About a week ago, Picmal reached 200 users.
For some people, that number might feel small. For others, it’s big. For me, it’s symbolic.
At 15, I started a forum. I was curious and bored. It combined two things I loved: football and video games. I called it Futbolgame. Not very original.
I didn’t have a plan. I didn’t think about growth, positioning, or marketing. I wanted to build something. Somehow, that forum passed 200 registered users, even without a clear reason.
What surprised me most was not the number itself but everything that came with it.
I started learning Photoshop because some users wanted banners for their profiles. I met new people for the first time. We spent hours discussing various topics, with a focus on football. The forum wasn’t huge, but it gave me something special. It sparked my curiosity, grew stronger, and brought me joy as I made something special for a few people.
Looking back, I realize how easy it is to overcomplicate things now. We obsess over names, branding, positioning, and storytelling. We try to make everything perfect before it even exists. And often, that’s exactly what kills the idea.
Back then, I had no strategy, no expectations. I made things, learned along the way, and enjoyed the process.
And honestly, that’s still what matters most.
If you enjoy creating, the rest is secondary. You never know if something will turn into a living until you make an attempt. And you cannot force yourself to care about an idea because it sounds good on paper. Real interest does not come from an idea bank; it starts with real curiosity. You want to understand a problem and spend time with it.
That is where the best things come from.
I am not in a position to give advice, but if there is one thing, it is this: create if you feel the urge to create. Follow what truly inspires you. Try things. Express yourself.
In a world where everything is measured, optimized, and packaged, seeing someone do something honestly and without pretending is rare. Maybe it makes less money. Maybe it never becomes a business. But your soul does not run on revenue.
If we spent less time chasing what seems profitable and more time exploring what truly interests us, we would probably see better ideas, more originality, and work that actually means something.
