Recently, I’ve been seeing a trend in business content where creators say things like, “If I were starting from scratch today, here’s what I would do,” or “I started a new business from zero, here’s what you can learn.” I thought, okay, maybe I could do something similar.
But then I remembered Back to the Future. I thought, hmm, that would be great, right? I don’t want to bore you with movie quotes, especially old ones, haha, but it’s a good movie to watch.
So that’s why I decided to write this article. It’s a look back at the journey I’ve been through over the past years, and a reflection on the things that were important to me. Now, with more clarity, I understand what might be a better way to start if you’re currently in that phase.
I mentor designers, and some of the most common questions I get have answers in this article.
So let’s go back in time ten years ago. Not so long ago, right? Well, let me tell you, it feels like much more.
I was busy.
Busy designing.
Busy learning tools.
Busy saying yes to almost everything.
From the outside, it looked like progress. And in many ways, it was. But if I could sit down with my past self today, I wouldn’t talk about colors, grids, or even clients first. I’d talk about mindset, focus, and systems.
Here’s the advice I’d give myself if I could rewind the clock.
1. Being “good at everything” will slow you down
For a long time, I thought versatility was my biggest advantage. And it is a strength. But without direction, it becomes a trap.
Don’t get me wrong, learning tools is great. I love being able to use many tools, and that’s part of my strength, at least in my opinion. But you need to sit back for a second and really see what you enjoy doing for real.
I did branding, web design, graphic design, product design, emails, social posts, landing pages, pitch decks, and more. The problem wasn’t skill. The problem was clarity.
What I learned later:
People don’t hire you for everything you can do. They hire you for the one thing you’re known for solving.
Specialization doesn’t mean limitation. It means focus.
If I could go back, I’d define my core offer earlier and let everything else support it instead of competing with it.
2. Tools don’t build businesses. Systems do.
This is so true. Once you have a system in place and define your tool stack, everything becomes clearer and you feel like you have what you need to tackle whatever comes your way.
I spent years chasing the “right” tool.
New design software.
New builders.
New workflows.
New automations.
Tools are exciting. They make you feel productive. But tools without systems create chaos.
What actually moved the needle was:
Repeatable design processes
Clear onboarding flows
Defined scopes and boundaries
Templates for decisions, not just layouts
Once I started building systems around how I work, not just what I design, everything got easier. Projects ran smoother. Communication improved. Stress dropped.
If you’re constantly overwhelmed, the issue usually isn’t skill. It’s the lack of a system protecting your time and energy.
3. Your portfolio should tell a story, not show everything
I used to think my portfolio needed to prove how much I knew.
So I showed everything.
Different styles.
Different industries.
Different types of work.
It was impressive, but confusing.
What I learned:
A strong portfolio doesn’t show range. It shows direction.
When creating portfolio items, think about storytelling, not only visuals. Visuals are important, but people want to understand how you think, how you solve problems, and what it’s like to work with you.
A few well-explained projects beat dozens of screenshots every time.
Five years ago, I wish I had focused less on volume and more on storytelling.
4. Saying no is part of the job
Early on, every opportunity feels like a lifeline. You say yes because you’re grateful. Because you’re building. Because you don’t want to miss out.
But saying yes to the wrong work teaches people how to treat you.
I learned this the hard way.
Not every project deserves your time.
Not every client deserves access to you.
Not every idea deserves execution right now.
Saying no isn’t arrogance. It’s alignment.
The moment I started protecting my time, my work improved, my clients improved, and my confidence followed.
5. Design maturity is invisible, but priceless
When you’re starting out, you chase polish. Things can look and feel unorganized, but later on you train your eye and build your own design voice. You develop your style, start expressing yourself, and your work begins to speak for you. That’s when clarity about what you do enters the equation.
The biggest growth shift for me wasn’t visual. It was strategic.
Understanding:
Why something exists
Who it’s really for
What problem it’s solving
What not to design
Good design isn’t about impressing other designers. It’s about making things easier for real people.
I wish I had stopped worrying so much about being seen as “talented” and focused earlier on being useful, clear, and reliable.
6. Teaching accelerates mastery
One of the biggest leaps in my career was starting to teach.
I’ve always loved teaching anything I know. I feel it’s a way to give back to the universe all the knowledge I’ve gained and continue to gain.
Mentoring others forced me to articulate what I knew. My method has always been to explain things in simple words, without fancy terms or fluff. To do that, I need to truly master what I’m teaching.
In my case, I mentor about design, Figma, Elementor, and web design, the three things I work with most of the time. Talking about them has become very natural.
When you teach, gaps surface. Assumptions get challenged. Processes become clearer. You even discover new ways of working through your students’ perspectives. It’s very gratifying.
Helping designers through Figma, web design, and real projects didn’t slow me down. It sharpened me.
If you want to grow faster, don’t wait until you feel “ready” to teach. Start explaining what you know now. Clarity follows action.
7. Your energy is a finite resource. Treat it like one.
Burnout doesn’t come from working hard.
It comes from working without intention.
Sometimes I don’t even know how I manage to work on client projects, my YouTube channel, a podcast, personal work, office work, play ice hockey, and still have family time.
I think a big part of this is intention. I truly believe what I’m doing can help others. It’s not about money or fame. Even if a YouTube video helps one viewer, it’s worth it. I do what I do because helping others has always been part of my life.
That said, you need to take breaks.
It’s fine to work long hours for a few days when you’re in the zone and clearing projects from the queue. But my advice is to always take time to recover.
Your time is valuable. Your energy is too.
Treat energy like a currency. Be very mindful of the personal time or activities you’re sacrificing for a project. Try as much as possible not to overlap work and personal life, because that drains creativity and makes the outcome less rewarding.
I learned to respect:
Deep focus blocks over constant availability
Fewer projects with better outcomes
Rest as a design tool, not a reward
If I could go back, I’d stop glorifying exhaustion and start designing my life with the same care I design interfaces.
Final thought
Ten years ago, I thought success meant doing more.
Today, I know it means doing less, better, and with purpose.
If you’re early in your journey as a founder or designer, remember this:
You don’t need to have it all figured out.
But you do need to be intentional about what you build, who you serve, and how you spend your energy.
Everything compounds.
Make sure it’s compounding in the right direction.