The Value of Doing Things Yourself

There’s something incredibly satisfying about working with your hands. Whether it’s fixing a car, building a piece of furniture, or creating something from raw materials, the process of turning an idea into reality is one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have.

In today’s world, though, hands-on work is often overlooked. More and more jobs involve sitting at a desk, staring at a screen, and clicking through digital tasks. Skilled trades, craftsmanship, and mechanical work don’t get the same attention as they once did. But I believe that hands-on skills are just as important now as they have ever been—maybe even more.

I spent over a decade working as an automotive technician, diagnosing problems and fixing vehicles. That experience taught me the value of working with my hands, not just as a way to make a living, but as a way to stay connected to the real world. Now, as I explore new career paths in metalworking, woodworking, and fabrication, I see even more clearly how valuable hands-on skills are.

The Disconnect Between People and Their Work

One of the biggest problems I see today is the disconnect between people and the things they use every day. Most people don’t know how their car works, how their house is built, or how to fix something when it breaks. Instead of learning basic repair skills, they rely on specialists—or worse, they throw things away and replace them.

We live in a time where most things are mass-produced, designed to be replaced instead of repaired. That’s convenient, but it also makes people dependent on others for even the smallest problems. A loose screw on a cabinet? Call a handyman. A dead car battery? Call roadside assistance. A simple leaky faucet? Call a plumber. These are all things people could learn to do themselves, but many never take the time to figure it out.

I think we’ve lost something by moving so far away from hands-on problem-solving. There’s real value in understanding how things work, in being able to take something apart and put it back together, in creating instead of just consuming.

Learning by Doing: The Best Education There Is

I never learned how to fix cars from a classroom alone. Sure, I went to Universal Technical Institute (UTI) and took all the training courses available, but my real education came from working on cars every single day. From my early days in a tire shop to spending 11 years at Clay Subaru of Norwood, I learned through experience. Every broken engine, electrical failure, or suspension issue taught me something new.

And that’s the case for almost any skill. If you want to learn something, the best way is to just start. Want to build furniture? Get some wood and try making something. Want to weld? Pick up a torch and practice. Want to fix your car? Open up the hood and figure it out.

I think people avoid hands-on learning because they’re afraid of making mistakes. But mistakes are part of the process. The first time I tried casting aluminum, it was a mess. I didn’t have the right temperature, the mold didn’t set right, and the final product looked terrible. But I kept at it, adjusted my process, and improved over time. Now, I can take scrap aluminum and turn it into something useful.

The Satisfaction of Creating Something Real

One of the biggest benefits of hands-on work is the sense of accomplishment that comes with creating something real. There’s a difference between completing a digital task and physically building or fixing something with your own two hands.

At the end of the day, when I fix a car, build a piece of metalwork, or create a custom carbon fiber ring, I can look at it and say, “I did that.” It’s something tangible, something that exists in the real world. That feeling of completion and pride is something that’s hard to replicate with desk jobs or digital work.

Why We Need to Bring Back Hands-On Skills

I think it’s time for people to reconnect with hands-on work. You don’t have to become a mechanic, carpenter, or welder to benefit from learning these skills. Even small DIY projects—fixing something around the house, tuning up your bike, or making a simple wooden shelf—can give you a new appreciation for working with your hands.

Here’s why I think hands-on skills are more important than ever:

1. Self-Sufficiency – Knowing how to fix things yourself saves time and money. Instead of relying on others, you can solve problems on your own.
2. Problem-Solving Skills – When you work with your hands, you develop critical thinking skills that help in all areas of life. You learn how to break problems down, troubleshoot, and come up with solutions.
3. Job Opportunities – Skilled trades like automotive repair, construction, and metalworking are always in demand. While many industries are shrinking, hands-on jobs are still essential.
4. Mental Health Benefits – There’s something therapeutic about working with your hands. It helps you focus, reduces stress, and gives you a sense of purpose.
5. Building Real-World Connections – Learning a trade or a skill connects you to a community of other people who value craftsmanship and problem-solving.

Final Thoughts

Hands-on work isn’t just about fixing cars or building things—it’s about staying connected to the real world. It’s about learning, creating, and solving problems in a way that technology can’t replace.

If you’ve never worked with your hands before, start small. Fix something instead of replacing it. Try a DIY project. Learn a new skill. You might find that there’s something incredibly fulfilling about creating something real.

For me, whether it’s working on cars, casting metal, or experimenting with new materials, hands-on work will always be a part of my life. I hope more people rediscover the value of building, fixing, and making things for themselves.