How do you stay focused on a project.
 

Like most collectors I have many sets that catch my interest. I’ve completed the 53 bowman set several years ago. Just under a year ago I decided to tackle the t206 set. Currently I’m just about 10% completed. I have become fascinated with the set, the players and thoughts of all the people these cards have been passed through. I consider myself fortunate to be in a position where I can afford to commit between 1000-1500 a month toward my hobby, but even then I realize it’s still a project that will take years to see through to the end. The problem is there are so many other sets out there that I would love to get into. The last few days I’ve been considering going after a small run of signed 33 goudeys (knowing it’s not possible to complete). The idea of pursuing this greatly interests me, but at the same time I feel the funds I devote to this side project is wasted by not being put toward my t206 goal.

Anyway, just curious how you others approach their collection

Answer:type collecting/back runs are a nice diversion that never ends!

It’s a great question and a situation I have dealt with many times. I have completed some incredible sets, but as you point out, there’s always an opportunity cost. As I have progressed as a collector, I have embraced smaller sets/projects (less than 100 cards)…team sets, back runs, etc. More recently I have been enjoying my Page Project…one page in a binder devoted to a particular set.

It all depends on how quickly you want to complete the T206 set. Since you already know it will take years, would a little longer matter that much to you if it allows you to avoid passing up an opportunity you're interested in?

I completed a run of Topps sets about 25 years ago. I usually tried to actively work on 1 or 2 sets at a time, but if I ran across some kind of deal for cards from a set I hadn't finished yet that I felt I wouldn't be able to find again, I usually bought it figuring that in the long run, it made sense.

If you have a favorite team, consider "team collecting". It allows you to be involved in many different sets, but with a much smaller footprint.

Sent from my motorola edge 5G UW (2021) using Tapatalk

It is all about personal accountability. I'm building the 520 right now and I am 289/520 but I not letting myself buy anything else. It will take me a few more years to complete but then after that, I will allow myself to explore other items.

What is this focus you speak of? I apparently lack that.

Over the decades I've easily started 100+ sets, and have completed 5 that I remember. I've even had half a dozen sets over 75% complete in PSA 8 grade but ended up getting bored and selling. These days I've finally accepted that I'm more of a type collector than anything, and like to dabble in a lot of different collectibles. I also prefer to have a smaller but higher quality collection.

And sometimes I still want to be a set collector.:rolleyes:

If you need more focus on something you're doing that's supposed to have captured your passion in the first place, then find a new passion. You clearly aren't all that interested.

Good question. I have always tried to learn about the players within the set that I am collecting. It has meant reading a lot of books and player bios at SABR over the years

Do What you can to stay focused

But sometimes losing focus and picking something else up is fun.

But I stay focused now because I am not liquid so when I buy recently sadly I have had to sell cards to get cards.

Often times when I got distracted from my collecting focus
1. I have missed out on cards that came up that I wanted because I could not raise funds or sell something fast enough
2. I have broke even or lost money on cards that were not part of my focus.
3. I have regretted the item because while initially excited by the card that was not part of my focus when I got it. Once the initial period past I had buyers remorse with it

But even with my focus I have also had regrets (like may do) of getting rid of cards that I got attached to in order to upgrade or refocus my collection and many of which were low population or oddites that I may never get a chance to get back

But all part of the joy and life cycle of being a collector

I got nothing else to do
 

The longest streak of not adding a card has been 13 months. Those were tough, but then one showed up and started the clock again. I recently lost one on eBay that I thought I would win with a bid about twice what any other of that card had gone for. Then, I lost it in the last minute by $2.50. I will just wait a couple of years for it to reappear and bid again.

+1
Every time I do something other than type card collecting it gets boring. Variety is the spice of life

To add to my previous comment, I'm certainly not discouraging OP or anyone else to leave this hobby! Not when there are countless wonderful ways of enjoying it! Simply find another avenue to go down to rekindle the flame. The absolute best part of this hobby is that there truly are no rules! If you want to buy two 1986 Topps commons and then proclaim you've collected every baseball card known to exist, there's nobody stopping you! It's not incorrect if it's your personal truth. Do it however you want. That should be the joy of it.

If you're bored with trying to collect an entire set, then just realize that this notion of a "set" is just a rule implemented by someone else. Move on.

I completely gave up on unsigned cards over 30 years ago when there were so many new releases that it was simultaneously dizzying and sickening. I switched solely to autographs and haven't looked back. I was attempting to collect the autograph of every single man to put on a MLB uniform from 1876 onward. A daunting and impossible task, but I made wonderful headway. Then, as the 1990's gave way to the new millennium, I was struggling to enjoy the disgusting scribbles of the new guys to join the fold. I created a new rule that my version of this collection would end at the year 2000. That way, I didn't have to collect things that turned my stomach to look at, just because they were part of a "set", if you will.

I'm in a similar boat, I'm building the 1952 Topps set. At times it can feel like a real grind, or the supply of cards can dry up. I like to have a side project to work on as a distraction when the 1952 build stalls. In my case I've been picking up a few affordable singles I've always liked, as well as some Diamond Stars cards to for an eventual build of that set.

I find the distraction can serve as a good change of pace, and I feel refreshed when I get back to the main set again.

Collecting
 

I went from building complete sets by year to building team sets for Detroit teams. I sold my original Topps/Bowman/Donruss/Fleer etc. runs from 1955-1982 to buy my first house. I kept my Post Cereal and Jell-o cards from the 60's and all the newer ones. (With my children eating the cereal I was able to build sets) When Topps started Allen & Ginter, Gypsy Queen and Heritage I started working on those sets but, SHORT PRINTS for the sake of SHORT PRINTS turned me away. (I just sold all my Heritage cards because they were just gathering dust.) I did try to build a 2012 Gypsy Queen and I have come close but, the mini's (especially Green and Black) have left me soured on finishing. I now concentrate on Detroit sets and I look for oddball cards of those teams along with pre 1950 cards and memorabilia. It's still a joy to go shows and hunt cause you never know what you will find. (I can still say this being 70 years old and collecting since I was 5)

I’m with Paul. My collection is The Festival of Bric-A-Brac.

No focus. None. Never.

I keep meaning to post my answer...

My diversion while I was working on my T206 HOF portrait set was finding a t206 player who shared the same birthday as me. Then started a back run (Buck Herzog sitting).

Bill

I focus on just one "priority" set at a time, and buy cards from that set every time I see one.

Then I have four or five "secondary" sets that I am building more gradually, and when I do not find any cards from my priority set, I "dabble" in card from the secondary sets. Dabble means I buy a card once week or so, but I am careful to leave sufficient funds on hand to buy a priority card whenever a good one becomes available.

At the end of the day, collect what you most enjoy. If that enjoyment leads you to a new endeavor, so be it. IF I don't "need" a card then I want one that I enjoy looking at, for whatever reason.
.