I Hated AI Until I Did This (How One Shift Turned Fear into a Super-Power)

I grew up watching movies like Terminator, I, Robot, and Ex Machina. They filled me with fear about artificial intelligence. Like millions of others, I thought AI would become a dangerous force that stripped away human purpose. Those films painted machines as villains ready to replace us.

The fear followed me into adulthood and into my business. I run two companies: eLearning Partners and Athlete with Asthma. Both are deeply personal and tied to my passion for helping others.

By late 2023, fear consumed my perspective. I worried AI would dismantle my companies and the communities I serve. I felt stuck, powerless, and anxious about the future. That mindset drained my energy and limited my vision.

Then, something shifted between December 2023 and March 2025. I stopped asking what AI would take away from me. I began asking what AI could give me. That simple question flipped my perspective and opened doors I never imagined. Suddenly, AI looked less like a threat and more like a partner. And this is exactly what I want to share with you today in this blog post (and in the video linked here and podcast episode linked here).

Principle #1: Scarcity versus abundance

The first principle that reshaped my journey was shifting from scarcity to abundance. When I lived in scarcity, my energy was low. I felt defensive, guarded, and unwilling to take risks. Every decision was about protecting what I had, not creating something new.

Abundance unlocked a different energy. It was higher, lighter, and full of possibility. In abundance, I had the creativity to see new opportunities. I could imagine futures that looked brighter rather than darker. Scarcity kept me in survival mode. Abundance allowed me to move into creativity mode. That shift became a foundation for every other change.

Principle #2: Seeing opportunities, not obstacles

The second principle was learning to see opportunities instead of obstacles. Every entrepreneur knows those days when problems pile up. When I viewed every challenge as an obstacle, I became drained and negative. That mindset made small issues feel like giant roadblocks.

One story stands out. I drove the same Toyota 4Runner since I was sixteen. By the time I turned thirty-four, it was still running, but the maintenance costs skyrocketed. In scarcity mode, I only saw frustration. Every mechanic visit was a burden. I felt trapped.

In abundance mode, I saw opportunity. I began comparing mechanics, using AI to cross-reference repair suggestions. I realized this could be the right time to consider switching to an electric car. Instead of lamenting costs, I saw tax incentives and long-term savings. The same challenge became an opening for transformation.

Principle #3: Rethinking learning in the age of AI

The third principle applied directly to my industry: education and learning. For years, the focus was on building online courses. But AI showed me we need to think bigger. It is no longer about courses. It is about creating learning experiences.

A learning experience combines different modes: online, in-person, and AI-powered. It brings together tools, data, and personal interaction to create transformation. Information alone no longer matters. Transformation matters. AI helps us design learning that changes lives. That is true for my corporate clients at eLearning Partners. It is also true for athletes with asthma who train with me.

The exercise that changed everything

The turning point came when I decided to use AI not for work, but for play. I asked ChatGPT to run a solo Dungeons & Dragons campaign for me. I built a character inspired by Gandalf and explored Middle-earth in ways I had imagined as a child. The AI asked clarifying questions, adapted the story, and made it immersive.

That exercise reconnected me with my younger self. As a child, I spent hours making up stories and pretending to be knights, archers, or adventurers. AI allowed me to step back into that creative space as an adult. It proved that AI was not here to replace imagination. It was here to amplify it.

Unlocking creativity with play

After Dungeons & Dragons, I tried other experiments. I asked AI to create a Monopoly game set in Middle-earth. Properties turned into locations like Mount Doom and Bywater. Suddenly, a familiar game felt new, fresh, and exciting.

Through these exercises, I realized AI could unlock creativity in countless ways. It was not about technology for technology’s sake. It was about rediscovering play, curiosity, and imagination. When I approached AI as a tool for creativity, fear evaporated. What replaced it was excitement for what I could build.

Turning fear into a super-power

Fear was real. It was heavy. But once I shifted from scarcity to abundance, from obstacles to opportunities, from courses to experiences, everything changed. Fear became fuel. It gave me empathy for others who are still afraid. It gave me clarity on how to guide them forward.

AI did not erase my purpose. It expanded it. It gave me a super-power: the ability to create more, serve more, and inspire more. I discovered that the future is not about competing with AI. The future is about partnering with AI to thrive.

An invitation to grow with me

If my story resonates, I invite you to take the same step. Open your favorite AI tool. Ask it to create with you. Let it design a game, a story, or an exercise that connects with your younger self. Notice how your energy shifts when fear turns into curiosity.

For those who want to go deeper, I created the Future-Proof Learning Community™. It is a space where educators, business owners, and creators learn to partner with AI. We design transformational learning experiences, share strategies, and coach each other through the challenges of this new era.

Imagine thriving while others fear replacement. Imagine building a career and life that expand with AI instead of shrinking because of it. That is what the community offers. The door is open.

Conclusion: the new era of possibility

I began this journey thinking AI would destroy what I loved. Now I see it differently. AI is not the end of purpose. It is the beginning of a new era of creativity, learning, and growth.

The shift is simple but powerful. Stop asking what AI will take away. Start asking what AI can give. That question changed my companies, my career, and my life. It transformed fear into a super-power.

I invite you to step into abundance, see opportunities, and rethink learning. The world is changing quickly. With the right mindset, you can change with it. AI is here. The question is how you choose to meet it.