What if you could turn your habits into something meaningful?
For years, I spent my nights gaming—like many of us do. From Atari and Commodore 64 to PUBG and World of Warcraft, gaming has always been a passion of mine. It’s how I relax, connect with friends, and blow off steam after a long day at work.
But something changed last year. And that change transformed my life.
From Multiplayer Matches to Meaningful Work
One of my close gaming friends works shift work, which meant I had a predictable schedule: four nights on, four nights off. During his work shifts, I had downtime—and I started using it to write a short book. At first, just 30 minutes a night. The idea was simple: write something valuable I could give away for free on my mailing list (SecureInSeconds.com).
Then, something unexpected happened. He stopped playing.
Suddenly, I had a lot more time. And instead of drifting aimlessly, I doubled down.
Building a Writing Habit—One Page at a Time
Writing wasn’t easy. Some nights, I was completely wiped from my full-time job. But I kept showing up. Just 15 minutes. That was my rule. Make some progress, even if it was only 1%.
100 pages. Then 120. Then 150.
Feedback came in. I edited. It grew. And eventually—193 pages later—I published the book. Holding the finished copy in my hands was surreal. A project born from the ashes of a lost habit had become something real.
What Comes After the Book? Building a Privacy Tool I Needed
I’ve always loved coding. From building basic HTML sites in high school to teaching myself Python during parental leave, it’s always been part of who I am. So when the book wrapped up and I still had momentum, I started building something else:
An email alias service.
A privacy-focused tool designed to help people protect their real email addresses from spam, breaches, and surveillance.
I had been using alias services like SimpleLogin and Firefox Relay, and I wanted to understand how they worked from the inside. So I set out to build my own version as a learning project.
Building it taught me a huge amount about email, deliverability, and just how much work goes into a product people can trust with their privacy.
The Results So Far
- 3,500+ weekly cybersecurity emails sent
- 200+ copies of my book in readers' hands
- A privacy app built from scratch as a learning project
- All while working a full-time job
The Big Lesson: Your Habits Can Build Something Amazing
If you’d told me six months ago that I’d have written a book, launched a privacy app, and built a mobile experience—all while parenting and working full-time—I’d have laughed. But that’s the power of small, consistent effort.
If you're looking to build something—start with 15 minutes a day.
That's all it took to change the direction of my life.
Want to Take Control of Your Digital Privacy?
- Grab the book (free with signup)
- Use an email alias service like Firefox Relay or SimpleLogin to protect your real email address
- Join the mission to make the internet a more secure, private place for everyone
Join the mailing list and get weekly 1-minute tips on how to stay safe, protect your data, and own your digital identity.
Tags:
#CybersecurityHabits #PrivacyApps #EmailAlias #SmallHabitsBigResults #GamerToCreator #IndieHacker #DigitalPrivacy #StartupJourney #TimeManagement #MailingListGrowth
