Month 4: May 2026

Across May, I continued to build towards my "5 revenue generating apps by June 30" target. I got two new ones onto the App Store, bringing the total to 4 (3 of which are revenue generating), and have a premium version of FIRE Projection in Apple's queue right now that should be approved by the time this is read.

Thanks to focusing on my build muscle, I can turn an idea into a functioning, well designed app in less than a week. I've impressed myself, but now that it's easier for me to get something into the App Store, I'm starting to get antsy to move onto the next thing - distribution and growth. The feeling of accomplishment after getting approval in the App Store is starting to fade. It's becoming normal.

This is a good thing for my development. Why?

I've systemized the product creation, I've learned the skill adequately, and I've reached "good enough" status. Building has always been a means to an end - make a living, create freedom and sovereignty. Apps on the App Store were never going to get me all the way where I need to go. They're a vehicle.

On a more personal note, this month I did solidify a "why" for myself. I've always said I'm doing this side project thing for freedom and sovereignty. The thing is, those hadn't been concretely defined. I have a vision of 4 hour work days and lots of time in nature. That's still too abstract for my liking.

A brief aside.

Lately, at times I've felt disconnected from the real world. I've long said many of our personal and collective problems can be solved with less screen time. The more time I spend in nature, with people, or both, the more full of life I feel. The more time I spend in isolation on my computer or phone, the deader I feel. I want more of the former, less of the latter. Yes, my trade is on the screen. The irony of this tension is not lost on me.

Anyway, this month, I set a concrete target for myself. Those who've known me for a while might remember the 2020 RV dream. At the time I wanted to move into one full time and travel the country. Admittedly, that idea was a bit extreme and probably would have been a mistake. Now however, Carla and I want one as an addition to life. Not to replace our home, but to supplement it. What will it take? Surprisingly, less than $1,000/month all in. So now that I've figured out the ship apps to the internet thing, I've got a new concrete goal: make $1,000/month.

That being said, here's the recap from the month.

I shipped two apps I'll use regularly. I scrapped another and expanded one more.

Scorecard for Yatzy

I built the Yahtzee scorecard because Carla and I are Yahtzee fiends and the app we currently use is lacking in some areas, so I built one I like better. It's ad supported with an option to pay to remove ads. There's nothing too complicated here, but I use the thing.

You can find Scorecard for Yatzy on the App Store.

Films Shelf

The second app I built is called Films Shelf. It's essentially a list of movies you want to watch. It is ad supported with a bunch of features gated behind the paid premium version. What I did was essentially recreate a process I was already following with Carla, but so other people can do it too. Have a list of movies, attach the trailer, add notes why the movie was added, when you watch it mark that you did, and be able to shuffle your list to pick a random movie.

You can find Films Shelf on the App Store.

FIRE Projection

This month I also worked a ton on rebuilding the FIRE Projection app into a full paid version. That one is in the queue to be reviewed by Apple right now, so I'll have more to say about it next month.

You can find FIRE Projection on the App Store.

What's Next

I decided to scrap the AI workout generator because the flow I have now works really well and after a few weeks at attempting to build something better, I decided it wasn't worth turning into an app.

To replace that one, I'm partway through building a simple app that tells me what produce is in season wherever I am. This works with the disconnect I've been feeling with nature. Eating with the seasons is a baby step in reconnecting.

Once that fifth app is done, I'll take a minute to breathe, look around, and decide how to move forward with distribution. It's probably not sustainable nor wise to try growing 5 apps at once, so I'll pick one (maybe 2?) and grow it starting in Q3. I'll share more on that strategy later.

The idea of trying to distribute my work historically has been met with a version of fear and anxiety. Somehow, that is starting to fade and be replaced with a type of excitement. It's becoming clear that growing the puny numbers I share in this monthly message is really key. I can ship a thousand apps and never make a living on the internet. But if I can double the numbers from $4 to $8, then I can double them again to $16, and again to $32, and in a year they'll be at $16,000.

Do I think that'll happen? No, I don't. But the point is that growth is required to make my vision come to life. App volume alone won't do the trick. A part of me is nervous that I'm naive and this'll be a lot harder than I think, but at the same time I often tell people "I can figure out anything I put my mind to" and this one feels like a big, important challenge. If other people can do it, why can't I?

By the Numbers

All-time across 4 live apps: 94 downloads, $49.42 in revenue

May: 46 downloads (+156% over April), $4.56 in revenue (+63% over April)

Until next month.