Post-summer reflections, $10K on Etsy and how AI shapes my kids future

Hey there!

I am slowly tuning back after a summer break and let me tell you…summer as a solopreneur is... different.

Every moment with my kids becomes this internal tug-of-war between presence and productivity. It's a mindset shift I'm actively working on, because I the whole reason of building this business is to be present and have more time with my family.

And I had to keep reminding myself daily that this is my season in life I am in and its OK.

And you know what? I think I managed it pretty well this time. I did what I could in the pockets of time I had, and then I rested. Actually rested. And now that I'm easing back in, I'm feeling an urge to go deeper and with much more clarity in my business.

Falling in love with my vision (again)

As I step back into creating after a long break, I keep asking myself: What do I actually want to contribute to this space?

One day I want to dive deep into the latest AI tool. The next day I want to explore a completely different income stream opportunity. Sometimes I want to talk about automation workflows that could save businesses hours of manual work.

I think my superpower is experimenting where my curiosity leads me, connecting dots and seeing trends—spotting possibilities and opportunities that others are not seeing.

I have genuine passion for four interconnected things:

• AI and automation (helping people & businesses leverage these tools in the most intuitive ways)

• Online income streams (showing how to monetize passions and interests)

• The creator economy (understanding how all these pieces fit together)

• Mindset and expanding beliefs (helping people see what's actually possible for them)

And most importantly, creating a community where like-minded people can connect and experiment together.

The thing is, I can't stand the thought of niching myself into being "the AI expert" or "the online business guru." Because the magic happens at the intersection of all four.

What I do know is this: my purpose is helping people building online businesses leverage AI and automation in ways that feels authentic to them and make sense for their life and goals.

And there's another layer to that—something I feel strongly about sharing.

With my background in AI and AI ethics, I can't help but think about where we're heading as a society.

I think about my kids entering a world where AI companions might replace human connection.

Where optimization becomes so seductive that we forget what it means to be human.

Where convenience comes at the cost of our agency.

We've been here before. 

We optimized our way into apps that order our food, devices that manage our schedules, platforms that curate our thoughts. We got all the convenience at our fingertips. Yet we're more stressed, more disconnected, and more overwhelmed than ever.

Now we have a whole generation struggling with mental health because we handed them iPhones and social media access without teaching them how to use these tools intentionally.

I don't have all the answers. I'm navigating this in real-time.

But I know this much: unintentional usage is not the way forward.

We have to become intentional. We need to decide what we want AI to replace and what we want to keep human. We need to build tools and ways of using AI that serve us, not the other way around.

That's the conversation I want to be having alongside everything else.

My latest win 🎉

My Etsy shop (selling digital artwork generated with Midjourney) just hit $10,000 in sales.

Three things this journey taught me:

1. There's no magic formula 

People who treat online income streams like "just follow someone's blueprint and it'll work" usually fail. It took obsession. It took curiosity-driven learning. I had to master new AI tools, figure out marketing strategies, learn SEO, experiment constantly.

This is why I'll never talk about a "proven blueprint" for online income streams.

There are millions of ways to do this stuff, you just have to get to “doing it“.

2. Quality beats shortcuts every time 

Could I have made more money chasing every trend and prioritizing quantity over quality?

Probably.

But I have 5-star reviews across the board because that's what matters to me. Shortcuts usually lead to broken trust and low-quality work.

Not interested.

3. It's proof of possibility 

This isn't about telling you to go and start an Etsy shop selling digital downloads.

It's about showing that building sustainable income around your creativity and curiosity is real.

There are hundreds of other ways to make money online following your passions. This was just one of them.

These small wins give me energy for everything else I'll pursue. Because I know (and I want you to know)—when you follow your curiosity and combine effort with consistent action, something always works.

This Week's Unhinged Prompt

I took a few weeks break from using AI and when I opened my ChatGPT for the first time, for some reason, I felt a strong need to run this prompt that just popped in my head.

Fair warning: this only works if you've been using ChatGPT extensively for personal and business stuff—it needs your digital fingerprint to work its magic.

Copy and paste this into ChatGPT:

"Based on everything you know about me, write me a letter from my future self, a version of me who has figured it out—who has built the life and business I'm working toward. Make it personal, specific, and honest about both the journey and the destination."

I'm not kidding when I say this hit me in ways I didn't expect. It's like having a conversation with the person you're becoming, using all the context of who you are right now.

Try it and let me know what comes up for you.

P.S. No video this week, but check out my latest one on my ride-or-die AI tools I use in my life and business.

Until next week,

Your AI Solopreneur Bestie,

Elena