Throughout my entire life, I have always been one to take on challenges, push myself, explore the world, and lean into the sharp points of life.
I have been a roughneck blowing up sides of mountains for oil companies, and I have learned how to fly and pilot for Delta Air Lines. I guess my career has always been to look at things and ask, “How can I do that?” or, “How does that work?” Then I just work hard to figure it out.
I have always asked questions. Being curious is what it is all about. It is how we achieve greatness. Whether you are building a rocket that you launch in your backyard, or launching one into space, it starts with a question and involves problem-solving to figure it out.
In 2009 the economy was struggling and there were rumors of another Great Depression. So with a wife and kids to take care of, I started on a personal journey to intimately understand how important things like light-bulbs, electricity, and filtered water are produced, so I could make them myself if I needed to.
I spent the next year tinkering and experimenting with anything I could get for free from the classified ads, and making discoveries about things that blew my mind, like building arc welders from microwaves, rocket motors from sugar, and high-voltage electricity from glass bottles and salt water.
After I’d shared random experiments with friends and acquaintances for a few months, people began asking, “Who is this guy?” and “Why does he know these kinds of things?” And during one historic conversation, someone even commented, “Dude, you’re like, the king of random.”
I realized the things I was experimenting with were peculiar, and people seemed unusually interested to know more, so I decided to learn how to make videos and share them on YouTube.
Growing up, I’d always wanted to be some kind of superhero inventor like Tony Stark who could make anything he could imagine. And that’s what it’s all about.
Some of my favorite projects have been inspired by reading books and trying these ideas out for myself. My hope is this book provides that same experience for you.
Taking on new challenges has always given me a great sense of accomplishment. I love the feeling I get when figuring things out, solving a problem, and being creative. Whether it is learning how to build a foundry or how to fly a plane, it’s the same thought process. You set a goal, you make a plan, and you follow it through.
I hope you’re inspired to try something fun, think outside the box, and be the next experimenter who changes the world.
Have fun, be safe, and create something great.