The Thought That Shifted Adam Savage's Relationship With Jamie Forever

Does Adam Savage have advice for someone who's trying to price their freelance creations competitively with manufacturers? Which type of supervisor does Adam find more frustrating to work for: micromanagers or laissez-faire? In this live stream excerpt Adam answers these questions from Tested members @Ziz62266 and @Vickie-Bligh, whom we thank for their support! Which sort of manager do YOU prefer?
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Thanks for watching!

[@tested]

Which sort of manager do YOU prefer? Join this channel to support Tested and get access to perks, like asking Adam a question: kzbin.info/door/iDJtJKMICpb9B1qf7qjEOAjoin

[@ashleyanderson2859]

One who has a brain and knows how to listen

[@rpi4sandman]

I was a manager. I did my level best to avoid decisions unless absolutely required by me. I preferred to let my folks sort out the problem or as you say, let the world decide. The trick to avoiding micromanagement is to cultivate patience and trust that your folks are on the right course.

[@aridragonbeard745]

Micromanagers are the WORST. I agree with Adam on this completely. I'm way more efficient at my job when I can just be left to do my thing

[@1Greenwizard]

Micromanagers are someone who knows little about what their talking about usually and won't let you work. A lazy manager is not good either but at least the employees are left to work properly.

[@williegillie5712]

I like the panache Adam puts in his experiences. Very entertaining lol and funny

[@DawnDavidson]

“I don’t have to win this argument right now” and “The world will solve this problem for me later.” - WOW. Adam, THANK YOU.

[@user-fk8zw5js2p]

These are good ways to approach many disagreements. But, as Adam said, they had to paint the entire net onsite because he didn't argue. If you let the world solve a problem later, also have a way to correct the wrong approach that you didn't argue against.

[@DawnDavidson]

@@user-fk8zw5js2p that’s true. Sometimes it’s expensive and/or annoying to fix it later. Having a backup plan is good!

[@littlesmallworld123]

@@DawnDavidson Sounds like a huge waste of time when the answer has been proven more times over than one could fathom. Everyone and their grandma knows a surface covered in snow will reflect more light than a surface covered in asphalt. Seems like Jamie just wanted a win to stroke his ego but picked the dumbest possible time to try.

[@toastedpetOG]

It was very well phrased. I use(d) "is this the hill/fight I'm ready to die on/for?" it took me longer than I care to admit to ease into that mindset, but I am better off for it. I was that micro-manager he spoke about for way too long.

[@woronzof3909]

Such a great thought to share. Many thanks!

[@darkalman]

My version of the life lesson from this video is: "As a manager sometimes you need to take a step back and let people make mistakes. As a manager my job isn't necessarily to prevent those mistakes, it's to make sure they don't burn the building down while learning their lesson"

[@BlkFireHawk427]

I Loved That!

[@Sordatos]

But the mistake was most likely on the person asking it

[@Patvk8]

Agreed. Otherwise, it's just cat hearding in some businesses

[@robertcasey9550]

Nicely put.

[@Steele47]

I'm sure i read that somewhere

[@gregcampwriter]

My favorite type of manager says, "Here's the task, and this is how long you have to get it done. You have the authority to do what you need to meet these goals," and then disappears until I report that I'm finished.

[@LaEmporoar]

One of my favorite parts of being an EMT is the supervisor essentially goes "Heres your truck and supplies. pay attention to the radio, don't break any laws, and be back in 11hrs. the rest is up to you". a bit exaggerated but the freedom in how you accomplish your tasks is refreshing

[@ulbuilder]

Being your own boss without the additional responsibilities it takes to run your own business is about as good as it gets. One of the reasons my 21st anniversary working for the same company is in a few days. In that time I only remember two people who voluntarily quit. You won't build that kind of loyalty micromanaging your employees.

[@barrygeistwhite3474]

There's definitely some value in checking on a project or task as well as having the people under you send updates on any significant developments. Some people know their stuff but don't have a strong sense of scope or aren't internally motivated. Some are tempted to stretch that authority, possibly in ways that would be unethical. There's a lot of reasons to have your hand on the wheel and the trick is knowing how much control to exert and when. Unfortunately, while I say that like it's one thing it's really an entire skill set and many managers are lacking in parts of it.

[@joeholm4591]

"... feel free to come see me if you need anything else."

[@gregcampwriter]

@@barrygeistwhite3474 That depends on the managers and the employees. I'm just saying what I prefer.

[@poultrytruffle]

I love how well the two of you guys outwardly got along for your livelihoods, even though you weren’t very compatible as friends. I’m so glad I had myth busters growing up from a small child and can watch you here now!

[@gabbonoo]

i had always assumed the silly questions was a *teacher asking in a way to have you practice critical thinking*. that doesnt make sense when he asks his colleague of similar experience, even if Adam does seem like someone who gets savant-like tunnel vision.

[@OffGridInvestor]

They were chalk and cheese. I always felt Adam was too loud. He's more of a showman, Jamie was more of a workshop guy.

[@Recessio]

@@OffGridInvestor Jamie knew that by himself, he wouldn't make a successful show. That's why he got Adam involved. Together they balanced each other out perfectly.

[@shables2960]

There always was competition going on, and Adam seemed like it was personal for him, just a type A personality

[@gabbonoo]

@@shables2960 the hard forced laughter feels very type-a... not that those type-whatever are good representation for the nuance of personality. a good time saver, they are.

[@xrockangelx]

As someone who hates being micro-managed but also struggles not to micro-manage, I think you're absolutely right about the reason behind it.

[@gabbonoo]

the polar peaks correlate with trauma. the standard coincides more heavily with habitual perfectionism and risk mitigation converting to micro when managing the human element. arbitrarily made methodology devised through habits>worry>frustration>perfectionism>trauma, from my experience

[@Sosozanyway]

​@@gabbonoo trauma lmao. Stubbing your toe isn't trauma.

[@gabbonoo]

@@Sosozanyway ??? trauma is an injury or something disturbing enough to affect you after. so yeah, stubbing your toe is technically trauma and can be psych trauma too.

[@Sosozanyway]

@@gabbonoo technically, sure. Yet, you won't see anyone calling for a trauma 2 on a stubbed toe in the ED. Hilarious though.

[@Bijlez]

@@Sosozanyway so random

[@ozpin8329]

I will always be thankful for the dynamic that the two of you shared on MythBusters, not just because it made the show better, but for anyone who knew the relationship the two of you had behind the scenes, it was a very good example of professional respect and working with somebody in an environment that you might not have gotten along with on a personal level. In my life, I've had co-workers that I don't get along with on a personal level, but we've never had issues buckling down together professionally to do what's expected of us. Seeing a healthy business relationship for so many years produce so many things is a source of inspiration that I think a lot of people overlook when discussing MythBusters, and I wanted to let you know that even if it's not as visible, it's greatly appreciated.

