This Nearly Broke Me: Learning AI the Hard Way So You Don’t Have To
I didn’t start AI for Growth because I had it all figured out. I started it because I almost gave up.
Let me set the scene: I’m deep into a HarvardX Python for AI course. I'm staring at logic tables, trying to remember what a NAND gate is, and wondering if my brain has actually turned to scrambled eggs.
Parallel to that, I’m reading Peter Norvig and Stuart Russell’s Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach - the heavyweight AI bible. (Because obviously, one form of suffering wasn’t enough.)
Despite my technical background in multimedia systems and building websites, I hit a wall.
And the wall hit back.
I remember thinking: "Maybe I’m not cut out for this. Maybe AI isn’t for people like me."
But then I did something that quietly changed everything: I asked ChatGPT to explain logic tables to me like I was five. No judgement. No jargon. Just clarity.
In that moment, I realised something.
This wasn’t just a tool for spitting out code or writing blog posts.
It was a learning companion. A thinking partner. A way back in.
If I hadn’t had that moment — if AI hadn’t helped me get past that stuck point — I might have quietly put the books down and walked away.
And if I, with all my experience, nearly gave up?
How many others are giving up before they even start?
That’s why I created AI for Growth.
To create a space where people can:
- Learn at their own pace
- Ask the questions they think are "too dumb" (they’re not)
- Grow their confidence, not just their productivity
- Use AI to think, explore, reflect, and create - not just to do things faster
You don’t need a PhD to understand this stuff.
You don’t have to pretend you know more than you do.
You just have to be curious, and willing to explore.
So if you’ve ever sat through an explanation filled with words like “neural networks” and “predictive tokenisation” and thought, "Is this still English?", you’re not alone.
You’re in the right place.
Welcome to AI for Growth.
AI For Growth is a blog for people who want to work smarter with AI, not get left behind by it. Whether you're a marketer, small business owner, freelancer, or just someone curious about what's possible with today’s tools, you're in the right place.
Why This Blog Exists
AI is no longer just a buzzword or something for Silicon Valley insiders. It's here, and it’s changing how we work, think, and create. But a lot of the advice out there is either too technical or too vague. That’s where we come in - simple, practical content that shows you how to actually use AI to save time, boost creativity, and do more of what matters.
Who's Behind This?
Hi, I’m Jane Arandelovic, digital strategist, writer, and lifelong curious person. I started AI For Growth because I wanted a space where regular people (not coders) could explore how AI fits into their work and life. I’ve worked with everyone from local businesses to global brands, and my goal here is to make AI feel exciting, not overwhelming.
What You’ll Find Here
- Step-by-step tutorials for using AI tools
- Real examples of how people are using AI for content, marketing, planning, and more
- Opinion pieces, ethical reflections, and a healthy dose of humour!
Let’s Learn Together
This blog is as much about learning as it is about teaching. We’re all figuring this out together, so if you’ve got questions, thoughts, or ideas for what you want to see more of, drop a line anytime at email.
Some posts on this blog are co-written with the help of AI. When that’s the case, you’ll see a note at the top of the article mentioning it was written with an AI assist - or credited to our mysterious contributor, N.E Writer (Not Entirely a Writer).
Let’s Connect
I’d love to hear from others exploring AI, whether you’re learning, building, or just AI curious. Feel free to reach out, follow my journey, or check out my latest experiments.