Building an Interactive Map in 4 Hours: What I Learned Along the Way

Challenge yourself," they say. "Challenge yourself," I said too (especially this morning).

I took my own advice and let me say—it was a challenge! For GrandValli, I wanted to create an interactive map. I thought it would be an engaging piece of content that would add value for the audience and a little different from what was expected. With the help of AI (Abacus.AI - Chat LLM), I figured it would be pretty easy. I figured I would prompt AI and it would code what I needed. Then based on that I would ask AI how I post it and BOOM we would be done. As you can imagine it was not that smooth.

It took me about four hours! Now, mind you, I know nothing about code, so four hours is actually way less time than it would have taken if I didn't have AI to help. However, when you think something will only take an hour and it takes 4. It's a humbling experience.

Map with landscape background created by Abacus AI Chat LLM

💡 What I found out and learned through this:

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. I found this beneficial because it forces you to get clear with yourself first.

I had to learn a little code, even though I was asking AI to code for me.

2. While AI can be incredibly helpful in an area you know nothing about, you can't expect it to replace the need for some learning or basic knowledge—which is actually beneficial. Did I expect to learn how to code an interactive map today? No. I was expecting an easy plug-and-play solution. However, now I can say that I learned a little bit! And if you need an interactive map like the one, I made for GrandValli on Wix I got you! Just give me about three hours. 😊

3. No matter how long it takes, nothing beats having an idea and seeing it come to life. It doesn't have to be perfect or polished—it just has to be done. Four hours later, I can say the energy, time, and learning curve were all worth it.

The takeaways:

✍ Embrace the Learning Curve – No matter how new or difficult something seems, diving in and figuring it out step by step will always 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 helpful, but it works best when paired with human creativity, critical thinking, and adaptability. Understanding the basics of what you're working on makes the collaboration with AI much smoother.

✍ Done is Better Than Perfect – Perfectionism can slow you down or even stop you from starting. Taking action, learning as you go, and completing the project—even if it's not flawless—will always move you forward faster than waiting for the "perfect" moment.

What do you think? Have you ever had an experience like this?

If you are curious, just head to the map and click the red dot.

The GEI Map | GrandValli