[@mycatistypingthis5450]

I have friends I could never work with. Some of my best collegues I will never be friends with.

[@awandererfromys1680]

Even back in the day I found the stark contrast between _Mythbusters_ and other shows like _Orange County Choppers_ remarkable. It was an anomaly. Between all the toxic drama and chair-throwing this show had a warm and welcoming vibe and the team were a bunch of wholesome goofballs in the best way possible. And they created some weird and beautiful things together. Like the lead balloon episode, that's pure visual poetry. No wonder it stood the test of time really. I can't think of any other Discovery show as fondly remembered as _Mythbusters._

[@pete_lind]

Jaimie pullet fast one with that, of course you use black strings in movie making, if you dont want those showing very well, reflect less light. 😀

[@growtocycle6992]

​@@awandererfromys1680 dirty jobs and maybe man vs wild, but yeah. Myth busters stands the test of time.

[@Vykk_Draygo]

@@growtocycle6992 I was gonna say, Dirty Jobs was top tier too.

[@protoplasm25]

I love the unedited nature of this. Seeing you wrestle with the question in real time is so refreshing

[@kellin218]

This makes me want to watch more of his videos.

[@BlkFireHawk427]

Ummm, at 6:45, It clearly shows edits 🫡

[@kali-wolf]

@@BlkFireHawk427 I think you got the wrong timestamp, but at any rate it's not what OP was getting at. He appreciated that they left in the part where Adam grappled with the question, not that "the clip has zero edits".

[@BlkFireHawk427]

@kali-wolf that's weird, because their comment literally says "unedited nature of this", yet the video is edited. 😶

[@Wangshapes]

@@BlkFireHawk427 "I love the unedited nature of this." does not mean "I love that this isn't edited". It can be said that some pets have the nature of a baby, it does not literally mean they're a baby. Hope this helps.

[@jldwolfe]

Some of the best advice I ever received was “Pick your battles.” Some fights aren’t worth winning.

[@mikemikemikemikemikemeup]

So true. And often times they end up resolving themselves later. Know what is import.

[@darinz7182]

A great attitude in a marriage, too.

[@chrisgreek4285]

@@darinz7182Absolutely right! Hubby and I will celebrate our 40th anniversary this August, and we decided pretty early what were the “hills we were prepared to die on” and then worked out compromises based on those. It takes a LOT of soul searching and self-reflection to determine what those core principles are to you and even more time to clearly define the boundaries, but it truly saves a ton of arguments if both people do that; I wish we’d been smart enough to do this as soon as we got married, because those first years of trying to figure each other out completely were less than calm! LOL

[@fullyactivated]

To be more specific, some battles are not worth what it would take to win.

[@kaldo_kaldo]

I had heard that many times, but it never really clicked for me. I do prefer Adam's rendition of it.

[@robinhollinger3531]

“The world will solve this problem for me" is exactly what I needed to hear! I get frustrated when people don't listen, but it's not always worth my energy or stress.

[@Esch_atton]

I was one of the students at Encinel High school holding a mirror for that episode! It was awesome getting to meet you guys and be a part of the show!

[@MikeGaruccio]

“They are working through trauma” - you just made dozens of personal interactions with micro-managers make sense. Seriously. Thank you.

[@itmeurdad]

"poor fool is so busy trying to help everyone else they can't help themselves" is a bit of a mantra I have to repeat to myself daily so I don't flip out on micromanager types. It's only half true, and doesn't really make the behavior acceptable, but I find it really frames things in a way that makes it easier to foster sympathy, rather than unbridled rage.

[@TheStarBlack]

I think they're often under immense pressure from senior management and feel the need to prove themselves by being everywhere and watching everything all the time!

[@robo5013]

I Have found that there are more and more micro managers out there than when I was younger and I think it boils down to two things. The first is that managers are now being hired because they went to college rather than having worked up through the ranks. Having had no experience in whatever they are managing they micro manage as a way to feel like they are doing their job mainly because they don't understand what it is that the workers they are managing are doing but because they have a degree and the workers don't they HAVE to be so much smarter than the non-college educated workers that if they don't really grasp what is going on the un-educated workers can't possibly know what they are doing. Even in a field where most of the workers are degree'd many businesses are hiring recent grads and they think that employees that are older than them, even if they have the same degree, must not have been promoted because they were incompetent. Either way micro managing is their way to compensate for not really knowing what is going on and the trauma they are undergoing is impostor syndrome. The other is mobile phones. I have had to explain to managers how calling me every hour to 'see where I'm at' on a project is delaying the project. Especially those that insist you answer the phone right then no matter what. I often wonder how they think businesses were run successively for centuries before there were even phones much less ones you get to carry around in your pocket.

[@mattw7949]

As a chronic (and apologetic) micro manager, I agree with this. It is our job to do the wrong thing for the right reasons.

[@amystubby]

Right? Something beautiful got released in me when he said that. I feel lighter somehow.

[@future62]

The best thing about these videos is the very natural pauses you allow between sentences. It's refreshing to give each thought that minute to settle.

[@alexven92]

He has true skill as a presenter

[@debrascott8775]

He talked about this in a podcast about learning to be ok with silence when presenting or speaking. Great skill

[@afrodemon8629]

It's refreshing since most KZbinr videos are so heavily edited so that there's no pauses when they're speaking. It's seems a bit weird but I like seeing someone think and process what they want to say in real time. Maybe it's because it seems more natural.

[@C3phoe]

He is a great orator

[@fobbitoperator3620]

He "thinks," before he opens his face-hole!

[@rpi4sandman]

I appreciate the effort you put into trying to understand a question rather than rushing towards an answer.

[@tested]

Thanks for your comment ... we'll pass it on to Adam! Very kind!

[@Frog_Puppet]

@@tested I agree, I appreciate that he pauses to fully analyze a question and craft a well thought out response. I've tried to pick up that habit since watching these videos.

[@gustavofigueiredo1798]

Me too. I felt the empathy.

[@shiroi5672]

​@@Frog_Puppet It's a great mindset to have, even for something you disagree with. Doing the so called steelmanning of an argument instead of strawmanning, all that while being happy, positive and trying to move towards a solution or the truth. Quite hard when the other person doesn't have ears, but worth it for most people.

[@b1oh1]

This is why I love watching Adam. Such a thoughtful person.

[@mypie2473]

“some people just like to be contrarian” Such an important lesson

[@0okamino]

Makes me think of the Monty Python _Argument Clinic_ sketch.

[@DuncanSteven]

​@@0okamino No it doesn't!

[@0okamino]

@@DuncanSteven Will this be for just the 5 minute argument, or the full half hour?

