How many times over the years have you thought to yourself, “There needs to be app for that.” Personally, I’ve probably thought about several apps that need to be created, but like most people I never followed through.
Maci Peterson however did follow through on her brilliant app idea, “On Second Thought,” and she’s ready to take the world by storm with her app that allows users to recall text messages. The D.M.V resident came up with the idea to have a recall text app when she noticed there was none. Have you ever wished you could recall a text you sent to an ex-boyfriend, your co-worker or even your mother? Thanks to Maci, you now have the chance.
Read on to find out more about the app and its CEO:
Your app is so fantastic, did you just wake up one morning and say I’m going to create an app today? For me it was one of those ideas that found me. I think the problem that we solved, everyone has. We’ve all sent a text message that we need to get back. I just happened to be the kind of person that doesn’t complain about things, I try to find a solution. When I first realized I needed an app like mine, I had sent a message I needed to send. The first thing I did was go into the app store and I didn’t see anything, I did a Google search, I didn’t see anything and then I asked my friends and none of them had heard of any app like ours either. I had a real issue and there wasn’t a solution in the market place so I created one.
Describe what On Second Thought is in one sentence? On Second Thought is a messaging app that let’s you take back messages before they get to the other persons phone.
There are so many people who have app ideas, but they don’t see them through. What are three components that you think it takes to really make an idea happen? I think the number one thing is really strong faith and a good prayer life, that’s been really important for me. Number two is that the audacity and boldness to think that you can do it and the third thing is perseverance and you absolutely know that this is for you. My team and I have run into so many obstacles and its been those three things that have really carried us through.
You’re still balancing it all as a brand ambassador at a major hotel chain and running your own business. How do you do it all? It’s not easy! I would say the biggest thing to me is I know my priorities. I have an idea of where I want to go with On Second Thought and the goal was never to just have it as a side project. It was always to have as a company and run it full time. Based upon that I have set my priorities that way. If the thing that you’re building you just want it to be a side project or a hustle, it’s very different than when you’re trying to build it into a multi-billion dollar company.
There’s a stigma that black woman don’t code and that we are not into technology at all. Why do you think that is? I think its like any industry. Tech is that new frontier, and it took awhile to know that women were excelling in it. We were always the last one’s being brought to the table. There are a ton of phenomenal women in the tech industry and great organizations like Black Girls Code. We are breaking through to say we are here to stay.
How do you personally change the stigma with black women and technology? I think one thing is leading by example, so being bold and knowing that I have a reason for being there and knowing my purpose. I do believe that part of my purpose is young girls seeing me and saying if Maci can do it I can do it. I don’t have a technological background but I do have the audacity to say I deserve to be here and I have a great product. And I do mentor girls in tech as well.
Where do you see On Second Thought five years from now? Five years is a really long time in the tech industry. Based upon industry standards I see us being acquired or going for an IPO.
What words of encouragement who would love to follow in your footsteps? One thing my partners and I always say is we’re not special. One thing we understand is that we’ve been called to do this, we believe that God has called us. We’ve been open and flexible and willing to do what God has called us to do and with that comes rewards.
Find out more about On Second Thought below: