I Learned These 3 Valuable Life Lessons When I Started my 3D Printing Company

Since starting my 3D printing company 3Dock in mid 2022, my life has been a rollercoaster of ups, downs, and tough learning experiences. So far, the journey has pushed me to adapt, innovate, and even pivot on my initial idea for the business. Although changing my initial business strategy was one of the hardest things I've had to do in my career, through this whole journey, I've been able to learn some valuable lessons in life too. In this article, I'd like to share three of the most valuable life lessons I learned from my experience so far. And in doing so, I hope to give entrepreneurs, particularly those drawn to the world of 3D printing, the knowledge to navigate their own path to success. Now let's dive in:

Lesson #1: Lifelong passions don't always translate into the best business ideas

I've been obsessed with boats, ships, and the open sea my whole life.

My journey with the sea began off the coast of Valencia, where childhood days were spent sailing with my Grandfather. This lifelong love affair with the maritime world eventually led to a fulfilling career as a naval architect.

It was here where I first discovered the potential of 3D printing.

When I started my 3D printing business specifically serving the maritime niche, it felt like my private and professional interests were aligned.

But it didn't work out the way I had imagined. For a startup such as 3Dock , the pace of the maritime industry was excruciatingly slow. Decision-making processes were long, feedback loops were slow, and clients were reluctant to adopt new technology.

Initially, my love of ships made me reluctant to consider changing course. I just couldn't imagine leaving my lifelong passion behind - even though the signs were clear that I had to.

And when I finally made the difficult decision to pivot, it felt like I was betraying a part of myself. But it turned out to be the best decision for my business.

Sometimes we make decisions with the heart. But often, the key is finding the right balance between the heart's desires and the head's calculations.

Lesson #2: You have to adapt quickly

It took me a full 12 months to pivot.

When I saw the signs early on that my initial business strategy was failing, I was reluctant to take immediate action.

After all, I had poured my life, soul, and energy into the project. Yet deep down, I knew that I was delaying the inevitable.

And the consequences of my lack of action were costly.

As a start-up, you have to learn how to adapt fast. You have to think quickly on your feet, and you have to be willing to learn every day.

Now, 3Dock www.3dock.deis doing just that: making 3D printed prototypes and parts for startups who need quick solutions.

When we finally pivoted in late 2023, the positive feedback from the market confirmed that I had made the right decision.

Pivoting taught me the importance of adapting. But do it sooner rather than later, and you'll save yourself a lot of hassle - even if it is painful in the short term.

Lesson #3: Listening is the most underrated skill in sales

For start-up founders, tech-obsessed people, and 3D printing nerds such as myself, it's often too easy to fall in love with the technology or product itself, and too easy to forget about the needs of the market.

But the reality is, a product is only valuable if it solves a customer's problem.

My biggest breakthroughs with 3Dock came when I prioritized listening. By putting my own interests aside and actively understanding customer feedback, I could tailor our product for a better market fit. This ultimately allowed me to build better trust with clients.

Acquiring these soft skills isn't always easy. In fact, it can be painful at the beginning, especially when confronted with rejection.

But one thing is clear: if you want to sell, you need to listen. Once you have these advanced listening skills in your DNA, you can apply them to all walks of life. And this is surely the most valuable investment you can make for your future.

Conclusion: Launching 3Dock was a venture into uncharted waters. And pivoting felt like I was navigating a storm. Although I'm still early on in my journey with 3Dock , I feel that the lessons I've learned so far extend beyond the world of business and 3D printing. In fact, these lessons have given me the experience to navigate even the most uncharted waters. And if you can embrace the journey and learn from every experience as I have, hopefully, you can too.