I’ve been selling Showit canvases for over 7 years now. And in that time, I’ve noticed something interesting. It’s a pattern that predicts which designers will thrive and which will stay stuck.
Designers fall into one of two camps. And the difference between them isn’t talent, experience, or even design skill. It’s something much simpler.
Camp 1: The “I Can Build It Myself” Designers
These designers buy one canvas. Maybe a hero section or a portfolio grid. They use it. They love the time savings. They’re impressed by the quality.
Then… nothing. They go back to building everything else from scratch.
Their thinking:
- “This canvas helped, but I can build the rest myself“
- “I only need help with complex sections“
- “I want to prove I can do it on my own“
What actually happens:
They spend the next 6 months:
- Working 50-60 hour weeks
- Googling “how to create [XYZ feature] in Showit” multiple times per project
- Fighting with technical problems instead of designing
- Exhausted by the time they get to the creative part
- Charging $3K because that’s what their “good enough” work commands
Three years later, they’re in the same place. Same rates. Same exhaustion. Same stuck.
Camp 2: The “Work Smarter” Designers
These designers also buy one canvas. But then something clicks.
They realise: “Wait… why am I still building ANYTHING from scratch?“ So they buy another canvas. Then another. Then another.
Their thinking:
“Every hour I spend on technical setup is an hour I’m NOT designing“
“These canvases are better than what I’d build anyway“
“My time is worth more than this“
One of my customers, Carolina M, told me:
“This is the 4th-ish download I’ve purchased. Each one has been awesome.”
Fourth purchase.
I knew Carolina had figured out that it was much easier (and quicker) using premium premade canvases rather than building everything from scratch.
What actually happens for Camp 2 designers:
Within 6 months:
- Projects that took 50 hours now take 25 hours
- They have time to pitch more clients (and land them)
- Their portfolio looks more premium because they’re not exhausted
- They confidently raise rates to $6K, $8K, even $10K
- They’re working LESS but earning MORE
So What’s Really Different Between These Two Camps?
It’s not that Camp 1 designers lack talent. It’s not that Camp 2 designers are smarter or more experienced.
The difference is this:
Camp 1 thinks building from scratch proves their worth. Camp 2 realises their worth is in creative vision, not technical execution.
Camp 1 measures success by:
- “I built this entire website myself”
- “I didn’t use any templates”
- “I figured out how to create that complex animation”
Camp 2 measures success by:
- “I delivered stunning work in half the time”
- “My client was thrilled and referred two more”
- “I raised my rates and clients still say yes”
One is measuring effort. The other is measuring results.
The Compound Effect:
Let’s say both designers start the year at the same place: charging $3,500 per website, taking 50 hours per project.
Camp 1 Designer (Building from scratch):
- Month 1: One project, 50 hours, $3,500
- Month 3: Still one project per month, 50 hours, $3,500
- Month 6: Same rates, same hours, portfolio hasn’t evolved much
- Month 12: Completed 12 projects, made $42,000, feeling burned out
Camp 2 Designer (Using building blocks):
- Month 1: One project, 25 hours (used canvases), $3,500
- Month 2: Two projects with the extra time, $7,000
- Month 3: Portfolio looks premium now, raises rates to $5,000
- Month 6: Working 30-hour weeks, charging $6,000 per project
- Month 12: Completed 18 projects, made $90,000+, still has energy
That’s a $48,000 difference.
But more importantly:
Camp 1 is exhausted, resentful, and stuck. Camp 2 is energised, confident, and growing.
What Camp 2 Designers Understand:
Every hour you spend building a section from scratch is an hour you’re NOT:
For client designers:
- Pitching new clients
- Raising your prices
- Creating portfolio work you’re proud of
- Building relationships with dream clients
- Actually taking time off
For template sellers:
- Launching another template
- Testing a new niche
- Building actual passive income
- Creating content that drives sales
- Expanding your shop offerings
Jessica C, another customer, told me:
“I was prepared to spend hours creating my FAQ page. After purchasing this template I had it added to my site with all my info and customization within 45 mins.”
Hours → 45 minutes.
The Question Nobody Asks:
Here’s the question Camp 1 designers never ask themselves:
“What is my time worth?”
If you charge $3,500 for a 50-hour project, your time is worth $70/hour. So, when you spend 6 hours building a hero section from scratch instead of customising a pre-built canvas in 30 minutes…
You just paid $420 to prove you could do it yourself. Was it worth it?
Which Camp Are You In?
Be honest with yourself:
Are you Camp 1?
- Still building most things from scratch
- Spending more time on technical problems than creative work
- Exhausted by the end of every project
- Unable to justify raising your rates
- Stuck at the same income level for months (or years)
Or are you Camp 2?
- Using sophisticated building blocks as foundations
- Spending your energy on design and creative decisions
- Energised by your work
- Confidently charging premium rates
- Growing your income and your business
There’s no judgement either way.
But there IS a choice.
The Shift From Camp 1 to Camp 2:
The good news? Moving from Camp 1 to Camp 2 isn’t complicated.
You don’t need:
- To learn advanced Showit techniques (the canvases already have them)
- Years of experience (the foundations work for beginners too)
- Expensive tools (just the Showit account you already have)
You just need to stop viewing “building from scratch” as a badge of honor.
Your clients don’t care HOW you built their website.
They care that it:
- Looks stunning
- Works perfectly
- Was delivered on time
- Solves their problems
