What I Wish I Knew Before… Pivoting, Hiring Help, or Launching Something New
If I could sit down with my past self—the one Googling “how to change your niche without scaring off all your clients” or nervously wondering if it was too soon to hire someone—I’d have a lot to say. But mostly, I’d tell her this:
You’re not doing it wrong just because it feels hard.
You’re just doing something new.
Over the past few years of freelancing, I’ve navigated a handful of big (and scary) transitions: shifting my niche, outsourcing work for the first time, and launching brand-new offers that felt like a leap. And while I don’t believe there’s one “right” way to do any of these things, I do think there are lessons I wish I had learned sooner—lessons that would’ve saved me a lot of overthinking and imposter syndrome spirals.
If you’re on the edge of a pivot, about to bring in some support, or sitting on an idea you’re scared to launch—this is for you. Here’s what I wish I knew before I made those moves.
“You don’t have to be perfect, but you do have to be 100% committed.”
“Fearlessness is like a muscle. I know from my own life that the more I exercise it the more natural it becomes to not let my fears run me.”
1. Pivoting Doesn’t Mean Starting Over
When I first considered changing my niche, I treated it like I was announcing a breakup. I felt like I owed people explanations. I worried I’d confuse my audience or lose the few clients I had.
But here’s what I didn’t realise: pivoting your niche is rarely as dramatic as it feels inside your own head.
People are much more adaptable than we give them credit for. More importantly, your audience is following you—your voice, your perspective, your personality—not just the specific service or niche you’re in right now.
Your niche isn’t a life sentence. It’s a direction. You’re allowed to change course.
When I shifted from a broad marketing role into a more specific strategy-based offering, I thought I was taking a risk. But many of my clients stayed with me—some even got more excited. Turns out, they trusted me to grow, and they appreciated the clarity.
What I wish I’d known: you can pivot gradually. You can update your offers behind the scenes while still taking on work that pays the bills. And you don’t have to explain or justify your evolution—sometimes, you just get to change.
2. You Don’t Need to “Earn” Help
Hiring help was one of those things I kept putting off, thinking, “I’ll outsource when I’m really busy” or “once I hit a certain income.” I assumed bringing someone on meant I had to be wildly successful first.
But by the time I was that busy, I was already overwhelmed and running on fumes. Not exactly the best time to onboard someone.
What I learned: hiring support doesn’t mean you think you’re better than anyone else. It doesn’t mean you’re trying to scale into some cold, distant boss role. It just means you recognise your limits—and value your energy.
Even bringing on someone for just a few hours a month—like a virtual assistant, social media scheduler, or bookkeeper—can free up the space you need to be creative again.
The other thing? Hiring help can feel awkward at first. You might not get it “right” the first time. The person you hire might not be your perfect long-term fit. But that’s okay. You’re learning to lead and delegate, just like you learned how to write proposals or send invoices. It’s a skill, not a moral test.
What I wish I’d known: you don’t need to wait until you’re drowning to ask for help. And outsourcing isn’t a sign of failure—it’s a sign of growth.
3. Launch the Messy Version First
I used to treat new ideas like delicate little secrets. I’d sit on them for months, writing and rewriting outlines, editing sales pages I hadn’t even published yet, and waiting for the magical moment when it would feel “ready.”
You know what I learned? That moment doesn’t exist. And more often than not, clarity comes from action—not planning.
The first version of a new offer will always feel a little shaky. You’ll always think of one more thing to tweak. But the sooner you get it out into the world, the sooner you’ll get real feedback—and momentum.
One of the best things I’ve done is soft-launching offers before they felt polished. Sometimes it was as simple as mentioning a new service in a story or email. Other times, I reached out to existing clients and asked if they wanted to try something I was testing.
The results were usually better than I expected. Because when you’re close to your community—and when you’re listening—you don’t need to have all the bells and whistles figured out. You just need a clear offer and a way to talk about it honestly.
What I wish I’d known: done is better than perfect. Your first draft can still be valuable. And launching isn’t a one-time event—it’s an ongoing conversation.
Built By Freelancers For Freelancers.
“Don’t worry about being successful but work toward being significant and the success will naturally follow.”
4. Growth Isn’t Always Linear (and That’s Okay)
If I’m being honest, part of the reason I hesitated to pivot, hire, or launch something new was the fear of “going backwards.” What if I made less money one month? What if I lost followers? What if things got… messy?
Spoiler alert: they did. And I survived.
There have been times I made a change and saw a temporary dip in income. There have been months where I wasn’t as visible or “on” because I was learning behind the scenes. But all of those dips came with growth. Real growth—the kind that sets you up for the long term.
You’re not doing it wrong if it feels uncomfortable. You’re not off track if something doesn’t work the first time. And you’re not failing if the path to your dream business has a few detours.
What I wish I’d known: success doesn’t always look like steady, upward momentum. Sometimes it looks like trial and error, rest, reinvention, and rebuilding.
5. You’re Allowed to Redefine What Success Looks Like
This one might be the most important.
When I started freelancing, I had a pretty rigid idea of what success was supposed to look like: fully booked, consistent five-figure months, maybe even a small team. I thought that more would equal better.
But the more I experimented—trying new offers, shifting my hours, building systems that supported my energy—the more I realised I don’t want to build something I’ll grow to resent.
Now, success means working with dream clients on meaningful projects. It means taking Fridays off when I need them. It means space. It means creativity. It means sustainability.
You’re allowed to build a business that actually fits your life—not just your ambition.
What I wish I’d known: it’s okay if your version of success looks nothing like someone else’s. And it’s okay if it changes.
Final Thoughts
If you’re sitting on a pivot, thinking about hiring help, or secretly dreaming about launching something new… I see you. I’ve been you.
And while I can’t promise the road ahead will be smooth, I can tell you this: you’re allowed to do things before you feel 100% ready. You’re allowed to evolve. You’re allowed to take up more space.
You’re not flaky for changing your mind.
You’re not failing if it takes a few tries.
You’re just building something real—and that takes time, guts, and a whole lot of grace.
Here’s to the brave choices. The quiet pivots. The scary launches.
Here’s to the version of you that says: “I don’t have it all figured out, but I’m moving forward anyway.”
You’ve got this.
