Challenge Yourself: The Journey of Creating an Interactive Map for GrandValli

“Challenge yourself,” they say. “Challenge yourself,” I said too—especially this morning.

I took my own advice and let me tell you—it was a challenge! For GrandValli, I wanted to create something a little different, something that would stand out. I decided an interactive map would be the perfect way to engage our audience. The idea was to give people a way to “visit” virtually, as we shared content about our features. I wanted to create something unique, something I hadn’t seen before.

Armed with AI (Abacus.AI - Chat LLM), I figured it would be a breeze. I imagined I’d just prompt AI, have it code what I needed, and then ask for help on how to post it—and boom, we’d be done. But as you can imagine, it wasn’t that smooth.

It took me about four hours! Now, I know nothing about coding, so honestly, four hours was a lot better than I expected. But let’s just say, when you think something will only take an hour and it stretches to four, it’s a humbling experience.

💡 What I learned from this process:

1. Prompting AI requires patience and practice. You can’t always leave things to chance—you have to take the time to be clear about what you’re asking. At first, I was frustrated because I wasn’t getting the results I wanted. But as I worked through it, I realized that it forced me to get clear with myself first, on what I truly wanted and how to articulate that. It was actually really beneficial.

2. AI is a tool, not a replacement. While AI can be incredibly helpful, it’s not a magic fix. There were moments when it just didn’t understand what I was asking, and I had to do some troubleshooting on my own. The process also taught me a little bit about coding, which I wasn’t expecting to learn. But here’s the thing—AI works best when you pair it with your own creativity and critical thinking. Did I expect to learn how to code an interactive map today? Not at all. I was hoping for a plug-and-play solution. But now, if you need an interactive map for Wix, I got you! It’ll take me about three hours 😊.

3. Done is better than perfect. This one is huge. I learned that no matter how long it takes, nothing beats the feeling of having an idea and seeing it come to life. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t even have to be polished. It just has to be done. Four hours later, I was able to say the energy, time, and learning curve were all worth it.

Takeaways:

✍ Embrace the Learning Curve. No matter how new or difficult something seems, diving in and figuring it out step by step will teach you more than just watching from the sidelines. Growth happens when you push past your comfort zone.

✍ AI is a Tool, Not a Replacement. AI can be incredibly useful, but it works best when combined with human creativity, critical thinking, and a basic understanding of the task. The collaboration is what makes the magic happen.

✍ Done is Better Than Perfect. Perfectionism can hold you back. It’s easy to get stuck in the details or wait for the “perfect” moment to act. But taking action, learning along the way, and getting the job done will always move you forward faster than waiting for perfection.

Reflecting on the Process:

If I were to do it again, I’d start with more clarity and provide AI with a bit more context upfront—like, "I know nothing about code, here’s what I want, and here’s the information I need you to work with." But even though it took longer than expected, I wouldn’t change anything else. The exhilaration of learning throughout the process, even when it’s challenging, was definitely worth it.

This whole project made me feel like I can tackle anything—yes, it takes time, but as long as you work through it, it will come together. Plus, AI is a great co-creator. It helps identify mistakes quickly, offers feedback, and allows you to refine and expand your ideas as you go. It’s definitely a tool that saves time when used in the right way.

If you’re curious to see the result, head over to the map and click the red dot. You can explore the interactive GEI Map on GrandValli’s site and see how it all came together!

Also, if you’d like to support GrandValli’s journey or learn more about our mission, check out our Kickstarter campaign here. We’re excited to continue growing with you!