[@helloyes2288]

Good thing too.

[@stolenrelic]

"Don't engage with trolls," is a specific flavor of this sentiment.

[@FO18L]

i LOVE that you leave in the pauses while you THINK!! i fear (personal experience with too many humans) that is somehow a social stigma that people are expected to be constantly talking, or to instantly have a flawless answer, when really it should be important that people feel relaxed and permitted to take their time and think and rethink and remember and rerethink. thank you adam!

[@funkygerbil2530]

My mother had this problem selling ceramics. She had this one piece that just wasn't selling when other people weere selling the same piece at double the price. She added $15 to the price. Problem solved. Know your market. If you sell something too cheap people will assume it's crap.

[@3henry214]

That reminds me of a co-worker's experience putting out an unwanted and perfectly good entertainment center outside at the end of his driveway with a big "free" sign. There were no takers for about a week, he then put a sign on it... $50.00, and it disappeared within a day or so during the night.

[@dominicparker6124]

My brother used to sell paintings. His prices were too low, he priced it at what he would pay to buy, but he had no disposable income. When dad suggested he double his prices then things started to shift. If you say this thing is worth £100 then people will pay attention and try to work out why, rather than skimming over your £25 piece

[@jfbeam]

@@3henry214 To be fair, "free" usually means trash. (and very often is.) If it's worth something, (a) know its worth, and (b) ask a reasonable about based on that. If you really just want to get rid of it, there are plenty of Goodwill (etc.) places.

[@mememaster147]

It's the Stella Artois pricing model: reassuringly expensive

[@maromania7]

It's what luxury brands use all the time. That purse isn't better, but it's pricier. Careful picking out shoes, because you might be getting better quality at double price, or you might be getting fast fashion. Sure, most of the "exclusive features" iphone brags about are things the competitors have had for so long they stopped considering it worth mentioning. But it's more expensive, so people assume it's better. It's why sites like Temu instantly ring up alarm bells in anything with sense- If it's cheap you wonder why.

[@jlog1c]

I love how seriously Adam takes these questions. He truly cares about people and puts everything into trying to fully understand them and give them a meaningful reply.

[@TechExposedTV]

I don't believe he answers it in a place of 'caring.' He's very intelligent and full of invigorating thoughtful energy, which ends up being caring when he answers it to the fullest degree.

[@fredsorre6605]

Adam Savage giving life advise was not what I was looking for in KZbin today but these are among the best you will ever get best to listen in and see if it fits your circumstances and situation.

[@Meg_Davis]

Subscribing to old wise guys for life advice just makes sense.

[@Neoyoshi-FFXIV]

Watching Adam think and articulate all of these thought processes right in front of the viewer, and in real time, is maddeningly fun to watch and listen to. Thank you Adam. I miss MB so much, i'm happy you are still around and i hope Jamie and the other gang are doing well. :)

[@mordechai9644]

As a Manager for many years in the Restraunt industry I always took the stance of " I don't care what you do, so long as the customer is happy, and the job gets done in a Timely manner, And its to the company Standard"

[@NoName-zn1sb]

it's to

[@parajerry]

I was a manager of a technical team. I took the position that my job was not to manage the team. My job was to give them the tools and training they needed, support, and knock down obstacles in the way of them getting their jobs done. Basically, my job is to give them the latitude and environment they can thrive in. If I had to 'manage' a person, they needed to go find another job.

[@OneTrueCat]

​@@NoName-zn1sb I was reading this comment and then my neighbor came and we read it together. He said this comment really changed his life and it touched my heart. My village people are so grateful. Am proud to say cool post wow thanks for sharing

[@Cosmoproto]

I remember one time breaking it down to the second how much extra time my micromanager was costing me by making me keep track of the time I was taking.

[@2adamast]

The team being toxic being none of your business.

[@MrOskiee]

I learned the lesson of "do I need to fix this problem now? Maybe it'll fix itself later" a long time ago. Plus it works really well when you're an adhd procrastinator like myself.

[@Dr.Quarex]

Yeah I think some small part of why my last relationship failed was because I subscribe so hard to the "if no action is taken this will resolve itself" mindset, and to my ex- the problem is only solved if you take immediate and direct action. She would actually be mad at me when problems resolved themselves without me having to solve them.

[@TheVeganarchism]

Stop watching KZbin and get back to work!

[@martinswiney2192]

Glad to know im not the only self admitted procrastinator here. I long ago declared myself Master Of Unfinished Projects. I have unfinished projects dating back to 1989. Another that is so close to being complete about 12 hours of work and it would be done. Started in 1995. In fact im going to come back later and finish thi…..

[@Michelle-zz7no]

@@Dr.Quarexlol. My husband says, “Well, once again your procrastination has paid off.” 😂😂

[@gileee]

I'm sorry but that sounds like an awful life motto. I understand Adam not wanting to argue about a specific at that moment, but avoiding problems till they go away..

[@joyl7842]

I learned to tell myself that I had no power over anything when getting delayed in traffic or taking public transportation, so I shouldn't bother putting energy into it. It was very liberating.

[@system331]

Not taking energy from yourself during situations that you have no control over is one of the biggest gifts to yourself.

[@robertorex]

The world will solve it. That's pure gold. Love you Man.

[@Vickie-Bligh]

Adam, I agree about Micromanagers and the difficulty in getting things done. Yes, far more energy is expended. Thanks once again for taking my question.

[@tested]

You have great questions, Vickie!

[@Vickie-Bligh]

@@tested Thanks, Kristin.

[@Cricket2731]

My Mom was a bit of a micro-manager (she was a teacher for 20+ yrs). To this day, I'm none to fond of this management style.

[@Smellslikegelfling]

This is a lesson all managers need to learn. Trust your workers to get things done because they have more experience doing it than the managers. When more people get involved and try to micro manage the result is almost always wasted time and reduced quality.

[@sergiopinto6356]

So, what you're saying is, there's never enough time to do the job correctly the first time, but there is always time to re-do the job a second time.

[@wwaxwork]

To me one of the signs of being a "grown up" is the fact you don't have to win an argument and can just wait and let the person learn for themselves that the stove is hot or that black doesn't reflect as many photons as white or whatever the matter is.

[@TheOneWhoMightBe]

"Some men just have to pee on the electric fence themselves" or something like that.

[@tommyVCE]

the problem I have with this is so often other people's mistakes cost me time/money/etc. like with the netting fence example that Adam gave - so many hours and dollars would have been saved had he won the argument but instead many hours were wasted on painting.

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

I mean, it's true that white reflects more. But it's also sitting out there in full daylight, so how visible will extra light be in that case? I might have argued for setting a canopy above the target to make it easier to see.

