Tag Archives: overcoming fear

Learning ChatGPT – How I Asked Questions Without Feeling Silly

Introduction

I first heard about ChatGPT from a contributor on a well-known American TV station — and that’s when I realised it was more than a passing trend. Before that, I assumed it was just another flashy tech buzzword — something meant for coders or young people fluent in digital slang.

Someone even joked that ChatGPT was just a room full of brilliant people in New Delhi, manually answering questions through a chatbot. They doubted its so-called “large language model” and believed it was all a fluke.

At the time, I couldn’t see how a tool like that could fit into my world. I was still struggling to understand how to animate text in PowerPoint or use Excel’s formulas — and here was this new thing called “AI.”

But curiosity has a way of nudging you forward. What if this tool could help me learn faster, ask questions without fear, and make my late start in tech feel a little less overwhelming?

First Impressions

When I opened ChatGPT for the first time, I was surprised by how simple it looked. No fancy ribbons like in Microsoft Excel, no stylish home tabs like PowerPoint — just a blinking cursor waiting for me to speak. I still remember my question:

“How do I train as a Microsoft Administrator?”

A random thought, that I found out later, unconsciously captured the direction I would be heading. To my surprise, it answered — clearly, calmly, and without a hint of jargon or judgment. It felt… human. I kept going, asking even more questions. And with each response, my hesitation gave way to confidence.

What struck me was this: I didn’t have to sound like a tech expert. I could type in half-formed thoughts, and ChatGPT would still give me something useful. It became my quiet assistant — always patient, never tired.

Has Chatbots not been around for sometime now?

a phone displaying an introduction to ChatGPT on its screen

“Chatbots have been around for a while. Remember the little assistant on Luafthanzer’s website that helped with booking issues? Or Apple’s Siri, always ready to answer your questions?

But in 2018, something game-changing happened. A California-based tech company, OpenAI, introduced ChatGPT—a chatbot trained on a massive Large Language Model (LLM). Unlike older chatbots, it could rival human-like intelligence.Back then, I had no idea this even existed. But as I started my tech journey, I discovered how ChatGPT evolved—from just text to generating images, graphics, and more. Now, competitors like DeepSeek, Google Gemini, and others are reshaping the AI landscape even further

What I Can Do with It Now

  • Ask it to explain terms like “API”(Application Programming Interface) or “cloud storage” in plain English
  • Draft rough versions of blog posts 
  • Get unstuck when I need content ideas
  • Ask for step-by-step guidance on basic tools like Google Docs
  • Even get advice on design choices — like fonts to use on ObisDeck
  • Recently, it helped me successfully request a refund on a misleading purchase — step by step!

Tips for Beginners Like Me

  • You don’t need to be a “prompt engineer.” Just start typing.
  • Be clear and simple. For example:
    “How do I create a folder in Google Drive?”
    is better than
    “Google Drive tips.”
  • Ask everyday questions like:
    • “What image sizes work best for Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn?”
    • “How do I get started in Canva?”
    • “My internet is connected but not browsing — what should I check?”
  • If the answer feels too complex, just ask:
    “Can you explain that in simpler terms?”

How I Plan to Use It

ChatGPT has become part of my daily routine. I use it to:

  • Draft outlines for future blog posts
  • Generate image prompts for Canva and Midjourney
  • Clarify concepts before teaching them to others
  • Schedule or brainstorm blog content
  • Stay motivated in this lifelong learning journey

Closing Thoughts

Learning ChatGPT didn’t require programming skills — just curiosity and a willingness to try. It’s helped me feel less alone in this digital world, and more capable, one question at a time.

If you’re new to AI tools or even just tech-curious, try asking ChatGPT that question you’ve always been afraid to ask out loud.

You might be surprised how helpful it is.

Have you tried ChatGPT yet? What was your first question?

What Tech tool have you tried?, Please, share your experience with us today in the comment section below. We would like to learn from you too.

From Fear to Flow: My Journey into Tech, Storytelling, and Solar Energy

Editor’s note:
This post marks the beginning of a learning journey I’m now documenting in full. If you would like to see how this story unfolds — from foundations to confusion to clarity — you can explore the full journey here:
→ My Tech Learning Journey — One Step at a Time

How a lifelong love of words led me to confront my fears, embrace technology, and find a new voice in a changing world.

For Me, IT Was a Myth

IT always felt like a myth — something buried deep inside the mathematics I struggled with as a child. Early on, I fell in love with literature instead. The way Shakespeare wove his words in prose and fiction always caught my fancy. Whenever I held one of his books, nothing else seemed to matter.

I dreamed of telling my own stories one day — through prose and fiction too. But the world has evolved far beyond printed words. In our quest for progress, we’ve created tools so powerful that even the best stories can now be written, read, and shared on devices that offer speed and convenience.

The World Has Changed — And So Must I

Technology — especially the internet — has transformed our lives in more ways than one. And if I truly want to tell my stories in today’s world, I have to learn new skills. I had no choice. I had to confront my old fears.

Up until recently, my only tech skills were checking emails and doing simple web searches. Now, I can find information faster than I ever could in a physical library. I began to ask: How are the words on web pages written?

To my surprise, a basic computer course I took back in university — which once felt meaningless — began to make sense. Terms like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python no longer frightened me. In fact, they intrigued me. I had discovered a better way not only to tell my stories, but to share them with the world — in just a few clicks.

My Tent in Solar, and the Spark It Lit

When I decided to pitch my tent in the world of solar energy, I discovered how exciting and empowering these tech skills could be. What began as a search for basic training became the spark that rekindled something deeper: a belief that I still had much to learn — and even more to give.

But along the way, doubts crept in.

A Memory, a Mistake — and a New Resolve

Did I come to this too late?
At my age, does it even matter?

Then I remembered something from my childhood. I never learned to play table tennis. Every time we gathered to play, I was afraid my mates would laugh at my mistakes. So I stood back. I watched. I stayed safe.
And because of that fear, I never practiced — and never got good.

Now, I see it clearly: I didn’t fail because I lacked ability. I failed because I let fear decide for me.

Today, I choose differently.

I won’t let the fear of mistakes or the judgment of others stop me from showing up or trying something new. I may be late to the tech world, but I’m here now. And every step I take is a quiet rebellion against the voice that once told me I couldn’t.

Everyone Has a Story

Everyone has a story. You can only tell yours — and tell it the best way you can.
All stories are peculiar, in different ways.
Yours might begin in the forgotten jungles of the earth, or in the bustling cities of modern America.
Mine? It’s still being written — one brave sentence at a time.

If you have read this far, thank you. Let us hear from you on how we can make this journey as interesting as ever can be.