What's stopping you from learning AI? (It's not what you think)

Welcome, humans.

Let me guess what's on your computer right now.

A folder titled "AI Learning - START HERE" from like 6 months ago.

Inside another folder. "AI Courses - ACTUALLY DO THESE."

Inside THAT- "NO, REALLY START THIS TIME."

The contents:

• 23 PDFs you've never opened

• 12 YouTube playlists titled "Complete AI Roadmap 2025"

• A Notion page with zero checkboxes ticked

• One optimistic calendar reminder that says "TODAY IS THE DAY"

How do I know?

Because that's literally what I found on a client's laptop last week when helping them set up their first AI workflow.

But here's the kicker...

While you've been collecting tabs and creating folders, some people who started learning AI 40 days ago are now:

• Closing $800 client projects

• Selling AI automation services for $500/project

• Making passive income from $15 digital products

Time they spent planning: Maybe a day.

Time they spent doing: 40 days.

Time you've spent researching the "perfect" course: Probably months.

I see this pattern everywhere. You know what the difference is between people making money with AI and people still "learning" AI?

They stopped overthinking and just started.

And the good news: You've got exactly 40 days left in 2025 to do the same thing.

🎯 What Actually Works (Week by Week)

Look, you don't need a PhD. You don't need to understand neural networks. You just need to follow a simple path.

Week 1: Stop Researching, Start Using

You know what kills most people? They spend weeks finding the "perfect" course instead of taking ANY course.

Here's what works:

• Pick ONE free prompt course (ChatGPT Prompt Engineering on Coursera - 1 hour)

• Just take it. Don't research alternatives.

• Start using AI for actual work—research, writing, everything

Result: You'll save 10+ hours in the first week alone.

The lesson: The best course is the one you actually complete.

Week 2: Build Something (Anything)

This is where most people quit. They learn theory but never build.

Don't be that person.

What to build: An email organiser using n8n (free tool)

Time needed: 4 hours total
Difficulty: Way easier than you think
What happens: Your chaotic inbox gets auto-organised forever

The shift: Once you build something for yourself, you realise you can build it for others.

Week 3: Learn Just Enough to Sound Smart

You don't need to know HOW AI works to use it.

But you DO need to understand it well enough to explain it.

What to do: Take "AI For Everyone" by Andrew Ng (6 hours, free)

You'll learn:

• What LLMs actually are

• Difference between GPT-4, Claude, Gemini

• How to explain AI without sounding lost

Why it matters: Clients pay people who can explain WHY, not just DO.

Week 4: Build Your Portfolio Fast

Stop overthinking. Just build 3 simple projects:

1. AI Chatbot - FAQ bot (2 hours)

2. Content Generator - Blog to social posts (3 hours)

3. Trend Tracker - Scrapes Reddit for topics (4 hours)

Build a portfolio site with Canva + ChatGPT (2 hours).

None needs to be perfect. They just need to prove you can deliver.

Week 5: Make Your First Dollar

Time to monetise.

Offer these services:

• AI Workflow Automation: $500

• Email Organisation: $300

• Prompt Consulting: $100/hr

Where to find clients:

• Post on LinkedIn about your 40-day journey

• Message 10 small business owners you know

• Join freelancer communities

Also create: One digital product (prompt pack, template, guide) for $9-29.

Expected result: $500-800 in your first week of offering services.

Week 6: Scale What Works

By now you've got:

• One client under your belt

• Proof you can deliver

• Confidence you didn't have 5 weeks ago

What to do:

• Post your journey on social media

• Ask satisfied clients for referrals

• Create more digital products

Expected outcome: 2-3 more clients lined up, $1,000+ total earned

🚀 Your 40-Day Roadmap

Days 1-7: Just Start

• Take ONE course (1 hour)

• Use AI for real work daily

• Save prompts that work

Goal: Stop planning, start doing

Days 8-14: Build One Thing

• Pick one tool (n8n/Zapier)

• Build one automation

• Make it work (doesn't need to be perfect)

Goal: Prove you can create

Days 15-21: Learn Enough

• Take "AI For Everyone" (6 hours)

• Understand basics

• Close all those tabs

Goal: Be able to explain AI confidently

Days 22-28: Portfolio

• Build 2-3 simple projects

• Document with screenshots

• Create a basic portfolio site

Goal: Show proof of work

Days 29-35: First Dollar

• Create one digital product

• Price it $9-29

• Share it everywhere

Goal: Make money with AI

Days 36-40: First Client

• Offer 2-3 services

• Message your network

• Land one paying client

Goal: Close a deal before Jan 1

📚 The Only Resources You Need

Stop hoarding. Start using.

Courses:

• ChatGPT Prompt Engineering (Coursera) - 1 hr

• AI For Everyone (Coursera) - 6 hrs

• Elements of AI (Free) - Self-paced

Tools:

• ChatGPT or Claude

• n8n or Zapier

• Perplexity AI

Community:

• r/ChatGPTPromptGenius

• AI Twitter

💡 The Truth Nobody Tells You

You don't need to be an expert to make money with AI.

You just need to be better than the 90% who haven't started.

Most people don't know:

• Email can be automated in 30 minutes

• Chatbots can be built without coding

• One article can become 50 social posts

You're not competing with engineers at OpenAI.

You're helping regular people who do everything manually.

That's a massive opportunity sitting right in front of you.

🎬 Here's What Happens Next

Option 1: You bookmark this newsletter, add it to your "Read Later" folder, and nothing changes.

Option 2: You actually start today.

In 40 days, you'll either be:

• Still collecting tabs and planning to start "next month"

• Making your first $500-1,000 with AI skills

The people making money with AI aren't smarter than you.

They just started while you were still researching.

You've got 40 days left in 2025.

What's it gonna be?