[@TheStarBlack]

I could understand Jamie's approach, he was probably thinking about contrast and that white light would show up better against a dark background. They probably should have tested it on a small scale and thus avoiding an unnecessary argument AND the cost of fixing the mistake later.

[@awandererfromys1680]

The thing is, I can kinda understand where Jamie was coming from. White light on white netting might not be as visible as white light on black netting. He was thinking about contrast and visibility from a distance, and there is some sound logic to that reasoning. It failed when it met with reality, but still.

[@Chickeeenz]

About micromanagement; a couple of years ago one on my three man team went home with stress for 9 months.. the first 3 months my manager would come down multiple times a day and micro manage my coworker and I, ruining our own flow.. after 3 months pleading from us to be left alone he tried it out for a couple of days. He came to realize we could push almost double the amount through without him interfering all the time. Since then he rarely dictates in what order we do stuff because he knows we will get it done within the day.

[@carpandrei7493]

This mind set of not having to win an argument at the moment it is happening, is pure gold. This is something I should apply more!

[@doomginger8296]

You can really tell this question struck Adam in a soft spot really hard Sending all my love to you Adam!

[@InspectahReese]

Adam answers each of these from such a considerate and grounded perspective, very refreshing to hear somebody speak very open and honestly

[@leighbartoo574]

"Do I have to solve this problem now or will the universe solve this problem for me?" YES, such a great lesson to learn!

[@r0llinguphill483]

When speaking efficiency, I have heard the saying "Slow is Smooth, Smooth is fast". I think it is a wonderful saying. If you take the time to be methodical, diligent, and pruposeful you, likely, end up saving time.

[@chazw6023]

The saying comes from the Seal Teams. Its meaning is more of a mindset for dealing with tasks while under duress. Combat tends to make people panic and panic will get you killed.

[@ZenRyoku]

Slow...in fact smooth...and smooth in fact FAST.....💯 No exceptions

[@adriansolis5362]

"Slow down, son! We're in a hurry!"

[@ZenRyoku]

@@adriansolis5362 Hurry up and wait....😂

[@adriansolis5362]

@@ZenRyoku lol I can't stand the 'hurry up and wait' mentality! 🤣 Keep it slow. Keep it moving.

[@PeteJohnsMusic]

I love your pauses Adam. I want to learn to have these considered pauses. I think they’re important.

[@thepalmpilot3g]

I could spend a thousand days with Adam and hear stories every day and still feel absolutely intrigued and enjoy every second of it.

[@nancyreid8729]

Thank you Adam; your insight into both “is this a problem I need to solve now,” (along with its analog, do I really need to fight this battle), and the “micromanagers as people who are dealing with trauma,” hit me right where I needed to be hit this evening. Great timing!

[@dawnieb.7394]

SAME. My head is still spinning at how relevant this was for me, and how crazy it is that it showed up when it did. Adam is apparently not only a genius but also a psychic as well. 😁

[@DawnDavidson]

Possibly THE BEST and most useful episode EVER. So very true on all counts.

[@daustonian9331]

How perfect of a description!!! ‘Micromanagers are working through trauma’. Truly beautiful, Adam

[@coreyg2177]

I walked off the job after four years of putting up with a micromanager. I violated my own rule of having a new job before you quit the current one because I value my mental health too much to put up with someone who would come to staff with a problem, and even though it was something we all were going to have to deal with on a daily basis, and telling us how it would be done from now on. It was one incident that was the equivalent of putting the baby into a car seat, bundling them up and strapping them in nice and secure, and then putting the car seat, unsecured, on the roof of the car before driving away. I have no idea how people that insecure get a job managing others.

[@1queijocas]

Similar case to mine. The manager got the job by being friends with the owner, often friendship is the most important qualification for a job

[@causarumcognitio]

There’s a small pamphlet called “A Message To Garcia” that reflects your story’s moral very well.

[@ChaosActual1]

The thing that immediately popped into mind for me with the Walmart mindset deal was my mom. She started a business as a photographer and printing church bulletins. Long story short after a few months, she mentioned it wasn't making enough money, so I offered to take a look at the numbers, and the problem was very clearly that she had no proft margin. And when I asked her about that, she said she couldn't charge more because in her mind, the service she provided was barely worth the paper and ink used to print it. Which is kinda the same argument because nobody can compete with Walmart on price and win, you have to compete in quality and/or service, or you will definitely fail.

[@CVGamingLab]

You can tell when people are intensely smart because they don't rush into answers and they want to make sure that they are understanding everything correctly before speaking. Well done my guy.

[@mbgrafix]

I began my freelance graphic design and web design business back in 1996. I made many mistakes at first, but as it turned out, they were nothing more than the cost of my tuition in the school of hard knocks as I learned from my mistakes and thus sharpened my business focus. One of the things that I learned is that those potential customers who come to you seeking "Walmart prices" you simply pass up as they are not the clientele you are seeking so it makes no sense to waste time and money trying to land a client that you do not want anyway. Instead, focus in on those clients who know and understand the value of what you offer and thus they are happy to pay the additional cost. As a matter of fact, underpricing your products/services will only serve to give the impression that you offer lower quality products/services and thus the clients that you seek will pass you up. Fine diners do not go to posh restaurants and ask, _"do you have a value menu?"_

[@parajerry]

The less they pay, the more demanding and unreasonable they are. Don't be a bottom feeder. Provide a premium product/service and charge a premium price for it. You will have a much more pleasant experience, make more money, and won't be competing with the unlimited supply of bottom feeders.

[@mbgrafix]

@parajerry Absolutely! It cost me some bucks for sure learning that lesson! Furthermore, that lesson also taught me to not seek the cheapest prices when looking for goods and services for myself. Afterall... _You get what you pay for!_

[@daveh7720]

Whenever someone talks about competing with Walmart's and Amazon's pricing I think, "And are you going to match their sales volume?" Most of the manufacturers I've worked for, and yet more that we partnered with, have intentionally over-bid on RFQs that were seeking the lowest price widget that fulfilled the requirements, and promised sizeable orders to whoever won the contract. We didn't want to be locked into a contract that would consume our manufacturing capacity for a 3% profit margin. (Which would evaporate if we had to contract out the manufacturing.)

[@Sgt_Glory]

Same business, and I've learned as well that If a potential client smells like trouble, they probably will be, and to avoid them like the plague. After a while you become a good enough judge of character to see them coming a mile away.

[@mbgrafix]

@Sgt_Glory Indeed! Over time you begin to recognize that your peace of mind has a value as well.

[@johnbeauvais3159]

Every Jamie story makes me appreciate the interactions I have with my colleague that I have had a semi professional relation with for 7 years now, he too likes to be a contrarian and your attitude of “I’ll let the world prove me right” is how I deal with him now

[@cooljammer00]

I think the issue with that sort of thing is that if/when it blows up, you might be someone who has to deal with the aftermath.

