# Building Solo > Solopreneur Life, Career Pivots, and Tips to Make Your Life Easier Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts. Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`). ## Pages ### About Me URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/about/ Last updated: 2025-11-28T15:25:53.000Z Corporate life is inflexible and filled with BS. Solopreneur life gives you control… If you work smartly. In 2020, I [quit my job](https://www.workbetter.media/p/the-last-straw?ref=blog.annabyang.com) as a corporate executive at a tech company and pivoted to an entirely new career in content marketing and journalism. Eighteen months later, I became a full-time freelance writer and solopreneur. I [specialize in fintech](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/), automation, and AI. I was tired of working for someone else’s goals and profits. I wanted full control over how I spent my time. Most of all, I was fed up with corporate nonsense. I decided to [bet on myself](https://blog.annabyang.com/year-i-bet-on-myself/). My solo business grew quickly because of my former exec experience. I can do more with my time because I know how to use tools and automate processes. Solopreneur life has always felt freeing for me, instead of overwhelming. I focus on [**solopreneur operations**](https://blog.annabyang.com/tag/soloprenuer/)because I want to empower other one-person businesses to take control of their time, streamline their processes, and free themselves from boring/tedious work. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/ebook-smart-tools-1.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Check out my free eBook.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### Resources URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/resources/ Last updated: 2026-05-24T16:40:49.000Z *Below are some of my most popular resources. You can access my full library of resources* [*here*](https://products.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/05/annabyang-cta-solopreneur-toolbox.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-solopreneur-toolbox?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **The resources you need to run your business,* **from financial worksheets to proposal templates to contract review.* [Get The Toolbox ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-solopreneur-toolbox?ref=blog.annabyang.com) [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-ebook-smarttools-1.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-smarttools?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Learn the best apps and tools solopreneurs use to take their businesses* — *and productivity* — *to the next level.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-smarttools?ref=blog.annabyang.com) [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/04/annabyang-cta-getting-started-automation--1-.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Want to see what automation actually looks like in a solo business?* **Check out my free guide.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### Content by Topic URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/content-by-topic/ Last updated: 2026-01-12T23:00:36.000Z In 2021, I quit my job as a fintech executive to become a freelance writer and solopreneur. I was tired of working for someone else's goals and fed up with corporate nonsense. But going solo doesn't mean trading your 9-5 for a 24/7\. It means building a business that fits your life (not the other way around). Over the past few years, I've written about the behind-the-scenes stuff that nobody talks about. Tools that make your life easier. Systems that keep your business running smoothly. How to manage your finances. The moments when things don't go as planned. This blog is for freelancers and solopreneurs who want **tactical** advice. Everything here comes from my own experience building a sustainable solo business. **Diving Into a Topic** If you want to binge a bunch of content about a specific topic, you've come to the right place! Every piece of content is assigned a Tag, and the Tags are below. You can also use the "Search" at the top of the website if you're looking for something else. 1. [Artificial Intelligence](https://blog.annabyang.com/tag/ai/) 2. [Business Decisions](https://blog.annabyang.com/tag/business-decisions/) 3. [Content Strategy](https://blog.annabyang.com/tag/content-strategy/) 4. [Creator Economy](https://blog.annabyang.com/tag/creator-economy/) 5. [Financial Management](https://blog.annabyang.com/tag/financial-management/) 6. [Freelancing 101](https://blog.annabyang.com/tag/freelancing/) 7. [Habits & Goals](https://blog.annabyang.com/tag/habits-and-goals/) 8. [Marketing & Branding](https://blog.annabyang.com/tag/marketing/) 9. [Productivity & Organization](https://blog.annabyang.com/tag/productivity/) 10. [Social Media](https://blog.annabyang.com/tag/social-media/) 11. [Solopreneur Operations](https://blog.annabyang.com/tag/soloprenuer/) 12. [Time Management](https://blog.annabyang.com/tag/time-management/) 13. [Tools & Automation](https://blog.annabyang.com/tag/tools/) 14. [Work & Career](https://blog.annabyang.com/tag/work-and-career/) 15. [Writing](https://blog.annabyang.com/tag/writing/) --- You can also subscribe to receive new posts directly in your inbox. ## Sign up for Anna Burgess Yang Tactical advice for freelancers and solopreneurs. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Tool Assessment Calculator URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/tool-assessment-calculator/ Last updated: 2026-02-05T02:02:21.000Z # Tool Assessment Calculator Is this tool worth the cost? Monthly cost of the tool ($) Hours saved per month (estimated) Your average monthly income ($) Total hours you work per week Monthly cost of all other subscriptions ($) (optional) Calculate ## **Your effective hourly rate:** $/hour **Monthly savings from this tool:** $ **Monthly cost of tool:** $ **Net benefit:** ### Subscription Health Check **Total subscription cost (including this tool):** % of your monthly income **Health status:** **Warning:** You're spending more than 10% of your income on subscriptions. If this tool is worthwhile, you may want to consider canceling another subscription to maintain a healthy balance. ### Not sure which tools are essential for your business? Check out my free guide: **17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need** [Download](#) Calculate Another Tool A healthy subscription budget is around 5-7% of your monthly income. Built with care for solopreneurs by [Anna Burgess Yang](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/about/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### Published Work URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/published-work/ Last updated: 2026-02-11T21:39:08.000Z As seen in: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/logo-fast-company-3.png) #### Contributing Writer Work-Life Section [Follow](https://www.fastcompany.com/user/annaburgessyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/log-chicago-sun-times-4.svg) #### Op-Ed: Freelance workers deserve protections A new Illinois law says freelancers have the right to be paid on time. [Read](https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/5/29/23737523/freelance-workers-illinois-pay-protections-legislation-pritzker-anna-burgess-yang-op-ed?fbclid=IwAR3Vom%5FG2xLhgaJvew-PpnJeLWQQk688cgVTggvBaOWuz%5FGNCNUm2a6xdL4&ref=blog.annabyang.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/logo-chronicle-of-higher-education-5.jpg) #### Case Study Serving the Unique Needs of Adult Learners [Read](https://media.journoportfolio.com/users/301793/uploads/367d614c-310f-4ed8-944e-7bf3606f4a1c.pdf?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-headshot-2026-orange-5.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/Anna-Burgess-Yang---Logo-Family-26.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-headshot-neutral-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-suit-jacket.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-headshot-suit-orange.png) ## Posts ### Put Your Business On Autopilot With Claude Scheduled Tasks URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-claude-scheduled-tasks/ Last updated: 2026-08-15T15:15:48.000Z Ever added up how many hours a week you spend doing work you've already done? Replying to an email in the same way you have 100 times before, or moving files from one location to another. As solopreneurs, the repetitive work piles up because it still has to get done, and we’re the only ones doing. When it follows the exact same steps every time, it feels annoying (even though the steps are necessary to keep things running smoothly. AI scheduled tasks can handle that work in the background while you spend your time on the things that need your brain. Once you know what type of work makes for a good scheduled task, the setup only takes a few minutes. ❗ **Note: While I reference Claude here, because that’s what I use, you can use this process with any AI tool that allows you to run tasks on a schedule.* ## What makes something a good scheduled task Keep in mind, not everything should be automated. A scheduled task works when the process meets a few specific criteria. Here's what to look for: - **It follows the same steps every time.** While you can write instructions that can take a few different paths (if X happens, do Y, otherwise Z), there still needs to be a defined set of steps to follow. - **It uses the same tools.** Claude connects to the same apps on every run, whether that's your email or your file storage. - **It produces the same type of output.** You know what you're getting at the end, whether that's a draft or a saved file. - **It runs on a set schedule.** Daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly. - **It requires no human in the loop.** There's no point in the process where you have to stop and make a judgment call. Katie Parrott, AI Editorial Lead at Every, goes through a specific process to determine if something is worth automating. She [writes](https://every.to/working-overtime/why-some-ai-workflows-stick-and-others-don-t?ref=blog.annabyang.com): > *A new automation has to run manually three times before I schedule it. Its output has to produce something I use with less than five minutes of review. Four unused runs of an automation trigger a decision to change or retire it.* ## 4 parts of a scheduled task Every scheduled task has the same components, and once you can name them, the setup stops feeling mysterious. Here's what goes into one. ### Instructions In Claude, a skill file is the set of step-by-step instructions that Claude follows. For an email task, the skill might say: check this inbox, figure out what's new, apply labels, and draft replies using my templates. In another AI tool, you might write out a prompt or a series of instructions in a similar way and save them to that tool. [How to Create Claude Skills for Repeatable ProcessesCreate Claude Skills for repeatable processes.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/1-773e95d7-4035-4df9-ab9b-b3060c916801.png)Tinkering With IdeasAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/tinkering-with-ideas-workflows-hero-image-fd822d09-aaf9-4d79-bcfe-5506c52026a5.png)](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/create-claude-skills/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### Reference files These hold the information Claude needs to do the work well: your [voice and tone guide](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/style-guide-ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), brand guidelines, templates, and examples of what good output looks like. These files live *outside* the skill file\*,\* so more than one task can point to the same file. If you need to make a change, you update the reference file, and every skill picks up the change. ### External tools (MCPs) Model context protocol, or MCP, is the connection that plugs an outside app into an app like Claude or ChatGPT. You connect the app, and then your AI tool can read data from that app (and sometimes, even write back to the app). Your file storage, your database, your email, your newsletter platform — if you use it day to day, there's a decent chance [an MCP already exists](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/mcp-claude-connectors-solopreneur/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for it. ### The schedule Skill + recurring date/time = scheduled task. Daily, weekly, monthly — whatever makes sense for how often the work actually comes up. A lot of my scheduled tasks run weekly. They’ll run at 4:00 am, so that when I sit down at my desk to work that day, the results are already waiting for me. ## Where to keep your reference files Reference files need to live somewhere Claude can reach them *and* where you can update them easily. The right location depends on how hands-on you want Claude to be with your files. - **Google Drive.** Claude can read your files but can't update them (at least, not at the time I’m writing this). You make the changes yourself, and Claude fetches the current version on the next run. Good if you want Claude not to modify your files. - **Markdown files stored locally.** Claude can read and write these through CoWork, which is why you'll see people online with elaborate systems of local markdown files. It works, but you're tied to that computer, so making a change while you're away from that device isn't an option. - [Notion](https://affiliate.notion.so/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]* **pages**. This is my preference. Claude can read and write through the Notion MCP. Since it's cloud-based, I can tell Claude to update a reference file mid-conversation without switching apps. I had Claude migrate my old Google Drive and markdown files over to Notion. The distinction: reference files are separate from skill files. Skill is a *specific* flow for Claude to file. Reference files might be used across multiple skills, such as your [voice and tone guide](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/style-guide-ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Other reference files might include brand guidelines, information about you and your business, or templates you want Claude to follow. ## 3 examples of scheduled tasks for a solo business The criteria are much easier to apply when you can see them working. Here's what's running in my business right now, and which platform each one handles. ### 1\. Social media post creation (weekly) - Looks at my recent blog posts - References my voice and tone guide and past examples - Turns long-form content into short-form social posts and sends them to Buffer ### 2\. YouTube descriptions (weekly) - Checks a Google Drive folder for a new video file and transcript - References an example description so the format stays consistent - Writes an optimized description and saves it back to the same folder ### 3\. Email inbox triage (daily) - Connected to a Gmail account dedicated to website inquiries - Categorizes each new message and applies a label - Drafts a reply from my templates (it doesn't send — I review and edit first) ## Tips for getting the most out of scheduled tasks - Run every new scheduled task manually before you let it run on its own. You'll catch permission prompts and missing reference files before the task runs unattended and fails. - Put error handling in the skill file itself. Add a final step like "if anything in this process failed, send me an email with what went wrong." Claude's native Gmail connector can draft but not send, so you'll want Zapier connected to Gmail for this step. - Not all MCPs are available in the cloud. Some are only available via Claude’s CoWork desktop app. If you have to use CoWork, make sure your computer doesn’t go to sleep or your scheduled task may not run. - Keep reference files separate from skill files. A voice and tone guide should be one file that multiple skills point to, so a single update flows to every task that uses it. ## Building your first scheduled task Start by looking at one boring thing you did last week and will do again next week. Write down the steps *in order* and which apps you touch along the way. That’s what you’ll need through the skill file. Then go to Claude and repeat the process. Make sure Claude connects to your apps and follows your instructions. At the end, say, “Now package this as a skill.” Once you’ve done that, you can create the scheduled task to run the skill on a schedule. Once you see that first output, you'll start noticing other work in your week that makes sense for a scheduled task. It’s nice to free up the brain space, because now you’ve reduced the amount of time spent to simply output review. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/04/annabyang-cta-getting-started-automation--1-.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Want to see what automation actually looks like in a solo business?* **Check out my free guide.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### Do I need to know how to code to set up a scheduled task? No. Skill files are written in plain language, as a set of instructions Claude reads and follows. You describe the steps and Claude handles the execution. You can also have Claude write the skill for you. #### Can I use scheduled tasks for personal projects? Yes. Anything that meets the criteria works, whether it's business or personal. You could have a skill that triages your personal email or checks websites related to travel or local events. #### What if a scheduled task fails? Build an error notification into the skill file so you get an email or a message when something goes wrong. You can also open the scheduled task history in Claude to investigate what happened and why it failed. #### Should I store my reference files in GitHub? For most solopreneurs, no. GitHub adds steps like commits and version control that reference files don't need. Notion is free, easier to use, and lets Claude read and write without the extra overhead. ### Why a Good Boss Can't Save You From a Bad Job URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/trap-bad-job-good-boss/ Last updated: 2026-08-11T12:05:08.000Z "People don't leave bad jobs; they leave bad bosses." (Or so the saying goes.) But what happens when the job *is* bad, but your boss is great? If you've stayed somewhere longer than you should have because your manager was the one good thing about the role, you know the feeling. The commiserating, the sense that the two of you were in it together. Leaving might feel like abandoning the person who made everything tolerable. But tolerable and worth staying for are two different things, and knowing the line between the two is how you protect your career. 💡 ****TL;DR:** A good boss can make a bad situation bearable, but they can't fix a broken company or protect you from a layoff. You need to recognize if the company has bad leadership, your colleagues are toxic, or your boss can’t help you grow. Table of Contents ## Can a good boss make up for a bad job? There's no doubt that a good boss can make a world of difference at a job. Whether it's making a bad situation better, acting as a sounding board, or advocating up the food chain on your behalf. They're supportive, skilled leaders who create a positive and productive work environment. I got along really well with one of my former bosses. She was the ultimate listening ear. I could complain to her about anything and talk about my dreams for improving the situation. She provided mentorship and helped me [climb the ranks](https://blog.annabyang.com/tech-career-to-professional-writer-journey/) within the company. But at the end of the day, a great boss has to be more than a work friend. You may like your boss, but that doesn't mean your boss is a good boss. Or, your boss's hands are tied, and they don't have the power to enact real change in a bad environment. In these situations, friend-bosses might make the job palatable, but they don't offset other factors that make the job a bad job. ## Signs your boss can't save you from the job Your boss might be doing everything they can with the influence they have. Problems may exist well above their pay grade. Other problems won't resolve on their own, and they usually have to do with the company's core essence of "this is who we are and what we do." ### 1\. The company has bad leadership Not all people who hold leadership roles are cut out to be leaders. Some lead out of ego, and others fail upwards into a role. If the CEO holds too much power to single-handedly dictate the company's path, that's a bad sign. The [iHire Toxic Workplace Trends Report](https://www.ihire.com/resourcecenter/employer/pages/toxic-workplace-trends-report-2025?ref=blog.annabyang.com) found that poor leadership is the leading cause of toxic workplaces at almost 79%. Employees reported unethical, unaccountable, or unsupportive company leaders. Poor leadership can lead to things like [mass layoffs](https://www.workbetter.media/p/layoffs-reorgs?ref=blog.annabyang.com), and if that happens, your boss can’t protect you. (In fact, your boss might even be impacted, as managers are frequently a target of layoffs.) Look at communication from the c-suite and ask yourself whether you know where the company is headed. ### 2\. You have toxic colleagues Toxicity isn’t only at the c-suite level. Leadership might be fine, but you have toxic colleagues. Your boss may have no way to protect you from people in other departments who make your life miserable. On the [*On With Kara Swisher*](https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/career-advice-kara-answers-listeners-questions/id1643307527?i=1000774163486&ref=blog.annabyang.com) podcast, Kara Swisher answered a listener’s question about working with a jerk. The listener asked if they should leave, complain, or try to lead a revolt. Swisher replied: > I don't think leading a revolt is a very good idea. It's not your business. If they want to operate that way, that's the way they're going to operate. > > And I used to sort of wallow in gripery. And I don't think that works very much in life. I think it makes you unhappy, and they don't care. And it actually, your work suffers for it. > > And so I always leave. I spent a portion of my career working with very [toxic colleagues](https://blog.annabyang.com/free-yourself-from-a-toxic-work-environment/). And even though my boss was great, I realized that leadership was allowing toxicity to continue rather than address it. That says a lot about what leadership prioritizes, and it makes for a very unhealthy workplace. ### 3\. The company is struggling Great leadership and great products don’t always make for a successful company. Some may not have the resources to match what competitors offer, or falls behind in the market. The economy will always have ups and downs, and some companies can weather the storm. But if it looks like [the company is in trouble](https://www.workbetter.media/p/when-the-company-is-dying?ref=blog.annabyang.com), you should not go down with a sinking ship. Your boss may have zero ability to save you. Not all companies are transparent about their financial situations. You can look for signs, such as: - Slowed sales - A hiring freeze - Budget cuts - Customer complaints You may also feel the pressure through increased micromanagement because your boss's boss wants everyone to be as productive as possible when times are tough. ### 4\. Your career can’t grow, even with your boss's support Depending on the organization's hierarchy, there's only so much your boss can do. You may want career growth and are caught in the company's red tape. You can't get promoted or upskill in your current role — and there's no way for your boss to help you. Even if your boss sees your value, your career might stagnate if it's not recognized by the rest of the company. If you've been in the same role for years without meaningful skill development or a real path forward, that's its own version of a job that isn't working. A supportive manager doesn't substitute for career growth. [The Most Important Thing In Your Career Is Your TimeWork a lot. Or a little. As long as it’s up to you.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-5c7b8a07-4121-435f-be89-7adf49a67013.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-work-career-hero-image-4-f30347cc-c0d4-4a72-a39e-472595a3221d.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/career-importance-control-over-time/) ## How to evaluate a new opportunity If you get along with your boss and things don't feel that bad, how do you know that the job is worth leaving? Taking on a new job is a risk, absolutely. You could end up in a similar situation, or (even worse) end up with a terrible boss. Here are some things to do as you start a job search: **Treat the interview like a** [**two-way street**](https://www.workbetter.media/p/job-interviews-two-way-street?ref=blog.annabyang.com)**.** You're interviewing the new boss as much as they're interviewing you. Come prepared with your own questions, such as "How do you measure success in this role?" or "How do you plan to support me during onboarding?" **Check Glassdoor.** Employee reviews usually paint a fairly accurate picture of the company overall, especially factors like leadership and work-life balance. You can also use LinkedIn to find current or former employees and send a quick DM, which helps when Glassdoor is thin on reviews for smaller companies. **Run the new company through the same evaluation you give your current employer.** Do as much research as you can with publicly available information. Look at the products, who's in charge, and what the growth opportunities are. If the environment itself is what's pushing you out, it's worth knowing the signs of a [toxic work environment](https://blog.annabyang.com/free-yourself-from-a-toxic-work-environment/) so you don't land somewhere with the same problems you’re currently experiencing. ## Prioritize yourself, not loyalty to your boss Loyalty to your boss is admirable, and a good relationship goes a long way. But you should *always* put yourself first. The company will always put itself first, no matter how much your boss may try to protect you. For many people, the hardest part of leaving a job with a good boss is the guilt that comes with it. A truly good boss will want you to do what's best for you. Ask them to be a reference or write a LinkedIn recommendation. If they get upset that you're moving on, the relationship was only ever about the work. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-career-pivots-1.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-career-pivots?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Thinking about a career change? Check out this free guide.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-career-pivots?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🗓️ **Note: This blog post was originally published in April 2023 and was updated in August 2026\.* ## Why people make the mistake of staying too long at a job - **They prioritize comfort over career growth.** A tolerable routine isn't a fulfilling role. If the only reason you're staying is that the days aren't terrible, that's inertia. - **They assume their boss will always be there.** Good bosses leave too. If the one thing keeping you at the company walks out the door, you're left without a buffer. - **They let loyalty override their own career goals.** You shouldn't sacrifice your career trajectory for your boss. - **They're waiting for the company to change.** Most companies that need to change don't. If the problems have been the same for a year or more, they're probably not going to change. ## FAQs #### Should I stay at a bad job if I have a good boss? It depends on whether the problems are things your boss can influence. A supportive manager can help with workload, conflict, and day-to-day stress. But they can't fix bad products, weak leadership, or a company in financial trouble. If the issues come from above your boss, there's little chance that things will change. #### How do I know if my boss is actually a good boss or just a good friend? A good boss advocates for you with the people above them, and can actually enact change in a bad situation. A friend at work listens and commiserates. Both feel supportive, but only one of them helps your career. #### Can a good boss protect me from a toxic workplace? Only partially. A manager can shield you from some interactions and give you space to do your job, but they can't change a culture set by senior leadership. Poor leadership is the leading cause of toxic workplaces, which puts most of the problem outside your boss's control. #### How do I leave a job without ruining my relationship with my boss? Give appropriate notice and offer to help with the transition. Be honest that the move is about where your career is headed, and ask for a reference or a LinkedIn recommendation. A manager who genuinely supports you will want you to take a better opportunity. #### What are the signs that a company won't improve? Look for problems that have existed for a year or longer. Leadership may be constantly changing directions, or put hiring freezes or budget cuts into place because it is struggling. Companies rarely change unless leadership admits there's a problem. If nobody at the top is acknowledging it, the situation is unlikely to improve. ### How I Plan a Full Month of Social Media for My Solo Business URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/monthly-social-media-planning/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T22:15:51.000Z Most social media advice tells you to batch your content a week at a time. In fact, I've made that suggestion myself. Work in batches, so you’re not trying to manage social media daily. It makes sense… until the week you can't get to it. One off week and now you're behind and trying to catch up the following week. Last week's posts are still sitting in a doc while this week's are already due. Catching up takes extra effort. Planning a full month at once eliminates that catch-up problem. A monthly session may sound like more work than a weekly one, but it ends up being less. I sit down for a focused monthly session and knock out all of my planning and scheduling. It’s far less brain energy than weekly scheduling, and ends up saving time. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Monthly social media planning replaces weekly sessions with a single batch. Repurpose what you've already published using AI, connect it to your scheduling tool, and you can create a month’s worth of posts without a marathon writing session. ## The game-changer of a monthly social media plan Monthly social media planning means you write and schedule a full month of posts in one working session instead of returning to the task once a week. The posts still go out on a regular cadence, but you don’t have to think about them as often. A [Gitnux report](https://gitnux.org/small-business-social-media-statistics/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) found 43% struggle specifically with consistent content creation. Batching works because it changes *when* you think about social media. You spend a couple of hours on it and then leave it alone. I thought weekly batching was much better than on-the-fly daily posting. Then I discovered monthly batching and found it was *much* better. A single, focused session was a huge improvement over weekly sessions. It also gives me enough distance to be strategic. I can line up posts with a launch or a seasonal theme, instead of figuring out how to fit those posts into my weekly content. [Social Media for Solopreneurs: Tips and ToolsBuild a content muscle.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-1ffd35fb-058d-4016-8af5-028d555b95ac.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-content-strategy-hero-image-24-a1a71d17-992b-4f3c-90c4-739903088c1c.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/social-media-for-solopreneurs/) ## How to set up monthly social media planning with AI The setup might take a few hours the first time, because you’ve got to figure out “how it will all work.” After that, the monthly cycle mostly runs on its own, and your involvement drops to editing posts and getting them scheduled. Here's how to build out your monthly social media plan. ### 1\. Decide your content types Start by listing what you want to post and where each type comes from. Mine include: - Takeaways from blog posts - Talking points pulled from webinar transcripts - Newsletter teasers - Promoting my products/resources - Questions meant to start a conversation with my audience Every content type should map back to something you've already made. Nothing in my queue is brand new — it’s based on something I’ve already published. That’s what makes this system sustainable. ### 2\. Get specific with the output format You’re going to have AI write the social posts for you, based on your defined content types. You need to get hyper specific about what each type looks like, because AI will default to generic language without guidance. AI-assisted writing fails on two fronts: - Coming up with content ideas (you solve this by having it write social posts based on something you’ve already created) - Sounding generic or having obvious AI tells (you solve this with specific rules and examples) For example, you might write an instruction like: > *A LinkedIn post under 200 words, built around one takeaway from the blog post. Use a single H2 for the takeaway, rather than looking at the entire article. Do not use hashtags or emojis.* Write a [voice and tone guide](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/style-guide-ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) that captures how you actually talk — the phrases you use and the sentence length. Include real examples of posts you’ve written for that specific content type. Examples give AI a point of reference that’s far better than a rule or description alone. 💡 Tip: I have a “Master Hard Rules” file that Claude references every time. It includes banned words and other things to avoid. You can use Wikipedia’s [Signs of AI writing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signs%5Fof%5FAI%5Fwriting?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to build your own version. ### 3\. Connect your source material AI can only work from what it has access to, so the next step is giving it your source material. That might be drafts in your Google Drive or Notion if that's where you draft, or your AI notetaker if that’s where it can read webinar and podcast transcripts directly. Looking back at the previous instruction for a LinkedIn post, you would add the source, such as: > *“One key takeaway from each H2 of every blog post written in the past month. Drafts are found at \[Google Drive folder\].”* Work through [turning long-form content into short social posts](https://www.tinkeringwithideas.io/ai-summaries-for-social-posts/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) by hand once before you turn the task over to AI. For example, I have some explicit instructions about how to look at my conclusion for certain types of posts, and I only know this because it used to be a part of my social media post writing process. ### 4\. Connect to your scheduling platform For a completely hands-off workflow, connect your AI tool to the tool you use for social media scheduling. I use [Buffer](https://join.buffer.com/anna-burgess-yang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]*, so Claude adds posts directly to my queue as drafts, including tags (and sometimes images). If your social media scheduling tool can’t connect to your AI tool, have the AI write posts to a Google Doc or a spreadsheet instead. You can copy and paste to your social media tool, and the rest of the system still works exactly the same. ### 5\. Set your monthly social media creation on a schedule If you set up your batch creation on a schedule, it can happen automatically in the background. My monthly social media posts are written on the 25th of each month using a Claude Scheduled Task. Starting the month with a full queue of drafts waiting for you is a completely different feeling than opening a blank screen and hoping something comes to mind. ### 6\. Edit everything before it goes live AI gets you to about 80%. Your editing is what gets it the rest of the way. Skipping this step is how people end up with a feed that sounds like everyone else's (or has an “AI-tinge” to it). Read every post for accuracy and tone. Look at formatting, like the placement of a comma or an ellipsis. I add little asides to my writing (like this!) and never expect AI to do that for me. AI’s job is to: - Find the main ideas in something I’ve already created - Structure it according to instructions I’ve provided - Mirror my voice and tone as much as possible - Send the draft to my social media scheduling tool My job is polish and human-ness. This is basically the exact process I followed pre-AI, but AI makes it so much faster. Everything is still [based on my ideas](https://blog.annabyang.com/maintain-authentic-writing-voice-with-generative-ai/), and dramatically faster than writing from scratch. ## Don't forget to engage The risk of planning a month ahead is that you stop showing up on the platforms where you’re posting. “Post-and-ghost” never works. A full queue is only part of social media’s role in your solo business; engagement is the other part. Log in at least once a day to answer comments. Some social media scheduling tools let you respond without leaving the app, which can be great for boundaries since you won’t get caught up in the scroll. ## Set aside time on your calendar Monthly planning takes the weight of social media off your weekly to-do list. You're still strategic and you still sound like yourself. The work just happens less frequently. Once the system is running, put one recurring block on your calendar for it. You’ll need time to edit the drafts, and — just as important — time to adjust the prompts underneath. Prompts are the part most people set once and never touch again. And without tweaking, the output can start to “drift” over time. If you're wondering where to start, start with compiling a voice and tone guide, based on content you've already created. Everything else depends on it — it’s the core, no matter what tools, social media platforms, and content formats you rely on. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-manage-time-content-2.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-manage-time?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Grab my free guide to managing your time and content* **across multiple platforms.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-manage-time?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ## Tips for monthly social media planning - **Repurpose what you already have.** You probably have a backlog of blog posts, newsletter issues, and webinar recordings. A single blog post can generate four or five social posts. - **Keep a post bank of evergreen content.** Some posts stay relevant forever. Rotate them back through your queue, adding some new takes or variations. - **Review analytics monthly instead of weekly or daily.** Check what performed well last month and adjust your content types accordingly. You can't assess if your strategy is working if you check too often. - **Match the cadence to your energy.** If a full month feels like too much planning, try twice a month to start. ## FAQs #### How long does monthly social media planning take? The initial setup — choosing content types, writing a voice and tone guide, connecting your tools — might take several hours. After that, with AI assistance, expect anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to edit your posts, depending on how many channels you have and content volume. #### Can AI really write social media posts that sound like me? With a voice and tone guide and samples that you've written, AI can match your voice about 80%. The last 20% comes from your editing pass. The more real examples you provide, the closer the first draft gets. #### What if I don't have much existing content to repurpose? Start with whatever you have. A few blog posts or newsletter issues can generate a lot of social content. You could even rely on a transcript from a virtual chat or sales call. Your source material grows every time you publish something new. #### How many social media posts should I publish per month? There's no magic number, but two or three posts per week per platform is sustainable for most solopreneurs. Batching your planning and writing makes it a lot easier, since you can schedule social posts and then not think about writing more posts until the following month. ### How to Choose the Right Pricing Model for Your Freelance Writing Business URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/pricing-model-freelance-business/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T15:15:33.000Z If you’re a writer-for-hire, you know that client pricing is remarkably opaque. Unless you know other freelance writers or do a lot of research, it’s hard to know how much to charge clients — especially if you’re just getting started. Ernest Hemingway was [paid $1 per word](https://www.cjr.org/analysis/ernest-hemingway.php?ref=blog.annabyang.com) in 1936 — a whopping $22 per word today. But what’s equally intriguing about Hemingway’s rate is the pricing structure: per word. When I first became a freelance writer a few years ago, [more experienced writers urged me](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/) to charge per project. I also know writers who charge per hour and have seen job postings that list the same. So what’s the best pricing structure? Per word, per project, or per hour? I’ve experimented with different pricing as a freelance [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/) and journalist and found that the best option comes down to how *you* work. 💡 ****TL;DR:** There's no single "right" pricing model for a freelance business. Per hour, per project, and per word each have tradeoffs ## 3 ways to price your freelance writing I've used different models in my years of freelance writing, and my approach has evolved over time. If you’re a freelance writer, here’s how to think about each pricing model. ### Charging per hour I think charging by the hour is the least appealing for several reasons. It punishes fast writers: you're paid less for the same work as someone who writes more slowly. And a writer's speed often has nothing to do with the quality of work. If I were to charge hourly, it wouldn't reflect my expertise. I can write fast about financial technology (my niche) because I've worked in the industry for more than 15 years. Therefore, I don't need to do as much research for each article compared to someone with less experience. An hourly rate diminishes the knowledge I've accumulated in my head. Overall, it's also hard to keep track of the time you spend. Do you include your "thinking time"? Because I often stare at my computer screen for 15 minutes, trying to figure out how to word a specific sentence. Would a client be billed for that? Some data suggests freelancers using value-based pricing [earn significantly more](https://www.plutio.com/freelancer-magazine/freelance-pricing-models-compared?ref=blog.annabyang.com) than those billing hourly — which makes sense when you think about how hourly billing caps your earnings at how fast you can type. ❗ One exception to my resistance to per-hour pricing is editing work. Most editors I know charge per hour. They have no way of predicting how much editing an article will need — even with two articles of identical length from the same writer. ### Charging per project When you charge per project, you're being paid for the value you provide, not the time you put in (also known as value-based pricing). You should still do some math, since you don't want to quote a per-project rate that equates to a really low hourly rate. It's also really easy for clients to understand and budget for a per-project rate, since it ends up being a fixed cost. When you charge per project, you need to watch out for [scope creep](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-contract-protect-yourself/). If clients ask you to do more, you're not getting paid anything additional. You should make sure that your contract clearly outlines what you'll do for that per-project rate — and what you won't do. If there are some frequent "add-on" requests, you can include those in your contract, so that you don't need to sign a new agreement or negotiate pricing with a client when you're mid-project. Some of my common add-ons include: - Turning a blog post into social media posts - Live interviews with subject-matter experts - Additional revisions (beyond what’s included) 💡 ****Tip:** Make sure you [set your freelance writing rates](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-set-your-rates-freelancer/) at a level that protects your time. ### Charging per word Some people say that per-word pricing doesn't reflect a writer's value. And I understand this argument. If a client asks you to cut a single sentence, they pay you less. Your incentive is to write more, and the client's incentive is for you to write less. I have per-word pricing — but I avoid relying on individual words to get paid. I don't *want* to haggle over every word. Instead, I tell clients that my per-word pricing is based on **target** word count, not actual word count. If the client tells me to target 800 words, then I charge for 800 words — even if I come in at 782 or 811\. If the client provides me with a range, such as 1,000–1,200 words, I'll charge for 1,100 words (unless I come in at the clear end of one side of the range). The important factor here is that the *client* provides a target word count. They're setting the parameters for the deliverable, not me. It’s essentially a variation of per-project pricing, but with a lot of flexibility for projects of different lengths built into the contract. I don't have to think about how my per-word rate breaks down into an hourly rate, because I'm comfortable that the rate covers my time. If, for some unforeseen reason, a deliverable takes longer than expected, I don't worry about it. More than likely, another deliverable took less time than expected. It all balances out. ## A note about retainers Many freelancers think that a retainer is ideal: a client agrees to pay you a fixed amount per month, for a set number of deliverables. You don’t have to worry about irregular income, and it’s sometimes easier to [get paid](https://blog.annabyang.com/getting-paid-as-a-freelancer/), since it’s the same amount every month. As a writer, I’ve worked with retainers a few times, and they’re always a bit tricky. If the agreement stipulates four blog posts per month, what happens when the client doesn’t get you what you need and you only write three? According to the retainer, you get paid the same, but now you “owe” the client another deliverable the following month. That gets tricky if your following month is already full with other client work. You don’t necessarily have time for a backlog (especially if the backlog keeps growing). Retainers work well for some types of freelance work, like strategy or consulting — where you have more control over the deliverables. But if the client is a blocker, retainers can be a headache. [Why Ad Hoc Work Can Be Better Than RetainersYes, you can run your business smoothly with a variety of projects.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-b72c0001-05aa-4ad3-885b-fad577235eea.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelancing-101-hero-image-35-67e83e6a-fb63-4126-8dbd-f4b7ad38a4a2.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/) ## Offering different pricing for different clients Even though my pricing is per word, I have three different sets of pricing. I'll quote different rates based on the type of client. Some clients rely on my financial technology expertise, so I quote my highest rate. I'm [charging for my knowledge](https://blog.annabyang.com/charge-for-your-knowledge/), not just my writing ability. I also write for tech companies in general, so most are at my middle rate. And then I write for marketing agencies and PR firms, where I'm basically a subcontractor and don't have any direct client communications. I charge less because these projects are less work on my part. Think through the differentiators between types of clients or types of projects. These should be reflected in your pricing, no matter if you're charging per hour, per project, or per word. ## Pick a model, then refine it Your first pricing model isn't permanent — most writers change it as they learn what actually works. I started with per-project pricing, but found that my clients had so much variation in the types of projects needed that it was impossible to write a contract. So I switched to per-word. Pick the model that fits how you work and pay attention to the friction points. If you're constantly customizing proposals or clients keep pushing back on your structure, something needs to change. The goal is pricing that's easy to quote and reflects your value. Once you've got that, you can focus on [raising your rates](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-raise-freelance-rates/) instead of rethinking your model. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-pricing.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-pricing-freelancers?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Freelance pricing is hard to figure out,* **but I’ve created a free resource to help you set your rates.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-pricing-freelancers?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🗓️ **Note: This blog post was originally published in April 2024 and was updated in July 2026.* ## Common mistakes freelance writers make with pricing - **Pricing by actual word count instead of target.** Let the client set the target so you're not haggling over individual words. If you charge based on the final count, you're incentivizing clients to cut your work. - **Skipping the math if you charge hourly.** Even on per-project or per-word work, check what your rate breaks down to per hour. If the hourly rate is too low, your pricing structure isn't protecting you. - **Not writing a clear scope into the contract.** Without boundaries on what's included, per-project and per-word pricing can end up costing you. Revisions and the potential for an expanded scope need to be addressed upfront. - **Charging the same rate for every client.** Different work has different value. If you're [wondering whether you're charging enough](https://blog.annabyang.com/am-i-charging-enough/), tiering your rates by client type or type of project is a good place to start. ## FAQs #### What's the best pricing model for freelance writers? There's no single best model. Per hour, per project, per word, and retainers each have tradeoffs. The right choice depends on how you work, what kind of clients you serve, and how you want to structure your contracts. #### Should I charge per word, per project, or per hour? Per word works well if you want pricing that's easy to quote and scales with the deliverable. Per project works if you can clearly define scope upfront. Per hour is less common for writers but makes sense for editing or unpredictable workloads. #### How do I avoid scope creep when pricing my writing work? Define exactly what's included in your contract — number of revisions, length of the deliverable, and the deliverable format. Anything outside that scope gets quoted separately. Clear boundaries upfront prevent uncomfortable conversations or surprises later. #### Why do most editors charge hourly? Editors can't predict how much work an article will need until they're in it. Two articles of the same length might require very different levels of editing. Hourly pricing protects editors from that unpredictability. #### How do I set different rates for different clients? Think about what differentiates the work. Clients who need specialized expertise should pay more than clients where you're following a [pre-defined brief](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-brief-for-a-freelancer/) and have very little control over the outcome. Tier your rates based on the value and effort each client type requires. ### Strategies to Make Solopreneur Marketing Easier URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-marketing-strategies/ Last updated: 2026-07-28T15:15:08.000Z You know you should be marketing yourself and your business. So why does it keep sliding to the bottom of your to-do list, week after week? When you're a solopreneur running everything yourself, marketing is often the first thing to go. Clients have deadlines, after all. Marketing doesn’t… until you realize you haven't promoted your business in three months and your pipeline has dried up. *Cue panic.* I'm incredibly consistent about marketing my solo business. If I waited until I "needed" marketing efforts, then it's a game of catch-up. What makes that possible among everything else I have going on is a system — building processes once and then running them on a schedule. That way, marketing isn’t dependent on how motivated I’m feeling when I sit down at my computer on a Tuesday. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Marketing gets deprioritized because it feels like creative work that requires the right timing and inspiration. Instead, treat it as an operational function and following a specific set of steps each time. ### Why marketing feels harder than it should Every other part of your business has a trigger. A project wraps up, so you invoice. When a client signs a contract, you create a new folder on your Google Drive. Marketing has no trigger. It only happens when you decide to make it happen. According to [small business marketing research](https://www.postcardmania.com/blog/small-business-marketing-statistics-definitive-guide/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) from Constant Contact, 52% of small business owners routinely put off marketing tasks. It seems like creative work that can only happen when you’re in the right mood. And after you’re done with client deliverables, you may not have any creative juice left. So marketing happens in bursts. When business slows down, you post for a couple of weeks, and when client work picks up again, you stop. Every restart means you have to regain momentum, which is exactly what makes marketing feel harder than it needs to be. ### How to turn marketing into a repeatable system The shift is to treat marketing like any other business function: something with a defined process and time set aside on your calendar. Each tip below takes one decision off your plate. (And if you're already doing some of this and it still feels like a slog, [your process might be too manual](https://blog.annabyang.com/manual-processes/).) #### Focus your efforts on one channel Clients have to know you exist, which typically means posting on a social channel. But resist the urge to be everywhere. Pick the one place your audience already spends time — LinkedIn if your clients are businesses, Instagram if your work is visual — and put your effort there. One channel done consistently will outperform four channels done sporadically. Spreading yourself thin is also the fastest route to burnout and creating content you don’t even like (and readers can tell). 💡 ****Tip:** Don't abandon your other channels entirely. [Platforms can change](https://www.workbetter.media/p/linkedin-social-media?ref=blog.annabyang.com) without warning, and you want a presence somewhere else if that happens. Post there with modified versions of what you've already created (see the next section). #### Create a repeatable content format A format means you're never starting from a blank page. It can be simple: a weekly tip, a behind-the-scenes look at how you built something, or a recurring section in your newsletter. The format removes the friction and the frustration. You're filling in a structure instead of inventing something from scratch each time. It also makes marketing easier to knock out, since you’ll spend less time “thinking” about what you need to create. I have a rotation of seven different formats I use for LinkedIn. It keeps my content varied, while also making it easy for me to come up with posts. Also, a lot of my content comes from my recent blog posts. I turn the long-form format into social posts. That way, when I’m writing social posts, I have a specific source to reference. You can also use transcripts from calls or comments you’ve left on social media as inspiration. #### Batch and schedule everything Block time for marketing the way you'd [block time](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/) for a client project. Then create in batches — several posts in one sitting — and use a scheduling tool to publish them across the week. I use [Buffer](https://join.buffer.com/anna-burgess-yang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link*\].\* Creating content in batches turns marketing from a daily into a weekly (or even monthly) task. [How to Automate Your Content RepurposingDon’t let your content live only one life.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/1-8b8f5553-d73f-4c5a-aad7-c35c3accb2e6.png)Tinkering With IdeasAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/tinkering-with-ideas-workflows-hero-image-9-1b1ebf61-46f7-4ecb-bf1a-aad00da688ec.png)](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/content-repurposing-automation/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### Keep up with platform changes A system doesn't mean you set it up and never look at it again. Platforms add new features regularly, and the accounts that try them early tend to get more reach. Algorithms shift too, and you have to play by the rules of the place you've chosen to show up. If I gave up every time the algorithm changed, I would have quit sharing content a long time ago. Instead, I kept showing up, believing that what I share is valuable and that I'll be able to connect with the right audience. I’ve been posting on LinkedIn for a long time, and know that the platform de-prioritizes external links (like to my blog posts). To get around this, I launched a [LinkedIn newsletter](https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/building-solo-7480993413207650304/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) — because I assumed the platform would give *more* attention to its own feature. And I was right. #### Track what actually matters Keeping up with platform changes also means knowing which algorithm shifts and new features are worth reacting to. You might experiment, but you only know if you’re successful if you measure the results. Pick two to four numbers that connect to a real business goal — like email subscribers, inbound inquiries, or website visits. Review them monthly rather than weekly or daily. Checking stats too often is just noise. Realistically, you should only make a shift every three months because you’ve got to give your tactics time to work. Compare this month to last month, and if you’re not seeing results [after 90 days](https://blog.annabyang.com/90-day-goals/), then you can consider a different approach. I've got Claude pulling *some* numbers for me. Not all are accessible, but what I can, I get Claude to do. Then I just review a dashboard I’ve created in [Notion](https://affiliate.notion.so/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link*\].\* ### The next step beyond social media Here’s the thing: social media should have a goal of leading people somewhere else. It’s a discovery platform only. You’ve got to get people off of social and onto a platform where you can have more direct, meaningful communication with the audience. That means you have to ask yourself, what comes next? Where do people go after they’ve found me? The answer depends on your goals and [what you want the audience to buy](https://blog.annabyang.com/path-between-audience-income/) from you. - **Email marketing:** The only audience you truly own, because you can reach the audience at any time. You can speak to the audience directly instead of hoping an algorithm works in your favor. - **Content marketing:** Write for your blog and go more in depth than you write in a social post. Pulls double duty, because you can also optimize for search. - **Podcast:** Show off your expertise and personality to potential clients. Just make sure you mention how they can reach you (a link in the show notes). - **Direct Call-to-Action**: If you want clients to reach out to talk to you, your CTA in social posts should be to send you a DM or visit your website. This works best for 1:1 services, like coaching. With the exception of direct CTA, all of these require you to create additional, long-form content. Aim for two per month, but work your way up to weekly. Once you have a rhythm, you start with long-form and then turn it into short form (social). That way you’re creating one long-form piece of content every week and repurposing it to social is a breeze. ### Find a sustainable cadence Part of building a sustainable business is investing time and money into systems and tools. Fly-by-the-seat-of-one's-pants doesn't work — a business can't grow that way. The best time to build this is when you don't *need* it. A marketing system put together when your pipeline is empty is an emergency response, not a thoughtful plan. Marketing is an essential part of building a [sustainable business](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/). Build your systems now; don’t put it off any more. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-content-repurposing-automation.png)](https://pages.annabyang.com/automation-checklist?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **A checklist of repurposing ideas,* **using everything from transcripts to carousels to videos.* [Download ](https://pages.annabyang.com/automation-checklist?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### FAQs #### What is the most effective marketing strategy for solopreneurs? Email marketing is one of the higheset-value tactics, because it builds an audience you own rather than tying you to a socal platform. The best strategy depends on where your clients spend time — pick one channel and show up consistently, driving people to your email list. #### How much time should a solopreneur spend on marketing each week? Most solopreneurs have very little time to give marketing, and that's fine. One to two focused hours per week, batched into a single session, is enough if you have a repeatable process in place. Start by being consistent, rather than producing a high volume of content. #### How do I market my business with no budget? Most solopreneurs don't need to spend money on marketing. All you need is time. Start with free channels like LinkedIn and email, since many email platforms offer free tiers for small lists. Focus on sharing what you already know from doing the work. Once your tactics start working, you can invest in tools like email automation to make your work easier. #### Should solopreneurs use AI for marketing? AI tools are useful for drafting content, brainstorming ideas, and [repurposing material](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-content-repurposing/) you've already published. They save real time on the production side. The strategy and the personal perspective still have to come from you. #### How do I stay consistent with marketing when I'm busy with client work? Batch your marketing into one time block per week instead of trying to do something daily. Use a scheduling tool so content publishes even when you're heads-down on a client project. ### AI for Solopreneurs: Practical Use Cases That Save You Time URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-for-solopreneurs-practical-use-cases/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T11:55:19.000Z There's a lot of noise about AI right now. *Big* promises about what it can do and no shortage of predictions about what it'll replace. But for solopreneurs running real businesses, the question is much simpler: how can AI actually help me? If you've tried AI and gotten generic, off-brand output (or worse, spent more time prompting than it would have taken to just do the task yourself), you're not alone. A lot of solopreneurs feel like AI is a solution looking for a problem to solve. AI isn't magic, and it definitely won't "run your business for you." But it is genuinely useful for specific types of work — the repeatable, the tedious, and the tasks where a human shouldn't be spending their time. The trick is knowing which parts of your business those are. 💡 ****TL;DR:** AI works best for solopreneurs when it handles the repeatable, low-value work so you can focus on the work that actually requires you. Here's where it fits — and where it doesn't. ## Why AI works for solo business (even if you're skeptical) Business is built on repeatable processes. Unlike personal use cases (no one needs AI to decide what to cook for dinner), business tasks follow patterns. And patterns are where AI really shines. I spent years working with small, community banks before going solo. Small banks can't throw endless money and people at problems the way big banks can. They have to automate back-office processes so they can spend more time serving their customers and focusing on relationships. Solopreneurs are in the same position. You have limited time and resources. [Automation is necessary](https://blog.annabyang.com/solo-business-automation/) unless you want to spend your days doing repetitive (albeit necessary) tasks. By using AI, you're freeing yourself to do the work that actually requires your brain and your expertise. ## The "should a human be doing this?" litmus test Before you throw everything at AI and hope for the best, start with one question: should a human actually be doing this task? Here's how I think about it: if there's no joy and no judgment required — it's probably an AI task. A client once gave me a Google Sheet with 27 lines that each needed to be turned into separate Google Docs with specific formatting. The human work was the editing of the Google Doc’s content. The copying and reformatting? That's robot work. Claude did it in 30 seconds. The gray area is content, strategy, and creative work. AI can help there for tasks like [repurposing a blog post](https://blog.annabyang.com/repurpose-your-content/) into social posts — but only if you've done the upfront work of defining your process and your brand voice. Without that foundation, you'll get output that sounds like every other AI-generated blog post on The Internet. [Use Generative AI Without Sacrificing QualityYou can benefit from generative AI without lowering quality.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-03ce4653-a163-408d-bb18-172c484b883a.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-ai-hero-image-14-bc389239-8b1a-445b-829a-14e31ea51539.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/maintain-authentic-writing-voice-with-generative-ai/) ## How AI fits into a solopreneur's workflow I've always been an automation enthusiast (I’ve been using Zapier for years). AI filled a role where I’d hit the limits of what I could do with automation alone. But if you haven’t done much with automation before, it’s hard to see where AI “fits.” Here are a few ways to incorporate AI into your work. ### Reformatting and data processing AI can move information between formats — spreadsheets to docs, transcripts to outlines, raw data to structured content. This is definitely in the "no human should do this" category. It's tedious, time-consuming, and there’s no creativity involved. I’ve even used AI to convert a whole bunch of .png files to .jpg files, while also compressing the file size, because I needed a different output for a project. If you're spending chunks of your week copying and reformatting data, that's time you're not spending on work that actually [moves your business forward](https://blog.annabyang.com/continuous-learning/). These are the easiest tasks to hand off to AI because the instructions and the end result are clear. ### Research and synthesis AI is good at scanning large amounts of information quickly — competitor research, industry trends, source gathering for articles, etc. It can pull together raw material in minutes that would take you hours to compile manually. The gathering and summarizing are the parts that save you time. You're still the one who decides what matters and what to do with it. Think of it as a research assistant who's very fast at reading but needs you to tell them what's important. ### Drafting and iteration Outlines, first drafts, variations for social media — AI gets you to a starting point faster. It’s a lot easier to edit something than to stare at a blank page. But this only works if you've given AI enough context about your voice and your audience. For example, I host free [webinars for solopreneurs](https://webinars.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). The landing page and announcement emails follow the same format every time. Claude can work from templates, reference my [voice and tone guide](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/style-guide-ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), and write a first draft based on the webinar’s topic. Then I edit it (sometimes heavily) before sending. You have to set guidelines around how you’ll use AI and what you’re willing to let AI draft for you. If you’re not comfortable with an outline, draft, or social media repurposing, don’t do it. ### Building custom tools I built a simple dashboard that pulls data from four different sources into one view — something I couldn't do before without opening four separate apps. Had Claude build it in an afternoon, and now it’s something I look at every day. You don't have to build a full-blown product. You can build little tools for yourself that solve problems nobody else is willing to solve or that are specific to you. Within your [solopreneur tech stack](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-tech-stack/), you probably have data spread across multiple apps. A custom tool or dashboard makes it a lot easier to see what you need to work on. ## AI tools for a solo business These are the tools I *actually* use in my business. Not a comprehensive list, but the ones that I use most frequently. - **Claude:** My primary AI tool. I use it for first drafts of my content, data processing, building custom tools, and [thinking through problems](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-solopreneur-business-decisions/). - [**Zapier**](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]:* Connects tools and automates workflows between them. I run about 1,500 tasks per month through Zapier, and also use [AI by Zapier](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/ai-by-zapier/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). - [**Notion AI**](https://affiliate.notion.so/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]:* Built into Notion for drafting and organizing content within your existing workspace. Notion has become a major hub for me because of how well it connects to Claude. - **MCPs (Model Context Protocol):** These let you connect your tools directly to AI. I've connected Airtable, Kit, and more to Claude so it can pull and push data without me switching between apps. ## You can't automate chaos If you don't understand your own process, AI won't either. The first step to using AI effectively is knowing *how* you actually get work done. Start by picking a well-established task in your business. Break it into steps. Which steps require your brain, and which are just copying or processing? Hand the latter over to AI and see what happens. You might be surprised how much of your week was spent on work a robot can do in seconds. ## Free Guide: AI-Powered Tools Not sure which tools are actually worth trying? Here's a list to get you started. Download I'll email you a link to the guide. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-ai-tools-1.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ai-tools?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Not sure which tools are actually worth trying?* **Here's a list to get you started.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ai-tools?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### How do solopreneurs use AI in their business? Most solopreneurs use AI for tasks like reformatting data, writing first drafts of content, research, and building simple automations. The most effective use cases are the repeatable tasks that are time-consuming but don’t need human judgment. #### What's the best AI tool for solopreneurs? It depends on what you need. Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini all have different strengths. Zapier connects your apps and automates workflows between them. MCPs (model context protocol) let you connect apps directly to a tool like Claude. #### How do I start using AI if I'm not technical? Start with a task you already understand well. The more clearly you can describe what you need done (step by step), the better AI will perform. You don't need to know how to code — most AI can process instructions using natural language. #### Is AI worth the cost for a solo business? Most solopreneurs can get meaningful value from free or low-cost AI tools. The biggest costs are the time you invest in learning to use them effectively. Start with free tiers or the lowest tier subscription, and only upgrade once you've confirmed AI is saving you enough time to justify the expense. #### How do I use AI without losing my personal brand voice? Give AI reference material — examples of your writing, [a voice and tone guide](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/style-guide-ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), and any specific instructions about what to do or not do. The more context you provide, the closer the output will be to your actual voice. Never publish AI-generated content without editing it yourself. ### How To Tackle Your To-Do List With Time Blocking URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/ Last updated: 2026-07-16T15:15:11.000Z Most solopreneurs have a to-do list that grows faster than they can check things off. Client deliverables, invoicing, personal errands, admin for your business — it all competes for the same limited hours. I have a rule: “If it’s not on my list, it doesn’t exist.” Great for making sure I don’t forget anything. But also means my list is often *long*. I need an actual plan for getting things done. Without a plan for when it'll actually get done, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. You look at 30 items and wonder where to even start, so you either a) pick whatever feels most urgent or b) stall out entirely. A really effective way is to give your to-do list its own time on your calendar. By blocking dedicated time for tasks, you create a plan to get everything done. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Time blocking turns your to-do list into scheduled calendar events, so tasks actually get done instead of rolling over to next week. ## How time blocking works Time blocking is a scheduling method where you assign specific chunks of time on your calendar to individual tasks or groups of tasks. Instead of staring at a to-do list and hoping you'll get to things, every task has a “home” on your calendar. It eliminates the "when will I do this?" uncertainty. You don't waste mental energy figuring out what to do next. According to Cal Newport, author of [Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World](https://bookshop.org/p/books/deep-work-rules-for-focused-success-in-a-distracted-world-cal-newport/9a219b4ccc99d60b?ean=9781455586691&ref=blog.annabyang.com): > "A 40-hour time-blocked work week, I estimate, produces the same amount of output as a 60+ hour work week pursued without structure." A giant list of to-do items is unstructured. Time blocking gives them structure. ## 5 tips for getting started with time blocking your to-do list You don't need a complicated system to start. Here's a step-by-step approach that works whether you're time-blocking work tasks, personal to-dos, or both. ### Step 1: Sort your tasks by time needed Look at your to-do list and separate tasks into two categories: things that need a dedicated block of time (writing a blog post or reviewing your finances) and things that don't need an entire block (calling your dentist or paying a bill). **The difference**: it doesn’t make sense to block time on your calendar for something that takes 5 minutes to do. It still belongs on your list, but not as a **dedicated** block of time. I create blocks of time on my calendar called "Get Stuff Done." I'll block off an hour to take care of those quick tasks. Anything that needs immediate attention happens in the Get Stuff Done block, and then I'll try to knock out a few more items. ### Step 2: Check your calendar for open slots Before you start adding task blocks, look at what's already on your calendar. How much time do you have between meetings and appointments? Those are your available blocks for working on your to-do list. Match the amount of time the task takes to the time of day. Deep work, like writing or strategic planning, belongs in your best [focus hours](https://blog.annabyang.com/single-tasking-strategies/). Admin and smaller tasks fit during your lower-energy times of day, or in between meetings. ### Step 3: Block the time and treat it like a meeting Add time blocks to tackle your tasks to your calendar as events. Think of it as an appointment with your to-do list — a task block deserves the same respect as a client meeting. My time blocks are color-coded on my calendar. The visual helps me differentiate between client meetings and my “meetings” with my to-do list. [Task Management for Solopreneurs: How to Track EverythingHow to keep track of everything.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-3b7a7e20-2bf5-42fb-900b-eb86f3f99460.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-time-management-hero-image-1-b3bd7a0c-2788-40e5-9f96-cf289e2c5a81.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/task-management-for-solopreneurs/) ### Step 4: Build in buffer time One of the biggest mistakes I made when I first started time blocking was not giving myself breathing room. My days were so tightly scheduled that it was very hard to recover if something went awry. Life happens. Things come up. There are also days when I just don't feel like doing laundry. You have to leave enough free time on your calendar that you can reschedule your to-do items if needed. ### Step 5: Review and reschedule as needed Unlike meetings, your task blocks can move. I try to plan my time blocking weekly because my schedule changes constantly. Once I get closer to the due date for the to-do item, then I'll find a block of time to get it done. For example, if you [set 90-day goals](https://blog.annabyang.com/90-day-goals/), your weekly time blocking review is where those goals turn into action items. I’ll usually tackle my goals like this: - Add a list of to-dos to my to-do list with specific due dates - When I get to the week that it’s due, I add a time block to my calendar A [weekly review](https://blog.annabyang.com/tasks-for-solopreneurs/) prevents your tasks from falling through the cracks. And if something didn't get done, it gets rescheduled (not forgotten). Keep things in perspective. Does painting your bathroom door have a specific due date? No. Put it on your calendar so it stays on your radar, but reschedule if something comes up. ## Tools that make time blocking easier *Y*ou can absolutely time-block with just a calendar. But a few tools make the process smoother, especially when it comes to rescheduling. - My primary tool is Google Calendar. Easy to reschedule, and I can see tasks alongside my meetings and appointments. - I use [Todoist](https://get.todoist.io/5vaw2q1il5zr?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link*\]\* to [keep track of tasks](https://blog.annabyang.com/task-management-for-solopreneurs/). Todoist can bi-directionally sync with a Google Calendar. - [Reclaim](https://go.reclaim.ai/fjoa2msu6i5g?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link*\]\* can help with the scheduling and rescheduling of my blocks. Reclaim will automatically reschedule items on your calendar based on your availability. And if you prefer a paper to-do list, that can work alongside a digital calendar. Every morning, I write out my day’s plan with the [Ugmonk](https://ugmonk.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) \[affiliate link\*\] analog system. I like the visual alongside my calendar and to-do list system. ## Experiment with a time-blocking system While I’ve laid out a process and a few tools here, the best option for you will be the one you actually use. David Pierce of The Verge [said in an interview](https://www.platformer.news/david-pierce-interview-productivity-podcast/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) that he has tried more than 200 productivity tools to manage his to-dos and his life. The system that works best is a combination of a few different tools. He says, > “The biggest change for me has been figuring out what I need to be successful. I’ve become very clear on that.” As you experiment with time blocking, keep adjusting how you approach it. Maybe you start by blocking off an hour to knock out your to-do list, but find that you get too distracted, and 15 minutes a few times per day would be better. Maybe you need a to-do app like Todoist, or maybe you need an all-in-one [project management too](https://blog.annabyang.com/project-management-vs-task-management-whats-the-difference/)l with your list. If something feels like it isn’t working, step back and figure out why. Is it the tool? Is it the timing? Is it something else? And make a change. ## Make time blocking work for your life, not against it Time blocking your to-do items should be freeing, not stifling. I feel more in control of my to-do list when I add items to my calendar — because I’m not relying on my memory or a vague hope that they’ll get done. For solopreneurs especially, there's no manager assigning deadlines or prioritizing your work. Time blocking is how you become your own project manager. When every task has a scheduled home on your calendar, you stop carrying the mental weight of a list looming in the background. You know what's getting done and when it's happening. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-manage-time-content-2.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-manage-time?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Grab my free guide to managing your time and content* **across multiple platforms.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-manage-time?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## Tips for making time blocking stick - **Start with just your top 3 tasks each week.** Don't try to block everything on day one. You need to build a time-blocking habit and figure out what works for you. - **Batch similar tasks together.** Group small tasks like admin work or responding to emails into their own blocks so you're not constantly switching gears. - **Use recurring blocks for repeating tasks.** If you need to work on the same tasks every week, make it a recurring calendar event. - **Protect your blocks from meeting conflicts.** Mark task blocks as "busy" so scheduling tools don't overwrite them with meetings. - **At the end of the week, reschedule unfinished tasks.** If something comes up, move the block to a new time. The task still needs to get done. ## *FAQs* ### What is time blocking? Time blocking is a scheduling method where you assign specific time slots on your calendar to individual tasks or groups of tasks. Instead of working from an open-ended to-do list, each task gets a dedicated spot on your calendar. This makes it more likely to actually get done. ### How long should a time block be? It depends on the task. Deep work, like writing or financial planning, might need 60-90 minutes. [Admin tasks](https://blog.annabyang.com/weekly-admin-time/) can be batched into 30-60 minute "Get Stuff Done" blocks. You need to match the block length to the task's actual time requirement and avoid over-scheduling. ### Does time blocking work for people with unpredictable schedules? Yes, because time blocking still allows for flexibility. The advantage of time blocking over rigid scheduling is that blocks can move. If a client call runs over or something urgent comes up, you reschedule the block instead of losing track of the task. AI can help with rescheduling tasks or managing your calendar. ### What's the difference between time blocking and time boxing? Time blocking reserves a spot on your calendar for a task. Time boxing sets a hard limit — when the timer ends, you stop working on it regardless of whether you've finished. Both are productivity methods, but time blocking is more flexible. ### What tools are best for time blocking? A digital calendar (like Google Calendar) is the foundation. You want the ability to drag and drop blocks to new dates/times if you need to reschedule. Task management apps like Todoist can sync with your calendar, and AI scheduling tools can automatically reschedule your blocks when conflicts come up. ### Should I time-block personal tasks too? Absolutely. Personal tasks are competing for the same limited hours as work tasks. Blocking time for errands and household projects ensures they don't sit at the bottom of your to-do list forever. If you use both a task manager and a calendar, your personal tasks can live alongside work tasks. ### How to Find Your Niche as a Freelancer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-niche/ Last updated: 2026-07-13T15:15:00.000Z When you're first starting out, positioning yourself to potential clients feels hard. You know you're good at things, but turning that into a clear, marketable message is a different skill entirely. Most new freelancers pick something too broad ("I'm a consultant"). You might serve a broad range of clients because serving a particular niche feels like you’re limiting your potential income. In fact, the opposite is true. I’ve niched down into a combination of the work I enjoy most *and* a particular client base. Turns out, clients are willing to pay a premium for niche expertise. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Your solopreneur niche sits where your expertise intersects market demand. You can start by serving many types of clients, but have a goal to narrow your focus over time. ## Does a freelancer niche even matter? A niche is the specific type of work you do, for a specific type of client. "Freelance writer" (how I started) tells someone what type of services you offer. "Content marketer for fintech companies" tells them why they should hire you. Niche specialists tend to command higher rates because they have domain expertise that generalists can't match. According to [Gitnux's 2026 Solopreneur Statistics report](https://gitnux.org/solopreneur-statistics/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), 20% of solopreneurs earn $100K–$300K annually — and specialization is a big part of how they get there. An editor I know confirmed, *“Speaking from 15 years of experience, I would definitely hire someone with expertise in a specific vertical over someone who’s a generalist.”* When you're the go-to person for a specific type of work, clients spend less time convincing themselves you're the right fit. ## How to find your niche in 4 steps Narrowing your focus will bring you *more* opportunities. Instead of competing with every generalist in the market, you're operating in a smaller space. Market yourself well, and you can really stand out. But finding your niche isn't a one-time decision. It's a process of testing, refining, and figuring out what makes sense for you. ### 1\. Start with what you already know What existing skills and industry experience do you have? The most common way to establish a solopreneur niche is to build on knowledge you've already accumulated. If you’ve pivoted from a corporate job, your corporate experience is often a good launching pad. It gives you context that someone starting from scratch would need years to develop. If you have a background in healthcare, for example, you understand the regulatory environment and the industry jargon. That's really hard for someone on the outside to learn. Look for unique combinations and the overlap between what you know well and what people are willing to pay for. If you don't have deep expertise in a specific industry, start with what *genuinely* interests you (because you'll be spending a lot of time there). 💡 ****Tip**: If you're coming from a generalist background, think about which projects or topics you gravitate toward. Lean into those and see if they might be a good fit for specialization. ### 2\. Research what the market actually needs Check whether your potential niche has actual demand. Are companies hiring for it? Are people searching for it? A quick look at job boards or LinkedIn “Anyone know someone with XYZ skills?” posts can tell you a lot about whether your niche has potential clients. If you can, talk to potential clients or [other freelancers in the space](https://blog.annabyang.com/fellow-solopreneurs-are-not-your-competition/). Even a few conversations can help you determine if your positioning resonates. Let’s say you think you could work on content strategy for cybersecurity startups. But then you look at several websites and find that most don't have blogs. That tells you one of two things: either they can't find someone with the right expertise (and you could fill that need), *or* they've determined that content isn't part of their marketing strategy. You have to figure out which. ### 3\. Test before you commit You don't need to rebrand yourself overnight. Take on two or three projects in your potential niche and see how the work feels. Does it energize you… Or drain you? That matters just as much as any market analysis. You don’t want to choose a niche in an industry you find boring. Thoroughly research the industry because you'll be spending a lot of time there. A few ideas: - Listen to podcasts - Attend webinars - Join communities - Read industry publications - Find people to follow on LinkedIn If you don't enjoy the material you'll be working with, it's probably not a good fit for a long-term niche. [How to Become Known as an Expert in Your NicheGetting started and building an audience.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-6dd8cb97-e6e4-4bae-9b70-e662112d4342.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-marketing-branding-hero-image-4-a87dfb7d-57fa-4373-86f9-754d022cb189.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/expert-in-a-niche/) ### 4\. Let your niche evolve Your first niche won't be your forever niche. Most solopreneurs refine their focus over time as they learn which clients are the best fit and what work they enjoy most. You can even niche down further. I brand myself as a [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/), but even within this niche category, most of my work has been within a few subcategories (like payments and expense management). I’m also clear with clients about what I *don’t* cover (the stock market and insurance). Think of your niche as part of building a [sustainable business](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/). Your niche should reflect both the market opportunity and how you want to spend your working hours. ## Market yourself within your niche Once you've landed on a niche, make sure it's obvious to potential clients. A few ways to do this: - Update your website so that your niche is on your homepage - Add your niche to all of your social profiles, like [LinkedIn](https://blog.annabyang.com/linkedin-for-solopreneurs/) - Make sure your [freelance portfolio](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/) and testimonials reflect work in your niche It's not enough to choose a niche. You have to show potential clients that you can do the work. When I first started working in my niche as a fintech writer, I knew that I had the industry knowledge from my corporate career. But I didn't have any specific fintech writing examples to prove it. I had to convince potential clients to give me a chance based on my corporate experience plus more general writing samples. But once I had the combination of examples in my portfolio, my abiltiy to market myself within my niche was much easier. ## Your niche is a starting point, not a ceiling If you're brand new, going too narrow too fast can limit your pipeline. A broader category gives you enough room to take on clients, [build a track record](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancers-journey-to-niche-expert/), and figure out what you're best at. When you’re ready to hone in on your niche, you’re making a decision from real experience (not guesswork). The goal of finding a niche is to start laying the foundation for branding, messaging, and higher rates. Start with some research and what interests you the most, and run with it for 90 days. Learn what you can and pay attention to what works. Your niche will evolve as your business does — and that's how most freelancers find their best clients. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-pricing.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-pricing-freelancers?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Freelance pricing is hard to figure out,* **but I’ve created a free resource to help you set your rates.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-pricing-freelancers?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## Tips for finding your freelancer niche - **Start with your career history.** The knowledge you already have is your biggest competitive advantage. - **Go where the people are.** Make a list of people to follow on LinkedIn and join communities. Pay attention to conversations in these spaces because they'll tell you what needs your potential clients have. - **Brand yourself with your niche.** "Freelance writer" is a broad description. "Content marketer for fintech companies" is a niche. The difference is specificity. ## FAQs #### What is a freelancer niche? A freelancer niche is the specific area of expertise you focus on. It’s a combination of the type of work you do and the type of clients you serve. "Social media manager" is broad. "Instagram social media management for wellness brands" is a niche. #### How do I find my niche if I have multiple skills? Start by looking for the overlap between your skills and market demand. Often the most valuable niches combine two areas of expertise (like finance knowledge and writing ability). Test a few combinations with real projects before committing to a niche. #### Can I change my niche later? Yes. Most freelancers refine or pivot their niche at least once in their first few years, especially as the market demands change. Your niche should evolve as you learn more about what you enjoy, what pays well, and what potential clients need. #### Do I need a niche to get started as a freelancer? Not immediately. Many freelancers start by taking on a variety of work and then narrow their focus as they gain more experience. But having at least a loose direction — a general area of expertise or client type — makes it easier to market yourself and attract the right clients. #### How specific should my niche be? Specific enough that a potential client immediately understands what you do and why you're the right fit, but broad enough that you have a steady stream of work. "Content marketing for B2B SaaS" is more specific than “content marketing” but still very broad since you’ll serve many industries. That’s not a niche. "Blog posts for Series A fintech companies in the payments space" is a very specific niche, but you’d have to make sure you can find enough clients. #### What's the difference between a niche and a target audience? A niche is what you do (your specialty). A target audience is who you do it for. Your niche might be "long-form content marketing," and your target audience might be "B2B healthcare tech companies." The two work together to define your positioning. ### Why Proprietary Content Is the Future URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/why-proprietary-content-is-the-future/ Last updated: 2026-07-09T15:15:28.000Z If you've been watching your content blend into an ocean of AI-generated sameness, you're not imagining it. In an article for *The New Yorker* entitled "A.I. Is Coming for Culture," Joshua Rothman [wrote](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/09/01/ai-is-coming-for-culture?ref=blog.annabyang.com): > If A.I. continues to speed or automate creative work, the total volume of cultural “stuff”—podcasts, blog posts, videos, books, songs, articles, animations, films, shows, plays, polemics, online personae, and so on—will increase. While speed means that AI can produce, summarize, and remix existing ideas faster than any human, it **cannot** generate new ideas. The creators who will ultimately stand out are the ones investing in content that can't be replicated: proprietary content. Real, unique experiences are what separate creators who build authority from creators who blend into the feed. ## How proprietary content becomes the real differentiator For a long time, volume meant attention. The more you showed up in a feed, the more the algorithms would reward you with more eyeballs. But the AI content flood has made generic content essentially free to produce, and creators are no longer limited by their own bandwidth. Volume is now worthless for differentiation. Proprietary content is a competitive advantage because it's **yours**. Nobody else has it. Not only is it a differentiator, but with the right tactics, you can get other people to refer *to* you. Think of something like [Jessi Jean](https://www.instagram.com/jessijeanhome/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)'s "yap challenge" on Instagram. She became known for something, and now other creators are talking about her. It's not proprietary in the traditional sense (trademarked, copyrighted, etc.) And it doesn't have to be a single viral idea. But you want to become associated with a type of content — whether it's a type or topic – that's uniquely you. ## 5 types of proprietary content worth creating Not all proprietary content requires the same level of effort. Some of these you can start this week with information you already have and tools you already use. ### Insights from your conversations If you're a creator who talks to clients, customers, or community members regularly, you're generating proprietary insights every single day — you just might not be capturing and using them. Pull themes from your calls or the comments on your social media and summarize the pain points you hear repeatedly. Use direct quotes (anonymized, of course) to illustrate what your audience is actually struggling with. 💡 Use AI to speed up this process. AI transcription tools make it easy to feed a transcript to a tool like Claudeoor ChatGPT and pull out ideas you can use for content. ### Expert interviews and perspectives Other people's expertise becomes your proprietary content when you're the one asking the questions. Podcasts, panels, or Q&As let you curate knowledge that didn't exist in one place before you brought it together. Many experts are happy to share their perspectives in a thoughtful conversation. I run an [interview-based series](https://www.workbetter.media/s/perspectives?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for my Substack. And, as a bonus, it builds relationships and expands your network in ways that solo content doesn't. If you're not comfortable interviewing people, become the interviewee. As a [podcast guest](https://blog.annabyang.com/repurpose-podcast-content/), you're also sharing your insights that you can repurpose later. ### Case studies and real-world examples Readers trust specificity over generality. Talk about what actually happens in your work: strategy, results, and even mistakes. This can become some of the most valuable content you can publish. A creator who shares "I tested three email subject line formats over six weeks and here's what converted" is infinitely more credible than one who writes "email subject lines matter." Even failures make good proprietary content. People are starving for honesty about what doesn't work. Talk about something you tried that didn't work out. ### Surveys and polls Original research is the gold standard of proprietary content — data that nobody else has. Companies create research reports all the time because then other people cite and refer to them. And you don't need a massive sample size to make it valuable. A poll of your email list or a survey shared on social media can produce genuinely interesting findings. A friend of mine polled her audience of freelancers and found that 30% never take time off. It became a useful reference for a workshop she held and [additional content](https://www.fruitioninitiatives.com/blog/how-to-take-time-off-as-a-freelancer?ref=blog.annabyang.com) she created. Once you have the data, AI tools can help here — turning raw findings into charts or reformatting results for different platforms. [A Vacation Savings Plan for FreelancersA simple calculator to help you take time off each year.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-3946203e-bb0f-4982-886c-82e43a574ec4.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelancing-101-hero-image-32-2b872b02-917d-4188-929a-611bce708358.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-vacation-savings-plan/) ### How-to content from firsthand experience This is the hardest type of content for AI replicate, because it requires you to have actually **done the thing**. AI can't generate new perspectives from lived experience. It can synthesize what's already been published, but it can't [show up](https://blog.annabyang.com/maintain-authentic-writing-voice-with-generative-ai/) with insights that only come from doing the work yourself. Share your process. Show the behind-the-scenes. Walk people through how you actually built, launched, or fixed something for your clients. That's the content your audience can't get from a prompt. [Building Notes - Tinkering With IdeasTips, Tutorials, and Workflows from Anna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/1-5f0f1cea-7aa8-42b1-8459-64a5d5cdc09a.png)Tinkering With IdeasAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/tinkering-with-ideas-build-notes-227dc94d-b878-430b-9882-8d60b08abab5.png)](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/tag/building-notes/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## Make proprietary content work harder for you Creating proprietary content takes more effort than repurposing existing ideas — so don't create it and only use it once. [Plan to repurpose](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-content-repurposing/) from the start. A single expert interview can become blog posts, social content, email sequences, and lead magnet material. A few questions on a survey can produce a stream of additional content. You're spending time up front, but you get a lot in return. I **never** let my content live only one life. Everything I create is repurposed into differnt formats and across different platforms. ## Create a system to capture content ideas Proprietary content builds trust and authority in a way that AI-generated content fundamentally cannot. It signals to your audience (and to search engines) that you have something original to contribute, not just a repackaged version of what already exists. You're probably already sitting on a ton of proprietary insights. You just need to build a system for capturing insights as they happen — like a running document or a [voice memo](https://blog.annabyang.com/voice-apps/) habit. Choose whatever works best for you. Content that resonates isn't based on your budget or your bandwidth. It's about figuring out and doubling down on the content that only **you** can create. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-idea-collector.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-endless-idea-collector?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Learn how to find content inspiration in everyday life.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-endless-idea-collector?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🗓️ **Note: This blog post was originally published in April 2023 and was updated in July 2026.* ## Tips for creating proprietary content - **Start with your existing data.** Look at what you already have — analytics and client feedback — and figure out how to incorporate it into your content. - **Survey your audience regularly.** Even a simple three-question poll can produce insights that you can turn into content. - **Document your process.** Every project you complete is a potential case study or how-to post. - **Interview people in your network.** One good conversation can give you several pieces of content. - **Repurpose aggressively.** Plan for multiple platforms and formats from the start. - **Keep a running insights doc.** Capture interesting ideas and observations as they happen. ## FAQs #### What is proprietary content? Proprietary content is original material based on your own data, experience, or unique perspective. It includes things like original surveys, case studies, expert interviews, and firsthand how-to guides that can't be found anywhere else. #### Why is proprietary content important for SEO? Search engines increasingly reward content with original information and unique facts. Articles with proprietary data, quotes, and original research are more likely to appear in AI Overviews and rank higher because they offer something competitors' content doesn't. #### How do I create proprietary content on a small budget? Start with what you already have access to — your own experience, conversations with clients or community members, and simple audience polls. You don't need a research department. A simple survey to your email list or a documented case study from your client work costs almost nothing to produce. #### What's the difference between proprietary content and thought leadership? Thought leadership relies on opinions and expertise. Proprietary content is backed by original data, research, or documented experience. The strongest [content strategy](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-content-strategy/) combines both — an informed perspective supported by data and experiences. #### How often should I publish proprietary content? Quality matters more than frequency. One well-crafted piece of proprietary content per month is more valuable than weekly posts recycling existing information. Plan for fewer, higher-impact pieces and repurpose them across [multiple platforms](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-your-content-across-multiple-platforms/) and formats. #### Can I use AI to help create proprietary content? Yes. While AI can't produce anything new, it is excellent for processing and formatting proprietary content. Use AI to analyze survey responses, transcribe interviews, create data visualizations, or repurpose your proprietary content into social posts. The original data and insights still need to come from you. ### The Real Cost of Vibe Coding Your Own Tools URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-vibe-coding/ Last updated: 2026-07-06T15:15:38.000Z You found a tool that *almost* does what you need… but not quite. Maybe it's missing one feature. Maybe you want to use one thing that’s part of a more expensive tier. So you start wondering: could I just build my own? If you're like me, you've already gone down this road. With AI-powered coding tools, building your own website or custom tool finally feels within reach — even if you've never written a single line of code. I've [vibe coded my own site](https://blog.annabyang.com/vibe-coding-solopreneurs/) and several internal tools, so I get the appeal. Vibe coding is incredibly powerful, and I personally love it. But it’s a mistake to think that it’s “free.” There are real costs, such as your time and security risks. Knowing these costs upfront can help you make better decisions about building your own tool versus paying for a subscription. ## The build vs. buy decision Big companies face this question constantly. Do we buy an existing product, or do we build something ourselves? They certainly have the resources to build, and entire teams spend months evaluating the build vs. buy tradeoff. Thanks to AI coding tools, solopreneurs are facing the exact same decision — just on a smaller scale. According to [research by Second Talent](https://www.secondtalent.com/resources/vibe-coding-statistics/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), 63% of vibe coders are now non-developers. That's a *massive* shift. People who never would have considered building their own tools a year ago are now spinning up apps over a weekend. The barrier to entry has effectively disappeared. The question now isn’t "Can I build it?" (yes, you can). The question is "Should I?" The build vs. buy decision doesn't go away just because the building got easier. The ease of starting a project makes it harder to see what it will “cost” you. ## The real costs of vibe coding your own tools No subscription fees and total control over what you're building? For many solopreneurs, this decision feels like a no-brainer. But the costs tend to show up later. ### Time This is the one people underestimate the most. Yes, you can get a working prototype surprisingly fast. But "working prototype" and "reliable tool I actually use every day" are two very different things. Just recently, I wanted to build a dashboard for a tool I use every day. I thought this would be simple. I knew exactly what I wanted, and Claude Code quickly had the page ready for me. But getting it “launched” into something I could access from any device? That was a lot of back-and-forth I wasn’t expecting. By the end, I wondered if it was worth my time to solve a minor inconvenience in a tool I use. Before you start, do the math: - A tool costs $10/month and saves you 1 hour of time - It will take you 10 hours to build a replacement You’ve spent the equivalent of 10 months of that subscription before you can even use it. And that assumes everything works on the first try (it won’t). It might be worth it, especially if you get something truly custom. But you have to consider your time on vibe coding versus revenue-generating work like client projects, marketing, or the dozen other things that actually [move your business forward](https://blog.annabyang.com/solo-business-automation/). ### Frustration There's a specific kind of frustration that comes with vibe coding. It's completely different from the normal friction of learning something new. It's the "why won't this work, and I don't even know what to Google" spiral. When you're not a developer, you don't know how to troubleshoot efficiently. You're guessing or relying on your AI tool to “fix itself.” And that guessing can eat an entire afternoon. I've been there — staring at an error message that means nothing to me, copying it into an AI tool and getting a fix that introduces a new error. Repeating, repeat, repeat. I just have to trust that *eventually* it will sort itself out and I don’t have to abandon my project, but I have no way of knowing when I’ll get to something that works. ### Security This one can be very serious, depending on what you’re doing. When you vibe code a tool, you're often working with API keys or handling data that needs to stay private. If you don't know how to store credentials safely, you risk your data being compromised in some way. The numbers back this up. According to [Hostinger's analysis of vibe coding statistics](https://www.hostinger.com/blog/vibe-coding-statistics?ref=blog.annabyang.com), roughly 45% of AI-generated code contained high-risk security flaws. For example, if you’re building something for yourself (like a dashboard), but you want it accessible from anywhere, it needs to be web-based. But if it’s web-based, how will you prevent other people from accessing it? Do you create a login? That doesn't mean you shouldn't build, but you need to be aware of the risks. If you’re not sure, ask your AI tool: “How do I make sure this thing I’m building is secure?” [A Solopreneur’s Guide to Data SecurityProtect yourself.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-d28273bd-74d5-4934-930c-a17efd30c005.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-tools-automation-hero-image-1a83de78-d9c1-408d-87c6-2d89adf6de78.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-data-security/) ## The upside: something truly custom Even with these caveats, the upside of vibe coding is still very real. Sometimes you're replacing a tool that never quite fit. I’ve always struggled to find a CRM that truly worked for me as a solopreneur. It always felt like the existing tools were meant for bigger teams or different types of businesses. Sometimes you're building something that simply doesn't exist as a product — like a dashboard that pulls data from your four favorite tools. (I’ve got one of these!) And sometimes, vibe coding lets you do something that was previously out of budget entirely, like [building a custom website](https://blog.annabyang.com/vibe-coding-solopreneurs/) without hiring a developer. When the result is something tailored to *exactly* how you work, the time and frustration can absolutely be worth it. As long as you’re aware of the “costs” as you start your project. ## When vibe coding is worth it Run the same “build vs. buy” check every time you're tempted to build something. Ask yourself: does a product already exist that does 80% of what I need? If yes, it's probably cheaper (in every sense) to pay for it and [invest in your tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/paying-for-tools-as-a-solopreneur/). If no — if what you need is truly custom — that's when you should consider vibe coding. Start with one small, low-risk project, like a dashboard. Don't vibe code your invoicing system or anything that touches sensitive data on your first build. Learn how to navigate the real costs on a project where the stakes are low. Treat vibe coding like any other [business decision](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-mindset/) — evaluate the tradeoffs, consider the costs, and build when it makes sense. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-vibe-coding.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-vibe-coding?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Thinking about vibe coding your own site or tool?* **Grab this free checklist so you're ready for your first session.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-vibe-coding?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## Common mistakes when vibe coding your own tools - **Building to save money without counting your time.** A low-cost subscription might be cheaper than the hours you'll spend building and maintaining a replacement. - **Storing API keys unsafely.** Hardcoding credentials in your project files or committing them to a public repository exposes you to real risk. - **Vibe coding tools that touch sensitive data.** Client information or personal data needs proper security handling, and AI-generated code doesn’t protect it by default. - **Assuming "it works" means "it's done."** Your tool might work initially, but errors can come up later, or it may need to handle edge cases. It might take time before you can really rely on it. - **Never planning for maintenance.** Tools break when APIs change or something new comes up in your workflows. If you built it, you're the one who has to fix it. ## FAQs #### What is vibe coding? Vibe coding is the practice of using AI tools (like Claude Code or Codex) to generate working code by describing what you want in plain language, rather than writing code yourself. It lets non-developers build tools and automations without traditional programming skills. #### Is vibe coding safe for non-developers? It can be, if you take the right precautions. The biggest risk is security. AI-generated code frequently contains vulnerabilities, so avoid building tools that handle sensitive data unless you're sure that your data is secure. Start with low-risk projects before moving to anything that handles sensitive data. #### Should I vibe code my own tools or just pay for software? It depends on whether an existing product meets your needs. If a tool does 80% of what you want, paying for it is almost always faster and cheaper than building from scratch. Vibe coding makes the most sense when you need something truly custom that no existing product offers. #### What are the risks of vibe coding your own tools? The main risks are the amount of time you have to spend and frustration from troubleshooting without any technical knowledge. Security vulnerabilities in AI-generated code are also a real concern. #### How much does it cost to vibe code your own tool? The direct cost is often just an AI subscription ($20-50/month), and the AI tool can do [many things for your business](https://blog.annabyang.com/choose-ai-tools/) in addition to vibe coding. The real cost is your time. Simple tools might take a few hours while complex ones can take days or weeks. ### How to Win Clients Without Pitching or Cold Outreach URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/win-clients-without-pitching/ Last updated: 2026-07-02T15:15:19.000Z You've sent the cold emails. You've customized the pitch. You've followed up twice, maybe three times. And… nothing. Most freelancers spend their early years in pitch mode, scanning job boards and sending pitches. Sometimes it works. But the average cold email response rate [hovers around 5%](https://www.freelancermap.com/blog/client-acquisition-strategy-freelancers/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), and it’s SO hard to stand out amidst the “noise” in people’s inboxes. If you've ever wondered whether there's a better way to land clients than pitching into the void, there is. The freelancers who consistently attract good clients aren't better at pitching. They've stopped pitching altogether. Instead, they position themselves as experts and follow a completely different process for attracting clients. 💡 ****TL;DR:** A better position beats a better pitch every time. If you put yourself out there and lead with expertise and authenticity, clients come to you. ## Is it possible to win clients without pitching? *T*he phrase "winning without pitching" comes from Blair Enns' [Win Without Pitching Manifesto](https://www.winwithoutpitching.com/books/the-win-without-pitching-manifesto?ref=blog.annabyang.com), originally written for creative agencies. But the core framework also applies to freelancers. The idea is simple: expertise-driven positioning reduces competition. When you're clearly the specialist in a space, potential clients don't comparison-shop the same way. When you pitch, you’re trying to convince someone to hire you. Moving past that means talking with potential clients about whether or not you’re a good fit and whether both parties would work well together. Buyers — potential clients in this case — resist being sold to, but they welcome someone who can solve a problem they’re having. This does *not* mean sitting back and waiting for clients to land in your inbox. You have to show up and build visibility in order for this approach to work. ## 5 ways to win clients without pitching If you’re exhausted by cold pitching (or just hate it, as I do), here’s how to take a “win without pitching” approach. ### 1\. Hone in on your niche expertise When you specialize in a specific area, you become the obvious choice for that type of work. Instead of competing with every other generalist freelancer, you're competing with a much smaller pool — or sometimes, no pool at all. Depth of knowledge in a niche beats breadth across many areas. According to [Best Writing's freelance statistics](https://bestwriting.com/freelance-writing-statistics?ref=blog.annabyang.com), specialists consistently outearn generalists, and it's not hard to see why. When you can speak a client's language — whether that's fintech, healthcare, or SaaS — [there’s no learning curve](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancers-have-no-learning-curve/). The client doesn't have to explain their industry to you. That saves them time (and money). Many freelancers say finding new clients is their biggest challenge. Specialization cuts through that noise. When someone needs a freelance writer who understands something like compliance regulations or API documentation, they're not browsing a general job board or posting on LinkedIn because they know they’ll be overwhelmed by inbound inquiries from freelancers who don’t understand their industry. Instead, they're asking their network — and your name comes up because you've [built a reputation](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-stand-out-as-a-freelancer/) in that space. I’m well-known as a freelance [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/), which is super niche. Word of mouth keeps my pipeline full because people *know* that’s the type of work I do. ### 2\. Admit that you might not be a good fit This is a counterintuitive way to “win.” When a potential client reaches out and the project doesn't align with your expertise, saying "this might not be right for me" actually increases trust. It signals that you care more about the outcome than about landing the gig. Here's an email script I've used: > Hi \[Name\], > > Thanks so much for reaching out! I took a look at your website, and I want to be upfront — your content/product falls a bit outside my core expertise. I focus on \[area of expertise\]. I wouldn't want to take it on and deliver something that doesn’t meet your expectations. > > That said, I know a few people who'd be a great fit, and I'm happy to make an introduction. You're no longer a salesperson — now you're a trusted advisor. And that trust will come back to reward you with future business. Referrals from honest "not a fit" conversations often lead to better-matched work down the road. The person you turned down remembers you, remembers your expertise, and passes your name along. I’ve gotten really surprising referrals from people I never ended up working with because I made an impression. ### 3\. Be honest about your boundaries One of the joys of freelance life is choosing when and how you work. Not all clients understand this. They consider you “part of the team” and expect you’ll always be available. Sometimes it’s because the client has never worked with a freelancer before. Other times, it’s because they don’t understand how many clients you might be juggling. Setting expectations around availability, scope, and timeline isn't just about professionalism. It's also a filter for the right type of clients. Clients who respect your boundaries tend to be the ones you actually want to work with long-term. Here's how I set the tone, usually before a contract is ever signed: > Hi \[Name\], > > I wanted to set expectations around communication. I typically respond to emails within 24 hours on the days I’m working, and I work Monday through Thursday. If a client asks if I’m available for a “quick call,” I let them know that I’m available to **schedule** a call and send them a link to my Calendly. Again, you’re giving a reason *not* to work with you: your preferred communication doesn’t match their expectations. If that’s a sticking point, then the client isn’t a good fit. If the client *is* a good fit, they’ll respect your boundaries. [How to Evaluate Freelance ClientsDon’t get stuck in a stressful situation.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-080ba3b7-bd09-4f78-b059-5760e56944de.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelancing-101-hero-image-12-16671a82-99fa-4816-ae2d-be580535be33.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-evaluate-freelance-clients/) ### 4\. Let your work speak for itself Your [freelance portfolio](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/), case studies, and testimonials are doing the heavy lifting ahead of a potential client ever reaching out. When a potential client lands on your site or asks around about you, those assets are your pitch. Your portfolio should be one additional (easy) reason for a client to say “yes” instead of a reason to say “never mind.” A great portfolio: - Looks professional (I use [JournoPortfolio](https://portfolio.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)) - Has filters for different types of projects - Showcases your *best* work, not *all* of your work - Is updated regularly with new projects You’re not telling clients to work with you: you’re letting them decide on their own, based on alignment between how you promote yourself and what they see. ## Win without pitching — but follow up Even if a client is convinced that you’re the right freelancer to hire, not all clients are on the ball with the next steps. They’re busy, or [hiring a freelancer](https://blog.annabyang.com/effective-freelancer-relationship/) isn’t their highest priority. The follow-up is on you. If a prospective client doesn’t reply after a few days, send another email. At some point, lack of follow-up is a “no” (even if the client doesn’t say no). A lack of follow-up can also be an indication of the working relationship. If the client takes forever to say “yes” and sign a contract, will they pay your invoice on time? So be mindful as you move through those final steps that *you* need to evaluate the *prospect*. Both parties need to be served by the relationship. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-pricing.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-pricing-freelancers?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Freelance pricing is hard to figure out,* **but I’ve created a free resource to help you set your rates.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-pricing-freelancers?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### Tips for winning clients without cold pitching - **Lead with questions.** Ask potential clients about the problem they’re trying to solve before talking about your skills. The best [client conversations](https://blog.annabyang.com/top-questions-clients-ask-freelance-writer/) start with listening. - **Say no to projects that aren't a fit.** Every "no" builds trust and preserves your bandwidth for the right clients. - **Keep a swipe file of past results.** Collect screenshots and client feedback so you're never scrambling to provide proof of your capabilities. - **Invest in one platform where your audience hangs out.** You don't need to be everywhere. Pick [LinkedIn](https://blog.annabyang.com/linkedin-client-acquisition/), Instagram, or a Slack community — and show up consistently. ### FAQs #### Can you really win clients without cold outreach? Yes. Many established freelancers rely primarily on inbound inquiries, referrals, and repeat clients. Cold outreach can supplement your pipeline, but it doesn't have to be the foundation. Positioning yourself as a specialist and building visibility are more sustainable client acquisition strategies. #### How long does it take to stop needing to pitch? It varies, but most freelancers start seeing a shift within six to twelve months of consistent niche positioning on social platforms and relationship-building. The transition is gradual. You'll notice referrals picking up and inbound inquiries increasing before the need for cold pitching drops off entirely. #### What if I'm just starting out and have no portfolio? Many freelancers start by doing a few projects at a lower rate to build credibility and case studies. Focus on one niche early so your small portfolio looks intentional rather than scattered. Even two or three strong samples in a specific area can be enough to start attracting inbound inquiries. #### Is "win without pitching" the same as never doing sales? No. You're still selling — you're just doing it differently. Instead of leading with a cold pitch, you lead with expertise and a conversation with the potential client. The sales process becomes collaborative. You're evaluating fit together, not trying to convince someone to hire you. #### How do I get referrals if I haven't asked for them before? Start with your best past clients. Send a short email thanking them for the project and mentioning that you're taking on new work. Make it easy for people to think of you when someone asks, "Do you know a good freelancer?" Staying visible on [social platforms](https://blog.annabyang.com/networking-solopreneur/) also helps. ### ### How to Choose AI Tools That Actually Save You Time URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/choose-ai-tools/ Last updated: 2026-06-29T15:15:24.000Z Recently, I hosted a webinar about choosing tools as a solopreneur. One of the attendees commented: *“One concern is that, working solo, I am unable to stay on top of everything happening in AI. So I'm paranoid about not knowing about a tool that makes life easier or work more efficient.”* I acknowledged that that’s a completely valid concern. There's a new AI tool in your feed every week, each one promising to save time. But trying all of them is a time sink all by itself. Having a framework before you start evaluating tools makes a huge difference. You evaluate whether a tool is actually worth your time or whether it's just another subscription (that you don’t need). 💡 ****TL;DR:** Choose AI tools by starting with what you already use and targeting a specific time problem. Then measure whether the tool eliminates enough manual work to justify the setup time. ## How do you choose the right AI tools for your business? The best AI tool for your business is the one that removes a **specific, repeatable task**. Not the one with the most features or the most buzz. When you're evaluating AI as a solopreneur, think of it this way: - Do I save time? - Is some manual work eliminated? A tool that shaves minutes off something you do daily is worth a lot. According to [Capsule CRM's research](https://capsulecrm.com/blog/small-business-ai-adoption-statistics/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), roughly 55% of U.S. small businesses now use AI regularly — but using it regularly and using it effectively are different things. That math changes if you need to spend hours and hours getting the tool set up the way you want, only to save a few minutes of time on a task you don’t do very often. It’s got to be something that compounds. ## 3 steps to choosing AI tools for your solo business Before sitting down to evaluate anything new, it helps to have a framework or checklist you can run through quickly. This list keeps the decision grounded in your actual workflow instead of getting pulled toward whatever shiny new tool you just heard about. ### 1\. Start with the tools you already use Many tools you're already paying for have AI features built in, like Notion, Canva, your CRM, or even Google Workspace. These have the easiest starting points because there's no learning curve to the tool itself. You’re just adding AI to something you’re already doing. For me, this was Airtable. Airtable AI (called [field agents](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/airtable-field-agent/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)) is able to take actions on my database (like making a selection in a field) that I was previously doing manually. Field agents are easy to set up, and the time savings is immediate. Some of these features you might not even realize you're paying for. And if you are paying extra for an AI tier and don't find the features useful, downgrade your plan. ### 2\. Look for AI that solves a specific time problem If you’re branching out from the tools you already pay for, start by finding a [solution to a specific task](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-tools-for-solopreneurs/), not a specific tool. Inbox triage and first-draft writing are common ones. This is a step that most people skip. They hear about a tool, get excited, sign up… and *then* try to find a use for it. That's backward! If you can't point to a specific problem that you’re trying to solve, the tool is probably going to sit unused. I often start with a chat conversation in Claude. I say “I’m looking for a solution to XYZ problem. This is what I need. What are my options?” Claude does the research for me, which is far faster and more personalized than doing it myself. Once I have a potential solution, I’ll visit the tool’s website and sign up for a free trial. ![screenshot of a conversation with Claude about a new tool](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/06/tinkering-with-ideas-zapier-gdoc-claude---Step-0.jpeg) Screenshot from Claude ### 3\. Evaluate based on how much manual work it eliminates The real test: how much of the task actually disappears? Does it remove most of the repetitive task, or can it only handle part of it, and you still have your hands on the other part? A tool that automates 80% of a weekly task is doing real work for you. One that automates 10% of an occasional task? That’s probably a distraction and something you have to “manage.” AI tools often need tweaking as new models become available or you want to refine the output. For example, I use the [Buffer](https://join.buffer.com/anna-burgess-yang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)\* MCP for social media. Without AI, my process would be: - Start with a blog post - Write a few social posts based on my ideas in the blog post - Add the social posts to Buffer - Move the social posts to different spots in my social media queue With the MCP, the process looks like this: - Claude CoWork looks at my most recent blog posts - Claude CoWork writes a few drafts of social posts - Claude CoWork sends the drafts to Buffer using the Buffer MCP - I go into Buffer, edit the drafts, and schedule Same number of steps, but I’m now only doing one of them. Plus, it’s far easier to edit a draft than to write a social media post from scratch. The [ideas are still mine](https://blog.annabyang.com/maintain-authentic-writing-voice-with-generative-ai/), and CoWork creates drafts based on my voice and tone guide, but this saves me a ton of time. [How to Use AI to Create a Style GuideA tip for writers.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/1-c1002248-e4a4-4882-b43d-be3d5088f459.png)Tinkering With IdeasAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/tinkering-with-ideas-process-hero-image-3-c5422d92-191c-473d-a07b-3ee00489fab0.png)](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/style-guide-ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## Factor in setup time before you commit Some AI tools work out of the box. Notion AI search is like this — you can immediately get really good search results for your Notion docs and databases. Others need projects configured, context uploaded, sample data provided, and a lot of back-and-forth before the output is usable. The upfront setup *has* to be offset by the manual work it saves later. Quick math: if a tool takes 10 hours to configure and replaces a task that costs you an hour a month, you're not seeing a return for almost a year. A tool that takes 30 minutes to set up and saves you an hour every week? That pays for itself immediately. Sometimes the better move is to improve a workflow you already have rather than add a new tool on top. I use Zapier and have [AI by Zapier](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/ai-by-zapier/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) embedded into my workflows, adding a small AI step rather than completely changing my workflow. [4 Signs You Need Automation Solo Business AutomationWhen tasks feel out of control.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-05a0b356-f12e-4829-b6fc-a2b31bedf05d.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-tools-automation-hero-image-1-6a8968b8-9ab4-4c4a-86c9-861e2d678a1a.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/solo-business-automation/) ## Start with one tool, not ten I’ve definitely gone down a rabbit hole of trying something, only to find that the output falls short of what I need. For me, it’s worth the time to check out the tool. But also, I *like* tinkering with tools, so it doesn’t feel like a chore. If you're feeling overwhelmed by your options, pick a task in your week that has a clear "before” and “after" with AI. Set aside a small block of time to try one tool against it — no more than a couple of hours (and hopefully less). The solopreneurs who get real value from AI are the ones who choose deliberately and test against actual work. They cut what doesn’t add enough value for the cost. [Evaluating your tech stack](https://blog.annabyang.com/evaluate-solopreneur-tech-stack/) regularly — including your AI tools — keeps you from accumulating tools that sound great but don’t do much for you. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-ai-tools-1.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ai-tools?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Not sure which tools are actually worth trying?* **Here's a list to get you started.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ai-tools?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ## Tips for choosing AI tools without wasting time - **Audit before you add.** Check the AI features in tools you already pay for before buying anything new. - **Give it a real test.** Test against an actual task you do weekly, not just a five-minute overview. You won't know if a tool fits your workflow until you've used it on real work. - **Track the time saved.** If you can't point to how much time you’ve saved after a month, the tool probably isn’t worth the cost. Be honest about whether you're actually using it. - **Watch the setup time.** A tool that takes longer to configure than it saves might not be worth it — or you need to take a different approach. Check if there's a simpler alternative or a way to [start with the basics](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-for-solopreneurs/) before investing a lot of your time. ## FAQs #### How do I choose the right AI tool for my business? Start by identifying a specific, repeatable task that takes up your time each week. Then look for an AI tool that solves that problem — either as a built-in feature in software you already use, or as a standalone tool. Give it a try and evaluate based on how much manual work it actually eliminates. #### What's the best AI tool for a solopreneur? There's no single "best" tool. It depends on what task you're trying to eliminate. Sometimes a multi-purpose chatbot like Claude or ChatGPT can handle a lot of tasks, and sometimes you’ll want a tool that handles something very specific. The best AI tools for your business are the ones that save you time and work reliably without constant tweaking. #### How many AI tools do I actually need? Most solopreneurs do well with a handful of targeted tools rather than a ton of subscriptions. Most solopreneurs pay for around five tools. The number matters less than how much time each one saves you. #### How do I know if an AI tool is worth paying for? Track the time you save over a month. If the tool eliminates a task you'd otherwise spend hours on, the subscription pays for itself. If you're struggling to justify it after 30 days of real use, cancel it and move on. #### Should I use standalone AI tools or the AI built into tools I already have? Start with what's built in. Many tools you already pay for have added AI features that handle common tasks. These are purpose-built to work within your existing tool. Only look at standalone AI tools when your existing stack can't handle something specific you've identified. ### A Solopreneur's Guide to Data Security (Without an IT Department) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-data-security/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T15:15:30.000Z When you're running a solo business, data security probably falls into the "I'll worry about it when I have to" bucket. You don't have an IT department… you ARE the IT department. And if you've ever shared a Google Drive link with a contractor or given a VA access to your social media accounts, you've already made data security decisions (whether you realized it or not). The good news is that keeping your business safe doesn't require the same level of security controls as a huge company. But you do have to be deliberate with what you share and how much access each person actually needs. A few choices now can save you from a really stressful situation later. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Solopreneurs can protect their data by using tiered access controls — from shared files to restricted logins — and being cautious about what data goes into AI tools. ## Why solopreneurs need to think about data security According to [Spacelift's cybersecurity report](https://spacelift.io/blog/small-business-cybersecurity-statistics?ref=blog.annabyang.com), 43% of cyberattacks in 2025 targeted small businesses, and 61% experienced a data breach in the past year. You may not think you’re at risk because you’re not handling sensitive data, but without basic data security, someone could gain access to your bank account or take control of your social media. For many years, I worked at a software company that handled *really* sensitive data (like the type that required ongoing audits of our machines). Because of that experience, I brought some basic principles I learned about data security to my one-person business. I knew that I had to protect myself from scammers. ## How to build layers of security The most common data exposure comes from collaborating with someone else (client, [virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/), contractor). And not every collaborator needs the same level of access. The way I think about it is to default to the lowest level of access that still lets the person do their job easily and effectively. ### Shared access to specific files or folders This is the easiest thing to implement and gives you a ton of control. You share a specific Google Drive folder, a Canva design, or a single document. The collaborator can see and edit what you've shared, but nothing else in your account. This works well for one-off projects, client review folders, or shared assets with a designer. You don't have to worry about someone accidentally stumbling into your financials or your content calendar. They only see what you've pointed them to. ### Shared access to projects Tools like Notion, Trello, and Asana let you share specific projects or workspaces without exposing your entire system. A client can see *their* project board but not other projects. A contractor can only work in *their* assigned workspace. I’ve used Trello for project management and have shared projects with both clients and contractors. I’ve also had clients share their internal tools with me. Usually, the person can freely make edits and collaborate within the shared workspace (though some have options to lock down what the other person can do, like deleting information). This is a good fit for ongoing client work and project-based collaborations. You get the benefit of [working in the same system](https://blog.annabyang.com/essential-freelance-business-tools/) without handing over the keys to everything. [Project Management Skills Every Freelancer NeedsLearn how to effectively manage your client work.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-66bdbefe-a3b3-41d9-a891-f9e65602b597.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelancing-101-hero-image-23-aa4a4cb6-e0f4-49bf-8b0b-13b0f7a71e24.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-management-skills/) ### Restricted access with separate logins This gives you the most granular control. You create a separate login with limited permissions, which usually means paying for an additional seat. This matters most for sensitive systems: tools where your business data lives, where someone could post publicly on your behalf, or where financial information is accessible. I’ve done all of the following: - A separate seat in Airtable (my source of truth) that only has access to certain data, and can only edit specific fields - A separate seat in Buffer where the person can create social media posts, but not publish - A separate login in Quickbooks for my accounting firm that lets them do their job, but not have administrative control If you're wondering whether [paying for that extra seat is worth it](https://blog.annabyang.com/paying-for-tools-as-a-solopreneur/), ask yourself, "What's the worst-case scenario?" My Airtable is *so* foundational to my work that I couldn’t risk someone making a mistake with my data if I granted full access. ### Shared passwords Of course, paying for a separate seat isn’t always an option, especially for an expensive product. Another way to get around this is by sharing your password. It gives the person access to log in “as you.” If you do this, use a password manager. A password manager lets you share the password *without* the person being able to see the password. The other person needs to use the same password manager (they often have free plans). But you can grant access to the password for a period of time, and then remove access if needed. Much better than the person having ongoing access to your password. ## What data to provide to AI tools AI tools are a different kind of access altogether. You're feeding information to a model, and what happens to it after that depends on the tool's policies. Check the data and privacy policies of the company. I use Claude, and there’s a box that says “Help improve our AI models.” I have this **unchecked**, so my data is not used for training. Even with that, I’m still *very* careful about what I feed into Claude. Before pasting something into an AI tool, ask yourself: would I be comfortable if this information were exposed? Be careful with client names, financial data, proprietary strategies, and anything covered by an NDA. [Practical Controls for Autonomous AI With Claude CoWorkLimit access to protect your data.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/1-ce600df4-4322-4586-ac94-25b8ef243412.png)Tinkering With IdeasAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/tinkering-with-ideas-deep-dive-hero-image-172a2817-2f04-401d-a0ca-0fdfb9eef8ea.png)](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/safety-claude-cowork/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## Your data security toolkit These are the basics every solopreneur should have in place. You don't need all of them today, but work toward having each one set up. - **Password manager.** Store and generate unique passwords with a tool like [1Password](https://1password.partnerlinks.io/byswh18qn62t?ref=blog.annabyang.com)\*. If you're reusing passwords across accounts (and most people are), this is an easy way to reduce your risk. - **Two-factor authentication (2FA).** Enable it on every business tool that offers it, especially email and financial accounts. It takes seconds to set up and makes it much harder for someone to get into your accounts, even if they have your password. - **Regular backups.** Export critical data from Google Drive, your CMS, and any tool where your content or client information lives. Monthly or quarterly backups are fine, depending on the data. - **Separate business and personal accounts.** Use a dedicated [business email](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-email-address/) and keep personal logins separate from client-facing tools. If one gets compromised, the other stays safe. - **Quarterly access review.** When a contractor or client engagement ends, revoke their access immediately. And once a quarter, audit who still has access to what (you'd be surprised how many old shared documents are still out there). ## Start with the biggest risk This article isn’t meant to scare you. Most solopreneurs aren’t running businesses that require intense levels of data security. But make a few small changes, one at a time, to make sure you’re protecting yourself and your business. Start by adding 2FA to your email and financial accounts, since that single step blocks the most common attacks. Then get a password manager and start replacing your reused passwords over the next few weeks. When I started using a password manager, I’d simply update the password when I logged into the app. You just need to be intentional about who and what has access to your business information, and have a quick mental checklist so you're not making those decisions on the fly. ## FAQs #### What's the biggest cybersecurity risk for solopreneurs? The biggest risk is weak or reused passwords across multiple tools. A password manager combined with two-factor authentication (2FA) will make it significantly harder for someone to breach your systems. #### Do I need a password manager if I only use a few tools? Yes. Even with a handful of tools, reusing the same password or using weak passwords means one breach exposes everything. You need strong passwords, which are a combination of random letters, numbers, and special characters. A password manager generates unique passwords for each account and stores them securely, so you don't have to remember them. #### How do I share access with a contractor without giving them too much? Start with the lowest amount of access that lets them do their job. Share specific files or folders first. If they need more, move to project-level access. You only create a separate login with restricted permissions for sensitive systems where the risk of accidental changes to your data is really high. #### How often should I review who has access to my tools? At a minimum, once a quarter. Also, review immediately after any contractor or client engagement ends. Shared access tends to linger, and each one is a potential entry point they no longer need. #### Is it safe to use AI tools with client data? It depends on the tool's data policies and your client agreements. Some AI tools train on your inputs, and others don't. Before sharing anything sensitive, check whether the tool stores or learns from your data, and avoid pasting any non-public or NDA-covered material. When in doubt, anonymize the information first. ### How to Prep for a Week of Writing (So You Actually Write) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/prep-for-a-week-of-writing/ Last updated: 2026-06-20T15:15:27.000Z You have your writing time blocked off. You sit down, open a blank doc… and then spend the first 20 minutes figuring out what to write. If you’re like me, your writing hours are limited — especially if you're [managing content across multiple platforms](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-your-content-across-multiple-platforms/) or balancing writing with client work. Losing time to planning or writer’s block during your writing sessions will make it feel like you can’t ever get anything done. The fix? Separate the prep from the writing itself. With a short weekly writing prep routine, you’ll sit down already knowing what to work on. 💡 ****TL;DR:** A weekly writing prep system — organizing ideas, planning your schedule, and outlining — keeps your writing blocks productive. ### Why weekly writing prep is so important Weekly writing prep is the practice of dedicating time *before* your writing sessions to plan — so your actual writing time is spent writing. It's for anyone who publishes consistently: creators, bloggers, newsletter writers, freelancers. It can also be useful for people working on a book, but that’s a bit of a different animal and might need a different approach. The principle is simple: separate the logistical thinking — what to write, what to reference, creating a publishing calendar — from the creative work of writing. I have a blog, newsletter, and tutorials website. I break my writing prep into two sessions: organizing and outlining/prepping. That works for me, since the writing prep sessions can be shorter. But you could also do one long prep session and get everything ready at one time. [Content Strategy for SolopreneursFrom email list to social media.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-52508de9-a2a8-4fc5-8018-2757a69997e5.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-marketing-branding-hero-image-2-c50a3855-988e-47bc-b099-9e78622fbcfa.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-content-strategy/) ### 3 ways to prep for your weekly writing Here’s the preparation you should do, and you can adapt these to your own rhythm. The steps build on each other — organizing feeds your planning, and planning feeds your outlines. #### 1\. Organize your ideas As writers, we often gather ideas from real life. We read things, we meet people, and we draw inspiration from what’s happening around us. I'm one of those people who bookmarks things all over The Internet and scribbles down half-formed thoughts whenever they hit me. You've probably got ideas scattered across apps, browser tabs, and random notes to yourself. The problem? Collecting ideas and actually *using* them for your writing aren't the same thing. I needed to take time to organize my sources of inspiration in a meaningful way. I spend time each week combing through everything I've saved. I use Readwise to save articles and highlight things I find interesting. Readwise syncs anything I’ve saved to Notion, where I can search later (you could also have Readwise sync to a different app). ![Screenshot of Readwise Syncs in Notion](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/06/CleanShot-2026-06-19-at-14.08.50@2x.png) Screenshot of Readwise Syncs in Notion I use Readwise to: - Save articles I read and highlight ideas within the article - Save “snips” from podcast episodes in the podcast player Snipd - Sync highlights from Kindle books I read - Paste a YouTube link and highlight/save from the transcript The payoff isn't always immediate. You're [building a library of ideas](https://blog.annabyang.com/best-tools-for-capturing-notes/) that future outlines can draw from. Some weeks, you won't use anything you organized. Other weeks, you'll pull the perfect stat or anecdote from something you bookmarked months ago. #### 2\. Plan your writing week in blocks Look at your upcoming deadlines and publishing schedule. Assign specific writing tasks to specific days or time blocks — like “write the newsletter on Tuesday morning” or "draft the blog post on Wednesday afternoon." I usually write on the same days/times every week, but I also look at my calendar and make adjustments. If I’m traveling or have a client deadline that interferes with my writing, I have to plan around that. Be realistic about how much you can write in a sitting. A deeply researched Substack article takes more energy than a personal newsletter. If you know that your energy dips by the end of the week, put your more intensive writing at the start of the week. Not every week goes as planned, so be gentle with yourself if you aren’t able to write during your scheduled blocks. #### 3\. Create outlines for each writing block For each writing block on your schedule, create a rough outline: the main ideas and any key points to hit. Include any references (for me, these are links to my saved ideas from Readwise). The goal is that when you sit down to write, you already know the structure and just need to fill in your outline. You might set aside writing time like "work on the next newsletter issue,” but it still benefits from a quick bullet-point outline. That way, you're not starting from a blank screen. Your writing time is where everything comes together. The ideas you organized feed into outlines. Your plan tells you which outlines to build. And when your writing block starts, you open the doc and go. ### Tips for making the most out of your writing prep - **Start with just 15-30 minutes per step.** Three short sessions of organizing, planning, and outlining can make a huge difference. - **Keep your planning and writing tools separate, if you can.** Planning happens in your [project management tool](https://blog.annabyang.com/project-management-vs-task-management-whats-the-difference/), and writing happens in your writing app. The mental switch tells you that you're in a different mode. - **Don't edit during writing blocks.** Editing is a different kind of work. If you try to do both in the same session, neither gets done well. Reserve separate time for editing, if you can, so you can look at your work with fresh eyes. - **Adapt the timing to your schedule.** The steps work whether you spread them across a weekend or compress them into one long session. The key is separating prep from writing, not the specific schedule you follow. ### The tools I use for writing prep: - **Ideas:** Readwise - **Planning**: Trello for project management (what I want to publish across different platforms) - **Outlining:** Notion (with Zapier connecting Trello and Notion) Notion is new for me. At some point, I might consolidate Trello and Notion, but for now, I like the way Trello organizes my upcoming content plan of blog posts, my newsletter, and other writing projects. Notion is for the actual outlining and drafts. Once I add a specific tag in Trello, Zapier automatically creates the page in Notion. ### Your writing time should be for writing Even if you don’t follow this exact process, doing *any* pre-writing prep is a huge win. When I started my weekly process, I suddenly knew exactly what I needed to work on when I sat down at a computer, and felt much better after every writing session. Start by prepping for one writing session this week by creating a simple 5-bullet point outline the day before. See if the session feels different. Once that habit sticks, you can build out the rest of your weekly rhythm from there. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/05/ecourse-authentic-online-writing.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-online-writing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Not sure where to start with posting on social media?* **These 30 prompts are designed to spark some ideas.* [Get the prompts ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-online-writing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🗓️ **Note: This blog post was originally published in March 2022 and was updated in June 2026.* ### FAQs #### How much time should I spend on weekly writing prep? Most writers can get through some basic prep in 30-60 minutes each week. Start with 15 minutes, and adjust based on how much content you're producing. The prep should save you more time later in the week when you're ready to start writing. #### How do I prep for writing if I don't know what to write about? You need to develop a habit of capturing any writing inspiration, like articles, podcasts, or dictating ideas. Spend time each week reviewing your inspiration. You build a library of ideas you can pull from whenever you need a topic to write about. #### How does weekly writing prep help with writer's block? Writer's block often comes from not knowing where to start. When you've already organized your ideas, planned your schedule, and outlined each piece, you sit down knowing exactly what to do. It removes the "staring at a blank screen" problem that often comes up during writing sessions. ### How AI Can Complement Your Solopreneur Business Decisions URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-solopreneur-business-decisions/ Last updated: 2026-06-15T15:15:54.000Z 🔗 **Note: This article was written in collaboration with* [**HaloMate*](https://link.halomate.ai/annayang2026q2-1?ref=blog.annabyang.com)**, a multi-model AI workspace that lets you easily switch between models.* If you're like me, you make a dozen decisions for your solo business every day. A lot of them are easy. But every so often, you feel yourself getting stuck and unsure of how to move forward — like changing your offers or switching to a different tool. The problem for most solopreneurs is that they're deciding alone. There's no one to bounce your ideas off of. Even if you've gathered a lot of research, there's no one to push back or challenge you to think differently. That's where AI has found its place in my solo business decision-making. It can't make a decision *for* me, but it can be a sounding board — especially if you give your AI tools the right context. 💡 ****TL;DR:** AI can do the research grunt work and give you a second opinion, so you're not making business decisions in a vacuum. You can also store your background information in a single place so you’re making decisions with the right context. ## **Why is decision-making so hard when you run a business solo?** When you run a business by yourself, you're the entire org chart in a single person. You're the one pulling the numbers, and you're the one who has to live with whatever you decide. There's no colleague to poke holes in your logic before you commit. In Simply Business's [survey of solopreneurs](https://www.simplybusiness.com/resource/2025-solopreneur-report/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), 61% said that they underestimated how hard it is to manage all business functions on their own. Before going solo, I spent years on the executive team at a tech company, where other executives and managers were part of every decision. Working alone, I quickly realized how much the direction of my business depended on the decisions I made alone. A couple of things make this even harder. Information about your business is *everywhere*. You've got some data in a spreadsheet, brand guidelines in a PDF, and client information in three separate Google Folders. On top of that, some of [your constraints](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-challenges/) (like your time and budget) live only in your head. Good decision-making also takes time you don't have, so you go with your gut or avoid making a decision altogether (which can come back to bite you). You've got to find ways to make decisions quickly and confidently. ## **A framework: how to use AI to complement your business decisions** Business decisions tend to move through a few stages, from gathering your business context to actually pulling the trigger. (And somewhere in between is your research and a gut-check). AI can help at every step. Here are a few ways to get started. ### **1\. Put all your decision context in one place** Every time you open a fresh AI chat, you start over — re-explaining what you do and who you serve. It's time-consuming (and frustrating) because you just want to get to the decision-making part of an AI conversation. Instead, you want to give AI a lot of background about who you are and what you do. In HaloMate, for example, you can set up a Project. It's a workspace that holds your business info, your research, and whatever constraints you're working under. You set up the context **once,** so you're not repeating yourself. In my business projects, I include information like: - Background information about me - Audience descriptions - A [voice and tone ](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/style-guide-ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)(how I write for different platforms) - Templates I use for email sequences, landing pages, etc. - My current goals for this year **Different from other AI project features** you might have tried before, these aren't static files you upload and forget. They're live documents that you and the AI both edit, and everything's versioned so you can roll back changes. If you're working through a decision over multiple days, the workspace evolves with your thinking. You can also set up different **Mates** for different types of decisions. For example, one handles business strategy, and another handles content. **Each Mate has its own memory** — your business strategist doesn't see your content calendar, and your content assistant doesn't need to know your revenue goals. Instead of starting each conversation from scratch, your business context is already there. Every question or conversation is answered based on your *actual* situation. Not generic solopreneur advice. ![Screenshot of HaloMate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-4747aa42-7856-4362-8b59-daef08a4b4a0.png) Screenshot of HaloMate For example, a Business Strategy Hub can hold all of your business context. You, along with your AI assistants, can always write back to the hub with updated versions. ### **2\. Let AI do the research legwork — with sources you can check** Once your context is set, the next step is research. Before AI, this was often the biggest time suck for me. Let's say I was researching a new tool. I'd have to visit individual websites, compare features and pricing, and look for honest reviews on sites like TrustPilot or Reddit. Plus, it was often hard to gauge if the product would meet my needs. HaloMate's AutoPilot does that multi-step research for you, and it shows its work. Every claim comes with a source you can click and check. This is the step where AI has saved me the most time. When I was recently weighing whether or not to change tools, AI did all the research, *and* I could have a back-and-forth conversation about my specific needs. Far better and more useful than simply reading through a list of features. 💡 ****Tip:** Watch out for using AI to stall a business decision. Don’t turn to AI to "do more research" as a way to avoid deciding instead of actually deciding. ### **3\. Get a second opinion across models** Every decision ultimately ends with a judgment call. And that part can feel uncomfortable when you're using AI for research — one model can hand you an answer that sounds completely sure of itself. Another model might say, "Have you thought about…?" HaloMate lets you run the same question across different models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, side by side. If you ask the same question across all three and get the same response, great! You can move forward with more confidence. And when they don't agree, that split is actually useful. You can read through the responses and reasoning and consider different angles. Here's how this might actually work for a solopreneur business decision. Let's say you're considering a new pricing strategy. In HaloMate, you can ask three models whether or not a price increase makes sense, based on your business context (set up in a project). 1. One model fixates on the potential increase in your revenue. 2. One model questions what the market will pay. 3. One model considers what the new price says about your brand. Let's say you ask three models the same pricing question. Seeing them side-by-side helps you see blind spots you may not have considered. ![Screeshot of HaloMate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-2c06c56d-5c9f-4ae5-a99e-e8aea13f0dfd.png) Screeshot of HaloMate ### **4\. Turn the analysis into something you can actually decide from** Once you've got your research and opinions from a few different models, you still have to decide what to do. But a wall of text can be hard to process. Instead of re-reading paragraphs of analysis, ask AI to turn the findings into a visual breakdown. That way, you can actually see the tradeoffs. In HaloMate, your notes and references stay in a sidebar. ![Screeshot of HaloMate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-78a91063-d71a-4826-8dcc-a290b1864a0f.png) Screeshot of HaloMate Everything stays in the Project. If you need to revisit the decision later (which often happens), you can pull up the same workspace and pick up right where you left off. ## **When AI should NOT be the one weighing in** AI can help with a lot of solopreneur business decisions, but not all of them. A few scenarios are better off without AI. Knowing which ones keeps you from handing over judgment calls that should stay yours. Don't use AI to make decisions about: - Your values as a solo business owner - Relationships with your customers or your audience - Anything that doesn't have data to back it up or where you can't verify the results These decisions are inherently human, and AI isn't a substitute. AI can sound superbly confident with every response, but point you in the wrong direction. In chat conversations with AI, I've actually said, "No, that's wrong and here's why." But even with that, I'm thinking about *why* it is wrong for my business. Every business decision should be backed up with something, whether it's context, research, or data. Without it, AI is giving you nothing more than a guess. ## **Your first steps for AI-assisted business decisions** If you want to try using AI to complement your business decisions, start with Step 1: getting all of your business context in one place. If information only exists in your head, get it written down. (You could even dictate information, get a transcript, and feed it to an AI project). It will make all subsequent steps *so* much easier. What makes all of this effective is persistent memory (which HaloMate has). The tool actually remembers your business from one decision to the next. You explain yourself once, and every decision after that starts from a place that already knows who you are and how you operate. If you're ready to use AI to complement your business decisions, [try HaloMate](https://link.halomate.ai/annayang2026q2-1?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and set up your first Project. ## **FAQs** #### ****How do solopreneurs make better business decisions?** Start by gathering all of your business context — such as financials, goals, audience info, and constraints — in one place. That way, every decision is based on your actual situation. Use research (your own or AI-assisted) to fill in gaps, then weigh tradeoffs before committing. Your goal should be to make decisions quickly and with confidence. #### ****Can AI help with business decisions?** Yes, AI can handle research, surface tradeoffs, and give you a second opinion when you don't have a team. Tools like HaloMate let you compare responses across multiple AI models side by side. With that type of visibility, you can spot blind spots before you commit. AI works best as a complement to your judgment, but isn’t a replacement for it. #### ****What business decisions do solopreneurs face most often?** Common decisions include pricing your services, choosing which tools to invest in, and how to allocate your time. These come up frequently because solopreneurs have to fill every role in their business, from strategy to execution. #### ****Why is decision-making harder as a solopreneur?** When you run a business alone, there's no colleague or manager to challenge your thinking or catch what you may have missed. Your business information is often scattered across multiple tools. Additionally, the time pressure of solo work means decisions are often rushed or avoided altogether. #### ****What should you not use AI for in your business?** Avoid using AI to make decisions about your values, your client relationships, or anything where you can't verify the output. AI can sound confident even when it's wrong. Treat it as a research tool and a sounding board rather than the final decision-maker. ### How Solopreneurs Can Grow Without Building a Team URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/scaling-solopreneur-business/ Last updated: 2026-06-08T15:15:57.000Z Your business is growing with more clients and more revenue. That also means more demands on your time. At some point, you start asking yourself: do I need to hire someone? For many solopreneurs, hiring feels like the logical next step… but it also feels like a big commitment. Maybe even overwhelming. Before I started my solo business, I was a manager of a small team at a tech company. Over the years, I found that I didn’t like managing people. And for the work I do now, hiring employees would change the dynamics of my business — and I’m not ready to give up control over the outcomes of the work. But hiring isn't the only way to grow. You can make changes within your business that allow you to get more done or earn more without requiring more of your time and energy. 💡 ****TL;DR:** You can scale a solo business without hiring employees by building repeatable systems, raising your rates, creating new offers, and outsourcing specific tasks to contractors when it makes sense. ### What does "scaling" mean for a solopreneur? Scaling for a solopreneur is growing revenue *without* increasing the hours you work. For a traditional business, growth usually means adding headcount. The solo version is fundamentally different. Scaling focuses on efficiency: earning more per hour, automating repetitive work, and creating products or services that don't require your direct involvement. There are [different types of solopreneurs](https://blog.annabyang.com/types-of-solopreneurs/), and your scaling path will depend on whether you're primarily doing client work, creating content, or building products. According to [solopreneur statistics from AutoFaceless](https://autofaceless.ai/blog/solopreneur-statistics-2026?ref=blog.annabyang.com), 20% of solopreneurs now earn between $100,000 and $300,000 annually without employees. These numbers show that it’s possible to grow a healthy, [sustainable business](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/) without the complexity of adding more people into the mix. ### How to scale your solo business without hiring There are a few different ways to grow, and most solopreneurs benefit from a combination of them. The tactics you choose depend a lot on your business model and the stage of your business. #### 1\. Build repeatable systems and processes Building systems was something I did from Day 1, because I knew that without good systems in place, I’d quickly find myself underwater as I took on more clients. Systems are what allow you to handle more volume without more effort. If your [processes are too manual](https://blog.annabyang.com/manual-processes/), you're spending time on steps that could be standardized. A few things to try: - Document your workflows, so you know the exact steps to take with each client/project - Create templates for proposals, onboarding, and client communications - Build in [regular review cadences](https://blog.annabyang.com/tasks-for-solopreneurs/) — weekly, monthly, and quarterly — so you can spot what's working in your business and what's not The goal is to make the predictable parts of your business run on autopilot so you can focus on the work that actually needs your brain. [Why Solopreneurs Need Standard Operating ProceduresTake the time to create documentation.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-2b72e250-5463-4cdc-8158-d1aba68d8c14.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-solopreneur-operations-hero-image-12-cc569281-6b26-4e92-80f4-5c886ea7dbaf.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/) #### 2\. Automate what doesn't need your brain You can use automation tools to handle a lot of repetitive tasks, like invoicing, calendar management, and social media posting. I use [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link*\]\* to connect my apps and automate workflows. Zapier runs about 1,500 tasks per month for me. Even if each task is only a few seconds, that’s *hours* of time saved. A solid automation setup can do the same for you. And with your reclaimed time, you can focus on higher-value or revenue-generating work. 💡 ****Tip:** If you’ve never set up automation before, start with the tasks you do manually every week that follow the same steps each time. Those are your [best candidates for automation](https://blog.annabyang.com/solo-business-automation/). #### 3\. Create 1:many offers with products or group offers Most client work is 1:1 by nature — you’re delivering something specific for the client, so taking on more clients means committing more of your time. 1: Many offers let you reach more people without putting in more hours. **Digital products and templates** Digital products, templates, courses, or paid resources let you create once and then continue earning. The upfront investment to create them is real, but once they exist, the delivery is largely automated. However, to make sure these continue to deliver value, you’ll need to make sure they stay current and relevant. Plan to review and update anything you create at least annually. **Workshops and group offers** If you like working with people, consider paid workshops, group coaching, or cohorts. The math is simple: one hour (or a few hours) of your time with multiple paying participants. Cap the number of people you enroll at first to get a feel for the format, but you can increase your capacity over time. Just don’t enroll such a large group that it dilutes the experience for attendees. **Paid membership communities** Paid membership communities are another option for creating recurring revenue. A community gives your audience ongoing access to your expertise while giving you predictable income. Many solopreneurs can manage large communities because the community members support each other — it’s not “just you” responding to everything. The key is making sure the value justifies the ongoing commitment — both for your members and for *you.* Communities can become a huge time suck and make you feel like you can never [take a vacation](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-vacation-savings-plan/). If your community gets large enough, you may need to hire a community manager or someone to help with logistics. #### 4\. Outsource tasks to contractors instead of hiring When you need help, contractors give you flexibility without the overhead of an employee. You don’t have to manage payroll or benefits, and you can scale the engagement up or down as your needs change. Outsource the tasks that don't require your expertise: bookkeeping, graphic design, or administrative work with a [virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/). Your time is better spent on the work clients are paying premium rates for — the work that requires your expertise. ## How I get more done as a 1-person business A friend of mine has joked that I seem to do the work of five tireless humans. Much of that is because of the systems I have in place and the things I’ve chosen to outsource. Here are the things I have set up: - Zapier runs dozens of automations every day, so I’m not spending time on repetitive tasks - A bookkeeper manages my finances, and I’ve also outsourced projects like design and editing - I have agents set up through [Claude CoWork](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/safety-claude-cowork/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to handle more complex tasks, such as drafting social media posts (which I heavily edit), managing my online portfolio, and analyzing my newsletter stats My approach is that if a task is repeatable in any way, it shouldn’t be done by me — or at least, not fully by me. Take social media, for example. My social media posts are taken directly from my blog content. AI can write the first version, based on a [voice and tone guide](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/style-guide-ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), and then I edit the drafts so they sound like me. Automation sends the drafts directly to [Buffer](https://join.buffer.com/anna-burgess-yang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *(affiliate link\**) so I’m not copying and pasting. ### What happens when you reach an inflection point At some point, you may genuinely need help beyond what contractors can provide. Your business is complex enough that you need someone more dedicated. Signs include: consistently turning away work you want or feeling like contractors can’t give you the level of dedication you need on limited hours. When fractional, part-time, or contractor help isn't enough, you're at a decision point. Do you want to grow into a multi-person business with dedicated employees, or do you want to stay solo? Neither answer is wrong — they’re just different approaches. At this point, I have no desire to take on employees, so I’ll have to make choices about the way my business can grow. I may eventually hit a ceiling, and I’m ok with that. Whatever path you choose, it’s a decision you should make intentionally. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-business-design-reflections-1.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-business-design?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Want to build a life-first business?* **These reflections will help you determine your priorities.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-business-design?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ### Common mistakes when scaling a solo business Many of the issues that stop solopreneurs from scaling are avoidable. Here are some things to watch for. - **Scaling before your foundation is ready.** If your current systems break with just a few clients, adding volume will create chaos. Fix the foundation first. - **Trying to automate everything at once.** Start with one or two high-impact automations. Over-automating before you understand what works creates more problems than it solves. - **Avoiding** [**raising rates**](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-raise-freelance-rates/) **because you're afraid of losing clients.** Undercharging forces you to take on more volume. - **Confusing "busy" with "growing."** If revenue grows only when you put in more hours, you've just created a more demanding job for yourself. Working more hours isn't scaling. - **Hiring an employee instead of a contractor.** Employees have a lot of overhead, such as payroll and benefits. Most solopreneurs can get the help they need from freelancers or part-time contractors. ### FAQs #### Can a solopreneur really scale without hiring? Yes. Many solopreneurs grow their revenue significantly by building systems, raising their rates, creating 1:many offers, and outsourcing specific tasks to contractors. Scaling without hiring means growing your income without putting in more hours. #### What's the difference between outsourcing and hiring? Outsourcing means contracting with freelancers or agencies for specific tasks or projects, without the overhead of payroll or benefits. Hiring means bringing someone onto your team as an employee with a dedicated, ongoing commitment. Outsourcing gives you flexibility while hiring gives you a dedicated resource. #### How do I know when to raise my rates? If you're consistently booked, turning away work, or your rates haven't changed in over a year, it's probably time. Undercharging forces you to take on more clients to hit your income goals. #### What tasks should a solopreneur automate first? Start with repetitive admin tasks you do every week, like appointment scheduling, email follow-ups, and invoice reminders. These are low-risk automations that can free up your time. #### How much can a solopreneur realistically earn without employees? Some solopreneurs earn between $100,000 and $300,000 annually without hiring employees. Earnings depend on your industry, pricing model, and how efficiently you've built your systems. #### ### Practical Strategies for Solopreneurs to Avoid Burnout URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/strategies-for-solopreneurs-to-avoid-burnout/ Last updated: 2026-06-01T15:15:33.000Z You love your work. After all, you chose a solo career. So why does running your own business feel like it's constantly draining you? When you're a solopreneur, there's no one to hand things off to when you're overwhelmed. *Every* task, *every* decision, and *every* client lands on you. And the instinct is to push through even when you're feeling underwater… because who else is going to do it? I’ve been through several periods in my solo business when I felt so far behind it was like I'd never get caught up. My to-do list was daunting. And I knew that if I didn't get a handle on things, I'd end up with the same type of burnout I felt at my 9-5 job. Burnout prevention starts with how you structure your work and protect your energy (which is a lot more than a self-care checklist). **TL;DR:** Solopreneur burnout is preventable when you set boundaries, build systems that reduce manual work, and stop treating rest as optional. ### Why solopreneurs are especially vulnerable to burnout The autonomy that makes solopreneurship appealing is also what primes it for burnout. No one tells you to stop working. And there’s *always* something else that could get done. According to a [report on solopreneur statistics](https://gitnux.org/solopreneur-statistics/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), 72% of solopreneurs face burnout risk from workload alone. And I get why it happens. You take on work because you need it, or you're scared to say no to work because of the feast-or-famine cycle. The [challenges solopreneurs face](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-challenges/) compound over time. The same flexibility that lets you design your schedule also makes it easy to let your work bleed into every waking hour. ### Strategies for solopreneurs to avoid burnout These are a few operational changes that can make that makes you less likely to hit a point of burnout. It might still happen, especially if you have stressors related to your clients themselves instead of the workload. But the right structure gives you the foundation for a sustainable business. #### 1\. Set hard boundaries on your working hours A [Fortune well-being study](https://fortune.com/2025/09/12/we-studied-entrepreneurs-burnout-anxious-depressed-wellbeing/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) found that entrepreneurs who set work-life boundaries experience significantly lower burnout. 