Unplug from Hype machine - Embrace JOMO (The Joy of Missing Out :)

Howzit guys,

Does anyone remember those people who used to wear a badge on their shirts with the words: Loose weight now, ask me how?”

It’s no different on LinkedIn now -a-days, as every second post demands that you read its clickbait AI hype message.

It usually goes something like this.

“How to go from broke to 100K with this AI tool”

OR "I grew from 0 → 30,000 followers in 6 months"

FOMO or Focus: You Choose

In this week's newsletter, lets chat about "taking a step back from the AI hype” and remembering to give ourselves time to grow.

So grab your espresso and lets hang out for awhile.

In a world rushing towards quick fixes, our journey in AI and personal growth is more of a marathon than a sprint.

?Nix's Weekly TLDR Nuggets:

• Embrace JOMO (the Joy of Missing Out)
• Growth takes time
• Learning sacrifices are brief detours
• Nix's Top 3 Rabbit Holes
• Where to Learn AI

So much of what we see is sadly “clickbait” or FOMO vibes ( Fear of Missing out)

It does what it says.

It gets your attention.

I am starting to call it “Content Propaganda”

It scares you, makes you believe that maybe you are not staying relevant when it comes to AI?

My advice: scroll right past this.

No, I do not have a limiting mindset, I have an expansive one.

I want to be at the most optimal version of ME.

I would love to make cash with AI and build with no code.

The difference is I am building with a solid foundation.

And that guys, takes time.

Posts like the above trigger me like a Zap when I am trying to automate stuff.

If You didn’t feel useless before reading that message, you now do.

Learning is a Journey.

More so with AI as its all software related, largely.

And each software has its own functionality and that requires time to play around and figure it all out.

That’s why I feel taking the scenic route.

Procrastinate {Yes I did just say that}

For some context though, this can lead you down delightful rabbit holes that can be a goldmine of knowledge & utterly satisfying

So start by tinkering & playing with each AI tool

Play with Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/

?From Eco Warrior ?to No Code Warrior (with a few detours)

I can only use my journey as proof that you will see results, maybe not in 6 days but yes 6 months or less is do-able.

?Here is an example: After adding my new AI course skills to LinkedIn, the platform's started suggesting the kind of jobs I've always been after.

Though, it takes TIME.

And Pig-headed determination.

Heaps of sacrifice.

Oh AND its exhausting, like running 21 km's on a mountain exhausting.

25 courses later re all things GenAI, and Yes, I am STILL hungry for more.

That’s why I started writing this letter, to learn as I wrote to you guys.

As how could I have written about building a Poe chatbot, if I first didn’t try myself to build one?

I am not technical by nature, and this journey has been uncomfortable because I was working in tech, though not using its products.

I was showing up for my job, but not for me.

Today I get to show up for me.

I am building my AI Knowledge foundation as Andrew NG from DeepLearning.AI Learning advocates, and gaining new AI tools that I can use.

Remember: “Learning before Earning!” as one of 2024 mantras.

This week's vibe is: “Give yourself Time!”

I have had to give up a few delicious sea swims to be at my desk going down the next incredible rabbit hole

Though it’s a sacrifice worth sacrificing for.

My wrists get sore from typing, that’s why I started my “15 mins of desk yoga”

I am drinking way too many espressos ( I know that, but I also know its just where I am at today)

I accept ALL of this, as I know, that to be the optimal version of me, without sounding crazy, I need to be on this path.

I have never in all my life, sat at my desk as much, from 7am-7pm ( Mon-Sat)

Though this will eventually settle as I gain more confidence.

Which reminds me, when you feel emotional or anxious, check out Pi, my AI virtual therapist, I guess.

A great place to vent or seek comfort.

He also doubles up as a coach :)

https://pi.ai/talk

We can’t be it all to EVERYONE.

This year is one of devoted studying.

Also, to continue to put myself out there IRL.

From No code Webinars to applying for side hustles with my new AI skills.

I have started to see that the more interested I became, the more opportunities seem to show up.

So start today.

Just start being interested

Show up.

Apply for the job you want, NOT the one you think you should apply for!

Sidenote: This is a great AI that simulates being in an actual interview room and helps get your confidence up.

https://grow.google/certificates/interview-warmup/

When I heard my voice being played back, I could pick up on the nervous-ness and how many times I said the word “Like!”

Oops.

I can only tell you where I started.

I Started with Brad, my first AI teacher.

I blame him for my obsession with GenAI, hee hee

You can find him here: https://bit.ly/495oHlI

After doing courses with Google & Microsoft, I will say Brad won’t make it easy for you.

• He will make you think about your specific AI use cases.
• He will push you to build with AI when you don’t have any idea where to start. (true Story)
• Also, he likes to meet once a week.
• This is a fully accountable AI bootcamp and I loved it.

Anyhow, Let’s not lose focus here ( as you can see I love to digress)

My primary message was and still is:

Give yourself time

I started writing to you all on the 16th of Nov 2023 of last year.

Today I can say that 5400 people have subscribed to my newsletter.

I am seeing results.

All organic. No paid ads. No magic anything to engorge it all.

Just damn hard work.

Most days the analytics are so up and down, I like to think the Algo has bipolar.

So quit looking at the numbers.

They like LIFE are in flux, Ever moving, Ever changing.

Focus on starting today to get to know one of the tools I mentioned.

Stop comparing.

This is your AI journey.

As my newsletter suggests, let's continue to “Ease into AI together!”

Thank you for keeping me inspired

Until next week

Blessings Always,

Nix G

Cape Town

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