The 100-Day App Challenge: From Zero to Genius (Thanks to AI!)

(Clears throat loudly) Ken, my boy! Are your eyes permanently glued to that glowing rectangle, or do you still possess the ability to engage in a delightful, mind-expanding conversation with your magnificent grandfather?

(Chuckles) Ah, the relentless pursuit of digital glory! A noble quest, indeed. But today, I have a tale that might just make you put down that device and ponder the true meaning of “leveling up” in life.

(Winks) Not quite, my young grasshopper.

This is a tale for the modern age, about a young woman named Ami Otsuka. She wrote a book called, and I quote, “The #100 Day Challenge: My Life Changed After Making 100 Apps Continuously Every Day.”

(Nods sagely) Ah, that’s the beauty of it! Her story, in a nutshell, is about the importance of small challenges and the sheer joy of sticking with something, even when it feels like you’re trying to teach a cat to fetch.

(Leans forward) Patience, my boy! This isn’t about forced labor. It’s about understanding that in this age of AI, where you can ask a machine anything and get an answer tailored just for you, the path to mastery has changed. What used to take years for craftsmen and creators, AI can help you grasp in days!

Exactly! Ami Otsuka first encountered ChatGPT in 2023, during a university class. Her initial motivation? A slightly “impure” desire to skip homework using AI.

(Waving a finger) Ah, but here’s where it gets interesting! She tried asking AI to create a simple game. And lo and behold, the code appeared in minutes, and the game was finished in a flash! She was so astonished that she decided to fully embrace AI in her programming journey.

Indeed! And she thought, “If I’m going to do this, I want people to see it!” So, she started a challenge: 100 days, 100 apps, one app every single day.

(Shrugs) Probably less than you do playing your games. She started casually, but it was much harder than she imagined. She almost gave up countless times. But as she persevered, her understanding of programming deepened. She gained support from others, presented a paper, was interviewed by a tech magazine, got a job, and even published this very book!

(Taps the book) The first point is: Life only truly begins when you just decide to do it.

(Chuckles) Well, yes, but with a grander purpose! Ami wasn’t some super-genius student. She was the kind of university student who spent more time on the internet and games during lectures than on her studies. Sound familiar?

(Grins) Right. But she realized something crucial: in today’s world, if you don’t say you can do something, you won’t even get the chance to try. To get noticed, you have to put yourself out there, even if it feels like a bit of a fib at first.

(Nods enthusiastically) Precisely! Ami loved the phrase, “Fake it ’til you make it.” It means even if you’re not perfect from the start, if you act like you’re successful, you’ll eventually become genuinely successful. It’s like wearing a superhero cape before you can even tie your shoelaces!

Indeed! On day one, she made Othello. Day two, Poker. Day three, a calculator. She uploaded them to social media.

(Waving a hand dismissively) Ah, but they were crude! The Othello app would freeze after one move! She was mostly rebuilding old projects. The real struggle began on day five. But the point is, if you don’t say “I’ll do it,” you won’t even get the chance. Understand?

(Beaming) Excellent!

Now, for the second point: Don’t be afraid to put your work out there, even if it means a little embarrassment.

(Patting Ken’s shoulder) Ah, yes, your rendition of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” with a heavy metal growl. A bold choice, my boy. A bold choice. But Ami faced similar fears. On day five, she made a font conversion tool. It didn’t work initially, but after hours of wrestling with the code, she finally got it to work and posted it.

She was terrified! She thought, “What if they laugh at this shoddy app? What if they tell me this garbage program shouldn’t be posted?” But she realized if she quit there, she’d disappoint not only her followers but herself. So, she bravely kept sharing her work.

True! But this applies to anything – art, writing, music, videos. Everyone worries, “Is this good enough? Will this become a black mark on my record?” But by putting it out there, you get feedback. You see if you’re on the right track or not. If you don’t put it out, you’ll never know!

Precisely! Everyone starts out clumsy. You gradually improve by making corrections. So, if you want to get better, don’t be afraid to put your work out there, even if it means a little embarrassment. And if it’s truly hopeless, well, at least you found out quickly and can move on to something else!

The third point, my dear Ken, is: True learning begins with a strong desire to create something.

(Chuckles) A noble desire, but I meant something a bit more… intellectual. Ami continued to ask ChatGPT about unknown terms and solutions to problems. She made a catch game on day six, a file translation app on day seven. She was truly getting into the swing of things!

Immensely! She, who used to mess around with games and her phone during lectures, suddenly found herself immersed in programming for 10 hours a day! She realized the big reason her past studies never stuck was because they weren’t fun.

Indeed! When we think of studying, it’s often about memorizing textbooks or copying things down. Programming classes often start with copying code to display “Hello World!” on the screen. Ami found that kind of learning too boring to continue.

True, but there’s a more effective way! First, decide what you want to create. Then, only learn the knowledge you need for that specific thing, asking AI for help as you go.