45% of those who maintained boundaries reported low burnout, compared to just 6% of those who didn't. Start by defining when you start and stop working for the day, and communicate those hours to clients. If you don't set a boundary, clients will assume you're available whenever they need you. Create policies for rush requests and after-hours communication (and write them into your contracts!) Boundaries feel uncomfortable at first, especially if you're used to being "always available." Make sure you enforce them with yourself. At your chosen stop time, close your laptop or step away from your computer. #### 2\. Work with your energy, not against it We all experience highs and lows in our energy levels during the day. Pay attention to which days of the week and times of day you're most productive: your Tuesday brain and your Friday brain are not the same. Schedule demanding work during your peak energy hours and low-effort tasks when your energy dips. For example, I know that I’m low energy in the late afternoons and start to feel sluggish (unless I have an extra cup of coffee…) Mornings are when I function best, so I do my deepest work when I know I have the most focus. In order to [build routines](https://blog.annabyang.com/build-better-routines/) around your energy levels, start by tracking your focus for a week. You'll probably that you’ve been fighting your body’s natural rhythm at least part of the time, which makes it feel like you have to fight to get through work. Take breaks during those times, or at least switch to low-effort tasks. #### 3\. Automate the tasks that drain you A lot of repetitive work [can be automated](https://blog.annabyang.com/solo-business-automation/). Organizing files, invoice follow-ups, scheduling — these aren’t things you should do manually. Tools like [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link*\]\*, accounting software, and scheduling apps can remove hours of weekly busywork. The goal is to stop spending time on tasks that don’t require human intervention because they’re exactly the same every time. Zapier automates more than 1,500 tasks for me every month. Think about that: even if a task only takes a few seconds (like renaming a file), it adds up and saves me hours of time. Plus, context-switching between apps eats up more time than we realize. #### 4\. Build a support system outside your business Isolation makes burnout feel unbelievably worse. When every problem feels like yours alone, the weight gets heavier over time. Join a peer group, find an accountability partner, or participate in an online community of solopreneurs. Even one conversation a week with someone who "gets it" can prevent you from spiraling. I meet weekly with a fellow solopreneur, and our time together is dedicated to working on projects that interest us. While my project is more business-adjacent than directly benefiting my business, it brings me a lot of joy. The weekly sessions hold me accountable to show up and do something *other* than the revenue-generating work. ### Recognize burnout before it becomes a crisis Burnout often moves in gradually. You might feel like you’re dreading work you used to enjoy or feel exhausted even after rest. Maybe you’re making more mistakes than usual or find yourself withdrawing from clients or projects. A [study covered by Entrepreneur](https://www.entrepreneur.com/living/3-insights-from-the-first-large-scale-study-on-burnout-and/447394?ref=blog.annabyang.com) confirmed that burnout among entrepreneurs is widespread. It has nothing to do with any type of personal weakness, but is a structural problem with how people operate when running a business. We’re always go-go-go, with no one around to tell us to take a break. If you're already [feeling overwhelmed](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-reduce-overwhelm/), give yourself permission to scale back. You might even need to step away for several weeks. That's how you recover. ### Tips for preventing solopreneur burnout - **Start your day with your most important task, not your inbox.** Email and Slack pull you into other people's priorities. Do the task that requires your focus first. - **Batch similar tasks together.** Context-switching burns mental energy fast. Group things like client calls and admin work into [dedicated blocks](https://blog.annabyang.com/weekly-admin-time/) of time - **Say no to projects that don't fit.** Every "yes" to a bad-fit project is a drain on your energy. Protect your capacity for the work that matters. - **Take actual days off.** Not "I'll just check a few emails" days off. Fully disconnect. Your business will survive a day without you. - **Review your workload monthly.** What felt manageable three months ago might be unsustainable now. Regular check-ins with yourself prevent burnout from creeping into your work life. - **Get enough sleep.** It sounds super basic, but chronic sleep deprivation is one of the fastest paths to burnout. [Take naps](https://blog.annabyang.com/power-napping-is-a-superpower/) during the day to recharge if needed. ### Your business should support your life (not the other way around) How you work matters at least as much as how many hours you work. You’ve got to put the structure in place to build a life-first business. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself just as burned out (if not more so) than your 9-5 counterparts. Pick one strategy from this post and implement it this week. Set a boundary, track your energy, implement automation, one blocked hour for yourself. You don't have to overhaul your entire business to reclaim some time for yourself and rest. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-manage-time-content-2.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-manage-time?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Grab my free guide to managing your time and content* **across multiple platforms.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-manage-time?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### FAQs #### What are the signs of solopreneur burnout? Common signs include dreading work you used to enjoy, making more mistakes than usual, feeling exhausted even after rest, and withdrawing from clients or projects. Burnout builds gradually, so catching it’s important to recognize the signs so you catch it early. #### How do solopreneurs avoid burnout without taking time off? Set boundaries on your working hours, automate repetitive tasks, and batch similar work together into blocks of time. These structural changes reduce the daily drains on your time and energy. #### Is burnout more common for solopreneurs than traditional employees? Research suggests solopreneurs face a higher risk of burnout because they have to manage every function of the business. Without boundaries, the always-on nature of solo work frequently leads to overwork. #### How long does it take to recover from burnout? Recovery varies, but many people need weeks to months of reduced workload and intentional rest. The longer you push through burnout, the longer recovery takes. #### Can automation help prevent solopreneur burnout? Yes. Automating repetitive tasks like invoicing, scheduling, and email follow-ups can free up hours of time each week. You can spend the extra time on higher-value work or rest. #### ### How to Build a Portfolio Career URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/treat-your-career-like-a-portfolio/ Last updated: 2026-05-28T15:15:25.000Z You've spent years building skills. Earning experience and respect. Working your way up the corporate ladder. And suddenly… it doesn't feel like your career is going anywhere. Whether your industry is shifting or you've just hit a ceiling at your current job, you feel like it’s time for a change. That’s the point I reached in 2021, when I quit a 15-year career at a tech company to pursue content marketing and journalism. The traditional way of looking at a career is a list on a resume. It’s the idea that your career should read as a single, straight story that moves in one direction (up). A portfolio career takes a different perspective. Instead of looking at a career like a ladder going *up*, a portfolio career moves *wide*. You gather experiences, and it gives you more control over where you’re headed. 💡 TL;DR: A portfolio career treats your professional life as a diverse collection of skills and experiences rather than a single linear path. Through continuous learning and framing your portfolio of skills as an asset, you create more options for your career direction. ## What is a portfolio career? A portfolio career is a professional approach where you intentionally draw from multiple skills, experiences, and sometimes income streams — rather than following a single linear career path. Portfolio career strategist Maggie Blackburn [describes it this way](https://maggieblackburn.beehiiv.com/p/how-to-build-a-portfolio-career?ref=blog.annabyang.com): > You can think of a portfolio career like a pie. **Every slice is a different interest, income stream, or project.** Career changes are more common than ever, and technology keeps reshaping entire industries. A portfolio career mindset means you're always adding to your collection. You might take on new roles, side projects, or intentionally develop new skills. When there’s major upheaval (like AI), you’re more prepared to adapt. Your career is more resilient, even if part of your path is disrupted. Read my interview with Maggie Blackburn: [From burnout to breakthrough](https://www.workbetter.media/p/burnout-to-breakthrough?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## 4 steps to build a portfolio career Building a portfolio career doesn't happen by accident. It takes a deliberate approach to how you think about your skills and the way you present yourself professionally. Here are a few ways to start reshaping your career around a portfolio, not a resume. ### 1\. Recognize that careers are no longer linear The career ladder has disappeared in part because entire industries have to reinvent themselves. Print journalism, for example, has now shifted to digital media (and now who knows what will happen with [Google Search](https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/search-io-2026/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)). Software engineers have to keep up with nonstop AI evolutions. These massive shifts have led to a rethinking of work. Because of this, **everyone** needs to amass a career portfolio. Words like "career pivots" and "upskilling" are now a regular part of the conversation. It’s the only way to protect yourself. Roles that seemed stable a few years ago are changing fast — and the people who keep up are the ones who never stopped learning. Burying your head in the sand or hand-wringing about changes will not work. When you have a portfolio mindset, [career rejection](https://blog.annabyang.com/career-rejection-entrepreneurial-life/) becomes redirection. One door closes, another opens, as the saying goes. ### 2\. Show your capacity for continuous learning You'll never walk into a job with the exact skills you need on Day 1\. One of the greatest assets you can have is your ability to learn. I found myself in this situation when I quit my job in 2021\. I had been with a company for 15 years, and my career had stagnated. I knew my skills were not on par with the minimum requirements for similar roles. I decided to pursue a career pivot, becoming a fintech writer for B2B SaaS companies. I also realized that by diversifying my income, I could better amass new skills and take more control. My path from [tech executive to professional writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/tech-career-to-professional-writer-journey/) is a good example of how portfolio thinking works in practice. I brought some baseline skills from my prior career — like managing stakeholders and understanding complex products — but I also had to learn entirely new skills. I took online courses about SEO and took every opportunity I could to learn. Now, I also spend a lot of time learning how to effectively use AI. 💡 ****Tip:** Every skill you add to your portfolio should be deliberate. Pick something that complements your current work or a side project that stretches you in a new direction. ### 3\. Explain the value of your portfolio of skills Many hiring managers or potential clients are on the lookout for adaptive, out-of-the-box thinkers. But you have to help them know that you are one of those people. I found an approach that works — using my initial communication to "connect the dots.” Example: > It sounds like you are looking for someone who can do X. I have experience with X by doing Y, which achieved Z result. The people reviewing your application or considering you for a project aren't going to connect the dots between your portfolio of skills and their current needs on their own. You have to do that work for them. Think of it this way: you’re speaking to a new audience, whether it’s an employer in a different industry or a potential client. [Freelancer Positioning: Translate Your Corporate Skills to a Freelance CareerYou can stand out as a freelancer by showing how your past experiences matter.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-work-career-hero-image-b821967e0b27fe86891d684736add37e9ddac0d1fa7fe0aa1c9881cbd6b127be.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/value-of-soft-skills/) ### 4\. Stay the course Many companies are rethinking how they hire. They're less concerned with resume gaps and non-linear career paths. The creator economy and opportunities for solopreneurs have exploded. There is room to grow in so many different directions. By creating your career portfolio and filling it with experiences, you'll set yourself up for more success. You’ll probably also find it more personally satisfying because you get to pursue several different interests. Not every pivot goes smoothly, and it’s important to acknowledge that. After I pivoted to a new career and began building my portfolio of skills, I was [laid off](https://www.workbetter.media/p/the-end-of-a-job-an-untold-story?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 18 months later. Knowing how to [recover from career setbacks](https://blog.annabyang.com/recover-from-career-setbacks/) — a layoff, a failed side project, a client relationship that didn't work out — is itself a portfolio skill. You’ve got to take that experience and ask yourself, “Ok, what comes next? Do I find something with the skills I’ve got, or do I try something new?” ## Your career is yours to design The most valuable thing about a portfolio career is that it gives you options. You're never locked into a single path, and every experience — even the ones that didn't go as planned — adds something to what you bring to the table. These days, I can proudly say that I’m a fintech writer who creates resources for fellow solopreneurs based on my experiences as a tech executive. That combination is uniquely me. You don't have to have it all figured out right now. Start with one step: decide that you’re going to learn something new or your own. Or think about how to reframe a skill you already have, or practice connecting the dots between where you've been and where you want to go. The skills you gather in your portfolio career should make sense *for you:* your goals, your passions, and what you’d like to pursue. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-career-pivots-1.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-career-pivots?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Thinking about a career change? Check out this free guide.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-career-pivots?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🗓️ **Note: This blog post was originally published in March 2022 and was updated in May 2026.* ## Common mistakes when building a portfolio career - **Trying to pivot everything at once.** A portfolio career is built over time, not overnight. Start by adding one new skill or experience while maintaining the parts of your career that are already working. - **Not documenting transferable skills.** If you can't articulate how your existing experience applies to a new context, you'll undersell yourself every time. Practice connecting the dots of your portfolio skills. - **Comparing your timeline to someone else's. C**areer transitions look different for everyone. Someone else's two-year pivot doesn't set the standard for yours. - **Treating every career change as starting over.** The whole point of a portfolio is that nothing is wasted. Every role, project, and skill adds something, even if the connection isn't obvious yet. - **Staying in your comfort zone.** A portfolio career requires getting comfortable with being a beginner again. If every new role or skill looks the same, you're not really building a portfolio. ## FAQs #### What is a portfolio career? A portfolio career is a professional approach where you draw from multiple skills, experiences, and sometimes income streams rather than following a single linear career path. You prioritize adaptability and diverse experiences over climbing a single ladder. #### How do I start building a portfolio career? Start by taking stock of the skills you already have. Identify what you want to learn next. You don't need to quit your job — begin with a side project, a course, or a new responsibility that stretches you in a different direction. #### Is a portfolio career the same as freelancing? Not necessarily. Freelancing is one form a portfolio career can take, especially since you can freelance alongside a 9-5 job before making a leap into something totally new. But portfolio careers also include people who hold traditional jobs while building skills in different areas, or people who combine part-time roles with creative projects or consulting. #### How do I explain a non-linear career to employers? Focus on connecting the dots. Say something like: "You're looking for someone who can do X. I have experience with X through doing Y, which achieved Z result." Many hiring managers value adaptability. You just have to help them see how your diverse experiences are an asset. #### What are the risks of a portfolio career? The biggest risk is spreading yourself too thin without going deep enough in any one area. Be intentional about which skills and experiences you add to your portfolio rather than saying yes to everything. ### How a Solopreneur Community Pushes You Forward URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-community/ Last updated: 2026-05-25T15:15:21.000Z You've gotten used to the idea that every business decision depends on *you*… but it still makes you uncomfortable at times. You do research. You spend endless hours thinking through various scenarios. You second-guess yourself. Even when you’ve *finally* reached a decision, there's no one to tell you whether you're heading in the right direction or simply spinning your wheels. The "solo" in solopreneur feels very isolating during these moments. I’ve noticed something over the years I’ve been running my solo business. Sometimes the best inspiration comes from conversations with fellow solopreneurs— the right ones, with the right people. The conversations might give me an angle I hadn't considered, or someone shares how a tactic has worked in their own business. These insights are invaluable. But for the conversations to happen, you have to show up in communities where other business owners can “rub off” on you. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Growth and decision-making are hard when you're making every decision in a vacuum. Communities or memberships give you perspective, accountability, and a sounding board for ideas. ## What does community look like for a solopreneur? When most people hear "community," they think of networking, such as virtual chats or collecting contacts at events. Networking is certainly important, since it can open doors for you, but that's not what I'm talking about here. For solopreneurs, community means having people you can *actually* talk to about the messy, real decisions that are going on in your business. You might even talk about the operational-type stuff that’s giving you grief, such as your systems or whether ot not you [need to hire help](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-hire-fractional-support/). Communities are the business equivalent of having coworkers — except you have to find the group on your own, because it doesn't come with the job. Two types of communities matter the most for you: 1. **Peer groups** are people at roughly your stage, facing similar challenges. You swap ideas and give each other honest feedback. 2. **Growth groups** are mostly people further ahead in their business than you. This is where you can really learn and push yourself. You can't get the type of feedback you need as a business owner without community. Sure, you can consume content (for example, by following business owners online). You can read a hundred blog posts about pricing strategy. But a conversation with someone who just [raised their rates](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-raise-freelance-rates/) — and can tell you exactly how it went — is far more valuable. ## 3 tips for finding the right community as a solopreneur Getting the most out of a community requires you to find the right one, and then show up — consistently and with intention. Here’s how to get started. ### 1\. Find your peer group first Start with groups that are free and accessible. Industry Slack groups, LinkedIn communities, and local meetups are great places to look for a group of solopreneurs or business owners. There are more options than you think, especially online. Your goal is to find people at a similar stage who understand the [specific challenges](https://blog.annabyang.com/truths-about-solo-business/) of running a one-person business. There’s no specific size you should look for, but a too-small group might not have enough free-flowing conversations, and a too-big group might feel overwhelming. You need people who will actually talk to you. I joined a group that had thousands of participants (in Slack). While the Slack group had dozens of different channels across specific areas of interest, it was nearly impossible to have meaningful conversations. If you're not sure where to start, try [networking with other solopreneurs](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-networking/) and ask them if they’re in any communities they like. Not all groups are public, and you might have the best luck with an invite-only group from someone you know. ### 2\. Seek out groups where you're the least experienced person Once you have your peer group, start looking for groups of people who are further along in their businesses. This is where the real growth can happen. These groups might feel intimidating at first. You might wonder whether you belong or have anything to contribute. That discomfort is actually a signal that you're in the right place. When you start [thinking like a CEO](https://blog.annabyang.com/think-like-a-ceo/) about your business, you realize that investing in growth — including being in groups that challenge you — is part of the job. I’m in one group that has members with *far* more successful businesses than me (at least in terms of revenue). They’re talking about hiring multiple contractors or how they invest all the money they earn. That’s not where I’m at. But my contributions are around [operations and automation](https://blog.annabyang.com/solo-business-automation/). I’m very good at systems and tools, and my knowledge applies to any business. Tell yourself that you have *something* to offer these “next step” groups, even if you aren’t sure what that is yet. You’ll figure it out once you join. 💡 ****Tip:** Keep in mind that these types of communities might be paid, such as cohort programs, mastermind groups, or conferences. But the investment gives you access to people doing bigger things. You see what other people have accomplished, **and* the community helps you understand exactly how they got there. ### 3\. Contribute before you need anything The relationships that have the biggest impact on your business won’t happen in a single conversation. And they're built through generosity — asking good questions, sharing real experiences, being honest about what's worked and what hasn't. What you can’t do is show up in a group, absorb and learn from everyone else, and never give back. Even if you’re brand new to your solopreneur journey and don’t have any experience yet, you could share things like resources you found helpful or make an introduction. There are many ways to contribute. And when you’ve built up a meaningful community, you can lean on people. I had brain surgery, which forced me to step back from my business. The [people who stepped up](https://blog.annabyang.com/long-term-leave-freelancer/) were from relationships that I’d been building for years. Many of them were online friends, whom I’d never met in person, from various communities I’d participated in. That kind of support doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t happen if you only reach out when you need something. Your [fellow solopreneurs are not your competition](https://blog.annabyang.com/fellow-solopreneurs-are-not-your-competition/). They're your best source of perspective and honest feedback you can't get anywhere else. ## Help those who are still learning At some point, you'll realize you've become the experienced person in the room. When that happens, pay it forward. The solopreneurs who helped you figure things out did so because someone helped them first. Being generous with what you’ve learned is how that cycle continues. Continuing to participate in communities reinforces what you already know while keeping you connected to fresh perspectives. That's a big reason I spend so much time writing and talking about building a solo business. The early days of my business were [shaped by people](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/) who had more experience. And I know **exactly** how hard it can be in the beginning, and I genuinely want to make it easier for people who are just getting started on their solo journey. [Continuous Learning for Solopreneurs: Build a Simple SystemBe intentional about continuous learning.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-habits-goals-hero-image-1-0fe07461a3c9beea30e591bdc99884710c95e25938edb41c59c0df6c748d9587.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/continuous-learning/) ## Conversations can change the trajectory of your business The solopreneur advantage is speed. You can make decisions and pivot without layers of approval. But that advantage only works if you have good inputs, meaning you’re confident that you’re making the right call (at least, based on the information that you have). Seek out communities. They’ll move you further than any blog post (including this one!). Join a community, ask for feedback, and contribute what you know. The right conversation at the right time can save you months of trial and error… and maybe open doors you didn't know existed. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-business-design-reflections-1.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-business-design?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Want to build a life-first business?* **These reflections will help you determine your priorities.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-business-design?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## Common mistakes people make with communities - **Joining communities but never contributing.** Lurking doesn't build relationships. You have to participate, even if it feels awkward at first. - **Only reaching out when you need something**. That makes a community feel transactional. - **Staying only in peer groups and never seeking growth groups**. You need both. Peer groups help you with where you’re at, and growth groups push you forward. - **Confusing online consumption with community.** Following people on social media isn't the same as being in a group with them. Community requires interaction. - **Spending money on a mastermind before you’re ready**. Plenty of excellent communities are free. Start there to learn what format works for you before paying to be in a group. ## FAQs #### How do solopreneurs find a community when they work alone? Industry-specific Slack groups, LinkedIn communities, and virtual coworking groups are all accessible and often free. Look for groups with active participation where members actually respond to questions. Many solopreneurs find their strongest communities through consistent participation in one or two focused groups. #### What's the difference between a peer group and a mastermind? A peer group is typically informal with people at a similar stage, meeting regularly to share challenges and swap advice. A mastermind is usually more structured and often paid, with a facilitator, specific goals, and accountability built in. Both are valuable, but peer groups are a great starting point. #### Do you need to pay for a mastermind to grow your business? No. Plenty of solopreneurs build strong communities through free Slack groups, LinkedIn connections, and informal peer groups. Start with free options and invest in paid communities when you've figured out what format works best for you. #### How do you contribute to a community when you're just starting out? Ask good questions, share what you're learning in real time, and be honest about what's working and what isn't. You don't need to be an expert to add value. Showing up consistently and being genuinely engaged matters more than having all the answers. #### Can online communities replace in-person networking? A mix of online and in-person is ideal if it's accessible to you. In some cases, in-person might not be available. For many solopreneurs, online communities are the primary source of professional connection — and they work well. Participation matters more than physical proximity. #### How do you know if a community is worth your time? Look for signs of real engagement: members responding to each other and honest conversations. If you've been in a group for a few months and haven't had a meaningful conversation or learned anything useful, it's not the right fit. ### Solopreneur Challenges: What’s Holding You Back? URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-challenges/ Last updated: 2026-05-18T15:15:31.000Z You know that feeling when *everything* in your business needs attention at the same time? Client deadlines, invoices, marketing, admin tasks... Sometimes, there's no obvious way to figure out what to tackle first, because everything feels urgent. Most solopreneurs deal with this by just pushing themselves. When things feel stuck, the default instinct is to work more hours and power through. But working harder doesn't fix the real problem if you don't know what the real problem is. We all deal with constraints: limitations or restrictions on what we can do. Sometimes we can directly address or remove constraints. Sometimes, we have to figure out how to work around them. Identifying the constraints in your business will help you figure out what's actually in the way — and what you can do about them. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Every solo business owner deals with constraints — time, money, external pressures, and life obligations. The key is figuring out which ones are within your control, so you can focus your energy where it will make a difference. ## Why solopreneur challenges are harder when you're on your own In a traditional job, constraints are shared. A team shares the workload, and your boss helps you prioritize when everything lands at once. The company absorbs the financial risk of a slow quarter, and you still get your paycheck. As a solopreneur, there's no buffer. No team to hand off work to when you’re sick. No safety net when something goes wrong. One of my biggest constraints is that I’m a parent. There are things I’d love to do in my business, but I simply don’t have enough hours in the day. At first, it was frustrating because I’d look at other solo businesses that seemed to accomplish a lot more than I could get done… but they don’t have the same constraints. I have to work within my current season of life. [Running a solo business is hard](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-is-hard/). The challenges themselves aren't necessarily unique, but you have to deal with them entirely on your own. ## 4 types of constraints every solopreneur faces Most solopreneur challenges fall into four big buckets. Understanding which category your biggest constraint falls into makes it a lot easier to figure out what to do about it. ### 1\. Time This is the most obvious constraint to every solopreneur. You’re *one person* doing the work of an entire team. Everything competes for a finite set of hours. The trap is often spending too much time on non-revenue-generating work. And most solopreneurs underestimate how much time they spend on low-impact tasks. It's easy to feel busy all day and still not get to the work that matters. 💡 ****Tip:** Track your time for one full week — every task, including the small stuff. Use a tool like Toggl or Clockify. The results are usually surprising, and the data makes it much easier to [set up a weekly admin routine](https://blog.annabyang.com/weekly-admin-time/) that protects your revenue-generating hours. ### 2\. Money In a traditional job, you show up and get paid. The amount is predictable. Someone else worries about revenue, expenses, and cash flow. As a solopreneur, you've got to weather the feast-or-famine cycles, late-paying clients, and seasonal dips. You also have to decide which tools to invest in, when (or whether) to hire help, and how much to set aside for [taxes](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-taxes/). The constraint here isn't always "not enough money." Sometimes, it's not knowing how to make the right money decisions, like raising your rates or how to budget based on variable income. [How to Raise Freelance Rates Without Losing ClientsA de-risked roadmap.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-17fbe53391d3dae738f52c76f4e2312d560f715ca232fb308399e772de6ba40b.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelancing-101-hero-image-f685534196fd36d1d2569b8275dc404d87fce96fea35b2414136bc83cb25c859.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-raise-freelance-rates/) ### 3\. External pressures This one is sneaky because it doesn't always feel like a constraint. Do you compare yourself to other solopreneurs who seem to be doing more, or growing faster? Comparison absolutely influences how you run your business. Social media makes this worse. You see someone else's highlight reel (big wins, revenue milestones, a successful product launch) and suddenly your business feels inadequate. That comparison can push you to chase goals that don't actually make sense for you. Client expectations fall into this category also. Scope creep, unreasonable turnaround times, and the pressure to always be available are external demands that eat into your overall capacity. These pressures pull your focus or decrease your earnings (because you're putting in more hours), and you might not realize it until you're already way off track. ### 4\. Family and life obligations Kids. Caregiving. Health issues. Household responsibilities… these things don't pause. And unlike a traditional job, when you’re running a business, there's no PTO, no sick leave, and no one covering for you when you need to deal with something else in your life. Since [I have kids](https://blog.annabyang.com/parenting-while-running-a-business/), there are a lot of constraints on my day, from how many hours I can work to how much mental energy I have. I can’t do it all (much as I would like to!), so I have to make decisions and juggle competing priorities. This constraint is uniquely personal. It looks different for every solopreneur, which is why generic advice about "time management" often falls flat. A solopreneur without outside family or life obligations has a fundamentally different business than one who does. ## Tips for managing your biggest solopreneur challenges Knowing the categories is step one. Here's how to identify which ones have the biggest impact on your business. - **Audit where your time goes for one week.** Track every single task: client work, admin time, [marketing efforts](https://blog.annabyang.com/even-creators-need-a-marketing-plan/), errands. The data will tell you a lot. - **Look at what you've been avoiding.** The thing you keep pushing to next week is often tied to your biggest constraint. - **Ask yourself what you'd do with an extra five hours a week.** Your answer tells you what you feel most limited by right now. - **Pay attention to what triggers stress.** When you feel overwhelmed, what specifically is causing it? A deadline? Your finances? A comparison you saw on social media? Stress is often tied to your constraints. - **Separate constraints you can control from those you can't.** Time and money constraints often have tactical solutions — automation, outsourcing, or changing your pricing structure. Family obligations and external pressures may require [designing your business](https://blog.annabyang.com/building-business-redefine-work/) around your reality. - **Revisit every few months.** Your biggest solopreneur challenges will shift as your business evolves. A constraint that dominates the current season of your business might look completely different in the next six months. ## Build your business around your reality It’s simply not possible to eliminate all constraints. But if you know which ones are impacting you the most right now, you can make better decisions about where to spend your time, money, and energy. The solopreneurs who seem to "have it together" aren't constraint-free. One of two things has happened. Either they've just gotten better at identifying what's actually in the way and organized their [business operations](https://blog.annabyang.com/operations-improvement/) around it. Or they’re lying for the hightlight rule, and look a lot more put together than they actually are. If it’s the former, improving business operations is a skill you can build — even if it means starting with something small. Pick one constraint from the list above and identify one small change you can make this week that would make things a bit easier. You can also start by acknowledging which constraints you can’t control. Figure out one small way to work *around* the constraint, rather than trying to “fix” it. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-business-design-reflections-1.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-business-design?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Want to build a life-first business?* **These reflections will help you determine your priorities.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-business-design?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### What are the biggest solopreneur challenges? The most common solopreneur challenges fall into four categories: time management, money decisions, external pressures (like comparing yourself to others and client expectations), and family or life obligations. Constraints vary by person and business stage. #### How do I know what's holding my business back? Track your time for a week, pay attention to what triggers stress, and ask yourself what you'd fix with an extra five hours each week. These exercises usually reveal which constraint is having the biggest impact on your business. #### How is running a solo business different from a traditional job? In a traditional job, a team shares the workload and the company absorbs any financial risks. As a solopreneur, every constraint lands directly on you. You have to figure out how to work within limitations on your time, money, and life outside of work. #### Should I try to eliminate all constraints? No. Some constraints (like family obligations) aren't problems to solve. Instead, you’ve got to design your business around your reality. Focus on the constraints you can change that are most limiting right now, and revisit as your business evolves. ### How to Use AI as Your Editing Partner (Without Losing Your Voice) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/artificial-intelligence-editing/ Last updated: 2026-05-14T15:15:57.000Z You've finished writing a draft. It's decent… maybe even good. But you know it needs another pass before it's ready to publish. The problem? You've been staring at it for so long that you can't tell what's working and what isn't anymore. Most solo writers and creators don't have the benefit of working with a professional editor. You're writing, editing, and publishing on your own… Self-editing is *hard,* and you often don’t realize your own blind spots. AI can fill the gap. Used well, artificial intelligence editing tools give you a “second set of eyes.” The key is knowing how to use AI as a collaborator, not a replacement in your writing process. 💡 ****TL;DR:** AI editing tools can catch errors, provide feedback, and speed up your editing process. This post covers what AI can do for your editing, a step-by-step workflow, and what boundaries to set. ## Why rely on AI for editing Many solo writers don't have the budget for a professional editor. I’ve been writing online for many years, and 99% of what I’ve published has relied on *just me*. I’m structuring the article, writing, making sure it sounds good, and copyediting. Even if you did want to pay an editor, you probably can't justify the cost for every blog post or newsletter. AI can provide feedback on demand for a fraction of the cost. Before generative AI, many writers relied on basic AI editing tools (like grammar checkers from Grammarly). But you can do a lot more with AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT that can provide narrative feedback on your writing. Organizations using AI writing and editing tools report an average [59% reduction in time spent](https://www.firewiredigital.com.au/content/ai-writing-statistics/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) on basic content creation tasks. For people working solo, the time savings are even more valuable. ## Text editing: From raw draft to polished prose The thing to keep in mind is that AI editing is *not a* replacement for your judgment. If you let AI get too heavy-handed with the edits, it won’t sound like you. It's a tool that handles the mechanical parts of editing so you can focus on the creative parts — the pieces that make your writing *yours*. That being said, there are several ways to use AI in your editing process. Here's how each one works. ### Copyediting and errors This is the most straightforward use case. Tools like Grammarly catch grammar, spelling, and punctuation issues automatically. You can also paste your draft into an LLM like Claude and ChatGPT and ask it to flag errors without rewriting the text. Personally, I use Grammarly because of its ability to flag errors directly on the screen in Google Docs or Notion. However, if you’re trying to reduce how much you’re paying, you don’t need Grammarly *and* a tool like Claude or ChatGPT. And the latter two can do a lot more than Grammarly alone. ### Provide feedback Beyond catching errors, AI editing tools can give you narrative feedback — the kind you'd normally get from an editor. But you’ve got to tell it what kind of feedback you want, such as: - Identifying gaps in your argument - Flagging sections that feel unclear - Point out where you could add more depth or examples Jay Clouse talks about his editing process with Claude on an episode of [Creator Science](https://podcast.creatorscience.com/bts-april-2025/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). He says: > “If I want to get \[Claude’s\] feedback on an essay that I've written, I can go to Claude and say… *Please read this essay and let me know the strengths, the areas of improvement, and overall how strong you think this essay is.* And it will give me a bunch of feedback.” This is where AI editing gets really useful for self-editing. When you've been working on a piece for hours, you lose the ability to see it with fresh eyes. AI doesn't have that problem. It can tell you that your third paragraph doesn't connect to your main idea, or that your conclusion is confusing for the reader. ### Nudge if you get stuck If you can't figure out how to word or phrase something, AI can provide options. Ask for three different ways to say the same thing, then pick the one that sounds most like you. Or describe what you're *trying* to say and ask AI to help you articulate it more clearly. For example, Rob Glover at WordStream writes about using AI to [come up with analogies](https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ai-uses-in-marketing?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Your prompt would look something like this: > “Based on the topic, write three brief analogies that would help readers understand the topic.” When you ask AI to give you three examples of anything, you’re curating from the results. And you’re still ultimately doing the writing. This is *nudging*. Asking AI to help you find the right word (or words) for a concept is different from pasting in a paragraph and saying, "rewrite this." The first keeps your voice intact. The second replaces it. And replacing your words will water down the end result. ### Meet content goals If you outline what you want your content to accomplish before you start writing, you can use AI to check whether the final draft actually meets those goals. Did the post answer the question you set out to answer? Does the structure flow logically? Are you missing a section that the reader would expect? This turns AI into a quality check. When I write for clients, I often get a detailed brief with content goals. When I write for my own blog, there’s no specific brief. I work from an outline I’ve created, but nothing *explicitly* states what I hope to accomplish… it’s all in my head. These days, I write in Notion and use specific fields like “Audience” and “Goal” with a drop-down list of options. This gives Claude some direction during the editing phase (which I’ll describe in the next section). ![How I manage editing in Notion](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/05/annabyang-notion-editing.png) ## 4 steps to building your AI editorial workflow A good editing workflow is **consistent**. You shouldn't be figuring out your process from scratch every time you sit down to edit. Here are the steps you should follow to make AI editing repeatable. ### 1\. Create a saved prompt If your prompt changes with every editing session, your results will also be inconsistent. A saved prompt gives you a reliable baseline each time you sit down to edit something with AI. Write a detailed prompt that describes exactly what feedback you want. Include your content goals, the type of feedback you're looking for (grammar, structure, tone, clarity, etc.), and any specific things you want the AI to watch for. Save this prompt so you can reuse it every time. **Tip**: Refine your prompt over time. For example, if you consistently find that AI is missing things or giving you feedback that isn’t helpful, update your prompt with specific examples of what you do/don’t want. ### 2\. Create a project Most AI tools let you create a project with saved context. Upload your [voice and tone guide](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/style-guide-ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), information about your audience, and context about who you are and what you do. Add your saved editing prompt to the project instructions. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/05/annabyang-claude-project.png) My blog editing project in Claude This way, the AI already understands your writing style before you paste in a draft. It gives better feedback because it has the background and context it needs to evaluate your writing against *your* standards (not generic ones). My project has more than a dozen files connected, along with detailed project instructions. ### 3\. Run the draft through your editing workflow Within your project, paste your draft and work through the feedback. Read every suggestion critically: do *not* blindly accept or incorporate every change. Some feedback will be useful. Some absolutely won't be. Your job is to apply your own judgment to each one, and your personal [AI guardrails](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-guardrails/) matter a lot during this step. I’ve got a “final pass” editing process in Claude CoWork. I write drafts in Notion, and have a status of “Anna-Draft-Done.” CoWork is connected to Notion and applies a step-by-step editing checklist to my drafts. I review the results and manually make changes. ### 4\. Run the content through a tool like Grammarly After you've incorporated AI feedback and made your edits, run the final version through a grammar tool like Grammarly. This catches anything that slipped through (a missing comma, a repeated word, a subject-verb agreement issue). You might have a solid draft, but errors can creep in at any time, so it’s important that this is your *final,* final step. Your drafts get two passes: feedback on structure and ideas first, and grammar second. 💡 ****Tip:** If you're [just getting started with AI](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-for-solopreneurs/), start with this step (Grammarly) and add one AI editing step at a time. This keeps the process manageable instead of trying to apply “too many new things” to your writing. ## Trusting your human intuition AI will give you a *ton* of suggestions, and not all of them are good. This is where your experience as a writer matters. You know your audience. You know your voice. You know when a sentence needs to be short and punchy, even if the AI thinks it should be longer. Claude might give me ten suggestions, and I will incorporate two of them. But during that process, I’m thinking about why a suggestion is good or not good. If you're building out your [AI tools as a solopreneur](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-tools-for-solopreneurs/), editing is an easy place to start. The feedback loop is fast, the risk is low (since you’re still involved), and the time savings are immediate. Just make sure the final version still reflects you as a writer. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-ebook-smarttools-1.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-smarttools?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Learn the best apps and tools solopreneurs use to take their businesses* — *and productivity* — *to the next level.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-smarttools?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## Common mistakes when using AI for editing - **Accepting all AI suggestions.** AI doesn't understand your audience the way you do. Read every suggestion critically and decide for yourself whether it improves your piece. - **Using AI to rewrite entire sections instead of nudging specific phrases or ideas.** The more you let AI write and rewrite, the less the content sounds like you. Keep the rewrites small and very specific (like if you hit writer’s block or get stuck on something). - **Skipping the human review step and publishing AI-edited content directly.** AI catches a lot, but it also misses a lot or makes irrelevant suggestions. Always do a final read and edit yourself before publishing. - **Not setting up a consistent editing prompt.** If your instructions change every time, your results will be inconsistent. Save your editing prompt and refine it over time. - **Ignoring your own voice.** Provide a voice and tone guide so your AI editing process provides suggestions that are close to how you write. Even with this, you still need to complete a final edit. ## FAQs #### Is there an AI tool for editing? Yes. Tools range from grammar checkers like Grammarly to full LLMs like Claude and ChatGPT that can provide narrative feedback on structure, clarity, and tone. Most solo writers benefit from using both: a grammar tool for mechanics and an LLM for deeper feedback. #### Can AI replace a human editor? For basic proofreading and structural feedback, AI can handle a lot of what a human editor does. But it can't replicate an editor's understanding of audience nuance or the strategic intent behind a piece. AI is a supplement, especially for solopreneurs who cannot pay an editor for every piece. But it is not a full replacement, especially for professional content like a book project. #### How do I keep my voice when using AI editing tools? Use AI for feedback and nudging when you get stuck, not full rewrites. Create a project with your voice guide loaded so the AI evaluates against your writing standards. And always make the final call on every suggestion — if it sounds generic, rewrite it or take it out. #### What's the best AI editing tool for writers? It depends on what you need. For grammar and mechanics, Grammarly is solid and easy to use. For deeper feedback on structure and clarity, Claude or ChatGPT with a saved editing prompt works well. Many writers use both during the editing process. #### Does using AI for editing affect SEO? Not if you're using it correctly. Using AI to catch errors and improve clarity actually helps SEO because it improves your overall content quality. The risk comes from over-relying on AI to rewrite large sections, which can make content sound generic and may trigger AI detection tools. ### Let Your Hobbies Enhance Your Career URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/let-your-hobbies-enhance-your-career/ Last updated: 2026-05-12T15:15:07.000Z Some conventional wisdom says you shouldn't talk about your hobbies in professional settings — especially not in job interviews. I saw a video from a "career coach" who said that job seekers should *not* talk about their hobbies during an interview. She admonished that talking about hobbies would lead the hiring manager to think that the interviewee isn’t serious about work or is lazy. I think that's terrible advice. The hobbies you pursue outside of work often *make you better* at the work itself. They teach you skills you can't learn in a job, and it’s important to acknowledge how they can fuel your career. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Your hobbies aren't separate from your career. They enhance creative thinking and can even prevent burnout. Learn how to talk about your hobbies in a professional context. ## Why are hobbies important for your career? Your Hobbies are anything you do for enjoyment, learning, or self-expression outside of your paid work. They matter to your career because they often develop skills that directly transfer to your job (think: problem-solving, discipline, and creativity that your job doesn't give you otherwise). More importantly, they remind you who you are outside of your role. Your 9-5 might be a drag. Hobbies keep you engaged and grounded. In addition to enhancing your career, your hobbies can help you manage stress. 46% of Americans [use creative activities to reduce stress](https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/new-apa-poll-americans-who-engage-in-creative-acti?ref=blog.annabyang.com). American Psychological Association CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin says, "Creative activities are an excellent way to express oneself and to take some time off from the everyday routine." ## 4 tips for using hobbies to enhance your career Not sure how your hobbies and your career make sense together (or even belong in the same sentence?) Here are a few ways to think about it. ### 1\. Hobbies can teach you skills Some hobbies help you develop skills you can actually apply to your career. You love learning about psychology through reading or podcasts, which deepens your understanding of people if you’re a manager. Learning about painting teaches you about composition and color in ways that can help with any career in marketing or storytelling… or even creating a presentation. I spend time on weekends [painting watercolors](https://blog.annabyang.com/finding-a-new-hobby/). At first, this seemed like pure fun — and it is! But watercolors taught me to embrace imperfection and work with what flows naturally across the page instead of fighting it. That translates directly to skills I can use as a professional writer. When I'm drafting, I've learned to let go of the idea of a "perfect" sentence. I’m not suggesting that you pick hobbies based on how they can enhance your job. But hobbies *can* challenge you in ways that you won’t get during your 9-5. ### 2\. Set aside time for your hobbies If you enjoy something, you’ve got to make time for it. It's easy to say "I want to paint" or "I want to learn Spanish." It's harder to actually do these things when your calendar is packed. I protect time for writing at 5 am every morning (fully prepped with coffee). Because I treat it like a non-negotiable time to myself, it happens. Every single morning. The same applies to your hobbies — they need a time “slot” in your daily schedule. But hobbies that feel like obligations turn into chores. So be realistic about how much time you actually have. If you have three kids and a demanding job, a hobby that requires 10 hours a week isn't going to work. Start smaller. Even 30 minutes on weekends or a few early mornings a week is enough to fuel you creatively. 💡 ****Tip:** To get started, block “hobby time” on your calendar. The first step is simply showing up during that time, whether it’s for [personal learning](https://blog.annabyang.com/continuous-learning/), creative work, or something else. ### 3\. Hobbies change your thinking When you spend time on hobbies, you're essentially running mini-experiments in failure and adaptation. Yes, I know that sounds like “corporate speak,” but hear me out. You try something, it doesn't work, you adjust, you try again. This builds tolerance that's invaluable in any job. For years, I thought I wasn't creative because I couldn't draw or do anything design-related. But teaching myself to paint taught me that creativity isn't a fixed trait or something people are born with. Creativity a skill you build by repeatedly making things that aren't perfect. Your hobbies are where you learn to [get over perfectionism](https://blog.annabyang.com/getting-over-perfectionism-techniques/) in a way that isn’t always possible when you’re working. Your hobbies let you expand how you think and work. [Design the Career Path You DeserveLearn how to propose a new role to your existing employer![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-work-career-hero-image-6.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/design-career-path-you-want/) ### 4\. Talk about your hobbies in professional settings (yes, really!) Employers and clients (at least the good ones) want to understand who you are. Hobbies give them a glimpse into your life. When you mention a hobby in an interview or professional conversation, frame it around what it's taught you or what it says about how you work. *"I paint watercolors"* is fine. *"I paint watercolors and it has taught me that things don’t always go as planned, and I need to adapt"* is better. You don’t have to overshare, but you could include a line on a cover letter or include a section on your resume. If you’re self-employed, you could put something like “loves to paint” on your [portfolio site](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/) or share an occasional personal project on your social media. 💡 ****Tip:** Practice a 2-3 sentence version of how your hobby makes you better at your job. Use it when the conversation naturally opens up — which happens more often than you'd think. ## It’s ok to keep your hobbies separate from work You might read this whole thing and think, “My hobbies are my *escape* from work.” And that’s totally understandable. You don’t have to make a mention of your hobbies in a professional setting, ever, if you don’t want to. But keep in mind that hiring managers and potential clients remember people who are interesting. If you don’t want to talk about your hobbies, try to find *something* you can mention that sets you apart. You could mention something you enjoy collecting or talk about spending time with your kids [if you’re a parent](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-being-a-parent-improved-my-career/). Acknowledge that you have interests outside of work, and that your life is richer for it. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-career-pivots-1.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-career-pivots?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Thinking about a career change? Check out this free guide.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-career-pivots?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🗓️ **Note: This blog post was originally published in March 2022 and was updated in May 2026.* ## FAQs #### What's the difference between a hobby and continuous learning? Continuous learning is intentional skill development with a specific goal, like taking a course, reading books, earning a certification. A hobby is something you do for enjoyment that may also build skills. They overlap, but hobbies don't require a formal endpoint. #### Can I have a hobby that's not related to my job? Absolutely. Hobbies don't have to have any real-world career applications to be valuable. They refresh your mind and prevent burnout, which indirectly supports your work. #### Is it unprofessional to mention my hobby in a job interview? Not at all. Hiring managers want to see that you're well-rounded. If you can, frame your hobby around what it's taught you or what it reveals about how you work. #### Should I choose a hobby based on my career goals? Not necessarily. Choose something you actually enjoy. The best hobbies are the ones you show up for because you want to, not because you think they'll look good on a resume. #### What if I don't have time for a hobby right now? Start by setting aside 15-30 minutes a week. Even small amounts of time are better than waiting for the "perfect" moment when you have more free time to spend on a hobby. ### ### 3 Types of Solopreneurs. Which One Are You? URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/types-of-solopreneurs/ Last updated: 2026-05-11T15:15:37.000Z You've been running your solo business for a while now. Some months feel great — clients are solid, and the work is interesting. Then suddenly you're scrambling again. You wonder if you should rethink your offer or try a new strategy that you saw another solopreneur mention online. That “what comes next?” is common. You wonder if you’re doing the right thing. And often, the strategies that got you started aren't the same ones that'll get you to the next level (and it's hard to figure out what to try when you're buried in client work). The first step is figuring out *how* you're reacting to the “stuck” feeling. Once you recognize your pattern, you can stop spinning and start building toward something bigger. 💡 ****TL;DR:** There are two main ways solopreneurs get stuck: working harder without fixing broken systems, or chasing new directions without figuring out what works. This post breaks down the patterns, helps you figure out which one is holding you back, and shows you how to build toward a more sustainable business. ## Types of solopreneur business models Before getting into what "stuck" looks like, here’s a quick grounding on the types of solo businesses out there. Even though the types of “stuck” can apply to any solo business owner, you’ll have to apply the fixes to your specific type of work and business model. - **Consultants:** You advise clients based on specialized expertise (strategy, marketing, operations, etc.) - **Coaches**: You’re working one-on-one or in groups to help clients achieve specific goals - **Service providers:** You deliver specific outputs (design, writing, development, bookkeeping) - **Fractional roles:** You serving as a part-time or temporary executive (fractional CMO, fractional CFO) Business models include hourly, project-based work, retainers, or limited-engagement contracts. Regardless of which category you fall into, the "stuck" patterns below show up across all of them. ## 3 types of solopreneurs who feel stuck Most solopreneurs who feel stuck fall into one of two patterns. There's also a third type: the solopreneur who's figured out how to build *around* these challenges, even if they’re feeling stuck. Here's what each one looks like. ### 1\. The overworked solopreneur You're working harder all the time. Every new client means significantly more work because you have no systems in place. You build custom proposals every time and track projects in your head. Every to-do adds to your stress (plus you don’t have a centralized list of to-do items). You might also be undercharging, which creates a volume trap. Taking on more clients just to hit income goals makes the overwork worse. You never have time to try to make things better — content, outreach, product ideas — because there's no bandwidth left after your client deliverables. You haven't taken a [real vacation](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-vacation-savings-plan/) in over a year (or ever!) because you don’t feel like you can step away. The business runs, but it runs entirely on *you*. ### 2\. The “shiny object” solopreneur You're always ready and eager to start something new. You’re convinced that the “next thing” will help your business. You’re rewriting your website copy every few months, jumping on the latest marketing trend, and signing up for another course that promises to help you. But you never stay with something long enough to know if it's working. I’ve been guilty of this throughout running my business. I love tools and automation, so I’m quick to try something new that promises to make my work easier. The problem? Setting up something new takes time, and it might not actually be serving my business. For the shiny object solopreneur, everything stays in experiment mode. You have no shortage of ideas, but each new thing you try isn’t centered around a core business strategy. This pattern often shows up as "productive procrastination." You *feel* productive... but the business isn't moving forward. ### 3\. The sustainable solopreneur The [sustainable solopreneur](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/) stays even-keel. They don't panic when revenue dips, because they have systems in place to handle variation without spiraling. They work fewer hours, on their own terms, because business operations are efficient. They've [documented processes](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/) for their work, use automation where it makes sense, and know when to [bring in outside help](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/). They make decisions based on data and quarterly reviews (instead of gut instinct). They've built a business that supports their life, not the other way around. If they feel stuck, they take a thoughtful approach to figuring out how to get “unstuck.” They have the space to try new things because they’re not overworked. And they’re patient and thoughtful when trying new things, because everything is linked to a core [business strategy](https://blog.annabyang.com/what-is-business-strategy/). ## How to move from stuck to sustainable The sustainable solopreneur can still get “stuck” in their business, but they don’t *stay* stuck. They’re not held back by too much work, and they’re focused. Here are some ways to “get unstuck.” ### If you're the overworked solopreneur If being overworked sounds like you, you need to start thinking about [working on your business instead of in it](https://blog.annabyang.com/working-on-business-vs-working-in-business/). Working *on* your business means doing non-client work that helps you move your business forward — and it requires setting time aside for strategy. And if your processes are mostly manual, [automation can help](https://blog.annabyang.com/solo-business-automation/) free up the time you need to work on bigger-picture problems. Start by: - Listing every task you do in a week - Identify the ones that are repetitive - Create templates or set up automation to free up your time You'll probably be surprised by how much of your time goes to tasks that don't need to be done manually. When you do this, you can create a little pocket of time to start working *on* your business strategy more regularly. You can also [raise your rates](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-raise-freelance-rates/) or restructure your pricing. If the only path to your income goal is volume, you’ll always hit a ceiling. Block time for [admin and strategic work](https://blog.annabyang.com/weekly-admin-time/), even if it's just one hour a week. Protect it like a client meeting. In the beginning, you’ll use this time to build systems that “buy back” your time and give you more bandwidth. Then you’ll spend that extra time on your overall business strategy. ### If you're the shiny object solopreneur If you're recognizing this in yourself, focusing on [business operations improvement](https://blog.annabyang.com/operations-improvement/) can help you prioritize what actually matters instead of constantly pivoting. - Pick ONE change and commit to it for 90 days. No pivots allowed - Focus on execution and measurement. - Collect data at the end of 90 days Document what’s " not working" before you start. *Why* do you need to make this change? What are you hoping to accomplish? Set specific metrics you plan to measure at the end of 90 days, so you're not relying on feelings to decide whether something is successful. When the urge to pivot hits at week three, tell yourself you *must* wait until the end of 90 days. Add any new ideas to a list to work on next quarter. 💡 ****Tip:** Stop consuming. No new courses, tools, or research for 90 days. You have enough information — the gap is between knowing and doing. [How to Create 90-Day GoalsWhat can you get done in 3 months?![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-habits-goals-hero-image-4.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/90-day-goals/) ### Building toward sustainable The goal is to get from the overworked or shiny object pattern to sustainable. You have systems that run without requiring your constant attention. And you have the discipline and bandwidth to know what to try next. If the thing you try doesn’t work out? You’re secure enough that it doesn’t cause revenue panic. Revisit quarterly to make sure you’re not falling into patterns of overwork or shiny objects. Ask yourself: - What's still manual that shouldn't be? - What's working? What needs to change? - How do these changes serve my business as a whole? The sustainable solopreneurs didn't build everything at once. They build one thing at a time, test it, and move on to the next. They have the energy and [confidence to try new things](https://blog.annabyang.com/think-like-a-ceo/). ## Your solopreneur toolkit ⚙️ These tools can give you the foundation you need to go from “overwhelmed” to “I’ve got this.” - **A project management tool:** Organize your client projects in a place where you can keep track of deliverables and deadlines. (I use Trello) - **A scheduling tool:** Stop the back-and-forth with clients for booking meetings. (I use Calendly) - **An automation platform:** Connect your apps so tasks don’t need your constant attention. (I use Zapier and run about 1,500 automated tasks per month) - **A notes or documentation tool:** Store SOPs, ideas, and reference material so you're not reinventing processes every time. (I use Notion for this) - **A content scheduling tool:** If content is part of your marketing, batch and schedule instead of posting in real-time. (I use [Buffer](https://join.buffer.com/anna-burgess-yang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* and love it) ❗ ****Note:** If you’re the shiny object solopreneur, DO NOT try all of these at once. Start with the one that addresses your biggest bottleneck and make sure you’ve got it set up and working well before moving on to the next thing. ## Give yourself time to change Getting from overworked or shiny object to sustainable doesn't happen overnight. If you've been running your business one way for years, changing those patterns takes real effort… and patience. This is especially true if you're coming from a corporate background. [Corporate habits](https://blog.annabyang.com/transition-from-corporate-to-freelance-life/) — like saying yes to everything or equating busyness with productivity — are deeply ingrained. Breaking those patterns in a solo business context takes a lot of unlearning. The solopreneurs who build truly sustainable businesses are the ones who commit to small, consistent changes. Start with one fix. Give it 90 days. Then keep going. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-business-design-reflections-1.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-business-design?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Want to build a life-first business?* **These reflections will help you determine your priorities.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-business-design?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### What are the different types of solopreneurs? Solopreneurs typically fall into categories like consultants, coaches, service providers (designers, writers, developers), and fractional executives. Business models include hourly rates, project-based work, retainers, and limited engagements. #### How do I know if I'm stuck in my solo business? There are a few common signs: you're constantly switching strategies without giving any of them enough time to work, or you're working more hours than ever but not seeing results. Both indicate a systems problem, not an effort problem. #### How do solopreneurs avoid burnout? Build systems for repetitive tasks, set boundaries around working hours, and block off dedicated time for strategic thinking. The solopreneurs who avoid burnout have operational structures in place, rather than relying on memory or gut instinct. #### When should a solopreneur start building business systems? Build systems as early as possible. Even simple systems, like a client onboarding template, an invoicing process, or a content calendar, reduce cognitive load. Start with what solves your biggest pain point. ### How to Raise Freelance Rates Without Losing Clients URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-raise-freelance-rates/ Last updated: 2026-05-07T15:15:05.000Z When you work a corporate job, raises happen on a schedule. You have an annual review or get a cost-of-living adjustment. Maybe even a promotion bump every few years. The process is built in: you don't have to ask. As a freelancer, none of that exists. If you want to earn more, you have to start the conversation yourself. Most freelancers avoid it because the thought of bringing it up with a client is *so* uncomfortable. But avoiding the rate increase conversation can hurt your business. If you’re not sure how to let clients know that you’re raising your rates, this post walks you through what to do. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Raising your freelance rates is a business necessity. The safest approach is to do some research, test higher rates with new clients first, then approach existing clients with a professional update and plenty of notice. ## How to know if you’re undercharging as a freelancer If every prospective client you pitch says yes, that might feel like a win. But a 100% close rate usually means one thing: you're the affordable option. When no one pushes back on your pricing, you're leaving money on the table. A healthy freelance business experiences *some* price resistance. You’ve got to find your **value threshold:** the price point where you start getting some pushback. That pushback means you've found the ceiling of what the market will pay. And that's where you want to be. During my [first year of freelancing](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-start-freelancing-as-a-marketer/), in particular, I raised my rates regularly. I had no idea what to charge. Clients kept saying yes, so I kept pushing the limit. When I started getting “no” (sometimes, not all the time), I knew I’d found the limit. Getting a few "nos" doesn't mean your rates are too high. It means you've found the sweet spot for your target clients. Some will say yes, some will say no. ## 4 signs it's time to increase your freelance fees If you've never [set your freelance rates](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-set-your-rates-freelancer/) strategically (or if you set them once and haven't revisited), here are some signs that it's time to charge more. ### 1\. You’re fully booked, consistently You're turning away work or overbooked for weeks at a time. The demand for your work is exceeding your capacity because every potential client says "yes." A full roster is certainly comforting, since it avoids the feast or famine cycle. But think of it this way: you could charge more…. even withstand losing a few clients!…. and earn the same. If you're [wondering whether you're charging enough](https://blog.annabyang.com/am-i-charging-enough/), a full client roster is one of the strongest confirmations that you could charge more. ### 2\. You haven't adjusted your rates in 12+ months Inflation alone justifies an annual rate review. Your costs go up (like software subscriptions and insurance), and your rates should go up to keep your profit the same. In the U.S., you can look at the [annual inflation rates](https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/current-inflation-rates/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) as a baseline for your rate increase. Photographer Jon Fleming [said on Threads](https://www.threads.com/@annabyang/post/DX2S937Gi2G?xmt=AQG0ExQqzdpxkyJXU%5FeF-N1syjSoEI6GEDjDW7PXXNhhQQ&ref=blog.annabyang.com): > “With inflation, it’s important to raise rates to keep up. Clients understand the cost of everything has gone up. The cost of doing business has gone up so our rates should go up with that.” Even a modest rate increase (5-10%) each year keeps your income from falling behind. You could also look at your business expenses year-over-year and compare what you’re spending this year compared to last year. [Solopreneur Financial Planning: What You Need to KnowMoney doesn’t have to be stressful when you have a plan.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-financial-management-hero-image-2.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-financial-planning/) ### 3\. You've acquired new skills or expanded your portfolio Specialized skills command a premium. If you've invested in certifications, learned new tools, or expanded your service offerings, your rates should reflect the added value. For example, I’m a freelance [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/). Fintech (financial technology) is an incredibly niche area of expertise. Not many writers can cover the topics I cover. That expertise is worth something. AI proficiency is in particularly high demand right now, for certain types of freelance work. According to Upwork’s [In-Demand Skills Report](https://www.upwork.com/research/in-demand-skills-2026?ref=blog.annabyang.com), skills that reference AI have grown more than 100%. 💡 ****Tip**: Even if your clients aren’t looking for AI-related skills, using AI can help you get your work done faster and more efficiently. That effectively increases your rate per project if you’re spending less time on it. ### 4\. You've benchmarked yourself against other freelancers Don’t rely on guesswork when it comes to your rates. Do some research, so you know what freelancers with similar experience are charging. If you're earlier in your freelance career and still [figuring out the right time to go solo](https://blog.annabyang.com/right-time-to-start-freelancing/), benchmarking can feel tricky. There's such a huge range in what freelancers charge for their services. Join freelance forums and talk to other freelancers. Many are willing to share their rates, since they know what rate uncertainty feels like. [Fellow solopreneurs aren't your competition](https://blog.annabyang.com/fellow-solopreneurs-are-not-your-competition/) and rate conversations are about helping each other. ## The "new client first" strategy: de-risking your rate hike You don't have to raise rates for everyone at once. The safest approach is to test your new rate with prospective clients before touching existing client relationships. Quote your higher rate to every new lead, while keeping existing clients at their current rate. Once **three new clients** say yes at the higher number, you have market proof that the rate is sustainable. That "rule of three" gives you the confidence you need to approach existing clients. This is also a low-risk way to gauge whether your increase is realistic. If three out of three new prospects accept, you may still be undercharging at the new rate. If you get consistent pushback, you can adjust before having any difficult conversations with your long-term clients. ## How to tell existing clients you're raising rates The hardest part of raising rates is having the actual conversation. You should *never* spring a rate increase on your clients. Give them 30 to 60 days' notice as a courtesy. This gives them time to adjust their budgets. Frame it as a professional update. You're not asking permission: you're informing them of a change. Never apologize for a rate increase. Saying "I'm sorry, but I need to raise my rates" undermines the very thing you're trying to communicate — that your work is worth more. 💡 ****Tip:** If a client says they can't afford the new rate, offer a scope reduction instead. Deliver less work or fewer revisions for the original budget. It shows you're flexible without devaluing your worth as a freelancer. ### The freelance rate increase letter template When you're ready to send the actual notification, keep it simple. Here's a template you can use. > **Subject:** Update to service rates > > Hi \[Client Name\], > > I wanted to let you know about an update to my service rates. Starting \[date\], my rate will be $XX \[per hour/per project\]. > > I've really enjoyed working on \[specific project or result\] together, and I'm looking forward to continuing to deliver strong results for you. > > If you have any questions, let me know. > > Thanks, > > \[Your Name\] Keep the email short and direct. The more you explain or justify, the more it sounds like you're asking for permission. ### Build rate increases into your contract An alternative is to build an annual rate increase directly into your contract. You could write in a line like: > Upon the 1-year anniversary of contract signing, the contracted rate will increase 5%. The rate will increase with each subsequent anniversary at the same rate. Don’t let that anniversary come and go without reminding your client. The rate increase shouldn’t be a surprise, if your client has forgotten since the [original contract](https://blog.annabyang.com/legal-protections-freelancers-contract/) was signed. But by doing this, you’re having the rate conversation upfront, instead of every year. The risk of doing this is that your contract rate increase doesn’t reflect your additional value. Maybe you’re undercharging by a lot and want to increase rates by 10%. You’re stuck with 5%, because that’s what the contract says. ## When raising rates means letting go Some clients won't stick with you after a rate increase. That's a natural part of business growth. Losing a low-paying client creates more capacity for higher-paying clients. Sometimes [breaking up with clients](https://blog.annabyang.com/reasons-to-break-up-with-clients/) is the best thing you can do for your business. I worked with a client for a few months early in my freelance days. The client came back about a year later and wanted to work with me again, but my rates had gone up. I was no longer within the client’s budget, so we did not work together a second time. You can choose to grandfather existing clients and only raise rates for new work. This is a judgment call: there's no rule that says you have to raise rates across the board all at once. Some freelancers keep loyal clients at their original rate, and that's totally fine. External pressures matter too. Market shifts, AI, or an [economic downturn](https://blog.annabyang.com/prepare-for-worst-case-scenarios/) can all impact what clients are willing to pay and make you *less* valuable. Make sure your rate decisions are informed by what's actually happening. ## Make the rate conversation a routine Raising rates doesn't have to be a once-every-few-years panic. Build it into your annual business review, right alongside your expenses and revenue goals. If you ask for rate increases regularly, it will start feeling like a normal part of running your business. Start with new clients. Give existing clients plenty of notice. And trust that the clients who value your work will stay. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-pricing.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-pricing-freelancers?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Freelance pricing is hard to figure out,* **but I’ve created a free resource to help you set your rates.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-pricing-freelancers?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## Tips for raising your freelance rates - **Start with new prospects first.** Test your higher rate with incoming leads so you have market proof before approaching existing clients. - **Give 30-60 days' notice.** Never surprise a client with a rate increase on their next invoice. - **Frame it as a professional update.** You're informing the client of a change, not asking for permission. - **Offer scope reduction before lowering your rate.** If a client pushes back, adjust what you deliver — not what you charge. - **Benchmark annually.** Compare your rates against freelancers with similar experience, specialization, and target market at least once a year. ## FAQs #### How often should I raise my freelance rates? At least once a year. Annual rate reviews keep your income aligned with inflation, rising costs, and the market value of your skills. Even a small 5-10% increase prevents your rates from falling behind over time. #### How much should I increase my freelance rates? Most freelancers raise rates by 5-15% annually. The exact amount depends on demand for your services and how far below market rate you currently are. If you've never raised your rates, a larger initial increase (15-25%) may make sense. #### What if a client says no to my rate increase? As an alternative, offer scope reduction, such as fewer deliverables or fewer revision rounds for the original budget. If they decline that too, it may be a sign the client relationship has run its course. Replacing a low-paying client with a higher-paying one is better for your business. #### Should I raise rates for all clients at once? You don't have to. Many freelancers test higher rates with new clients first, then roll out increases to existing clients over time. You can also grandfather in your previous rate for loyal clients. #### When is the best time to raise freelance rates? Common trigger points include the start of a new year, the beginning of a new contract term, or after completing a major project milestone. Avoid raising rates during a client's budget crunch or right after they've had an issue with a project. #### Can raising my rates help me get better clients? Yes. Higher rates are a sign of your expertise and professionalism. Clients who hire based on quality rather than price alone tend to respect timelines, value your input, and are less likely to negotiate on scope. #### How do I know if I'm charging enough? Track your close rate on proposals. If nearly every prospect says yes, you're likely undercharging. Benchmark your rates against other freelancers in your niche and aim for a healthy close rate where some prospects push back. That tells you that you've hit the top of what people are willing to pay. ### Tasks for Solopreneurs: Weekly, Monthly, and Quarterly Reviews URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/tasks-for-solopreneurs/ Last updated: 2026-05-04T19:17:06.000Z Your solo business feels like a never-ending to-do list, between client work, admin “stuff”, and everything in between. But here's the thing: not every task has the same urgency, and treating them all the same is exactly how you end up on a hamster wheel of busywork. You don’t have the complexity of a traditional company — the departments, the approval process, the pointless weekly check-in meetings. I was thrilled to leave all of those things behind when I went solo. Paul Jarvis, author of *Company of One*, puts it this way: "For a Company of One to succeed, a strategy for simplifying isn't just a desirable goal but an absolute requirement." But “simplifying” isn’t the same as “ignoring work.” To stay on top of your task list, you should organize your tasks by a specific cadence that makes it easy to identify what needs your attention. 💡 ****TL;DR:** A solopreneur's to-do list needs to be organized. Weekly, monthly, and quarterly cadences create structure and maintain your focus on what needs to be done right now. ## Why you need structure for your solopreneur tasks According to [Founder Reports](https://founderreports.com/solopreneur-statistics/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), 41% of solopreneurs report time management as their biggest challenge. It’s a reality that some solopreneurs have far too much to do. Personally, I work on automating tasks as much as possible so that I have less to do. Futurist and researcher Nola Simon [says on Threads](https://www.threads.com/@nolasimonsayings/post/DWd6AyXkUqz?xmt=AQF0jZkxqDUukmYq32iPPrF3D5vRAPdK4dZbNZw3We9k%5FgyVVsdJsX8xLjIPoUBdiP6njHY&slof=1&ref=blog.annabyang.com): > *I’ve worked on eliminating transactional work, so I don’t have a lot of tasks I do that are repeatable. If I find I’m doing things that bore me and could be automated, I find I ask why it’s necessary at all.* Nola’s point is very valid: you should ask yourself if your repetitive work is really necessary in your business, and what purpose it serves. But assuming it’s *not* something you can eliminate, you need structure behind your tasks. When you separate tasks by cadence — how often you should focus on that particular type of task — something shifts. Revenue-generating work gets protected. Administrative tasks have a designated time. And the thinking work — the kind that actually moves your business forward — *finally* gets scheduled on your calendar. ## The 3-part task list cadence Your task system works in three layers: what happens every week, what you tackle monthly, and the deeper work you do quarterly. Each layer builds on the previous one, creating a natural rhythm that prevents you from either drowning in “too many tasks piled up” or ignoring critical parts of your business. ### 1\. The weekly review Your weekly review is where you stay on top of everything that accumulates during the week that needs your attention. Don’t let it distract you at the time. Instead, set the task aside until your weekly review. This is typically a block on the same day each week. Treat it like a non-negotiable meeting with yourself. Mine is on Friday mornings for an hour, but sometimes it can stretch longer depending on how much I have going on. #### Revenue-generating tasks These tasks are tied directly to your ability to stay visible and bring in income. You might work on your lead generation if you send cold emails, or follow up with prospects in your pipeline. You might also schedule social media posts or work on an email to send to your list (though I usually schedule these activities during a separate block of time during the week). #### Administrative tasks If you work on invoicing and expense tracking every week, you can prevent panic at tax time later. A quick 15-minute review keeps your finances clean. Record a quick video (like a Loom) for common client questions or repeatable processes. These become your first draft of a [standard operating procedure](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/) (SOP). When you batch these every week, you can create a small library of documentation. This might not feel important, but your processes become critical if you ever decide to hire a virtual assistant or contractor. You might also spend time cleaning out your email or Google Drive. 💡 ****Tip**: Stay on top of these, so you don't fall behind. The moment admin work piles up, it becomes a time-sucking, boring project instead of routine work. #### Strategy and thinking time Set aside one hour per week for pure thinking work. No client calls, no email, no interruptions. This is your time to review what isn't working, research new tools, or explore something you’re curious about. I also use my thinking time to review things I’ve saved throughout the week, such as an article I wanted to read. I bookmark the article using Readwise, and come back to it during my thinking time. If something needs deeper work — a content strategy overhaul, a pricing analysis, a relaunch of your service offering — flag it for monthly time and move on. Your [weekly admin time](https://blog.annabyang.com/weekly-admin-time/) is for scanning, not solving problems. ### 2\. The monthly review Monthly work is where you take a step back and audit your operations. This is typically scheduled as a half-day, once a month. You're looking at trends and fixing problems — and dedicating more time than your weekly review allows. #### Financial health Pull your Profit and Loss (or look at what your bookkeeper prepared for you). If you manage your own bookkeeping, a Profit and Loss is simply a report that shows your income and expenses within a given month (or a longer period of time, such as a full quarter or full year). Ask yourself: - Am I on track with my [revenue goals](https://blog.annabyang.com/foundational-revenue/)? - Are my expenses aligned with my budget, or am I spending too much? - Which income stream is performing the best? (if you have multiple) This monthly check-in is where you spot patterns and early warning signs. For example, if your revenue was down last month, compare it to the same month in the prior year. Is your work seasonal — like every summer is slow — or is something else going on? #### Workflow audit Look at your onboarding, billing, and delivery process. Where are the problem areas? - If every new client is asking the same question, you need to fix your onboarding flow. - If invoicing is taking longer than it should, it's time to update your template or tool. - If your proposals feel clunky, you should streamline or rebuild them. Small inefficiencies add up, and monthly audits are your time to work on them. [Operations Improvement for Solo BusinessesSmall improvements now will make a big difference later.