Introduction

Today marked another milestone in my journey of sharing AI knowledge with the community. Following the success of our first AI Sharing Day, we hosted a second event that exceeded expectations in many ways. This post reflects on the experience, from the nerve-wracking preparations to the rewarding outcomes.

Pre-Event Preparations

Unexpected Growth

Less than two weeks before the event, Joy, my co-presenter, informed me that over 50 people had expressed interest—far more than our venue could accommodate. She suggested moving to a larger space capable of hosting 150-200 people, complete with catering. Despite the potential for greater impact, I decided to stick with our original plan. My reasoning? I wanted to ensure we could deliver a high-quality experience before scaling up.

Personal Challenges

The days leading up to the event were filled with a mix of excitement and anxiety. I spent two weekends outlining the presentation flow with Joy, identifying areas for improvement from our previous session. As the day approached, my nervousness grew, occasionally tempting me to back out. However, I reminded myself that discomfort often signals growth—if I wasn’t nervous, it might mean I wasn’t pushing myself enough.

The Event

Setting the Stage

As I arrived at the venue, the nervous energy from our first session had somewhat dissipated, replaced by a different kind of anticipation. I was eager to interact with the attendees who had arrived early, but found myself caught up in last-minute preparations instead.

Joy’s Introduction

The event kicked off with a solid introduction from Joy, setting a professional tone for the day. Her words helped calm my nerves and focus my thoughts on the task at hand.

Technical Hiccups and Adaptations

Despite meticulous preparation, technical issues arose. I had planned to use my iPad as a backup for my presentation, but discovered I couldn’t airplay to both the TV screen and my device simultaneously. This unexpected challenge forced me to think on my feet and adapt my presentation style. Another recurring technical issue was the connectivity with ChatGPT.

Content Delivery

Throughout the presentation, I found myself navigating between focusing on my content, typing responses, and engaging with the audience. It was a juggling act that I’m still perfecting. The ‘parlor tricks’ that had been successful in the first session surprisingly continued to engage the audience, though I felt a tinge of uncertainty about their long-term value.

Audience Engagement

The increased attendance brought a diverse range of questions and interactions. While I couldn’t dive as deeply into one-on-one conversations as I would have liked, the energy in the room was palpable. People were genuinely interested and eager to learn, which fueled my own enthusiasm.

Post-Event Reflections

Positive Feedback

The response from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Many expressed appreciation for the knowledge shared and the practical demonstrations. This feedback was gratifying and reinforced the value of these sharing sessions.

Personal Growth

Reflecting on the event, I realized how much I had grown since the first session. My comfort level with public speaking had improved, and I was better able to handle unexpected situations. However, I also identified areas for further improvement, particularly in balancing technical content with audience engagement. Wife mentioned that my energy for the intro and ending could be much improved.

The Value of Support

One of the day’s highlights came after the event when my wife, who had attended to support me, expressed how proud she was. This personal moment of recognition meant more to me than any professional accolade could.

Monetization Considerations

Many people asked if I charged for these sessions. While I understand the question, I remain committed to offering this knowledge freely. My goal is to contribute to the community rather than to monetize these specific events. I prefer to be seen as a “mercenary ready for work and war” rather than a consultant, valuing hands-on involvement over advisory roles.

Looking Ahead

Future Sessions

The success of this second event has opened up possibilities for future sessions. While I’m not ready to scale to larger venues yet, I’m considering ways to make the content more accessible to a broader audience without compromising on quality.

Content Evolution

For future sessions, I aim to create more practical, take-home value for attendees. One goal is to help participants walk away with a fully functional video script they can immediately put to use. This hands-on approach aligns with my philosophy of practical, applicable knowledge sharing.

New Project Ideas and Overarching Goals

An exciting outcome of the event was a potential new project discussed with an attendee named Eric and Joy. We’re exploring the idea of creating a script to automate updates to ‘frozen’ leads via WhatsApp, potentially revolutionizing how businesses maintain contact with dormant prospects. This project exemplifies my broader goal: to connect with individuals or groups facing significant challenges they’re willing to invest in solving. By creating tailored solutions for these specific problems, we can potentially develop scalable solutions that benefit a wider audience.

Personal Growth and Community Building

These AI sharing sessions are more than just educational events; they’re a platform for personal growth and community building. Each session allows me to refine my public speaking skills - a long-standing personal goal. The nervousness I feel before each event reminds me that I’m pushing my boundaries and growing.

Moreover, these events provide an invaluable opportunity to network and connect with diverse professionals. I’m particularly excited about the prospect of meeting individuals facing complex work challenges that could be solved through code or AI. Tackling such real-world problems would be incredibly rewarding and aligns perfectly with my desire for engaging, impactful projects.

Balancing Sharing and Problem-Solving

Moving forward, I aim to strike a balance between sharing knowledge and actively seeking challenging problems to solve. While I’m committed to continuing these free sharing sessions to benefit the community, I’m also eager to dive into more complex, scalable projects that arise from these interactions. This approach allows me to contribute to the community while also pursuing professionally and intellectually stimulating opportunities.

As I look to the future, I’m filled with excitement about the possibilities these AI sharing sessions are creating. Each event brings new challenges, new connections, and new opportunities to grow both personally and professionally. While the journey isn’t always smooth, the impact and personal growth make every moment of preparation and every bout of nervousness worthwhile.

The road ahead is full of potential, and I’m eager to continue this journey of learning, sharing, and problem-solving together with this incredible community. If you’re facing a challenging problem at work that you believe could be solved with code or AI, I’d love to hear about it. Let’s explore how we can create innovative solutions together!