Yes! For example, imagine you want to create an app that, when you input ingredients from your fridge, tells you what you can cook with them.

Exactly! So, you’d tell AI your idea, and it would give you the basic code. Of course, you’d run into problems and errors. But you’d ask AI for the necessary knowledge and solutions to those specific issues. By repeating this trial-and-error process, you’d naturally acquire a wide range of programming knowledge. That’s the ideal way to learn!

(Beaming) Precisely! This applies to music, cooking, writing – anything! When you have a concrete goal and passion, and you learn only what’s necessary to achieve it, it’s much more enjoyable. Learning should be fun! And now, with AI, anyone can learn this way.

Fourth point: It’s not effort; it’s just that I’m doing it because it’s fun.

(Winks) Perhaps Ami Otsuka is a superhero of sorts! Around day eight, when she was making an Invader-style game, she started working more from cafes and food courts. She wrote that the moderate background noise – kids making a racket, coffee machines whirring – actually helped her concentrate.

(Leans in conspiratorially) Ah, but here’s the kicker! Around day fifteen, at 1 AM, while playing an online game with a friend, her friend asked her, “That 100-day challenge is amazing! How do you keep up such effort?”

(Shakes his head) No! Ami was originally a student who played phone games during class and rarely submitted assignments. She thought about why she was suddenly so engrossed for 10 hours a day. And her answer was: “It’s not effort. I’m just doing it because it’s fun as a project.”

(Nods) Exactly! As we often say, “effort,” “willpower,” and “gritting your teeth” usually don’t last long. Maybe two or three years at most. And often, you don’t even get great results, and you end up burnt out.

(Chuckles) Indeed! While not everyone can make a career out of what they love, it’s also true that you can’t truly master something or do it for a long time if you don’t love it. As the saying goes, “Those who love something are good at it.”

Precisely! Now, Ken, what do you think? If you became super-rich, would you still do your current “job” of… well, being a teenager?

(Nods knowingly) See? If your immediate thought is, “No way I’d do this if I were rich!” then perhaps it’s time to pause and reflect.

(Sighs dramatically) Good luck with that one, my boy.

Now, for the fifth point: Don’t let others decide what you work hard on.

(Winks) Not entirely! Ami continued to prioritize app creation, even skipping school lectures when she was short on time. She managed to create a complex poker app by day twenty-five.

She was! And she was quite satisfied with creating a working app. Then, her university professor, Professor Ito, invited her to lunch. Over their meal, the professor said, “That’s how university students should be learning. Why don’t more students work as hard as you?”

Ami thought for a moment and replied, “Perhaps it’s because ‘effort’ doesn’t suit the times anymore?”

Well, in today’s world, simply working hard because someone tells you to doesn’t guarantee success. In the昭和 (Showa) era, with lifetime employment, maybe. But now, people who proactively pursue side gigs or use AI are the ones seizing opportunities.

Exactly! And one of Ami’s core beliefs is: “Don’t let others decide what you put effort into.”

Often, yes. That’s effort demanded by others. You get praised by parents or teachers. But Ami was bad at following such externally imposed efforts. She had a strong desire to decide what she would put effort into.

Precisely! She realized that because she chose this project, she wanted to see it through. It’s one of the scenes in the book where her values truly shine through.

(Nods thoughtfully) That’s true. It’s not about one way being good or bad. But I believe that for the things that are truly important to you, you shouldn’t let others decide. The artist Taro Okamoto wrote, “One must never hand over the thread of one’s life to anyone.”

It refers to that core part of you that you absolutely must not compromise if you want to live authentically. Sometimes, people go to a certain university or study to become a doctor because their parents told them to. But that’s like living your parents’ life, not holding the steering wheel of your own.

Indeed! Perhaps we truly become adults when we decide for ourselves, “I will do this. I will dedicate my life to this,” and take responsibility for that choice. So, remember: Decide for yourself what you will work on, not others.

Sixth point: The key to continuation is habit, not willpower.

(Chuckles) Well, a little willpower helps, but Ami realized that the reason she could continue this difficult challenge was because of habit.

Exactly! Ami had a routine: she’d go to the university between 9 and 10 AM every day and work late into the night. She wrote that as long as she maintained this routine, she could continue making apps daily.

It’s crucial! The primary resource for creating or learning anything is time. If you don’t have time, you can’t even try. So, you need to secure a block of time before you start anything.

(Nods) A valid point! For working adults, it might mean waking up early, or finding other ways to carve out time. It requires ingenuity.

(Sighs) Perhaps not exactly that, Ken. But yes, finding your dedicated time. Thanks to this habit, she completed a memory game on day 36, a video download tool on day 37, and a tap game on day 38.

She was! And then, Professor Ito told her that her paper had been accepted for an international conference in Spain at the end of February, and she needed to prepare for the presentation.

It was about the lessons she learned from her 100-day challenge!

