You stay curious. Reach out to try new things. And are always seeking to extend your skill sets.
I became curious - could I do what they did, if I put my mind to it? Could I build an app from scratch? And better still a successful one?
So I set up an App Development company as a side project.
I didn’t know the processes – or even how to code. But I wanted to succeed. And succeed or fail, I’d be aggregating new skill sets. Understanding my colleagues' process and pressures better. And making myself a better digital creative.
I wanted to launch my app into a popular area. Something social that Millennials flocked to.
The answer was obvious: Dating.
The dating market is saturated with apps.
Match. eHarmony. OkCupid. Coffee Meets Bagel. Tastebuds. Hinge. Tinder. Grindr. The list goes on…
So a new product from an unknown developer wouldn’t make much of a splash.
But what if we thought about it differently? Instead of an app dedicated to dating, matching, or hooking up – how about one focused on the emotional fallout of all that dating, matching, and hooking up…
The app dedicated to curing the after-effects of bad dating.
The genesis of the concept came from a quote from the Austrian philosopher, Wittgenstein:
”The limits of my language are the limits of my world.”
In other words, words themselves, and even the way we structure them, create our perception of the world around us.
It sounds theoretical. But the same idea in Ericksonian clinical hypnosis is used to help people reframe their realities.
So why couldn't you apply similar techniques to cure a broken heart?
"Unbreak Your Heart" was centered round a 22 minute hypnotic script. Based on the same Ericksonian techniques used in hospitals. To help reshape people's sense of self. Past relationships. And future prospects.
"Unbreak Your Heart" hit the iOS App Store to great online reviews:
It helped lots of real people feel a lot better about life.
They shared their enthusiasm on social. And emails to Mighty Gorilla LLC ranged from "Your app got me off meds", to "This app saved my life!"
"Unbreak yout Heart" started out as a side project – to help me better understand the challenges and opportunities of technologists.
It went on to become an international success. And I went on to develop eight other apps under the "Mighty Gorilla" banner.
To properly understand every part of the process – I handled every part of the process.
•The concept
•The coding
•The visual design
•The sound recording
•The background music
•The voice talent
•The mixing and editing of audio content
•The UX
•Submissions and review with Apple as an official iOS App Developer
•Analytics
•Submissions for blog reviews
•Even 22 minute hypnotic script
The script was a copywriting challenge more akin to coding than traditional storytelling.
It required plenty of psychological research. Stacking techniques from multiple sources. Layering commands and suggestions with almost mathematical precision. Structuring language in new ways. The exercise added a new dimension to my capacity to influence and persuade. One which traditional copywriters just don't get.
I'm a highly experienced Writer, Creative Director and Creative Strategist. But that's only half the story.
My real point of difference is my enthusiasm. My curiosity. And my readiness to dive into new challenges and master them. And I love to bring out the same sort of enthusiasm, curiosity and "licence to dare" in others.
That's what I offer to every agency, company and startup I work with.
How do you get a leading startup ready to go to IPO?
How do you help America's broker convince more of America to use it?
How do you make a top social platform a top sales platform?
"His enthusiasm is completely infectious. He's dedicated to giving 100% effort on every project."
HUAN NGHIEM, Creative Director at Google