Success can mean many things to different people. For some it’s the money in their bank account. For others it’s the position at their job. It’s driving the fancy car, owning the big house, wearing the brand clothes, the right spouse, the number of kids, number of likes, virtual followers, and whatevers… It’s all relevant only to the individual and groups of people with common interests.

Personally I’m not crazy about obtaining fancy material things or living to accumulate mountains of wealth. The older I get (man, I’m about to turn 35, yikes…) the more I realize how these things are empty pleasures without any lasting joy.

I do, however, consider myself a successful person. Why? Well, let’s see:

​The creative journey is an interesting path to walk, filled with many twists and turns into the unknown. With much effort and persistence, great success can be obtained. But, more often than not, it can lead to a frustrating dead end. 
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This end point is the place I found myself during 2016. After eight years of successful and fulfilling creative endeavors, my paper engineering experiments came to a bittersweet end.

If you’re a freelance designer, or any creative professional, chances are you’re very familiar with doing client work on a per-project basis. This is generally the career path we take by default as we dive into the creative field. But, have you ever considered the alternative route of designing and selling your own products?

In this very intimate entry I’ll reveal to you how my paper engineering hobby turned into a source of passive income, generating roughly $100,000 in 5 years. If you’re curious to know how my journey in paper engineering started, I suggest you read my “Spark of Curiosity” post first. 
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This outcome might be impressive, or not, depending on who you are and what your ambitions are. For me personally, this was unimaginable when I started, but curiosity lead me down a road of experimentation and very rewarding results.

As a designer, a design student, or any type of person who uses computer software, have you ever questioned if your workflow is at its greatest potential? If you haven't and you're perfectly content where you are, stop reading, this isn't for you. Otherwise, if you have the slightest desire to improve, I will give you one simple advice from my years of experience which, if explored and applied, will help pave your road to success in a big way. Ready for it?...