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-solopreneur-operations-hero-image-2.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/operations-improvement/) #### Tech stack cleanup Evaluate your tools. Are you still using that subscription you signed up for three weeks ago? Cancel anything before it becomes a recurring subscription that you forget you’re paying for. According to [Gusto](https://gusto.com/resources/gusto-insights/new-business-formation-solopreneurs-2025?ref=blog.annabyang.com), 77% of solopreneurs report being profitable in their first year, and maintaining low overhead is a major factor. Explore features in the tools you *do* use. You might be [paying for a tool](https://blog.annabyang.com/paying-for-tools-as-a-solopreneur/) that has features you've never tried. If you've been thinking about trying a new tool, do your research and testing this month. When you batch these types of decisions, they don’t become a distraction throughout the month. #### Client feedback Review how your recent projects went. Are clients happy? Gather testimonials while the work is fresh in their minds. Update your [portfolio](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/) with new work samples. This keeps your marketing assets current and gives you talking points you can use when pitching. ### 3\. The quarterly review Quarterly work is the big picture: strategy, delegation, and planning for the next three months. This is a full day of work: carve out 8 hours, minimum. I sometimes take an entire weekend (and check myself into the hotel — the change of scenery helps!) You're shifting from "survival mode" to "growth mode." #### Quarterly goal setting Ask yourself: What did I [want to accomplish](https://blog.annabyang.com/90-day-goals/) this past quarter, and what actually happened? If you ran an experiment, like launched a new service, tried a different marketing channel, changed your pricing… did it work? What will you double down on next quarter? What will you stop doing, because it no longer serves you? By asking yourself these questions, you move from reactive to proactive. #### Delegation audit Solo doesn’t mean you have to work entirely on your own. Look at your task list and identify what you could delegate, automate, or eliminate. - What would happen if you hired a contractor for bookkeeping? - What if you automated your invoice reminders? - What if you used AI to draft your social posts, which you can then edit? The thing to keep in mind is that you don't have to hire full-time employees. A part-time contractor or a [virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) can free up a lot of your time. The first three tasks most solopreneurs delegate are bookkeeping, social media scheduling, and basic customer support. These are typically things that another person can handle well if you have documented SOPs. I rely heavily on automation to free up my time. If you’re just getting started with [automation in your solo business](https://blog.annabyang.com/solo-business-automation/), use your quarterly time to learn or to try automating your repetitive work. #### Financial planning If you’re in the United States, you owe quarterly estimated [tax payments](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-taxes/). These are required by law. The actual amount you owe will depend on a lot of factors, so consult with a financial professional. But this is also when you review savings. Do you plan to take a vacation this quarter, and do you have enough savings to cover your time off? Do you have an emergency fund? Do you have any larger expenses upcoming, such as needing to buy a new computer or renewal of business insurance? #### Business research Check what your competitors are doing. Have your clients’ needs shifted? Is there a new platform or trend you should be aware of? Update your service offerings and messaging, if it makes sense to do so. This keeps you fresh and relevant (without reacting impulsively to every industry shift). 💡 ****Tip**: Don't [act too quickly](https://blog.annabyang.com/thinking-fast-and-slow-in-business/), or you'll find yourself constantly shifting direction. Unless you think it’s urgent, use this research to inform next quarter, not make immediate changes. ## Beware the "simple" tasks that eat your time The reason you set aside weekly, monthly, and quarterly reviews is so you’re not constantly switching context during the week. Otherwise, small things add up and become huge distractions. - **The "quick" email trap.** A five-minute email feels harmless until you've responded to ten of them and your deep work block is gone. - **Endless formatting.** You spend hours on a client proposal, image sizing, or "making it look perfect" instead of finishing the actual content. Set a time limit on polishing work. - **Manual data entry.** Copying information between tools, manually logging expenses, and updating spreadsheets by hand. Automation can save you hours of time every month. - **The "research" rabbit Hole.** The line between “learning” and “procrastinating” is a thin one. If you need to [research something](https://blog.annabyang.com/continuous-learning/), put a time limit on it. ## Your task management toolkit Here are some of the tools you need to manage your tasks - **Task management software:** I use [Todoist](https://get.todoist.io/5vaw2q1il5zr?ref=blog.annabyang.com)\*, but there are endless options (like Notion, Trello, or Asana). Pick one that matches how you think and how you like to work. The tool matters less than the consistency. - **Automation tools:** [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)\* or Make can connect your tools and eliminate manual work. - **Generative AI:** Use Claude or ChatGPT for research summaries, draft social media posts, and brainstorming. - **Financial tools:** Automated bookkeeping keeps your finances organized with minimal effort. [Task Management for Solopreneurs: How to Track EverythingHow to keep track of everything.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-time-management-hero-image-1.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/task-management-for-solopreneurs/) ## Put your reviews on your calendar This tasklist review cadence only works if you actually follow through. Block your review time off on your calendar and treat it like a meeting with a paying client — because *you* are the paying client. Without blocking the time, it never happens. Emergencies always feel more urgent, or a client will ask for a meeting during that time. Your review keeps getting pushed to next week (and the week after that). If you’re not sure how much time you need, block off “too much” instead of “not enough.” Odds are, your reviews will get easier over time as they become a quick checklist of “these are the things I need to do to keep my business running smoothly.” [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-quarterly-checklist.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Need to review the health of your business?* **Check out this quarterly review checklist for solopreneurs.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ## FAQs #### Should I do my weekly review on the same day every week? Yes, consistency matters. Pick a day and time you'll protect, like Friday afternoons or Monday mornings. Don’t pick a day or time when you’re regularly dealing with clients or other work. Your brain will start preparing for the review time automatically if you do it at the same time every week. #### What if I'm juggling multiple income streams? Does the review cadence change? The cadence stays the same, but your focus shifts. During monthly and quarterly reviews, you might spend more time comparing performance across streams and deciding where to allocate energy. Weekly tasks stay consistent regardless of how many streams you manage. #### Can I combine my weekly and monthly reviews to save time? You could, but it's not ideal. Weekly reviews are quick check-ins, whereas monthly reviews require deeper analysis. Combining them usually means the monthly work doesn't get the attention it needs. #### What if I miss my quarterly review? Life happens. If you miss a quarter, do a catch-up review the next month. For example, you’ll typically do March’s quarter review in April after the quarter ends. If you can’t do it at the beginning of April, set aside some time later in April or early May. If you miss a quarter altogether, it won’t take your business. But missing quarterly reviews four quarters in a row might have an impact. ### ### LinkedIn for Solopreneurs: A Playbook for Getting Started URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/linkedin-for-solopreneurs/ Last updated: 2026-04-30T16:15:23.000Z You've started a solo business. You know you can deliver for your clients. You understand that LinkedIn is a place to *get* clients, but you aren’t actually sure how. For the vast majority of people, LinkedIn is the place where they go to attract potential employers for a 9-5 job. But your strategy has to change when you’re trying to get clients for your own business. When decision-makers are looking for someone like you, they're on LinkedIn first. Success requires shifting from a "resume mindset" to a "landing page mindset," where your personal profile is part of what you’re selling. 💡 ****TL;DR:** LinkedIn works for solopreneurs when you start treating your profile as a business development engine — one that can **actually* generate inbound leads. ## Why LinkedIn is a necessary platform for solopreneurs In my business, the overwhelming majority of my clients come from LinkedIn. It is non-negotiable for B2B solopreneurs, as well as many other types of services (consulting, coaching, etc). Unlike other social platforms, LinkedIn collapses the distance between a stranger and a trusted partner. This distinction matters because it changes how you approach the platform. When someone's scrolling X/Twitter or Instagram, they're in entertainment mode. On LinkedIn, decision-makers are actively looking for solutions to problems — and they're looking for people who can solve them. The platform is fundamentally a trust-building engine. Before anyone hires you, they want to know who you are, how you think about problems, and whether you're worth their time. Your profile and activity on LinkedIn answer all of these questions. [Top Questions Clients Ask Before Hiring a Freelance WriterPrepare your responses to common client questions.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w1200/2026/03/annabyang-freelancing-101-hero-image-5.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/top-questions-clients-ask-freelance-writer/) ## Make your profile work for you When you work a 9-5 job, you need a resume that lists what you’ve done and what you’ve accomplished. Solopreneurs move into the world of “portfolio” instead of “resume.” A resume lists what you've done. Your LinkedIn profile is an extension of your portfolio, and often the earliest entry point. Potential clients find you on LinkedIn *first*, and — if they like what they see — check out your [online portfolio](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/). A profile sells what you can do — and more importantly, who benefits when you do it. With this in mind, you need to structure your LinkedIn profile well, to draw people in. ### Headline The headline is the most important real estate on your entire profile. It appears in the feed as people are scrolling. They may not ever click over to your full profile if your headline is unclear or confusing. Your headline needs to be specific and client-focused. Instead of "Fintech Writer | Storyteller | Coffee Enthusiast" (which I actually had as my LinkedIn profile at one point) try something very clear like “Freelance B2B Fintech Writer" (exactly who you are) or “Helping fintech startups break down complex topics for their audience” (exactly what you do). The person reading this knows what problem you solve and whether that applies to them. ### About The About section is where you address client pain points directly. This is not a biography. It's a mini-pitch. Lead with the problem your ideal client faces, then show them how you think about solving it. That being said, you should *absolutely* showcase your personality in your About section. It doesn’t have to be uptight or too matter-of-fact. ### Featured section The Featured section is often overlooked and incredibly powerful. This is where you surface your best work — case studies, testimonials, sample projects, or articles. When someone lands on your profile, they should see proof within three seconds that you're capable of what your headline promises. ### Do you need a LinkedIn Company Page? Many solopreneurs also ask whether they need a company page. At a minimum, you can create a Company Page so that you can tie your profile to the Page, and it shows “Where you work.” ![Screenshot of LinkedIn Experience section](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/04/CleanShot-2026-04-30-at-09.20.10.png) My LinkedIn Profile, connected to my Company Page But you don’t need to do much with the Company Page, other than describe what services you offer. Focus on your main profile first, since that’s how people find you. When you feel like you have the bandwidth, you can post to the Company Page. I share links to client work and client testimonials, no more than a few posts per month. The only reason I do this is so the page comes up in search, in addition to my profile. My Company Page is entirely self-promotional, whereas I keep “selling” to a minimum on my main profile (which I talk about in the next section). But don't spend a ton of time maintaining a Company Page. Your personal profile is where inbound leads start. ## Content Consistency Without Burnout The single biggest mistake solopreneurs make is treating LinkedIn like a daily content hamster wheel, which is *exactly* how you burn out. Just like any social platform, [consistency beats frequency](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-your-content-across-multiple-platforms/),. You don't need to post every day. I started with one thoughtful post per week, and then ramped up from there. Data from social media scheduling platform Buffer found that [posting 2-5 times per week](https://buffer.com/resources/how-often-to-post-on-linkedin/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) on LinkedIn is the “sweet spot.” If you’re just getting started, start with two. You need to post regularly enough that when someone from your network lands on your profile, they see evidence that you're actively thinking about your craft. Not sure what to post? Here’s how to start. ### Value posts Value posts demonstrate your expertise: real frameworks you use, lessons from your research, observations about your industry. People use the phrase “thought leadership.” I personally don’t like the term, but they’re the type of posts that show you've done the thinking, so potential clients trust that you know what you’re talking about. If being a “thought leader” [makes you uncomfortable](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/), focus more on the “how” part of your work. Your processes for research, how you onboard new clients, or how you run your business all make good content. ### Human-centric posts Human-centric posts let people know who you are. These might include what you've learned from failures or how you’ve changed over your career. They build the "know, like, trust" factor because people are hiring *you*, not just your skills. You could also bring in glimpses of your life outside of work. I’m a [working mom](https://blog.annabyang.com/parenting-while-running-a-business/), so I’ll occasionally say things like, “My day ended early because I needed to pick up my sick kid from school.” It keeps things real. But only share what you’re comfortable sharing. ### Sales posts Sales posts are rare. Constant posts of “Here’s why you should hire me!” don’t land well. You’re proving your value through other posts, not direct sales pitches. Maybe do a few of these per month, depending on how actively you're trying to get new clients. An actual sales post is direct: "I'm taking on new clients in Q3" or "If you're building a SaaS product, DM me — I can help you with this specific pain point." 💡 ****Tip:** LinkedIn rewards native content — text posts, carousel posts, video — **far* more than external links. If you link to your blog or website in every post, LinkedIn throttles your reach. The algorithm is designed to keep people on the platform. Instead, drive traffic by saying "Send me a DM if you want to learn more" or "Check out my website — there’s a link at the top of my LinkedIn profile.” ## 3 steps for managing the LinkedIn outreach process This is where most solopreneurs fumble. They're either not reaching out at all, or they're reaching out to cold contacts with a hard sell. Here’s the process for turning LinkedIn engagement into actual conversations. ### 1\. Message people who engage with your content Start with people who are already engaging with your content. If someone comments on your post, that's a signal. That person is interested in what you have to say. Thank them, engage with their comment meaningfully, check out their profile. - Do they look like someone you'd enjoy working with? - Are they in your target industry? If yes, send them a connection request with a brief personal note referencing the comment they made. This is the first part of forming a warm connection. ### 2\. Never pitch-slap a new connection Do not — I repeat — do not *ever* immediately pitch someone after they connect. It’s still a cold pitch, and you’ll be far more successful with a warm pitch. You need to build some trust first. Engage with their content for a few days or weeks. Comment on their posts. Start a genuine conversation in the GMs, asking about the type of work they do. If they post about a company milestone or hiring, that's a warm signal. They might need the exact service you provide. That's your opening. ### 3\. Move from DM to discovery call You still need to tread lightly when you finally get to the pitch, so you don’t damage the trust. Frame it as a question, like "Your recent post about content strategy caught my attention. How are you thinking about that going forward?" The goal is to move from DM conversation to a discovery call if there's a mutual fit. People respond to people they recognize. If they've been following your work or engaging with your content, they already know your name. That's the advantage of spending time building your presence. 💡 Tip: As a [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/), I look for companies that are hiring full-time roles. Hiring is slow and can take months. That's my in. I offer to fill a gap they're actively experiencing. ## The solopreneur's LinkedIn toolkit Building momentum on LinkedIn doesn't mean spending every waking hour on the platform. These tools help you stay consistent without feeling overwhelmed - **Scheduling tools (Buffer, Later, Hootsuite):** Write and schedule posts in batches. Spend an hour on content creation, then let the tool distribute throughout the week. - **LinkedIn analytics (Native analytics, Taplio, Shield):** Track which posts get engagement. Double down on the formats that are working well. - **CRM-lite tools:** Keep a simple database of LinkedIn connections: names, context (how you know them), conversation history, and next steps. 💡 ****Tip**: CRM tools can get expensive fast, especially for a solopreneur. You don’t need anything fancy, so you can build your own in Notion, Airtable, or even a GSheet. The person’s name, LinkedIn URL, and any notes might be all you need. ## Moving Beyond the LinkedIn Feed At some point, your LinkedIn engine matures. You're getting consistent inbound inquiries. People are recognizing your name. That's when you can spread your reach into other channels. And you don’t have to start from scratch. Your high-performing LinkedIn posts can become a newsletter or a blog post. You can [repurpose ideas](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/repurpose-social-posts-using-chatgpt/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) into Threads posts or even TikTok if that's where your audience is. Don't chase every platform. But once you've proven something works on LinkedIn, extending it to one or two other channels doesn’t have to be a huge lift. You’re not starting from scratch because you’re relying on successful content you’ve already created as a starting point. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-idea-collector.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-endless-idea-collector?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Learn how to find content inspiration in everyday life.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-endless-idea-collector?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### Should I post about personal topics on LinkedIn or stick to business? Stick mostly to business with light personal context. If you're sharing a parenting challenge, for example, connect it to a lesson that applies to your work. You're building credibility, not a personal diary. That being said, a bit of personality is what creates the "like" and "trust" factors alongside your expertise. #### How do I know if someone is worth connecting with on LinkedIn? Look a: Do they work at companies that need your services? Are they in your target industry? Do they seem like they'd be interesting to know? That being said, there’s no harm in connecting — but don’t spend time going down a path of a lenghty DM conversation if it won’t serve your business. #### Can I automate my LinkedIn messages? LinkedIn has rules against that. Automation triggers detection and can get you shadowbanned. Your DMs should always be personal and manual. That takes time, which is the point — you're making a genuine effort to build relationships. #### What if I pitch someone on LinkedIn without the warm-up? Odds are, you’ll get ignored and it will waste your time and damage the potential relationship. People are busy and protective of their time. Many won’t engage with someone who skipped the relationship-building step. ### ### Working With a Freelancer? Make Sure Your Project Scope is Solid URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-scope/ Last updated: 2026-07-23T19:50:00.000Z Freelancers are a great resource for startups and small businesses. They bring specialized expertise, flexibility, and a fresh perspective to your projects. But here's the thing: the success of a freelance engagement depends heavily on setting the right expectations from the start. If you can't articulate what you need, it isn't well-defined — and an undefined project is a recipe for frustration on both sides. This guide is for startup founders, small business owners, and hiring managers who are bringing in freelancers, whether for the first time or looking to improve how they work with external talent. I've been on both sides of the client-freelancer relationship, and know firsthand what works best. 💡 Freelancers need a clear scope, specific deliverables, and business context to do their best work. The upfront investment in a solid project brief pays for itself in less back-and-forth and better outcomes. But you must have the right expectations when [working with a freelancer](https://blog.annabyang.com/startups-working-with-freelancers/). Freelancers aren’t typically “in the weeds” with the ins and outs of your business. And unless they’re specifically scoped to help you with project strategy, they’re expecting you to provide specifics, usually in the form of a project brief. If you can’t outline a project for a freelancer, then the project isn’t well-defined - — which won’t end well for anyone. You’ll end up with work that doesn’t meet your goals and the freelancer will be frustrated. Here are some things to include in a project scope and it’s good to have these in mind *before* you start looking for a freelance resource. ## What should you know before hiring a freelancer? The most important thing to understand: freelancers aren't mind readers. They can't deliver great work without understanding what you want, why you want it, and how you'll evaluate it. Most freelancer-client frustration comes from vague expectations, not a lack of talent. A freelancer who gets a clear brief and the right context can [produce work](https://blog.annabyang.com/startups-working-with-freelancers/) that feels like it came from an in-house team member. A freelancer who gets a request like "I need some social media posts for my business" will spend hours guessing what you actually need — and probably guess wrong. The investment you make in defining the project upfront directly determines the quality of what you get back. If you're not exactly sure what you need, you're probably not ready to hire a freelancer (or you need to first hire someone to help you determine your overall business strategy, before you hire someone who can execute). ## 5 tips for setting a clear project scope with a freelancer If you know what you need, here's how to best structure and communicate during an engagement with a freelancer. ### 1\. Have clear objectives and deliverables The foundation of any successful freelance project is knowing what you want the outcome to be. This sounds obvious, but many businesses bring in content writers, designers, or strategists without being able to articulate what success looks like. A good objective is specific and measurable. "Develop a 6-month content strategy focused on SEO, including monthly editorial calendars and 4 blog posts per month" is something a freelancer can work with. "I need content that will rank in Google" is not. Before reaching out to a freelancer, make sure you can answer: - What will the freelancer produce? - How will you measure whether the work was successful? - What does "done" look like? I’m a freelance [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/). A **good** objective is when a client hires me to help with a specific content strategy, or to write a specific number of case studies. Internally, the client has already outlined their goals; I’m just helping with execution. A **bad** objective is when a client says, “I need more content.” The client hasn’t identified *why* they need more content or what audience they’re trying to serve. In that case, even if I deliver work exactly to spec, the client might still be unhappy. When there’s no specific goal, it’s hard to achieve ROI of hiring a freelancer. [Top Questions Clients Ask Before Hiring a Freelance WriterPrepare your responses to common client questions.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelancing-101-hero-image-5.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/top-questions-clients-ask-freelance-writer/) ### 2\. Outline the timeline and approval process Freelancers need to know how long they have to complete deliverables and what the approval workflow looks like. This includes the number of revision rounds, meeting cadence, specific due dates, and who approves final deliverables. Both parties need to commit to timely communication. If the freelancer is waiting days for feedback, the project stalls. If you're waiting weeks for deliverables, you lose momentum. Set expectations for response times on both sides. 💡 ****Tip**: Two revision rounds is standard for most freelance projects. If you're consistently needing more, the issue is usually in the briefing process, not the freelancer's work. ### 3\. Provide business context A common mistake is asking a freelancer to "look at our website" and figure out what needs to be done ([voice and tone](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/style-guide-ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), design, information about the company, etc). That places the burden of discovery on the freelancer and wastes their time. Instead, collect information from your internal discussions and resources to provide the context they need: - Company background - Target audience - Product details - Messaging and positioning - Why this project matters right now (is this part of a launch? a rebrand? a shift in strategy?) This context helps the freelancer make decisions throughout the project and deliver work that actually aligns with your vision. The 30 minutes you spend gathering context can save hours of revisions later. If you're worried about providing business context to the freelancer, have the freelancer sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). ### 4\. Discuss project management logistics How will the project be managed day-to-day? Will you manage the project, or will the freelancer use their own [project management system](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/)? This decision directly impacts productivity and communication. Decide upfront: - Will you use project management software like Asana, Monday.com, or Notion? - What's the primary communication channel — email, Slack, something else? - Where will files live? Setting these expectations before work begins prevents the awkward "where did you put that file" and "I didn't see your message" conversations that slow projects down. ### 5\. Start with a trial project If you've never worked with a particular freelancer before, consider starting with a smaller, defined project before committing to a long-term engagement. A trial project lets both sides evaluate the working relationship with much lower stakes. A good trial project is representative of the actual work you need done — not busywork or a test assignment. Pay the freelancer their normal rate. Evaluate not just the deliverable quality, but how the communication and workflow felt. I write trial projects into my [contracts with clients](https://blog.annabyang.com/legal-protections-freelancers-contract/). If the clients are happy with the trial project, the engagement continues. If they're unhappy for any reason, it ends. That way, I'm not dealing with two sets of contracts, or a trial project that isn't governed by a contract. ## Hiring freelance talent A tight brief only pays off if the person on the other side of it can actually deliver, so sourcing deserves the same attention you just put into the objective and the timeline. [Upwork](https://www.upwork.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) connects businesses with independent professionals across more than 10,000 skills, from fintech writers to full-stack developers. You write a project scope, and it maps to a defined pool of candidates who can submit proposals against it. The evaluation step is where the platform stands out. Talent badges, Job Success Scores, and past client feedback give you concrete signals to compare against your project requirements. Once work begins, milestone tracking and payment protection handle the logistics. If you treat scoping and sourcing as a single process, your first engagement has a real chance of turning into a long-term partnership. ## Common things to watch for when hiring a freelancer - **Scope creep** — when deliverables expand beyond the original agreement without adjusting the timeline or budget. Define the scope clearly upfront and address changes immediately. - **Vague deliverables** — "help with marketing" is not a deliverable. Be specific about what you need produced, in what format, and by when. - **Poor communication cadence** — going silent for days and then expecting immediate turnarounds creates frustration. Agree on response times and any scheduled meetings. - **Unrealistic timelines** — quality work takes time. Rushing a freelancer usually means lower quality or burnout on their side (neither of which serves your project). - **Unclear approval processes** — if three people need to approve a deliverable but only one person is communicating with the freelancer, expect delays and conflicting feedback. - **Treating freelancers like employees** — freelancers manage their own schedules and workflows. Micromanaging the process undermines the freelancer's flexibility and can conflict with labor laws regarding independent contractors. ## A good partnership is worth the upfront investment Yes, it takes time to onboard a freelancer and get them up to speed, even a [very experienced freelancer](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-brief-for-a-freelancer/). But a good partnership becomes a long-term resource for your business. Many of my best clients have been with me for years, because we've developed a respectful, mutually beneficial relationship. The best client-freelancer relationships have the scope and context to be successful. That starts with what you give them. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-pricing.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Freelance pricing is hard to figure out,* **but I’ve created a free resource to help freelancers set their rates.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **Note: This article was written in collaboration with Upwork, an online marketplace where startups can hire top talent.* ## FAQs #### What should be included in a freelance project brief? A good freelance project brief includes: the project objective, specific deliverables, timeline and deadlines, number of revision rounds, relevant business context (audience, messaging, goals), communication expectations, and who approves the final work. The more specific the brief, the better the output. #### How do you effectively manage a freelancer remotely? Set clear expectations upfront about communication channels, response times, and deliverable formats. Use project management tools to track progress. Schedule regular check-ins (weekly or biweekly) but avoid micromanaging. Focus on outcomes rather than the number of hours worked. #### How long does it typically take to onboard a freelancer? For a straightforward project, onboarding can take as little as a single kickoff call plus a detailed brief. More complex engagements — like ongoing content strategy or design work — may take 2-4 weeks for the freelancer to fully understand your brand, audience, and workflows. #### Should you manage the freelancer or let them manage themselves? A mix of both works best. You should define the what (deliverables, timelines, quality standards) and let the freelancer manage the how (their process, schedule, and workflow). Experienced freelancers have their own systems for getting work done. Additionally, most countries have clear labor laws that govern how much you can control the work of an independent contractor. 🗓️ **Note: This blog post was originally published in February 2024 and was updated in April 2026.* ### ### What Happens to Your Solo Business When You Can't Work? URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solo-business-prepare-for-the-unexpected/ Last updated: 2026-04-27T15:15:18.000Z A lot of life events are unplanned. A major illness. A car accident. The death of a loved one. How you handle life events is hard enough. When you’re running a solo business, it’s a significant amount of additional stress. There's a [baseline truth](https://blog.annabyang.com/truths-about-solo-business/) built into the solo business model: your business runs on *you*. When you get sick, when family needs you, when life simply happens — everything stops. You don’t need to think through every worst-case scenario and try to plan for how you’ll react. But you *can* plan for what happens to your business when life pulls you away. Your business doesn’t have to fall apart. 💡 ****TL;DR**: A resilient solo business runs on three things: ****financial reserves**, ****operational structure**, and ****genuine community**. Build these before you need them, and your business can survive almost anything — including a period where you simply can't work. ## What makes a solo business resilient? Running a solo business is often a huge strategic advantage: total control, direct relationships with clients, and every decision filtered through your vision. But it's also the vulnerability in situations like a crisis in our lives. Miss two weeks of client work, and you've lost two weeks of revenue. Miss two months, and you could impact any [stability you’ve built for yourself](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/). In 2025, I found out that I had a [brain tumor](https://blog.annabyang.com/self-employed-brain-tumor/) and needed brain surgery. I ended up stepping fully away from my business for almost eight weeks. It was another few months before I fully felt like myself again. I was terrified that my solo business would crumble, but it survived. A resilient solo business is able to bounce back. No one is invincible, and no one can completely avoid life’s hard moments. But you want to build systems that allow you to pause and resume if needed. ## How to build a business that can survive without you What you’ll want to ask yourself today: “What happens to my business if I suddenly couldn’t work?” Then you’ll start putting things in place to handle that scenario. ### Start with the financial safety net Most solopreneurs live on their business [cash flow](https://blog.annabyang.com/solo-business-cash-flow/) (money received from clients). This makes sense when your income fluctuates from month to month. But unexpected time off might mean *no* income for a period of time. You’ve got to build a safety net you can draw from. Here's what to do: set up a [separate savings account](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-savings-accounts/) and commit to putting aside a little money every month. Even $100 or $200, even if it feels small. This is your "rainy day" fund. It sits there, separate from your [main bank account](https://blog.annabyang.com/choose-a-bank-for-your-freelance-business/), so you don't spend it on something like a new computer or taxes. The exact amount depends on your monthly expenses and how much risk you want to carry. The exact amount isn't as important as consistency. Money set aside slowly adds up, so when you need it, it's there. 💡 ****Tip:** Set up an automatic monthly transfer, like on the first of the month. Some banks even let you set aside transfers based on a percentage (like 5%) of any money that comes in. ### Examine your operational structure When you can't work, there are a few things that shouldn't stop, including: 1. Client relationships 2. Social media (hard to regain momentum) 3. Email sequences that continue to nurture your audience Client relationships are the tricky ones. You *might* be able to subcontract work, if your client agreements allow it. But that’s hard to spin up on the fly (easier if it’s for planned time off, like parental leave). In the case of my brain surgery, I had to simply tell my clients that I would be gone for a few months and unable to take on work during that time. The second two are much more possible with help. If you've already built workflows with a [virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) or contractor, they can keep things running, even when you’re not around. I built out a newsletter and [blog publishing process](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/automate-your-blog-publishing-process/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (with some help from automation) between my virtual assistant and an editor. If you have some time to react, you can [pre-schedule your social posts](https://buffer.com/resources/social-media-medical-leave/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I had about six weeks between diagnosis and surgery to prepare. If you don’t have much time, re-use old posts (or get someone to re-publish old posts for you). Focus on how to handle the revenue-generating work (what clients pay you for) and the visibility work that keeps you from disappearing. ### Invest in community Just because you’re running a solo business doesn’t mean you have to be alone when you’re going through something hard. Lean into [your community](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/)met. I’m not talking about your followers or parasocial relationships. I’m talking about *real* relationships with people who know your work and genuinely care about your success. These don’t have to be people you’ve met IRL — online friendships are real, as long as you have a 1:1 connection with the person. When you need help, your [community will show up](https://blog.annabyang.com/long-term-leave-freelancer/). But you have to put in the work to build relationships. This means: **help people first**. Have virtual coffee chats with people. Share others' work. Recommend someone without being asked. Be a sounding board. Be the person who's useful before you need to ask for anything. When the unexpected hits, the people you've connected with are often the first ones to say, “How can I help?” ## Think about the structure of your business If all your income comes from one retainer client, losing your ability to work means losing that entire retainer. If your income is spread across multiple project clients who respect you, you have more flexibility. [Project-based clients](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/), understand work comes and goes — they're used to it. Retainer clients are paying for consistent availability, which is harder to deliver when you're dealing with the unexpected. I’m not saying that you should re-work your entire business model. But understand the tradeoff. If you’re working on retainers, you’ll need to do more to prepare someone (such as a subcontractor) to step in if you can’t work, so you can meet your obligations to your client. ## When the unexpected happens: a checklist When life hits, and you can't work, here's what needs to happen: - **Notify your clients.** Be clear about what they can expect and when you'll be back. - **Pre-schedule content.** Batch-create what you can, such as social posts, emails, and anything that keeps you visible. - **Brief your virtual assistant.** Give them clear authority to handle what's in their wheelhouse without waiting for your approval. - **Delegate what you can.** Lean into any friends or people in your network who may be able to fill a gap temporarily. - **Accept that some things will pause.** You can't do everything. Some projects and operational work will need to pause until you return. ## You won't always see it coming, but you can prepare Most of the time, you can't predict when you'll need this safety net. But you can build it now, one small piece at a time. This week: Open a separate savings account if you don't have one. Move even $25 into it. Next week: Document one workflow you currently have, such as your social media posting, or a repetitive task. The week after that: Reach out to one person in your community and offer something useful. You're only one person, so you have to prepare (as much as you can) for how your business can run without you, if it ever needs to. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-long-term-leave-1.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-long-term-leave?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **If you need to step away from your business, this guide* **walks you through everything you need to do to prepare.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-long-term-leave?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### How much should solopreneurs save for unexpected time off? Aim for at least three months of your typical monthly expenses, including the amount you pay yourself. This gives you a real safety net. If that feels huge, start a goal of one month and build from there. Any amount saved is better than zero. #### Can a solo business survive without the solopreneur for a few months? Yes, if you've built a solid foundation. Your clients may pause projects, and new business may grind to a halt. But if you've got savings to cover your bills, maintain a visible presence online, and people who can help with critical tasks, your business will survive a pause. #### Should I tell my clients if I have a medical issue? Only share as much as you're comfortable sharing. You don't owe clients your medical details. A simple "I'm dealing with an unexpected situation and will be unavailable for X weeks" is enough. Most clients will appreciate the heads-up and the timeline. #### How do I keep my social media active when I can't work? Batch-create content ahead of time or bring someone in to post on your behalf. A virtual assistant posting twice a week on your account keeps you visible without requiring your day-to-day involvement. You can also re-post older content if you don’t have time to batch-create or pre-schedule. #### Is project-based work better than retainers for flexibility? Both have tradeoffs. Retainers give you predictable income, but project-based work gives you the ability to pause if needed. In either instance, think about how you might step away from your business if something unexpected happens, like a major illness. You might need to hire a subcontractor if you have client obligations to meet. #### How do I build a community that will support me? Show up consistently, help people without expecting anything in return, and be genuine. Share your time. Engagement shouldn’t feel transactional. Over time, real relationships form, and those are the people who show up when you need them. ### ### ### ### Vibe Coding for Solopreneurs: How to Build Your Own Website URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/vibe-coding-solopreneurs/ Last updated: 2026-04-23T15:15:36.000Z You know that you need a website for your business. But a fancy website can cost a lot of money… more than most solopreneurs can afford when they’re just getting started. So instead, you feel stuck with two options: boring templates from whatever website builder you choose, or spending hours trying to customize your website with skills you don’t have. But a very viable third option has emerged for solopreneurs: vibe coding a website using AI. I struggled with my website for years. I’m not in a place where I want to pay a website developer, so I’d make small tweaks or get frustrated with my site’s limitations. With vibe coding, I was able to create a new, custom website using Claude. No coding skills required. Here’s how I did it, and what you need to know before you try it yourself. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Vibe coding — using AI to generate code from plain-language prompts — lets solopreneurs build custom websites without hiring a developer or spending thousands of dollars. ## What is vibe coding? Vibe coding is the practice of using AI tools like Claude to write code by describing what you want in plain language. Instead of learning HTML, CSS, or JavaScript, you tell an AI chatbot: "I want a purple navigation bar with a button that says 'Contact'" and it generates the code for you. You paste that code into your website builder, test it. If you don’t like something, you describe the change using natural language again, such as, “Move that contact button to the center of the page.” The barrier to entry? Almost zero. All you need is access to an AI tool and a basic understanding of where to paste the code in your website builder. I don’t think vibe coding replaces website designers and developers. At some point, I’ll pay someone to design the website of my dreams. But vibe coding is a middle ground for someone who wants to move beyond basic website templates and doesn’t want to pay a web developer yet. ## How I vibe coded my website in a weekend I spent about 15 hours total vibe coding [my website](https://annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). However, a *lot* of that time was spent tweaking, testing, and making changes. It was me being really finicky about what I wanted, and changing my mind a bunch of times. The actual working prototype took about 15 minutes to spin up. Now, I can build a new page in about 30 minutes. Here's how I approached it. ### Step 1: Gather inspiration Start by collecting visual references. Your coding tool (Claude, for me) needs to understand what you want. You can try describing it in full, but it’s a lot easier to provide a URL and describe the particular elements you like. I spent time looking at other websites and saving screenshots of designs I liked. I was building a visual vocabulary for what I wanted: clean, simple, professional. I also looked specifically at websites I knew were vibe coded, like [this one](https://cnewton.org/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) from Casey Newton and [this one](https://katieparrott.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) from Katie Parrott. Even though I wanted mine to look different, these sites helped me understand what was possible. Look at colors, typography, layout, and button styles. Save at least 10-15 screenshots and note what stands out to you. ### Step 2: Prepare your brand assets Before asking AI to generate code, gather your brand information in one place: - Your colors (in hex codes like #1A1A1A) - Fonts you want to use - Your logo - Any brand guidelines you've created This prep work saves time later. When you're iterating with AI, you can just say "use the purple from my brand guide" instead of hunting for the hex code again. Don’t have [brand guidelines](https://blog.annabyang.com/branding-for-solopreneurs/) yet? Now’s the time to create them! Whatever you choose, make sure you’re consistent across other tools like social media graphics and client proposals. ### Step 3: Start with the essentials Don't build your entire website at once. Start with the pages every website needs: a Homepage, About, Services, and Contact. Get these four pages working and looking good before you think about blog sections, case studies, or [portfolio page](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/)s. If you want to get *really* basic and just publish something, design only a Homepage and a Contact page. Add the About and Services once these two pages are published. Each page is a chance to build your confidence and learn how to communicate what you want to the AI. By the time you get to additional pages, you'll know exactly how to describe a layout or style. Now, when I spin up new pages, I start with, “We’re going to match the style of XYZ page, but here’s what’s different about this page.” ### Step 4: Choose how to host your website You have options here. I chose to host my website on [Carrd](https://try.carrd.co/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*, which costs less than $20 a year and allows you to embed custom HTML. Basically, my website is “blank” Carrd pages, instead of using a Carrd template, with an HTML container. I paste my code into the container, and it works seamlessly. Other options include [Vercel](https://vercel.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (free tier available), [Cloudflare Pages](https://pages.cloudflare.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), or [Netlify](https://www.netlify.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Your choice depends on how much customization you want and whether you're comfortable with a bit of technical setup. You can always have Claude tell you step-by-step what you need to do. ### Step 5: Test, test, test This is the part most people skip, and it's the difference between a website that looks professional and one that has broken links and buttons. Test your site on mobile, tablet, and desktop. Make sure it looks as you expect across different devices. Click every link. Submit the contact form. Here's the thing: AI-generated code often needs tweaks. A button might be slightly misaligned on mobile, or the font overlaps in a way it shouldn’t. These are easy fixes once you spot them, but you won't spot them if you don't test. When I’d spot something wrong, I’d take a screenshot of what I saw. I dropped the screenshot into Claude and then described the problem. Claude would then fix the code. I had to paste the new code into Carrd, and test everything again. #### How to test when your website is already live You can only do real tests on a live, working website. A “sandbox” (non-live) website or relying on Claude’s preview aren’t the same thing. So you’re caught in a loop: you’re not ready to publish your new website to your domain yet, but you still need to test it. Here’s what I did: - Spun up a new website on Carrd, with a temporary domain (Carrd provided) - Put my code on this website, tested until it was perfect (back and forth) - Copied the final code over to my real website ### Step 6: Store your code somewhere safe Treat your code like you'd treat any important business file. You’ve got to have it stored somewhere in case something happens. Use [GitHub](https://github.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (free) or another version control system to store your code. This gives you a backup and makes it easy to restore a previous version if something breaks. Make sure your repository is set to private so your code isn't publicly visible. If you’ve never used GitHub before, watch a [YouTube tutorial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9u2yZvsqHA&ref=blog.annabyang.com) about setting it up for the first time. Using GitHub has a lot of advantages: 1. If you use Claude Code, you can connect Claude Code to GitHub. That allows Claude to publish code changes *directly* to GitHub (you’d still need to add them to your site) 2. You can connect GitHub *directly* to pages like Cloudflare Pages or Netlify. This allows you to seamlessly push from Claude Code to GitHub to your live site. But both of these are a bit more technical to set up. I started in regular Claude (not Claude Code), and just pasted my code into GitHub. 💡 ****Tip:** If GitHub feels completely overwhelming, store your code in a Google Doc. I recommend that you move to GitHub at some point — it’s the industry standard for storing code — but you can figure that out later. ## Yes, you can vibe code a website Vibe coding is a real, viable option for solopreneurs who want a custom website without hiring a developer or dropping thousands of dollars on a custom build. You don't need to understand code — you just need to be willing to describe what you want and test the result. Start small. Once you get into the rhythm, you'll find that spinning up new pages or making updates becomes faster and more intuitive. You can even spin up tools for clients to use or pages to help your business, like surveys or other resources. Your only limits are your imagination and the amount of time you want to devote to vibe coding. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-vibe-coding.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-vibe-coding?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Thinking about vibe coding your own site or tool?* **Grab this free checklist so you're ready for your first session.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-vibe-coding?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## Common mistakes when vibe coding your first website - **Trying to build everything at once.** Start with your core pages (Homepage, About, Services, Contact) and expand from there. - **Expecting AI to get it right on the first try.** Vibe coding is an iterative process. You'll give feedback, the AI will adjust, and you'll refine. This is normal. - **Skipping the prep work.** Gathering inspiration and brand assets upfront saves hours of back-and-forth with the AI. - **Not testing on mobile or different browsers.** AI-generated code can behave differently across devices. Always test everywhere before considering your site "done." - **Not storing code somewhere safe.** If something breaks and you don't have a backup, you're starting from scratch. ## FAQs #### Do I need to know how to code to vibe code a website? No. You just need to describe what you want in plain language. The AI tool does the coding. Your job is to provide feedback and test the results. #### How much does it cost to vibe code a website? It depends on where you host the code. Carrd costs less than $20 a year. Platforms like Vercel, Netlify, and Cloudflare Pages have free tiers. You'll also need access to an AI tool like Claude. You might be able to vibe code a site on the free tier, but you’ll hit usage limits. A paid version will let you work faster. #### What AI tools can I use to vibe code? Claude Code is excellent for this, but ChatGPT Codex and Gemini Code Assist work too. You can also use a tool specifically for coding, like Lovable or Cursor. Choose whichever you're most comfortable using. #### Is a vibe-coded website professional enough for my business? Yes, as long as you test it thoroughly and pay attention to design details. It helps if you provide your AI tool with examples from websites you like. A well-tested vibe-coded site looks polished and professional. What matters is the final result, not how the code was generated. #### How long does it take to vibe code a website? A working prototype can take 15 minutes. A fully functional, tested website with multiple pages might take 5-20 hours, depending on how much design refinement you want and how many iterations you do. After your initial work, new pages will be much faster. #### Can I use vibe-coded code on my existing website builder? Most website builders (Carrd, Webflow, Squarespace) allow you to embed custom HTML or CSS. Check your builder's documentation to see where and how to paste code. ### Legal Protections for Freelancers: What to Put in Your Contract URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/legal-protections-freelancers-contract/ Last updated: 2026-04-16T15:15:26.000Z A virtual handshake (i.e. a Slack message) might feel like enough to start working on a new client project when the client seems trustworthy — but it's not. Even relationships with well-meaning clients can go south for unforeseen reasons. Not to mention, there are a *lot* of unscrupulous people out there who take advantage of freelancers. A solid freelance contract protects your time, your money, and your business. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Every freelance contract should include scope of work, payment terms, timeline and deadlines, intellectual property rights, and a termination clause. These elements prevent scope creep, ensure you get paid on time, and give you legal recourse if something goes wrong. ## Why do freelancers need contracts? Think of your contract as your insurance policy for the client relationship. It sets expectations for both you *and* your client. Before I pivoted to freelancing, I was the director of customer success at a tech company. I was tasked with writing contracts for some projects. I quickly realized that the more I included, the more I could protect the company and team. Otherwise, we found ourselves in some tense/sticky situations that ended up costing time and money. As a freelance [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/), my contract has protected me many times. Without a written agreement, you're vulnerable. You might end up doing extra work for free, waiting months to get paid, or having a client claim they never agreed to your terms. A solid contract prevents all of that. Lawyer Brionna Ned says that most business owners don’t understand legal risk. She [told me in an interview](https://www.workbetter.media/p/legal-risk-solopreneurs?ref=blog.annabyang.com): > “Being strategic is just knowing your ‘why.’ *Why* you do something, from a legal perspective, is because you know what your legal risks are and you've prioritized them in your business.” Operating without a solid contract opens you up to a lot of legal risk. [How to Create a Freelance Contract (+5 Things to Include)Your contract can prevent some sticky situations.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w1200/2026/03/annabyang-freelancing-101-hero-image-26.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-contract-protect-yourself/) ## 5 things every freelance contract should include Here are the core elements that make a contract *actually* protective. These five items form the foundation of any freelance agreement, and they're straightforward enough to include in even the simplest contracts. You can look for examples of freelance contracts online. The Freelancer’s Union has a [free one](https://freelancersunion.org/contract/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) you can start with and modify. If you use Google Workspace, you can use the built-in e-signature feature to have your client sign. ### Scope of work Define **exactly** what you're delivering: the deliverables, how many rounds of revisions you’ll do, how often you’ll meet with the client, and what falls outside the agreement. This is your strongest defense against [scope creep](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-scope/). Be specific. Instead of "I'll write blog posts," say "I'll deliver 4 blog posts, 800-1,000 words each, with 2 rounds of revisions included." The more detail, the better. 💡 ****Tip:** If a client requests something outside of scope, point back to the contract: "I'm happy to do that for an additional fee based on our scope agreement." ### Payment terms Within the contract, state your rate, [when you'll invoice](https://blog.annabyang.com/invoicing-software-freelancers/), how payment will be made, and what happens if an invoice is late. You can also include a **kill fee:** a portion of the project fee you'll receive if the client cancels mid-project. You don’t have to offer a kill fee, but sometimes it makes sense. I’ve only had to invoke a kill fee a handful of times, but it was because the project simply wasn’t possible, and I’d already put work into it. Most of my contracts specify Net 30 terms, meaning the client has 30 days to pay an invoice. If I'm doing a large project, I sometimes request a 50% deposit upfront to reduce my risk. ❗ ****Note:** In the U.S., some states have laws about what you can charge for a late fee. You have to follow the laws based on where the **client* is located, not where you are located. ❗ ****Note:** Some states have laws **specifically* protecting freelancers (though very few). In Illinois, for example, the [Freelance Worker Protection Act](https://labor.illinois.gov/laws-rules/legal/freelance-worker-protection-act.html?ref=blog.annabyang.com) requires clients to pay double the amount of the invoice if they are more than 30 days late. ### Timeline and deadlines List the project milestones, delivery dates, and any penalties if the client delays approval or feedback. This protects you if a client's slow responses impact your ability to deliver. For example: "Client will provide feedback on deliverables within 5 business days. If feedback is delayed beyond that, project deadlines will shift accordingly." ### Intellectual property and usage rights Clarify who owns the work once you deliver it. Will the client own it completely, or do you retain some rights? If they're licensing it from you, what can they do with it? This matters a lot depending on your work. A copywriter might want to retain rights to certain pieces [for a portfolio](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/). A developer might transfer all code ownership. There's no one right answer... just make sure it's in writing. 💡 ****Tip**: If you transfer rights to the client, make sure the rights do not transfer until **after* you are paid. You retain rights until then. This gives you some recourse if the client doesn’t pay. ### Termination clause Explain how either party can end the agreement, how much notice is required, and what happens to payment for work still in progress. A simple version: "Either party may terminate this agreement with 14 days’ written notice. Client will pay for all work completed, all projects still in progress, and deliverables provided up to the termination date." ## Build from your baseline A contract doesn't have to be complicated or intimidating. Start with the five elements above, add any industry-specific clauses that matter for your work, and you're done. As you grow, you'll refine it based on your real experience with clients. Every time something comes up that makes me think, “I wish that were in my contract,” I add it. If you’re not comfortable making edits yourself, paying a lawyer might be worth it for the peace of mind that you have a contract you can use for years. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-proposal-contract.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-proposal-contract?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Not sure where to get started with a client proposal or contract?* **Check out this free checklist and download a template.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-proposal-contract?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 💡 ***Note:** *This blog post is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be legal advice.* ## Common mistakes freelancers make with contracts - **Starting work before the contract is signed.** Always, always wait for a signed agreement. Once you start, you're at risk. - **Not including scope (or making it too vague)**. Vague language like "ongoing support" or "as needed" can come back to bite you. Be detailed about what you're committing to. - **Not reading the non-compete clause.** If you’re signing a client’s agreement instead of your own, some clients slip in non-competes that restrict your ability to work with competitors. Push back if it's too restrictive. - **Not having a late payment policy**. Even if you don’t charge a late fee or interest, your contract should state that any in-progress work will stop until any overdue invoices are brought current. ## FAQs #### Do I need a lawyer to create a freelance contract? You don't need a lawyer to write a basic freelance contract, but having one review it is worth the cost if you're consistently working with high-value clients. For most early-stage freelancers, a template or sample contract (modified for your work) is fine. #### What if a client refuses to sign a contract? That's a huge red flag. A client who won't put an agreement in writing is a client who's not protecting themselves either, and that usually means trouble down the line. Walk away if you can, or only work with them on very small projects where you're comfortable with the risk. #### Should I use the client's contract or my own? Ideally, your own. Client contracts are written to protect them, not you. That being said, you can start with their template and negotiate the terms that matter most, such as scope, payment terms, and IP rights. Don't let them pressure you into accepting everything as-is. #### How do I handle scope creep without a contract? You can't, really. Without a contract, you don't have a reference point to point to when the client asks for "just one more thing." Get a contract in place from the beginning. #### What is a kill fee in freelancing? A kill fee is the amount you'll be paid if a client cancels the project before completion. It's usually 25-50% of the total project fee, depending on how far along you are. It protects you from losing money on a project that falls through. ### ### Voice Tools for Content Creation: From Quick Ideas to Full Drafts URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/voice-tools-content-creation/ Last updated: 2026-04-13T18:15:21.000Z You had a great content idea while driving. By the time you sat down at your desk, it was gone. You tried to recreate it, but the second version was nowhere near as good as the first. If you're like me, this has happened more times than you'd like to admit. The ideas aren't the problem, but capturing them in the moment is. Voice capture has gotten dramatically better in the past couple of years. The accuracy is *finally* good enough to replace typing for most idea capture. And when you connect voice tools to automation, you can actually get the ideas out of the app - rather than just having a collection of voice memos you never take action on. Here's the thing: you need the right voice tool for the type of idea you're trying to capture. I use three different approaches: quick capture for raw ideas, medium capture for context-rich thoughts, and full dictation for drafts — and it's completely changed how I create content. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Voice tools combined with automation keep your ideas from disappearing and speed up content creation. ## What are voice tools (and why content creators should care) **Voice tools** are apps and features that let you capture thoughts by speaking instead of typing. Think voice assistants, transcription apps, and dictation software. Transcription plus AI cleanup features means your dictated ideas are actually usable (instead of a garbled mess you have to decode later). For solopreneurs, the use case is simple. You can capture ideas on-the-go. I've dictated entire blog posts while sitting in the school parking lot, waiting to pick up my kid. The idea comes to me, I can get the audio *and* a transcript, which makes it easy to work with later. ## 3 levels of voice capture (and the right tool for each) Of course, you don't need a sophisticated dictation tool if you’re only looking to use dictation to add items to your to-do list. I think of voice capture in three levels. ### Level 1: Quick capture for raw ideas This is a topic or idea that's *barely* formed — just a few words. Maybe you heard something on a podcast, or a blog post angle popped into your head while walking the dog. I use Siri for this. A quick voice command sends the idea to Zapier. Zapier routes it to Trello (my project management tool). The whole thing takes about ten seconds. The goal here is speed, not detail. A few words, not sentences. Future-you just needs enough to remember what past-you was thinking. ### Level 2: Medium capture for ideas with context This is the in-between: an idea that needs more than a few words but isn't ready for a full draft. Maybe you're planning the rest of your afternoon, or you've got a half-formed article angle that needs bullet points and direction. I use an app called [Cleft](https://www.cleftnotes.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for this. I'll open the app and start talking through the idea. I'll give it context, a few supporting points, and maybe a direction I want to take it. The app captures the audio, provides a summary, and gives me something I can actually understand when I come back to it later. I add a Tag to the Cleft note, and then Zapier picks it up and routes the summary and transcript to one of my Trello boards. The thing to keep in mind is that context matters. A five-word note (level 1) might mean nothing to you a week later. A two-minute voice capture with context? That's something you can work with. ### Level 3: Full dictation for drafts This is the process for dictating an entire blog post or long-form piece while walking or driving. It sounds ambitious, but it works. I use Cleft for this also, but my process is different. I usually write a scant outline into a notebook and then follow the outline while I dictate. If I didn't do this, my draft would need far too much editing. I use AI by Zapier to clean up the transcript by removing time stamps and filter words. It also cleans up section headers and formatting. The output goes to Notion, which is where I do my drafting. From there, it’s just polishing. I do this because dictating is often *much* faster than typing. It also lets me take advantage of moments when I'm not at my desk, but still want to get some work done. #### Voice tools toolkit ⚙️ The approach is best-tool-for-the-job, not all-in-one. Each tool does one thing well and connects to the rest through automation. - ****Siri (or your phone's voice assistant):** Quick to-do and raw idea capture. Free, built into your phone, and connected to automation through Zapier. - ****Cleft:** Medium-length voice capture with summaries. Good for ideas that need more context than a few words. - ****Zapier**: The automation layer that routes voice captures to the right destination, whether that's Trello, Todoist, Notion, or somewhere else. - ****Notion, Google Docs, whatever: W**here dictated drafts land for polishing and editing. ## How to evaluate a voice tool for your workflow Before adding any new tool, I ask myself two questions. **Does this solve a specific pain point, or is it just adding another app to my stack?** There's a difference between a tool that fills a gap and a shiny object. If you're looking at a voice tool, the [evaluation period matters](https://blog.annabyang.com/evaluate-solopreneur-tech-stack/). You've got to give it a real trial, not just five minutes and one sample. **Does this save me time?** If the answer is yes, it's worth paying for. If not, think about whether it benefits you in another way or just replaces something you already have. For example, I used to use Siri to add to-do items to Todoist. But then Todoist added a feature called [Ramble](https://www.todoist.com/ramble?ref=blog.annabyang.com), making it much easier for me to dictate a list of items I needed to work on. I changed my process because of this. No reason to use a more complicated process when I could not get the result I was looking for in-app. ## Voice capture can help you reclaim your time The ideas are already there. The problem is losing them between the moment they form and the moment you sit down at your desk. A voice capture system doesn't have to be complicated. Start with one level — quick capture through your phone's voice assistant — and build from there. Try dictating your next idea instead of typing it. You might be surprised how much faster it is. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-ebook-smarttools-1.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-smarttools?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Learn the best apps and tools solopreneurs use to take their businesses* — *and productivity* — *to the next level.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-smarttools?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### What are voice tools for content creators? Voice tools are apps that let you capture thoughts by speaking instead of typing. For content creators, they're useful for capturing ideas on the go — while driving, walking, or multitasking — so nothing gets lost before you sit down to work. #### Can you write a blog post by dictating it? Yes. Dictating a full blog post takes about 15 minutes for what would normally take an hour of typing. The transcript needs cleanup and editing, but it gives you a real draft to work with instead of starting from a blank page. #### What is the best app for capturing ideas on the go? It depends on how formed the idea is. For quick, raw ideas (a few words), a phone voice assistant like Siri works well. For ideas that need context, a voice capture app like Cleft is better. #### How do you organize voice notes so they don't pile up? Use automation like Zapier to route voice captures to the right destination automatically. Quick ideas can go straight to a project management tool, while full transcriptions go to a writing app. The key is connecting your voice tool to your existing workflow so nothing sits in a separate inbox. #### Is voice dictation accurate enough for content creation? Voice-to-text accuracy has improved significantly in recent years. Most transcription tools now produce usable text that needs light editing rather than full rewriting. AI-powered cleanup can remove filler words, timestamps, and formatting issues automatically. ### Solopreneur Bookkeeping: DIY or Outsource? URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-bookkeeping/ Last updated: 2026-04-09T15:15:33.000Z If you're like me, you started your solo business doing your own bookkeeping. Even if you didn’t exactly know what you were doing, it was manageable at first. A few clients, a handful of expenses, maybe a spreadsheet or a simple accounting app. As a former banker, I was comfortable with the money part of solopreneur bookkeeping. I [set up my own budget](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-expenses/), and did my own bookkeeping for years. I even prepared my own business tax return. Then I hired a bookkeeper. Not because I couldn't do it, but because the mental energy it took was costing me more than a bookkeeper would. Every receipt I needed to forward, every transaction I needed to categorize, every statement I needed to reconcile — it all lived in my head as *one more thing* to keep track of. Outsourcing bookkeeping can serve two very different needs. Either you’re not comfortable with bookkeeping *or* it’s not the best use of your time. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Outsourcing bookkeeping saves you time and ensures your books are accurate. With the right bookkeeper, automation, and communication, you can also free up mental energy to focus on other things ## What is solopreneur bookkeeping? **Solopreneur bookkeeping** is recording the income, expenses, and financial transactions for a one-person business. It includes managing accounting software, reconciling bank statements, tracking invoices, and preparing records for tax filing. Bookkeeping can quickly become a mental drain that pulls your focus from work that brings money into your business. You might spend only a few hours on it per month, or you put it off because it’s a lower priority than other tasks. Come tax time, that becomes a giant headache. When I did my own bookkeeping, I found that it was easy to track my income and expenses. I even looked at my monthly reports. But other bookkeeping tasks, I avoided or ignored, such as reconciling bank statements. I knew that it was part of maintaining clean books, but I had what I needed, so why bother? Eventually, my business grew large enough that hiring a bookkeeper became necessary. Not only did I need someone to take the work off my plate, but I had questions about the proper way to handle certain scenarios. [Business Management Basics for SolopreneursHow to run a business.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelancing-101-hero-image-16.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-management-basics/) ## 5 tips for outsourcing bookkeeping as a solopreneur Most solopreneurs don’t manage their own books forever. Even if you start out with a DIY setup, eventually you’ll need help because of the amount of time or complexity involved. If you’ve reached that point, here’s how to prepare to outsource your solopreneur bookkeeping. ### 1\. Know when it's time to outsource There “right moment” looks different for every solopreneur, but there are signs that it’s time to outsource. - Your volume of transactions is increasing - You're spending hours per week or month on bookkeeping - You have questions about how to manage your books For some, you might need a bookkeeper right away, because you have no clue. And that’s completely fine. YOLO-ing your bookkeeping can lead to costly tax mistakes or penalties later, so better to hire a bookkeeper from the beginning. But for people taking a DIY approach, like I did, here’s a good determiner: When the cost of a bookkeeper is less than what you'd earn if you spent those hours on client work. At that point, bookkeeping comes at a cost to your business, even without paying a bookkeeper. ### 2\. Find the right bookkeeper for a solo business You don't need a big accounting firm. What you need is a freelance bookkeeper or boutique firm that understands the solo business model. Ask your fellow solopreneurs if they have any recommendations, and interview a few bookkeepers. A good question to ask: "How do you typically work with solo business owners?" Their answer will tell you quickly whether they get the reality of running a one-person operation or whether they're used to working with teams and departments. Keep in mind that a bookkeeper is not an accountant or a tax preparer. Typically, you would take the financial statements from your bookkeeper and provide them to a tax preparer, or use them to prepare your taxes yourself. The bookkeeper should understand the principles of bookkeeping, but may not be able to answer tax questions or provide any [financial advice](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-financial-planning/). If you need those things, you need to hire someone with different expertise. ### 3\. Define what you want them to handle Be specific about what your bookkeeper takes on. For me, the biggest wins were reconciliation (matching bank statements to expenses), keeping track of receipts, and preparing financial reports. I also use my bookkeeper as a resource for oddball questions. Once or twice a month, something comes up that I'm not sure how to handle. Having someone to ask saves me from wondering if Google’s answers are accurate. Make sure you understand what the bookkeeper will and will not do. My first bookkeeper only prepared reports for me quarterly (with a Loom overview) instead of monthly. If I wanted a monthly report, I pulled it out of Quickbooks myself. For my business at the time, this was fine. ### 4\. Set up automation between your tools You can also save time by setting up automation between the tools you use. I have automation set up to forward receipt emails directly to QuickBooks, so my bookkeeper spends their time on matching and categorization, not manual data entry. I also have automation that sets up a new client in Quickbooks when I close a contract. This is work I’d have to do myself, even with a bookkeeper. By automating it, I’m not spending time on manual data entry either. The combination of a bookkeeper plus automation means I barely touch the financial side of my business day-to-day. I only need to prepare client invoices. The receipts get captured automatically, the bookkeeper processes them, and I review the monthly reports. That's it. ### 5\. Build a low-touch communication cadence You don't need weekly calls with your bookkeeper. For most solo businesses, a monthly check-in covers everything. My bookkeeper sends me questions once a month if they’re not sure about a receipt or another transaction. Once a quarter, a [deeper review of trends](https://blog.annabyang.com/managing-solopreneur-finances/) and tax planning is useful, especially if you're tracking estimated tax payments. Your bookkeeper might be able to help you understand how much you need to set aside to [pay your taxes](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-taxes/). Keep the communication process simple: email or a shared document works fine. Some bookkeepers even use client portals. ## The real win: reclaiming your time This isn't just about saving hours or freeing up your time for client work. It's also about clearing the mental space that bookkeeping occupies. It’s not your area of expertise. When you're not thinking about whether you categorized last week's software purchase correctly, you can think about the work that actually grows your business. If solopreneur bookkeeping is taking too much time and brain space away from your core work, it's time to outsource. The cost of a good bookkeeper is worth it. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-quarterly-checklist.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Need to review the health of your business?* **Check out this quarterly review checklist for solopreneurs.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## Common things to watch for when outsourcing bookkeeping - **Not reviewing statements yourself.** Outsourcing doesn't mean ignoring your finances. Spot-check your bookkeeper's work monthly to catch errors or mismatches. - **Mixing personal and business expenses.** Keep a clear line between personal and business transactions. A dedicated [business bank account](https://blog.annabyang.com/choose-a-bank-for-your-freelance-business/) and credit card make this automatic. - **Choosing based on price alone**. Evaluate quality, experience, and services offered, not just the monthly rate. - **Not setting up automation first**. If your bookkeeper is manually entering receipts, you're paying for time that automation could handle. Set up receipt forwarding and bank syncing before onboarding your bookkeeper. - **Waiting too long to outsource.** If you've been telling yourself you'll "get to it this weekend" for months, that's a sign it's already time. ## FAQs #### How much does a bookkeeper cost for a solo business? Freelance bookkeepers for small solo businesses typically charge between $200-$500 per month, depending on transaction volume and services included. Some offer hourly rates ($25-$75/hour) for lighter workloads. The cost is often less than the revenue you'd generate by spending those hours on client work instead. #### When should a solopreneur outsource bookkeeping? You should consider outsourcing when bookkeeping takes more than 4-5 hours per month, when your transaction volume is increasing, or when the mental load of managing it yourself takes you away from revenue-generating work. If the cost of a bookkeeper is less than your effective hourly rate, the math works out in your favor. #### What's the difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant? A bookkeeper handles day-to-day financial recording: categorizing expenses, reconciling statements, and maintaining accurate books. An accountant focuses on higher-level financial analysis, tax strategy, and filing. Most solopreneurs need a bookkeeper year-round and an accountant at tax time. Some firms offer both. #### Can I automate my bookkeeping instead of hiring someone? Automation handles parts of bookkeeping well, such as capturing receipts, syncing transactions with your bank, and basic categorization. But automation alone can miscategorize expenses and miss nuances. It also doesn't replace human judgment for reconciliation and tax preparation. The best setup is automation plus a bookkeeper: automation handles data entry, the bookkeeper handles accuracy. #### What should I look for in a bookkeeper? Look for someone with experience working with solo businesses or freelancers, familiarity with your accounting software, and clear communication. Ask how they handle questions between scheduled check-ins and whether they can support quarterly tax planning. A good fit matters more than the lowest price. ### Parenting While Running a Business: 4 Tips for Solopreneurs URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/parenting-while-running-a-business/ Last updated: 2026-04-06T20:15:49.000Z When people ask how I manage running a business and raising three kids, I resist the urge to say "barely." Working while parenting isn't about work-life balance, because that doesn't exist. It's about building a system that accounts for the realities of work *and* life outside of work. Some weeks, the business gets more. Some weeks, the kids get more. Most weeks, you're making trade-offs in real time. I've always had childcare, and my spouse works a corporate job. I want to be upfront about that, because acknowledging privilege matters when you're giving advice about juggling work and family. Not everyone starts from the same place. That being said, even with support, running a business while parenting requires real structure. Here are the things that have worked for me. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Parenting while running a business is about intentional trade-offs. Block time for deep work, build buffer into your schedule, accept what you can't do, and automate the rest. ## What does "juggling" actually look like? Let me be clear: my days are rarely balanced. I’m constantly making decisions about how to spend my time, made week by week and sometimes hour by hour. For me, that means most creative and client work happen during school hours. Admin tasks happen in smaller pockets. And some things — projects to grow my business, new content, strategic planning — happen only when there's space. Which means some weeks, they don't happen at all. I have three kids. I cannot achieve the same things as someone without kids, because I don't have the same bandwidth. In addition to running a business, my days include making lunches, picking kids up from activities, and countless other tasks. That's the reality, and pretending otherwise just leads to frustration. ## 4 tips for running a business while parenting I’ve been running a solo business for three years, and parenting for more than 16 years. These are things that work for me. ### 1\. Block off time for your deepest work Creative and client work need stretches of uninterrupted time. You have to find time on your calendar that you can get into deep work, with *fewer* risks of interruption. During this time, you work on one important thing, rather than [multitasking](https://blog.annabyang.com/single-tasking-strategies/) with your never-ending to-do list. For me, that's during school hours (roughly 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM). I also sneak in at least an hour early in the morning before everyone wakes up, which is often when I do my best thinking. The thing to keep in mind is that the school day is shorter than a typical workday. Factor in drop-offs, pickups, half days, and in-service days, and you've got fewer focused hours than you think. Plan your week around what's *actually* available, not the time you wish you had. 💡 ****Tip:** Use a calendar scheduling link to protect deep work on your calendar. Don’t let clients or anyone else schedule meetings during this time. ### 2\. Build buffer time into your schedule My husband works a corporate job, and I’m the one with flexibility. So most of the time, I'm the one who handles doctor appointments, sick days, and early pickups. Unless I have a meeting that **cannot** be moved (like being a [podcast guest](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/)), I have to plan for last-minute schedule changes. Two of my kids are teenagers, and they’re responsible for [adding events to our shared Google Calendar](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/google-calendar-notifications-events/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). But, they’re still learning so they forget. And I’ll get a last-minute request, like “I have theater rehearsal after school. Can you pick me up at 4:30 today?” Buffer time means leaving gaps in your schedule that absorb the unexpected without derailing your entire week. I don't schedule client calls back-to-back all day. I don't commit to deadlines that leave zero room for error. When something comes up (and it inevitably does from time to time), the buffer absorbs it. I am upfront with clients that I’m a parent. I’m a deadline-hitter, 99% of the time. But because I’m *so* consistent, if something comes up with my kids, they understand. Typically, that looks like delivering the next day. I’ll let them know as soon as possible, like: > *“Hey \[client\] - my kiddo is sick today, and looks like we need to make a trip to the doctor. Since that’s going to eat into the time I had planned to finish up the deliverable today, is it ok if I send it to you tomorrow?”* ### 3\. Know your priorities and accept the trade-offs My priorities, in order: family first, client work second, business growth third. That hierarchy means some things in my business overall move slowly. A new course launch? It happens when it happens. A [client deadline](https://blog.annabyang.com/tips-to-avoid-missing-client-deadlines/)? That gets protected time. I share this because the hardest part of parenting while running a business is the comparison. It's seeing someone without kids ideate and ship a product in a weekend. You know it’s simply not possible that you do the same, yet you feel a twinge of jealousy. In [an episode of the Creator Science podcast](https://podcast.creatorscience.com/vidsummt-2024/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), Justin Moore, founder of Creator Wizard, said: > *“My moments of frustration are when there’s a lot of stuff to do family-wise. I would love to sit down and write or film a video, but I’ve got to do all these other things. For a long time, I felt a certain way about it. But I think I shifted my mindset pretty early on that that’s just not my path. My path is to be a dad, and I love being a dad.”