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this post was submitted on 13 Jun 2014

Thank you r/theXeffect! (self.theXeffect) 45 points (92% upvoted)

45 submitted 2 years ago by rbro112 7 Weeks Dev shortlink: https://redd.it/2839zy

I'm extremely proud to say I finished my

first card ever! 49 days strong and this Submit a new link
simple idea of only doing 1 simple task a
day has led me to so much. And I could Submit a new text post
not have done it without theXeffect.
Here's a little story about my journey (you theXeffect
can skip to the end if you don't want to unsubscribe 26,925 readers
read all of it) 4 users here now
A few months ago at the end of April, I was Show my flair on this subreddit. It looks like:
finishing up my second semester of my zentropia (edit)

first year of college and I was extremely .

disappointed at where I was. I was lazy, I
didn't have my priorities straight, I hadn't
done so hot in school and I was too lazy to
get started on any goals I had. On top of
this, I had been trying for months to get an
Internship for this summer and I had at
Your willpower is like a muscle, and it gets stronger
and stronger as you exercise it.
.
On THURSDAYS we tip our hands and show our
cards. It's a little shot in the arm going into the
weekend. But you are always welcome to show off your
cards any day at all.

received least 5 different interviews. .

Problem is, each job turned me down. I The Post that Started it all

had no idea why and every time an .

employer sent me that email saying, Do check the wiki for on overview of what's going on
here.
"We're sorry, we've already [some pathetic
.
excuse] the position.", I would just get less
=====> Latest Tips <=====
and less motivated to do anything.
What the graduates have to say.
My semester was nearing an end and to .
procrastinate studying for exams, I found Habit-specific discussions, tips, buddy-ups:
myself browsing Reddit and trying to find Mindfulness meditation (take 5 / 12 / 20 min)
some sort of way to get motivated to study Diet adjustment
or do something productive. Somehow I Exercise
ended up on /r/getdisciplined and I found Sleep Improvement
the post. Yes, the post in the sidebar that Study
started theXeffect. I saw this and was Practice/Training
inspired to try this in my life. I grabbed a X-Tobacco
notecard and tried to think of something to X-Alcohol
do with it. I really tried hard to think of Related Links:
something unique that would help me 7 Weeks - This android app has a sweet
learn something new, experiment in my motivating X-effect story behind it. Well done.
college major and possibly help build my 49days (web)
There's an excellent collection of related
pathetic resume. I had taken two classes subreddits on the sidebar of /r/getdisciplined.
in my first semester that were introductions created by elleGeneralisimo a community for 3 years
to Computer Science and intro to Java. I
MODERATORS message the moderators
had an Android device and I had known
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5/20/2017 Thank you r/theXeect! : theXeect

that they were coded in Java but I never elleGeneralisimo

explored it. I suddenly realized this was Bombjoke
the way to go. about moderation team

At the top of the card, I wrote to do at least RECENTLY VIEWED LINKS

1 hour a day working on learning about
and creating Android Apps. It didn't matter
what the app was. As long as I coded for
at least an hour a day and taught myself
something each day, I would hopefully
develop a new habit and maybe build my
resume with an app that came out of it. I
started that day and never looked back.
And in the last 49 days I did not just
develop a new habit, I found my passion. I
learned that I absolutely LOVE making
mobile apps. I love coding. I love UI design
and graphic design now all because of this
simple card. The last 49 days have
transformed my life.
I coded aimlessly for about a week,
following simple tutorials on making easy
apps and simple games. At first I would do
strictly an hour because I will admit the
learning curve is tough, but suddenly a few
I fully finished the Italian course of Duolingo I
began there's one yea and a half. I would
never have made it without the X effect.
35 points | 8 comments
[Race] Ready to Ditch White Feminism? 6
Black Feminist Concepts You Need to Know
44 points | 19 comments
The Arab Muslim Slave Trade Of Africans,
The Untold Story (2014) - "The Muslim slave
trade was much larger, lasted much longer,
and was more brutal than the transatlantic
slave trade and yet few people have heard
about it RE POST
26.5k points | 5118 comments
My testosterone levels are dropping and I am
becoming infertile.
8 points | 8 comments
humor This startup-themed game seems to be
taking a jab at Soylent
53 points | 6 comments
clear
account activity

days in I found myself doing more than an

hour of work a day naturally. Instead of
spending my free time playing video
games I was actually using that time to
learn about Android and app development.
About two weeks in, I had some simple
apps made from tutorials and I had only
missed one day. It was around then that I
came up with the idea for my app: 7
weeks. The card method that was working
so well for me inspired to make an Android
app just for the purpose of making or
breaking habits using this method. I
worked and worked each day and now that
I had a goal in sight, my new habit became
an obsession. I am now very proud to say
that as of a few days ago, I have released
my app, 7 weeks, onto the Google Play
store!
On top of this, about three weeks ago, I
told one of my friends about this app. He
was extremely impressed that I was
making an app and gave me the number
of one of his good friends that owned a
start-up and was looking to hire mobile
application developers. I called him up and
we met and I showed him my work. My

