Tips: Motivation and Productivity

[taloft]

Hey guys and gals. I'm looking for more ideas to increase my motivation and spend more time building.

One thing that helped me: Putting a TV in the shop. I don't really pay attention to it, but for some reason, I'm willing to spend more time out there deburring and such.

I've also found that watching Youtube first flight videos gives me a temporary boost.

Any other ideas?

Sometimes the goal just seems so far away, you know?

[morlino]

Go flying in a rental.

Hang out at the airport.

Get a ride in a finished RV.

Help the owner of a finished RV do some maintenence.

Go to Oshkosh.

Go to an EAA meeting.

[aviationgeek84]

First-flight videos really help me. Also, the TV in my shop gives me something to listen to while I deburr or do other tasks that don't require much thought. I do have to shut off the TV when I'm figuring out next steps on the project or doing some critical drilling/other work.

Also, planning future cross-country flights with the wife... helps me keep an eye on the eventual benefits.

[RV7Ron]

Two suggestions,

1. If you have an old computer and an internet connection, you can put on www.pandora.com . Its a free internet radio station that is quite nice, any kind of music you can dream up..you can listen to it on there.

2. Try and find some local RV guys and tag along for breakfast/lunch if they have an extra seat or hang out at the hangar when time permits. This definitely helps me to see a 'finished' RV so you remember why you're building.

[C-GRVT]

have a look at the "Airventure 2009" video on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKU0uQki5Dc
Put me in the mood.
Bill Brooks
Ottawa, ON
Canada
RV-6A finishing kit

[prkaye]

Go flying in a rental.

This is a huge one for me. I hate flying that C172. I used to enjoy the katana, but dealing the ottawa control zone sure eats away at your flying time, which at 125/hr is precious!

[DCat22]

Originally Posted by RV7Ron

1. If you have an old computer and an internet connection, you can put on www.pandora.com . Its a free internet radio station that is quite nice, any kind of music you can dream up..you can listen to it on there.

Heck, if you have signal, you can stream Pandora onto a cell phone, and listen to your music IN the plane. Once it's flying, of course. More seriously, it's replaced almost all my music listening at home and in the car.

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[Rick_A]

For me, working on the plane nearly every day, even if just a little bit, kept me motivated. I guess I was lucky in that I became obsessed with building. Sure there were specific jobs that were discouraging but the final goal always kept me motivated.

My challenge was tearing myself away from the plane long enough to do the other things I needed to do in my life (i.e. my day job, family time, etc). I'm also one of those weird people that would much rather have silence then listening to a radio or TV while working on plane.

[foka4]

I agree with the folks who have weighed in in favor of flying, but a 172? Really?

Go get some dual in an old and slow taildragger in your area. Better yet, hop in a glider. It's good for polishing up on your rudder skills, and offers a level of fun and engagement that's hard to match.

Even in the peak of the flying season, a good flight in a glider is a big boost and really reminds me of why I find so much satisfaction in being a pilot. Motivation guaranteed!

M

[msturgis]

I did put a TV in my garage/shop.. It really made the mundane but very necessary tasks like deburring go by very quickly.