* You're operating with different constraints. And that's not a failure. That's a decision you’ve made. ### 4\. Automate as much as possible Automation runs things in the background so I don't spend time on manual tasks. I've been doing this since day one in my business. Even back in my corporate life, I was the person automating everything I could. For a parent running a business, automation is particularly valuable because your time is fragmented. Social media scheduling, invoice reminders, email sequences, task routing — those might be things you fit in here and there around your deep work. Every manual task you eliminate is time you get back for either work or family. For example, when I sign a new client, an automation in Zapier with 17 steps [adds new folders to my Google Drive](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/client-folders-google-drive/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), sets the client up in Quickbooks, and adds some follow-up items to my to-do list. That’s mental energy and a few moments of time saved. If you’ve never automated anything before, you can start with something simple, like after every client meeting, you can add a follow-up to your to-do list. That way, you’re not relying on your brain to keep track of everything. [4 Signs You Need Automation Solo Business AutomationWhen tasks feel out of control.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-tools-automation-hero-image-1.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/solo-business-automation/) ## Tips for parents who are running a solo business - **Don’t compare yourself to people without kids.** Measure your progress against your own goals, not someone else's timeline. - **Build a buffer into your schedule.** If every hour is accounted for, one sick kid or school closure throws off the entire week. Leave gaps on purpose. - **Treating business tasks as urgent when they're not.** Client deadlines are urgent. Other business projects can wait. Know the difference. - **Don’t feel guilty, thinking you should be working more.** If you’re prioritizing family, be proud of your decision. - **Don’t try to "make up" lost time instead of adjusting expectations.** If your Wednesday disappears because of a field trip, you don't need to work until midnight to compensate. Adjust the week's plan accordingly. ## We don't all have the same 24 hours Comparison is real, and it doesn't go away just because you know better. I've had to learn to recognize when goals aren't possible in my current season of life. It's not because I don't try hard enough. It's because I've chosen to prioritize my family. What I will say is that things have gotten better as my kids have gotten older. I’m a chauffeur for a lot of after-school activities, but that gives me a lot of time in the car. I do things like dictate a blog post to myself while I’m waiting in the school parking lot. If you're parenting and running a business, give yourself permission to move at a different pace. Build the structure that works for your actual life, not someone else's highlight reel. The business will grow. Your kids won't be small forever. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-getting-started-automation.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Want to see what automation actually looks like in a solo business?* **Check out my free guide.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### How do solopreneurs manage childcare while running a business? Most solopreneurs with young children rely on some combination of daycare, school hours, a partner's schedule, and family support. Some parents also trade childcare with other parent-entrepreneurs. The key is building your work schedule around the childcare you actually have, not the working hours you wish you had. #### How many hours a day can you realistically work with kids? It depends on the age of your children and your childcare setup. Parents with school-age kids typically have 5-6 focused hours during the school day. Parents with younger children at home may work in shorter bursts during naps or after bedtime. You may have more with younger children if you have full-day childcare, but also have to be prepared for days when your kids are sick or school is closed. #### Should I tell clients I have kids? That's a personal decision. You don't owe clients an explanation for your schedule. What matters is that you deliver quality work on time. Some freelancers mention it to set boundaries around availability. Others prefer to keep it private. Either approach works. #### How do I handle sick days when I'm self-employed? Build buffer time into your weekly schedule so a sick day doesn't create a domino effect. If you have a deadline and a sick child, communicate with your client early rather than waiting until the last minute. Most clients are understanding if you're proactive about it. #### Can I run a business during nap time and after bedtime? Some parents do, especially in the early stages. But it's not sustainable long-term. Working only in margins leaves you exhausted and limits what you can take on. If your business is growing, investing in some form of childcare — even part-time — gives you the focused hours you need. #### How do I stop comparing myself to solopreneurs without kids? Remind yourself that you're operating with different constraints and different priorities. Follow people who are honest about parenting while running a business, not glossing over how hard it can be. Focus on the progress you're making within your reality. ### Branding for Solopreneurs: What to Invest In (and When) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/branding-for-solopreneurs/ Last updated: 2026-03-30T16:15:51.000Z If you spend any time on social media, you've seen the discourse. Business owners are debating whether to invest in courses, photoshoots, Canva templates, or websites. Everyone has an opinion on where your money should go first (usually tied to whatever service they’re selling…) Here's the thing: when you're running a solo business, every dollar needs to work harder. You don't have a marketing department or an entire design team. You're the brand, the CEO, and the person making the graphics for your next LinkedIn post. I've been [building my brand](https://blog.annabyang.com/linkedin-client-acquisition/) since I started my business as a freelance fintech writer, and the investments I've made have evolved as my business has grown. Some things I spent money on early. Others, I waited on until they made more sense. 💡 ****TL;DR** Branding investments should match your business stage and budget. Investing in the wrong things too early can mean overspending or being unclear about your brand identity and needing to make changes later. ## What does branding actually mean for a solopreneur? When people say "branding," they often picture a full branding process with a designer, a new logo, custom fonts, and a brand guide. That's not what most solopreneurs need… at least not right away. For solopreneurs, your initial branding is simpler than that. It's your visual identity (colors, fonts, the way your content looks), your online presence (website, social profiles, how you [show up online](https://blog.annabyang.com/social-media-for-solopreneurs/)), and professional consistency across all of it. It's about looking like you take your business seriously — because you do! You don't need a $10,000 investment with a professional brand designer to get there. You can make incremental investments that later lead to a larger brand project. ## The solopreneur branding toolkit: what to invest in and when There are three core branding investments that every solopreneur will make at some point. The order matters because each one builds on the last. Starting in the wrong place can mean spending money before you're able to get a return on it. I think of these as progressive investments: you start small and upgrade as your business grows. ### Professional headshots Your face is part of your brand (whether you like it or not). People want to see who they're working with. A professional headshot gets used *everywhere* — LinkedIn, your website, social media, guest bios, [podcast guest appearances](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/), etc. It's an asset you’ll use over and over. **Initial investment: AI headshots.** If you're in the early stages of your business, [AI headshot tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-for-solopreneurs/) make this incredibly accessible and affordable. For under $50, you can get a set of professional-looking headshots that work for LinkedIn, your website, and social profiles. They're not perfect — some of them look a little too polished or have some weird AI-obvious flaws — but they're a huge upgrade from a cropped group photo or no headshot at all. **Later investment: A brand photographer.** Once your business is more established and you know your brand identity, invest in a photoshoot with a professional photographer. A photographer can capture who you actually are: your personality, your workspace, the way you work, etc. These photos become assets you'll use for months (or years). I use both. For headshots, I use an AI-generated headshot and change the background color (using Canva). I’ve also done a photoshoot with a photographer to get some full-body and outdoor shots. 💡 ****Tip:** When you do invest in a photographer, come prepared with a shot list. Think about where you'll use the photos — social media, website headers, about pages, guest bios — and plan shots for each. You'll get more mileage out of the session if you can give the photographer some direction. ### Brand visual identity Next, you need to invest some time and money in making everything else look cohesive. When someone lands on your LinkedIn profile, clicks through to your website, and then sees one of your social posts, the visual consistency builds trust. It signals that you're not winging it. [Consistent branding](https://www.wearetenet.com/blog/branding-statistics?ref=blog.annabyang.com) increases revenue by up to 23% and makes you 3.5x more visible online. I'm not a creative person (outside of writing!), so building a visual identity felt intimidating at first. But it doesn't have to be complicated. It starts with choosing a few colors, a font or two, and being consistent with them. **Initial investment: Canva templates.** Canva has made brand design accessible for people like me. You can use template packs for social media posts, carousels, presentations, and proposals. Pick a set that matches the look you want, customize it with your colors and fonts, and you've got a visual identity. [4 Reasons You Need to Organize Your Freelance Brand AssetsBuilding a strong brand matters. Make it easy to maintain.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-206.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-productivity-organization-hero-image-7.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/organize-freelance-brand-assets/) **Later investment: Hire a brand designer.** A brand designer can create a custom visual system for you. This includes a logo, color palette, typography, and guidelines for how to use them. Working with a professional designer is A Very Big Project, but it takes the guesswork out of every design decision going forward. I worked with a brand designer after I felt like I’d exhausted what I could do in Canva. Everything was consistent, but looked “homemade” (for lack of a better word). I wanted to signal to people that I had invested in my brand, so I spent a lot of time and money working with a brand designer over several months’ time. I ended up with clear brand guidelines and hundreds of Canva templates to use going forward. 💡 ****Tip:** Before hiring a designer, save examples of brands you admire. Screenshots of websites, social posts, color palettes — anything that catches your eye. This gives your designer something concrete to work with instead of trying to translate vague descriptions like "clean but approachable." ### Website This is the investment that gets the most debate. And I get it: a website can be a *significant* expense, especially if you hire a developer or a designer to build it. Or you try to do it yourself and run into limits based on your skills and patience level. But in the early stages of your business, you might still be refining your offers, your positioning, and your messaging. Spending thousands on a website before you've figured those things out means you'll probably need to redo it within a year. Especially if you spend a lot of money on a website *without* having invested in your brand visual identity. That doesn't mean you shouldn't have a website. **You absolutely should.** You just don't need to spend a fortune on it right away. **Initial investment: Vibe code it.** If you haven't heard of vibe coding, it's using AI tools to build things — including websites — by describing what you want in plain language. I vibe coded [my own website](https://annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), and it works. It's not going to win any design awards, but it communicates what I do, who I work with, and how to contact me. That's all a website needs to do in the early stages. I used Claude to vibe code the website and [Carrd](https://try.carrd.co/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]* to get it on the internet. I spent about 15 hours coding the website, but a *lot* of that was me making changes. I had a working prototype within 15 minutes, and now I can spin up entire new pages in about 30 minutes. Carrd is less than $20 per year. **Later investment: A professional web developer.** Once your brand identity is defined, your offers are solid, and you're generating enough revenue to justify the spend, a professionally built website is worth it. A developer can build something custom that reflects your brand, loads fast, and is optimized for search. This is when the investment pays off, because you know exactly what the site needs to do. ## Start where you are today The best branding advice I can give is this: don't let someone else's timeline pressure you into spending money you're not ready to spend. The solopreneur who invested in a $5,000 website in their first year of business is in a very different situation than the one who waited until year three. Start with what moves the needle **now**. Headshots are low-cost and high-impact. Templates make you look professional without a designer. And when your business is ready for a bigger investment, you'll know, because you'll have outgrown the DIY version. Your brand is a reflection of where your business is today. And that's inevitably going to change over time. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-manage-time-content-2.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-manage-time?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Grab my free guide to managing your time and content* **across multiple platforms.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-manage-time?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ## Common mistakes solopreneurs make with branding - **Treating branding as a one-time project instead of ongoing.** Your brand evolves as your business does. Budget for updates, not just the initial investment. - **Investing in a website before your services are defined.** If you're still testing offers or changing your positioning, a fancy website might feel outdated within months. Start simple and upgrade when your business is more stable. - **Skipping headshots because "no one needs to see my face."** People buy from people. A headshot builds trust, especially in a service-based business where **you** are the product. - **Using inconsistent visuals across platforms.** If your LinkedIn looks different from your website, which looks different from your Instagram, it's harder for people to recognize you. For consistency, choose a look and stick with it. - **Spending on professional design before knowing your brand voice.** Your visual identity should reflect who you are and your values. If you haven't figured those out yet, a designer is working with incomplete information. ## FAQs #### What's the first branding investment a solopreneur should make? Professional headshots, because they're used across every platform, including LinkedIn, your website, social media, guest bios. An AI-generated headshot makes them affordable even on a tight budget. A good headshot builds credibility before someone reaches out to you. #### How much should a solopreneur spend on branding? It depends on your business stage. In the early stages, you can build a solid brand presence for under $200 with AI headshots and Canva templates. As your business grows, larger investments like a brand designer ($1,000–$5,000) or a professional website ($2,000–$10,000+) start to make more sense. #### Can I vibe code a professional-looking website? Yes. Vibe coding uses AI to build websites based on your natural conversation. You simply describe what you want. The result won't have the polish of a custom-designed site, but it can effectively communicate your services, portfolio, and contact information. It's a strong option for solopreneurs who need a web presence without the upfront cost of a web developer. #### When should I hire a professional designer? When your offers, positioning, and brand voice are well-defined, and you're generating enough revenue that the investment makes financial sense. Hiring a designer too early means they're working with a moving target, and you may need to redo the work later. #### Do solopreneurs need a logo? Not necessarily. Many successful solopreneurs use their name as their brand and focus on visual consistency (colors, fonts, headshots) instead of a custom logo. However, you can use AI to generate a logo to use on your website or invoices. Later, you can pay a designer for a logo that’s consistent with your brand identity. #### How do I keep my branding consistent across platforms? Start by choosing two or three brand colors, one or two fonts, and a professional headshot. Use these across your website, social media profiles, and any content you create. Canva's Brand Kit feature lets you save these elements so they're easy to apply to every design. ### ### ### The Financial Management Tools Every Solopreneur Needs URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/financial-management-tools-solopreneurs/ Last updated: 2026-03-26T15:30:37.000Z Running your own business means you're also running your own finance department. There's no accounts payable team, no CFO reviewing your numbers, and no corporate card with someone else's name on it. It's all you. Before I became a freelance writer, I spent years working at a bank and then a financial technology company. I knew how financial systems work and how to implement them in my business. You don't need complicated financial management tools, but you *do* need the right tools working together. You'll quickly find that you need more than just a manually updated spreadsheet to have a good handle on your business finances. 💡 ****TL;DR:** The right financial tools help you separate business from personal, track your income and expenses, and get paid on time. ## What are financial management tools? Financial management tools are the apps, accounts, and systems you use to handle money in your business. They help you track what's coming in, what's going out, and whether you're actually making a profit. For solopreneurs, these tools do the work that an entire finance department would handle at a larger company. They're how you invoice clients, pay your taxes, manage cash flow, and make decisions about your business. Without these tools, you're guessing — which can cause problems later. The good news: you don't need a finance degree to get this right. A few well-chosen tools that integrate with each other will give you a solid financial foundation. 💡 ****Pro Tip:** If handling your own finances makes you nervous, hire a bookkeeper to manage your income and expenses (ongoing) and hire a tax preparer (at tax time). You may still need to interact with your financial management tools to send invoices, but these professionals will take care of the record-keeping. ## **6 financial management tools for solopreneurs** These are the core tools I use to manage money in my business. Some I've used since day one, while others I added as my business grew. Here's what each one does and how to choose the right option for your business. ### 1\. Business bank account This is non-negotiable. Even if you're a sole proprietor and legally allowed to use your personal account for your business, don't do it. A separate [business bank account](https://blog.annabyang.com/choose-a-bank-for-your-freelance-business/) makes bookkeeping infinitely easier. All of your business income and expenses flow through your business bank account. When tax time rolls around, you'll thank yourself for this decision. **What to look for:** - No (or low) monthly fees - Easy integration with accounting software - Mobile deposit and online bill pay You can use a traditional business checking account, or a fintech that has features specifically designed for small businesses, like [BlueVine](https://www.bluevine.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) or [Relay](https://relayfi.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). **Set this up as soon as you get your first client.** Don't wait until you're "more established." Your business exists the moment you start getting paid for your work. ### 2\. Business credit card Like a business bank account, a business credit card separates your business spending from your personal spending. It also builds business credit history, which you would need in the future if you ever want to take out a loan for your business. I put all business expenses on my business card and pay the card in full every month. This gives me a clear record of what I'm spending, plus I earn a cashback bonus. **What to look for:** - No annual fee - Rewards offered - Introductory 0% APR offers (helpful for large purchases) - Integration with your accounting software The card I use syncs directly with QuickBooks, so every transaction flows into my accounting system automatically. With integration, the transaction is already in your accounting software, and you just select the appropriate expense category (which you'll need at tax time). You can even set up rules so recurring expenses are automatically categorized. ### 3\. Accounting software You need to know if your business is actually profitable. While your bank account balance tells you how much money you have right now, accounting software keeps track of your income and expenses month-over-month. I use [QuickBooks](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) because that's what my accounting firm uses. Previously, I used [Wave](https://www.waveapps.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and really liked it. [FreshBooks](https://www.freshbooks.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and [Xero](https://www.xero.com/us/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)to are also popular choices for small business owners. **What accounting software should do:** - Track income and expenses in real-time - Generate profit and loss statements - Connect to your bank account and credit card - Help you prepare for tax time In accounting software, you'll set up income and expense categories, called a chart of accounts. When you file your taxes, you'll need to show expenses in different categories, but your chart of accounts does *not* need to match tax categories. For example, in my chart of accounts, I have categories for "Apps - Critical" and "Apps - Non-Critical." I like to see my spending on software subscriptions that I *need* to run my business, versus the "nice to have, but not absolutely necessary" subscriptions. **Getting started:** 1. Connect your bank account and credit card 2. Set up categories that make sense for your business 3. Schedule aside time every month to review your numbers For most solopreneurs, the monthly review won't take much time. You may only need 30 minutes to categorize your transactions and generate a report. A **Profit and Loss** report will show you how much you've earned versus how much you've spent in a given time period, like monthly or annually. ### 4\. Invoicing and payment processing You should have [professional invoicing](https://blog.annabyang.com/invoicing-software-freelancers/)preferred to show your clients that you take your business seriously. On the invoice, you'll clearly show when the payment is due and include the ways for clients to pay you. The more ways you offer clients to pay you, the better. Clients will always want to pay in *their* preferred method, which might be an ACH bank transfer, credit card, or PayPal. I use QuickBooks for payment processing because I'm already using it for accounting. I also have a Stripe, because it's connected to some apps I use (like Gumroad), and PayPal because I occasionally have clients request the option to pay via PayPal. Whatever payment processor you use will charge you fees. But it's a cost of doing business: without paying the fees, you would have no way of accepting credit card payments, for example. And that might limit your clients or delay your payments. **Pro tips:** - Always include payment terms on your contract AND invoice - Set up automatic payment reminders (most invoicing software does this) - Accept multiple payment methods when possible - Consider adding a late fee to overdue invoices (must be in your contract) ❗ ****Note:** If you work with clients all over the world, you'll need a payment processing system that can handle ****international wire transfers**. International wire transfers are the method for sending money directly from one bank to another across borders. [Wise](https://wise.com/business?ref=blog.annabyang.com) is good for this. ### 5\. Budget Accounting software tells you what has already happened. A budget tells you what *should* happen. I maintain a simple Google Sheet for my budget. Some accounting software products or banking apps may have budget features built in, but my Google Sheet is completely customized to the way I think about my budget. **What I track:** - **Income:** Average, best case, and worst case scenarios - **Recurring expenses:** [Software subscriptions](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/tools-solo-business/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), business insurance, website hosting - **One-off expenses:** Advertising, professional development, office equipment - **Quarterly estimated taxes:** Set aside 25-30% of income - **Emergency fund:** I add money every month - **Salary:** What I'm actually paying myself from business funds Every month, I compare my budget to the actual money that came in and left my business. My budget is very fluid. If I take on a new client and expect my income to go up every month, I update my budget to set aside more in taxes and [more in savings](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-savings-accounts/). Beginning with a basic income and expense budget helps you make decisions about your business. Can you afford to take on a new subscription for $30 per month? Your budget will tell you. [How to Budget as a Freelancer: A Real-World ExampleTips to get started.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-205.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-financial-management-hero-image-8.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-budget-as-a-freelancer/) ### 6\. Line of credit: Your safety net A business line of credit isn't necessary on day one, but it's worth understanding. Here's what it does: it gives you access to money if you're running into a cash flow issue. Let's say a large client owes you money, but hasn't paid yet. And you have rent to pay. You can tap the line of credit to access cash immediately, and then pay your client back when your client pays you. You could also use a line of credit to cover a large, unexpected expense that you don't have money to pay for (like your computer kicks the bucket). With a business line of credit, you only pay interest when you actually request cash. Otherwise, it is typically fee-free. And the interest is a lot lower than relying on a credit card to access cash. If you're considering a line of credit, understand the terms completely. - What's the interest rate? - What are the fees? - What are the repayment terms? You need to be an established business to get a line of credit. The bank will look at how much your business earns when deciding the line of credit's limit (how much money you can access). Even if you have no plans to use it, you can apply for a line of credit as soon as you've been in business for about a year. That way, you have access to it in case of an emergency. The worst time to apply is when you're panicking. ## Putting it all together: Your financial workflow These tools work together as a system. Here's what your monthly routine might look like: 1. Review bank and credit card transactions 2. Categorize expenses in your accounting software 3. Send invoices and follow up on outstanding payments 4. Update your budget spreadsheet with actual numbers 5. Set aside money for taxes in a separate savings account 6. Review your profit and loss statement When you know your numbers, you can make informed decisions about your pricing, expenses, and overall business growth. You'll also reduce money stress and surprises. ## Start with what you need most You don't need all of these tools on day one. If you're just starting out, begin with a business bank account and simple invoicing. As your business grows, add the other pieces. Having these financial systems in place will completely change how you run your business. You'll know exactly how much you're making, where your money is going, and whether you can afford to take on a new project or need to focus on higher-paying work. That information is worth every minute you spend with your financial management tools. But these financial systems won't work unless you're consistent. If you get behind on managing your financial data and reviewing it, it will feel like a chore. So pick one tool from this list and implement it this week. Then add the next one. Before you know it, you'll have a complete financial system that actually works. ## **Common mistakes freelancers make with their financial tools** - **Mixing personal and business expenses.** Keep your accounts clean and separated from the start. - **Not reviewing transactions.** If you're not reviewing transactions monthly, you're missing errors, duplicate charges, and expenses you forgot about. Schedule time every month to review. - **Waiting too long to set up systems.** The longer you wait, the more "catch up" you'll need to do to create a clean system. - **Using disconnected tools.** If your accounting software doesn't connect to your business bank account and credit card, pick a different tool. It's not worth it to manually enter income and expenses. - **Not setting aside money for taxes.** Set aside 25-30% of every payment in a separate savings account so you're not scrambling at tax time. ## FAQs #### What is the best accounting software for solopreneurs? QuickBooks Online is the industry standard and integrates with most other tools, but it's often more robust than many solopreneurs need. Wave is a solid choice for simple businesses. FreshBooks is popular with service-based freelancers. #### Do I need a business bank account if I'm a sole proprietor? You're not legally required to have one, but you should open a business bank account anyway. A separate business account makes bookkeeping easier and simplifies your tax preparation. #### How much should freelancers set aside for taxes? A general rule is 25-30% of your income, though the exact amount depends on your tax bracket, deductions, and state taxes. Put this money in a separate savings account. You're also required to make quarterly estimated tax payments in April, June, September, and January. #### What's the difference between a business line of credit and a business credit card? A business credit card is best for regular expenses and building credit. A line of credit is better for larger cash flow gaps—like when a client is 60 days late on a $15,000 invoice. Lines of credit typically have lower interest rates but require a stronger credit application and credit history. #### How often should I review my business finances? Monthly at a minimum. Set aside time to categorize transactions, reconcile your bank statements, review your profit and loss statement, and update your budget. Quarterly, do a deeper review: assess your pricing, check your tax payments, and evaluate whether your financial management tools are still working for you. ### ### How to Build an AI-Powered Content Repurposing System URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-content-repurposing/ Last updated: 2026-04-27T19:26:21.000Z If I have to complete the same task more than once, I build a system around it. That's why I don't manually rewrite my blog posts into social posts anymore. Or spend hours pulling quotes from podcast transcripts. Or try to remember which content I've already shared where. You probably know you should repurpose your content. The advice is *everywhere*. Take one piece of content and turn it into ten! Get more mileage from your work! Show up consistently without burning out! But here's what nobody talks about: most solopreneurs don't repurpose well. They're either inconsistent (when they remember, when they have time) or they let AI generate something that sounds nothing like them. Neither of these approaches will create content that actually makes a difference in your business. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Building an effective content repurposing system requires a voice guide that keeps AI-generated content authentic and a repeatable process that makes repurposing a natural part of your workflow. ## What makes content repurposing "effective" Not all repurposing is created equal. I've seen (and made) plenty of mistakes. Effective repurposing is intentional. You're *not* copy-pasting the same content everywhere. You're making deliberate choices about what ideas will resonate on each platform. It's also platform-aligned. A [LinkedIn post](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/) has a different vibe than a Threads post. Your newsletter excerpt shouldn't read exactly like your blog intro. If you're reusing the same ideas, you need to tweak them so that it makes sense for each platform's style and audience. This is where many solopreneurs get stuck. If they repurpose, they use a copy/paste approach and then wonder why content doesn't perform as well on the second platform as it did on the first. That's an ineffective approach because you're just spinning your wheels with content. ## What is AI-powered content repurposing? **AI-powered content repurposing** is the process of taking one piece of content (like a blog post, podcast episode, or newsletter) and using generative AI to transform it into multiple formats for different platforms... all while maintaining your authentic voice *and* strategic intent. Creating content is time-intensive (as I'm sure you know). So most content gets used once and forgotten. But because platforms reward consistency, you need to show up regularly. If you only use content once, you'll spend your entire week creating from scratch. The difference between AI [content repurposing](https://blog.annabyang.com/repurpose-your-content/) and just letting ChatGPT spit out content is **the system**. You're not asking AI, "Write me a LinkedIn post about this topic." You're feeding it your actual work, your voice guidelines, and specific instructions that keep the output feeling like something *you* would say. ## How to maintain your authentic voice You've seen [AI slop](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-comments-on-linkedin/) online: generic, bland content that sounds like every other AI-generated post. Your AI-powered content repurposing will *always* need a human touch (editing the output). But you can get a version that's closer to something you write if you create a Voice and Tone Guide. Your voice and tone guide should include: - How you describe yourself and your audience - Your communication style (do you use contractions? emojis? how formal are you?) - Specific phrases or words you use (or avoid) - Examples of your actual content The more specific you are, the better AI can match your voice. Mine includes things like "I frequently use contractions to create a conversational tone" and "I address the reader using 'you' to create a personal connection." I also specify that I don't use hashtags or emojis in my content, and I capitalize The Internet as a style choice. I use Claude Projects, which lets me attach documents that Claude references every time I ask it to create content. My voice and tone guide is permanently attached to my content repurposing project. When you set up a Claude Project (or a project in ChatGPT or a Gem in Gemini), you can attach these documents once and they'll be referenced automatically. This means you don't have to paste your voice guide into every single conversation. [How to Use AI to Create a Style GuideA tip for writers.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/1-9.png)Tinkering With IdeasAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/tinkering-with-ideas-process-hero-image-3.png)](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/style-guide-ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## The 4-step repurposing process Not sure what AI-powered content repurposing looks like? Here are the steps you should follow. ### 1\. Start with your source asset This could be a blog post, newsletter, podcast transcript, webinar recording, or panel discussion. The best source material is long-form content because it gives you more ideas to extract. I typically start with blog posts since that's where I publish most of my detailed ideas about freelancing and running a solo business. But I'm also frequently a [podcast guest](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/), so sometimes I'll start with a transcript. ### 2\. Use AI to transform the content Paste your source material into your AI tool and ask it to create specific formats, using your Voice and Tone Guide. For example, you can ask for: - Three LinkedIn posts - A few pull quotes you can put onto a Canva image - Six Threads posts - Carousel slide ideas. AI does the heavy lifting of reformatting and condensing ideas, but it's *not* the final product. 💡 ****Tip:** If you're starting with a blog post, ask AI to create one post ****per H2**. This prevents you from getting repetitive-sounding social posts. By focusing on H2s, you'll get unique ideas for each post. ### 3\. Review and edit for voice This step is non-negotiable. Even with a detailed voice and tone guide, AI won't get everything exactly right. I read every single piece of content before I schedule it. Sometimes I just tweak a word or two. Other times, I rewrite entire sentences. AI gives me a starting point, but the editing is what makes it sound like me. ### 4\. Distribute strategically Don't just blast everything out at once, since it's based on a single source asset. I space my repurposed content over several weeks, mixing it in with other content so my feed doesn't feel repetitive. I also choose which platforms get which content based on where each idea will resonate most. ## The tools you need to get started with content repurposing You need a few tools to make your content repurposing process flow a bit more smoothly. ### Content storage This is where your source material lives. This could be Google Docs, Notion, Airtable, or even just a folder structure. The important thing is that you can easily access your published content when you're ready to repurpose it. I keep everything I've published in a content library in Airtable, which makes it easy to find older evergreen content to reshare. ### Generative AI You've got a few choices, like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or tools that let you access different models. ### Scheduling and distribution Don't rely on your memory to publish your repurposed posts every day. You want a tool that lets you schedule content across multiple platforms and gives you a calendar view so you can spread your repurposed content over weeks or months. ### Automation tools These tools connect everything together. [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]* or Make can automate parts of your repurposing workflow. For example, when I publish a new blog post, my RSS feed triggers a workflow that pulls the content into my AI tool, which generates social posts that get added to [Buffer](https://join.buffer.com/anna-burgess-yang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]*. I edit directly in Buffer before I add the posts directly to my publishing calendar. ### My content repurposing toolkit - Google Docs for content storage - Claude for AI transformations - Buffer for social scheduling - Zapier to connect everything ## Start developing your repurposing process This week, pick one piece of content you've already published. It could be your most recent blog post or newsletter. Open Claude or ChatGPT and ask it to create three social posts based on that content. Give it some basic guidelines about your style (use contractions, don't use emojis, keep it under 100 words, whatever matters to you). Look at what it generates. Edit it until it sounds like you. Schedule those three posts over the next week. Once you've done this process five or six times, you'll start to see patterns in what you have to edit each time. That's when you can start refining your prompt. And once you get into the habit, this becomes a process you can easily repeat every week. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-content-repurposing-automation.png)](https://pages.annabyang.com/automation-checklist?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **A checklist of repurposing ideas,* **using everything from transcripts to carousels to videos.* [Download ](https://pages.annabyang.com/automation-checklist?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ## FAQs #### ****What's the difference between content repurposing and just posting the same thing everywhere?** Repurposing means adapting your core idea for each platform's format and audience. Posting the same thing everywhere ignores that LinkedIn readers want different content than Threads or X users. Effective repurposing maintains your message while adjusting the style and tone of the format. #### ****How do I make sure AI-generated content doesn't sound generic?** Create a detailed voice and tone guide and attach it to your AI workspace using Projects in Claude or ChatGPT, or Gems in Gemini. Include specific examples of your writing, style guidelines, and phrases you use. Then always edit the AI output before publishing. #### ****Can I repurpose old content?** Yes! Evergreen content from your archives is perfect for repurposing. You can resurface blog posts you wrote years ago and create new social posts based on them. Old content can reach new audiences who've joined since you originally published. #### ****How long should I wait between repurposing the same piece of content?** Space out your repurposed content from the same source over at least two to three weeks. Mix it in with other content so you're not posting variations of the same idea back-to-back. For evergreen content, you can repurpose it again in a few months. #### ****What tools do solopreneurs need for content repurposing?** At a minimum, you need generative AI (Claude, ChatGPT, or Gemini), a place to store your content (Google Docs, Notion, or Airtable), and a scheduling tool (Buffer, Loomly, or Sprout Social). Automation tools like Zapier are helpful but optional when you're starting out. #### ****Do I need different repurposing strategies for different types of content?** Yes. A blog post gives you multiple social posts, pull quotes, and carousel slides. A podcast transcript works well for pull quotes and text-based posts. A webinar can become a blog post outline, social posts, and video clips. Match your repurposing strategy to your source material's format and depth. ## Common mistakes that make content repurposing ineffective - **Letting AI define your content strategy.** You decide which ideas are worth repurposing and which platforms to prioritize. - **Publishing without review.** Unedited AI content is almost always noticeably generic, and your audience can tell. - **Over-optimizing for volume.** Publishing ten mediocre posts instead of three great ones doesn't serve your audience. - **Not having a voice and tone guide.** Without one, you'll spend just as much time rewriting AI output as you would creating new content from scratch. - **Trying to be on every platform.** Pick two or three platforms where your audience actually hangs out and focus your repurposing efforts there. ### How Freelancers and Solopreneurs Can Reclaim Time by Saying No URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancers-solopreneurs-reclaim-time/ Last updated: 2026-03-16T15:15:20.000Z It's tempting to say yes to every opportunity, but saying "yes" comes at a cost. You know the feeling. A new opportunity lands in your inbox (a potential client, a collaboration, a "quick call") and your impulse is to say yes before your brain catches up. More money, more exposure, more momentum... right? But here's what ends up happening: saying yes to everything is how you end up working 50-hour weeks on projects that don't move your business forward. I know how hard it is to turn down work, especially in the early days when work = money. But if you don't learn to recognize when to say "no," you'll be on a quick path to burnout. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Learning to say no strategically is how you protect your time, your energy, and your life outside of work. ## Why freelancers and solopreneurs say yes to everything If you're early in your career running a solo business, the pressure to say yes to every opportunity is enormous. When your income is unpredictable (especially in the first year or two) your brain treats every opportunity like it might be the last one. So you take on the project that pays less than you'd like. You agree to the "quick call" that eats away an hour of your day. You say yes to the collaboration that doesn't align with your goals, because you'll get paid for it. But the math doesn't work. According to a [2025 freelancer survey](https://www.freelancermap.com/blog/freelancer-hours-survey/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), about 43% of freelancers spend 10-20% of their working hours on non-revenue-generating tasks like finding clients and managing their business. That's roughly five to six hours a week of **unpaid work**. When you add in projects that don't serve your goals, you'll find yourself buried. And your time is the one resource you can't get back. Once it's gone, it's gone. [Work Fewer Hours and a Shorter Week as a SolopreneurReclaim your time by shortening your workweek.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-204.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-time-management-hero-image-5.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/work-fewer-hours-and-a-shorter-week-as-a-solopreneur/) ## Define what actually matters in your business Saying no is hard when you don't have a clear picture of what you're saying yes to. If every opportunity feels equally important, that's usually a sign that you don't clearly understand your priorities. Start with [your priorities](https://blog.annabyang.com/90-day-goals/) and be **really** specific. Ask yourself: - How much do I want to earn? - What kind of work do I want to be doing? - How many hours do I actually want to work each week? - What might I have to give up if I say yes? Once you have the answers to these questions, you have a filter you can use when new opportunities show up. If it's not aligned, that's your sign to say, "no." Saying "yes" would just be a drain on your time. You also need to be realistic about your current season of life. Are you running your business while parenting young children? That's an entirely different ball game. You have to manage your time differently, and every "yes" is a tradeoff. Your priorities will change over time, and so will your definition of the "right" opportunities. But with these questions, you at least have something to evaluate against. 💡 ****Tip:** Keep your top priorities visible. Write them on a sticky note and put it on your monitor, or pin them to the top of your project management tool. ## 3 ways to say no without burning bridges Saying no is a strategic decision about protecting your time. But most of us weren't taught how to decline an opportunity gracefully. We worry about looking unprofessional, missing out, or damaging a potential future relationship. Here are three approaches you can use, depending on the situation. ### 1\. The respectful time boundary This is your go-to when someone offers you a project or opportunity when you already have a full roster of clients. Keep it short, warm, and clear: > *"Thanks so much for thinking of me! I'm fully committed to my current projects and wouldn't be able to give this the attention it deserves. I appreciate the opportunity."* You don't owe anyone a detailed reason for protecting your time. ### 2\. The "not now" that leaves the door open Some opportunities are simply badly timed. If you genuinely want to work with someone but can't right now, say so: > *"I'd love to work together, but my schedule won't open up until \[month\]. Can we revisit then?"* Only use this if you mean it (otherwise, use the first one). With this response, you're signaling to the other person that you're [in demand](https://blog.annabyang.com/expert-in-a-niche/) and that you're honest about your capacity. ### 3\. The honest redirect Sometimes the opportunity isn't right for you, but you know someone it *would* be perfect for. [Offering a referral](https://blog.annabyang.com/fellow-solopreneurs-are-not-your-competition/) is generous and professional. > *"This isn't the right fit for me right now, but I know someone, \[Name, with a link to the person's website\], who would be great for this. Want me to connect you?"* This works especially well for projects that are outside your niche or below your current rate. The potential client will be grateful that you helped them find a better match. And the person you refer will probably remember the favor. I've had potential clients come to me for a specific type of work (like editing) that I don't do. When I redirect them, I make it very clear the type of work that's in my wheelhouse. I'll include a line like this: > *"Here's a* [*link to my portfolio*](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/)*. If you need any support for long-form content in the future, like blog posts or eBooks, you know where to find me!"* That way, the client might come back to me in the future with work that's a better fit. ## What you do with the time matters just as much Saying no creates space. But if you fill that space with more work, you haven't actually changed anything. You've just swapped one kind of busy for another. The whole point of getting intentional about what you take on is to protect time for the things that *aren't* work. A hobby. Time with your family. The kind of breaks that let your brain reset. If you struggle with this, try literally blocking time off on your calendar, like a full day or half a day. During that time, you do *nothing* work-related. It might feel strange at first, especially if you're used to measuring your productivity by your calendar or to-do list. But that empty space can remind you [why you went solo](https://blog.annabyang.com/building-business-redefine-work/) in the first place. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-manage-time-content-2.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-manage-time?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Grab my free guide to managing your time and content* **across multiple platforms.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-manage-time?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## Tips - **Build in a 24-hour rule.** When something exciting lands in your inbox, don't reply immediately unless it is time-sensitive. Give yourself a day. The urgency usually fades, and you can evaluate the opportunity with a clearer head. - **Create a "no" template.** Write two or three go-to responses and save them as templates in your email app. Having a pre-written reply makes it easier to say "no" in the moment. - **Track what you say yes to for one month.** At the end of the month, look at how each commitment served your priorities. You'll probably find that a few of them didn't, and that will help you figure out where to draw the line going forward. - **Schedule non-work time first.** Block your calendar for personal commitments — gym, family dinner, an afternoon walk — *before* you start booking client calls and project time. If it's already on your calendar, it's easier to protect. ## FAQs #### How do I say no to a client without losing the relationship? Be direct and appreciative. A simple "I'm at capacity right now, but I appreciate you thinking of me" is professional and keeps the door open. Most clients respect honesty about your availability. #### What if I can't afford to turn down work right now? If you're in the early stages and need the income, it's okay to take on work that isn't ideal. The key is to do it intentionally by setting an end date or a financial target. Once you hit your target, start being more selective. #### How do I know if an opportunity is worth saying yes to? Ask yourself three questions: Does this serve one of my top priorities right now? What am I giving up to do it? And would I still want to do this if it paid nothing? If the answer to at least two of those is clear, you have your answer. If you're struggling to justify it, that's a signal that it's not the right fit. #### Is it unprofessional to say no to a referral from someone I respect? Not at all. Decline the referral gracefully and offer an alternative if you can. The person who referred you would rather you say no upfront than take the work and deliver something that doesn't meet expectations. #### How many hours should freelancers actually work per week? There's a huge amount of variation, but surveys consistently show that the average freelancer works about 40 hours per week, with only about half of those hours going to billable client work. The rest goes to finding clients, invoicing, and running your business. ### ### Thinking Fast and Slow in Business: How to Approach Decision-Making URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/thinking-fast-and-slow-in-business/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:30:21.000Z In his book *Thinking, Fast and Slow*, psychologist Daniel Kahneman wrote, ""If there is time to reflect, slowing down is likely to be a good idea." It's solid advice... except when you're running a business by yourself and making dozens of decisions every day. Which [project management tool](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/) should you use? Should you take on that new client? Is it time to raise your rates? Should you invest in a course? As a solopreneur, you've got to recognize which decisions need *fast* decision-making and which need *slow* decision-making. If you find that you're often second-guessing yourself, there's a framework that will help. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Not every business decision deserves the same amount of your time. Learning when to move fast and when to slow down is a skill solopreneurs need to develop. ## What does "thinking fast and slow" mean for solopreneurs? One of the best perks of working solo is speed. Unlike working for a company, there are no committees, no approval process, and no waiting for someone else to sign off. But that speed becomes a problem when you apply it to the wrong decisions, such as rushing something that needs more thought. (Or, in the reverse, agonizing over something that didn't matter that much.) Kahneman describes two modes of thinking. 1. System 1 is fast, instinctive, and automatic — the part of your brain that makes snap judgments. 2. System 2 is slow, deliberate, and analytical — the part that kicks in when you're weighing options carefully. Here's why this matters more for solopreneurs than for people in traditional jobs: there's no team to catch your blind spots. Every decision falls on you. I was lucky that I had [executive experience](https://blog.annabyang.com/think-like-a-ceo/) in a corporate job before I became a solopreneur. Decision-making was part of my day-to-day. When I talk to fellow solopreneurs, I recognize the stress of decision-making, especially from people who aren't used to it. It's something solopreneurs have *got* to learn to be comfortable with, or they could end up hurting their own businesses. ## A 4-part framework for solopreneur decision-making Instead of defaulting to the same approach for every decision, it helps to have a system for sorting which decisions need what kind of time, energy, and attention from you. ### 1\. Identify whether the decision is reversible or irreversible The fastest way to know how much time a decision deserves is to ask: Can I undo this? **Move fast** when a decision is easily reversible. Trying a new scheduling tool, testing a social media strategy, or adjusting your pricing for one client — these are low-stakes experiments. If they don't work, you do something different. **Slow down** when a decision is irreversible or hard to reverse. If you're signing a long-term contract or committing to a new direction in your business, you're locked in. These deserve more research, more reflection, and maybe a conversation with someone who's been in a similar situation (if you have people you can lean on for advice). ### 2\. Check if you have enough information Not every decision requires new research. Some just need you to trust what you already know. **Move fast** when you've done this before and know the likely outcome. Operational decisions you've made dozens of times — like how to structure a client onboarding process — don't need to be rethought from scratch. Your gut feeling here is based on real experience, and that's worth trusting. **Slow down** when you're in unfamiliar territory, or the stakes are really high. [Financial commitments](https://blog.annabyang.com/managing-solopreneur-finances/) like hiring a contractor or investing in an expensive coaching program deserve a closer look. Gather some data, talk to other solopreneurs, or sleep on it and see how you feel in a few days. One thing to watch for: Kahneman says, “We are prone to overestimate how much we understand about the world.” The confidence we feel may not accurately reflect the situation. If you catch yourself thinking "I just *know* this is the right decision" on something you've never actually done before, you might want to slow down. ### 3\. Set a decision deadline Whether you're moving fast or slow, give yourself a deadline. For fast decisions, a day or less is usually enough. Perfectionism kills momentum, and solopreneurs can lose hours researching the "best" option for something that barely matters. Pick one, try it, and move on. For slow decisions, give yourself a defined window: a week, two weeks, whatever the decision needs. The key word is *defined*. Without a deadline, "slow" becomes "stalled," and you might end up in decision limbo (which is its own kind of stress). Decision fatigue is real. When you make every call alone — from what to [post on social media](https://blog.annabyang.com/social-media-for-solopreneurs/) to making changes to your contracts — you can get worn out and simply put off making a decision. A deadline forces you to take action instead of letting decisions pile up. 💡 ****Tip:** You can use a chatbot to help with your decisions. I needed to replace a tool in my [tech stack](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/my-tech-stack/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), and wanted to move quickly. I gave Claude some information about what I was looking for and had Claude research different options. Then I picked one and signed up for a free trial. This was far faster than me doing the research on various company websites. ### 4\. Act, then evaluate Both fast and slow decisions need a follow-up. Did the decision work? What would you do differently? This doesn't have to be complicated. Even a quick note in a doc ("tried X, here's what happened") builds a lightweight review habit that helps you make better decisions in the future. The goal isn't to create a formal review process. You're one person, not a corporation! But with a quick review, you'll start to see patterns over time: where you tend to overthink, where you tend to rush, and which types of decisions you consistently get right. 💡 ****Tip:** When you make a decision, add it to a single list. Then, once a month, go through your list and add any updates or results. If the decision has a long-term impact, that's fine — just skip it in your monthly review and come back to it when you have more information. [Deep Work to Drive Progress in Your Solo BusinessSet aside time to work on your business strategy.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-202.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-ceo-day-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/deep-work/) ## When you have to break out of the fast vs. slow framework Sometimes the world doesn't give you the luxury of choosing your pace. Things like market shifts can force you to act fast, even without enough information. You don't have weeks to research and deliberate when your competitors are already adapting, or your clients are asking questions you can't answer yet. AI is a really good example of this. That's a hard part about being a solo business owner. There's no team to ping or share the load when doing research. You're the one who has to recognize when the ground is shifting and respond...even when you'd rather take the slow approach. You might not have time for a full evaluation, but you can still ask: is this reversible? Do I know enough to take a first step? What's my deadline? Even in fast-moving situations, these questions keep you from panicking or freezing when you need to take action. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-business-design-reflections-1.png)](https://pages.annabyang.com/business-design?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Want to build a life-first business?* **These reflections will help you determine your priorities.* [Download ](https://pages.annabyang.com/business-design?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## Common decision-making mistakes - **Overthinking reversible decisions,** such as spending weeks comparing two invoicing tools instead of simply signing up for a free trial and getting started. - **Rushing irreversible decisions,** such as signing a long-term contract because the opportunity feels urgent. If the deal is good today, it'll still be good in a week. - **Confusing busyness with decision-making** by making lots of small decisions to avoid the big ones. - **Letting fear disguise itself as caution.** Sometimes "I need more information" really means "I'm afraid to commit." If you keep finding reasons to delay, it's worth asking whether the holdup is a lack of information or fear. ## FAQs #### How can solopreneurs make better business decisions? Start by asking yourself a few questions: Is it reversible or irreversible? Do you have enough information to act, or do you need to gather more? Giving yourself a clear deadline, whether that's a day or two weeks, prevents both rushing and stalling. Over time, track what worked and what didn't to future decisions faster and with more confidence. #### How do I know if I'm overthinking a business decision? If the decision is easily reversible and you've been deliberating for more than a few days, you're probably overthinking it. Another sign is that you keep researching, but no new information actually changes your thinking. #### When should a solopreneur make a quick decision? Move fast when the decision is reversible, when you have relevant experience to draw from, or when there's a short window of opportunity. Trying a new tool, testing a marketing strategy, or adjusting your process for one client are all good candidates for quick decisions. If it doesn't work, you can course-correct without any major consequences. #### How can solopreneurs avoid decision fatigue? It helps to make your most important decisions early in the day, when your mental energy is highest. You can also batch similar or small decisions together, such as setting aside some time to work through a few things you want to try. #### What decisions should solopreneurs take more time on? Any decision that's hard to reverse deserves more thought. This includes things like financial commitments, pivoting your business direction, or responding to a difficult client experience. Give yourself time to gather information, talk to other solopreneurs, and evaluate the tradeoffs before committing. ### Is Your Process Too Manual? How to Tell (and What to Do About It) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/manual-processes/ Last updated: 2026-03-09T18:46:04.000Z Halfway through your workday, you realize that you've spent 45 minutes updating a spreadsheet, copying a meeting link into your to-do list, and emailing yourself a reminder to follow up with a client next week. None of that was billable. None of it required your expertise. And all of it took time away from much more valuable (certainly more interesting) work. If you're a solopreneur or freelancer, you might have more manual processes than you think. Not because you're disorganized, but because you've been doing the same repetitive steps for so long that they feel like "just how things work." They don't have to be. And the fix isn't necessarily picking better or different tools — it's connecting the tools you already have so they do the repetitive stuff without interaction from you. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Manual processes drain your time and make you your own bottleneck. If you're copying data between tools, relying on memory to complete next steps, or setting up every project from scratch, your process is too manual. Connecting your existing tools through automation and AI can save you time every week. ## Why manual processes are a problem for solo business owners According to a [Slack survey](https://www.salesforce.com/news/stories/small-business-productivity-trends-2024/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), small business owners lose about 96 minutes of productivity per day — roughly three weeks per year — to things like searching for information in the wrong places and repeating steps across platforms. Work always needs to get done, but a lot of it is repetitive and tedious. And it's the kind of work that doesn't benefit from your skills or your judgment. Manual processes also tend to break down when your workload fluctuates. When you're running a solo business, you can feel overwhelmed by tasks quickly. You know you have things to get done, but you need to complete 17 steps before you can even start the next client deliverable. You're the only person (or system) connecting one step to the next, and if you forget, get busy, or just have an off day, things stall. ## 5 signs your solo business needs better-connected tools You probably have a gut instinct that your processes are too manual, but here are some typical scenarios that freelancers and solopreneurs run into. It's these moments that really make you sigh and say, "I wish things were easier" or "I wish this could happen automatically." ### 1\. You're copying information from one tool to another You schedule a meeting in Calendly, then open your to-do app and manually type "follow up with \[client name\]." Or you finish a project and copy the client's contact info from your [project management](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/) tool into your invoicing software. Every time you transfer information by hand, you're spending time on something a machine could handle instantly — and you're risking a typo or a missed step. ### 2\. You rely on your memory to take the next step. After a discovery call, you know you need to send a contract, create a project folder, and add the client to your tracking system. But there's nothing prompting you to do those things. It's all in your head. This works fine when you have two clients. It gets trickier when you have six (plus a blog post deadline, plus an [invoice to send](https://blog.annabyang.com/invoicing-software-freelancers/)). ### 3\. Your onboarding process is different every time If every new client or project starts with you thinking, "Okay, what do I need to set up this time?" that's a sign your process isn't standardized. You might forget a step, or spend 20 minutes doing setup that could happen automatically. Consistency means you're operating efficiently and also makes sure every client gets the same professional experience. ### 4\. You can't see all your work in one place Maybe your client deadlines live in email threads, your personal tasks are on sticky notes, and your calendar only shows meetings, not the work you need to get done. If you have to check multiple places to understand what your week looks like, you're spending too much time *figuring out* what to do instead of doing it. ### 5\. Your business has outgrown your notebook or spreadsheet A notebook or spreadsheet can take you pretty far. But there's a point where you're scrolling through pages or rows and losing track of things. The system that worked when your business was simpler doesn't scale. If you're spending more time maintaining your tracking system than it's saving you, it's time to try something different. ## How connected tools solve the problem There's a difference between **automation within a tool** and **integrations between tools**. Both matter. **Automation within a tool** is when the tool handles something based on a schedule or action you take. Like a project management app that automatically creates a checklist every time you add a new project. It saves time within that one product. **Integrations between tools** move information from one app to another without you touching it. This is where freelancers and solopreneurs can save a ton of time, because most of us use multiple tools that don't "talk" to each other. An automation tool like [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]* sits in the middle and makes those connections. You set it up once, and then it runs in the background. Here are a few examples from my own business: - **Calendly → Todoist:** When someone schedules a meeting with me, a follow-up task automatically appears in my to-do app with the person's name. I don't have to remember to add it — it just shows up. - **Airtable → Google Drive:** When I add a new client to Airtable (which is the centralized system for my business), Zapier automatically adds a series of folders to my Google Drive. Saves me time, plus ensures my folders are consistent with every client. - **LinkedIn → ChatGPT → Buffer:** When I publish a post on LinkedIn through Buffer, automation picks it up and runs it through ChatGPT with instructions to [reformat it for Threads](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/repurpose-social-posts-using-chatgpt/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (shorter, punchier, no hashtags). The reformatted version back to Buffer for me to review/edit and schedule. - **Claude CoWork -**→ Can run in the background and take actions on your computer, like organizing and renaming files. You need all of these specific tools I'm using. And you don't need to find one perfect app that does everything. You need integration between tools so information moves automatically from step to step. [Create Client Folders in Google DriveSave time by automatically adding new folders.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/1-8.png)Tinkering With IdeasAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/tinkering-with-ideas-hero-client-folders-google-drive-1.png)](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/client-folders-google-drive/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## Identify what still needs human interaction Automation can be really addicting once you figure it out. You start connecting one thing, then another, and suddenly you're looking at every process in your business, wondering if you can automate it. That instinct is good — but you can also over-automate. Not everything should run on autopilot. Some things need a human touch. I review every AI-reformatted social post before it goes out, for example, because the output never sounds exactly like me. The automation gets me 80% of the way there, but the final edit is mine. And if something *does* need a human touch but doesn't need to be *your* touch, that's where outsourcing comes in. A [virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) can handle the tasks that need a person but don't need your specific expertise. The question to ask yourself is: Does this step require human judgment or creativity in some way? If yes, keep it human. If no — if it's the same action, the same way, every time — automate it. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-getting-started-automation.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Want to see what automation actually looks like in a solo business?* **Check out my free guide.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### What is automation for solopreneurs? Automation is using software to complete repetitive tasks without manual effort. For solopreneurs, this might mean automatically creating follow-up tasks after a meeting, sending a welcome email when you sign a new client, or organizing files in Google Drive. The goal is to eliminate steps that don't require your judgment or expertise. #### How do I know if my business has too many manual processes? If you're copying information between tools, relying on your memory to trigger next steps, or setting up every new project from scratch, your process is too manual. Another sign is that your systems break down or things slip through the cracks when you get busy. #### What tools can solopreneurs use to automate their work? Zapier, Make, and IFTTT are three popular automation tools that connect different apps together. Beyond dedicated automation tools, many apps have built-in automation features, like project management tools that auto-create checklists. #### Do I need to pay for automation tools? You can start with free versions, but you'll likely hit limitations quickly. Zapier's free plan, for example, only allows single-step automations, meaning you can connect one app to one other app, but you can't add multiple steps together. Paid plans start around $20 per month, and probably worth it for the amount of time you'll save. #### How do I get started with automation? Pick one repetitive task you do every week, like adding a to-do after every client meeting. Then sign up for an automation tool and connect the apps involved (your calendar tool and your to-do list). Start simple, test it, and build more autoamtions after you're comfortable with the setup. #### What is an integration? Integrations connect two or more tools together, moving data between them. You might use an integration to automatically add a new client from your CRM to your invoicing software. Some tools have native integrations and can connect directly, while others require an additional tool like Zapier to create the integration. ### ### ### Why I Use Both Trello and Todoist URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/use-both-trello-and-todoist/ Last updated: 2026-03-05T16:15:01.000Z I've been using [Todoist](https://www.todoist.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for twelve years. Shocking, I know. In the app world, that seems like an incredibly long time to stick with one product. As a to-do app, Todoist is everything you would want and expect. Yet while Todoist is amazing, it's not my *only* tool to keep track of my life. I also use Trello. I've always been of the mindset that I'll use more than one tool to get something done, as long as I don't feel like I'm duplicating my effort. And I have distinct reasons for using both Todoist and Trello. Trello is for the big picture and Todoist for the daily details. 💡 TL;DR: A planning tool (Trello) gives me a zoomed-out view, while a task management tool (Todoist) provides a zoomed-in view for daily execution. Using both lets me choose the best tool for a specific job. ## Why use two productivity tools instead of one? Most people default to picking one app and trying to make it do everything. On paper, that makes sense — [fewer subscriptions](https://blog.annabyang.com/paying-for-tools-as-a-solopreneur/), fewer places to check, less to manage. But in practice, you end up settling for features that may not be all that great. Planning and daily execution are two different mental modes. When you're planning, you need to see the big picture: what's coming up this month, which projects are in progress, and where you have capacity. When you're executing, you need to answer a much simpler question: what do I need to get done today? Trying to do both in one place can cause friction. Your project board gets cluttered with "pick up prescriptions" and "send invoice to Client X." Or your daily task list buries a major project launch under 30 line items. You lose the zoomed-out view, the zoomed-in view, or both. [Project Management vs Task Management: What’s the Difference?How to wrangle your to-do list.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-200.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-project-management-vs-task-management-3.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/project-management-vs-task-management-whats-the-difference/) ## How I set up my two-tool system The test I use is simple: **if I'm not duplicating effort, two tools can work better than one.** I don't enter the same information in both Trello and Todoist. Each tool has its own job. Trello holds my plans. Todoist holds my tasks. They only overlap when I need them to. ### Trello is for planning out projects. I write in a lot of places: my blog, [Substack](https://www.workbetter.media/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), my [newsletter,](https://newsletter.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and [tutorials](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Plus my various social profiles. Because I'm very consistent with publishing, I plan out my content in [Trello](https://trello.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I have lists for each of my different platforms, and then within the lists, I create cards for writing ideas. Within those cards, I may include links to sources, a quote, or some quick notes to myself. ![Screenshot of planning in Trello](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*rq60ntOL7fvudzR3hg5QJQ.jpeg) I can then look at my plan in the Calendar view in Trello. With this "big picture" view, I'll drag cards around to reschedule them if I think something needs to change. ![Screenshot of the Calendar View in Trello](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/03/annabyang-trello-calendar-view.png) ### Todoist is for keeping track of the details. While I like Trello for my overall planning, I also need something to track actual "to-do" items: the day-to-day tasks in my life. I have to invoice clients for my work as a freelance [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/). I have recurring tasks related to running our household, like paying bills or even my annual reminder to schedule a checkup with my doctor. I use [Todoist](https://get.todoist.io/5vaw2q1il5zr?ref=blog.annabyang.com)\* *\[affiliate link\]* to answer the "What do I need to get done today?" question — whether it's for work life or home life. Todoist has a Gmail extension so I can flag an email for follow-up at a later date. I can also use the [Ramble](https://www.todoist.com/help/articles/dictate-to-add-tasks-with-ramble-P1Raq7vVF?ref=blog.annabyang.com) feature to dictate a list of "what I need to get done." Ramble uses AI to parse my voice note into distinct tasks. Todoist also has hands-down the best ability to interpret "human-formatted" due dates, especially for recurring items. Fourth Wednesday or every other Friday or whatever… I can just type it in, and Todoist will figure it out. ![Screenshot of Todoist date formatting](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*4hVPbS9Qv2nfBGZ5Nkd_gg.png) ### Sometimes I use Zapier to integrate the two. Much as I try to keep them separate, sometimes there is overlap between Trello and Todoist. For example, I host webinars for fellow solopreneurs. The webinar is planned in a project (Trello). Once the webinar is completed, I have a bunch of follow-up tasks I need to do (Todoist) At the point when I mark the webinar card complete in Trello, [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)\* *\[affiliate link\]* works its magic in the background and creates some Todoist tasks for me. Todoist and Trello also have a direct integration through the Todoist Power Up in Trello. You can create a Todoist task from your Trello cards with a single click. That might work for a one-off situation, but I prefer the automation (and creating multiple tasks) that Zapier provides. ![Screenshot of the Todoist Power Up in Trello](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/03/annabyang-todoist-power-up.png) ### The analog middle layer: my paper calendar Even with both Trello and Todoist, I still have a paper calendar. The paper calendar is only a monthly view. I'll add some freelance work that is due every month, even if I haven't gotten the specifics yet from my client. Once I have the project in hand, I add it to Trello. The paper calendar is a"future view" that shows me if I am getting overloaded. I know which days I have the bandwidth to take on more work. If those "slots" get filled up on my paper calendar, I can't take on anything else. [Build a Note-Taking System You’ll Actually UseStop drowning in scattered ideas.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-201.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-productivity-organization-hero-image-1.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/best-tools-for-capturing-notes/) ## Common things to watch for with a multi-tool system - **Letting tools overlap too much**: If you're tracking the same thing in both places, something needs to change - **Overcomplicating the setup**: You can use features like color-coded labels, but only do this if it's helpful, not busywork. - **Switching tools too often**: If you're trying something new, give it time before deciding it doesn't work. - **Avoid shiny object syndrome:** Don't try the latest, greatest tool, thinking it will solve your problems. ## Setting up your own system Obviously, [everyone's system will be different](https://blog.annabyang.com/evaluate-solopreneur-tech-stack/). What I've found over the years is that I really need a zoomed-in view *and* a zoomed-out view. There are some project management tools that can give you both. However, I like the mental separation of projects and tasks in separate tools. They're two different things to tackle in my day. The real skill is knowing what kind of visibility you need and choosing tools that match. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-ebook-smarttools-1.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-smarttools?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Learn the best apps and tools solopreneurs use to take their businesses* — *and productivity* — *to the next level.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-smarttools?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### Can you use Trello and Todoist together? Yes. Trello works well for big-picture planning (like a content calendar or project pipeline), while Todoist handles daily tasks and recurring to-dos. You can connect them with Zapier or Trello's Todoist Power-Up if you have information that needs to be stored in both. #### What's the difference between a project management tool and a task management tool? A project management tool helps you track the overall progress of larger initiatives. Think phases, timelines, and deliverables. A task management tool helps you track individual action items and due dates. Some tools try to do both, but most are better at one than the other. #### Do solopreneurs need more than one productivity tool? Not necessarily. If one tool covers both your planning and daily execution needs without feeling clunky, stick with it. But if you find yourself losing track of either the big picture or the daily details, splitting them into two tools can make both views clearer. #### Is Todoist or Trello better for freelancers? It depends on what you need most. Todoist is better for managing a running list of daily tasks, recurring reminders, and quick-capture items. Trello is better for visualizing project stages, planning content across platforms, and seeing your workload at a glance. Many freelancers benefit from using both. #### How do you avoid duplicating work across multiple tools? Give each tool a clear job. If your project management tool tracks what you're working on and your task management tool tracks what you need to do today, there's very little overlap. The only time information should flow between them is through intentional automation, like a Zapier integration. 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.* 🖊️ **Note: This blog post was originally published in November 2021 and was updated in March 2026\.* ### The Personal Workflow Audit Every New Employee Should Do URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/impactful-things-to-do-when-starting-a-new-job/ Last updated: 2026-03-04T16:15:13.000Z Only 12% of employees say their company does an excellent job of onboarding, [according to Gallup](https://www.gallup.com/workplace/235121/why-onboarding-experience-key-retention.aspx?ref=blog.annabyang.com). And 69% say that they [can't find the information they need](https://www.glean.com/blog/building-the-foundations-of-employee-success?ref=blog.annabyang.com) when they start a new role. That's not surprising since most onboarding is designed to teach you how the organization operates — not how to set yourself up for success within it. Since onboarding doesn't cover how *you* will actually get work done, it's up to you to take charge of figuring that out. Your first few weeks are a rare window because you have time to think before the full workload hits. Use it to design how you'll work — not just learn what you'll work on. 💡 ****TL;DR:** A personal workflow audit helps you protect focus time, manage communication, and use tools effectively. ## What is a personal workflow audit? A personal workflow audit is a structured assessment of how you'll manage your work at a new job. Your goal is to align the work with how *you* are most productive. During the first few weeks, you're inevitably going to have less work while you're learning. So it's the perfect time to put your own systems in place if there are any company shortcomings *or* if you need to set up your own processes that match how you work. Instead of waiting until you're overwhelmed to figure out how to manage your time, design your approach early. Then you refine as you learn more about the role. ## 4 steps to conduct a personal workflow audit at a new job You'll want to tackle parts of your role that don't require permission or buy-in from anyone else. You have to operate within the structure you're given, but there are still things you can do to control your work and workday. Here are some things to figure out during the first few weeks. ### 1\. Map out when focus time is possible Every job has tasks that require uninterrupted concentration. Maybe it's writing proposals, analyzing data, or reviewing documents. These are the tasks that suffer most when your day is crammed with meetings or you get nonstop messages. Start by identifying what those tasks are in your new role. Then look at your calendar. When can you realistically block time for focused work? If you start work at 8:00 a.m. and your first meeting isn't until 9:30 a.m., you might be able to preserve the first 90 minutes of the day for focus time. Think about your energy also. If you have a block of time available in the morning but don't think clearly until late morning, use that time to catch up on Slack instead. Find an afternoon time instead. 💡 ****Tip:** Create a separate calendar (I call mine "Blocks") that overlays your work calendar. Use it to plan focus sessions. If a deadline is looming, move the block to your main calendar so it's protected. You can also use an app like [Reclaim.ai](https://go.reclaim.ai/fjoa2msu6i5g?ref=blog.annabyang.com)\* **\[affiliate link\]* to automatically move your blocks for you. ### 2\. Designate time for communication catch-up Emails, Slack messages, Microsoft Teams notifications... these small tasks pile up. It's not that they're unimportant, but they cause a few different problems: - If you don't have a system for staying on top of communication, things slip through. - You lose time with "context switching" if you let your focus be pulled every time a notification comes through Instead, choose a consistent time each day for catch-up. For many people, the end of the day works well since you're already winding down. If your work requires more frequent check-ins, set aside a few times, like first thing in the morning, midday, and the end of the day. You're just trying to be more intentional and avoid *constant* checking. ### 3\. Evaluate the tools and decide how you'll use them Every company has a tech stack, or the full list of tools everyone uses to get work done. Some are well-adopted, efficient, and have documented processes. Others are a complete mess of tools that nobody really uses, or too many tools that do overlapping things. For example, I started a new role in 2021 and quickly realized that the company had terrible project management (at a job that relied heavily on delivering work to clients). I knew that in order to be successful, I'd have to set up my own system. Your job isn't to fix the company's tool chaos (and in most cases, you can't, unless you have the authority to suggest a replacement). Instead, you have to figure out how to work within the tech stack without duplicating effort or losing track of tasks. Look for integrations first. Can tasks from the company's project management tool flow to your personal to-do list? Can you sync a project calendar to your own calendar? If direct integrations don't exist, check whether you can use Zapier\* *\[affiliate link\]* or a similar tool to bridge the gap. ### 4\. Refine your personal workflow Whatever decisions you make during your personal workflow audit, you'll want to evaluate what's working. After 30 or 60 days, revisit your processes. What's holding up? What needs to change now that you understand your actual workload? Maybe your focus blocks are too short, or your catch-up time is in the wrong part of the day. Your workflow will evolve as your responsibilities grow. And that's fine. The whole point of an ongoing workflow audit is to make sure you're proactive about how you need to organize your day instead of reactive. 💡 ****Tip**: If you get a new role within the company, go through this process again. Your new role will have different daily meetings and may involve new tools, so you may need to reconfigure how you work. ## Common mistakes new employees make with their personal workflow A few things to watch for: - **Waiting too long to set boundaries around focus time.** By then, your calendar is already full. - **Letting notifications control your day instead of batching communication.** Every ping pulls you out of whatever you were doing. - **Adopting company tools and processes without thinking critically about their usefulness**. Yes, you need to use what the job requires. But you also need to think about what *you* need to get your job done. - **Assuming your old workflow will transfer perfectly to the new environment.** It won't. The meeting culture, tool stack, and expectations are different. - **Skipping an evaluation**. The more you learn about the job, the more you may need to change or tweak any habits or systems you've set up. ## Onboarding is the best time to design your workflow It takes *months* for a new employee to truly feel settled. Your first few weeks are a unique opportunity to set up your personal workflows. Expectations are lower, and you have breathing room to experiment. You can refine as you learn more about the role. Use that time wisely. You won't have a perfect system on day one. But it's important to have *something* in place that matches how you work best. That's what separates people who ramp up quickly from those who spend months feeling like they're barely keeping up. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-career-pivots-1.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-career-pivots?