In July 2025, I gave myself a one-week challenge: build a no-code machine learning curriculum for schools — from scratch.

What happened next completely changed the way I think about learning.

In 5 days, I:

• Built a functioning edtech business
• Designed a 5-week AI curriculum for KS3–4
• Launched a website, chatbot, and mobile-optimised UI
• Wrote conversion copy, built a pricing model, created a brand and mascot
• Learned dozens of new terms, tools, and systems — and actually used them all.

⚡ Why the Learning Was So Fast

This wasn’t traditional learning. It was Zone of Proximal Development learning — a perfect storm of:

🎯 1. Extreme Relevance

Everything I learned had immediate use. If I didn’t learn it, I couldn’t move forward.

CTA? Needed it to build a landing page. ARR? Needed it to model revenue. CSS? Needed it to fix the mobile view.

🔥 2. Emotional Fuel

I wasn’t just doing a project — I cared. It came from excitement, purpose, and a little bit of pain. That kind of energy wires learning deep.

🧠 3. Full Autonomy

I chose the tools. I set the deadlines. I controlled the outcome. That made every lesson stick — because I owned the meaning.

🧘 4. Deep Flow State

I worked 10 hours a day without even noticing. No distractions. Just creative focus. This was true cognitive immersion.