A developer’s life beyond the screen.

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.