Two weeks ago, I made a decision that surprised even me. I took a one-year leave of absence from Minerva University.
This isn't exactly dropping out. It's more like a gap year. I might come back. I might not. Who knows.
But here's what I do know: the information I was learning this semester wasn't useful to me. College was instrumental in my growth journey - I genuinely loved Minerva, the professors, the staff, my classmates. But somewhere along the way, it became a distraction. It took away from my time and energy without giving anything back.
So I left. And that decision sent me on a 4-country sprint across Europe in a single month.
The Plot Twist
I expected to spend Q1 grinding in San Francisco. Instead, after hopping through Switzerland, Austria, Ukraine, and Czechia, I landed in Chisinau, Moldova - where I grew up - surrounded by family, friends, and my team.
This was totally unexpected. But I decided to take it as an opportunity.
t’s way colder in Europe
Now I'm spending a couple of months here with my team in our Moldova office. When I'm physically with the team, we're way more productive. We can iterate faster, which is exactly what we need right now.
My plans for Q2 and Q3? They can change on a whim. I genuinely don't know yet.
And that's kind of the point.
Salesforce Tower in San Francisco
The Lesson: Location Matters More Than You Think
My parents love traveling and took me to more than 20 countries by the time I was 18. I'm very grateful for that. It taught me something that I keep relearning: location actually matters.
I've become comfortable changing my environment in less than one week. And here's what I've noticed - my mindset changes depending on where I am.
In Moldova, I'm more balanced. I take breaks. I see family. I have perspective.
In San Francisco or New York, I work way harder. Longer hours. More intensity. The energy around you seeps in whether you want it to or not.
Neither is objectively better. But each environment shapes how you think and what you focus on.
The Framework
One of the easiest ways to change your mindset and circumstances is to change your location. I know this is easier said than done for most people. But if you can swing it, even temporarily:
If you want a startup mindset: Move to San Francisco. The obsession is contagious.
If you want to think about investing: Move to New York or London. Finance is in the air.
If you want to actually live life: Move to Portugal, Spain, or Italy. The pace forces you to slow down.
I'm lucky that I can change my entire environment in under a week. It's extremely liberating. But even if you can't move permanently, short trips to different cities can shift your thinking in ways that feel disproportionate to the time spent.
The Takeaway
I didn't plan any of this. I thought I'd be in San Francisco, heads down building Ken AI.
Instead, I'm in Moldova, heads down building Ken AI - just with my team physically around me and family down the street.
Sometimes the detour is the path.
Right now, I have full control over my schedule and my life, and I genuinely love it. We're launching new campaigns, scaling our email infrastructure, and hiring for key positions - all from our office here in Chisinau.
If you're feeling stuck in your environment, maybe it's not you. Maybe it's the place.