I didn’t get my first job because I had a PhD in biology. I got it because I taught myself HTML. I built a simple website, basically an early blog, about my career explorations. I broke things. I fixed them. I read a lot of tutorials. And eventually, I had something I could point to and say, “I built this.” That made me stand out.

Later, I taught myself how to use social media. Same story. I tested ideas, paid attention to what landed, and learned from what didn’t. That curiosity and hands-on learning opened doors to opportunities in marketing and communications, even though I wasn’t formally trained in either.

Now, I’m learning how to use AI. Not just by reading about it, but by actually using it. I’m trying things out, experimenting with prompts, and training ChatGPT to write more like me (hello blog posts). Along the way, I’m figuring out what it does well and where it falls short. For example, I recently asked it to help format citations for a reference-heavy piece. It sounded like a simple task, but it kept pulling the wrong information. It turns out, it was relying on metadata rather than reading the content on the page. That mistake taught me more than any tutorial would have.

Because mistakes aren’t a detour from learning. They are the learning.

That’s been true for every tool I’ve picked up. I make progress by doing, not just planning. I gain confidence by getting it wrong, then trying again with better questions and clearer intent. With AI or any emerging tool, the only way to build skill is to start using it. To treat it like a collaborator, not a crystal ball. To be willing to experiment, reflect, adjust, and keep going.

So yes, I’m reading. But more importantly, I’m doing. And I’m getting better because I’m willing to get it wrong along the way.

How are you using AI in your work-life? And what have you learned the hard way?