How to Build a Billion Dollar App — A Book Review

Make Money — Book Review by Mazlan Abbas

A must-read book if you want to start a mobile app business

Alright, let’s dive into “How to Build a Billion Dollar App” by George Berkowski, a book that seems to promise the golden keys to the kingdom of app-based riches.

Initially, I was skeptical.

I mean, how many of us haven’t fantasized about ditching the daily grind to launch something groundbreaking?

Yet, the road from dream to a billion-dollar reality is notoriously fraught with pitfalls.

But here’s the kicker: Berkowski isn’t just spinning daydreams; he’s laying down a roadmap based on the journeys of giants like Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Candy Crush, and Uber.

First off, the book is an eye-opener.

It’s not just about coding an app; it’s about birthing a mobile business behemoth.

Berkowski takes you from the seed of an idea — literally, something you might scribble on a napkin — through the throes of co-founder dating, team building, user addiction creation, and the relentless pursuit of staying relevant in an industry that never sleeps.

It’s like having a mentor who’s seen it all, guiding you through the highs and lows of startup life.

What I appreciated most is the unvarnished truth Berkowski serves up. Building a billion-dollar app is not for the faint of heart.

It requires a concoction of vision, tenacity, and a dash of madness.

The book is peppered with insider stories that read like Silicon Valley drama, making it informative and hugely entertaining.

The practical advice is gold.

Whether you’re a coding novice or a seasoned entrepreneur, there’s something in here for you.

Berkowski doesn’t shy away from the gritty details — funding rounds, user acquisition strategies, the pivot (oh, the inevitable pivot) — making it invaluable for anyone serious about scaling their mobile app into the stratosphere of valuation.

However, it’s not just a cheerleading manual for app moguls in the making.

It’s a reality check that underscores the immense effort, strategic planning, and a bit of luck required to join the ranks of the billion-dollar app club.

Berkowski’s candidness about the challenges adds a layer of credibility that’s often missing in the ‘get rich quick’ narratives.

In summary, “How to Build a Billion Dollar App” is a must-read for anyone daring to dream big in the digital arena.

It’s a blend of inspiration, practical guidance, and real-world wisdom.

Sure, not every reader will go on to create a billion-dollar app, but with Berkowski’s blueprint in hand, you’ll certainly have a fighting chance.

So, if you’re toying with an app idea or ready to take the plunge into the mobile business ocean, this book might just be your ultimate guide.

Get this “How to Build a Billion App” book from Amazon. (Note: This is an affiliate link)

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Book review by Mazlan Abbas

How Lifelogging Change The Way I Track My Life

Lifelogging is the act of recording and analyzing your daily activities as a way of finding out more about yourself and your life. By doing this, you can discover hidden patterns in your behavior and life; you can identify your strengths and weaknesses, gain valuable insights into your goals, dreams, and aspirations, and much more. This process has increased your quality of life in many different ways.

There are many benefits to lifelogging. This is one of the most exciting times in the history of humankind. With today’s technology (digital camera and smartphone), you can live forever. The only limit to your health and happiness now is your own imagination! Lifelogging helps you keep a record of your life for you and your family after you are gone.

Lifelogging via Gyroscope App

I have been using Gyroscope as my Lifelogging app, and it has recorded my daily activities since 2018. Gyroscope helps you manage the many aspects of your life by giving you an easy-to-use interface to track everything that matters to you. It tracks your days, weeks, months, and years in precise detail. And depending on the apps you integrate with, Gyroscope can bring together your sleep patterns, productivity, fitness activities, and Apple Health data.

One particularly tracking pattern that’s worth looking at is the Number of hours online and whether its productive or not. We can easily observed that pre-Covid (2019), the average online hours is about 1,000 hours as compared during the travelling restrictions and work from home activities. The online activity has increased by 50% !

2019 – Places

And if we see how the app tracked the number of places in 2020 and 2021, it was cut down by more than 60%. The physical meetings has now been compensated by the online meetings.

Steps Report

If we subscribed to it’s Premium subscription (Mine is RM 294.90 for Track Pro. There are many types of Subscription options), we have access to much more reports which are beautifully displayed. Although a great number of reports that can be shared in the form of Cards from its mobile app, lot more charts and analysis can be seen from the web portal.

Health Score (Seems I need to take care of my Health in 2022!)