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5/20/2017 Thank you r/theXeect! : theXeect

app was still very rough, but he too was

extremely impressed nonetheless and
offered me a position to work for him as a
mobile application developer! I accepted
the position and I now have that summer
internship I was working so hard for!
tl;dr: Made a card for doing 1 hour of
Android development a day to teach me.
Ended up learning about something I now
love and I now have an app on the Google
Play store along with a job!
Looking back on all of this, I don't think I
would've been able to do any of this had it
not been for theXeffect. I wasn't perfect,
but I successfully made it 46 out of the 49
days with my habit, and it all just came
naturally to me. From now on, anytime I
want to start or end a habit, I'm going to
use this method.
Oh and I almost forgot! Here is the link to
my app on the Google Play store: 7 Weeks
If you have any feedback or ideas for
improvement for it I would love to hear
about it. I really want this app to help
others break their habits using the same
method as I did.
Here is the card that started it all: The
Card

34 comments share save hide give gold report

all 34 comments
sorted by: best
[] [deleted] 2 years ago*

[deleted]

[] rbro112 7 Weeks Dev [S] 2 points 2 years ago

That's awesome! What is the game called I'd like to check it out! And I completely agree with you.
Beginning programming and creating apps was very difficult but once I laid the base and began to figure
it out it just came naturally. Great metaphor for it!
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[] [deleted] 2 years ago*

[deleted]

[] rbro112 7 Weeks Dev [S] 1 point 2 years ago

I was able to check it out and I have to say, that is extremely impressive! Unfortunately I don't
have Left 4 Dead 2 so I can't download it but it looks awesome and the graphics/attention to
detail looks amazing. I'm not sure what you're doing right now but if you're not already, look into
bringing your skills to some game development studios to see if you can get a position! I think
you easily could.
Thanks for downloading and using my app by the way! If there are any features or fixes you
want me to add just let me know and I';l be happy to fix em.
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[] djangogol 3 points 2 years ago

Not compatible with my device.... I have a Galaxy S3 :-(

Congratulations on completing 49 days. That's a big deal. That you've developed an app and gotten a job
are bonuses; the real value, IMO, is the increased discipline you have developed.
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[] rbro112 7 Weeks Dev [S] 2 points 2 years ago

That is probably because the app only supports Android 4.1 and up.
But yes that is definitely one of the best things I have gotten from it. On top of the confidence and
success I have gained the discipline and work ethic improvement has been one of the best parts.
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[] Bombjoke 3 points 2 years ago

that is SO cool. im smiling all day. im gonna try not to cry!

thanks for giving us the long version, seriously!
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[] rbro112 7 Weeks Dev [S] 1 point 2 years ago

I'm glad I could make you smile :) Hopefully I can help inspire you to complete a card (or cards)!
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[] Bombjoke 1 point 2 years ago

are you the guy who messaged me when he began, that he would create an app and let me know in
49 days?
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[] rbro112 7 Weeks Dev [S] 1 point 2 years ago

Nope, that wasn't me.

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[] mems_account 2 points 2 years ago

What tutorials did you use? I've been trying to get into this sort of thing but have no idea where to start.
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[] rbro112 7 Weeks Dev [S] 3 points 2 years ago

I purchased a book and just followed some simple ones online. I'll send you the specific ones later today
when I get back home but for now I recommend just searching tutorials online. Androidhive was also and
still is one of my favorites but it's a little more advanced.
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[] legomolin 2 points 2 years ago

7 weeks "isn't available in your country", and i live in Sweden. You might want to fix that so you don't loose
out on potential downloads. Good job! Pretty inspirational story. :)
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[] rbro112 7 Weeks Dev [S] 3 points 2 years ago

Ah I know exactly why, I only selected a few English speaking countries because I don't have the
experience or knowledge translating. I'll definitely allow it in some more countries so you can download
it!
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[] berkask 3 points 2 years ago

I don't think limiting to a few English-speaking countries is a good idea especially when the language
used is fairly simple and short. Most of the countries require English as a second language, so many
of them would probably understand. Plus, the concept of marking X on an empty box is pretty
intuitive, so I don't see how anyone can be confused about that.
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5/20/2017 Thank you r/theXeect! : theXeect

Anyways, good job! I assume you are CS major? I might as well start something like this.
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[] rbro112 7 Weeks Dev [S] 5 points 2 years ago

I just learned this lesson! I realized after the original comment that I needed to change that no
matter what country you're in you can use it and I now have it released to almost all countries.
And yes I am! Switched at the end of this semester to CS with a minor in Business
Administration!
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[] thundorable 2 points 2 years ago

Bravo! What a wonderful thing, and thank you for sharing. I'm just delighted for you!!!
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[] rbro112 7 Weeks Dev [S] 2 points 2 years ago

Thank you very much!

