When you look at my work, you might see a few different directions: books, a podcast, TV apps and software. For me, they all come back to something simple. I love creating, and I love the challenge of turning an idea into something people can experience.
My faith is part of that. I believe God the Father, the Creator of all things, made us in His image. I see my desire to create and build as part of that connection. It has been there for as long as I can remember.
The tools have changed. My curiosity has stayed with me.
It started with wanting to know the story
As a child, I loved stories and history. I wanted to know the background: why something happened, what led up to it and how people found themselves in a particular situation.
That habit of asking questions still shapes what I enjoy today. A story gives me a chance to explore a person's experiences, the world around them and the reasons behind their choices.
That interest grew into creating stories, publishing books and bringing those stories into audio through my Adult Sleep Stories podcast. Over time, I slowly built an audience.
I enjoy putting something out into the world that another person can spend time with. Someone can open a book, listen while relaxing or follow a character on a long journey. Seeing the work become part of someone's day means something to me.
Enjoying the work helped me stay with it
It took about a year and a half before I earned my first money from podcasting. That experience taught me what I can stick with.
I had to enjoy making the stories while the audience was still growing. I had to care enough to keep going before there was much financial encouragement.
In the past, I have pursued ideas mainly because I thought they could make money. Those interests did not last in the same way. With books and podcasting, I genuinely enjoy the work itself.
That is one of the questions I now ask before starting something: would I still want to do the work while it is taking time to grow?
Making a business sustainable matters. But when I know I enjoy the work, I have a much better reason to return to it through the slower stages.
Why TV apps became part of the picture
I was drawn to the idea of having my own TV channel. There is something exciting about being able to turn on a television and see your content there.
It is also a conversation starter. A lot of people do not think of a TV channel as something an independent creator could have. I understand that feeling because the idea appealed to me for the same reason.
The challenge of TV apps pulled me in. I wanted more control over what I was building. That experience eventually led me toward BuildMyTVApp.
It connects naturally with the rest of my work. I create content through books and podcasting, and TV apps give me another way to think about how people discover and experience that content.
AI tools have also opened up software development to me in a way that was not practical before. I can explore more of my ideas, test them and keep improving them. There is still plenty to learn and plenty of work involved, which is part of what keeps me interested.
Choosing what deserves my time
I do not have a shortage of ideas. I have a shortage of time. Choosing which ideas deserve that time has taken practice.
I enjoy going back and forth with tools such as Codex to develop a thought into a plan. AI helps me do more, but there are still only so many hours in the day. Focus matters just as much as the ability to build.
Experience has helped me recognize which interests I can stay committed to. Initial excitement only tells me so much.
These are the questions I come back to:
- Does it fit what I am already doing? I want to build on my strengths and current work. If an idea takes me in a completely unrelated direction, I will probably leave it alone.
- Will I enjoy working on it? I need a reason to keep going after the initial excitement wears off.
- Can I make room for it? Every project needs time that has to come from somewhere.
- Can I sustain it? I have to be honest about how much I can handle without burning out.
This is a marathon for me. I want to create work I can keep developing, alongside the other things I care about. That means being willing to say no, even to an interesting idea.
Ideation and implementation are strengths I want to keep using. I like developing a thought, turning it into a plan and getting it done. Working for myself also means finding my own motivation. My enjoyment of the work helps me come back to it.
My financial goal is to build income from these projects that can eventually replace my day job. I know getting there takes sustained work. Even if I reach that goal, I do not picture myself stopping creating. I genuinely love doing this.
What matters to me in a collaboration
I put a lot of thought into my projects. Even away from the work itself, I often find myself thinking about ways to improve them.
I value collaborators who care about what they are building and take their commitments seriously. Honesty, respect and keeping your word matter to me. I also want us to be clear about what we are trying to accomplish and the time we can realistically give it.
I am open to inquiries. A good fit starts with understanding each other's standards and following through on what we agree to do.
Remembering what it feels like to be the beginner
For customers, especially with BuildMyTVApp, I want that same care to show up in the experience.
I have been the person trying to understand how a TV app works. I know what it feels like to ask a question and still have a gap in your understanding afterward.
My goal is to explain the starting point clearly, then build on it until the next step makes sense. I want to put the customer first and take the time to get the product ready for the people who will use it.
That is the connection across my work: curiosity, creating and caring about the experience on the other side. Whether I am working on a story or a piece of software, those are the things that keep me coming back.
Explore my work, visit JWilkinson Productions or get in touch about a collaboration.