[@jonathanashley6661]

Could literally listen to you talking about this stuff for hours. You are now my white noise that brings nostalgia and thought.

[@OddHenry]

Well I certainly got more than I expected from this. That "debating vs watch how things play out" is excellent advice.

[@WrongVlad]

Single handedly mythbusters and the professional relationship and work on set made me get into science and engineering at the age of 7. Appreciate all the hard work and dedication yall put into the series.

[@MikeDQB]

The way I interpreted the first question was more of, "How can I help my friend to see the value of her time and the works she creates? She doesn't have to compete with wal-mart on price."

[@AndreSjoberg]

+1 for that, that is how I interpreted it as well. Step 1 is always to calculate the actual cost in materials, then in time spent, then relate that to how many can be made in a give time vs how much money needs to come in to cover expenses like salary, workspace etc - and then, only then, based on your expense level before profit, can you compare what you need to charge to what walmart charges, and other competitors charging more, and land one something that will cover expenses *and* make a profit on top for further investment and growth and/or personal profit on top of salary.

[@OmegaGamer1989]

It's funny, because I honestly got the exact opposite interpretation. To me it felt like this person was saying "I don't think anyone is going to pay as much for my friends stuff as they would for something from Walmart, because Walmart stuff is 'professionally' made and her stuff is made by 'just some rando.' It seemed like they were trying to convince their friend that, being a freelancer, they need to charge LESS for their work because they're not a big established brand.

[@robo5013]

I see it differently than all three of you. First she is starting a home business trying to turn a hobby into a job. While there is nothing wrong with that, try to do what you love, the main mindset one needs to have when doing so is to go into it with the idea that all that you will accomplish is funding your hobby. The chances of the business becoming successful enough to make a living at are slim to none. The chances that it will take off and you will become rich at it are less than zero. I'm not being pessimistic but realistic. There is nothing wrong with dreaming but you must first establish realistic expectations. Secondly, as Adam has said many times and something I did WAY before anyone even knew who he was when making money off a hobby is that when you start out the most expensive thing in your small business is materials. I only considered the material costs incurred when making my products and just doubled them for the sale price. If you try to calculate your time in terms of dollars per hour and feel like you need to make as much (or more) as you would if working a 9-5 job you will overprice your products by a lot. There is nothing wrong with keeping track of everything including hours spent working, that is a good practice, but adding your time value to the final price of a product isn't going to work. When you do keep track of time it will give you a realistic view on what would happen if you feel the need to expand your business by hiring an employee. I bet you will find that you wouldn't be able to pay them even minimum wage. And that is why you will never be able to compete with Wal-Mart prices. One you don't have tens of thousands of stores making money off of volume of sales and two, most importantly, you are trying to make money in American dollars while the manufacturers of the products that Wal-Mart sells are paying employees who work in countries where one U.S. dollar is worth hundreds or more in their currency. As I stated at the beginning if you are trying to turn a hobby into a money making venture go into it with the mindset that all you are doing is letting other people fund your hobby. As the old saying goes, don't quit your day job.

[@JInuOneSix]

​@robo5013 I think the term "over pricing" is harsh. Why isn't their product worth their time, expertise, and effort? It's only seen as over priced because big companies take advantage of low-cost foreign labour + economies of scale have skewed the perception of what something "should" cost. So either we undercharge our expertise trying to keep up with what people think is market rate, or we battle people thinking we're overcharging because labour in a specific field is so undervalued. Neither is ideal and it's only getting worse

[@robo5013]

@@JInuOneSix Like I said, when starting out trying to turn a hobby into a money making venture if you try to add your time into the price as if it is your regular job it will cause it to be over priced. Small business owners don't pay themselves an hourly rate, whatever profit is left after deductions for overhead is their salary. If turning your hobby into a business becomes a successful way to make a living then you can start to adjust the price of the product up, once you have a demand for your product. Like I said you should have realistic expectations and be happy if you make enough money to fund your hobby but going into it as if it will be your main source of income, especially if your hobby is niche, will only lead to disappointment. Why isn't their product worth their time, expertise, and effort? Because you can only price something to what the market will bear, especially if there is no prior demand for it. Sometimes the truth is harsh.

[@Rick_Hoppe]

I’m an artist. I’ve worked for both types. I’ll take laissez faire anytime. The message I’ve gotten from micro managers is, “You’re not an artist/creator, you’re a WRIST in my employ.” This absolutely KILLS inspiration and creativity.

[@Tardis1217]

Just got out of a toxic workplace with a micromanager GM who definitely had a personality disorder. I told my boss many times, "Why not just save money by hiring a bunch of high school grads with no formal education if the people on this team are going to be treated like morons who can't do the work and have to be told how to do every single step? Why even post requirements on job openings when nobody is allowed to use their skills?" She was unfortunately the type to just shake her head and say, "I know..."

[@StephenGangi]

I've found that micromanagers cause the problems, they force the failures. They just have to "F" with things UNTIL they break.

[@rehustler]

Adam, I love your videos for multiple reasons. And one of the more unusual reasons is that I like it when you pause--sometimes at length--to think before you respond or continue a thought. Thanks for not editing out those moments. 🙂

[@jimmytheenlightenedcentrist]

How the fuck did I not know Adam Savage had a YT channel. I fucking loved mythbusters, it really got my young mind thinking. Now looking back as an adult I really have an affinity for trying to mechanically figure out how things work. This was a fascinating video. Thank you Adam!

[@CigarAttache]

"Micro managers are dealing with some sort of trauma" so true and insightful.

[@MiniatureMasterClass]

Not everyone has trauma. It's an excuse. Some people are just a$$holes.

[@Dorvahn]

A laid-back manager is perfect in my mind. Not off the throttle enough to allow things coming apart at the seams, but not overbearing as to not discourage good ideas and communication that your team could come across in the field.

[@n6st]

My Mom made me a custom engraved coffee mug with my Amateur Callsign on it. When my ham friends saw it they wanted one. I asked Mom what she would charge. She said $10. I told the guys $20, to which they said "is that all?" I helped the late, great Grant Imahara prepare for the Mythbusters episodes on whether cell phones cause planes to crash. I spent over an hour on the phone explaining how to use a spectrum analyzer and interpret the results. I appreciate that Grant had the time to do the job right.

[@maxbracegirdle9990]

Is this two different stories??

[@AFrogInTheStars]

I am confusion

[@lpark8]

@@AFrogInTheStarsI am also confusion

[@Marzkep]

My husband and his father (who work together) were both “Jamies” it all changed when my husband asked, “Am I bringing problems to a solution.” And stopped being so contrary for no real reasons.