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Thinking about a career change? Check out this free guide.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-career-pivots?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### FAQ #### ****What is a personal workflow audit?** A personal workflow audit is a structured assessment of how you'll manage focus time, communication, and tools at a new job. It helps you align work with how you're most productive, rather than just adapting to whatever the company hands you. #### ****How do I protect focus time at a new job?** Identify which tasks require deep concentration. Block off some time on your calendar, and schedule focus sessions during times of the day when you have the most energy. #### ****When should I schedule time to catch up on emails and messages?** Choose a consistent time each day, such as the beginning or the end of day, to review all of your incoming emails and messages. This keeps communication from interrupting deep work while also ensuring nothing slips through. #### ****How do I evaluate tools at a new company?** Review the company's tech stack and look for integrations with your personal systems, such as your company calendar. Set up notifications intentionally so you're informed but not overwhelmed. 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.* 🖊️ **Note: This blog post was originally published in December 2021 and was updated in March 2026.* ### How to Choose a Bank For Your Freelance Business URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/choose-a-bank-for-your-freelance-business/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:41:39.000Z When you start freelancing, the money stuff hits fast. You're chasing invoices, tracking expenses, setting aside money for taxes — and suddenly, your personal checking account is doing double duty. Choosing the right bank matters more than most freelancers realize. The wrong one might lack features, add unnecessary fees, or (at worst) give you a terrible experience when a problem comes up. I've worked in the banking industry or adjacent to it for most of my career, starting as a bank teller and eventually becoming the product manager of a banking software company. When I pivoted to a new path as a freelance [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/), finding the right bank mattered a lot to me. Based on my decades of experience, here's what other freelancers should consider when choosing a bank. 💡 ****TL;DR** A dedicated business bank account simplifies your taxes, protects your finances, and gives you a clearer picture of how your freelance business is actually doing. The right bank for freelancers should offer the features and benefits that make sense for your business. ## Why freelancers need a separate bank account If you're freelancing and still running everything through your personal checking account, you're making things harder than they need to be. A separate business account keeps your freelance income and expenses in one place. When tax time comes, you're not scrolling through months of transactions trying to figure out which Amazon purchase was a business expense and which was something personal. It also protects you. If you ever get audited, having clean records with a dedicated account makes the process far less stressful. And if you're structured as an LLC, mixing personal and business funds can weaken the legal protection your LLC provides. This doesn't have to be complicated. Just do the following: - Open a business checking account - Route your client payments there - Pay your business expenses from that account (or use a separate business credit card and make the payment from this account) - Transfer what you need for your living expenses from your business bank account to your personal bank account I have automatic payments set up, twice a month, to pay myself (the 15th and last day of the month). This matched my experience as an employee in the corporate world. If your income is less stable, you could "pay yourself" when money from clients comes in, keeping a percentage in your business funds, and transferring the rest to your personal account. [Why You Need Multiple Business Savings AccountsKeep your finances organized.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-199.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-business-savings-accounts-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-savings-accounts/) ## Types of financial institutions for freelancers Not all banks are the same, and the word "bank" is often used to refer to several types of financial institutions. Here are your options. ### Traditional banks This includes both big national banks (think Chase, Wells Fargo) and community banks. National banks have polished online banking and branch access everywhere, but they also tend to charge higher fees and treat small accounts like an afterthought. Banks in the U.S. are insured by the FDIC, which means if the bank collapses, your money is protected (up to the $250,000 limit per depositor). [Community banks](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-we-need-community-banks/) are the opposite. They reinvest in local economies, offer great customer service, and genuinely care about small business owners. The tradeoff? Their technology can be hit-or-miss. Some community banks have invested in modern online banking, and some feel like they're stuck in 2010\. Often, you won't know until you open an account and log in for the first time. There are also regional banks, which are in between. They're much larger than community banks and may serve several states, but are much smaller than national banks. Regional banks can be a nice option if you don't want to use a big bank, but can't find a good community bank in your area. ### Credit unions Credit unions operate similarly to community banks but are member-owned. Membership usually just requires living in a specific area. They tend to offer lower fees and competitive rates, and some have better technology than community banks. If you want to bank local, don't overlook your nearest credit union. Credit Unions are insured by the NCUA, which is similar to the FDIC and offers the same level of protection. ### Neobanks (fintech-backed) Neobanks are financial technology companies that partner with FDIC-insured banks to offer banking services. You interact with the fintech's app and customer support, but your money is held at the partner bank. Your deposits are still covered by FDIC insurance (protection follows the bank, not the app). Many neobanks are built specifically for freelancers and small businesses, with features like [built-in invoicing](https://blog.annabyang.com/invoicing-software-freelancers/), automatic tax savings, and expense categorization. They typically charge no monthly fees and have no minimum balance requirements. The downside is that you're adding a technology layer between you and your money. If the fintech has a software issue, your account might show incorrect information even though your funds are safe at the partner bank. An example of this is Synapse, which was the technology layer between several fintechs and their partner banks. [Synapse collapsed](https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/02/synapse-fintech-fdic-false-promise.html?ref=blog.annabyang.com), leaving about 100,000 Americans locked out of their accounts. Personally, I've chosen a neobank for my business. However, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the *slight* increased risk of a neobank versus banking directly with a bank or credit union. Synapse is perhaps an anomaly, but the fallout did shed light on the issue with choosing a neobank. ### Digital wallets (PayPal, Venmo, etc.) Platforms like PayPal and Venmo make it easy for clients to pay you, but they are **not** banks and should **not** be where you store your money. They are payment processors and don't provide any insurance for money stored directly in your digital wallet. This information is right on PayPal's [terms and conditions](https://www.paypal.com/us/legalhub/paypal/pp-balance-tnc?ref=blog.annabyang.com): > Please note that FDIC insurance protects against the failure of a Program Bank, not the failure of PayPal. PayPal is not a bank, does not take deposits and is not FDIC insured. When money comes in through a service like PayPal or Venmo, move it to your actual business bank account. ## 4 things to consider when choosing a bank If you're in the market for a bank account, here are some things to keep in mind. ### 1\. Features A bank for freelancers specifically often includes features that used to require separate software: invoicing, expense categorization, and tax savings "buckets." If your bank can handle some of these tasks, that's one less subscription to manage. Think about what you actually need. If you already use accounting software and an invoicing tool, you might not care about built-in features. But if you're just starting out and want everything in one place, a bank with these tools can make your money easier to manage. ### 2\. Integrations Your bank should connect easily with the other tools you use. At a minimum, look for integration with accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero. You may also need integrations with products like Gusto or Stripe. A bank that doesn't integrate with your other tools means more manual work — downloading statements, importing transactions, reconciling by hand. ### 3\. International payments If you work with clients outside of your country, payments get more complicated. Some banks make international transfers straightforward. Others charge high fees or take days to process them. If international work is a regular part of your business, look for a bank or platform (like [Wise](https://wise.com/us/business/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)) that supports multi-currency accounts and offers reasonable exchange rates. Otherwise, you'll be relying on your invoicing software or a separate service to handle cross-border payments. ### 4\. Customer service This one is easy to overlook until you need it. When something goes wrong with your money — a transaction doesn't go through, a deposit is delayed, or your account shows something unexpected — you want to reach a real person *quickly.* Check whether the bank offers phone support, live chat, or just a help center with email tickets. Read a few reviews about response times. You can also check complaints filed against a financial institution through the [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). A bank with great features but terrible customer service can become a real problem at the worst possible time. ## 7 banks and neobanks for freelancers Here are some options worth considering. All of these are geared toward freelancers or small business owners, and most have no monthly fees on their basic plans. - [**Relay**](https://relayfi.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)**:** Best for managing your business [cash flow](https://blog.annabyang.com/solo-business-cash-flow/) - [**Wise Business**](https://wise.com/business?ref=blog.annabyang.com)**:** Best for international payments and multi-currency support - [**Bluevine**](https://www.bluevine.com/business-checking?ref=blog.annabyang.com)**:** Best for high-yield interest on business checking - [**Axos Bank**](https://www.axosbank.com/business/business-checking-accounts/basic-business-checking?ref=blog.annabyang.com)**:** Best for fee-free traditional banking - [**Lili**](https://lili.co/business-banking?ref=blog.annabyang.com)**:** Best for built-in tax tools and expense tracking for freelancers - [**Found**](https://found.com/business-banking?ref=blog.annabyang.com)**:** Best for all-in-one banking with automatic tax savings - **Your local bank or credit union**: Best for in-person service and supporting your local economy ❗ ****Note:** Novo is another neobank that might come up in your research. I personally had a bad experience with Novo. It was a few years ago, and the company may have improved, but I can't include Novo in my recommendations because of this. ## Don't settle for the first bank you try The right bank for your freelance business is one that's easy to use and make [managing your finances simpler](https://blog.annabyang.com/managing-solopreneur-finances/). Unfortunately, you can't always get a feel for the bank from its website alone. Take the time to try a few options. Test the app, send yourself a payment, poke around the online banking interface. If something feels clunky or frustrating, trust your instincts. I tried **four** different business banking accounts before committing to one. I opened with a small balance and tried a few features first. Only when I'd decided on the right bank did I go through the process to make the switch. Most of these accounts are free to open with no minimum balance. Your bank is a tool you'll use every single week. It's worth taking the time to find the right one. --- *This article is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered Financial or Legal Advice. Consult a financial professional before making any major financial decisions.* [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-ebook-smarttools-1.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-smarttools?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Learn the best apps and tools solopreneurs use to take their businesses* — *and productivity* — *to the next level.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-smarttools?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### Do freelancers need a business bank account? You're not legally required to have one as a sole proprietor, but it's strongly recommended. A separate business account makes tax preparation significantly easier and gives you a clear picture of your business income and expenses. #### Are neobank deposits FDIC insured? Yes, as long as the neobank partners with an FDIC-insured bank. Your deposits are protected by the partner bank's FDIC coverage, not the fintech company itself. Check the neobank's website to confirm which bank holds your funds. #### Can I use PayPal or Venmo as my business bank account? No. PayPal and Venmo are payment processors, not banks. They're fine for receiving client payments, but you should move that money to an actual bank account rather than storing your money in your PayPal or Venmo account long-term. #### What features should freelancers look for in a bank? The basics include: no monthly fees, no minimum balance requirements, and integration with your accounting software. From there, features like built-in invoicing, expense categorization, and automatic tax savings are helpful but not necessary for every freelancer. #### How do I choose a bank if I have international clients? Look for a bank or platform that supports multi-currency accounts and offers transparent exchange rates. If international payments are only occasional, your invoicing software or a direct international wire transfer to your bank may be able to handle cross-border transactions instead. #### Do I need an LLC or EIN to open a business bank account? Not always. Many banks let you open a business account as a sole proprietor using just your Social Security number. However, some banks may require an EIN or additional business documentation, so check requirements before applying. ### Task Management for Solopreneurs URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/task-management-for-solopreneurs/ Last updated: 2026-03-02T16:15:50.000Z You're halfway through a client project when you realize: you never sent that invoice from last week. Then you remember the follow-up email you meant to send three days ago. When you're running a business by yourself, every forgotten task has a cost. A missed follow-up could mean a lost client. A forgotten invoice means delayed payment. A skipped monthly review means you're making decisions based on gut feeling instead of data. The fix for remembering *everything* you need to get done in your business doesn't have to be complicated. A simple task management system — built around a few consistent habits and one good app — replaces the mental clutter. 💡 ****TL;DR:** A task management system for solopreneurs comes down to habits you can maintain, such as capturing everything in one app and blocking time weekly to work on tasks. ## Why does task management matter for solopreneurs? If you're a solopreneur or freelancer, you already know that time management is one of the biggest challenges of working alone. Everything needs your attention, and it's hard to figure out what's most important. About [41% of solopreneurs report](https://kenyarmosh.com/blog/solopreneur-statistics/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) it as their top operational struggle. Task management is part of that bigger puzzle. It's the practice of capturing, organizing, and completing all the things your business requires — in **one** place. Without a system, you're relying on your memory to track everything, and that approach can fall apart quickly. It's worth distinguishing task management from project management, because they're not the same thing. Projects have a much larger scope, a specific end date, and might involve multiple people. A project can include many tasks within it. (I wrote more about this distinction [here](https://blog.annabyang.com/project-management-vs-task-management-whats-the-difference/).) Task management is narrower. It's about the short, specific things you need to get done: send an invoice, [update your CRM](https://blog.annabyang.com/system-to-maintain-relationships/), even schedule a dentist appointment. Some tasks have firm deadlines while others are recurring. ❗ ****Note:** While I believe you should have a single task management app/system, it's ok to store project-related tasks inside a [project management system](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/). Those tasks serve a specific purpose that's different from one-off or recurring tasks. ## 5 task management habits that actually work for solopreneurs There's no one right app for task management, because everyone's brain and business work differently. But whatever you choose, you should build good habits around task management. The app is just a container. Here are five that have the biggest impact. ### 1\. Capture \*every\* task The first rule is simple: **if it's not in the app, it doesn't exist.** This sounds obvious, but a lot of people don't do it. Small tasks feel too minor to bother logging, like sending a quick email or updating a spreadsheet. But if tasks live in your head (or on a post-it note), they compete for attention with everything else you're trying to get done. It's hard to prioritize without a single list to work from. The whole point of a task management app is to get things *out* of your head. Everything goes in your app: invoices, follow-up emails, CRM updates, and admin work. If it needs to get done, it gets logged. I use [Todoist](https://get.todoist.io/5vaw2q1il5zr?ref=blog.annabyang.com)\* *\[affiliate link\]* for all of my task management. It's simple enough that adding a task takes seconds, which matters — because if adding a task feels like work, you won't do it. 💡 ****Tip:** It's usually easier to keep a single list of business **and* personal tasks in one app. That way, you have a single list you're working from. I keep everything in Todoist. ### 2\. Separate deadline tasks from "when I get to it" tasks Not every task is equally urgent, and treating them the same way makes it hard to figure out what to work on next. Think about your tasks in two categories. **1) Deadline tasks:** Anything with a hard date attached, like the tax filing deadline or registering for a webinar. These tasks manage themselves because the date creates structure around when they need to be completed. **2) Tasks with no specific deadline.** These are tasks that need to get done, like updating your portfolio or researching a new tool. These are trickier to manage because they're easy to push to "next week" indefinitely when something more urgent comes up. Each category needs a different approach. Deadline tasks need due dates in your app. Open tasks need something like a label, a project, or a priority level, so they don't disappear into the bottom of your list. I add dates to my non-deadline-specific tasks. For me, it helps to see them as "overdue" when they don't get done. I can reschedule them if needed, but usually I leave them overdue so I don't lose sight of them. [How to Set Realistic Deadlines as a Freelance WriterThe writing triangle impacts how projects are delivered.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-197.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-writing-hero-image.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-triangle-content-quality-time/) ### 3\. Block weekly time for open tasks Once you've separated your deadline tasks from your open tasks, the open ones need a dedicated slot on your calendar. Otherwise, they'll keep getting bumped by whatever feels more urgent that day. Here's what you need to do: block one to two hours each week specifically for the tasks that don't have deadlines. This is the time when you update your portfolio, clean up your files, research that tool you've been meaning to evaluate, or work through the small admin items that pile up. I have a [block of time](https://blog.annabyang.com/time-blocking-for-freelancers/)because set aside every Friday morning that I call my "admin hour." I like Friday mornings because it's a good wind-down at the end of the week. But you should do whatever makes the most sense with your schedule and how you work. The important thing is that it's recurring and protected — you treat it like a meeting you can't cancel. ### 4\. Set up recurring tasks for things you'd forget Some of the most important tasks in your business are things you need to do on a regular basis. The problem is that recurring work is easy to let slide, because there's no external pressure reminding you to do it. Recurring tasks in your app solve this. You complete the task, and the app automatically bumps it to the next due date. You don't have to remember when you last did it or when you need to do it again. The types of tasks that work well as recurring items include: - Checking web or social media analytics (monthly or quarterly) - [Reviewing active subscriptions](https://blog.annabyang.com/paying-for-tools-as-a-solopreneur/) - Organizing your files - Categorizing your expenses / bookkeeping Plus, you can make "reviewing your task list" a recurring task! Use that task to make sure you haven't overlooked anything on your list. ### 5\. Turn emails into tasks It happens all the time: an email arrives that requires some type of action from you, but you can't deal with it right now. So it sits in your inbox. More emails pile on top. A week later, you stumble across it and realize you never followed up. You have a few options for fixing this. You can use your email client's built-in tools — starring, labeling, or flagging emails that need action. But this creates a separate system from your to-do app, so now you're checking two places. Or you can add the action item from the email to your to-do list (Todoist also supports email forwarding). Your inbox is not a task management system. But for a lot of solopreneurs, it functions as one by default — and that's when things slip through the cracks. 💡 ****Tip:** If you use Slack, you can see if your to-do app has any type of Slack integration to turn a convo into a to-do item. You can also [use Zapier to add Slack items](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/slack-messages-content-ideas/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to your to-do list. ## Common mistakes solopreneurs make with task management - **Overcomplicating your system** with more labels, projects, and views than you need. The best system is one you'll actually use. - **Only tracking client-related tasks.** If you don't track marketing, finances, and admin tasks, they'll pile up in the background. - **Treating every task as urgent.** When everything is due "right now" nothing is actually prioritized. - **Ignoring weekly reviews.** You need a dedicated block of time to work on crossing off your to-do items. ## Start with one habit this week You don't need to overhaul your entire workflow today. Pick the one habit from the five above that would make the biggest difference for you right now. For most solopreneurs, it's the first one: capturing everything. Get a task management app and commit to logging every task for one week. Then build the other habits from there. The goal is a reliable list you can work from, which only happens when you stop carrying your to-do list in your head or scattered between different apps and tools. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-manage-time-content-1.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-manage-time?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Grab my free guide to managing your time and content* **across multiple platforms.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-manage-time?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### How is task management different from project management? Task management focuses on short, specific actions like sending an invoice or updating a file. Project management covers larger initiatives with multiple phases, deadlines, and sometimes multiple people involved. Projects often contain tasks within them. #### How do I manage tasks when I have multiple clients? Use labels, projects, or filters in your task app to separate tasks by client. This lets you see everything you owe a specific client in one view, while still keeping your full task list in a single app. #### How much time should I spend on task management each week? Adding tasks should take seconds throughout the day. A weekly review to organize, reprioritize, and clean up your list might take anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes. If you're spending more time than that managing the system, it's probably too complex. #### Do I need a paid task management tool? Not necessarily. Many apps offer free tiers with enough features for a solopreneur. Paid plans typically add features like reminders, integrations, and more advanced filtering. Start with a free plan and upgrade if you hit a limitation. #### How do recurring tasks help solopreneurs stay organized? Recurring tasks automate the "remembering" part of regular work. When a to-do app bumps the due date automatically after you complete it, you don't have to track when something is due again. ### ### 7 Disney World Tips from a (Self-Proclaimed) Master Planner URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/disney-world-tips-from-master-planner/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:18:51.000Z The internet is *full* of planning advice for Disney World. How to save money. The best rides. The best places to eat. Where to stay. Lightning Lanes. Etc. etc. etc. Two things are certain: You *will not* be able to see everything in a Disney park, and you *absolutely* need to plan if you want to make the most of your time there. I've taken two trips to Orlando with my family. Last trip was in 2025, and my kids were 15, 13, and 7\. During the first trip we did one day in each Disney park. For the second trip, we did two days in Magic Kingdom and one day at Hollywood Studios. I’m also a former product manager. I live and breathe planning. We ended each day exhausted, but happy. Did just enough to have a magical experience without feeling overwhelmed. And a huge part of that was thanks to planning. ## 1\. Plan, but be flexible I had an entire [Notion](https://affiliate.notion.so/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) database set up for our park visits: what were our “must-sees” and what time of day we would visit. The parks are *so* enormous that if I hadn’t taken an attraction’s location into account, we could spend 15 minutes walking back-and-forth across the parks all day. So I studied the maps and plotted out a route. ![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*wTmkg3c-ZGaV_gZH8aQZtg.png) Screen shot: an image from my Notion database Because there is an eight-year gap between my oldest child and my youngest, I also planned for us to split up. Sometimes my husband would take my two older kids to a ride and I’d take the youngest to something tamer. My Notion doc also included who was going to each attraction and where we’d meet up after. I’d also plan at least half an hour and sometimes an hour for each attraction, depending on how busy I expected it to be. Sometimes a less-popular ride might only take 15 minutes. But that gave us walking time on either end, time to explore the area and take pictures, and a trip to the bathroom. Some events have specific start times (like Indiana Jones Epic Adventure in the Hollywood Studios Park). I’d note that on the schedule so that we’d know we *had* to be there at a certain time. Of course, we had to be flexible. Sometimes things didn’t go as planned. But it was easy to look at the Notion doc and understand how we could rearrange, if necessary. I used the app on my phone throughout each day in the park. My husband and kids used [printed versions of our plans](https://annabyang.medium.com/planning-for-vacation-clipboard-included-aafdefcdab58?ref=blog.annabyang.com). The result? We saw and did almost everything we’d set out to do — and then some. ## 2\. Be strategic about rides We went to Disney World in October, which is far different than going during peak season. Even so, I was prepared for long lines and how much we’d be willing to wait. Because we stayed in a Disney hotel, we had early access to the parks every day — at least 30 minutes before the gates opened for everyone else. We’d use that time to head to one of the most popular rides, taking advantage of a shorter line. For our trip in 2025, we bought [Lightning Lane Multi-Passes](https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/lightning-lane-passes/?ref=blog.annabyang.com#lightning-lane-multi-pass). With a LLMP, you can book up to three rides at a time. If you're staying on property, you can book these in advance of your stay. I had lists of rides that offered LLMP (it's a complicated Tier 1 and Tier 2 system). Once you scan into a ride, another "slot" opens up. So I'd immediately book again. The result? We got to do every ride we wanted to do. You can also split your group. The app isn't very intuitive, but you can send some people in your group to one ride with your LLMP and other people to a different ride. We also bought [Individual Lightning Lane Entry](https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/lightning-lane-passes/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for **one ride per day**. Individual Lightning Lanes are à la carte, and the prices vary. We paid anywhere from $14 to $22 per person, per ride. At most, we’d have two or three riders — one parent, plus one or two of my older kids, depending on who wanted to go. For us, the cost was worth the time saved throughout the day because it freed up more time to do other things. ## 3\. Budget your food appropriately Food, like everything else in Disney World, is expensive. Every day, we did breakfast in the hotel with food we brought and a few items purchased upon arrival. Then we’d do one Quick Service (QS) meal and one Table Service meal per day. QS are (relatively) inexpensive, about $10 — $15 per person. We usually ended up spending about $60 on a QS meal. Table Service meals are pricier. For us, that was part of the experience and gave us a break from walking around. You can make reservations online 60 days in advance. Every one of our table service meals had a reservation. Be prepared that some of the reservations close *quickly* so have a plan and a backup plan. I goofed on one reservation and didn’t realize that it was a bar with only snacks and not a full-blown restaurant. But I checked the Disney app that day in the park and found a last-minute reservation at a restaurant — likely a cancellation from someone else. We ate at the early end of lunchtime and dinnertime, whether it was Quick Service or table service, which minimized the wait times. With reservations, we usually only waited five minutes. On our first trip, we did one Character meal, where some Disney characters walk around the restaurant. It was very, very expensive but completely delighted my kids. And sometimes the character lines in the park can be really long. We also bought almost *no* snacks in the park. We carried granola bars, goldfish crackers, apples, and water bottles. A few times we (ahem, my husband) caved and bought ice cream treats, but this also saved on the food costs. ## 4\. Don’t be an ATM for souvenirs If your kids are like my kids, they’ll want “one of everything.” I anticipated this and started preparing my kids months in advance. If they wanted souvenirs, they should [save their allowance](https://annabyang.medium.com/the-allowance-jars-and-the-book-fair-6d4ee63dd202?ref=blog.annabyang.com). My 6-year-old had a birthday a few months before we left and she got some Disney gift cards from friends and family (at my request). I gave each of my kids $100 to spend, but told them anything beyond that was on them. And told them that souvenirs would likely be pricey. I use an app called [Greenlight](https://share.greenlight.com/122718290?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for my kids’ allowance. Each of their accounts has an associated debit card. Using the debit cards and Greenlight app made it very obvious how much each kid had spent and how much they had remaining. I also talked to my kids about making souvenir choices based on how many days we had left. (“Sure, you can buy this $35 stuffed animal, but then you’ll only have X dollars left.”) ## 5\. Keep your kids entertained While we did a lot to minimize wait times, there was still some waiting around. Oh how the world has changed; I didn’t even have a smartphone last time I visited Disney World back in 2010\. My older kids carried handheld gaming devices in their backpacks. My husband and I carried extra battery packs to charge devices if needed. This included our own smartphones, and I was using the Disney World app a *lot* since it had walking directions from one attraction to another using Google Maps. The hardest part of the day was leaving the parks. We’d be exhausted and still had to walk back to the shuttle bus, ride the shuttle bus, and get to our hotel room. I started singing Disney songs with my 6-year-old, saying things like, “As soon as we’re done with this song, we’ll be almost there.” It wasn’t always true, sometimes we’d have to sing several songs, but she’d focus on singing instead of how tired her legs were. ## 6\. Take naps Every day also included a 2-hour break back at our hotel, after lunch. We were staying in a Disney hotel so we had a shuttle service back to the hotel, but it could take up to 30 minutes to get to-and-from the parks. That left us with an hour-long nap: and that nap was critical for getting through the day without everyone melting down (myself included). Because we did a table service lunch each day, it was perfect to head immediately back to the hotel after. We were full and ready for a break. Without the naps, my youngest would have been too tired for fireworks. And we were able to enjoy the afternoon more because we felt refreshed. ## 7\. Memory Makers are worth the money Disney has photographers around the parks and they’ll snap your pictures. As many moms can attest, sometimes you’re so busy *taking* photos that you’re not *in* the photos. The photographers will take several photos of your family at more than 100 locations around the parks. Most of the time, the wait is very short or there’s no wait. A [Memory Maker](https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/memory-maker/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) allows you to access and download all of the photos (versus buying them individually). It’s well worth the money. I ended up with hundreds of photos from our trip — truly an amazing way to capture the experience. ## 8\. Book two rooms for extra space On our first trip, we booked a suite at [Jambo House](https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/animal-kingdom-villas-jambo/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) in Animal Kingdom. It was ridiculously expensive, but it seemed the only way that we'd have enough room for our entire family. We also thought it would be our only trip. Yet we had so much fun that we went back 18 months later. I knew Jambo House was out of the question. So instead, I booked two rooms at [All Star Movies](https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/all-star-movies-resort/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Then I called Disney and requested adjoining rooms. Our family doesn't function well if we don't sleep and have space to spread out. That's just the way we are. Plus, I have two teenagers who are the size of adults. For us, it made sense to book the budget-friendly All Star Movies over a villa, because we still had the number of beds we were looking for, without the price tag. ## Decide how you want to spend your money and time We'll probably go again in another year or so. Everyone loved it *that* much. I never thought of myself as a "Disney adult" but I guess I am now. Each time, I want to make the most out of our trip — and that included planning ahead and budgeting carefully. There are plenty of ways to save money. For us, it was always a question of time. Could we have skipped a nap every day and spent more time in the parks, to get more bang for our buck? Sure, but then my kids would have been really crabby. Could we have skipped Lightning Lane purchases? Sure, but then we’d have to contend with hour-long waits (or longer). Everything was a decision of some kind. How did we want to spend our money, and how did we want to spend our time? But the biggest factor in making the most out of our trip was planning. We didn’t waste any of our time in the parks and stayed very close to budget — both of which eased the stress of such a large vacation with five people. --- *If you like tips and tricks to make your life easier, you can check out my newsletter:* [*Tinkering With Ideas*](https://links.annabyang.com/email-newsletter?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* 🖊️ **Note: This blog post was originally published in October 2023 and was updated in March 2026\.* ### A Creator's Guide to Audience Monetization URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/path-between-audience-income/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:38:57.000Z Online creators share stats about their audience all the time. Usually, it's a screenshot showing tens of thousands of views or huge audience growth in a short period of time. And I always wonder: Did that audience actually turn into money? With a *lot* of time and effort, engaging with others, you can get followers. But if that doesn't lead to income, what's the point? (Unless you simply like attention.) The money won't just flow in. You need a clear offer targeting the right people. Sure, you can make money from a *volume* of people. But if your offer is all fluff and no substance, you'll lose credibility with your audience. If you're a solopreneur, freelancer, or creator in growth mode, here are the ways you can build a [sustainable business](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/) from your audience. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Views and followers are vanity metrics unless they lead to revenue. To turn your audience into income, you need a clear monetization strategy — not just growth for growth's sake. ## How do you turn an audience into income? Audience monetization is the process of converting your followers, subscribers, and viewers into paying customers or clients. It matters because building an audience takes significant time and effort. Without a strategy to start earning at some point, that effort doesn't pay off. Your audience isn't a popularity contest. People with really small audiences can still have highly successful businesses. According to a [report from ManyChat](https://manychat.com/report/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), over half of creators have considered quitting in the past year. Burnout comes from constant creating, creating, and *creating* — in a way that doesn't pay the bills. If your path is monetization — even if you're not ready to sell anything yet — you have to make strategic decisions about where to show up, what to create, and how to engage. I spent a long time creating content online before asking my audience to pay me. And most of my resources are still free. I want my audience to trust that anything I create will be high quality. ## 5 ways to build income from your audience There's no single path to monetizing an audience. What works depends on your business model, your offer, and how you want to engage with the people who follow you. Here are some strategies that can help you convert followers into customers. ### 1\. Use visibility to bring in new clients If you're a solopreneur, freelancer, or service provider, you might think that the only way to get new clients is to talk explicitly about who you are and the type of work you do. That can start to [feel cringe](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/), especially if you're not into self-promotion. Another path is to focus on **visibility**. Talk about topics that are important to you, even if they're not directly tied to your work. Comment on posts from other people. If you take this approach, make sure your profile does the heavy lifting. When someone sees you posting — whether they're connected to you or not — curiosity will lead them to click over to your profile. If your profile makes it clear what you do and who you serve, they'll take the next step: checking out your website, your portfolio, or sending you a DM. In this case, consistent and frequent posting on a social platform is worth the effort, because there's a measurable result. Even if your audience isn't necessarily potential clients, the visibility puts you *in front of* potential clients. On LinkedIn, I talk about a broad range of topics and comment on posts from other people. My headline and profile make it clear that I'm a freelance [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/). The tactic has worked because most of my client work is inbound. ### 2\. Create a lead magnet to capture emails One of the biggest mistakes people make when growing an audience is not capturing email addresses. Using a call-to-action like "Check out another article!" or "Follow me for more tips!" might increase your follower count. But that's a vanity metric unless it leads to additional business. Think about what you could offer for free that's genuinely valuable. An eBook, a checklist, a template — something specific enough that your audience will trade their email address for it. You're not going to ask for money from someone who has discovered you for the first time. A [free digital download](https://blog.annabyang.com/digital-products-flywheel/) is an easy "yes." When you're only connected through a social platform, you don't have control over the audience. You're at the mercy of the platform and its algorithm. (Need an example? [Just look at X/Twitter](https://blog.annabyang.com/the-downfall-of-twitter-the-rise-of-threads/).) When you offer a lead magnet, you're capturing an email address. Now you have a way to connect with that person *outside* of the platform. You can offer a paid product later, either as part of your welcome email sequence or when you feel like you've established trust with that person. [Why I Publish on Substack, Ghost, and KitI publish on three separate platforms because it works for me.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-198.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-marketing-branding-hero-image-1.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/publish-substack-ghost-kit/) ### 3\. Make the most of viral moments Virality can strike at **any** time, and you'll likely gain a huge new audience as a result. If you're not prepared, the moment will pass and your business won't grow at all. Here's what typically happens: a post blows up, you get a flood of new followers, maybe some DMs, maybe even a podcast invite. But if you don't have a lead magnet, an email list, or a clear next step for those people, the attention fades and you're left with a bigger follower count and nothing else. I've gone [viral on LinkedIn](https://blog.annabyang.com/prepare-to-go-viral/). The first time (back in 2021), a post hit nearly 4 million views. What did all of that attention get me? Nothing. I didn't have a lead magnet. I didn't have an email list. I had no way of keeping in touch with these people after the attention had subsided. A few ways to make the most of your moment in the sun: - Have your lead magnet ready, so you can capture email addresses - Make sure your social profile is clear and up-to-date, if you take on clients - Establish a consistent publishing routine so that once you go viral, you can continue to increase your visibility ### 4\. Monetize through sponsorships Maybe you don't want to make money from your audience directly. You don't work with clients or your audience is growing because you offer something valuable for free. The other way to make money is by offering sponsored content. You can offer paid sponsorships in your newsletter or sponsored posts on your social profile. Kaitlyn Arford is a freelance writer with a [great newsletter](https://www.findfreelanceopportunities.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) that lists freelance opportunities for other freelancers. She offers paid sponsorships through [Passionfroot](https://www.passionfroot.me/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), giving her sponsors access to her freelance network. Remember: sponsors benefit from *your* audience. You've worked hard to build up that audience and it's valuable. Don't sell yourself short when you talk about pricing. ## Audience monetization checklist Before you focus on growth, make sure you have these pieces in place: - Update your social profile so it's clear what you do and who you serve - Create at least one lead magnet to capture email addresses - Set up an email welcome sequence for new subscribers - Decide on your monetization path: clients, products, sponsorships, or a combo - Build a portfolio or sales page so people can learn more about your offer ## Earning from trust We've all paid money for digital products, courses, and other content we *thought* would be worthwhile, only to discover the product to be really subpar. The person had a large following, so we assumed they were knowledgeable. Turns out, it was all about growing to make money and not about establishing a relationship with the audience. Building trust with your audience takes time. There's no shortcut. Make sure you've earned trust with your audience before you start asking them to open their wallets. With patience and a clear strategy, you can create a direct path between audience and income. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-manage-time-content.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Check out my free guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🖊️ **Note: This blog post was originally published in December 2023 and was updated in February 2026.* ## FAQ #### ****How do I monetize a small audience?** Start with services or consulting rather than digital products. A small, engaged audience can still lead to clients. You only need a few paying customers to generate meaningful income. #### ****What's the best lead magnet for creators?** The best lead magnet solves a specific problem for your target audience. eBooks, checklists, templates, and free guides all work well. Choose something you can create once and offer repeatedly. #### ****When should I start charging my audience?** Wait until you've built trust and can offer something genuinely valuable. If your audience is small and you haven't established credibility, a paid offer will fall flat. #### ****What are vanity metrics?** Vanity metrics are numbers that look impressive but don't contribute to your business goals. Follower counts and views are vanity metrics unless they lead to email signups, clients, or revenue. ### AI for Solopreneurs: Your First 90 Days URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-for-solopreneurs/ Last updated: 2026-07-20T23:32:30.000Z Like many people, I was an AI skeptic in the early days. I saw the usefulness, but the output required a *lot* of work (especially since I'm a writer). Fast forward a few years, and AI is an embedded part of my solo business. It's become as necessary as email or my project management tool. One of the hardest parts about adopting AI for solopreneurs is that there's no *specific* route from Point A to Point B. The use cases are so varied. It's about trying different things and seeing what works. The solopreneurs getting real results from AI aren't the ones who tried every tool at once. They're the ones who started small, saw the impact, and then layered AI into their processes. 💡 ****TL;DR:** AI adoption doesn't have to be overwhelming. Break it down into phases: activating AI features in tools you already use, documenting your processes with AI, and building an AI-powered business coach. ## What does it mean to adopt AI as a solopreneur? AI for solopreneurs is a lot different than the experience at a big enterprise company. You get to identify the parts of your business where spending too much time on a task and let AI speed things up. A [Reimagine Main Street survey](https://www.reimaginemainstreet.org/ai-survey-press-release?ref=blog.annabyang.com) found that 76% of small businesses are either using or exploring AI — but many are stuck on *where to start*. Product leader Claire Vo [said on her podcast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1%5Fjlukb7gm4&ref=blog.annabyang.com), How I AI: > Taking a workflow-first approach is the most tractable way to get AI into a system. Literally write out \[the workflow steps\] and then make those decisions of “human, co-pilot, automation.” > > The other thing that I recommend to people is don't workflow what you do *now*, given your current constraints. Workflow what you would do in an ideal world given no constraints." With Claire's advice, write out everything you're doing in a particular process today, step by step. Then write where you think you, the human, need to do the work, where AI could help you do the work, and where you think AI or automation could handle the task in the background. That way, you have a specific plan as you explore, knowing what you want the end result to be. Give yourself permission to go slow, so you can gain confidence in AI skills you develop before you move on to the next thing. ## Getting started with AI: your first three months The biggest mistake solopreneurs make with AI is trying to do everything at once. So everything works "sort of well" instead of a few things working "really well." Instead, think of AI adoption as a three-month project, to start. Each month introduces a new skill or tool that builds on what you learned the month before. ### Month 1: Learn to use what you already have The fastest way to start using AI is to turn on features inside tools you're already paying for. You avoid the learning curve of a new platform. #### Check your existing tools for AI features Most SaaS tools have added AI features since you originally signed up. Your accounting software might offer AI-powered transaction matching, or your email client might suggest smart replies. Your project management tool might have AI automations you've never turned on. For example, I use Airtable heavily and it has [AI field agents](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/airtable-field-agent/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I created a bunch of field agents that now do work I was doing manually before. Spend 30 minutes this week auditing the tools you already use. Open the settings, check for anything labeled "AI," and turn on what looks useful. ⚠️ ****Note:** Some tools include AI in the subscription cost, and some charge more. Be mindful of that as you start tinkering with AI in your existing tools. #### Quick win: Add an AI notetaker to your meetings If you only add one new AI tool this month, make it a meeting notetaker. A notetaker auto-joins your calls, records the conversation, transcribes everything, and sends you a recap with action items afterward. You can be fully present during client conversations instead of splitting your attention between listening and scribbling things down. There's almost no setup involved, and you don't need any AI prompting. Over time, you build a searchable archive of every meeting. #### Foundation work: Start using a chatbot for everyday tasks Don't overthink this part. Open ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini and start using it for the small stuff: drafting a client email, summarizing a long document, or brainstorming blog post ideas. It can take some time to get good results from a chatbot, so this isn't about mastery. Instead, you want to build the habit of reaching for AI before doing everything manually. [Why I Switched from ChatGPT to Claude and GeminiHow ChatGPT is falling short.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/1-6.png)Tinkering With IdeasAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/tinkering-with-ideas-tools-hero-image.png)](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/switch-from-chatgpt-to-claude-gemini/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### Month 2: Document your processes with AI Now that you're comfortable with AI in your daily work, use it to capture how you actually do things. You might not plan to hire anyone right now. But [standard operating procedures](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/)(SOPs) help *you*, too. They make it easier for you to remember a process you only use occasionally. They give you the ability to hand off work if you're sick or overloaded. And they're critical if you eventually bring on a [virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) or contractor. The problem is that writing step-by-step instructions for everything you do is time-consuming. Most solopreneurs know they should document their processes, but never get around to it. AI tools solve this problem. Screen-recording tools watch you complete a task and automatically generate written documentation, complete with screenshots and step-by-step instructions. 💡 ****Tip:** Start with your most-repeated tasks and spend 15 minutes per week creating SOPs. By the end of the month, you'll have a small library of your processes. ### Month 3: Build your AI business coach The first two months handled tasks. This month, you're using AI for the kind of strategic work that solopreneurs usually do alone. One of the hardest parts of working solo is not having colleagues to bounce ideas off. You make decisions about pricing, clients, marketing, and strategy without a gut check from anyone else. AI chatbots can serve as an on-demand sounding board. I think of my business coach in Claude as my "sparring partner." Chatbots won't replace your judgment — they can't understand the full nuance of your relationships and circumstances. But they're useful for thinking through options, weighing tradeoffs, and gently pushing back by asking questions. I find that replying to Claude helps me clarify my thinking. The key is giving your AI chatbot enough context to be genuinely helpful. You should set up a **Project** in whatever tool you use and attach some documentation: - **Information about your business**: what you do, who you serve, how you make money - **Examples of your past work**: proposals, case studies, content you've created - **Your voice and tone**: how you communicate with clients and your audience - **Your goals and constraints**: what you're working toward and what limits you (time, money, bandwidth) The more context you provide, the better the output. 💡 ****Tip:** Your [project instructions](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/ai-projects-writing-assistance/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) matter a lot. After you've used the chatbot a few times and uploaded some context, ask Claude to help you write better instructions. The instructions will improve over time as you figure out what you actually need from your AI business coach. ## Your AI starter toolkit You don't need a dozen tools to get started. Here are some options that cover the essentials: - **AI notetaker:** [Otter](https://otter.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Fathom](https://www.fathom.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), or [Fireflies](https://app.fireflies.ai/login?referralCode=c0Ux29gYtg&ref=blog.annabyang.com)\* *\[affiliate link\]* - **AI chatbot:** ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini - **SOP creator:** [Scribe](https://get.scribehow.com/lp-1/?via=anna-burgess-yang&ref=blog.annabyang.com)\* *\[affiliate link\]*, [Loom AI](https://www.loom.com/ai?ref=blog.annabyang.com), or [Tango](https://www.tango.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) - **Knowledge system:** [Notion](https://affiliate.notion.so/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)\* *\[affiliate link\]*, [Capacities](https://capacities.io/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Tana](https://tana.inc/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), or [NotebookLM](https://notebooklm.google/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## What comes after 90 days Once you're comfortable with AI as a daily tool, you can try something more adventurous: the ability to build custom tools for your specific business. **Vibe coding** is a process of describing what you want in plain language and letting AI generate the code. Solopreneurs can create apps, dashboards, and automations — no coding experience required. You may have situations in your business where you can't get *exactly* what you want with tools on the market. Or you can build a tool you use with clients — a truly custom product that sets you apart. For example, I built a [calculator for solopreneurs](https://calculator.tinkeringwithideas.io/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) using Claude Code. Whether it's vibe coding or going deeper into some of the tools you're using, the goal is to keep improving your use of AI. It's not going anywhere and will eventually become as necessary as knowing how to use basic tools like Word, Excel, or email. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/freebie-vibe-coding.png)](https://pages.annabyang.com/vibe-coding?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Thinking about vibe coding your own site or tool?* **Grab this free checklist so you're ready for your first session.* [Download ](https://pages.annabyang.com/vibe-coding?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### What AI tools should solopreneurs start with? Start with an AI chatbot like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini for everyday tasks like drafting emails and brainstorming. Then add an AI notetaker like Otter, Fathom, or Fireflies to your client calls. These two tools cover the most ground for the least effort. #### How long does it take to learn AI as a solopreneur? You can start seeing results within the first week — especially with quick wins like AI features in tools you already use. Getting comfortable enough to use AI as part of your daily workflow typically takes a few months of consistent use. #### Do I need technical skills to use AI in my business? No. Most AI tools designed for solopreneurs work through plain language. You type what you need, and the tool generates a response or completes a task. The learning curve is more about figuring out how to give clear instructions than anything technical. #### What is vibe coding and can non-technical people do it? Vibe coding is the process of describing what you want an app or tool to do in plain language and letting AI generate the code for you. It's specifically designed for people without a coding background. You focus on what you need, and the AI handles how to build it. #### How do I create SOPs with AI? Use a screen-recording AI tool like Scribe, Loom AI, or Tango. These tools watch you complete a task and automatically generate written documentation with screenshots and step-by-step instructions. ### How Career Rejection Can Prepare You for What Comes Next URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/career-rejection-entrepreneurial-life/ Last updated: 2026-02-24T16:15:43.000Z Most career advice treats rejection as a mindset problem. *Stay positive. Trust the process. Everything happens for a reason.* But rejection is more than just something you have to survive. From rejection, you can build real, measurable skills that transfer directly into your next chapter — whether that's a new role, a career pivot, or running your own business. You learn from every job you didn't get. Every promotion that went to someone else. And every role that disappeared underneath you. With each corporate rejection, you can learn something — and those learnings are *exactly* what you need throughout your career. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Career rejections can force you to build real, transferable skills. If you identify skill gaps, learn self-advocacy, and claim ownership of your career path, you can fuel your long-term career growth. ## What does career rejection actually teach you? I don’t believe “everything happens for a reason.” I’ve faced various rejections throughout my career and asked myself: Did I [learn something](https://blog.annabyang.com/what-i-learned-about-myself-this-year/) from this? And in some cases, there was no takeaway. But eventually — *eventually —* it led me down an entirely different career path. But here's what I've noticed looking back at my own career: each rejection led to a specific, identifiable skill. Not in a vague "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" way. In a practical, concrete way (even if I didn't recognize it right away). Will career rejection always lead you to self-employment, as it did for me? Not necessarily. But any skills you gain as a result will give you a boost. People who've already been forced to adapt — through rejection, through career setbacks, through figuring things out without a roadmap — have a stronger foundation. ## 4 skills that career rejection builds Here's what different types of rejection actually teach you, and why those skills compound over time. ### 1\. Self-directed skill building Being passed over for a role because you lack a specific skill is painful. But it also forces you to [teach yourself](https://blog.annabyang.com/continuous-learning/), fast. In today's job market, you can't wait for an employer to invest in your development. Training budgets get cut, internal programs get deprioritized, and the skills you need for your next role aren't always the ones your current employer wants to develop. Rejection — whether for an internal role or an external job you've applied for — makes the gap impossible to ignore. Early in my career, working at a tech company, I applied for a role in a different department as a business analyst. I went through a panel interview with some of my co-workers. I could answer all of the questions about how I’d solve problems and what I'd bring to the role. Then one of the developers asked me if I knew how to use the software programming language SQL. I knew none, but assured the group I could learn quickly. I was passed over for the role because I was missing a fundamental requirement. Over the next few years, I learned SQL on my own. I wasn't going to let it hold me back in the future. Eventually, I became the company's product manager. That pattern — identify the gap, close it yourself, come back stronger — is exactly what career growth looks like both within and outside of a corporate structure. Whether you're pivoting into a new industry or building your own business, no one is going to hand you a curriculum. You have to build one. ### 2\. Positioning and self-advocacy Repeated job application rejection forces you to rethink how you communicate your value. You stop leading with job titles and start leading with what you actually bring and your past results. This is the same muscle as writing a compelling LinkedIn profile, pitching a client, or [explaining to a potential client](https://blog.annabyang.com/top-questions-clients-ask-freelance-writer/) why you're the right person for a project. Every time you rewrite a cover letter or rethink how you answer "tell me about yourself," you're sharpening a skill: framing the narrative. The average job-seeker applies to anywhere from [30 to 100 roles](https://blog.theinterviewguys.com/how-many-applications-it-takes-to-get-hired-in-2025/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) before getting hired. The way to stand out in today's market is to make sure your resume and cover letter are uniquely positioned for *each* role. If that sounds like a lot of work, it is (welcome to the modern job market...). But there are resume tools (like [Teal](https://www.tealhq.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)) that help you align your resume for each role. You can also use an AI tool like Claude of ChatGPT to speed up the work. Just make sure you edit the output so it sounds like you. ### 3\. Owning your career path Losing a job changes the way you think about income. Suddenly, you see an employer as someone who can upend your livelihood. For some people, this creates a mindset shift. They want to move away from "I'm dependent on an employer" to "I can make things happen for myself." A few years ago, I was [let go from my job](https://www.workbetter.media/p/the-end-of-a-job-an-untold-story?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I was shocked, and caught completel off guard. There’s nothing like losing your job to make you question your self-worth. For some people, this means seeking a career pivot. For others, it means doubling down on networking and landing a better role. And for some, myself included, it means striking out on their own entirely. There's no right or wrong answer here – it's whatever makes sense *for you*. Regardless of which direction you go, the experience of losing a job and rebuilding teaches you something that steady employment doesn't: you have to [look out for yourself](https://www.workbetter.media/p/look-out-for-yourself?ref=blog.annabyang.com). You can't rely on your manager, your company, or a favorable job market. ### 4\. Navigating ambiguity and making decisions Every rejection puts you in a situation without a clear path forward. You don't know what's next, and nobody is going to tell you. You have to figure it out for yourself. That sounds obvious, but it's a skill most people never practice in a corporate environment. There's always a manager to escalate to or a team to absorb the risk. There's a clear process to follow. Rejection strips all of that away and forces you to make decisions. Since none of us has a crystal ball, we're often operating on assumptions or incomplete information about what the "best next step" is. This is the skill that separates people who *think* about making a change from people who actually do it. According to the [Simply Business 2025 Solopreneur Report](https://www.simplybusiness.com/resource/2025-solopreneur-report/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), 53% of solopreneurs started their business driven by passion — but *staying* in business requires [being comfortable with uncertainty](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-is-hard/). The people who've already practiced navigating ambiguity through career setbacks are better equipped to handle it. ## How to take a skills inventory after your career setbacks If you've been through career rejection (and most of us have), you're sitting on more transferable skills than you probably realize. Here's a quick exercise to uncover them: **List your biggest setbacks.** Write down rejections that stung the most throughout your career (the role you didn't get, the job you lost, the pivot that felt forced). **Identify what you built after each one.** For every setback, ask yourself: what did I learn or develop because of this? Maybe you taught yourself a technical skill. Maybe you got better at interviewing. Maybe you started managing your finances differently. **Categorize what you find.** Group your skills into buckets: technical skills, communication skills, financial skills, and decision-making skills. This gives you a clearer picture of your strengths. **Look for patterns.** Where did rejection push you the hardest? That's likely where you have the most to offer in your next chapter. **Tip:** You can use a chatbot like Claude to help you map your career setbacks to transferable skills. Paste in your resume and a list of what went wrong at each stage, and ask it to identify the capabilities you built in response. ## Prepare for your next career transition You'll never be immune to career setbacks. You can only try to prepare yourself for what comes next. The next time you're hit with rejection of some kind, give yourself space to feel it. Then ask yourself: what skill is this forcing me to build? Setbacks can be harmful in many ways, no doubt. They can be psychologically and financially damaging. If you can get *something* out of the setback, you've made the most of a bad situation. SPONSORED [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-career-pivots.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/career-pivots?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Thinking about a career change?* **This free guide will help you figure out what to do next.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/career-pivots?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### What skills do you need to succeed after a career setback? The most important skills are self-directed learning, self-advocacy, financial awareness, and the ability to make decisions without a clear roadmap. These are the same skills that drive long-term career growth — whether you stay in a traditional role or eventually work for yourself. #### How do I figure out what my career rejections taught me? Start by listing your biggest career setbacks such as the roles you didn't get, the jobs you lost, or any pivots that felt forced. For each one, write down what you learned or built afterward. Your strongest transferrable skills are where rejection pushed you hardest. #### Can corporate experience help with freelancing or solopreneurship? Yes. Corporate experience builds skills like project management, client communication, financial reporting, and navigating complex organizations will transfer directly to running your own business. #### How do I know if I'm ready for a career change? Most people who make a successful career change didn't feel ready when they started. If you can learn new things on your own, communicate your value clearly, and make decisions under pressure, you're more prepared than you think. #### How do I reposition myself after being laid off? Focus on what you built and learned, not just where you worked. Update your resume and LinkedIn to lead with results rather than job titles. Identify the skills your layoff forced you to develop (like adaptability, planning, or self-advocacy) and frame those as strengths. ### How to Build a Personal Learning System That Actually Moves Your Business Forward URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/continuous-learning/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:07:08.000Z There are more podcasts, courses, newsletters, and YouTube channels than any one person could consume in a lifetime. (And if you're like me, you've probably subscribed to at least a dozen of them.) But here's the thing. If someone asked you right now what you *learned* last quarter — not what you listened to or bookmarked, but what you actually learned and applied — could you answer? Most people collect information and ideas without intention. Or, I should say, our intentions are good. But we don't have follow-through, because we don't have a structured or systematic way to learn new things on our own. A personal learning system gives you that filter. It's a simple plan for what to learn, when, and why — so your learning actually benefits your business. 💡 ****TL;DR:** A personal learning system helps you stop consuming content randomly and start learning with intention. Here's how to build one using a quarterly approach. ## What is a personal learning system (and why does it matter)? A **personal learning system** is a plan for what you're going to learn, organized by timeframe and focus area. Think of it as a syllabus you write for yourself. When you work for a company, professional development is often built in. Your manager might send you to a conference, your team might have a training budget, or your company might require ongoing certifications. But when you're a solopreneur, nobody is managing your growth but you. And [learning gaps](https://www.workbetter.media/p/the-learning-gap-at-work?ref=blog.annabyang.com) become business gaps *fast*. According to the [World Economic Forum](https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), 39% of workers' essential skills will be disrupted in the next five years due to automation and AI. That stat is about the traditional workforce, but solopreneurs face an even steeper curve because there's no L&D department to guide you. When I first started using AI, as an example, I couldn't innately figure out how to [get good output](https://blog.annabyang.com/maintain-authentic-writing-voice-with-generative-ai/) that other people claimed they were getting. Once I actually sat down, found reputable resources, and spent a lot of time trying different things, I had a different perspective. The difference between consuming content and continuous learning comes down to process. Scrolling through LinkedIn posts about SEO is consuming. Spending two weeks working through a course on keyword strategy and applying it to your own site is learning. A personal learning system helps you with the latter. ## 4 principles for building a personal learning system that works You don't need a complicated setup to make this work. But a few guiding principles will keep your system useful instead of aspirational. ### 1\. Identify when and how you learn best Be honest with yourself. If you say, "I'm going to read a book a week," but you haven't finished a book in six months, that's likely not achievable. Start by looking at your [actual schedule](https://blog.annabyang.com/control-your-schedule/). When do you have pockets of time? Early mornings before client work starts? Fridays when your inbox is quieter? Even 30 minutes a week is enough if you're consistent. Then think about the format. Some people absorb information best by reading. Others need video walkthroughs or hands-on courses with exercises. Cohort-based programs work well if you need accountability (and many of us do!). There's no right or wrong answer, but picking a format that matches how you actually learn best makes it far more likely you'll follow through. ### 2\. Use a quarterly timeframe Monthly feels rushed. Yearly feels abstract. A quarterly timeframe — every three months — gives you enough room to go deep on a topic without losing momentum. I always encourage solopreneurs to operate in quarterly increments, whether it's for learning or other business projects and goals. It keeps you flexible, especially since planning out too far makes it harder to adjust if things go awry. If you're already doing quarterly check-ins or setting 90-day goals, your learning plan can run on the same cycle. Review what you learned, decide what's next, and reset. [How to Create 90-Day GoalsWhat can you get done in 3 months?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-193.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-90-day-goals-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/90-day-goals/) ### 3\. Choose a few areas of focus You want to constrain yourself so you don't fall victim to shiny object syndrome. You're not trying to learn everything at once — you're choosing two or three categories that matter *right now*. For example, your categories might be a business skill you need to sharpen (like sales or SEO) or a personal development area you've been putting off (like AI). The key is specificity. "[Get better at marketing](https://blog.annabyang.com/market-your-freelance-business/)" is too vague. "Learn how to write email sequences that convert" gives you something concrete to work on. Another approach is to work through any courses you've bought in the past that you've never completed. We all have them! Set a goal that you'll actually finish one or two in a quarter, if they're still aligned with your business. If your list of things you want to learn is longer than three items, keep a backlog for future quarters. But for this quarter, pick two or three at most. One is also fine. 💡 ****Tip:** You can use a chatbot like Claude to help you identify skill gaps based on your business goals and suggest specific resources for each area of focus. ### 4\. Align your learning with your goals Whenever possible, match your categories to a specific business outcome. You want to [learn AI](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-strategy-freelance-business/) because you know it would make your content workflow faster. You want to understand SEO because organic traffic is a growth channel you haven't tapped yet. That connection between learning and doing is what makes a personal learning system powerful — *and* increases the likelihood that you'll follow through. That said, learning for the sake of learning is also ok. You might pick something fun that has nothing to do with your business — like learning to crochet or reading about art history. Giving your [brain a break](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-take-a-brain-break/) from business is healthy. Plus, creative pursuits have a way of feeding back into your work in unexpected ways. 💡 ****Tip:** Any time, you start down a learning path, answer this simple question: "I want to learn \_\_\_\_ because it will help me in \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ ways." Writing it down helps you frame exactly **why* you want to learn the new thing. ## Your learning system toolkit You don't need a fancy app to make this work. A note in your phone, a page in [Notion](https://affiliate.notion.so/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)\* *\[affiliate link\]*, a section in your planner — whatever you'll actually look at. A few things that make it stick: - **Keep a backlog** of things you want to learn in future quarters - **Block time on your calendar** for learning each week - **Reflect at the end of the quarter** about what you learned and what you accomplished ## Take your learning out into the world Here's one more thing that can make a real difference: find people who are already doing the thing you want to learn. Follow them on LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads — wherever they're active. If your focus area is business-related, look for someone who's either a solopreneur themselves or works closely with solopreneurs. Their content will be more relevant to what you're actually trying to do, and you'll pick up practical insights just by paying attention to how apply whatever they're teaching. Doing this supplements your learning because it gives you a chance to see how people apply the work in real life. It also gives you a chance to interact: ask a question, share something you're working on, or just show genuine enthusiasm as you learn. That's one more way to build community around your growth, which is something most solopreneurs don't get enough of. ## FAQs #### How can I upskill as a solopreneur? Start by identifying one or two skill gaps that are directly affecting your business. Then find a resource that matches how you learn best, such as a course, book, or cohort program. Block time on your calendar to work through it consistently. #### Why should solopreneurs create a personal learning system? Without a system, most learning happens randomly. You consume content without applying it. A personal learning system gives you focus and follow-through, so the time you spend learning actually moves your business forward. #### Why is continuous learning important for solopreneurs? Solopreneurs don't have a team or a learning and development department to help keep their skills current. Continuous learning helps you stay competitive, adapt to changes in your industry, and close skill gaps before they become business gaps. #### How do I make time for continuous learning as a solopreneur? Even as little as 30 minutes a week is enough if you're consistent. Block a recurring time on your calendar and protect it from other interruptions. #### How do I identify the best ways to learn? Think about what's worked for you in the past. If you retain information best through hands-on practice, choose courses with exercises over books. If you need accountability, consider a cohort-based program or a learning partner. #### How do I know if my learning is actually helping my solo business? At the end of each quarter, ask yourself whether you applied what you learned. If you can point to a specific change you made, such as a new process, a skill you used with a client, a tool you adopted, your learning is working. ### ### How to Show Up Consistently Across Multiple Platforms (Without Burning Out) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-your-content-across-multiple-platforms/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:36:07.000Z You've probably heard the advice everywhere: show up consistently. But here's the real challenge — your audience doesn't live in one place. They're scattered across LinkedIn, Medium, Substack, Twitter/X, and wherever else they prefer to scroll. Everyone consumes content in the channels of their choosing, which means "showing up" is about more than frequency for online creators. You have to manage your presence across multiple platforms without burning out in the process. If you're a freelancer, solopreneur, or anyone trying to build visibility, the idea of maintaining fresh, tailored content on several platforms at once can feel overwhelming. The good news? You don't need to reinvent the wheel for every channel. With the right systems, you can show up consistently with content tailored to each platform *without* burning out. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Managing content across multiple platforms comes down to three core habits: collecting and organizing ideas, building a realistic content calendar, and engaging meaningfully with people. ## Why is it so important to show up across multiple platforms? Relying on a single platform to reach your audience is risky. Algorithms change without warning, platforms shift direction (as many creators experienced with [Twitter's transition to X](https://blog.annabyang.com/the-downfall-of-twitter-the-rise-of-threads/)), and you have no control over how — or whether — your content gets seen. A multi-platform presence protects you from those shifts. If one channel deprioritizes your content or loses relevance with your audience, you're not starting from zero. That's exactly what pushed me to take a multi-platform approach. After leaving a corporate career to become a freelance [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/), I started posting on LinkedIn to stay connected with my professional network. But I quickly realized my audience wasn't just on LinkedIn. They were on Medium, Substack, Threads, and other channels. If I'd only invested in one platform, I would have missed those connections entirely. More than [45% of full-time content creators](https://www.wpbeginner.com/research/creator-economy-statistics-that-will-blow-you-away/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) say the pressure to post everywhere causes burnout. And burnout leads to leaving social platforms entirely, which can cost you opportunities. You need to adopt practices that make cross-platform posting sustainable. ## 3 ways to show up consistently online Staying visible across multiple channels requires better systems, not more hours in your day. Here are three tips for making multi-platform content manageable. ### 1\. Collect and organize your ideas Chances are, you don’t create in a vacuum. You draw inspiration from the world around you, and this can also be a solid foundation for what you can share across different platforms. I save LinkedIn posts that I put my own spin on. Bookmark tweets when I have an opinion on the topic. Use a web clipper to save articles or stats I read that spark an idea. I’ll even add random thoughts to a [list using voice controls](https://blog.annabyang.com/connecting-amazon-echo-to-do-my-calendar/) with my Alexa devices. Save, save, save. Once a week, I go through all of my saved items. I use [Trello to organize my ideas](https://blog.annabyang.com/use-both-trello-and-todoist/), and I’ll add a card for each idea, with any links to external sources. I’ll add comments to myself, indicating how I think I can make it my own. Any type of planning tool would work for this effort, including a simple Google spreadsheet. When I am ready to start writing for a platform, I have a large pool to draw from (currently at 255 saved ideas!) [Automatically Repurpose Social Posts Using ChatGPTAutomatically tweak your posts before publishing them on another social platform.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/1-7.png)Tinkering With IdeasAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/tinkering-with-ideas-repurpose-social-posts-chatgpt-1.png)](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/repurpose-social-posts-using-chatgpt/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### 2\. Plan a content calendar Consistently showing up means posting on platforms both regularly and thoughtfully. Your collected ideas will be a wasted effort if you don’t get them in front of your audience. I first decided how often I wanted to appear on each platform — and I tried not to be overly ambitious. How many tweets per week? How many [LinkedIn posts](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/)? How many published stories on Medium? Once I had this figured out, I thought about what days of the week I would publish. I researched optimal times per platform (example: LinkedIn posts perform best in the morning). I also thought about my own life and when I would have time to write long-form content (like a blog post) versus short-form content (like a series of tweets). From this, I plotted out when I would do different writing each day of the week (“Medium Monday” is a thing for me), what time of day I would dedicate to this work, and how much time I would need. Then on Sundays, I review my Trello board and determine what I will write for each platform for each day. Medium Monday? I pull out one idea for the week and add a due date. Need ten tweets? I’ll get them ready to go. I schedule content on my different social media accounts in advance, so I don’t have to be ready every moment of the day. It took about a month to get a good rhythm, and I kept tweaking my process. For example, I discovered that I don’t write well on Fridays; my brain is tired from the week. So I skip creating anything new that day and instead use the time to review my saved ideas from the week. [How to Use Podcast Guest Appearances to Market YourselfHere’s what you need to know.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-196.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-podcast-guest-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/) ### 3\. Make connections with people Whether you have a post that really takes off or you increase your audience just by showing up, you want it to be easy for people to engage with you — and that includes cross-promotion of yourself across different channels. I [overhauled my website](https://webflow.com/blog/transfer-website?ref=blog.annabyang.com) so that visitors would have a good first impression. I use Linktree in my profile to give my audience ways of finding me in other channels, and only have room for one link. My LinkedIn profile includes a signup for my Substack. Whenever I write, I try to include inline links to not only that platform but other places where I create content. I don’t try to assume how anyone reading wants to engage with me. They could land on my website and submit an inquiry; they could send a DM; they could be one of the millions of people on the internet who simply consume content but don’t interact with it. Connections go beyond giving an audience opportunities to find my work. I have also made it a point to engage with other people, in a genuine way. I comment back on posts that catch my attention, adding something from my own experience, offering a different perspective, or asking a question. This visibility gives me a chance to form new connections with people. But I don’t do this for the sole sake of building my own audience. I truly believe that creators can [boost each other](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/), so I pay particular attention to profiles of people who seem to have a similar level of experience as me: maybe just starting out, maybe trying to build something, and trying to get their work out into the world. ## Your cross-platform publishing toolkit You don't need a complicated tech stack to manage content across platforms. Here are the essentials to get started: - **Web clipper or bookmarking tool:** Save articles, posts, and stats that spark ideas with browser extensions like [Notion Web Clipper](https://www.notion.com/web-clipper?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Raindrop.io](https://raindrop.io/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), or [Readwise Reader](https://readwise.io/read?ref=blog.annabyang.com). - **Content calendar:** [Trello](https://trello.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com)\* *\[affiliate link\]*, or a spreadsheet where you map out what you'll publish, where, and when. - **Social scheduling tool:** Tools like [Buffer](https://join.buffer.com/anna-burgess-yang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)\* *\[affiliate link\]* to queue posts in advance. - **Link-in-bio page:** [Linktree](https://linktr.ee/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Lnk.bio](https://lnk.bio/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), or a simple landing page so your audience can find you across channels. - **A weekly review habit:** Block 30 minutes each week to sort saved ideas, plan the week's content, and adjust your calendar as needed. ## And also… give yourself a break Creating and maintaining content [across multiple platforms](https://blog.annabyang.com/omnipresent-social-media-strategy/) is hard. I spent weeks feeling overwhelmed. It’s time-consuming. In the beginning, I used to get frustrated with myself when I wouldn’t hit the number of posts I wanted to publish on a platform or wouldn’t have time to write a blog post. In hindsight, I should have ramped up more slowly, to give myself time to form the habits of creating across different channels *and* the time needed to do the work. If you learn how to reuse some of your *own* content, you can resurrect an idea from months ago. The people who saw it then are *not* the same people who will see it now, so you can tweak it and send it out into the world again. --- *Check out my free Course,* [*The Endless Idea Collector*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/endless-idea-collector?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*, and learn how to find content inspiration for content in everyday life.* ## FAQs #### How often should I post on each platform? It depends on your capacity and your audience. Start with a frequency you can maintain consistently, even if that's once a week per platform. It's better to show up reliably than to post daily for two weeks and disappear. Track what gets engagement and adjust from there. #### Do I need to create unique content for every platform? No. In fact, trying to create completely original content for every channel is a guarantee that you'll burn out. Start with one core idea and adapt it for each platform's format and audience. A blog post can become a LinkedIn carousel, a thread, or a series of short-form posts. #### What's the best way to repurpose content across platforms? Think in terms of formats, not just copy-paste. Pull a key takeaway from a long-form piece and turn it into a social post. Summarize a newsletter for a LinkedIn update. Revisit older content that performed well and give it a fresh angle. #### How do I decide which platforms are worth my time? Go where your audience already is. If you're a B2B freelancer, LinkedIn probably matters more than TikTok. Pay attention to where you're getting engagement and inbound interest, and don't feel pressured to be everywhere at once. Two or three platforms managed well will outperform five managed poorly. 