Does that mean you think skill can fully make up for bad conditions?

Exactly @the_pat, that's when it really hits the fan.

Wait, wait, wait. Did you just say a tablet flashing is a FEATURE? Like, that's the kind of thing that would make me drop my stylus and stare at the screen for a solid minute. I've had loose cables and driver issues before, but I've never once thought, "You know what, my art would be better if my display randomly blinked at me.

Used to be one of those people who thought hitting big numbers would hit different. Not gonna lie, this post actually made me rethink that whole mindset. You're right that the day to day is what really matters, not some random count on a spreadsheet. Kind of wild how we all get caught up in chasing these goals that end up feeling empty once we get there. Might have to start checking in with myself more about whether I actually enjoy the work instead of just watching the numbers go up.

My buddy Dave did metal repair on a '68 Mustang once and the heat warped it so bad he had to cut the whole thing out again and start over. Took him twice as long and the customer was not happy about the extra bill.