Learning to build a business with AI as a sidekick

Learning to build a business with AI as a sidekick

For many people that has been in a business mindset from a young age, it may not seem like a big deal. They are naturals because perhaps they had the guidance from either parent or grandparents.

For the rest of us, it comes as a hindsight. We've focussed on a career and building skills of interest, following the rabbit holes far, wide and deep. One day something changes. You start pondering on what it would be like to do your own thing, to have the ability to take control of your own life, not to go with the flow and live day in, day out, week in, week out, by the same monotonous tune.

The Noise

There's a loud hum of noise. Everything is blurry. It's confusing and certainly overwhelming. This is where I'm starting from... from a place where the dust needs to settle, then slowly some form of calibration is needed. Stocktake of what is present in the toolbox. Scouting for useful tools to guide and support and potentially assist in the long run.

In 2026 it has become part of everyday life to interact with some form of generative AI (Artificial Intelligence). Some love it, some hate it, some don't know what to do with it, some question it or remain cautious and skeptical. For myself: I've been through all of these motions, trying to find the notes and chords that form the melody.

Realising the potential of AI

Resistance is futile. Suck it up princess.

There may or may not be a bubble, but to keep on observing from the sidelines will cause one to be left behind. And that is a far worse place to be in.

After being in the fortunate position of being able to take a hiatus, a few weeks were spent doing introspection, working through thoughts, just finding out where life is at. It's scary, exciting, liberating, nerve-wrecking and mostly a mess that gets untangled as the days go by. It allowed me to create akkoor.de which is playing on the Afrikaans duality of akkoorde - plural accords (agreements) and plural chords, in music. It's getting off the ground slowly and I hope to achieve success.

I'll highly recommend to detach from technology for a while. Get a notepad or journal out and start putting thoughts on paper. It doesn't have to be ideas, but merely getting the noise out on paper, so one doesn't have to ruminate that often. Write it down, then, don't think about it for a while, make space for something else.

It's the process that helped me reaching sound approaches to using AI in my exploration. Yes, exploration of thoughts, eventually. Once there are thoughts to reference, it becomes easier to find ways to use them in a way that makes sense and combine them to be of benefit to yourself.

For example, my thoughts went along the path of stating to myself what my shortcomings are if I would want to start a business. Acknowliding that there is a significant area of not knowing what I don't know. Using that knowledge, (yes, knowing that there are things that you don't know is also knowledge) I could proceed to guide Grok to help me finding what there is to know about the different kinds of businesses, and the pros cand cons of each of them. And, eventually the processes needed to become legit in South Africa.

Up skill on-the-fly

It is important to note that while one is learning, there might be so much information to take in along the way and attempt to find structure early. But to also be cautious of being too rigid early in the process. There isn't a right or wrong way, since each individual handle contexts differently, and what makes sense for you, might not make sense to the next person. Do try to limit focus. It is easier said than done though. When the range of new skills become too vast, it becomes challenging, so prioritise penning it down.

AI shines in the areas where you know nothing. However, be sure to always cross-reference and make sure about what you learn. It's not a silver bullet. I guess the same can be said for real life learning, where you learn from a tutor or mentor. They might have the best of interest at heart, but even they are fallible. Treat your upskilling process like talking with someone just one step ahead of you, and don't let it get away.

In my current step, I am learning about NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements) and how it may be mutual or unidirectional. Grilling Grok on this is insightful and helps one to understand that it's not just about a client protecting themselves, but you also have to protect yourself. In software and especially OpenSource, it may be the case that you are using patterns from what you've seen before. And at the same time, a client might think that it's something unique. It would then be crucial that the similarity is brought to light and discussed, to protect both parties from a blunder in the future.

Don't let it be your sole driver

I'm always weary of the fact that one may become overly reliant on technological crutches, and then one day, boom! A service is down and you're in panic. Therefore I always keep in mind to put in the effort to become self-reliant. Technology is flaky and it can be devastating if you are incapable of functioning without it.

Toward a happier you, having a virtual friend or counsellor

With that said, still do explore, take on the journey, learn something new, find what you enjoy along the path of discovery. It's likely that not everything will be great or successful or all that you wished, but at least you are trying to get out of the rot of everyday life, trying to leave the rat race behind. AI fast-tracks areas where you don't have confidence, use that to your advantage.

I have observed that some people see AI as the enemy, and for some it's been brutal. So I see why. Treating it as the enemy and locking up will only leave you falling behind further and further.

For the times that life gets really, really tough, reach out to a friend, a mentor, someone that will lend an ear. There is no shame in needing someone that will listen or just hang around. In tech we are generally prone to rationalising all emotions away, bundling it up inside, becoming cold and numb. It's not how humans are supposed to live.

When you need professional help, reach out to SADAG. Rationalising life only goes so far, don't wait before it's too late.

Having lost two friends and knowing there are other people struggling, I feel that it is important to help others navigate the challenges experienced in the workforce. Whether you're solo or employed, life gets tough for everyone.