[@zubetp]

i can promise that micromanagers aren't drawing from a time stuff didn't work out. it just _really_ bugs them when somebody isn't doing something the way they would like it to be done, even if the end result is the same. it's a control thing.

[@steveschein2619]

On the subject of micromanaging. A very wise person once told me, " Don't tell a person how to do something, tell them what needs to be done, and often they will astound you with their ideas".

[@RedBloopCreature]

This is the issue I now have with my creative job. The new director tells me what and how to design rather letting me solve the problem at hand. It has sucked all the joy out of my job. The worst part is she doesn’t care and likes the thrill of conflict. It really sucks…

[@ReaperStarcraft]

On the topic of micromanaging I once heard someone explain it a really memorable way. If you're hands off there's a question of why they keep you around - if the project goes well then what did you contribute, and if it goes poorly then why weren't you in there doing everything you could? Whereas for a micromanager if the project goes well they can get all the credit, and if it goes badly then at least they were trying to fix it. Of course that's not quite how things really are, but, from a self-esteem and outside appearances perspective I think it makes sense.

[@Lilly_Belle]

I struggle a lot with not trying to solve everyone's problems. That's an interesting thought to have. I'm going to ask myself this a lot, from now on. I hope it helps me figure myself out.

[@gregoryjasongranado5248]

I haven't heard contrarian since my grandmother used to call my mother that. Thanks for bringing back a good memory of my Nana!

[@jmacd8817]

My wife ran a hand dyed yarn business for a few years. She bought quality wool blend yarn that wasn't cheap. She spent hours doing the dyeing. Even with all that, she STILL had folks comparing her prices to Wal-Mart.

[@THEDubbleHelixx]

There will always be at least two markets: people looking for the cheapest option (often because it's all they can afford), and those looking for quality and are willing to pay for it (within reason). An important part of business is figuring out which is your intended audience, because you can rarely satisfy both.

[@looloo4029]

People who are focused on price and price alone, will always run to places like Walmart for cheap sh*t rather than considering quality and durability.

[@dallassukerkin6878]

Aye, that is indeed the thing, as others have said here - things that sell in quantity at Wal-Mart may not have a good quality analogue that will sell well enough to make a business out of. It's annoying but sadly true that, until the recent cost-of-living crisis, people have become accustomed to 'cheap' and don't want to pay for 'good'. I'm from Stoke-on-Trent, which used to be the ceramics capital of the world - a single plate from one of the quality makers could cost you £100 but it would last for literally centuries without signs of wear. When the bean counters 'off-shored' the industry we could suddenly buy entire sets for a fiver ... but they were cheap because they were *cheap* and will break and wear out very quickly. But with that very low cost alternative people would no longer pay the high tariff for good quality and so that was that :(

[@Princess_Celestia_]

People compare our liquor store prices to walmart as well. Our prices are based on what we paid for each item of inventory multiplied by 1.55 for tax and profit. For example, if we paid 10$ for a bottle ale from our distributer, you would 15.50$ for that same bottle. After the 10$ we paid and the 4.50$ sales tax, we only make 1$ on that sale. If we lowered prices to walmart levels, we'd be making -4.50$ on that sale, we'd be in the red and would be forced to sell out. I really hate walmart.

[@StumpkillerCP]

I was a cost accountant at a company that operated at a 7-1/2% margin. That's tight. But we knew we had to be the "good as but slightly less expensive" alternative to Kodak film & paper. Then we merged with Ilford. They knew they were better than Kodak and attracted customers looking for their product for large format and artistic prints. You can be Walmart, or you can be Saint Laurent. People WILL pay more for better products. But not as many. PS - Ilford is still around. Kodak bought us for the patents and closed the plant. And then had their own woes when digital imaging and good color printers came along.

[@mal2ksc]

I always liked Ilford XP-200, being the only black and white film I could get processed in an hour at any photo lab because it was process C-34.

[@bleuefish]

The phrase which stuck with me forever way is, "discretion is the better part of valor", which means: 1. pick your battles and 2. keep your mouth shut. Always glad to see insights from you, Adam. Thank you

[@LifeOWrylee]

If more people put the time you put into understanding a question, the world would be a better place. Great segment.

[@Ayeohx]

Adam's micromanager comment needs to be clipped into it's own video so we can send it to our favorite supervisors. Anonymously, of course.

[@nebuler1]

A hundred percent. A great insight.

[@zombiehiphophex]

I need to remember your words as a mantra. “Do I need to fix this or will the universe fix it for me?” Sometimes it’s best to just stand back and let things play out to their conclusions rather than fight about it. I needed to hear this. I’m tired of fighting.

[@robcoscia1574]

There's just something extra wonderful about listening to thoughtful, brilliant teaching with a disco ball in the background.

[@Just_Call_Me_Tim]

There’s so much going on in the background there…

[@arthur_p_dent4282]

I love this man. And would absolutely love to be able to cross paths some day. Just to thank him. I can’t think of anyone who has motivated me more as a kid to go out and explore, have fun, and make cool things.

[@AAVIATOR481]

OMG I LOVE THIS! I have a family member who started a photography business and when I learned to think exactly like this... "Do I have to solve this? It will solve itself!" changed everything. I stopped losing hair that was being pulled out too!

[@roboticd]

Oh my god, this just helped solve a problem in an interpersonal relationship for me. The right advice at the right time.

[@lawnmowerdude]

I’ve had a similar thought with people that instead of arguing with them they just are going to have to figure it out on their own and make their own mistakes as long as they’re not too severe.

[@MoreLikePuma]

I don't remember where I heard it. (Good) Managers do not manage people. They manage problems as they come up. They manage obstacles in the team's way. Sometime they're there to shield the team from bad clients. From dumb corporate doctrines and rules. They are the shield and the team is the sword. And as a teammate under this type of manager, you take responsibility for the jobs you are assigned. The manager is ONLY there, to make sure you have all the tools available to finish said job. Not do the job for you. But help you be the best you can be. And in turn you help your fellow team be the best. In an ideal world this is how every work place should be. But not every great job I ever had, had this environment. When I was younger I thought every work place would be like Star Trek. Just competent leaders surrounded by competent teams. My god, imagine my shock when I realized how many jobs aren't like this. And if I could slap my younger self for walking away from said jobs, I definitely would. Shoulda never left that warehouse job.

