When an idea stops feeling right, it’s often only clear in hindsight.
It’s been a couple of weeks since I wrapped up my first ExitLab project.
Long enough to get some distance — and to see what actually happened.
One thing became very clear:
These projects take more time — and more energy — than you think.
Especially alongside a regular job.
Evenings are short. Focus is limited. Life happens in between.
And still…
I enjoyed parts of it.
The Idea Was No Longer Me
Despite a few setbacks — including getting kicked off one platform — I eventually got a couple of designs done, uploaded them elsewhere, and ordered two shirts.
I was curious to see them in real life.
And if I’m honest, I expected more.
When they arrived, the real test began.
One design was too large. It took over the entire shirt.
The other tried to be funny — but the humor didn’t land.
Here’s the strange part: I had fun creating them. But when I saw the result, something felt off.
There was a gap between creating and what I ended up with.
I enjoyed making them.
But I didn’t want to wear them.
Something felt off. I couldn’t ignore it anymore.
I don’t work with visuals.
And it showed.
I work with words. Stories. Structure.
Design is different.
And I’m not there yet.
It takes longer. It feels less certain. And my ability doesn’t match what I see in my head.
That gap shows up in the result.
But there’s something else too.
Looking back at older design ideas — some going back 20 years — I can see that they don’t feel like me anymore.
Some still do.
But others were built on ideas I’ve grown out of.
And that shift is subtle.
Until suddenly, it isn’t.
You look at something —
and realize:
You’ve changed.
So now I’m at a crossroads.
I could keep going.
I could change direction.
Or I could let it rest.
Right now, I don’t have a clear answer.
What I do know:
I still find print-on-demand interesting.
But if I continue, it will look different.
Less text.
More visual.
A different tone.
Or something else entirely.
For now, I’m letting it sit.
Because not every idea turns into something long-term.
Some things don’t fail. They just don’t fit.
And that’s part of what The ExitLab is about.
Not just showing what works —
but what doesn’t.
Or maybe more accurately:
What doesn’t work for you.
Have you ever worked on something that felt right in the beginning…
but didn’t feel like you anymore when it was done?
If this resonated, you might want to read:
The Risk of Having One Income
Why depending on one source of income can quietly limit your freedom.When Financial Advice Stops Working
What happens when the usual advice no longer fits your reality.Exit Lab: What I’m Actually Trying to Build
A closer look at the experiments behind this project.