"We Gotta Letcha Go": And Then I Woke Up
December 5th, 2023, started out as any other Thursday—emails, check-ins, and a to-do list that seemed to regenerate itself like it was trying to prove a point. But then, I got a surprise call to meet at Starbucks. I walked in, ordered my usual dirty chai latte, and waited, expecting a casual chat about projects or client updates. Instead, I was met with a five-word sentence that hit like a ton of bricks: “We gotta letcha go.”
“Life has a funny way of showing us what we’re capable of when we least expect it.”
— André J.
That was it. No long explanations, no dramatic buildup. It was quick—like ripping off a Band-Aid when you didn’t realize the residual glue left behind was still gorilla-strong. After a year and a half, there I was, left with that surreal, “Did that just happen?” feeling as I watched the steam rise from my latte, wondering why now and what I could’ve done to help bring more client work into the studio to help, potentially, safeguard my position.
But as the steam settled, so did my resolve. I reminded myself of who the heck I was, gave a trademark Kanye West shrug, and decided right then that if anyone was going to steer my creative journey moving forward, it was gonna be me.
“What started as a tough setback turned out to be the setup I needed to become the entrepreneur, creative, and dream-chaser I’d always wanted to be.”
December 5, 2023, sparked my personal “hero’s journey”. Instead of wallowing in the “what ifs,” I leaned into the support of my wife and the opportunity to rebuild, reimagine, and, most importantly, bet on myself. That day marked the re-birth of Mindhatch Creative—a boutique design studio built not just from my passion for design—but from my determination to craft a career on my terms.
Life has a funny way of showing us what we’re capable of when we least expect it. What started as a tough setback turned out to be the setup I needed to become the entrepreneur, creative, and dream-chaser I’d always wanted to be. So here I am, not bitter, but very grateful for the tough moment(s) that made all the wins of 2024 and beyond taste even sweeter.
If you’re facing a setback right now, take it from me: sometimes, the universe clears the path for you—even if it feels like it’s using a wrecking ball. Use it, and go build something great!