<center><a href="https://dsound.audio/#/@justlibby/justlibby-dsound-original-podcast-episode-002-what-i-learned-from-my-biggest-failure"><img src="https://earth.i.ipfs.io/ipfs/QmWCEvJynvhaU6VuVmDa1yJJAQRR13wESf1D2gTv9q7B4A" width="400px"></a></center>
      <hr>Welcome back to my 2nd podcast! If this is your first time let me introduce myself. I'm Libby aka JustLibby. My desire for this series is to entertain while talking about subjects that relate to the human existence. I talk from my point of view and my experiences. Basically, I make myself vulnerable by showcasing my less perfect side.

In my opinion, in order to grow as a creative person, it's crucial that one needs to be vulnerable. I don't view this as a weakness rather a form of empowerment. Call me crazy but that's what I believe because I'm living proof.

Today's podcast will be in the same vein. I'll be sharing one of the biggest failures in my life both monetarily and socially.

It all started with an idea. Several years ago, while traveling in Sicily with my mom, I had recently become vegan. I didn't have the ability to tell the waiter what eating no meat, cheese, eggs and etc meant. Besides getting strange looks from the staff, I felt skeptical that the kitchen was getting the correct order.

After one meal, I wondered if there was an app that could help me communicate my needs specifically in a restaurant environment. At the time, there was one poorly designed iOS app that didn't even look worth purchasing.

That's when my aha moment appeared! What if little Libby had the gumption to create a mobile app to help travelers? I had a rush of excitement and I went into a trance of possibilities.

I'll make it do this and it will be available in these languages... and... and... and!

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When I came home from the trip I contacted a friend who was interested in coding and the tech industry. Somehow, I convinced him to fly from NYC to LA (at my expense) and we'd spend 2 intense weeks developing the idea.

During our incubator period in LA, our imaginations went wild! We took the simple idea into something more complex. When he went back to NYC we continued to have regular Skype calls as we finessed the concept.

Without noticing, months went by and the app was getting more and more convoluted. I was just so excited to have a partner to bounce ideas with that our conception stage was turning into remote hang out chats and more "what ifs."

Finally, I metaphorically "woke up" after reading a book about mobile app development. It shook me out of my daydream and I realized I needed to simplify the entire app. I knew I had to go back to where I started (which was my original idea.)

Then it was time to hire a real programmer, designer, and translators. With my partner, we chose a great team to work with. Stubbornly, I decided to not seek outside investment and pay for all of the development of the app out of my pocket. Additionally, I launched a Kickstarter campaign to help complete the app.

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As the project started growing its legs, we had few hiccups and miscommunications. Of course, that's inevitable in a collaborative environment.

All in all, the project took about 1 1/2 years and more money than I'd prefer to share.

With so much focus on the development of the project, I overlooked a HUGE facet of releasing a mobile app. I feel like a such a ding dong even saying it but, marketing!

<center>https://s26.postimg.org/ykw1cnz21/IMG_4140.jpg</center>

When it came to clicking the "release" app in Apple Developer portable, I had spent 98% of my budget on making the app vs telling people they should buy the app.

The resources were dry and the crickets were heard. With months of the app being in the App Store, I barely made back the Apple Developer Program annual fee of $99.

<center>https://s26.postimg.org/i9vxgdhfd/Screen_Shot_2018-02-07_at_5.34.57_PM.png</center>

I was crushed.

I was depressed.

I was a failure.

Here I was spending months and a bulk of my saving on a digital product that no one had any interest in. Ouch.

It took me some time to recover from this blow. If anyone would bring up "how is the app doing", I would sidestep the question and respond with gentle "good."

Yeah, I was ashamed of the results. However, I can't blame my failure on anyone. It was my choice to see if I could deliver. And damn it, I did (just without a + in the bank account!)

Looking back, I see all the silly decisions made and time-wasting tendencies. But, this much is true, I had to go through this lesson to gain the knowledge I have now.

I am who I am today because of all the major and micro choices I've made in my life. So take me as I am world... I am an app developer failure, an eternal optimist, and a novice podcaster!

This lesson taught me that just because I "failed" doesn't mean I can't uplift others who are gambling on their own successes. Look at what @DSound and @Steemit are providing to so many dreamers around the world!

This community is built around raising the spirits of like-minded creatives without breaking the bank. Can we all admit how cool it is that you can help others simply by liking or resteeming?!

My final word to you reader is that it's up to each of us to see our setbacks not as failures but as a lesson. So, if your post or sound isn't a home run don't discourage yourself into quitting. Take a breath, hop up, and shake it off. 

To me, failure is another word for knowledge. The more we learn from our mishaps the more we can become who were destined to be!

On that note. Go out there and gain some knowledge!

Until tomorrow,
Libby<hr>
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