Attention Idea: Had an idea for a website in 2017.

Had an idea for a website in 2017.

Twitter / X

General

Pat Walls

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Updated: August 4th, 2025

The Post

Title/Hook: Had an idea for a website in 2017.
Format: Reminisce on your journey
Impressions: 500000
How many followers they had at the time: 90000

Check out the post -> link

Why it works

🧠 Why This Post Works

1. It’s a Mini Origin Story

"Had an idea for a website in 2017. Launched it. Nobody cared."

This post is a compressed hero’s journey. In just a few lines, it walks the reader through:

The humble beginning
The early pain and doubt
The breakthrough moment
The life-changing outcome

It feels like a mini-movie — and people love origin stories, especially ones that start in obscurity and end in triumph. It gives hope.

2. It’s Structured Like a Poem

Notice the cadence:

Made \$0 for 150 days. Still worked on it every single day. My friends all said "wtf u doing". Then a company paid me \$12,000...

This tight, staccato sentence structure makes it easy to scan, read, and feel emotionally. Each line delivers a small punch.

This rhythm is often seen in viral storytelling tweets — it invites the reader to keep going.

3. Contrast & Payoff

“Made \$0 for 150 days.” “Then a company paid me \$12,000 to sponsor it.”

That leap is what keeps people emotionally engaged. It's a before-and-after, and readers subconsciously imagine themselves in that same arc.

Everyone who's building something wants to believe that persistence will be rewarded. This tweet confirms that narrative.

4. Relatability + Tension

“My friends all said 'wtf u doing'.”

This line is perfect because it:

Builds conflict — the world doubted him.
Signals independence — he kept going anyway.
Validates the audience — many readers have also been doubted.

It’s deeply emotionally validating to anyone trying to build a side project, especially in silence.

5. Simple, Timeless CTA

“Just ship it.”

Three words. That’s it. But it reframes the entire story as a moral.

This makes the post actionable, motivational, and shareable. The phrase “just ship it” is now backed by 6 years of work, millions of users, and emotional weight.

6. The Photo Reinforces the Message

(Full breakdown below) It’s not a stock photo — it’s his real workspace, showing he’s still in the trenches. After all that success, he’s still coding, still shipping.

That visual reinforces the theme of consistency and humility.

7. Performance Driver: Emotional Arc + Authenticity

This tweet hits every viral content driver:

Authenticity: It's real.
Inspiration: You could do this too.
Underdog story: Everyone loves a comeback.
Visual evidence: He’s not just telling you — he’s showing you.

meet the author

Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.

See full profile