It's 3 AM.
I find myself grinning at the computer screen…
I just used AI to whip up a WeChat chat management tool in two hours.
Seriously.
The feeling is like suddenly having an extra pair of hands.
Before, I’d have ideas but felt stuck. Now, I just speak up, and AI gets to work.
1. Stop the Worrying – Anxiety Means You Haven’t Mastered It Yet
Honestly, I used to worry too. Watching others profit from AI while I felt clueless.
Then I had an epiphany.
That anxiety? It just shows I wasn’t using it enough.
When you pay for something like Claude Code, it's like hiring a tech partner who's available 24/7, ready to help.
Remember when uploading a YouTube video meant finding tools, paying fees, converting formats… and still not getting great results?
Now?
Just send the link. In three minutes, you have the video and transcript ready.
Is that spending?
Nope.
That’s one of the highest ROI investments you can make in recent years—bar none.
Once you master tools like Claude Code, Codex, or OpenClaw…
You’ll enter a state of “super capability.”
You’ll think, “Oh, I can automate this workflow or add that feature.”
AI reshapes your thinking.
It opens doors to options you never thought you could pursue.
2. My Toolbox and a $250 Lesson Learned the Hard Way
There are plenty of tools out there, but you need to choose wisely.
Here’s what I use, feel free to take notes.
My go-to is a ChatGPT Pro membership. Codex for programming, and the o1 model helps me think deeper when I hit mental roadblocks.
For research, I rely on Gemini. Its NotebookLM processes English materials with impressive quality.
Want to complete a full project? Here’s my combo: GPT-4 o1 for documentation -> hand it to Claude as the project brain -> Vercel v0 for front-end -> Cursor for assembling code -> Supabase for the database.
A beginner can build a complete web application in just a few weeks.
Here’s a tip to avoid pitfalls.
I once stubbornly stuck with Claude Code for too long, only to end up with nothing.
Remember, a wise person doesn’t stand under a shaky wall. Don’t bet everything on unstable tools. That said, using the Claude model in Monica can also work.
3. Closed Source or Open Source? I Choose What Helps Me “Extend My Reach”
Don’t get hung up on finding the “best” tool.
Focus on what’s “most suitable.”
Closed-source options like ChatGPT and Cursor are ready to use and hassle-free. By paying, you’re securing a stable service, perfect for most people who want to get things done quickly.
Open source, like my own setup of OpenClaw with a monthly server fee, gives me control over my data and the freedom to customize—ideal for advanced users.
But truthfully, at this stage, it doesn’t matter which you choose.
What’s crucial is understanding that AI programming is the first true “general intelligence.”
Chatting with AI expands your mind.
AI programming gives you the tools to act.
Once you grasp AI programming, most other AI skills become less essential.
In the next two to three years, those who can’t use AI programming might be as out of place as those who couldn’t use computers back in the day.
4. From “Using” to “Creating,” It Just Takes Action on Your Part
The ultimate test of any tool is whether you can create something with it.
Let’s shake off the hype.
Don’t lie down in the “valley of despair.”
Look around: Someone used Gemini and built an app in just four hours. A friend in operations took a course and created a community prototype in three days.
These examples shout: You just need to take action! Use your brain!
The hard part is starting, not the tools themselves.
Advanced strategies involve turning AI programming into a workflow agent and business matrix.
For instance, a friend used AI to create a YouTube video matrix, scaling from handcrafting a single piece to automating the production of ten.
That’s the real productivity power of AI—not just creating one product, but turning profitable processes into scalable products.
The cost I invest monthly in AI tools is even lower than the minimum wage for employees in my company.
I see it as a certain investment in my future.
If your annual budget for this isn’t substantial,
I recommend getting a ChatGPT or Gemini membership and diving into discussions in relevant communities.
Surround yourself with those who excel at using AI for profit.
That’s how you keep pace and even lead in this era.
The world is rapidly dividing.🌍
Those using AI, and those who aren’t.
Within the AI-using group, a critical divide is: Can you use AI to create products?
Stop comparing and choosing.
Pick a mainstream tool.
Today, right now, start your first small project.
That feeling of “taking action and being self-sufficient” will lead you into a whole new world.
Starting today, switch your default model to “action mode.”
Trust me.
Top comments (2)
AI has come to stay, better to adapt and use it for the benefits of technology industry and other.
Totally. Once you stop fearing it and start building with it, you realize AI isn't here to take your job—it's here to give you superpowers. Glad you feel the same!