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[] k8seren 2 points 2 years ago

Congratulations! I really like the design of your app, really pleasing to the eyes. Great work!
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[] rbro112 7 Weeks Dev [S] 2 points 2 years ago

The design is what I put the most work into! I'm glad you like it :)
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[] nachihapter 2 points 2 years ago

awesome.. congrats on this achievement. this is just a beginning and now will go on forever.
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[] rbro112 7 Weeks Dev [S] 1 point 2 years ago

Exactly! I've built something for life! Thank you very much!
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[] peachiebaby 2 points 2 years ago

That's extremely wonderful to hear :). It's really great to hear that something so simple changed your life so
much. I'm starting out! (I got my first x yaaaay. lol).
edit: i tried to review your app, but stupid google play won't let me because of some error!!
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[] rbro112 7 Weeks Dev [S] 1 point 2 years ago

Thank you so much!

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[] canis_maior 1 point 2 years ago

I just want to say congratulations bro. I downloaded your app and it looks pretty cool. Keep programming.
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[] rbro112 7 Weeks Dev [S] 1 point 2 years ago

Thank you very much! I'm glad you like it!

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[] dvn3x3 1 point 2 years ago

@rbro112. Would you be able to post a road-map of your learning process and the tutorials you went
through? I'm thinking of starting a similar goal :D
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[] rbro112 7 Weeks Dev [S] 3 points 2 years ago

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Hey there! Well, first off it was a tough learning curve but once you get over the hump it gets surprisingly
easy. I started out back in January toying around with Android but didn't crack down until around
April/May. I followed random tutorials by searching on Google and on a website called androidhive.info
(which is a little more advanced) until I started to figure it out on my own. I also purchased a book called
Android Apps for Absolute beginners. This book was great, but it may be a little outdated now that
Android is moving into a whole new material design system. I definitely can be helpful though. I'd
recommend starting by following some basic app tutorials then coming up with an idea for an app and
tackling it one part at a time. It will all come together with time. The thing that helped me out the most
though was switching from Eclipse to Android Studio. While it is now in its beta and has some flaws,
overall it makes it so much easier to create apps and I will never look back to Eclipse. The Intellij IDE is
absolutely amazing for Java and I love it. Let me know if you need any specific help with it because I
love teaching others about it!
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[] dvn3x3 1 point 2 years ago

Thank you so much! I actually just went to a hackathon today as a designer and feel so much more
pumped to get more into development. I'll definitely let you know if there's anything I need help with
specifically. :)
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[] rbro112 7 Weeks Dev [S] 1 point 2 years ago

Awesome! That's almost the best way to do it! Just jump right in. Please do I love to help other
people learn about it!
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[] OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 1 point 2 years ago

Any app for Windows Phone?

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[] rbro112 7 Weeks Dev [S] 1 point 2 years ago

Currently, no. I am thinking about using this app to teach me iOS development, and of course I don't
want to forget about all those Windows Phone users, but time is not my friend right now. I will see what I
can do about implementing the app on Windows Phone though!
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[] Arphahat 1 point 2 years ago*

Great job!
Are you taking feedback on the app? I tried "importing" my existing cards, but there is no way to change the
start date. Or, it could recalculate the start based on how many days you mark done.
Also, a way to indicate "missed a day" might be worthwhile. And, it seems like there is no way to even skip a
box if there is a missed day.
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[] rbro112 7 Weeks Dev [S] 1 point 2 years ago

Hey there! I just created a new post to cover all the updates that I am adding. Check it out here. I should
have the update out in a week or two! Thanks for using the app by the way!
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[] Cacoock 1 point 2 years ago

Why does something so simple as this support only Android 4.1 and up? It would be nice to have it on older
versions, because I can't use it this way.
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[] rbro112 7 Weeks Dev [S] 2 points 2 years ago

I'm using font libraries for the UI that are only in 4.1. I'm actually working on making it backwards
compatible in a future update so hopefully you'll use it then!

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