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ### How to Set Realistic Deadlines as a Freelance Writer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-triangle-content-quality-time/ Last updated: 2026-02-21T16:15:19.000Z Before I became a freelance writer, I was a product manager at a software company. One of the hardest questions in software development is, "How long will this take?" The executive team always wanted things done fast, with zero bugs, regardless of complexity. Then I learned a framework that changed how I managed every project: **scope, quality, and time — you can only have two of the three.** The same tradeoff applies to any writing you take on. Understanding this will make you a better estimator, a clearer communicator, and a lot more confident when you need to push back on a deadline. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Every freelance writing project involves a tradeoff between complexity, quality, and time. If you learn to identify which two matter most, you can set realistic deadlines and deliver better work. ## What is the writing triangle? The writing triangle has three variables: 1. **Content** is the complexity of the piece — its length, research depth, number of interviews, and how much subject matter expertise it requires. 2. **Quality** is the level of polish — the sophistication of the audience, how original the angle needs to be, and how tight the prose should read. 3. **Time** is how much time it will take you to write, and the deadline. The core principle is simple: you can realistically optimize for two at once. When you try to force all three, something has to give. Here's how the writing triangle works in practice: **Content + Quality** means a longer timeline. If a client wants a deeply researched white paper with original insights for a technical audience, you need more time. **Time + Content** means quality takes a hit. If you need to deliver a long blog post with a short turnaround, you won't have time to refine the writing or find the sharpest angle. **Quality + Time** means the piece needs to be simpler. You can deliver polished, high-quality writing on a tight deadline — but only if the scope is narrow. Think: a short blog post on a topic you already know well or based on a recorded webinar. I've had instances where I [said "yes" to a project](https://blog.annabyang.com/reasons-to-say-yes-to-a-client-project/) and should have said, "no." The client was pushing for content + time (a tight deadline), and my own personal writing standards don't let me compromise on quality. That type of situation is a recipe for stress. ## 4 ways to use the writing triangle with clients The writing triangle is more than a mental model for planning your client work. It's also a communication tool. When you can name the tradeoff you're navigating, conversations about deadlines and pricing get a lot clearer — for both you and the client. ### 1\. Estimate projects more accurately Before you quote a timeline, break the project down into its three variables. - How complex is the topic? - How much research will it take? - How many rounds of revisions does the client typically expect? Research, interviews, and revision rounds are the parts of the "content" variable that most writers underestimate. The actual writing might take a few hours, but the prep work and back-and-forth can double or triple your total time on a project. According to [the Project Management Institute](https://www.pmi.org/-/media/pmi/documents/public/pdf/learning/thought-leadership/pulse/pulse-of-the-profession-2018.pdf?sc%5Flang%5Ftemp=en&ref=blog.annabyang.com), inaccurate time estimates are a primary cause in 25% of failed projects, so time estimates are critical. If you're not sure how long a project will take, start tracking your current projects. Log your hours on a few deliverables, and you'll quickly build a personal baseline. That data makes future estimates far more reliable than guessing. 💡 ****Tip:** You can use a simple time-tracking app (like [Toggl](https://toggl.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ) or even a spreadsheet. Don't worry about 100% precision — the goal is to build a realistic picture of how long different types of projects actually take you. ### 2\. Ask better questions before you start When a new [project brief](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-brief-for-a-freelancer/)into lands in your inbox, resist the urge to immediately say yes and promise a deadline. Instead, figure out which two variables the client is prioritizing. Ask yourself: - What's the turnaround? - How much research is involved? - Who's the audience? - How polished does this need to be? The answers tell you what's flexible and what's not. A client who says "we need this by Friday" has already locked in the time variable, so the conversation is really about content and quality. A client who says "this is part of a new product launch" is prioritizing quality, which means time or scope needs to flex. You don't always need to ask the client directly. Sometimes the brief gives you enough to figure it out. But when it doesn't, asking these questions early will prevent surprises later. ### 3\. Push back on unrealistic expectations Pushing back on a deadline doesn't have to feel confrontational. When you frame it around the tradeoff, it becomes a professional conversation about project planning. Try using the framework language directly with clients: > "For this level of depth and quality, the timeline needs to be X. If the deadline is firm, here's what I'd recommend adjusting." This gives the client a choice instead of a flat "no." You're also positioning yourself as the expert by recommending alternatives. For example, I've worked on projects where the client wanted me to interview a few sources with a short turnaround. Since it's hard to get interviews scheduled, I suggested an alternative of email-based interviews instead of live interviews. It's not quite the same as a live interview (a small cut to quality), but I can get sources to respond more quickly and still meet the deadline. [Tips to Avoid Missing Client DeadlinesCreate good systems for yourself![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-195.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/1-8IdXNU20u90RNHOYM6fzQw.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/tips-to-avoid-missing-client-deadlines/) ### 4\. Know when to charge more Sometimes a client genuinely needs all three: complex content, high quality, and a fast turnaround. When that happens, a fourth variable enters the equation: **resources**. And for a freelancer, more resources mean more money. If the deadline is non-negotiable and the scope is complex, the rate should reflect the extra effort. You're going to put in longer days, possibly push other projects back, and work under more pressure. The price should account for that. This is where rush fees or project-based pricing adjustments come in. Some freelancers build a rush surcharge into their rate card (such as 25–50% above their [standard rate](https://blog.annabyang.com/charge-for-your-knowledge/)). Others simply quote higher on a per-project basis when the triangle is squeezed from all sides. ## Common mistakes freelancers make when agreeing to deadlines - Saying yes to everything without evaluating the tradeoff. - Not building in buffer time forresearch, outlining, and "getting unstuck." - Not pushing back if scope creep changes the triangle during the project (like increased complexity) - Treating every project the same, without considering the differences in content, quality, and time. ## Your personal writing projects also have a triangle The writing triangle doesn't just apply to client work. Your blog, your newsletter, that book idea you've been circling — they all involve the same tradeoffs. The difference is you're both the client and the writer. There's no one else to negotiate with, which makes it easier to convince yourself that something's possible when it isn't. Be honest about which two variables you're prioritizing for any given project. If you want a high-quality, in-depth book, give yourself the time to actually write one. Before your next project — whether it's for a client or yourself — identify which two sides of the triangle matter most. Then plan accordingly. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/12/ebook-pricing-services.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Freelance pricing is hard to figure out,* **so I’ve created a free resource for fellow writers.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### How do I estimate how long a freelance writing project will take? Break the project into its components — research, outlining, drafting, and revisions — and estimate each one separately. Track your time on a few projects to build a baseline, then use that data to quote future timelines more accurately. #### How do I push back on a client's unrealistic deadline? Frame the conversation around the tradeoff. Try something like, "For this level of depth and quality, the timeline needs to be X — if the deadline is firm, here's what I'd recommend adjusting." Most clients will appreciate the clarity, instead of a missed deadline or subpar project. #### What is the project management triangle? The project management triangle is a framework that says every project has three constraints: scope, quality, and time. You can only fully optimize for two at once. #### Should freelance writers charge rush fees? Yes, if a client needs complex, high-quality work on a tight deadline, a rush fee compensates you for the extra pressure and disrupted schedule. Writers commonly charge 25–50% above their standard rate for rush work, depending on the turnaround time and complexity. #### How do I handle scope creep as a freelance writer? Speak up as soon as the project starts expanding beyond the original agreement. An extra round of revisions or a new section changes the scope, even if the client frames it as a small ask. Refer back to your original contract or brief and propose an adjusted timeline or fee for the additional work. ### ### Strategies to Find Clients as a Freelancer (Without Waiting for Them to Find You) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/client-acquisition-strategies/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:53:07.000Z Most freelancers have felt the pressure at one point or another: you're staring at your inbox, hoping a new client inquiry will appear. You've got a gap in your pipeline or just lost a client and *need* additional work. The freelancers who consistently have full client rosters aren't luckier or more talented. They've built a system that combines actively managing client acquisition and long-term. This system keeps running, even when they're heads down in client work, and reduces the moments of financial panic. 💡 ****TL;DR:** A sustainable client acquisition strategy combines active tactics (like referrals and direct outreach) with passive ones (like LinkedIn and community networking). The key is building a system you can consistently maintain. ## Why a client acquisition strategy is important for freelancers **Client acquisition** is the process of finding, attracting, and landing new clients for your business. For freelancers specifically, this happens most consistently if you build a repeatable system. After all, you don't have a separate sales team, a marketing department, or a big ad budget. It's *just you*. Many freelancers rely on a single source to fill their client roster. Maybe it's a freelance marketplace. Maybe it's referrals. That works...until it doesn't. And when that source dries up (or you forget to nurture it while you're busy with other clients), you're starting from zero. According to a recent [freelancer study](https://www.freelancermap.com/blog/client-acquisition-strategy-freelancers/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), 58% of freelancers say finding new projects is their biggest challenge. It's ranked even higher than work-life balance or better pay. If you're a freelancer or solopreneur who's felt that stress, you're not alone. The only way to reduce the "feast or famine" stress is to make your client acquisition strategy a priority. ## 4 client acquisition strategies for freelancers Your goal isn't to be everywhere at once. That's impossible for a solo business owner. Instead, you want two or three reliable channels working for you so that when one slows down, you're not scrambling. Your ideal approach depends on your service, your industry, and how much time you can dedicate to business development each week. ### 1\. Systematize your referrals Referrals are the best kind of lead because a referred client comes with built-in trust. It means shorter sales cycles and higher close rates. Plus, studies show that referred customers have a 37% [higher retention rate](https://firework.com/blog/referral-marketing-statistics?ref=blog.annabyang.com) than clients acquired through other channels. But here's the gap: **asking** for referrals. Many freelancers never make the ask. Or when they do, we make it vague. ("Know anyone who needs help?" is too broad.) The fix is to make referrals a standard part of your offboarding process. Ask when your client is happiest, like right after you deliver a final project or hit a key milestone. If they say yes, make it really easy by giving them something to forward. Write a two-sentence blurb they can copy and paste into an email or Slack message. Here's an example for you to send to clients for them to send to other people they know: > *Hey \[first name\],* > > *Do you need any additional support for \[type of service you offer\]. I've been working with \[your name\], and they're fantastic on \[project description\]. Can I make an introduction?* 💡 ****Tip:** If you don't want to ask for a referral, you can also ask for a testimonial. A good testimonial [builds your authority](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/) and is an evergreen way to prove your value to potential clients. ### 2\. Send outreach that doesn't feel cold Direct outreach is often ineffective because you can't capture someone's attention if they don't know who you are. Even if you use tools to personalize the email (adding first name, a bit of info about the company and how you can solve a problem), it's still got a few problems: - People's inboxes are flooded - Even the most personalized email can't capture attention - You risk being marked as "spam" if the person doesn't want to hear from you The average cold email response rate sits [around 5% in 2025](https://reachoutly.com/cold-email/response-rate/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). So forget volume and cold pitches. Focus on forming connections first. Before you send a single email or DM, warm up your leads. Comment on their LinkedIn posts or share their content. Reference something specific about their business when you reach out. The goal is for them to recognize your name before they read your message. Timing matters also. I tend to reach out when I see the company is hiring. Because of the services I offer (fintech content marketing), I can offer something specific: to fill a gap before the company finds a full-time hire. Determine the signals that your ideal client needs your services, then use the opportunity to reach out. ### 3\. Build visibility on LinkedIn LinkedIn has over 1 billion members, and four out of five of them are involved in business decisions at their organization. For many freelancers, there's no better platform to build long-term visibility. But posting on LinkedIn isn't about constantly broadcasting your services. That can get annoying to potential clients, plus [make you feel cringe](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/). You can build more authentically by sharing how you solve real problems. Think of it as a "use case" approach. Instead of "I offer content strategy services," share a story: "A client came to me with 50 blog posts and no traffic. Here's the three-step audit I ran and what we changed." That kind of post demonstrates expertise in a way that a service description never could. This takes a lot of consistency. You won't see results from one post or even ten. But over time, you'll start getting inbound messages from people who've been reading your content for weeks or months. Those leads are warm long before you ever have a conversation. I started [building on LinkedIn](https://blog.annabyang.com/linkedin-client-acquisition/) a full 18 months before I started my solo business. But as a result, when I made the announcement that I was taking on clients, I immediately had leads. 💡 ****Tip:** You can use a chatbot like Claude to help you brainstorm LinkedIn post ideas based on recent client wins or lessons learned. Feed it a brief description of a project outcome and ask for three angles you could turn into posts. ### 4\. Network in niche communities Social media feeds are noisy. The conversations that actually lead to client work often happen in smaller, more focused spaces, like Slack groups, Discord servers, industry-specific forums, and even subreddit threads. The key word here is **niche**. A general "marketing" community is less likely to help you find clients, because you might be competing against a bunch of other freelancers with the same idea. But a Slack group for SaaS founders? A Discord for e-commerce operators? Those are (virtual) rooms full of people who might need exactly what you offer. In these communities, you need to: - Show up consistently - Ask questions or leave comments - Share what you know without pitching Over time, you'll become the person people think of when they (or someone they know) need your services. You can also look for partnerships with freelancers who offer complementary services. They may serve the same clients, but don't compete with you. If you're a copywriter, partner with a web designer. If you do bookkeeping, connect with a business coach. Since you're [not competing](https://blog.annabyang.com/fellow-solopreneurs-are-not-your-competition/), you can refer work to each other. I love referring work to my freelance network when a project isn't a good fit for me or outside of the services I offer. ## Common mistakes freelancers make with client acquisition - **Relying on a single channel.** If all your clients come from one place, you're one algorithm change away from an empty pipeline. - **Not focusing on client acquisition when you're busy.** This is the "feast or famine" trap. - **Being too broad when talking about their services.** Specificity makes you referable. - **Only reaching out with a direct ask.** Better to send a warm, introductory message first — even months before you pitch. - **Skipping the follow-up.** Many opportunities come from the second or third touchpoint, not the first. ## Build a client acquisition system that fits your business To get started, pick **two** strategies from this list and commit to them for 90 days. Figure out how the tactic fits into your schedule so you can stay consistent. If the best tactics aren't obvious, look at where your last five clients came from. That's your strongest channel right now. Double down on it for the next 90 days while you experiment with one new approach. Keep in mind that even if you don't see results after 90 days doesn't mean the approach doesn't work. It might take much longer. You're experimenting with *how* it fits into your schedule and complements your primary strategy, rather than expecting a specific outcome. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/12/ebook-pricing-services.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Freelance pricing is hard to figure out,* **so I’ve created a free resource for fellow writers.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### How do freelancers find their first clients? Most freelancers find their first clients through their existing network, such as former colleagues, managers, or professional contacts who already know their work. From there, joining niche online communities and doing targeted outreach to companies you'd like to work with can help you build momentum. #### How long does it take for a client acquisition strategy to work? Active strategies like direct outreach and referral requests can generate results within a few weeks. Passive strategies like LinkedIn content and community networking can take 6+ months of consistent effort before they produce inbound leads. #### What's the difference between active and passive client acquisition? Active client acquisition is when you initiate contact, such sending outreach emails, asking for referrals, or responding to job postings. Passive client acquisition is when clients come to you, usually because they've seen your content, heard your name in a community, or received a referral. A strong freelance business uses both. #### How much time should freelancers spend on client acquisition each week? A good baseline is two to five hours per week, even when you're busy with project work. The specific amount depends on how full your pipeline is, but consistency is important. Stopping completely when you have clients is what creates the "feast or famine" cycle. #### Do freelancers need a CRM to manage leads? If you're managing a handful of leads, a simple spreadsheet or note-taking app works fine. A CRM becomes more useful once you're tracking multiple conversations across different channels and need a system to follow up consistently. #### How do you find clients without using freelance marketplaces? Referrals, direct outreach, LinkedIn, and niche communities are all effective channels that don't involve competing on price in a marketplace. The advantage of these approaches is that you're building direct relationships with clients, which typically leads to higher rates and longer engagements. ### Hate Marketing Yourself on LinkedIn? Here Are Ways to Make It Less Cringe. URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:14:38.000Z Many people find posting on LinkedIn terrifying. I’ve heard comments ranging from “I don’t know what to post” to “I always second-guess myself.” But there’s an undeniable benefit to being on LinkedIn when you're running your own business. LinkedIn is very effective at driving high-quality leads and produces better organic results than other platforms. You can be active on LinkedIn without the cringe. I’ve spent more than 18 months building a network and personal brand — one that DOESN’T revolve around constant self-promotion and instead revolves around building awareness and a personal brand. (Say what you want about the cringey-ness of personal brand; it works.) 💡 TL;DR: You don't need to be constantly self-promotional to grow on LinkedIn. A few simple habits, such as repurposing comments, scheduling posts, and building relationships, can help you show up consistently without the cringe. ## How LinkedIn helps freelancers grow their businesses Some people don’t mind being self-promotional. I am not one of those people. Yet here I am, a [freelance fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/) who relies on LinkedIn for business. Before that, I ran sales at a marketing agency and was expected to bring in new clients. LinkedIn isn't just another social media platform — it's where decision-makers spend their time. The people scrolling LinkedIn are managers, founders, VPs, and directors who actually have the budget and authority to hire freelancers. That makes it one of the few platforms where showing up consistently can lead directly to client work. For freelancers and solopreneurs, this means LinkedIn doubles as both a networking tool *and* a lead generation channel. By posting useful content and engaging with the right people, you're building visibility with the exact audience who might need your services. The key is doing it in a way that feels natural (and not sales-y). ## 5 ways to show up on LinkedIn You don't have to overhaul your entire online presence to make LinkedIn work for you. These are the strategies I've used over the past few years to build a network, attract clients, and grow my personal brand — all without feeling like I'm constantly selling. Pick one to start with and build from there. ### 1\. Repurpose your LinkedIn comments If you’re not sure what to post, start by commenting on other people’s posts. You’re using *their post* as a prompt for your own ideas. This doesn’t work if you reply with something like, “I agree!” It has to be substantial. The benefits are twofold: you’ll generate ideas for future content of your own *and* you’ll start showing up in the feeds of other people. Start small, like commenting on at least five posts per day. Then you’ll take your comments and turn them into your own posts. Repurposing is always easier than coming up with net new content. You’ve already had the idea when you left the comment. Why not [get extra mileage](https://blog.annabyang.com/repurpose-your-content/) out of it? ### 2\. Schedule posts in advance Part of the paralysis people experience comes from cringing at their own posts the minute they hit “Publish.” This is especially true if you’re not used to writing publicly. You worry that low engagement means people didn’t like your post (it doesn’t — it just takes a long time to build up enough of an audience to get consistent engagement). You can remove some of your trepidation by scheduling your posts in advance. I schedule mine *weeks* in advance. By the time the posts actually go live on LinkedIn, I’ve forgotten what I’ve written. I also schedule many of them for 8:00 am, when I’m in the middle of getting my kids out the door for school and not looking at LinkedIn anyway. By the time I check to see if the post has any engagement, it’s been live for at least 20 minutes. If you’re repurposing your comments as posts, this is even easier. Ten comments will get you two weeks’ worth of posts if you schedule one per day. LinkedIn has a native scheduling option, but it’s terrible and clunky. Scheduling tools will make your life easier. I use [Buffer](https://join.buffer.com/anna-burgess-yang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\],* but there are a lot of options out there, like Hootsuite, Loomly, CoSchedule, and Sprout Social. [How to Start Networking as a FreelancerNetworking helps you grow your business.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-194.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelancer-networking.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-networking/) ### 3\. Keep self-promotion to a minimum I worked with a woman who was trying to become more active on LinkedIn. She had some really unique ideas; writing wasn’t her problem. But she was only publishing once every two weeks, and *every* post ended with a really strong CTA to connect with her and learn more about how she could help. Two problems with this approach: **First**, once every two weeks is not nearly enough. You need consistent, daily posting to become memorable (though you can work up to daily posting over time). **Second**, every post was self-promotional. That doesn’t work. The people who grow on LinkedIn freely share information and get attention that way. If someone *really* wants to learn more about what you do, they’ll click over to your profile. LinkedIn is a place for conversations, not [constant sales pitches](https://blog.annabyang.com/win-clients-without-pitching/). If every post is, “Come work with me!” or “Reach out to learn more about this company/product!” people will start to tune out. Post self-promotional content once every two weeks, and keep it subtle. For example, I’ll say something like, “As a freelance fintech writer…” reminding people of what I do. Everything else can be interesting content about topics you're interested in. You can also share "behind-the-scenes" posts about *how* you work. This gives potential clients confidence that you [run your business as a business](https://blog.annabyang.com/working-on-business-vs-working-in-business/) and not a side hustle. ### 4\. Connect with potential clients I spend a lot of time connecting with potential clients. Even if they’re not interested in working with me, more connections means more potential for people to interact with my content — which [puts me in the feed](https://blog.annabyang.com/linkedin-client-acquisition/) and in front of potential clients I may not be aware of. I’m in a bunch of Slack communities, meet people there, then connect on LinkedIn. I do *not* immediately pitch them. There’s nothing more annoying than a “pitch slap” in LinkedIn’s DMs. Better to build a relationship over time. I [use a personal CRM](https://blog.annabyang.com/system-to-maintain-relationships/) to keep track of these interactions. You can use the “bell” icon on the person’s profile to get notifications when they post. Then, interact with that person’s posts. That way, you stay on the person’s radar, and hopefully, they’ll reach out if they ever have a need for your services. ![LinkedIn profile with the bell circled ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-linkedin-bell.png) Click the "Bell" icon on someone's profile ### 5\. Collaborate with other people If you collaborate with other people, you’ll benefit from *their* networks when they share info about the collaboration on LinkedIn. For example, I [appear on podcasts](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/), write guest posts, and host webinars with other people. These are instant cross-promotions, and sometimes with people who have a much larger network than me. It exposes me to a new audience and potential clients. And unlike “Come work with me!” posts, people *expect* you to be self-promotional with this type of content — you have something to share! You'll know it's working when you hear people say, “I heard you on this podcast…” or “I read this article you wrote…” so you'll know the effort is worthwhile. ## Common mistakes freelancers make with LinkedIn posting Building a LinkedIn presence takes time, and it's easy to fall into habits that slow your progress. Here are a few things to watch for as you get started. - **Making every post self-promotional.** Let your expertise speak for itself and save the direct CTAs for occasional posts. - **Pitch-slapping new connections in DMs.** Nothing kills a potential relationship faster than an immediate sales message. Connect first, engage with their content, and let the relationship develop naturally. - **Waiting for engagement before posting again.** Low engagement early on doesn't mean your content isn't working — it means the algorithm hasn't learned who you are yet. Keep posting, and engagement will follow. - **Overthinking every post.** The more time you spend second-guessing yourself, the less you'll actually publish. ## A long-game strategy to avoid the hard sell I hate [a hard sell](https://blog.annabyang.com/market-your-freelance-business/). I hate doing it, and I hate being on the receiving end. And buyer behavior has changed. With all of the noise on the internet, they’ll tune out what they don’t want to hear. They’re more focused on relationships, referrals, being aware of brands, and “good vibes.” Overly promotional marketing doesn’t work anymore. People want to buy from people — and, more specifically, people they like. Show up where buyers are on LinkedIn and become an interesting presence, and you won’t need a hard sell. Presence matters, and it pays off. --- *Still not sure what to post on LinkedIn? Check out my e-course:* [*Authentic Online Writing: 30 Days of Prompts*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/authentic-online-writing?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ## FAQs #### ****How often should you post on LinkedIn?** Aim for daily posting if you can, but work up to it over time. Consistency matters more than frequency — posting three times a week on a regular schedule is better than posting every day for a week and then disappearing. #### ****What should freelancers post on LinkedIn?** Share ideas, observations, and useful information related to your area of expertise. Keep self-promotional posts to about once every two weeks and make them subtle. The rest should be content that's interesting on its own. #### ****How do you get clients from LinkedIn without cold pitching?** Focus on building relationships by engaging with potential clients' posts and connecting through shared communities. Stay on their radar over time so they think of you when a need comes up, rather than pitching them in DMs. #### ****Is LinkedIn worth it for freelancers and solopreneurs?** Yes. LinkedIn puts you in front of decision-makers, such the managers, founders, and directors who have the authority and budget to hire you. It's one of the most effective platforms for generating inbound client work. #### ****How do you repurpose LinkedIn comments into posts?** Look in your profile at the comments you've left on other people's posts. Expand on that idea, add context, and you've got a ready-made post without starting from scratch. ### Build Better Routines by Anchoring to What You Already Do URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/build-better-routines/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:08:32.000Z Most self-improvement advice sounds great in theory. Read 10 pages a day. Journal every morning. Wake up at 5 a.m. Meditate for 20 minutes. But here's what that advice almost always skips: *where* does it fit in your day? If you're a parent, self-employed, working, or juggling a life that doesn't follow a neat 9-to-5 pattern, generic routine advice falls flat. It's not that the habits themselves are bad, but nobody tells you how to actually make them work when your schedule is unpredictable. Building a sustainable new routine or habit isn't about willpower (despite what the "experts" tell you). Instead, you need to focus on anchoring new habits to things you're already doing. TL;DR: Self-improvement advice fails when it assumes a predictable schedule. Instead of building new routines and habits from scratch, you should anchor them to things you already do and then layer on gradually. ## Why most self-improvement advice doesn't work Most habit advice also asks you to create something entirely new, like a brand-new morning routine or a dedicated block of time carved out of nowhere. That works for some people. But for many of us, it creates more friction and frustration than progress. I'm a parent, so a lot of my daily schedule is focused on my kids. And that schedule changes, depending on the time of year. When your Tuesdays look nothing like your Thursdays, the "wake up at 5 a.m. and follow this 90-minute morning routine" advice isn't practical. That's where **anchoring** comes in. An anchor is something you already do every single day without thinking about it. Brushing your teeth. Walking the dog. Picking the kids up from an after-school activity. These are your non-negotiables — and you can "attach" something new to them. Instead of building a routine from scratch, you build on top of what already exists. The anchor gives the new habit a home in your day, even if the time varies from day-to-day. ## 5 steps to build better routines with anchor habits Anchoring works because it removes the biggest barrier to forming new habits: figuring out when to do them. You only need something you already do consistently, rather than a perfect schedule. Here's how to put anchors into practice. ### 1\. Start with what you already do Look at what's already built into your day. These are the things you don't have to think about — they just happen. For example, I have a specific [daily ritual](https://blog.annabyang.com/daily-rituals/). I drink coffee every morning as soon as I wake up. And then I sit with my laptop in the kitchen and write until my kids wake up. I hate alarm clocks, so the exact amount of time is different every day, and I'm ok with that. My anchors are waking up and drinking coffee, and my newly-formed habit is writing. Not "writing for 30 minutes." Just writing with whatever amount of time I have, and being ok with that. The key is intention. If you want to add a new habit to your morning routine, you don't have to redesign your morning. Instead, you add one new thing to a pattern that already works. ### 2\. Make it trackable (and a little addictive) There's a reason gamified apps work so well. Streaks, progress bars, and check marks create a psychological pull that makes you want to keep going. Once you hit a certain streak, skipping a day feels almost painful — and that's exactly the point. In a way, the streak or habit-tracking app can become the anchor by itself. The issue is getting to that point where it feels unimaginable to skip (see: my current Wordle and Duolingo streaks!) Some experts say it takes [around 60 days](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11641623/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to form a new habit. Though this claim has nuance, at some point, the new habit stops requiring effort and starts running on autopilot. 💡 ****Tip**: If you use a habit-tracking app, track the anchor and the new habit. On the days when the new habit doesn't happen, you can still check off the anchor. It prevents an all-or-nothing mindset from derailing your progress. ### 3\. Stack on top of different anchor points Once your first anchor habit feels natural, you might be tempted to pile more on top of it. But there's only so much you can stack onto one anchor before the whole thing collapses. Going back to my morning writing routine: at one point, I tried to add in "meditation" plus "journaling" plus "writing." But if I woke up later, that left less time for my writing. It was a tradeoff. I could set an alarm to have a fixed amount of time (nope) or decide that the writing was most important and find a different anchor in the day for meditation or journaling. While you can stack on top of existing anchors, sometimes it makes more sense to find different anchors. You're applying the same principle — attaching something new to something that already exists — just in a different part of your day. This spreads your habits across multiple anchor points instead of overloading one. ### 4\. Remember your "why" A habit without a purpose won't survive long. Even with an anchor to help you figure out "when," your initial excitement may fade. If your goal is to read more, ask yourself why. Are you trying to diversify the types of books you read? Do you have a backlog of articles you've been meaning to get through? Are you reading to grow in your career or learn about a new topic? The "why" has to be yours (not something The Internet told you to do). If the reason doesn't matter to you, the habit won't stick. 💡 ****Tip**: Put something visual near your anchor, like a sticky note on the bathroom mirror where you brush your teeth. These small visual cues connect the anchor to your "why." ### 5\. Know when to expand (and when to sit tight) Not every habit needs to grow into something bigger. Sometimes the goal is just consistency. You don't want to break the new habit or routine you just added to one of your current anchors. But when you're ready to add more, pay attention to how the current habit feels. If it's something you look forward to (or at least something you do semi-automatically), that's your signal that you could layer on something new. Everyone's timeline for [adapting to a new routine](https://blog.annabyang.com/adapt-to-a-new-routine/) or habit is different. It could be a few weeks or a few months. The only benchmark that matters is whether the new habit feels settled enough that adding another new habit feels achievable. [How to Create 90-Day GoalsWhat can you get done in 3 months?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-192.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-90-day-goals-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/90-day-goals/) ## Common mistakes when building new routines Even with anchoring, routines can go sideways — especially if you're trying to follow generic "how-to" advice. Here are a few common things to watch for. - **Not adapting based on your real life.** Ignore all of the "ideals" (like the perfect morning routine). Always filter advice through the reality of your life before applying it. - **Stacking too many habits on one anchor.** Your morning coffee can support one or two additions, not seven. Spread new habits across different anchor points. - **Skipping the "why."** Without a clear reason, a new habit is just another item on a to-do list. When things get busy, it'll be the first thing you drop. - **Going too big, too fast.** "Read for an hour a day" is a goal, not a starting point. Start with 10 pages or 10 minutes. You can always build from there. - **Treating a missed day as failure.** Give yourself grace. As long as the anchor stays in place, you can pick the new habit back up tomorrow. ## Create additional anchors in your environment In addition to routine-based anchors, which are what you do, your surroundings can nudge you toward a habit. These are environmental anchors — small cues in your physical space that tell your brain "it's time." This could look like lighting a candle before you sit down for deep work or putting a book on your nightstand instead of your phone. These micro-cues reduce decision fatigue. You're not asking yourself, "should I do this?" because the environment has already answered that question for you. The best part: once these environmental cues become automatic, they turn into anchors themselves. And you can use them to stack even more habits in the future. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/ebook-manage-time-content.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Check out my free guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### What's the best way to start a self-improvement routine? Start by identifying something you already do every day without thinking — like making coffee or brushing your teeth. Attach one small, new habit to this existing routine. #### How long does it take to form a new habit? \]There's no single answer. Some research suggests around 60 days on average, but it varies widely depending on the person and the complexity of the habit. #### What if I want to establish a new routine, but don't have a consistent daily schedule? Rather than tying your new routine to a specific time of day, you should tie it to an anchor — which is something you do every day, even if the time varies. If you always drink coffee in the morning, that's an anchor even if "morning" means 6 a.m. one day and 9 a.m. the next. #### How many habits should I try to build at once? Start with one. If you try to do too many new things, it's too easy to lose momentum if you can't maintain the habits. Adding too many new habits at the same time increases the chance that none of them will stick. #### What's the difference between a routine and a habit? A habit is a single action that becomes automatic over time, like reading 10 pages. A routine is a sequence of habits strung together, like coffee, then reading, then journaling. ### ### 5 Reasons to Say Yes to a Client Project (Even If the Pay Isn't Great) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/reasons-to-say-yes-to-a-client-project/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:30:33.000Z After you've been a solopreneur for a while, you know not every project inquiry deserves a "yes." But here's the thing: saying yes isn't just about whether you have time in your calendar or if the project pays your rate. The best projects I've taken on weren't always the highest-paying ones, and some of my worst decisions came from saying yes for the wrong reasons. Smart solopreneurs evaluate project opportunities against multiple criteria, not just how much they'll be paid. And getting clear about the criteria that matter most (depending on where you're at) is the best path to building a [sustainable business](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/). **TL;DR:** Not every project needs to pay top dollar to be worth taking. The best solopreneurs evaluate opportunities against the benefits to themselves or their businesses, using criteria in addition to money. ## What makes a project worth saying yes to? As solopreneurs, we all know the projects that are definite "yesses." The client pays your rate, the project is aligned with your overall goals, and you have a reasonable workload. Of course, it's hard to fill our queue with those types of projects all the time. Many solopreneurs struggle with [client acquisition](https://blog.annabyang.com/linkedin-client-acquisition/), either because they can't get new clients consistently or because they don't [market themselves](https://blog.annabyang.com/market-your-freelance-business/) enough. Knowing that not every project will be ideal, it's important to understand when saying "yes" is worthwhile. Don't think of it as bending your standards. Instead, you're doing what you need to do to make your business thrive. And with a thriving business, you can be more selective in the future. ## 5 criteria for evaluating new projects The projects that have shaped my business the most weren't always the ones with the biggest invoices. They're the ones that moved the needle in my portfolio, my network, or my expertise. Here are five things to consider when an opportunity comes in your direction. ### 1\. The project pays well (or you need the money) Money matters, there's no getting around that — *especially* when you're first getting started as a solopreneur. According to a 2025 [Simply Business report](https://www.simplybusiness.com/resource/2025-solopreneur-report/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), nearly half of solopreneurs have gone at least a month without income at some point. That type of financial rollercoaster is almost inherently part of running your own show. Money alone can justify a "yes" when you're trying to cover business expenses, build runway (your emergency savings), or hit your [revenue goals](https://blog.annabyang.com/foundational-revenue/) for the quarter. There's nothing wrong with taking a project primarily because you need the cash. I've done it. Probably every solopreneur does it at some point. But there's a caveat. If the project drains you, it's not worth it. Maybe the client requires too much of your time compared to how much they're paying you, or you're constantly stressed. Even if the project pays the bills but comes with scope creep, endless revisions, or a client who doesn't respect your boundaries, it's not worth it. Try to replace the client with a better one as soon as you can. [Why You Need Multiple Business Savings AccountsKeep your finances organized.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-191.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-business-savings-accounts.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-savings-accounts/) ### 2\. The work strengthens your portfolio Your portfolio is one of the marketing tools you have. It's proof of your capabilities, and future clients hire based on the work you've done. Strategic [portfolio building](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/) means taking projects that showcase the skills and industries you want to be known for, even if they don't pay premium rates. I took on a project that I *knew* was going to be difficult. But it was short-term and a huge addition to my portfolio, so it was worth the (temporary) pain. If a project is good for your portfolio, it's ok to take work below your normal rate. A strong portfolio and testimonials will attract the future clients you want. Think of the project as an investment. A single well-placed case study, for example, can open a lot of doors to higher-paying opportunities down the road. ### 3\. The client is well-connected in your target industry One well-connected client can open doors in ways that cold pitching never will. [Referral partnerships](https://softwareoasis.com/consulting-partnership-statistics-data/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), for example, convert at a rate of 58%, compared to 3% for cold outreach. When I talk about "well-connected," I mean actual industry influence. Not follower count. Someone with 500 LinkedIn connections who's deeply embedded in your target niche will be more valuable than a social media personality. The social media personality might be good for your *portfolio*, as social proof, but that's not the same as actually getting new business through referrals. When a client refers you, you've already passed the first hurdle in the prospective client's eyes: trust. If they trust the referrer, they'll assume you do good work. It's just a matter of budget and the specific project they're working on. I've had clients refer me over and over again because they had a good experience with me. ### 4\. The project helps you develop skills or deepen your niche expertise Some projects are investments in your future skills and market positioning. Learning on the job (while also getting paid!) is infinitely better than learning through unpaid courses and tutorials. Plus, there's always an element of "theoretical" rather than reality in any course or tutorial. The best experiences a hands-on. If you want expand your services, you need real project experience. You can't [claim expertise](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancers-journey-to-niche-expert/) in something you've never actually done for a client. Sometimes you might need to take on a project at a lower rate or that requires more hours to get that initial experience. That way, you can say, "I've done this" in the future. A word of caution: Don't take on work that's so far outside your skillset that [you can't deliver](https://blog.annabyang.com/risk-when-you-overpromise/). The sweet spot is work that stretches you in a good way. Not work that sets you up to fail and damages your reputation. A bad project does nothing for your ability to get future work for the same service. ### 5\. You're genuinely excited about the work Enthusiasm for a project often translates to better work, even when the compensation isn't exactly what you want. Ideally, you're getting paid the rate you want, but it's also ok to take on work that excites you. When you care about the outcome, your creativity flows more freely. The quality shines through, and that benefits you *and* the client. These types of projects also matter *a lot* for burnout prevention. If every project in your pipeline is "pay the bills" work, you're going to burn out (or get bored). Saying "yes" to passion projects is one of the best benefits of working for yourself. You know the feeling. Your face lights up with excitement when you talk to the prospective client. You can't wait to send a proposal. You say, "I'd love to work with you on this" — and mean it. But don't let every exciting project undercut your rates. If you have to work at a lower rate to take on these projects, it's ok to do that once in a while (unless money isn't your primary goal for working for yourself). A solopreneur who genuinely cares about the work delivers more value than someone just going through the motions. That's worth something to your clients. ## Common mistakes solopreneurs make when evaluating projects - Saying yes to every project without considering other factors - Undervaluing portfolio-building work that could attract better clients later - Chasing high-paying projects that drain your energy and aren't sustainable - Taking on work too far outside your skillset just because you want to learn something new - Failing to recognize the long-term value of well-connected clients ## Knowing when to say no is just as important Understanding what makes a good "yes" also means recognizing when the answer should be "no." Remember, every "yes" is a "no" to something else. A "yes" means a "no" to another project, your [personal time](https://blog.annabyang.com/reclaim-time/), or the energy you'd need for other parts of your business. Building a sustainable business means being selective. Your goal should be to fill your calendar with a combination of work that pays well and work that meets some other criteria that makes sense for your business. Saying both "yes" and "no" takes confidence in your decision-making skills. That confidence is what separates solopreneurs who are constantly scrambling from those who are building something that lasts. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/12/annabyang-business-design.png)](https://pages.annabyang.com/business-design?utm%5Fsource=blog&utm%5Fmedium=footer-cta&utm%5Fcampaign=evergreen) **Want to build a life-first business?* **These reflections will help you determine your priorities.* [Download ](https://pages.annabyang.com/business-design?utm%5Fsource=blog&utm%5Fmedium=footer-cta&utm%5Fcampaign=evergreen) ## FAQs #### ****How do I decide if a client project is worth taking?** Evaluate the project against five criteria: pay, the value to your portfolio, how well-connected the client is, skill development, and your genuine excitement for the work. If a project checks at least one or two of these boxes, it's likely worth considering. #### ****Should solopreneurs ever work below their normal rate?** Yes, if the project offers strategic value like building your portfolio in a new niche or developing skills you can offer as new services later. Think of it as an investment rather than a discount. #### ****How do referrals help solopreneurs find new clients?** Referrals convert at significantly higher rates than cold outreach and come with built-in trust. One well-connected client can generate more opportunities than months of other marketing efforts. #### ****What makes a client "well-connected"?** A well-connected client has genuine influence within your target industry, not just a large social media following. They're part of networks where your ideal clients spend time and make decisions. #### ****How do I balance passion projects with paying work?** Aim for a mix where most projects pay your rate, and other projects check at least one other box on your criteria list. The occasional lower-paying passion project can prevent burnout, but don't let your excitement undercut your income. You're still providing a lot of value to the client. ### Solopreneur vs. Freelancer: What's the Difference? URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-vs-freelancer/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:54:46.000Z You've started working for yourself, and you're excited to start earning income on your own instead of working for a company. But are you a **solopreneur** or a **freelancer?** In 2021, I quit corporate life. I decided to [bet on myself](https://blog.annabyang.com/year-i-bet-on-myself/) and start my own business as a [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/) and journalist. I used to refer to myself as a freelance writer. But now, I prefer the word "solopreneur." A lot of people use the words solopreneur vs. freelancer interchangeably. But they have some subtle differences — mostly in what's happening behind the scenes (versus how you interact with clients). How you refer to yourself depends on the type of business you want to build. 💡 ****TL;DR:** A solopreneur builds a business independently with systems and multiple revenue streams, while a freelancer trades time for money through client services. Neither path is better: what matters is understanding which aligns with your goals and how you want to work. ## What is a solopreneur? A solopreneur is a solo entrepreneur who builds and runs a business independently, without hiring employees. Unlike traditional business owners who scale through headcount, solopreneurs scale through systems, automation, and 1-to-many products and services. That doesn't mean solopreneurs do everything alone. Many hire contractors or a [virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) to help with specific tasks. For example, I've hired a graphic designer for branding (project-based) and a bookkeeper for finances (ongoing). The key distinction between a solopreneur vs. an entrepreneur or another self-employed person is that solopreneurs retain full ownership and control of their business. Entrepreneurs take on the responsibilities (and overhead) of managing a team. Solopreneurs also tend to focus on building multiple revenue streams rather than simply trading time for money. They might combine client work with [digital products](https://blog.annabyang.com/digital-products-flywheel/), courses, affiliate income, or other offerings that generate revenue. They recognize that if they have to be directly involved with every dollar they earn, it would be impossible to grow/scale while remaining solo. ## What's the difference between a solopreneur and a freelancer? The terms "solopreneur" and "freelancer" are often used interchangeably. However, they represent different approaches to independent work. Generally, a solopreneur is a business owner, while a freelancer works for businesses as an independent contractor. Freelancers exchange their time for money through client services. They work as contractors within other companies' projects, completing assignments [based on their expertise](https://blog.annabyang.com/establish-freelancer-credibility-and-expertise/),. Common freelance roles include writing, design, development, consulting, or another skill. When the project ends, so does the income from that client (unless there's ongoing work). Solopreneurs might provide the same services as a freelancer, but might depend on other revenue streams. This might be **in addition to** client services, or might be entirely independent of client services. Think of someone who sells online courses or digital products, and that's their *entire* business model. That person is a solopreneur, but not a freelancer. The business focus is different. Freelancers typically invest in improving their skills to command higher rates and [attract better clients](https://blog.annabyang.com/win-clients-without-pitching/). Solopreneurs focus on business growth and systems. They think about how to scale their impact without working more hours. ❗ ****Note:** Solopreneur vs. freelancer has nothing to do with legal or tax structure in the U.S. Both solopreneurs and freelancers can operate as sole proprietors, LLCs, or Sub S Corporations. Consult with a lawyer and/or financial advisor to determine which is best for you. ## From freelancer to solopreneur: 4 business mindset shifts If you're a freelancer and think, "I want to be a solopreneur," it isn't just about adding new revenue streams. It's a fundamental shift in how you think about your work and your business. Here are some key things you need to consider. ### 1\. Revenue structure Solopreneurs usually build toward recurring revenue, such as subscriptions, memberships, retainers, or products with ongoing sales. That doesn't happen overnight. It takes a long time (and usually a large audience) to generate enough recurring revenue to support your lifestyle. ### 2\. Building a brand Solopreneurs build a brand around their business. You need a recognizable online presence in order to generate revenue. While a brand can help freelancers, they can also rely on referrals or marketplaces (like Upwork or Fiverr). Personal brand is a *lot* of work, and usually requires a lot of time planning and publishing content. You may also need to invest in design services so your brand is recognizable. ### 3\. Strategic decision-making Solopreneurs make strategic decisions to shape the direction of their businesses. They decide which products to create, which audiences to pursue, and how to position themselves. If you're not careful, you can fall prey to "shiny object syndrome" as a solopreneur, and chase things that don't actually earn revenue (or don't earn enough to offset the time you've put in). Spending a ton of time on Instagram to build a following doesn't matter if those followers don't actually buy anything from you. ### 4\. Time and bandwidth Both freelancers and solopreneurs have a lot of flexibility, but it looks different in practice. Freelancers have to manage client expectations and deadlines. Their bandwidth is determined by how much client work they can take on. Solopreneurs often have self-imposed deadlines, such as creating content for YouTube or publishing a podcast. They can free up their time by hiring subcontractors, such as a video editor. If solopreneurs take on new projects, such as publishing content in a new channel, they have to think about the tradeoff of their time and bandwidth to do other things to grow their business. ## Are you a freelancer or a solopreneur? Not sure which category fits you best? Ask yourself these questions: - Do you earn income when you're not actively working? - Do you spend more time improving your skills or building business systems? - Are you focused on attracting better clients or creating products and offerings? - Do you adapt to client requirements or set the direction for your business? - Is your brand built around your personal skills or around a business that exists beyond you? - Do you think of yourself as a professional for hire or as a business owner? If your answers lean toward the first option in each question, you're operating more as a freelancer. If they lean toward the second, you're thinking like a solopreneur. Most people fall somewhere in between (and that's perfectly fine!). ## How you refer to yourself and your business My clients refer to me as a freelance writer because that's the service I offer them. But I refer to myself as a solopreneur, because that's what I'm building. Both are true statements, but solopreneur more accurately reflects my business goals. What matters is understanding which approach aligns with how *you* want to work and what you're ultimately [trying to build](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/). You might start as a freelancer and evolve into a solopreneur over time. Or you might realize that freelancing gives you exactly what you want: great clients, interesting work, and flexibility. The labels matter less than your intention behind them. Know what you're building, and the right way to describe yourself will follow. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/12/annabyang-business-design.png)](https://pages.annabyang.com/business-design?utm%5Fsource=blog&utm%5Fmedium=footer-cta&utm%5Fcampaign=evergreen) **Want to build a life-first business?* **These reflections will help you determine your priorities.* [Download ](https://pages.annabyang.com/business-design?utm%5Fsource=blog&utm%5Fmedium=footer-cta&utm%5Fcampaign=evergreen) ## FAQs #### ****What is a solopreneur?** A solopreneur is a solo entrepreneur who builds and runs a business independently without employees. They focus on creating systems and multiple revenue streams rather than simply trading their time for money. #### ****What's the difference between a solopreneur and a freelancer?** A solopreneur is a business owner who builds scalable income streams, while a freelancer works as an independent contractor exchanging time for money through client services. Solopreneurs focus on business growth and systems; freelancers focus on their craft and skills. #### ****Can you be both a freelancer and a solopreneur?** Yes, many people operate as both. They offer client services while building products, courses, or other revenue streams on the side. It's common to start as a freelancer and gradually shift toward solopreneurship over time. #### ****Do solopreneurs have employees?** No, solopreneurs run their businesses without employees, which is what makes them different from traditional entrepreneurs. However, they often hire contractors or freelancers for specific tasks. #### ****Is being a solopreneur better than being a freelancer?** Neither path is inherently better. It depends on your goals and definition of success. What matters is choosing the approach that aligns with how you want to work. ### 7 Truths About Running a Solo Business URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/truths-about-solo-business/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:34:36.000Z Running a solo business looks glamorous from the outside. You're your own boss. You set your own hours. You answer to no one. (And you don't have to manage people!) But the reality is more complex — and certainly less glamarous — than social media would have you believe. After years of solopreneurship, I've learned some truths that are often glossed over online. These aren't complaints, but they're just reality for most solo business owners. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Running a solo business means navigating financial complexity, investing in tools that save time, building owned assets like a website, and learning to sit with both the loneliness and the freedom. The tradeoffs is that you get to build a business you can control. ## 1\. Revenue is not the same as take-home pay People ask, "How's business?" and expect a number. But the number doesn't tell the whole story. You can invoice $20,000 in a month and take home *far* less. Taxes eat a chunk. Software subscriptions add up. If you hire contractors to help with overflow work, that's another expense. A big month shrinks fast once you account for the actual cost of running your business. Plus, sometimes your [revenue is really irregular](https://blog.annabyang.com/solo-business-cash-flow/). You invoice for a big project upfront, and that's expected to carry you for the next three months. Be really skeptical of solopreneurs sharing their revenue numbers online. It's good to have a barometer of what other people are charging. But keep in mind that they might not be earning as much as you think. ## 2\. Tools are worth the cost From my early days of running a solo business, I was willing to [pay for software](https://blog.annabyang.com/paying-for-tools-as-a-solopreneur/). Even when I wasn't earning very much, I would add another $20 subscription if it saved me time or made me more efficient. The trade-off was worth it, in my opinion. I was [buying back time](https://blog.annabyang.com/buy-back-time/) in my day. I don't have colleagues who can help with my workload. The math becomes obvious when you calculate what your time is actually worth. If a $20/month tool saves you an hour and you earn more than $20/hour, the tool is worth it. ## 3\. You need a website Don't let anyone tell you that a social media presence is enough — even if you have a large following. Algorithms can change in a heartbeat. A website is a piece of digital real estate **you can control**. It's where people can find you when they search your name. It's where you offer a first impression: showcasing your work, collecting email addresses for a newsletter, and offering ways for people to get in touch. And no, a Linktree doesn't count. You need a website [on *your* domain](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-email-address/), to build domain authority for your site when you share it (which matters for Google and search). A website from [Carrd](https://try.carrd.co/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com), *\[affiliate link\]* for example, is simple to set up and costs $19/year. ## 4\. You can build a business without any outbound I've never relied on cold pitches. To be honest, cold pitching makes me uncomfortable. I hate *receiving* cold pitches, so I couldn't imagine sending them. All of my work is either inbound or referral. But I started [showing up online](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/) (LinkedIn) long before I formed my solo business. I'm also an active participant in a lot of communities. After a while, people started to recognize my name. That's years of compounded effort. The work you do today, even when it feels like no one is paying attention, is what creates opportunities later. You don't have to chase clients if you've spent years giving them reasons to come to you. But you do have to be patient, and you have to keep showing up. ## 5\. The loneliness is real If you've always worked with colleagues, starting a solo business can be really unsettling at first. There's no one to riff with when you have a half-baked idea. No one to blame when something goes wrong. No one to celebrate the small wins. I've been a remote worker for most of my career, but my coworkers were just a DM away. Being a solopreneur is a new level of "working alone." Finding community helps. Whether that's a mastermind group, a Slack community, or just a few [solopreneur friends](https://blog.annabyang.com/networking-solopreneur/) you text regularly, having people who understand the work makes a difference. ## 6\. Set up your systems early You don't need to have everything mapped out before you start. You encounter a problem, you solve it, you move on. When I first launched my business as a freelance [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/), I was willing to take any type of client. Over the years, I've refined my offers and messaging *a lot*. I've also changed how I structure my agreements. But here's one thing to keep in mind: don't wait too long to build systems. When you realize you need a process for onboarding clients, build it. When your finances start feeling chaotic, get a system for reviewing and tracking your expenses. "Figure it out later" doesn't work with **systems** because you'll find yourself buried in operational debt that takes twice as long to fix. ## 7\. Shiny object syndrome is a huge distraction Even when things are going well, it's hard to sit still. There's always another idea. Another project. Another revenue stream to chase. Another platform to try. I struggle with this constantly. The same curiosity that drove you to start your own business can also pull you in too many directions at once. You end up with five half-finished projects instead of one thing that actually works. If you have an idea, store it somewhere. Don't start working on it immediately. Make sure you have time to [think it through](https://blog.annabyang.com/think-like-a-ceo/) and plan first. I have a whole Trello board of ideas to revisit later, when I have the space to assess whether it makes sense for my business. [Deep Work to Drive Progress in Your Solo BusinessSet aside time to work on your business strategy.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-190.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-ceo-day.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/deep-work/) ## The freedom is worth it Some parts of running a solo business are very hard, or even frustrating. And I'd still choose this path every time. I get to decide [when my workday ends](https://blog.annabyang.com/work-fewer-hours-and-a-shorter-week-as-a-solopreneur/). I work with people I actually like. I can take a Tuesday afternoon off without asking permission. And best of all: I can build something that's *mine*. The freedom to design your life around your work, instead of the other way around, is worth the effort. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/12/annabyang-business-design.png)](https://pages.annabyang.com/business-design?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Want to build a life-first business?* **These reflections will help you determine your priorities.* [Download ](https://pages.annabyang.com/business-design?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ## **FAQs** #### ****Is running a solo business lonely?** It can be. Without coworkers or a team, you lose the built-in social aspect of traditional employment. Building intentional community through groups, networking, or solopreneur friends can help offset the isolation. #### ****How much of my revenue should I expect to keep as a solopreneur?** It varies, but many solopreneurs take home 50-70% of their gross revenue after accounting for taxes, software, contractors, and business expenses. Tracking your actual take-home pay (net income) gives you a clearer picture than looking at how much you invoice. #### ****Do I really need a website as a solopreneur?** Yes. Social platforms can change their algorithms or shut down, but you can control your website. It gives you a home base for your work. #### ****How do I avoid shiny object syndrome?** Set clear priorities for each quarter and evaluate new opportunities against those goals. Ask yourself whether a new project serves your existing business or just distracts from it. ### 5 Solopreneur Productivity Tools for Smarter Work Habits URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-productivity-tools/ Last updated: 2026-02-18T11:56:18.000Z Ever feel like your phone is your most obnoxious coworker? You sit down to write a client proposal, and 30 minutes later you haven't started because you've been scrolling through Instagram. When you work for yourself, there's no manager walking by your desk to keep you on task. There's no team depending on you to show up to a meeting. It's just you, your to-do list, and a whole lot of ways to get distracted throughout the day. 41% of solopreneurs [report](https://kenyarmosh.com/blog/solopreneur-statistics/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) time management as a top operational challenge. And it's not just your phone or social media. Your focus might also be pulled by admin tasks or all the hats you need to wear to keep your business running. I've found a few good solopreneur productivity tools to help me stay focused. They address different needs, but — combined — let me do a lot more within my workweek. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Solopreneurs lose hours each week to digital distractions and scattered focus. These five tools (a phone blocking app, focus timers, virtual coworking, automation, and generative AI) can help you reclaim your time. ## Why do solopreneurs struggle with productivity? Solopreneur productivity isn't the same as productivity at a corporate job. When you're working for an employer, you're filling a bucket of time within the day (40 hours). Some people might be self-motivated, but the reward for productivity is *more work*, since you still have to work 40 hours. The reward for solopreneur productivity is *more time*. When you work efficiently, you have options. You can take on more work (and earn more money), or you can simply enjoy the additional free time. Unlike traditional jobs, relying on managers or co-workers, solopreneurs must create their own systems for focus. Without solopreneur productivity tools, it's easy to lose control of your time. You find yourself responding to emails the moment they arrive, staring at a never-ending to-do list, and losing hours every week to [context-switching](https://blog.annabyang.com/single-tasking-strategies/). The good news? You don't need superhuman willpower to become more productive (though wouldn't that be a cool skill?). You just need the right tools. [Why You Should Invest In Tools as a SolopreneurLack of tools can hurt your business.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-189.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-solopreneur-tools-cost.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/paying-for-tools-as-a-solopreneur/) ## 5 tools to boost your focus and productivity The best productivity tools for solopreneurs address five key areas: distraction blocking, focused time for deep work, accountability, automation, and AI assistance. Here are the tools I recommend in each category. ### 1\. Brick: Block distracting apps on your phone [Brick](https://getbrick.app/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) is a physical device that temporarily blocks apps on your phone. You can turn on Brick mode directly from the app or put it on a schedule. But to *unbrick* your device, you have to return to the Brick device and tap your phone to it. I tried my iPhone's built-in screen time features, and they were far too easy to override (so basically worthless). But my Brick is out of reach, in another room of my house. I have to get up from my desk to unbrick my device. You need to make a conscious decision to override the Brick mode. Plus, it takes effort if you put the Brick far enough away. In most cases, I simply put my phone down, deciding that it's not worth it. ### 2\. Focus Friend: Gamify your focus sessions [Focus Friend](https://www.yourfocusfriend.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) is a gamified focus timer app created by Hank Green. Your "friend" is a little bean that knits. If you don't disrupt the bean (by opening another app), the bean will finish knitting and you can use points to decorate the bean's apartment. If you *do* break the bean's knitting session, the bean sobs in dismay. The game is adorable (and free!). My teenager loves it and is determined not to disappoint the bean. Because you earn rewards, it's more interesting than something like a Pomodoro timer alone. If you already use [time-blocking strategies](https://blog.annabyang.com/time-blocking-for-freelancers/), Focus Friend is a great addition. Set a 25 or 50-minute session, and let the app give you that small dopamine hit for staying on task. ### 3\. Flow Club: Virtual coworking and body doubling [Flow Club](https://www.flow.club/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) is a virtual coworking platform where you join live sessions with other remote workers. You share your goals at the start of a session, work during a focused period, and debrief at the end. Body doubling — working in the presence of another person — is a proven technique for focus, especially for [those with ADHD](https://www.flow.club/blog/body-doubling-adhd?ref=blog.annabyang.com). It creates a sense of accountability and shared energy that helps many people stay on task. Flow Club brings the feeling of a coworking space or coffee shop to your home office, without requiring you to leave your house. Body doubling can be particularly beneficial if you're [working on a project](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-management-skills/) or a difficult task. ### 4\. Zapier: Automate repetitive tasks [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* is an automation platform that connects your apps and automates workflows. You can do things like automatically save email attachments to your Google Drive or automatically add new form submissions to your CRM. In my business, Zapier automates about 1,500 tasks per month. Every minute saved on repetitive admin tasks is a minute I can spend on higher-value work. And when you're the only person in your business, those minutes add up fast. ### 5\. Claude Projects: Your AI thinking partner **Claude** is a generative AI assistant that can help with brainstorming, drafting, research, and problem-solving. I use Claude Projects specifically, which lets me upload documents and maintain context across conversations. AI doesn't replace my expertise, but it's a helpful "sparring partner" when I'm working alone and have no one to bounce ideas off of. For example, I have a Project set up with all of my brand guidelines and a Voice and Tone Guide. I'll ask Claude to generate the first draft of copy for a new landing page. I'll still edit the output, but it's a starting point. The key is to treat AI output as a [starting point](https://blog.annabyang.com/maintain-authentic-writing-voice-with-generative-ai/), not a final destination. It's a lot easier (for me) to edit something existing than to stare at a blank screen. #### Solopreneur productivity checklist - Identify your top distractions while working - Use a focus timer or app-blocking tool during [deep work](https://blog.annabyang.com/deep-work/) - Schedule at least one coworking or body doubling session per week - Automate one repetitive task this month - Use AI for brainstorming or first drafts of a project (not final output) ## Start with one productivity tool, then keep going Productivity as a solopreneur is about working smarter with the right tools and systems in place. If good habits fit easily into your workday, you don't have to think about them as much. You shouldn't need to rely on sheer willpower to be productive. You don't need to adopt all five tools at once. Pick one that addresses your biggest problem and try it for a week. See what changes. Then, if you need more tools to help you stay productive, you can layer in additional strategies. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/12/annabyang-ebook-getting-started-automation.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Want to see what automation actually looks like in a solo business?* **Check out my free guide.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ## FAQ #### ****How do solopreneurs stay focused when working alone?** Solopreneurs can stay focused by creating external accountability (like body doubling or coworking). They can also reduce digital distractions with phone blockers or app limits. #### ****What is body doubling and why does it work?** Body doubling is working in the presence of another person, either in person or virtually. It creates a sense of accountability that helps many people, especially those with ADHD, stay focused on tasks. #### ****How can AI help solopreneurs be more productive?** AI tools can help solopreneurs brainstorm ideas, summarize research, and automate parts of their workflow. When used as a thinking partner rather than a replacement for the solopreneur's expertise, AI can save hours each week. #### ****How much time do distractions cost solopreneurs?** Research suggests workers lose an average of an hour or more per day to phone distractions alone. For solopreneurs, this can translate to thousands of dollars in lost productivity. ### Essential Freelance Business Tools: 4 Systems You Need URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/essential-freelance-business-tools/ Last updated: 2026-02-18T11:57:22.000Z Freelancers love to say they “just need a laptop and Wi-Fi.” And while that's *technically* true, you also need tools to make your business **run**. Otherwise, your behind-the-scenes work will be chaos. A solo business runs best on systems. At the core, you'll have some essential freelance business tools — all of which should help you operate more efficiently. They'll become the backbone of your business and support you as you grow. 💡 ****TL;DR:** The essential freelance business tools every solopreneur needs fall into four categories: project management, invoicing and payments, social media scheduling, and AI. Together, these tools help you work faster and stay organized. ## 4 tools you need in your freelance business A [sustainable business](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/) has some structure behind the scenes. I started using tools as soon as I had **two** clients. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to add tools later. The "right" tool depends on **you** and your unique business needs. You should look for tools that fit into your workflow (and avoid the "shiny object" trap). Understand what these four categories of tools will do for your business, and then sign up for free trials to find the right fit. ### 1\. Project management: The hub of your business **Examples:** [Trello](https://trello.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Asana](https://asana.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [ClickUp](https://clickup.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), Notion **What I use:** Trello ($20/month) Project management tools prevent missed deadlines, keep your research in one place, and can let you collaborate with clients. [Context switching](https://blog.annabyang.com/single-tasking-strategies/) — switching between different apps — is bad. It "costs" your brain time and energy to switch between different tasks or tools. A project management tool stores all information about a specific project, client, or deliverable in one place. A [project management system](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/) also removes the cognitive load of tracking everything in your head. Whether you're [juggling multiple clients](https://blog.annabyang.com/juggle-freelance-clients/) or deliverables with a lot of moving parts, a project management tool will help you stay organized. [Project Management Skills Every Freelancer NeedsLearn how to effectively manage your client work.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-168.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelance-project-management-3.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-management-skills/) #### What a project management tool should help you do: - Track active projects and deadlines - Store research, client files, and deliverables - Visualize your work by week or month - Reduce context switching by keeping everything in one place #### Features you should look for: - Templates for repeated workflows - Calendar, timeline, or Kanban views - Client-friendly sharing or collaboration - A mobile app for quick updates ### 2\. Invoicing & payments: Get paid faster **Examples**: [Quickbooks](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Wave](https://www.waveapps.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Freshbooks](https://www.freshbooks.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Stripe](https://stripe.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **What I use:** Quickbooks ($38/month) and Stripe (fee per invoice/payment) [Cash flow](https://blog.annabyang.com/solo-business-cash-flow/) is the lifeline of your solo business. You want to make it easy for clients to pay you in the method of *their* choosing. That means you need a way to collect payments via bank transfer, credit card, or other payment methods. If you work with clients around the globe, you also need a way to collect payments internationally (which could be a credit card or international wire transfer). [Invoicing tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/invoicing-software-freelancers/) make it easy to track who owes you money, and most have payment processing built in. You can even set up automatic follow-up reminders before payments are due or if a payment is past due. #### What an invoicing and payments tool should help you do: - Make it easy for clients to pay you - Calculate sales tax (if applicable) - Sync with your bookkeeping software (or be all-in-one) - Store client billing information and payment terms #### Features you should look for: - Automatic payment reminders - Multiple payment methods accepted (ACH, credit card, etc.) - Track who has paid, who is late, and how much is outstanding - Provide you with reports ### 3\. Social media scheduling: Stay visible without burning out **Examples:** [Buffer](https://join.buffer.com/anna-burgess-yang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]*, [Hootsuite](https://www.hootsuite.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Metricool](https://metricool.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Publer](https://www.hootsuite.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **What I use:** Buffer ($6/user/channel) As a freelance [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/), visibility matters a *lot* for my inbound leads. Most of my clients find me through LinkedIn, so I know I've got to [publish content consistently](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-production-solopreneur/). But manually posting every day is a chore. It could easily fall to the bottom of your to-do list. Or you could face writer's block and spend way too much time staring at the screen, unsure of what to write. With social media scheduling, you can write posts in advance and not have to worry that your business (or life) gets in the way of showing up online. #### What a social media scheduling tool should help you do: - Manage multiple social accounts - Create a queue of posts across specific dates/times - Give you a space to store ideas or draft posts - Track analytics to see what's performing #### Features you should look for: - Batch content creation - Reuse and repurpose posts across platforms - Centralized engagement (such as replying to comments) - Automate evergreen content so your best posts continue working for you ### 4\. AI tools: Extend your capacity **Examples:** [ChatGPT](https://chatgpt.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Claude](https://claude.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Gemini](https://gemini.google.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Perplexity](https://www.perplexity.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **What I use:** ChatGPT ($20/month, plus an API fee to work with Zapier) AI **does not** [replace your expertise](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-writing-perspective-voice/). But it *can* accelerate the [parts of your workflow](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/integrate-chatgpt-into-workflows/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) that consume the most time. It’s ideal for research, admin tasks, meeting transcripts, and content repurposing. Think of AI as an operational assistant — one that understands nuance (sometimes more than automation alone). Keep in mind that AI comes in *many* forms. You might find that your invoicing tool or social media scheduling tool has built-in AI features. For this, I'm talking about generative AI, which mostly exists in a conversation style. You feed it a prompt, and it gives you a response based on that prompt. #### What AI tools should help you do: - Summarize long documents, transcripts, or research - Automate repetitive admin tasks like emails or [standard operating procedures](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/) (SOPs) - [Repurpose content](https://blog.annabyang.com/repurpose-your-content/) into multiple post formats (social media, video scripts, etc) - Generate ideas, outlines, or business plans quickly #### Features you should look for - Ability to create "projects" with specific context or instructions - Integration with other tools you use (like Google Drive or Zapier) - Conversation memory or reusable prompts - Strong data security and privacy controls ## Common mistakes freelancers make with tools - Using too many tools - Not integrating tools - Relying on manual processes instead of tools - Not documenting workflows - Switching tools constantly - [Paying for a tool](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-tech-stack/) and then not using the tool ## Build upon your essential freelance business tools Once you have the basics in place, it becomes much easier to layer on additional tools without overwhelming yourself. The key for *future* tools is to choose those that integrate smoothly with your existing systems. Everything should work together instead of creating more work. Otherwise, you might find yourself [reevaluating your tech stack](https://blog.annabyang.com/evaluate-solopreneur-tech-stack/). A solid foundation of essential freelance business tools should also make it easy for you to grow. Tools that have multiple tiers with more functionality (like a "Pro" plan or "Team" plan) can expand as you need more features. The last thing you want is to outgrow your tool and be forced to make a change. Migrating from one tool to another can be a huge headache, especially if you have data stored in the tool (like clients and projects) that you need. Adding new tools, or expanding your use of existing tools, should feel like a natural extension of how you already work. Not a complete reset. When your systems evolve gradually, your workload will stay manageable. After all, the goal of tools is to make it easier for you to run your business. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/12/ebook-smart-tools.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Check out my free guide for the tools you need* **at different stages of your business.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ## FAQs #### ****What tools do freelancers absolutely need?** Freelancers need tools for project management, invoicing and payments, social media scheduling, and generative AI. These four categories cover the core operations of running a sustainable solo business. #### ****What project management tool is best for freelancers?** The best tool is the one you’ll consistently use. Trello, Asana, Notion, and ClickUp are the most popular. Look for something simple enough to maintain but with features like automation and customization that you can use if you want. #### ****How do freelancers accept payments online?** Most freelancers use invoicing platforms like Stripe, Wave, FreshBooks, or QuickBooks to send invoices and accept credit card or ACH payments. These tools also automate reminders and help you track your revenue for tax time. #### ****What AI tools help freelancers work faster?** Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini can help with brainstorming, drafting, summarizing, and automating repetitive tasks. Additionally, some apps like Notion have AI features built in. Even light use of AI can save you time each week. #### ****How do freelancers automate social media?