What Went Wrong — And How I’m Fixing It
August 13, 2025
Part I – Identifying What Went Wrong
1. I Can Do a Lot — But Not All at Once
This was the hardest lesson to accept. I used to try doing everything in parallel: filming while wrenching, editing while exhausted, trying to work out at full intensity while mentally drained. The result? Frustration, burnout, and barely finishing anything.
Now I approach it like this: pick one “focus project” and let the others move slowly in the background. For me right now, that’s finishing the SR car and building the YouTube channel around it.
The Silvia can wait. The KTM is drivable, so I’m still riding, just not working on it or trading it for a cafe bike that will become another source of stress.
If you don't do everything slowly, you can likely get one thing done quickly. When you complete a project, it makes the other ones feel easier — like RAM on a computer. Put some stuff aside to better handle the task at hand.
2. Document the Process, But Stop Chasing Perfection
One thing I realized: I don't have to be an expert to share what I’m doing. I don’t even have to be good.
I’m new to editing. New to building cars. New to filming and creating instead of just consuming. That’s okay. My goal isn’t to go viral or impress everyone — it’s to document the learning curve.
In 2, 5, or 10 years, I want to remember what it looked like when I started. This mindset shift helped me stop obsessing over the final product. I just focus on capturing progress honestly — even when things go wrong.
Ironically, perfectionism was the biggest block to progress. I realized it’s often just a cope for not starting, or a way to avoid showing anything that might honestly represent being a beginner.
3. Respect Your Energy, Not Just Your Time
I used to plan out hours like a machine — “Monday night was for gym and editing. Tuesday — Japanese. Wednesday — gym/car focus time,” etc.
But life isn’t that linear. I always prioritize my marriage over projects or hobbies. Sometimes I’d step away from the schedule to spend time with my wife. Some weekends I just needed a break. Some nights, I’d come home tired from work and the gym and just want to sleep early.
Now I ask more realistic questions: Did I sleep well enough for deep work, or is it a cruising day? If I can’t give 100%, is there something small I can do?
This helps me separate the pressure from the process — and make progress when I can, not because I have to.
Part II – Finally Giving Up
I know it sounds bad, but what if the right decision isn’t always to press forward yourself?
What if time and money can work hand-in-hand to accomplish goals faster? That’s the conclusion I arrived at. I wanted things to be simpler.
So, I dropped the 180 off at the shop with my friend Spencer to finish the wiring and get the final work done to make the car 100%.
I also had the wiring done by Hexa Garage with a Haltech 1500 so the car would be ready by next year. I was tempted to give up and sell it for a daily driver, but as a sensitive white boy, I need my emotional support seat-time car. I need more years with the SR before I can fully trust it.
Part III – Making Sure It Doesn’t Happen Again
Ironically, this is what’s motivating me to finish the builds. Once they’re done, I don’t have to do them again.
I’ve wanted to do all kinds of builds over the years, but I've always dreamed of an SR hatch and another car I can thrash hard. It made sense to get this done now. Hopefully, maintenance and upgrades going forward will be easier since the big work is already done.
As for the gym and marriage — those are ongoing and pretty consistent. They’re probably the most stable and rewarding parts of my life.
If you’re healthy enough to hit the gym, it’s one of the best uses of your time — even if you think you’re too busy. And if you’re lucky enough to find someone you love, marriage is awesome.
The rest comes with reps. YouTube will get easier. Blogging will become a habit. My HTML will improve. Japanese is tough, but being around others learning it helps. I shoot cameras and guns better than I did last year — all of that comes with time and effort.