor for a day or two. Might even find more items for the punch list that way.

For me, this is the best method. When I get stuck, I clean my hangar for a while and let my brain relax.

Seems like I feel reinvigorated when I get done. Sometimes a good hangar deep clean can take a day or so.

CamTom12 wrote:

Bagarre wrote:I think I’ll grab a broom and sweep the floor for a day or two. Might even find more items for the punch list that way.

For me, this is the best method. When I get stuck, I clean my hangar for a while and let my brain relax.

Seems like I feel reinvigorated when I get done. Sometimes a good hangar deep clean can take a day or so.

That's where I'm at. Pulling everything off the walls, reorganizing my pile of aluminum, doing an inventory of small stuff I need to order...
All the while, adding things to the punch list as I come across them. It will take me a few days.

Take a break from the project, have your IA write a letter to your local FSDO saying your experience satisfies FAR 65.77. Take that letter to a FAA inspector and after a short interview they’ll sign some 8610-2 forms saying you’re ready to take the tests if they approve.

Finish all 3 written exams and the oral/practical and then come back to the project motivated as a newly minted A&P!

The tests will be a piece of cake for you.

3 years from then, you’ll be eligible to become an IA. That’s going to be pretty valuable for you with a 170 that you plan on keeping.

Self employment is difficult.

I'm in the same boat, er... plane. I find I need a bunch of things to keep me motivated.

Cleaning up the workplace is always good. Clears the mind.

Taking a break is important. Get your mind completely off of the project so your subconscious can work on those sticky decisions.

I find there's always a sticky point near the end of a project when you have a lot of fiddly things finish that you just have to force yourself through. Then, at some point, the vision of the completed object comes into your mind and all of this motivation comes flooding in and then it even becomes hard to stop yourself long enough to eat.

Taking a few hours to really clean and organize the shop helps motivate me. When I come back to a clean shop or hangar the next day, I just pick a small task to complete, and the next thing I know I'm back into it.

I've been working on a C205 project since January. I usually spend a few hours on it after work Monday - Thursday and all day Saturday. I just finished painting all the parts. That task was incredibly tedious and time consuming. I was a slave to it. I estimate it took me about 400 hours. LOTS of sanding by hand. Hard on my shoulders and my relationship. Had to stay with it though, because each time I shot primer I needed to topcoat within 48hrs. Many long consecutive days. I even took time off from work. I had to finish while the weather was warm enough to paint.

A week or so off, and I'll be ready for the next task. I enjoy the rebuilding and assembly.

Ron