It is freaking tough to figure out what the right way is to move forward. You've got a lot of internet gurus throwing out advice - good and bad, and lots of service providers desperately trying to get your money - regardless whether they can actually help you or not.
I advocate for brutal honesty and education for both service providers and end clients. I advocate for continually improving your skill set. And most importantly, I advocate for doing the right thing by everyone you deal with (not just trying to make a buck).