If I Can Code, So Can You: Volume 3

Ever have a deadline and no idea where to start? Hit a knowledge gap that stalls a project? Try a new tool, only to drown in errors with no clue how to fix them? You’re not alone. That was me in the first few weeks of building MindOverMoney.ai on Ghost, which offers solid out-of-the-box themes, but none fit what I needed. So I went down the customization rabbit hole—and I’m glad I did. It led to my second significant “aha” moment: I can write code (with ChatGPT as my co-pilot).

There were 3 customizations needed to realize my vision for the website:

1. Simplified layout on the main page
2. Custom layouts and navigation for ‘Founder’s Corner’ and ‘Prompt Library’
3. Automation of Neural Gains Weekly into the ‘Archive’

Now, I don’t know how to read or write code, nor am I extensively familiar with IDE or coding platforms. But I read about AI coding use cases and how advancements over the past year have unlocked new potential for people like me (like many of you). The barrier to entry has been knocked down, but you can only understand the power of AI coding once you experience it. You can make real progress without being “technical,” if you work in small, manageable steps and ask better questions. These are the lessons that helped me move from stuck to building.

• Build your vision
  • Know exactly what you want to build. Clear communication of your vision is key.
• Work on one task at a time
  • Focus on each step individually and verify the code deployment matches your vision.
• Be precise
  • When I gave ChatGPT exact errors and clear outcomes, I got useful help.
• Ask questions
  • If you don’t know what to do, that’s okay. Ask for help and clarity.
• Expect friction, budget patience
  • Failure and rework are part of the learning journey.
• Learn as you go
  • I didn’t need to learn everything. I needed just enough knowledge to build out my vision. 
• Celebrate wins
  • Reinforce your learning by celebrating every win, especially when building code.

I understand this topic can be intimidating, especially if you’re like me and have little to no background in coding. But that’s the point. You can build tools, apps, websites, and passion projects without having technical skills. Even if you fail and struggle to build a finished product, you’ll start to unlock the full potential of AI and give yourself an advantage over 99% of people using these tools. We often focus on outputs and are trained to think that way, whether it be in school or work. AI is different, the learning journey is different. The power is understanding and creating something that was out of reach just a year ago. It's also incredibly fun and rewarding to see an idea come to life at warp speed. Once you start, you won’t want to stop.

Goals & Milestones:

In the spirit of transparency, I plan on sharing updates related to my goals. This has been a challenge since I don’t really know what to expect when it comes to subscription growth, but socializing goals will help me stay accountable throughout this journey.

Follow us on social media and share Neural Gains Weekly with your network to help grow our community of ‘AI doers’. You can also contact me directly at admin@mindovermoney.ai or connect with me on LinkedIn.