Posts made in December, 2008

The Making of the iPhone App – Gratitude!

Posted by admin on Dec 12, 2008 in happiness | 2 comments

I’m floating on air, pleased to announced we finally released Gratitude! this morning. It’s your personal gratitude journal for the iPhone and iPod Touch available for sale at iTunes (iTunes link). Boy does it feel good to finally bring this out to the world and let me tell you why.

The idea came to me on a trip to the coast this past summer. I wanted to pack light, but books and journals weighed me down. I just started keeping a gratitude journal and didn’t want to break the habit so I shoved my big red thing in my bag, knowing there has to be an easier way.

I started working on the project straight away with a friend who already launched an app called Bubbles. He is on the east coast and I’m in Dakota. We would talk online when we could but our schedules always got in the way. So progress was very slow.

For some reason, my conscience wouldn’t let it rest. It kept telling me I had to get this created and out in the world. So tried to teach myself Cocoa and was nearly in tears after an hour.

Then one day I googled “free lance work” to see if any interesting projects were out there to take my mind off of this idea. And I came across eLance. I discovered loads of people outsourcing their iPhone projects online. So I typed up a project description and put mine out there as well.

Quite a few people bid on it but Passionworks clearly came out on top. Their price was right, they had example work to show me, and their manager, Sarat, always responded professionally and quickly. The decision was easy.

I did all the design work, project management and planning. And they helped with development. Our relationship was a dream. I worked on this from 5am-7am each morning so we could hook up online (Sarat is in India). It amazed me that while he was sleeping the project kept moving along because I was working on it. And when I crashed out, he was.

I went through well over a dozen different designs. Every time a slick app was released I would rethink my work. I tried to outsource some of it, but that didn’t come together as smoothly.

Sarat would send me the code and I did all the QA testing. For hours and days I sat and typed up gratitude lists forced to notice any little good thing. That experience alone changed my whole perspective on life.

Another blessing added to the mix is Scotty who created the Buddha. In August his work was highlighted in a blog I read. I made it my screensaver then checked out his website to send him a thank you for sharing. It turns out he didn’t even know his design was featured. To make a long story short, we became friends and after asking very nicely he offered his Buddha to the project. Seeing that little guy’s smiling face each morning was such a treat.

Of course there were many times when I wondered what the heck I was doing. Would I even cover my costs? Am I wasting my time? Will everyone just laugh at it and criticize it? Wouldn’t it be nice to sleep in for a change? But then something would happen that would tell me to keep going.

I came across Zen Habits. I subscribed to the blog and warmed to it quite quickly. Then it occurred to me that it would be the perfect place to advertise Gratitude! so I sent Leo an email. He gave me a rate I could afford as well as some superb feedback on my advert. The fit was just right.

But most of all there was Colin, my life partner. He kept me fed and watered during the early mornings and late nights. Taking care of our home while my brain was frazzled from coding and designing. Even baking delicious pound cakes for me. I can’t thank him enough for all he did.

My goal isn’t to get rich. That would be contradicting what this app stands for. I want to help others find meaning and purpose in their life by getting them to notice the small things.

Everyday on the way to work I listen to the news and hear about all bankruptcies, layoffs, and scandals. Now more than ever we need to reprogram our thoughts and start focusing on the positive. It’s tough when life is kicking you in the teeth, but it’s the best way to turn your life around. It worked for me.

My second goal is to raise money for charity. There’s so many great causes out there, I haven’t decided which one. But I narrowed it down to a few. Hopefully this app will raise enough money so I don’t have to decided which one.

So many people helped me with this project. You know who you are and I’m thanking you. I couldn’t have done this without each and everyone of your feedback and support. This project has taught me that I’m capable of finding the time for my goals even if it means sacrificing a couple hours sleep.

Lastly I want to thank you for taking the time to read this blog. Now go get yourself some Gratitude!

Download Gratitude from iTunes.
Help promote Gratitude. (go to “help”)

Learn how to create your own app in my new eBook, “Inside Secrets to an iPhone App”.