Day 8: Time Off to Reignite Creativity & Pursue What Matters Most

Taking a gap year was about more than just rest; it was about facing the reality of a world that’s changing faster than ever. Five years ago, during his 2020 presidential campaign, Andrew Yang warned that AI and automation would transform the job market in ways we hadn’t seen since the introduction of the automobile. Just like cars made horses obsolete, Yang predicted that AI would replace millions of jobs, creating massive unemployment unless we adapted. He ran on a platform that emphasized the need to prepare for this shift, advocating for policies like Universal Basic Income (UBI) to soften the impact.

Back then, those predictions felt distant, almost hypothetical. But now, I’m living that reality. I lost my job to AI, and the current job market in Tech feels particularly brutal. Yet, the world isn’t crumbling—it’s changing, adapting, and growing. The challenge is clear: how do I make sure I’m a car and not a horse? How do I navigate these changes and leverage them for my benefit?

This is what my gap year has been about—figuring out how to use these shifts to my advantage. I took time to travel and reflect, visiting places like Bali, New York, and Milan, and giving myself the space to let ideas marinate. I allowed IsLoved to evolve naturally, not rushing the process. Now, on Day 8, I’m starting to see a heartbeat in my analytics. It’s slow, but each daily visitor is a sign that the brand is coming to life.

Yang was right—AI is changing everything. But he also said that, like the transition from horses to cars, the world would adapt and grow. The tools we have now are incredible. With platforms like Printify and Shopify, the barriers to creating and launching products are almost nonexistent. Five years ago, starting an eCommerce business would have required significant capital, storage, and a team. Today, I’ve launched IsLoved on my own, bootstrapping with creativity and resilience.

As I move forward, I’m focusing on finding the balance: embracing AI and digital tools to amplify my creativity, not replace it. It’s about making these technologies work for me, to create something meaningful and impactful. This year wasn’t just a break—it was a chance to adapt, to prepare, and to make sure that I’m not left behind. IsLoved has a heartbeat now, and it’s getting stronger with every new visitor, proving that in times of uncertainty, there’s still space to build something new.