# The Maker Movement

By [Leandro Pinter](https://paragraph.com/@leandropinter) · 2021-11-02

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Hello, and welcome to [The Future of Work](https://futurework.substack.com/welcome), **a newsletter for Makers (aspiring entrepreneurs, creators, bootstrappers, Indie Hackers...) looking for inspiration to help create more fulfilling, humane and equitable futures**.

I’m [_Leandro_](https://twitter.com/leandropinter) and in each edition I aim to bring you content to help you on your journey.

In this first edition I decided to start with a topic that I’ve been intrigued and curious about lately - **The Makers Movement** and the communities of **creators, makers, bootstrappers, Indie Hackers** - hopefully like me this interests you also.  I have been learning about it for the last year or so and thought I would share some of my insights below.

Let’s start with some definitions.

### **Indie Hackers:**

As described on the [Indie Hackers website](https://www.indiehackers.com/)

> You're an **indie hacke**r if you've set out to make money independently. That means you're generating revenue directly from your customers, not indirectly through an employer. Other than that, there are no requirements

### **Bootstrappers**

The dictionary describes it as _“a person who relies on their own resources to solve a problem or pursue an undertaking” and “an entrepreneur who starts a business with minimal resources or capital”._

I don’t mind that definition but I prefer this one by [Seth Godin](https://twitter.com/ThisIsSethsBlog).

> _The bootstrapper builds something from scratch, something you own and nurture and build around your customers, not your investors._

### **Makers & Creators**

First, the dictionary definition:

Maker: _“a person or thing that makes or produces something”_

Creator: _“a person or thing that brings something into existence”_

  

Apart from being three different concepts there is something that brings them all together: **the Maker Movement**.

There is not a single definition of the “Maker Movement” so let’s go with the [Wikipedia version](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maker_culture): 

> _The maker movement is a social movement with an artisan spirit. Promoting equity in the maker movement is fundamental to its success in democratizing access to STEAM and other tech-rich and art domains._
> 
> \*Maker culture emphasizes \*\*learning-through-doing \*\*(active learning) in a social environment. Maker culture **emphasizes informal, networked, peer-led, and shared learning motivated by fun and self-fulfilment.**\*

As one would expect, there are no clear answers on when this movement started and what it was/is about. I won’t concentrate on that and instead will focus on what it looks like nowadays.

What fascinates me the most about the Makers communities is the **Maker’s motivations** for embarking on this unanimously rewarding and at the same time bumpy journey.

According to [@csallen](https://twitter.com/csallen), based on what he’s been hearing from **Makers** during interviews in his [Indie Hackers Podcast](https://www.indiehackers.com/podcast),

[https://twitter.com/csallen](https://twitter.com/csallen)

their main motivation for starting their side project, startup etc is that:

> **_People want freedom - They want to take/have control of their lives and the thing they are building._**

Get creating
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If you, like me, believe in creating a better world, where work is more fulfilling, humane and equitable. A world where you can have more fun and at the same time make an impact on your community, city, country, I would encourage you to take the first step and join the movement.

I am new to the Makers community and I took my first step a few weeks ago with the creation of [this newsletter](https://futurework.substack.com/welcome). 

**What is your creation?**

Thank you for reading this edition of [The Future of Work](https://futurework.substack.com/). If you’re finding this newsletter valuable, consider sharing it with friends, or subscribing if you haven’t already.

That’s it for now! [Get in touch](https://twitter.com/leandropinter) if you have any stories, feedback, or insights to share. 

_Some sources of inspiration for this newsletter:_

[_Indie Hackers_](https://www.indiehackers.com/)

[_When the world turns upside down (It’s time to become an owner)_](https://thebootstrappersworkshop.com/)

[_The Maker Movement_](https://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/INOV_a_00135)

[_The Origins of the Maker Movement_](https://www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/technology/innovation/the-origins-of-the-maker-movement/#:~:text=Dale%20Dougherty%20invented%20the%20Maker,Media%2C%20had%20launched%20Make%20magazine.)

[_Maker culture_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maker_culture)

[_What is the Maker Movement and how did it start?_](https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-Maker-Movement-and-how-did-it-start#:~:text=The%20Maker%20Movement%20gained%20steam%20in%20the%20early%20part%20of,the%20providence%20of%20large%20manufacturers.)

[_A Brief History of Makerspaces_](https://curiositycommons.wordpress.com/a-brief-history-of-makerspaces/)

Photo by: [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/QL0FAxaq2z0)

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*Originally published on [Leandro Pinter](https://paragraph.com/@leandropinter/the-maker-movement)*