You’ve Done It Before. You Can Do It Again.

Feb 27

Written By Omari Harebin

These are transcribed notes from my talk at The Website Designer Summit 2025

You built something. You became known for it.

It got you clients, credibility, maybe even a thriving business.

And yet, you feel the pull—toward something more, something different.

But every time you consider making the shift, fear kicks in.

What if I lose everything I’ve built?
What if I have to start over?
What if I pivot and regret it?
What if I disrupt what’s already working?
What if I try, and it doesn’t take off?

These aren’t just passing doubts. They’re the kind of questions that keep people stuck, circling the same ideas without ever moving forward.

But here’s the truth:

You’ve done it before. You can do it again.

The Cycle of Growth

If you’ve built something once, you’re not starting over—you’re stacking on top of what you already know.

The problem is, we’re conditioned to see growth as a straight path—one success leading directly to the next. But that’s not how it works.

Growth is a cycle:

Capture – You get curious about a new idea.
Develop – You experiment, refine, and master it.
Expose – You share it with the world and build credibility.
Evolution – You feel the pull to grow beyond what you built.

And then? The cycle starts again.

You’ve already been through this. The first time you learned web design. The first time you took on a paying client. The first time you built something that actually worked.

That same person—the one who figured it out—is still here.

So instead of fighting the shift, let’s talk about how to move through it with confidence and make this transition sustainable.

How to Process the Transition

Before you can move forward, you have to call out the fears holding you back.

1. What Will I Lose?

The fear of loss is real. You’ve worked hard to build credibility, a client base, and a reputation. But evolution isn’t erasure. What you’ve built isn’t disappearing—it’s becoming the foundation for what’s next.

2. What If I Have to Start Over?

You don’t. You’re not a beginner anymore. You have skills, relationships, and knowledge that you didn’t have the last time you made a leap. The difference between starting from scratch and starting from experience is massive.

3. What If I Pivot and Regret It?

Every pivot is an experiment. It’s not a lifetime commitment. The mistake isn’t changing direction—it’s staying in something that no longer fits just because it feels safer than the unknown.

4. What If I Disrupt What’s Already Working?

If something feels heavy, draining, or uninspiring, then it’s already breaking down. You don’t have to burn everything down to grow—you just have to shift your energy toward what actually excites you.

5. What If I Try and It Doesn’t Take Off?

Then you adjust. Just like you did when you were figuring things out the first time. The difference is, you now have experience, an audience, and a network—so the stakes aren’t as high as they feel.

The Mindset Shifts That Make It Work

Once you’ve named the fear, you have to reframe it. Here’s what that looks like in action:

You Are Not the Thing You Built

Your identity isn’t tied to what you do—it’s tied to who you are. The thing you built was an expression of your skills at the time, but it’s not the end of the story.

You’re Not Starting Over, You’re Stacking

The work you’ve done so far isn’t wasted. It’s leverage. You’re not abandoning your expertise—you’re expanding on it.

You Don’t Have to Be an Expert to Start

Most people don’t hesitate because they lack skill. They hesitate because they don’t want to be seen as a beginner again. But mastery is just a series of cycles, and you’ve already proven you can go from novice to expert before.

Success Isn’t a Trap—Unless You Let It Be

If you feel trapped by what you’ve built, it’s not because the work is too good to leave. It’s because you’re afraid of what happens when you step into something new. But staying in a box that no longer fits isn’t success—it’s stagnation.

Energy Doesn’t Lie—Follow What Feeds You

When something starts to feel heavy, that’s a sign. Ignoring it doesn’t make it go away—it just means you’ll eventually burn out or start resenting your own success.

So, now that we’ve shifted how you think about it, how do you actually move forward?

How to Make the Transition Sustainable

If you’re going to shift, do it in a way that doesn’t cause chaos. Here’s how:

1. Clarify What Actually Inspires You Now

Stop asking what’s profitable and start asking:

What do I talk about, create, or obsess over without trying?
What problems do I feel pulled toward solving?
What do I wish existed in my industry?

2. Find the Overlap: Old Credibility + New Direction

Your evolution doesn’t have to be jarring. It can feel natural—to you and your audience.

Instead of, “I’m quitting web design to do something totally new,” think:

“I’ve spent years helping businesses create better websites. But what I’ve realized is, most of them don’t just need a website—they need a way to grow their brand online. So now, I’m helping people do exactly that.”

This makes it clear: you’re not leaving everything behind. You’re just zooming out.

3. Test Before You Go All In

Big pivots feel risky. Small experiments don’t.

Instead of making a huge announcement, just start doing it.

Post about your new direction.
Offer a small, low-stakes service or product.
See where the energy is.

4. Turn Your Inspiration Into Assets

Your interests don’t just have to be side projects. They can be revenue streams.

If people keep asking you for advice on something, turn it into a product.
If you’re repeating the same insights in DMs, package it into a guide.
If you’re sharing knowledge, create something people can buy.

The key is shifting from only selling time to creating repeatable assets that work for you.

5. Leverage Systems & Partnerships

You don’t have to build everything from scratch.

Who already has access to the audience you want?
How can you set up systems so this work generates income without needing your constant effort?

Success doesn’t just come from working harder. It comes from designing smarter.