(Nods) Indeed! Back then, using AI for work and learning was still quite rare. So, with her presentation in Spain confirmed, she was truly committed! So, remember: The key to continuation is habit, not willpower.

Seventh point: Support and encouragement only come to those who start doing something.

(Chuckles) Not unless you’re a very entertaining statue! Ami’s 100-day challenge was widely known among her university professors and friends. And Professor Ito, in particular, became a huge supporter.

The very same! He gave her a MacBook Pro worth about 400,000 yen (about $2,700 USD at current rates)! He advised her on programming, bought her books, and even accompanied her to the international conference in Spain, giving her the opportunity to present her paper!

(Raises an eyebrow) Ami thought so too! She actually asked him directly, “Professor, why are you doing so much for me?”

(Shakes his head, laughing) Of course not! He thought for a moment and replied, “I actually want to help more students. But recent students aren’t very enthusiastic. I can only support those who have started doing something.”

(Nods firmly) Exactly! People naturally want to support those who are taking action, who are challenging themselves. This is true for pro gamers, streamers, athletes – anyone! People who aren’t taking action, who don’t seem to be trying, are harder to support.

(Grins) Precisely! Even if someone isn’t “working hard” but is just enjoying themselves, people are moved to help when they see someone actively pursuing something. The professor probably encountered a student who was genuinely trying after a long time and wanted to support her. So, remember: Support and encouragement only come to those who start doing something.

Finally, the eighth point: Small challenges attract unexpected opportunities.

(Chuckles) Perhaps! On day 100, Ami rebuilt the crude Othello app she made on day one, transforming it into a high-quality version, thus concluding her challenge. She then summarized her learnings with the help of ChatGPT into a paper, which she presented in Spain on February 24th.

That’s right! And part of her paper explained that through the 100-day challenge, she realized a crucial insight: AI is merely a tool that follows instructions, so it cannot do more than the user’s ability.

It means you need the knowledge to understand what’s good and what’s bad, and how to give AI detailed instructions.

Exactly! Conversely, if the user lacks skill, understanding, or ingenuity, it’s difficult to fully harness AI’s power, no matter how excellent the AI is.

(Patting Ken’s head) A harsh truth, my boy! By the way, Ami sent over 8,123 prompts to ChatGPT during those 100 days!

(Nods) And later, an article interviewing her became a hot topic, leading to the publication of this very book!

(Laughs) It does seem a little too perfect, doesn’t it? But it teaches us that small challenges can indeed attract unexpected opportunities.

(Smiling) Indeed!

So, to summarize, this book teaches us the importance of small challenges and the joy of continuing:

1. Life only truly begins when you just decide to do it.

2. Don’t be afraid to put your work out there, even if it means a little embarrassment.

3. True learning begins with a strong desire to create something.

4. It’s not effort; it’s just that I’m doing it because it’s fun.

5. Don’t let others decide what you work hard on; decide for yourself.

6. The key to continuation is habit, not willpower.

7. Support and encouragement only come to those who start doing something.

8. Small challenges attract unexpected opportunities.

(Stretches) Excellent! That means you’ve learned something! Now, how about we celebrate this newfound wisdom with some of that pizza you were so desirous of earlier? My treat!

(Shakes his head, chuckling) Ah, Ken, my boy. Always aiming for the truly important things in life. Come on, let’s go!

Well now, Ken’s off to tackle his “100-day pizza challenge,” bless his heart. Kids these days, always full of delightful ideas. But while he’s out there, I wanted to share a few more thoughts with all of you watching.

You know, Ami Otsuka’s story, this “100 Day Challenge”… it’s not just about coding or apps. It’s about something far more fundamental. It’s about taking that first step, even when you’re terrified, even when you feel like a complete novice. It’s about understanding that the biggest barrier is often just your own fear of looking foolish.

And it’s about finding joy in the process. Ken asked if all that hard work was “effort.” And Ami’s answer was beautiful: “It’s not effort, it’s just fun.” When you find something that truly sparks your curiosity, that makes you eager to learn and create, the concept of “effort” simply melts away. It becomes a part of who you are, something you want to do, not something you have to do.

In this incredible age of AI, where knowledge is at our fingertips and tools can amplify our abilities beyond imagination, the real power lies not in the AI itself, but in us. It lies in our desire to create, our willingness to learn, and our courage to act. AI is a magnificent paintbrush, but you are the artist. The more skilled you become, the more beautiful the masterpiece you can create with it.

So, whether it’s learning a new skill, starting a hobby, or even just trying a different recipe for dinner, don’t wait for permission. Don’t wait to be perfect. Don’t let anyone else dictate what brings meaning and joy to your life.

Just start. Put it out there, even if it’s a bit rough around the edges. Find the fun in it, build a habit, and trust that the right support will find you along the way. Because often, it’s those small, seemingly insignificant challenges that open the door to the most extraordinary opportunities.
Thank you for listening to an old man’s musings. Now, go on. What small challenge will you begin today? The world is waiting for what you’ll bring to it.