Day 1467
Man, I don’t understand why every time I go into the sauna at my gym, almost everyone in there has a phone. Maybe not literally every single person, every single time, but it feels like 90% or more of the people I see. They’re actually bringing their phones into the sauna. It’s a strange sight when you think about what the sauna is supposed to be.
There’s no denying it’s a bit hypocritical for me to say this, because I spend way too much time on my phone myself. But when I go into the sauna, I’m looking for something different. I want a little rest and relaxation, a moment away from the constant blue light and endless scrolling that fills so much of the day. On top of that, I genuinely worry about my phone overheating in that kind of environment.
I suppose you have to give some credit to the people who design the algorithms that keep us hooked on social media, because they are clearly doing something right. And by “right,” I mean they’ve figured out how to keep human beings deeply engaged, often to the point of addiction, while enriching their companies in the process. It’s an impressive system, even if it comes with trade-offs.
But enough complaining about technology, because the truth is I’m very bullish on it. I had an excellent Saturday today, most of it spent at the beach with my aunt, uncle, and grandparents. While I was there, I had the chance to show my uncle some of the websites I’ve built and how he can start using AI himself. Watching that click for someone is genuinely exciting.
It’s empowering to realize that you can now build almost anything you want using natural language. Teaching others how to do that brings me a lot of joy, and it reinforces how much leverage these tools provide. You’re no longer limited by traditional barriers to entry. If you can think clearly and communicate what you want, you can start building.
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One of the things I’m really enjoying about this project, where I’m teaching others how to build apps while improving my own app day by day, is how much it’s sharpening my skills. I can already see improvements in video editing, in how I meta-prompt AI, in how I use tools like Claude Code, and in how I present ideas. It’s a compounding effect that only becomes visible once you commit to doing the work consistently.
Recording a video every day is not easy. In fact, it’s probably the hardest part right now. Putting something out there daily is uncomfortable, especially when you know it’s not perfect. But there’s something valuable in that discomfort, because those are the moments where you actually grow.
Over time, those small, slightly painful reps add up. You learn, you adjust, and you improve. I fully expect that after 100 days of doing this, I’ll be significantly better at editing, at vibe coding, and at presenting. The trajectory is already clear, even if the day-to-day progress feels incremental.
I also hope to generate some side income from all of this. One of the most powerful aspects of software is that it allows you to make money while you sleep. I want to use it to improve my life, to build things I genuinely care about, and to create value for other people. If I do that well, the financial side follows naturally.
At the end of the day, money is just a tool. It’s the menu, not the food. It’s the map, not the territory. It’s a means, not an end. And if I can use technology to create more freedom, more value, and more alignment in my life, then I’m playing the only game that matters: an infinite game, not a zero-sum one.
3/28/26
Conor Jay Chepenik
