Tag: Starting Over

  • Here’s What I’d Do Differently If I Were Starting Today

    I’ve been working with WordPress for over a decade.
    Built client sites. Shipped plugins. Made mistakes. Got better.

    If I had to start from scratch today — no network, no portfolio, no plugins — I’d do a few things very differently.

    Here’s what I wish I knew earlier.

    1. I’d Focus on Plugins Sooner

    For too long, I stayed in the “build websites for clients” lane.
    It paid the bills — but didn’t build leverage.

    If I started today, I’d get into plugin development earlier.
    Even something tiny.
    Just enough to:

    • Learn how WordPress works behind the scenes
    • Launch something public
    • Build momentum

    2. I’d Ship Small, Then Learn

    My first plugin ideas were too big.
    I wanted dashboards, options pages, custom tables — the works.

    Now I know: small plugins teach you more, faster.
    They’re easier to test, easier to support, and more likely to reach users quickly.

    3. I’d Write and Share My Process Publicly

    I kept things private for too long.

    If I started today, I’d:

    • Write short blog posts or dev logs
    • Share problems I’m solving on Twitter or my site
    • Be more visible in the WordPress community

    It’s not about building a “brand.”
    It’s about building trust — and trust brings opportunities.

    4. I’d Pick One or Two Tools — and Go Deep

    There’s always a new framework, a new build tool, a hot repo.

    But if I were starting again, I’d skip the noise and:

    • Learn PHP and JavaScript deeply
    • Understand how WordPress hooks and filters actually work
    • Master a few core plugins/tools (like ACF, WP-CLI, or Gutenberg)

    Mastery compounds over time.

    5. I’d Learn How to Support a Plugin Before Monetizing It

    You don’t need Stripe and subscriptions on Day 1.

    You need:

    • A plugin people actually want
    • A way to handle support clearly
    • A habit of improving what you ship

    If I had started with free plugins and honest support, I would’ve been much more ready for paid ones.

    Final Thought

    There’s no perfect starting point.
    But if I could rewind — I’d start smaller, ship faster, and talk more openly.

    It’s not just about being a better developer.
    It’s about building a career with a strong foundation, one small launch at a time.