This isn’t a break. It’s a change in direction.
I recently left my full-time Associate Director role. I want to focus fully on learning build in AI. Here’s the honest reasoning behind that call,
Why now. AI is moving fast. I believe for someone like me, to really learn it, I need deep focus and time, not a few spare hours after work.
Why I couldn’t do both. I tried to learn AI while still working full-time. It didn’t work well. I wasn’t giving my best to either one. Something had to change, and I didn’t want my job to suffer.
What I believe. I don’t want to get paid for a job I’m not fully dedicated for. If I can’t give 100%, I’d rather step away than do it half-way.
What I’m seeing in the industry. A lot of people are adding AI to their products without really understanding how it works. They copy and paste, connect an API, and call it done. I’m not saying this to sound superior, I’ve been tempted to do the same. But what I realize it doesn’t provide the enjoyment that I loved in coding or system designing. I want to actually understand how these systems work, even if it takes longer.
Why this matters to me. These days, anyone can build something using AI. That’s not hard anymore. What I want is different is be an engineer who understands the AI system, not just someone who ships fast without knowing why things work or when they’ll break.
What’s next. I’m going back to basics. I’m rebuilding my AI knowledge properly real systems, real practice, no shortcuts. Part of this is upgrading my homelab, so I have a place to test, break, and actually learn things hands-on.
If you’re thinking about a similar move, I’d love to hear how you’re approaching it. Contact me through [email protected].