I’m a Realtor in Saskatoon. I was tired of my phone "winning" over and over again, so at 50, I decided to build an app to fix it.
Honestly, if you told me a year ago that I’d be featured in a major tech outlet like MobileSyrup, I would have laughed. I’m a Realtor, not a coder.
But for a long time, my phone has been winning over and over again. I’d look up and realize I’d lost an hour to a "scroll trance." I tried the usual app blockers, but they felt like a "time-out" for adults—frustrating and a bit shameful. I don’t want to be punished for using my phone; I just want to stay in control.
So, I decided to build a solution. I call it Paced.
How I built it (without being a "tech person"): I used Google Gemini as my strategic partner throughout the whole process. It wasn't about using AI to write code; it was about using it to bridge the gap in my own knowledge. I used it for:
- Market analysis and marketing expertise.
- Educating myself on tech terminology so I could actually lead a professional development team.
- Acting as a sounding board for the roadmap and social media strategy.
The result (The "Wait vs. Walk" system): The app gives you 30 minutes of time on your "distraction" apps, then initiates a one-hour cooldown. MobileSyrup called it a "gentle touch on the shoulder." You can either wait out the timer or move your body to earn time back—every 100 steps earns you 3 minutes.
It’s been a busy couple of months, but we’re actually seeing a 69% 30-day retention rate, which is nearly 7x the industry average. It turns out people stay when they feel empowered rather than punished.
We are officially launching on Product Hunt this Saturday, April 25th. I’m mostly just excited to show that you don't need a Silicon Valley budget or a CS degree to solve your own problems.
I’m happy to chat about digital habits, the "Wait vs. Walk" philosophy, or how I used AI to bridge the gap into a new career at 50.
You can see the full story here: [Link to MobileSyrup Article]