Running your own projects is tough.

You’re figuring things out as you go, second-guessing decisions, and doing the work even when no one’s watching.

That’s why I’m always inspired by people building something from the ground up. Watching others test ideas, stay consistent, and make progress—bit by bit—reminds me it’s possible.

It’s not about overnight wins. It’s about showing up, learning fast, and staying consistent.

So I want to start spotlighting others in some stories.

This week’s story is about Nicole Smith, founder of Flytographer.

Back in 2011, she was on a trip to Paris and realized all her vacation photos were blurry, awkward, or missing someone—usually her. So she came up with a simple idea: what if you could hire a local photographer to meet you during your trip and capture real memories?

She turned that idea into Flytographer, now in over 350 cities worldwide. Travelers get beautiful photos.

Locals get paid to show off their city.

Everyone wins.

What really hit me is how her idea blends travel and connection.

I love experiencing new places like a local—sitting in cafes, people-watching, working from a laptop in a new spot. Flytographer fits right into that vibe. It makes travel feel more meaningful.

It’s a good reminder that inspiration can strike anywhere—and sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery to spark your next big idea.

You can read the full version of the story here…

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Nicole’s story is a great reminder that big things often start with quick tests. One idea. One experiment. One real-world spark.

That’s exactly why I’ve been using Lovable.

Lovable is an AI-powered platform that turns plain-English prompts into full-stack web apps—frontend, backend, database, and even hosting. It’s like having a dev team on standby, ready to bring your idea to life in minutes.

A few things I like:

I’m using it to prototype ideas and test them in the wild—before spending serious time or money.

It’s one of the tools I’m using in my challenge of building 100 tools over 1,000 days!

If you’ve got an idea you’ve been sitting on, this is one of the fastest ways I’ve found to make it real.

Inspiration doesn’t always strike on command.

Sometimes it hits when you’re least expecting it—in a new place, a quiet moment, or a small frustration that sparks a better way. Nicole’s story is proof of that.

So if you’re not feeling full of ideas right now, don’t stress.

Keep moving.

Try new things. Change your view. The spark might come when you least expect it.

See you out there!