[@parajerry]

That is how I managed when I was heading a technical team at Disney. I would estimate that 95+% of teams are not run this way. Your Star Trek example is interesting because almost no company, department, or team is like that in reality. Too many personalities, feelings, egos, power trips, and conflicts for most teams to work competently like Star Trek. There are always lazy employees, power hungry employees, vindictive or overly competitive (in a bad way) employees, incompetent employees and more we have to deal with. This is why is it important that when you interview perspective employees, skills and experience are only a small part of the decision. Figuring out their motivations, personality, and ability to fit into the existing team are more important if they have the basic skills needed. They can learn the job intricacies. If they don't fit into the team well, that is unlikely to change and can destroy an effective team. Today, it is also important to weed out the woke, entitled, and usually litigious problem people. They will always cause friction and problems...and will end in legal cases over perceived injustices that are actually their 'feelings.'

[@TheStarBlack]

​@@parajerryyou complain about woke people starting legal cases about injustices which are actually their feelings. But you just admitted to trying to 'weed' them out. You can't discriminate against people because of their political beliefs.They have every right to challenge you legally if that's what you're doing.

[@batkat0]

"everything I hate is woke 😤"

[@THE_bchat]

@@parajerry "Woke" people can only cause problems for you if YOU are the problem.

[@parajerry]

@@TheStarBlack grow up. You just showed you are not someone I would hire. Effective teams work together. Allowing one of these woke a-holes on your team is the fastest way you can destroy a team. Selecting employees that will make the team better and more productive is the primary job of a manager. It would be malfeasance to knowingly hire a person that will disrupt a team and destroy productivity. You are not entitled to a job. You have to make yourself the right fit for the job with skills, experience, and attitude. Personality certainly is an ingredient as well. In your world, interviews would be unnecessary. Check of a list of requirements and the job is yours….not in the real world.

[@stxrynn]

I'm in the midst of moving to a new shop. And the last bit about managing was illuminating. I have a helper, and I micromanaged a bit in the beginning of the move. They said, "You are trying to hit a deadline. Do you want to do this slowly and leave stuff behind or move it all in the window we have?" I crave clarity, and brother, that was a moment of it. I can see where the "this will solve itself down the road" is a good rule of thumb, too. Thanks for posting this. I got two bright lights to judge my way of doing things.

[@DrokiHazan]

Thank you for this. That "Do I have to win this argument right now?" attitude feels like it could be a cheat code for work, friendships, relationships, life in general. This is really insightful and I appreciate it.

[@Thorsummoner0]

Adam, you are. The world's. Best. Communicator. I love to hear how your spread ideas

[@cameronb851]

Interesting answer and pretty solid response, love the anecdotal clarification too. There is another even more obvious, consistent reason why someone might defer a lower cost as a priority in retail choices other than personalisation, which is quality. We, as individuals, quite often counterweight cost with quality, and items purchased from large competitive retail chains typically are manufactured qualitatively down to match the lower pricing thresholds. Sometimes we'll opt out of getting something cheaper, because the quality of the product is more important, even if we have to pay more for that extra aspect.

[@The-Story-Assassin]

You always give such thoughtful answers. It shows just how much you truly appreciate your fan base.

[@MrStrizver]

I forget which maker's youtube channel had this advice, but it is *great* advice: While you're correct that you should be thinking like your customer, it's equally important to *choose* your customers. And one way you do that by setting your price to attract the customer base you want. If your prices are Walmart level, you'll attract Walmart-level customers. Sure, maybe lots of them, but is it really worth your time? If your prices are Lamborghini level, you'll attract those types of customers, but far fewer and perhaps not as many as needed. Somewhere in the middle is the answer. It isn't just materials+time.

[@parajerry]

Walmart level customers have unrealistic expectations and are far more demanding than premium customers. The less they pay, the more demanding they are. I know this through a lot of experience.

[@SoLongSpaceCat]

​@@parajerry Yeah, I've noticed that the closer you get to the median amount people would be willing to pay for something, the less entitled and demanding that general customer base will act towards you

[@jmpattillo]

Micromanagers just suck the joy out of any job.

[@ZnakerFIN]

In one company I worked for we used to have a micromanaging CEO.

[@CallousCoder]

Absolutely! And a person who micro manages needs to be in engineering or accounting and not in management. Management is setting the broad strategy and the people will fill in those details.

[@darkcase123]

The best manager I ever had was one that left us alone to run our machines and only spoke to us when quality or safety was at risk. We all wanted the company to succeed, it's our livelihoods too, we don't want the manager hovering over our shoulders all the time telling us how to do our jobs that we have been trained and know thoroughly. We had that manager for only 2 years until he left due to over management but lack of direction from higher up,but we still talk about him. Ive never been with a group of people so happy to work five back to back 12 hour shifts together since.

[@TheCrimsonMoogle]

Loved this video, as someone who deals with Jamie contrarians, it's a good mindset going forward. As someone who can be that contrarian, I want to watch myself more. And I agree, micro-managers are far more annoying, stressful and harder to work with. If my manager doesn't care, I can still care, if the micromanager doesn't care, I am not afforded to now.

[@cintron3d]

It's happened, I've watched enough of these that I'm hearing stories I've heard before 😅

[@tested]

You may have caught the live stream ... This is an excerpt from an earlier live stream. But if not, thank you for being such a regular viewer! We appreciate it!

[@relishgargler]

I remember hearing the netting story before too.

[@sonnieandjacob]

​@@testedI know the netting was talked about before. Adam mentioned under the idea that he came to appreciate that Jamie wouldn't simply make the assumption about anything he hadn't tested. white netting may not be better since he had never seen it tested as true personally so he had no reason to believe that white netting was somehow better than black, since he thought black would have better contrast to sunlight possibly.

[@spudgamer6049]

Thinking about it, after Jamie made such a comment, I'd have been considering that the white might reflect too much light, either from the environment or from the mirrors, making it harder to pick out the reflections of specific mirrors. Obviously, turns out that wasn't the case, but it would have beem my first concern after such a comment.

[@j.f.christ8421]

Yeah, I'm with Jamie as well. Seems "obvious" that it'll be easier to see a spot of light on a black surface better than a white one. Of course they could have spent 5 minutes to walk outside and try it... Thinking about it more, the white will reflect more light directly back at you, so as you wave the mirror around you'll spot the "flash" of your beam better. Cold & dark here, so I'm not going outside to test. I did wave a torch at a few things though, and yeah, obvious ain't obvious.

[@spudgamer6049]

@j.f.christ8421 well, not like I know that was what Jamie was thinking, and as Adam says, turned out black didn't work and they had to paint the net white, so whatever Jamie was thinking turned out to not be right, but I do agree that a bit of experimenting before ordering would have been in order if that was indeed what Jamie was thinking.

[@j.f.christ8421]

@@spudgamer6049 It's easier to reason something when you know what the result is. Had Adam not said "Well, there's you problem!", I'd be helping Jamie set up the black netting.

