The Story Behind the Invention

Linkman inventor, JB Snyder

They say necessity is the mother of invention. So like most inventors, I invented Linkman because of my own need to finally quit smoking forever. I know firsthand how smoking can own you; emotionally, behaviorally, physically – and most important how the process of quitting smoking affects relationships.

I started smoking when I was 12 years old. Like most kids I stole cigarettes from the most convenient source - my dad. My father wasn’t happy that I had started smoking. But he also realized that there wasn’t much he could say because he was a smoker. Eventually my dad quit smoking — to become a better role model. It took about a dozen efforts AND he was miserable to live with during each of his attempts to quit smoking.

When I turned 34 I realized that I had spent two-thirds of my life as a smoker and it was time to quit. My girlfriend and I decided to quit smoking together.

During our multiple efforts to quit smoking we were irritable and constantly at each other’s throats. During our last attempt, I found out that my girlfriend was sneaking cigarettes. This became a catalyst for arguments - she was cheating on our quit smoking pact and I was being good. Eventually, out of anger, I broke the pact and had ONE cigarette (a buddy convinced me it would make me feel better). A couple weeks later I was stressed and irritable again and had ONE more cigarette. My thinking was, I got away with one a couple weeks ago and didn’t start smoking, so I can do it again. That’s the trap we all fall into.

After several failed attempts (patch, gum, the anti-depressant pills, cold turkey) I began to notice a few recurring patterns. I thought if I had something to help me quit smoking that could guarantee longer intervals between cigarettes I could wean myself off nicotine and I wouldn’t backslide.

I program computers for a living, so I attacked the problem the only way I knew how: methodically. I evaluated the multitude of products on the market and sorted through tons of smoking cessation research. Then I developed a quit program for myself that combined the gradual weaning approach and incorporated the innovation of a permission-based strategy (sharing permission to smoke with my Linkman device). I realized that I had become we I had come to think of Linkman as part of my 'quit team. And I QUIT... and stayed quit.

When friends and coworkers came to me for my help and wanted to use what I used to quit smoking, I brought together experts in several fields. Many months and one patent later, we developed Linkman, a simple device that combines the proven strategy of gradual weaning with our permission-based innovation.

Four years later and I am still smoke-free. Don’t just take my word that Linkman works, read what other Linkman users have to say.

You can do it. Quit Smoking Starting Today!