Rant: Traveling to that tool demo changed my mind on learning alone

Lots of folks say you can pick up skills from your shop and skip trips. I used to agree until I drove to a tool demo in Vermont last fall. Watching a pro shape curved moldings by hand blew me away. He showed little tricks for keeping cuts smooth that I never saw in books. Now I think getting out there is key for growing as a carpenter. Hitting the road lets you ask questions and see stuff up close. Trust me, one good trip can teach you more than a month of online videos.