[@ryancappo]

I think it was good that they at least thought of the white vs black netting issue ahead of time. It is something that they should have done a small scale test of though. Because I would have guessed that either wouldn’t block enough light to matter. And maybe the white would have been caused more blinding light.

[@gorkyd7912]

Black netting would work if it had like a shiny finish. But being fabric-y it's probably more of a matte, which just hides the reflection pretty well.

[@bradseeker]

i work in higher ed and our dean is the perfect (imo) mix of laissez-faire and micromanager: only when a faculty/staff member starts notably underperforming or in some way expresses that they "shouldn't have to teach so much" does the dean start micromanaging. the change between the two dispositions seems to either shock the offending party back to reason or, occasionally, elicit a resignation signed "i feel that i've been scrutinized" or some equally egotistic drivel. in my ~3 years here i've seen 2 folks go out in the latter way and, in both cases, boy howdy was that scrutiny well earned

[@ToreDL87]

A lot of people I worked with that I didn't personally vibe with also, we kept it professional, but we still shared a moment here and there thanks exactly to that professionalism we had in common. Even knowing how things were behind the scenes on Mythbusters, I still remember more than a few occasions you two genuinely shared a moment, and I think it's in no small part because of the professionalism. Or, in other words, I can relate!

[@aberration3869]

You discovered love Adam as the Way the Truth and the Life define it. See past the moment that is, drop your ego concerns and bring understanding and patience into it instead. I’ll never forget the first time I accomplished that, it changed my life and I actually heard the angels rejoice!

[@ChimyChang]

0:05 Zyzz? As in the body builder? lol

[@jpkirk3604]

The legend continues

[@SeanForeman]

Somehow your channel has turned into a philosophical sounding board for me. I think agile is a tool for people who don’t know how to manage their time. When I was a manager I laid out all the tasks and assigned them to people. I challenged people to finish tasks early and take the day off when they were done. If someone had issues I could see their work slipping and we would pair program until they improved and I let them run independently again. Your insights are always on the mark.

[@MrSacheverell]

Problem I've always had with micromanaging: if I'm burning all this energy and stress and sleep doing all the work I'm getting obsessively involved in, then I'm not delegating and trusting the team to do what they do best. Most people are good at their work!

[@plunderbunny84]

At 20 I went into business with my cousin and one particular issue came up where I needed to call and get advice. By the time my cousin called me back there was no conversation to be had and she said this: “I find that the best way to help people solve problems is to let them.” I think the first emailer could use that advice. As for which manager, I prefer one that has the presence of mind to evaluate a situation and determine if someone is asking for the time, or instructions on how to make a watch.

[@CatGamingMJL]

I've gotten a lot out of this video and every other video Savage makes, i appreciate he still continues to teach us he's knowledgeable.

[@MGPL_]

For the business question, get a management accounting book or read up on it, it’ll cover strategies (e.g. niche products), business plan, and costing strategies.

[@jakebaldwin2146]

It takes a lot of self-understanding and wisdom to realize that an argument did not need to happen.

[@TheJohn8765]

I sometimes micromanage but you're right it's incredibly stressful for everyone involved. I try not to do it but I've found that some people simply can't be trusted, slack when they are out of my sight, or ignore important details despite repeated explanations. For me, trust is the issue. If I had my druthers, I simply wouldn't work with people that can't be trusted to work on a project by themselves. Sadly, I don't control hiring. So, tho there are control freaks that love to control everyone else, there are also people like me that are goal focused and have to manage people that don't really give a damn. There is a certain amount of stuff that needs to get done every day or it's *my* ass. Damn straight I'm going to micromanage in that situation. Argh.

[@CedricDur]

I have these people in my life and I know they throw verbal jabs how I'm annoying by constantly being on top of them. But, by experience, if I am not it is not a case of something taking longer to do but rather a case of it simply not being done. No 'dang, forgot, about the thing I had to do, I'll rush and finish it' and instead if it was not done then it is now completely wiped from memory never to be done. So I bear with the snark and mention things three times. More than once the third time is met with a 'ooooh yeah, right'.

[@waynerussell6401]

The robots are coming.

[@marypasco2213]

Micro-managers deserve malicious compliance.

[@2adamast]

And laissez-faire teams deserve toxicity

[@grafitea]

20 years in the sign industry and I'm at a point where I'm expected to be more managerial than hands on, but it's hard to give up working with my hands. I have never had more competent people under me for the first time in the 20, so my hands are teaching still. I love your channel Adam ❤📖🔨

[@mikem2113]

I saw somewhere, a person's response to a customer telling him that his prices were too high. "You are looking for value rather than quality. I sell quality. If you want value, go to Walmart.." You have to be okay with being more expensive, while also knowing you and your product is worth it.

[@BrokePrepper]

I love your attitude. I've found that faith is the most important trait when starting a business. In the beginning, there is almost no difference between the business owner and a gambler in Vegas.

[@casandra0]

I had a laissez faire teacher in college that I absolutely loved! He would give out a guideline of what we should know for practicals, tests and that was basically it. I thrived, I loved learning with a more loose structure. All the other over achievers hated him tho bc he didn’t give them enough deadlines, homework and I guess essentially structure. Probably doesn’t work well for all subjects/people but that was one of the few times I actually liked attending classes.

[@ryanmartin5668]

I’ve always liked the quote from George Patton. “Tell a man what you want done, and let him surprise you with his ingenuity.” Micromanagement wastes more than time. They’re wasting the most valuable resource your team members bring to the table… a different perspective on problems.

[@nymalous3428]

This was broadly applicable and quite useful. I found myself going in a more "let time solve this one" mindset many years ago (after a severe medical event that has had lifelong consequences and almost ended my time here on earth). It's just not worth it to get into fruitless arguments. As for the micromanager versus laissez-faire, I definitely prefer the latter, though I've had the extreme version of that and didn't thrive either (no training, no job description, no supervision, just show up and wing it... not much fun). I do like some involvement, but mostly I'd like to just be able to be left alone to do my job. And, I have often considered "what kind of manager do I want to be," especially when I'm training new people or just teaching the current people something new. Thanks for the video, it wasn't long but it was insightful and helpful.

[@paulmarsh9663]

It was a pleasure to meet you today Adam.

[@robmausser]

@7:40 omg this is the worst and most infuriating type of manager and I've dealt with it personally. Someone who completely ignores the clients wishes and requests because "they know best" and "the clients are idiots and don't know what they actually want" etc etc. Look, I hate silly client requests as much as the next person, and there is an amount of hand holding and persuading needed at times to convince a client that what they actually need is X when they are asking for Y, but to completely disregard their requests and make changes that no one asked for is so narcissistic and a huge waste of money and time. 99% of the time we were doing something that no one asked for, eating up budget and time for no reason, or had to redo it the way the client wanted in the first place. Frustrating!