When "Going Solo" Stops Working

ReBorn Designs / Read Time: 5 min

"Just do it yourself."
These five words built my career.

I built a reputation as a hands-on designer. A closer. Someone who could come in, deliver, and get out of the way.

But in 2024, that mindset nearly broke me.

After a steady corporate role was swept away in a brand acquisition, I found myself back in freelance.

I’d done it before. I knew the drill. But something had shifted—the market was dry. Scarce briefs. Slashed budgets. Cautious clients.

I realized quickly: my old strategy of working alone wasn’t going to get me through this.

That’s when I made the shift from “just me” to “we.”

There’s gold in the unemployed market.

I stopped waiting for brands to call.
Instead, I started calling people I trusted.

Exceptional talent I had worked with over the years who were also looking for their next move.

Developers, designers, marketers, product managers, sourcing partners. Some who were overlooked by recruiters, but I knew how good they were.

I showed them what I was building.
I made space for them to grow alongside me.
And I turned ReBorn from a solo studio into a multi-service platform designed around what clients actually need.

Because here’s the truth most service providers ignore:

Clients don’t buy skills. They buy solutions.

That shift changed everything.

In 2024, my net revenue was under $50K.
In 2025, we passed $650K.
And it’s only July.

How I got there: curiosity, connection, and a LOT of discomfort.

I didn’t just build a team.

I built a better version of myself.

Here’s what it took:

1. I posted relentlessly on LinkedIn, sharing the behind-the-scenes journey, wins and missteps
2. I became obsessed with AI. Not to cut corners, but to help clients make better, faster decisions
3. I faced my fear of public speaking, leading a panel at PI Apparel NYC and hosting a roundtable at Stride in Portland
4. I networked like crazy. Talking to real entrepreneurs, operators, and decisions makers at every level
5. I brought half-baked ideas to industry leaders, and let them rip them apart so I could build something stronger

And maybe most importantly…

I stopped selling what I could do,
and started building what my clients needed.

At ReBorn Designs, we don’t just support your footwear projects. We become an extension of your team. If you’re ready to grow but need the right partners by your side, book a free 30-minute Discovery Call and let’s build a team around your vision that’s designed for real growth.

From Solo Act to Scalable Studio: 3 Lessons That Changed Everything

For years, I thought grit, talent, and self-sufficiency were the ultimate formula.
And to be fair, they got me far.
But in 2024, they stopped working.

Suddenly, the freelance market was quiet. Projects stalled. Budgets froze.
And I realized: doing it all myself wasn’t going to get me through the next chapter.

So I did the thing that scared me most.
I stopped relying on myself, and started building around myself.

Here are the 3 biggest lessons that came from that shift:

1. Your next hire isn’t on a job board.
   They’re probably unemployed and overlooked. Just like you were at some point.
   I started reconnecting with incredibly talented people I’d worked with before, those in limbo, waiting for their next thing.
   Together, we built something better than any of us could have built alone.

2. AI isn’t the threat. It’s your co-pilot.
   I stopped trying to use AI to “save time.”
   Instead, I used it to expand my thinking. Testing ideas, analyzing briefs, and helping clients move faster with more confidence.
   It's not about shortcuts. It's about smarter strategy.

3. Your mindset is your biggest unlock.
   For years, I thought being self-sufficient was my edge.
   But it was actually my ceiling.
   The moment I shifted from “solo act” to “scalable studio,” everything changed.

The solo hustle got me here.
But it’s the team mindset that’s taking me further.

Ask yourself this:
Are you trying to grow your business by doing more yourself…
or by building the team that will take it further than you ever could alone?

If you’re ready to shift how you work and who you work with—reach out.

Let's talk about what we can build together.

PS: Know someone building something solo who’s ready for their next evolution?
Forward this to them.

They might just be sitting on a million-dollar idea, they just don’t know who to build it with yet.

Cheers!
Erin

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