That's a serious chunk of mahogany, well it is for one man instrument makers. Some furniture makers might look at it as an off cut!
As for making and motivation. It's something that's plagued me for a long time. I can combat it by making a completely different model, something new to me but there's only so many one can make. I have to be interested in it, something that inspires me. That automatically rules out the vast majority. I also tend to vere off in a completely different direction - like the piano or some other instrument. Still, I guess that it all informs. I think it adds rather than detracts.
When you think about it, in the cold light of day, then making a living from instrument making is hardly the worst occupation one could choose. You only have to watch the traffic at morning rush hour and realise the daily grind that the vast majority of people have to go through. I suspect that 99% of them aren't entirely in love with the work.