** A scheduling tool like Buffer, Hootsuite, Later, or Metricool lets you batch-create posts, schedule them in advance, and reuse your best content. Social media scheduling keeps you visible online without requiring daily effort. ### Freelancing Advice to a Young Professional URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-advice-young-professional/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:54:59.000Z There's something appealing about the idea of freelancing when you're young. No boss looking over your shoulder. No rigid 9-to-5 schedule. The freedom to work from anywhere, take on projects that interest you, and build something that's entirely your own. It's no wonder that[ 70% of Gen Z workers](https://pro.fiverr.com/news/gen-z-survey-2024?ref=blog.annabyang.com) are either already freelancing or plan to in the future, according to a 2024 Fiverr survey. But there's a huge difference between freelancing as a side hustle and freelancing as a sustainable business. Knowing [when to start feelancing](https://blog.annabyang.com/right-time-to-start-freelancing/) matters more than most people realize. I recently had a call with a new college graduate. She'd just landed a PR job, but was curious about freelancing. I didn't launch my business as a [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/) until I'd already had a 15-year career in corporate jobs, but I shared my experience as a freelancer with several years of experience under my belt. There are some important considerations for young professionals looking to make the leap who may not yet have much work experience. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Freelancing can be a lucrative, fulfilling career path, but it works best when you build a foundation first. Get experience, cultivate your network, and develop a portfolio before making the leap. ### Why you shouldn't freelance right out of college I've known freelancers who've *never* worked a corporate job, but I think it's a bit easier to make the transition after a few years of corporate life. Even in just a few years, you'll build connections, a portfolio, and industry credibility. About [66% of freelancers](https://joingenius.com/statistics/freelance-statistics/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) find it challenging to get enough work, and it's hardest when you're just starting out as an unknown, unproven freelancer. Even though I had decades of work experience, I [pivoted to a new career](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-content-marketing/) (from a tech executive to content marketing and journalism). I spent 18 months at marketing agencies before branching out on my own. The agency experience was a launching pad because I was able to work with an editor, get feedback, manage client expectations, and build my portfolio. Working a traditional job allows you to get your feet wet. When you eventually announce you're taking on freelance clients, people will actually respond. You'll have proof that you can do the work and people who can vouch for you. [Tips to Maintain a Strong Freelance PortfolioMaintain a strong portfolio.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-176.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/freelance-portfolio-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/) ## 5 things to keep in mind about a freelance career If freelancing is on your radar for the future, here are some things you need to know. These are the realities of working for yourself — the good, the bad, and everything in between. ### 1\. You need an online presence Even if you're not ready to freelance, becoming active on LinkedIn early pays off later. 61% of LinkedIn users are decision-makers, and 4 out of 5 LinkedIn members drive business decisions. That's a *lot* of [decision-making power](https://solidgigs.com/blog/how-to-find-clients-on-linkedin-in-2025-the-ultimate-guide-for-freelancers/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) on a single platform. I started [posting regularly on LinkedIn](https://blog.annabyang.com/linkedin-client-acquisition/) when I switched careers in early 2021\. I had no specific plan, other than staying in touch with people. I also connected with people I met through my new career. By the time I started my own business 18 months later, my LinkedIn presence was well-established. I made an announcement that I was starting my own business, and immediately had some people reach out to me. You don't need to post every day or become an influencer. But [showing up consistently](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-production-solopreneur/), sharing your work, and engaging with others can lead to opportunities later. ### 2\. Freelancing can be more stable than a "stable" job This sounds counterintuitive, but it isn't. Think about it: if you lose your full-time job, you lose 100% of your income. If you lose a freelance client, you only lose a portion. And, in this economy, it can be easier to replace one client than find a new job. This was my exact experience. I lost my job at a marketing agency. My entire income, gone. I decided to start freelancing, and within two months, I'd replaced my full-time salary. Since then, I've had lower-income months, but never zero-income months. And I can [financially plan](https://blog.annabyang.com/financial-stability-freelancer/) for lower-income months by saving money during higher-income months. ### 3\. You will gain control over your time Corporate work often means waiting on bottlenecks, such as approvals or feedback. Every step has a stopping point that's outside your control. You might finish your part of a project in the morning and then spend the afternoon waiting for someone else to move things forward. Freelancers value [controlling their own schedules](https://blog.annabyang.com/career-importance-control-over-time/) and choosing their own projects. If you work efficiently, you actually benefit from that efficiency rather than having more work added to your plate. Your time becomes yours again. [A Freelancer’s Journey From Cheap Projects to Niche ExpertA peek behind the scenes of a thriving freelance writing business.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-177.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelancer-journey.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancers-journey-to-niche-expert/) ### 4\. You will give up traditional benefits Something to keep in mind is that freelancing means self-funding *everything*. You pay for your own health insurance, retirement contributions, and taxes. No one is withholding taxes from your paycheck or matching your 401(k) contributions. You also don't have benefits like paid time off. Only 16% of freelancers [have access to retirement plans](https://www.zippia.com/advice/gig-economy-statistics/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), compared to 52% of traditional employees. You can absolutely make it work, but you need to factor these costs into your rates. 💡 TIPS: \- If you're in the U.S., look into a solo 401(k) for retirement. \- Set aside money in a separate savings account to pay your taxes. \- Set aside money in a separate savings account to "pay yourself" when you take time off. ### 5\. Do research so you charge a fair rate Freelance pricing is often very opaque. How much [should you charge clients](https://blog.annabyang.com/am-i-charging-enough/)? You don't want to sell yourself short. I worked for two marketing agencies that touted their "high-quality" work. I knew what they charged clients. But agencies also have overhead (operations, benefits, etc) and want to make a profit on each deliverable. I realized that I could charge a high rate as a freelancer, but still charge less than an agency. For clients, this is a great deal: less expensive than [outsourcing to an agency](https://blog.annabyang.com/agency-vs-freelancer/), and still receiving quality work. ## Common mistakes new freelancers make When you're just starting out, it's easy to stumble into a few common traps. Here are some things to watch out for. - **Undercharging because you feel inexperienced.** Your rates should [reflect your expertise](https://blog.annabyang.com/expert-in-a-niche/) and the value you provide. Research what others charge and price accordingly. - **Taking on any client who will pay you.** Not every client is a good fit. Working with companies that can't afford your rates or don't value your expertise leads to frustration on both sides. - **Neglecting your online presence.** Freelancing requires ongoing visibility. If you disappear from LinkedIn for six months, don't be surprised when your pipeline dries up. - **Failing to set boundaries.** Clients will push deadlines, request extra work, and expect immediate responses if you let them. Establish clear expectations from the start. - **Not saving for taxes.** Set aside 25-30% of every payment for taxes. Quarterly estimated payments are real, and the IRS doesn't care that you forgot or weren't aware that you had to pay quarterly taxes. ## Don't forget to keep your portfolio organized Start [organizing your published work](https://blog.annabyang.com/keep-track-of-freelance-work/) **immediately**. Prospective clients will always want to see samples, and you don't want to be scrambling. Every time I send samples, I customize what links I send so the list matches what the client is looking for. Some writing portfolio platforms (like [Journo Portfolio](https://www.journoportfolio.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)) will automatically back up your work as PDFs. This maintains your work, even if the client goes out of business, the content is rewritten, or your work is taken off the client's website. Your portfolio is proof that you can do the work. Even if a piece isn't something you'd showcase to potential clients, save it anyway. You never know when someone will ask if you've written a specific type of content. If your portfolio is organized and backed up, it'll be easy to find and provide examples. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/12/ebook-pricing-services.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Freelance pricing is hard to figure out,* **so I’ve created a free resource for fellow writers.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### ****Should I start freelancing right after college?** Probably not. Building a portfolio, developing industry connections, and gaining experience at a traditional job or agency first makes the transition to freelancing much smoother. #### ****How do freelancers find clients?** Referrals are the top method, followed by networking and inbound inquiries from an established online presence. Cold pitching works too, but it's more effective once you have the sample work and credibility to back up your outreach. #### ****Can you make a full-time income freelancing?** Yes. Many freelancers earn six figures or more, particularly those who specialize in high-paying niches like B2B tech, finance, or healthcare. The key is finding clients with real budgets and charging rates that reflect the value you provide. #### ****How do I manage health insurance and retirement as a freelancer?** You'll need to self-fund both. Some freelancers get health insurance coverage through a spouse, but otherwise, you can purchase a plan on the healthcare marketplace. For retirement, you have options like a Solo 401(k) or SEP IRA. ### Weekly Admin Time for Solopreneurs: The Tasks You Need to Get Done URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/weekly-admin-time/ Last updated: 2026-02-18T11:59:00.000Z Not all business activities are revenue-generating. Sure, you probably spend *most* of your time doing client work. But there's also a very un-glamorous side of solopreneurship. That behind-the-scenes work that keeps a business running (and never shows up on a client invoice). Admin time for solopreneurs isn't optional, because it keeps your business organized. I have one hour blocked off every Friday for admin time. This dedicated time ensures all the admin tasks get done every week. I work through a short checklist, and then move on to other things. If you carve out some weekly admin time, you'll avoid work (and mental clutter) piling up in your business. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Weekly admin time is a dedicated block (about an hour) where you handle the non-billable tasks that keep your business running: finances, communication, content, and systems. By making it a consistent habit, you avoid the chaos of letting small tasks pile up into big problems. ## Why weekly admin time matters Weekly admin time is a dedicated block (typically 30–60 minutes) where solopreneurs handle non-billable tasks that keep their business running. It might include finances, communication, content planning, and systems maintenance. Solopreneurs often hit the same roadblock: boring tasks pile up in the background. You might be able to ignore them for a while... until something breaks. A late invoice. A forgotten email. An idea that never gets posted. A process you keep reinventing every time you do it. Weekly admin time prevents you from being your own bottleneck. Think of it like changing the oil on your car to keep it running smoothly (except you should do your admin tasks more frequently than you get your car's oil changed). According to Time Etc., some entrepreneurs [spend 36% of their time](https://www.timeetc.com/resources/how-to-achieve-more/the-big-price-of-small-tasks-how-entrepreneurs-may-be-unwittingly-keeping-their-businesses-small?ref=blog.annabyang.com) on admin tasks. That's *way* too much, in my opinion. You may not get everything done during your weekly admin time, but you should knock out as many tasks as you can in one sitting. That way, you're not [context-switching](https://blog.annabyang.com/single-tasking-strategies/) with other tasks throughout the week. Weekly admin time is an easy routine to maintain. [How To Tackle Your To-Do List With Time BlockingTake control of the always-growing list of things to get done.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-171.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-to-do-list-time-blocking.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/) ## 5 tasks to complete during your weekly admin time Below are five example tasks that you might want to complete during your weekly admin time. Each of these is a "quick hit" and should only take you a few minutes to complete (if you do the work every week). If any of these is a longer task for you, you might want to set aside a larger chunk of time to work on it separately from your weekly admin time. ## 1\. Inbox and communication maintenance During your weekly admin time, start with the task that's most critical. It is *probably* communication. Use your admin time to make sure you don't have any lingering emails waiting for replies or do a quick touch base to provide updates to your clients. Inbox Zero is an idea that has floated around for years: that people should have **zero** emails in their Inboxes. I don't believe in Inbox Zero, but I do believe in keeping an inbox clean. Mine is set to display a maximum of 50 messages on one page, and I never have more than that. Usually, it's around 20-30\. That way, everything is visible. There are a few things you should do during your admin time. - Check for anything that needs your response (emails, Slack, project management tools, etc). Don't be the bottleneck for other people. - Archive, archive, archive. Get anything out of your inbox that you don't need. 💡 ****Pro Tip:** If there are ways you can automate your inbox, do it. I use Gmail Tags and Zapier to do this. For example, if I add the tag "Receipt" to an email, it is automatically forwarded to QuickBooks so my bookkeeper can match the receipt with a transaction. ## 2\. Finances and accounting tasks. A few minutes each week to keep your financial systems in check will save you hours (and stress) later. Note: At this point in my business, I use a bookkeeper. As a result, I don't have to do as much in my accounting software (QuickBooks). But for many years, I managed my own books. #### Categorize transactions Go through your business expenses and assign them to categories. In the U.S., you need to report business expenses in different categories for your taxes. Doing this weekly saves you a year-end marathon of trying to sort everything out. Categorization also gives you a clear picture of how you're spending money (such as software subscriptions, outside services, insurance, and more). #### Create and send invoices Send invoices for any work you've completed and follow up on any overdue invoices. Some accounting tools can send automatic reminders for overdue invoices, but I don't use this feature. I prefer to send a personalized email. However, I'm also only sending a handful of invoices per month. If your volume is higher and you have a lot of invoices, automated reminders can save you time. #### Review your cash flow Cash flow is different than your business budget. Cash flow refers to the exact inflows and outflows of cash within a given month. For example, if you send an invoice on the 1st of the month and it is due in 15 days, you should receive the cash by the 16th (in theory). If you "pay yourself" on the 15th of the month, do you have enough cash in the business to cover your payroll, even though you haven't received the payment from your client yet? That's cash flow. Look ahead at your business's cash flow. What income is coming in next month? What expenses do you have to pay? A quick weekly review helps you make decisions before they feel urgent. ## 3\. Content and visibility tasks. Kost solopreneurs I know rely on content — whether it's to find clients or build an audience. If you know you need content, adding it to your weekly admin tasks can help you create content consistently. #### Decide what to share Spend a few minutes reviewing your week. What did you learn? What did you solve? What conversations with clients sparked ideas? Those micro-moments are usually your best content. You can use ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc. to help you generate ideas, if you're stuck. Here's a prompt you can use: > *I want a list of content ideas for the week. You should produce five LinkedIn posts based on my most recently published posts on \[your blog\].* > > *You can also Search memory for recent conversations. Pick out non-obvious insights and turn them into content ideas. Also, spot the experiments/thoughts/ideas I actually mentioned to you.* (Credit to the [Buffer blog](https://buffer.com/resources/ai-emails-me-my-best-content-ideas/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for the prompt idea. Buffer is the tool I use to publish my own content — it's awesome. You can sign up for Buffer [here](https://join.buffer.com/anna-burgess-yang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\])* #### Choose what to reshare Long-form content should never be a “one and done.” You've put a lot of work into the content, and it's worth re-sharing. (Plus, re-sharing old content is an easy social media post compared to writing something new). I look at my [content library](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/airtable-organize-content/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to find posts that I've published in past years. I can re-share a link, or turn it into something new (like a carousel, image post, or shorter text-based posts). #### Write or schedule social posts Once you've decided what to share, sit down and write social media posts for your different channels. **Tip**: Depending on how much content you create, this might need to be a separate block of time. I can't write all of my social media during my admin time. Instead, I'm choosing what to write or re-share, and then spend time separately writing and scheduling posts. ### 4\. Administrative operations This is the part most people skip — [working *on* your business](https://blog.annabyang.com/working-on-business-vs-working-in-business/) to make it better (instead of just doing tasks). To be fair: you don't have to do this every week. If you're short on time, you can skip it. However, if you don't work *on* your business, it will get more unwieldy in the background as you grow. #### Create or update standard operating procedures If you did anything this week that you know you’ll do again, write down the steps. Your future self will thank you. [Standard operating procedures](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/) (SOPs) reduce decision fatigue and make your business feel less chaotic. If you ever plan to grow, like hiring a [virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/), SOPs are invaluable and necessary. I use Loom to create SOPs. I record a quick video and Loom AI will create the written version for me (which I then [save to my Google Drive](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/how-to-organize-your-standard-operating-procedures/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)). #### Explore or test a new tool You don’t need to overhaul your entire tech stack, but it’s a good idea to note any issues you ran into during the week. Did any of your tools frustrate you? Do you wish you had a tool for something you're currently doing manually? If part of your tech stack isn't working for you, admin time is when you [explore alternatives](https://blog.annabyang.com/evaluate-solopreneur-tech-stack/). You can also test out new tools. #### Review your systems Open one tool you use all the time, like your [project management system](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/). Does your current setup still make sense? Do you need to make configuration changes? Frequent changes that match how you're *currently* working keep your systems usable. ## 5\. Planning and future-focused work. Admin time isn’t only about catching up. It's also about looking ahead in your business. #### Review next week’s calendar Look at upcoming meetings, deadlines, or appointments you have for the following week. Do any prep work (or add a block of time to next week's calendar for prep work). #### Identify your top priorities Select 1–3 tasks that matter most for the week ahead. The goal is *not* to add more tasks to your never-ending to-do list, but to make sure you have set aside time to work on important tasks. #### Check in on long-term projects Big ideas die when you don’t revisit them. Admin time is a chance to break your long-term goals into smaller next steps so they can continue to move forward. I'll often dictate ideas to myself and save them to an "Incoming" list in Trello. During my admin time, I'll revisit the idea and ask myself, "Was this *actually* a good idea?" If so, I add it to my list of future project ideas. If, upon reflection, it doesn't seem like such a great idea, I delete it. [How to Create 90-Day GoalsWhat can you get done in 3 months?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-172.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-90-day-goals.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/90-day-goals/) ## Common admin time mistakes solopreneurs make: - Skipping it when busy (then spending 3x longer catching up) - Trying to do tasks daily instead of batching weekly - Not having a checklist, so tasks get forgotten - Mixing admin time with deep work or client work ## Make admin time a habit Weekly admin time is the difference between a business that constantly feels chaotic and one that runs smoothly behind the scenes. You don’t need hours and hours of admin time — you just need consistency. Even setting aside an hour and tackling as much as you can will make a big difference. When you treat admin time as a non-negotiable part of your workweek, everything else becomes easier. Your finances stay organized, your marketing stays active, and you can plan for the things that matter most in your business. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/12/freebie-quarterly-review.png)](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Need to review the health of your business?* **Check out my free quarterly review checklist for solopreneurs.* [Download ](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### ****What admin tasks should solopreneurs do weekly?** The basic weekly admin tasks include your email inbox, your finances, content planning, administrative tasks, and planning for the week ahead. The exact tasks will vary based on your business, but these five categories cover most of what keeps a solopreneur business running smoothly. #### ****How much time should I spend on admin work?** Most solopreneurs can complete their weekly admin tasks in about an hour if they do it consistently. If you find yourself needing significantly more time, it's a sign that tasks have piled up or that one area (like content creation) and you should work on it during a separate block of time. #### ****What's the difference between working on vs. in your business?** Working **in* your business means doing the tasks that generate revenue, like client work. Working **on* your business means improving your systems, processes, and operations so your business runs more efficiently over time. ### New Things I Introduced Into My Business in 2025 URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/business-introductions-2025/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:30:45.000Z Every year, I try to do a few new things in my solo business. I work as a freelance writer for tech companies. I also create resources for fellow freelancers and solopreneurs. I try to stretch myself in a few ways: improving my processes (something I work on constantly!) and expanding my offerings. At the beginning of the year, I'll make a list of new things I want to try or accomplish in Notion. Then each quarter, I'll choose a few to work on. 2025 was unusual. I had a lot of plans to offer new things — such as a live cohort and creating a course for solopreneurs. Then I found out that I had a [brain tumor](https://blog.annabyang.com/self-employed-brain-tumor/) in May and had to shut down *everything* in my business following brain surgery. Because of that, I didn't accomplish most things on my list. And that's fine: I had to focus on my health and recovery. But I was able to come up with a list of a few new things I added to my business. ## Created Airtable field agents When Airtable first released AI features, I was unimpressed. I don't need AI to build an Airtable database for me, and the search wasn't that interesting. Then Airtable released field agents: AI that can complete specific tasks within fields. This is *incredibly* useful for how I use Airtable. I was doing a lot of things manually (that couldn't be automated through Airtable automation or Zapier). But field agents could handle the work. There's no reason to do a bunch of menial, manual tasks. I automated until I couldn't automate anymore, and now using AI to fill in the gaps. I wrote an article about [how to set up Airtable field agents](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/airtable-field-agent/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). And wrote this article about how I'm using field agents to [write teasers for my blog posts](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/blog-post-teasers-airtable-field-agent/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ## Organized ChatGPT and Claude projects I started experimenting a lot more with ChatGPT Projects this year. With Projects, I can save instructions and add files for context. This has *dramatically* improved the output (along with improvements in the underlying LLMs). For example, I created a [Voice and Tone Guide](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/style-guide-ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) that outlines my writing style, target audience, and content goals. I have the Voice and Tone Guide attached to various writing projects. Toward the end of the year, I started using Claude instead of ChatGPT. I've found that Claude is better for writing tasks, especially with the Opus 4.5 model. However, Claude has some usage limitations on its Pro plan (especially using Opus), and I'm not willing to pay for the Max plan. So I'm using both: ChatGPT for some projects and Claude for others. Here's how I [use Claude for my writing projects](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/ai-projects-writing-assistance/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). It's not a replacement for *my* words, but rather a helpful writing assistant. ## Spent more time on Threads and Substack Notes I joined Threads on the day it launched, hoping I'd *finally* found a [Twitter alternative](https://blog.annabyang.com/the-downfall-of-twitter-the-rise-of-threads/). For a long time, it was just a fun hangout space, which was fine, but not something I took too seriously. Then some of my Threads posts started getting traction. Meanwhile, LinkedIn's reach has plummeted. LinkedIn is still the primary place where I find clients for my freelance writing business, but Threads seems to be the place where I can connect with fellow solopreneurs. It's more conversational and less "uptight" ([compared to LinkedIn](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/)). I also started publishing on Substack Notes. This is hard because there's no API. In other words, I can't use [Buffer](https://join.buffer.com/anna-burgess-yang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* to pre-schedule my posts the way I do for other social platforms. However, the engagement on Substack Notes is *very* high. Nearly everything I post gets reactions, comments, and subscribers. So it seems like a worthwhile use of my time. I'll continue to experiment with both Threads and Substack Notes in the upcoming year. ## Explored a cohort and course launch In the spring, I prepared to launch a cohort. I had selected a course platform (Thinkific), mapped out the curriculum, and was ready to collect registrations. Then *literally* the day after I announced the launch to my waitlist, I found out that I had a brain tumor. I had to shut everything down. Even though I technically had time to complete the cohort before my scheduled surgery, I knew I wasn't in the right frame of mind to lead the cohort. (Plus, I had to prep other parts of my business for an [extended medical leave](https://blog.annabyang.com/long-term-leave-freelancer/)). I still want to bring these things to life, so I’m glad the legwork to figure out the infrastructure is done. When I'm ready to return, it will be ready for me. ## Returned to a one-page website A full-blown website is something I've continually put off. I don't *need* it for my freelance writing business. So right now, everything is hosted on different platforms: portfolio with Journo Portfolio, digital products with Gumroad, blog with Ghost, email marketing with [Kit](https://partners.kit.com/f9fp6buqnnz1?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*, and courses (someday) with Thinkific. Whenever I *do* migrate to a full-blown website, I want to consolidate everything so it's easier to manage. But that is a giant project, and probably expensive since I'd pay someone to design a site for me. I was using Journo Portfolio for the main pages of my website, but didn't like how it looked. So I went back to [Carrd](https://try.carrd.co/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*, which offers clean, simple one-page websites. I also figured out that Carrd integrates with Kit, so I can start using it to collect webinar registrations. This is fantastic, since I don't like Kit's landing pages. I also used Carrd for a workshop I hosted, with a link to a Stripe checkout page. ## Dictated blog posts I've used dictation to write blog posts for a long time. But this year, I used dictation to get out my ideas and then *someone else* actually turned my ideas into a polished post. While I was recovering from surgery, I couldn't use a computer (in the earliest weeks). I set up a process to dictate a post, and Zapier sent the transcript and audio file to an editor. She polished it, and then my virtual assistant added it to my website. During my recovery from surgery, typing was exhausting—but I still wanted to write. So I experimented with dictation: speaking a blog post aloud, sending the transcript to an editor, and having them prepare it for publishing. The process worked really well. And while I'll continue doing my own writing and publishing for the foreseeable future, it helped me see what's possible when other people are involved in the process. *You can read about my* [*process to get blog posts published*](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/automate-your-blog-publishing-process/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ## Things I postponed In addition to pausing my cohort and course, there are a few other things I postponed this year. ### Launching a podcast I believe it's important to offer content in multiple formats. Not everyone wants to read. I see a lot of potential in turning some of my blog posts into a podcast, but it wasn't realistic with everything else I had going on. I'll start exploring in the new year. ### Growing on Pinterest I think Pinterest is an interesting search channel, especially since I already have a large volume of content. I bought [Meagan Williamson](https://meaganwilliamson.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)'s beginner course, and had my designer create some templates in Canva. But I wasn't able to maintain a cadence. I'll have to see if it's worth exploring again (especially since I'm also experimenting with Threads and Substack Notes). ## Things I abandoned Some projects I cut completely, and I'm not sure if I'll ever return to them. ### Video content After my surgery, I had some vision issues and facial paralysis. In addition to "not feeling up to it," I wasn't comfortable being on video. While my face muscles are almost back to normal, I still have double vision. I'm not sure when I'll return to video (and how it fits into the rest of my content strategy). If I do video content, it might be faceless — like showing a tutorial in an app I use. ### Hiring a marketing/project manager I had planned to bring on help for product launches. It's a lot to prepare landing pages, email sequences, social posts, etc., when I launch a new product (or re-promote an existing product). A lot of my [digital products](https://blog.annabyang.com/digital-products-flywheel/) follow a similar format every time, so I thought that I could bring on someone to help me manage this. However, hiring additional help isn't a good financial decision right now. But with the income dip during my recovery, it wasn’t the right financial decision. Instead, I simplified my processes and leaned harder on automation. ## Setting goals and staying flexible When I learned about the tumor at the end of May, every plan I had for the summer and fall disappeared. I’ve written before about [90-day goals](https://blog.annabyang.com/90-day-goals/), and it honestly took me until late Q4 before I felt like myself again. I had to reconsider what I *could* do, what needed to wait, and focus on keeping my business stable during my long-term leave. In the past, I've been hard on myself when I don't reach the goals I set for my business. This year taught me grace. And while I have some new things I want to do in my business in the new year, I also know how to think flexibly. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/12/freebie-quarterly-review.png)](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Need to review the health of your business?* **Check out my free quarterly review checklist for solopreneurs.* [Download ](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ### Recap 2025: Highs and Lows of Running a Solo Business URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-recap-2025/ Last updated: 2026-02-18T12:01:09.000Z 2025 marks my third year of freelancing full-time. And what a doozy of a year it was. Not because of anything related to clients or getting work. But because I found out that the end of May that I had a [brain tumor](https://blog.annabyang.com/self-employed-brain-tumor/). I had surgery to remove it in July. (Doing pretty well now and mostly recovered, though I still have some lingering eye issues.) That really put a damper on my year. I took two months off from my business to recover from surgery, and about another month of only working at half-capacity. Once I was "back" I was focusing on client work, and my personal writing took a nosedive. I just didn't have the energy. But in November, I challenged myself to write one blog post per day (something I [did a few years ago](https://blog.annabyang.com/medium-article-challenge/) for the now-defunct NaNoWriMo). I didn't write one blog post per day, but I wrote one every *other* day. And by the end of November, I felt like I had my writing muscle back! For the first time since I started freelancing, I felt like I had a *lot* of regular work. Most of my client work is ad hoc, meaning I bill for the work that clients send me (instead of retainers). I have several clients that have now been with me for more than a year, so I can reasonably depend on them for the same amount of work every month. When I told them that I needed to take time off for surgery, they all told me that work would be waiting for me when I returned. Here are the highs and lows from a rather tumultuous year. ## Lows ⬇️ - **Brain Tumor**: That was a very unexpected monkey wrench in my year. Most of the plans I had for my business had to be put on hold. - **Canceled Projects:** I was about to launch a cohort for the first time — had literally just opened registration — and then had to shut it down due to my diagnosis. - **Lower Income**: I had two full months of $0 income. My average monthly income for the months I worked was about the same, but the overall income for the year was lower than in 2024 as a result. - **Reduced Stamina**: When I started working again, I was *very* fatigued. I had to nap frequently and step away from screens. Even when I started feeling "mostly normal" again, I felt like my stamina wasn't what it used to be. I used to be such a "get shit done" person. My energy still feels lower than it used to be. - **Eye Issues**: I have double vision, a leftover from the surgery. If I cover one eye (either with semi-opaque over one side of my glasses, or with an eye patch), I can see *ok,* but it's still not like seeing normally. I'm self-conscious about being on camera. ## Highs ⬆️ - **Recovery:** The outcome of brain surgery is largely unknown in advance. The surgeon gives you a list of potential outcomes, and you hope for the best. Mine was definitely on the "low end" of the bad things that could have happened. I'm grateful for the skill of the neurosurgery team. - **Support:** So many people [stepped forward to help](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-friends/), from writing guest posts for my blog to offering financial support. I'm truly humbled and thankful for the people in my life. - **Audience:** I focused more on [Threads](https://www.threads.com/@annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com), in part because I was posting brain surgery recovery updates. But I seem to have found a groove there. LinkedIn's algorithm has been very unpredictable, so growing a second audience makes me less [dependent on a single platform](https://blog.annabyang.com/omnipresent-social-media-strategy/). - **Content:** After I'd recovered, I talked a lot about long-term leave as a freelancer. I recorded two podcast episodes, spoke on a panel, and wrote a guest post for the Buffer blog. It's a topic that no one talks about, and I want to help as many people as I can. - **Products**: Even without launching my planned cohort, I still managed to launch two new eBooks: [The Ultimate Guide to Automation](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ultimate-automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (before surgery) and [Preparing for Long-Term Leave](https://products.annabyang.com/l/long-term-leave?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (after surgery). ## Goals for 2026 🌟 It's really hard to think about goals for next year after such a tumultuous 2025, but here we go... - **Income**: I had a goal to increase my income from other sources (Substack, Medium, paid products) in 2025\. That didn't happen, but it'll continue to be my goal in 2026. - **Cohort**: I still want to launch the cohort I had planned. A lot will depend on my eye. If I'm not comfortable being on camera, I may need to rethink what this looks like. - **Product Marketing**: In 2025, I came up with a process to re-promote my existing products. Now I just need to put that plan into action. - **Personal Writing:** For years, I've wanted to write a book. I'm more motivated now than ever before to make that happen. Here's my [reflection from last year](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-recap-2024/). [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/12/annabyang-business-design.png)](https://pages.annabyang.com/business-design?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Want to build a life-first business this year?* **These reflections will help you determine your priorities.* [Download ](https://pages.annabyang.com/business-design?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### How to Set Your Rates as a Freelancer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-set-your-rates-freelancer/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:55:10.000Z Most freelancers do the same thing when they set their project rates for the first time: they guess. It seems like a reasonable starting point... until you realize that this method doesn't reflect what it actually costs to replace a full-time job. Freelancing should **not** be a cheap alternative to an employee. Companies gain *other* benefits by working with freelancers, such as flexibility or [specialized skills](https://blog.annabyang.com/expert-in-a-niche/). As a freelance [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/), I work far less than a full-time employee for any one client. But if you take my rate and calculate it based on full-time hours, I'd earn *more*. It's a win-win: the company isn't committed to full-time hours, and I can set a higher rate. That's how you should think about your rates: the company is still saving, but it's 100% ok to charge more than a full-time professional with experience in an equivalent role. 💡 ****TL;DR:** To set your freelance rates, calculate what it would cost a company to hire you full-time by adding your salary baseline, benefits, employer taxes, and business expenses. Then convert that total into a rate that ensures your pricing is sustainable and profitable. ## Start with your last salary (or a typical salary for the work you’re doing) If you've worked for an employer in your industry, your [previous salary](https://www.workbetter.media/p/a-salary-journey-up-and-down-and?ref=blog.annabyang.com) is the easiest anchor point. It already reflects market demand for your skills (assuming your employer was paying fairly). If you’re pivoting into freelancing from another field, look up typical salaries for roles in your industry. Sites like [Glassdoor](https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/search-salary-SRCH%5FKO0,6.htm?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Payscale](https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Employer?ref=blog.annabyang.com), and the [Bureau of Labor Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/bls/blswage.htm?ref=blog.annabyang.com) can give you a solid range for roles like content marketer, technical writer, or designer. For example, if you earned $85,000 as a full-time employee, that $85,000 becomes the **baseline** before you make any adjustments. [Is Freelancing Hard? It Doesn’t Have to Be!How to set your freelance business up for success.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-165.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-is-freelancing-hard.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/is-freelancing-hard/) ## Add the value of benefits you used to receive (or would expect to) Full-time employees receive far more than a paycheck. You need to look at total compensation, because that's the total cost to an employer to hire a full-time employee in that role. Typical benefits in the United States include: - Health, dental, and vision insurance - Life and disability coverage - Retirement contributions like a 401(k) match - Professional development or a learning stipend In addition to not paying a salary, the employer is saving on these additional costs. Health insurance alone can cost thousands of dollars (for the employer's portion), depending on the plan and number of people covered. Let's say the employer offers a 5% match for 401(k) retirement. The employee earns a salary of $85,000 and contributes 5%. The employer's matching contribution is $4,250 for the year. Now it costs $89,4250 to employ that person. You can safely tack on an additional 15 - 20% to the baseline to cover the cost of additional benefits. Or you can use real numbers, if you previously worked for an employer and know the amounts. 💡 ****Tip**: Don't forget about PTO. This is usually **included in* an employee's salary, not on top of. If you earn $85,000, your PTO is already factored into that amount. However, you should consider the cost to you, as a freelancer, of [taking time off](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-vacation-savings-plan/) if no one is around to "cover for you" while you're not working. If income stops when you stop, that's an additional cost to your business. ## Add employer-paid taxes When you’re an employee, your employer covers half of your payroll taxes. When you’re a freelancer, you’re responsible for the full [15.3% self-employment tax](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/self-employment-tax-social-security-and-medicare-taxes?ref=blog.annabyang.com) yourself: 12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare. Depending on where you live, you may need to account for state income taxes as well. Your clients don't have to pay your taxes when you're a freelancer, so that's additional savings for them. This tax (half of 15.3%, or 7.65%) needs to be added on top of your baseline. [Managing Your Finances as a SolopreneurWhat you need to know for your business finances.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-162.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-managing-solopreneur-finances-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/managing-solopreneur-finances/) ## Add a buffer for business expenses and overhead As a freelancer, you have to pay all costs to operate your business. You'll have [ongoing expenses](https://blog.annabyang.com/evaluate-solopreneur-tech-stack/), like your laptop, software subscriptions, website hosting, and any memberships. You may also pay things for costs like attending conferences or advertising. Employers are paying those costs *for* employees. They provide equipment and pay for access to any tools the employees need. They send employees to conferences and pay for ongoing education or training. You need to add the cost of your overhead to your baseline. Undervaluing or ignoring these costs doesn't make you more "affordable" as a freelancer — it just makes it harder for you to build a sustainable business. ## Calculate your fully loaded annual freelance cost Now it’s time to bring everything together. #### The Freelance Rate Formula: 1. Salary baseline 2. Benefits 3. Employer taxes 4. Business overhead A simple freelance hourly rate formula is: 💲 ****Annual freelance compensation target = Salary + Benefits + Taxes + Overhead.** Once you calculate this number, you’ll know what it actually costs a company to replace a full-time compensation package. ## Convert your total annual cost to a realistic rate With your total annual cost in hand, now you need to convert it to the freelance rate you'll charge. This might be an hourly rate, a day rate, or a project-based rate. Let's say your annual freelance compensation target is $100,000 per year, once you factor in all of the employer costs. To calculate an hourly rate, the formula would be: 💲 $100,000 / 52 weeks per year / 40 hours per week = ****$48 per hour** If you're charging for a project, you can estimate how many hours it will take you. If the project will take you ten hours, then $48 x 10 = $480. But here's the part most freelancers get wrong: **they use total hours worked, not billable client hours.** You may work 40 hours per week, but only 50% of that time is spent on client work. The rest is spent on marketing, meetings, client management, and admin tasks. If you calculate your pricing based on the total hours you work, not your client billable hours, you'll end up earning *far* less than $100k per year. So instead, you should take the compensation target, and do the math for **client** hours. If you spend 50% of your time on client work, the freelance hourly rate formula would look like this: 💲 $100,000 / 52 weeks per year / 20 hours per week = ****$96 per hour** Think of it this way: employees also spend a lot of time doing work that doesn't directly earn money for the company. They may have reports to fill out, internal meetings, or update internal project management systems. None of these are "revenue-generating" activities, but the employees are still being paid for their time. [Time Blocking for Freelancers: How to Manage Your WorkManage your time effectively.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-163.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-time-blocking-freelancers-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/time-blocking-for-freelancers/) ## Adjust based on market realities and your services Once you calculate your baseline rate, refine it based on the type of work you do and the clients you serve. I specialize in fintech, which is a really specialized industry. Not many freelancers have the same expertise I do. Other industries, like healthcare or cybersecurity, are the same. Any industry that's highly regulated or complex can command higher rates. In addition to industry, you may want to account for: - Retainers (charging less for long-term commitments) - Type of deliverable (what is the client receiving?) - Rush fees Your [freelance pricing structure](https://blog.annabyang.com/pricing-model-freelance-business/) should reflect both the work and the value provided. ## Price like a professional, not a hobbyist Setting your freelance pricing isn’t about guessing or undercutting the market. It’s about understanding the full cost of providing professional expertise as a business owner. You’re not simply charging for client deliverables. You’re charging for your experience, your judgment, your processes, and the infrastructure that keeps your business running. Keep in mind that you can (and should) raise your rates. As your experience grows and your costs change, revisit your rates annually. You should also take external factors into consideration, such as inflation or the increased cost of living. A [sustainable business](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/) has pricing that reflects reality. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/ebook-pricing-services-2.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Freelance pricing is hard to figure out,* **but I’ve created a free resource for fellow writers.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### ****How do you set your freelance rates as a beginner?** Start with the full-time salary for your role (or a similar one), add the value of benefits and employer taxes, and then include your business expenses. Divide by the total billable hours you expect to work to get a sustainable rate. Even beginners should use this formula, otherwise you might underprice yourself. #### ****What’s the difference between billable and non-billable hours?** Billable hours are the time you spend directly on client deliverables and can invoice for. Non-billable hours include everything else that keeps your business running, like marketing, admin, client communication, and financial management. Freelancers typically have far fewer billable hours than total work hours. Your pricing should reflect your total work hours. #### ****How often should freelancers raise their rates?** Most freelancers revisit their at least annually. You should also revisit your pricing whenever your expertise, the demand for your work, or cost of doing business increases. It’s normal to adjust pricing as your skills improve and market conditions change. #### ****Should freelancers charge hourly or project rates?** Hourly rates work well for some types of work or inexperienced freelancers, but project rates usually reflect the value of your expertise more accurately. Project-based pricing also rewards efficiency: you’re earning less simply because you work faster. #### ****What’s a fair rate for a specialized freelancer?** Freelancers in some industries can charge more because they bring industry-specific knowledge that generalists don't have. Freelancers in fields like fintech, healthcare, cybersecurity, or legal can often command premium pricing due regulations or the industry's complexity. A fair rate is one that reflects your niche expertise and the value of your work. ### Solopreneur Financial Planning: What You Need to Know URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-financial-planning/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:42:15.000Z When you started working for yourself, you knew that you were signing up to be in charge of *everything*. Not only do you have to [think like a CEO](https://blog.annabyang.com/think-like-a-ceo/), but you're also the entire finance department. You're responsible for generating revenue, managing expenses, setting aside taxes, and planning for your future. Solopreneur financial planning may not be the most glamorous part of running a solo business, but it's one of the most essential. A clear plan gives you stability and reduces stress. I was lucky: I worked in the banking industry for more than 15 years before I started working for myself. I knew most of the [financial fundamentals](https://blog.annabyang.com/managing-solopreneur-finances/) about budgeting and taxes. And I also understand that finances can be really intimidating for people who don't have the same background. Here's how to build a solid financial foundation as a solopreneur. ## Create a budget From the beginning, you've got to understand a basic number: [How much do you **need**](https://blog.annabyang.com/foundational-revenue/)to earn to pay for your business expenses (including taxes) and your living expenses? That's the basis of your first budget. For me, it was easy to calculate this number. I'd just [lost my full-time job](https://www.workbetter.media/p/in-the-wild?ref=blog.annabyang.com) at a marketing agency. I knew I wouldn't be able to replace my salary immediately, but that was my goal. Your business expenses include *all* of your monthly spending: - Apps and tools you pay for - Subscriptions - Taxes you'll need to pay - Insurance - Co-working space - Contractors or a [virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) - ...and anything else you need to run your business. Then you look at your income: how much you earn on average per month. You'll also look at how variable your revenue is (which can help you plan for slower months). The difference between your income and your expenses is how much you can "pay yourself" every month. Transfer that money to a separate, personal checking account. Whatever remains should be allocated intentionally. I have multiple [business savings accounts](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-savings-accounts/) to save for taxes, reinvestment into the business, and an emergency fund. If I have a slower month, I change how much I put in these different accounts (example: less in emergency fund, or skip the business reinvestment account altogether). Your budget doesn't have to be complicated, but you should revisit and adjust it as your business grows and your income/expenses change. [How to Budget as a Freelancer: A Real-World ExampleTips to get started.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-155.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-budget-freelancer-5.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-budget-as-a-freelancer/) ## Look for ways to save money Solopreneurs often spend more than they realize. A quick audit of your expenses can reveal opportunities to save — even without cutting the tools you rely on. One of the easiest ways to save money is by switching subscriptions from monthly to annual plans. Some apps offer savings of anywhere from 15 to 30% for an annual plan. The upfront cost can feel like a lot, but over the course of a year, the savings add up. Next, [evaluate your tech stack](https://blog.annabyang.com/evaluate-solopreneur-tech-stack/). Ask yourself: - Are you paying for multiple tools that can do the same thing? - Can you consolidate tools? - Can you downgrade your plan? It's common for tools to creep into your monthly budget over time, especially when you move fast. Maybe you signed up for a tool with the *intention* of using it, but then it never pans out. Or you signed up for a free trial and forgot to cancel. A quarterly review keeps your expenses aligned with what you actually use. For example, I used to pay for a tool to collect e-signatures on contracts. But I rarely used it, because sometimes my clients use *their* e-signature platform. It felt like a waste, though a necessary waste. Then Google Workspace introduced e-signature as a free add-on within my existing plan. It's not fancy, but it met my needs. So I cancelled the e-signature product I was paying for. Don't forget your non-software expenses, like your liability insurance and bookkeeping. These are important, but you should still evaluate whether you're paying for the right plan for your business size and stage. I recently changed insurance companies to save money on my premium. Several small changes can have a big impact on your finances over the course of a year. ## Understand your taxes Taxes are unavoidable — and they can be a huge source of stress for solopreneurs. If you don't plan ahead, you might get hit with an unexpected tax bill. You'll [owe taxes](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-taxes/) based on your income, but you don't pay taxes until later. Get into the habit of setting money aside for your taxes every time [you get paid](https://blog.annabyang.com/getting-paid-as-a-freelancer/) (or once a month, if that's easier). Your tax rate will depend on your income and business structure, but a general rule of thumb in the U.S. is to save 25-30% of your net income (your income minus your expenses). If you're in the U.S., don't forget about quarterly estimated tax payments. These are due four times per year. Paying them consistently helps you avoid penalties. A tax professional can help you plan for what you owe and avoid common mistakes (like forgetting to calculate state taxes, in addition to federal). Finally, make sure you keep accurate records of your income and expenses. Whether you use software like [QuickBooks](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/solopreneur/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) or [Wave](https://www.waveapps.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), or a simple spreadsheet, it will make your tax time *much* easier. ## Think about retirement When you're self-employed, no one is setting up a retirement plan for you. It's on you to build your own safety net. In the U.S., many employers offer a 401(k) retirement plan. You can open one as a solopreneur, whether you operate as a sole proprietor, an LLC, or a Sub S Corporation. A solo 401(k) is designed for solo businesses and has tax benefits. Even if you can't contribute much right now, start with something. The habit matters more than the amount. As your income grows and your business becomes more stable, you can increase your contributions. A quick Google search for "solo 401(k)" will show you a lot of companies that offer retirement plans for solo businesses. You can use a large company like Fidelity or Vanguard, or go with a company that specializes in small business investing. #### Practical Toolkit ⚙️ - Accounting: [QuickBooks](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/solopreneur/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) or [Wave](https://www.waveapps.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) - Retirement: Solo 401(k) - Taxes: [IRS quarterly payment schedule](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estimated-taxes?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## Take control of your business finances With the right solopreneur financial planning, you free yourself up to make better decisions in your business. A financially prepared solopreneur can weather slow seasons, know how much they need to earn, and step away from work without panic. I had to take [long-term leave](https://blog.annabyang.com/long-term-leave-freelancer/) for medical reasons, but between my savings and cutting to the bare minimum for business expenses, it ended up ok. Start with small, consistent steps, and your financial foundation will get stronger every month. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/freebie-quarterly-review-2.png)](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Need to review the health of your business?* **Check out my free checklist for solopreneurs.* [Download ](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### Sharing Information Online: How Personal Is Too Personal? URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/sharing-personal-information-online/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:36:18.000Z You know that you need to show up online if you want to grow your business. But then comes the tricky part: *how much* should you share? It’s a fine line: you want to connect with your audience — not overshare or make things awkward. Should you talk about your [bad client experiences](https://blog.annabyang.com/reasons-to-break-up-with-clients/)? Your struggles with burnout? How you juggle parenting while running a solo business? I’ve wrestled with this exact question. Over many years of writing online and posting on social media, I’ve found a balance that builds trust, keeps my boundaries intact, and strengthens my personal brand. 💡 ****tl;dr** Solopreneurs can share personal stories effectively by focusing on lessons learned, avoiding oversharing, and tailoring what they share to the platform and audience they’re speaking to. ## Why personal brand matters for business People hire people — not faceless service providers. And when you’re a solopreneur, *you* are the business. The more your audience understands who you are, the more they understand what it’s like to work with you. Authentic stories build trust, credibility, and relatability. They show that you’re a **real person** with **real experiences**, not just someone repeating generic advice. Stories matter. Stories are [remembered 22 times more](https://passivesecrets.com/storytelling-statistics/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) than facts alone. So you have a huge incentive to share personal stories online. At the same time, sharing for the wrong reasons can be really off-putting. Some people share for the sole purpose of getting attention or engagement. (Like the infamous guy on LinkedIn who wrote a post, "I proposed to my girlfriend. Here's what it taught me about B2B sales.") ## What personal posts solopreneurs should (and shouldn’t) share These posts are fairly safe to share: - Lessons you've learned - Mistakes you've made - Problems you've solved These posts can build a sense of connection: - Challenges you've faced in your life These posts *can* cross a line into oversharing: - Calling out specific people or companies - Sharing stories about other people without their consent - Sharing for the sole purpose of boosting engagement ## 4 things to consider when sharing information online Before you hit "publish" on a personal post, ask yourself: Why am I sharing this? What do I hope to accomplish? Here are a few things to keep in mind. ### 1\. Sharing scars vs. scabs One approach you can take is a simple rule: share your *scars* not your *scabs*. When you share a **scar**, you're sharing an experience you've already processed. You've had the benefit of time, so you can share with some clarity and distance. When you share a **scab**, you're sharing raw, unfiltered moments — the ones that still hurt. The wound is still healing. Sharing can feel messy or like emotional dumping. For example, I was unceremoniously let go from my full-time job. I wrote about the story twice. The [first time](https://www.workbetter.media/p/in-the-wild?ref=blog.annabyang.com) was mere days later, and I announced that I was pivoting to full-time freelance work. The [second time](https://www.workbetter.media/p/the-end-of-a-job-an-untold-story?ref=blog.annabyang.com) was a year later, when I had processed what had happened and was ready to talk about it. Make no mistake: I think there's a place online to share scabs. It's just not in the same place where you're sharing for the purpose of growing a professional brand. For a professional brand, your audience doesn't need real-time breakdowns. They need to know what you've learned or how they can apply it to their own work or life. ### 2\. Vulnerability vs. oversharing The line between useful vulnerability and oversharing is thinner than it looks. Vulnerability is when you share a story because it has a purpose: your audience will benefit from the takeaway. Oversharing is when you share because *you* need something: validation, sympathy, a place to vent. It can create a rift with your audience. In fact, a [survey](https://www.girltalkhq.com/survey-89-of-americans-say-people-overshare-on-social-media/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) found that 89% of Americans think people overshare on social media. Personal branding expert [Christine Gritmon](https://www.gritmon.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) has the following advice: > *"A lot of people assume a false correlation between oversharing and being "real" (or, for some, oversharing and being fake⏤they can't fathom that someone who shares so much wouldn't be just for show!). The truth is, just as in our regular lives, we have different comfort levels with sharing things about ourselves, so too must we with regard to our personal brands.* > > *Sharing more⏤in terms of either detail or volume⏤shouldn't feel like a requirement of having a personal brand, and it needn't compromise your relatability if you prefer to keep non-business elements of your life close to the vest."* You can read my interview with Christine in this article: [Embarking on a new adventure: Personal brand, moving across the globe, and rediscovering inertia](https://www.workbetter.media/p/embarking-on-a-new-adventure?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ### 3\. Privacy vs. discretion You are entitled to privacy online. You don't have to share details about your personal life if you don't want to. It's not being dishonest; it's discretion. Author Jen Hatmaker was recently on the [Culture Study podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/who-gets-a-mid-life-reinvention/id1718662839?i=1000728195671&ref=blog.annabyang.com) talking about her new book and her divorce. She said: > *"There is so much that I have kept behind the firewall because discretion, because privacy, because those details do not serve the story, nor do they change it. This is our real life, and it deserves care. And I have the right to privacy and discretion."* This is especially true when you're sharing about **other people**, such as your children. When I first started blogging more than 15 years ago, I wrote a lot about my kids. I did that for years. Later, I decided to make the blog private because my kids aren't able to consent to online sharing. I'm also more careful about sharing photos of them online. You have to make your own choices about what you're willing to share and how you're willing to protect your privacy. ### 4\. A platform-by-platform sharing strategy I have this blog, my personal blog, and Substack — along with multiple social profiles. It seems like a lot to manage (and it is!), but it also gives me the freedom to choose different stories across different platforms. Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I shared: - [Practical tips](https://blog.annabyang.com/shut-down-your-business/) on this blog - [Personal updates](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/brain-tumor/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) on my personal blog - A [work-related perspective](https://www.workbetter.media/p/brain-tumor?ref=blog.annabyang.com) on my Subtack - Occasional updates on LinkedIn - Frequent updates on Threads I was selective about what I shared across each platform, knowing that each audience is unique. ## Positioning your personal brand as a leader in your industry Most people build personal brands because they want to stand out. They want to be known as a thought leader in their industry. I firmly believe that leadership is rooted in transparency. Sharing your mistakes (paired with what you've learned) positions you as a trusted expert — not someone who pretends to have everything figured out from the get-go. Your imperfections make you relatable. Your lessons make you vulnerable. When you blend the two, you become someone people want to follow and learn from. Gritmon adds: > *"COMFORT is the thing that makes a personal brand magnetic: if you're comfortable with yourself, and comfortable with the boundaries you've set (which can always change!), that is what matters most in developing trust. Discomfort is the thing that creates distance, not a dearth of overly-personal information on your feed."* #### Personal sharing checklist for solopreneurs ✅ Ask yourself: - Have I processed this experience enough to share it as a “scar,” not a “scab”? - Does this story offer a clear takeaway or benefit for my audience? - Am I sharing for value — not for validation, sympathy, or engagement? - Would I feel comfortable if a prospective client or partner read this? - Does this post respect my own privacy and the privacy of others (kids, partners, clients)? - Is this the right platform for this type of story? - Does this align with the personal brand I’m intentionally building? ## Learn from personal branding leaders If you’re unsure how much to share, look at the leaders and creators you admire. Notice what they talk about. Notice what they *don’t* talk about. Some people share openly about their mental health or past failures. Mental health, in particular, is something that isn't talked about openly enough, yet it's something that many people struggle with. If you share that you've struggled with depression, burnout, or ADHD/AuDHD, you let other people know they're not alone. Others keep their personal life separate and stick to professional lessons. There’s no right or wrong approach — only what feels right *for you*. You don’t have to spill your entire life story to build a strong personal brand. Keep in mind that while you may look to other people for personal brand strategies and sharing online, your audience looks to *you*. You are the person who is "a few steps ahead" of where they are in their own careers or online journeys. Whatever you share, you're setting an example. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/ebook-manage-time-content-2.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Check out my free guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### ****What should solopreneurs share online?** Share processed experiences, lessons learned, and stories that help your audience understand your expertise and perspective. Focus on insights that add value rather than raw personal details. #### ****How do you avoid oversharing while building a personal brand?** Ask yourself whether the story serves your audience and whether you’d be comfortable with a client reading it. If the answer is no, it’s a sign to hold back or reframe the story. #### ****What’s the difference between vulnerability and oversharing?** Vulnerability has a purpose: it shares a takeaway your audience can use. Oversharing is unprocessed emotion or information shared for validation, sympathy, or venting. #### ****Is it okay not to share personal stories as a solopreneur?** Absolutely. You can build a strong personal brand without revealing much about your private life. Sharing is a strategy, not a requirement, and you get to set the boundaries that you're comfortable with. #### ****How do you choose the right platform for personal updates?** Match the story to the platform where the tone, audience, and expectations align with what you’re sharing. Light, real-time updates might fit Threads, while processed insights may belong on your blog or newsletter. #### ****How do personal stories help build trust with clients?** Personal show who you are, how you think, and what you’ve learned. This makes you more relatable and credible. When clients understand the person behind the business, they feel more comfortable working with you. ### Freelancer Positioning: Translate Your Corporate Skills to a Freelance Career URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/value-of-soft-skills/ Last updated: 2026-02-18T12:04:08.000Z A few years ago, I made a [huge career pivot](https://blog.annabyang.com/transition-from-corporate-to-freelance-life/). I walked away from a 15-year career in fintech product management and stepped into the worlds of content marketing and journalism. Writing was my first love, before I fell into a tech career of SQL queries and GitHub commits. But here’s the funny thing about switching careers: nobody cares what you *used* to do. Especially in freelancing. Clients care about what you can do for *them* right now. If you’re changing fields or building a solo business from scratch, you have a huge advantage. You have skills that other freelancers *don't* have. You just have to figure out how to communicate them. 💡 ****TL;DR** Soft skills are often the most transferable and powerful tools freelancers have when shifting careers. You need to articulate, showcase, and leverage those skills so clients clearly understand the unique value you bring. ## Why this matters for freelancers Freelancing has exploded. In the U.S., the number of independent workers has increased by 89% between 2020 and 2023, according to [a report by MBO Partners](https://www.mbopartners.com/state-of-independence/2023-report/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), a talent solution firm. With that comes a new reality: you're competing against a *lot* of other freelancers for the same work. To get hired, you [need to stand out](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-stand-out-as-a-freelancer/). That's harder when you've changed careers and may not have a solid portfolio, testimonials, or range of experience like other freelancers. But you can overcome that lack of freelancing expertise by emphasizing other experience from your past career. Namely, you'll want to focus on transferable skills and your freelancer positioning. ### What are transferable skills? Transferable skills are skills that apply across industries. When you're applying for freelance roles, you can assume that other freelancers can do the work the client is looking for. So you'll want to emphasize your transferable skills from your past career, such as communication, decision-making, and [project management](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-management-skills/). One thing I've found is that many freelancers are *not* good project managers. So I emphasize to clients that I'm organized and will [deliver work on time](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-client-deliverables-when-sick/) and as-promised. ### What does “freelancer positioning” mean? Freelancer positioning is how you define the value you bring, who you serve, and why someone should hire *you* instead of any other writer, designer, consultant, or strategist. Right on my website, I include the line "I'm a former tech executive and product manager." That [gives credibility to my expertise](https://blog.annabyang.com/establish-freelancer-credibility-and-expertise/), even though I changed industries. **Why** does your past experience matter? You'll want to state it directly for potential clients. That's where freelance positioning comes in. **Tip**: Try to come up with a single line you can use repeatedly to convey your experience when you talk to clients. ## My career pivot as a freelancer (and what it taught me) When I left my job, my resume didn’t scream “professional writer.” Content roles increasingly required SEO, analytics, funnel strategy, and A/B testing tools — and I had experience with exactly none of these. My resume told a completely different story from the career I wanted. But everything I'd learned in my *prior* career had come from learning on the job. I was an English major, not a finance major. Banking knowledge came from working at a bank. SQL skills came from working at a software company. I knew I could learn, if given the chance. That's the hurdle I had to overcome: convincing someone that my **existing** skills were valuable, and that I could learn new skills quickly. ## 4-step framework to translate your skills into a freelance career Still not sure how to make your past experience stand out? Here are a few tactics to consider. ### 1\. Identify your unique experiences This is the combination of things you know, lived experiences, and industry context that freelancers don't have. For example, I had a ton of experience running complex projects. In addition to the project management, this also required clear communication. I explain to clients that I'll always be transparent about my turnaround time, availability, and if I have any questions along the way. You can do this in your outreach, whether it's cold outreach or replying to a freelance job posting. Mirror what the client is looking for. - **Replying to a job posting:** “You’re looking for someone who can simplify complex topics…” - **Cold outreach:** “As a company in X industry, you need a freelancer who understands Y topics..." Then, introduce yourself with your one-line of freelance positioning. If you have examples of work from your portfolio, send those along. Your outreach becomes much more effective when you map your experience directly to the client's needs. [Win Clients Without PitchingCombine buyer psychology and realistic expectations.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-157.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*vLZrKZIN3610quMxJR6q4w.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/win-clients-without-pitching/) ### 2\. Connect your past work to what clients need today Even if you've not done the *exact* work clients are looking for, you've likely done something similar or relevant. If you wrote documentation? That’s content creation. If you led meetings? That’s facilitation and communication. If you managed a product roadmap? That’s strategy + storytelling. Your background supports your freelance work — even if it looks unrelated on paper. Add it to your freelance positioning and figure out ways to weave your past work into your conversations with potential clients. Do NOT lie. That's not the way to build trust with clients, even if you feel like you could learn quickly on the job. What I do is usually say something like, "I haven't done X type of work specifically, but I've done similar work with Y and Z past experiences." ### 3\. Fill the genuine skill gaps strategically Learn the [tools you’ll need](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-tech-stack/) *in your specific niche*, not every tool in your new industry. I've never learned Google Analytics. I realized that I don't need it. When I write for clients, they track the post performance on *their* end; they don't expect me to do that. I learned the fundamentals of SEO and left the analytics to the client. You only need to learn the new skills you'll actually need. ### 4\. Communicate your ability to learn You don’t need to pretend to be an expert in everything, but you need to prove you can learn fast. One way to do this is to consistently update your [online portfolio](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/). As soon as you complete a project that showcases new skills, add it. That way, clients can see that you've accomplished a lot in a short period of time. 💡 ****Tip:** Don't be afraid to showcase your personality. You could drop a short Loom video on your portfolio page or in your outreach and explain your past experiences to clients. # Common mistakes freelancers make with career pivots - Trying to become an expert in everything - Hiding their lack of certain skills instead of reframing it - Sending generic pitches - Underplaying strengths because they feel irrelevant to a new industry - Forgetting that communication and project management are skill clients value highly #### Beginner checklist ✅ - Identify your strongest transferable skills - Write a 1-line freelance positioning statement - Create a simple portfolio (even if you only have a few samples) - Prepare a short introduction video or Loom - Write an outreach template you can customize - Explicitly connect your background to client needs ## Another valuable asset: community What surprised me most about becoming a freelancer was the support. People inside and outside my network cheered me on. Colleagues sent leads. Fellow freelance writers and creatives [offered advice](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/). And that community was the thing that carried me through the initial uncertainty. At the time, I had no idea what my “future career” would look like. Freelancers rarely do. It's hard to [build a sustainable business](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/). But with the right freelancer positioning, you can turn your past career into a huge strength rather than a shortcoming. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/ebook-pricing-services-1.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Freelance pricing is hard to figure out,* **but I’ve created a free resource for fellow writers.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### How do I translate corporate experience into freelance skills? By mapping what you did — writing, presenting, organizing, analyzing — to what clients are looking for. You'll want to position this as a statement, such as "You're looking for X and I have done Y." #### Do freelancers need “hard skills” like SEO or analytics? Only if it’s relevant to the clients you want to serve. Many times, freelancers are hired to supplement an internal team. Unless you're positioning yourself as an expert in something like SEO, you don't need to learn hard skills or specific tools. #### What if my portfolio doesn’t match the type of freelance work I want? That’s normal. All freelancers start with limited portfolios. Include the sample work you have, and explain your transferable skills to clients. #### How do I stand out when pitching? Make your pitch about the client. Mirror their language, show you understand their goals, and include select examples from your portfolio or something unexpected (like a short video). ### 4 Signs You Need Automation in Your Solo Business URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solo-business-automation/ Last updated: 2026-02-18T12:09:15.000Z 🔗 **Note: This article was written in collaboration with* [**IFTTT*](https://ifttt.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *(If This Then That), a tool that connects hundreds of apps to create automated workflows.* I first started automating work when I was a product manager at a small software company. I was overwhelmed by the number of tasks I had to complete and thought, "There has to be an easier way to do this." Turns out, there was. The more I learned, the more I automated. It freed up *so* much time in my day. Fast forward about ten years, and automation keeps my solo business running smoothly. When I started my solo business years ago, automation was one of the first things I added to my [solopreneur tech stack](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-tech-stack/). I knew that by automating repetitive tasks, I could spend more time on client work. If you're feeling overwhelmed, always behind, or like your business is running *you*, you likely need solo business automation. Here are some of the clearest signs and examples. ## 1\. You have a lot of manual tasks Most solopreneurs don't realize how many tiny tasks they complete *every* week. Preparing invoices. Scheduling [social media posts](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-production-solopreneur/). Adding people to a CRM. Uploading documents to client folders. None of these tasks feels heavy on its own. They only take a few minutes here and there. But add them up over the course of a week (or a month), and they end up taking precious hours away from you. If you're repeating the same actions over and over, you have a manual workflow problem. Repetitive tasks are exactly what automation is designed for. They're consistent, predictable, and don't require your creativity or strategic brainpower. For instance, [IFTTT](https://ifttt.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (If This Then That) uses simple "if this, then that" logic to connect over 1000 different apps and devices. You can create automated workflows called Applets that trigger actions across your tools without any coding knowledge. IFTTT also has apps for iOS and Android, which is huge if you like to get work done on the go. ## 2\. You have fragmented systems I'm a big advocate for choosing the best app or tool for the job, versus picking an all-in-one tool. So you might choose one tool to collect signatures on your contracts, another to send invoices, and another to schedule meetings. But now you've got a bunch of separate tools that don't automatically work together. Fragmented systems create duplicate work because you’re manually moving data around, like copying emails into your CRM, updating spreadsheets, or creating tasks after someone buys a product. You risk things falling through the cracks or mistakes because you rely on memory instead of reliable workflows. Some tools have direct integration. Within the tool itself, you can connect to other tools. For example, Kit connects to Gumroad, Teachable, Stripe, and other platforms — passing information back and forth automatically. If a tool doesn't have direct integration with another tool you use, Zapier can make the connection. It follows consistent patterns, like "If Action A happens in Tool A, then perform Action B in Tool B." You shouldn't be the human bridge between your tools. [Why Solopreneurs Need Standard Operating ProceduresTake the time to create documentation.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-153.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-standard-operating-procedures.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/) ## 3\. Your onboarding process has a lot of steps Write down every single step of your client onboarding. How many do you have? For me, I have to: - Add the client and primary contact to my [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]* database - Add the client to Quickbooks - Add seven [client folders to my Google Drive](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/client-folders-google-drive/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) - Put the signed contract in a client folder - Email the client and ask for some information, like a style guide and other resources Even with templates, onboarding can end up being a lot of clicking and a lot of chances to miss something. Onboarding is one of the easiest things to automate. Automation tools can create folders, send emails, create task lists, or upload files to your Google Drive. With automation, you can make sure that your onboarding is always consistent. ## 4\. You feel like work is out of control When you’re constantly jumping between tools, tasks, and tabs, it’s usually a systems problem — not a you problem. Disorganization often comes from processes that rely too heavily on your memory. If you have to *remember* to update a spreadsheet, or *remember* to add a task, or *remember* to send a follow-up, you’ll always feel a step behind. And as your business grows or gets more complex, the never-ending list of tasks feels almost impossible to handle. Automation creates structure. It makes your tools "talk to each other" so you can prioritize *real* work instead of busywork. More than 1,000 tasks are automatically completed for me **every month.** It's worth [paying for tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/paying-for-tools-as-a-solopreneur/) because of how much time they save me. When the tedious parts run on their own, you free up a lot of [mental energy](https://blog.annabyang.com/essential-apps-to-preserve-your-mental-energy/). You finally have the headspace to think strategically instead of reacting all day long. If everything feels chaotic, automating just a few key workflows can buy back time in your day — instantly. [How a Virtual Assistant Can Help Your Solo BusinessFree up your time for more high-value work.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-154.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-virtual-assistant-solo-business-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) ## Getting started with automation If you’ve never automated anything before, it can feel intimidating. Like you need a big plan or fancy setup. That's not the case. Yes, you need to learn how automation tools work, but many automation tasks are very straightforward. Start small. Pick **one** tiny thing. Something you do all the time. A great example: automatically creating a follow-up item in your to-do list app when someone books a meeting with you. It’s not complex, but it will save you time and prevent dropped balls. Once you see something simple running in the background without your involvement, a lightbulb turns on. You start spotting automation opportunities everywhere. Solo business automation isn’t about doing everything at once. It’s about [business operations improvement](https://blog.annabyang.com/operations-improvement/), one workflow at a time. And the sooner you start, the sooner you get time back in your day. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/ebook-getting-started-automation-3.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Download my free resource for automation tips.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ### 5 Corporate Habits That Hold You Back as a Freelancer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/transition-from-corporate-to-freelance-life/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:55:19.000Z Many freelancers recreate corporate life by accident. They carry over the habits that made them "good employees," like rigid schedules, constant availability, and nonstop people-pleasing. No wonder freelancing feels just as exhausting as the job they left. Here's the problem: those habits were serving *someone else's* business. They helped you navigate office politics, earn positive performance reviews, and stay employed. But when you work for yourself, you make the rules. I worked at corporate jobs for more than 15 years. As a full-time freelancer, I've learned to break free from some of the worst habits — and form new habits that make sense for **me** and **my business.** 💡 ****TL;DR**: The habits that made you a good employee are the same ones holding you back as a freelancer. Breaking them is the difference between recreating your corporate job at home and building a business that actually works for you. ## Why the corporate-to-freelance transition matters Most advice about going freelance focuses on specific tactics: how to invoice, how to find clients, and how to set your rates. (I should know — I write about those topics also!) But sometimes, the harder work is unlearning the patterns you've internalized over the years. It's understandable. People get to Day 1 of working on their own, with complete freedom, and don't know where to start. So they lean into what they know, which are corporate habits. But freelancing rewards the opposite behaviors of corporate life: autonomy, boundaries, and self-direction. The transition is an identity shift. You're no longer someone who works *for* a business. You're someone who *runs* one. If you don't figure out how to form business habits that work best for you, you're going to fall short of your full potential as a freelancer. [5 Ways Corporate Life Prepared Me for Solopreneur LifeBorrow the tactics successful companies use.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-175.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*Vingz2RvvcSGIbEZnKzzwg.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/corporate-life-prepare-solopreneur-life/) ## The 5 corporate habits you need to break Recognizing corporate habits is the first step. Most freelancers don't realize they're doing them, because the habits are so ingrained they feel like "how you're supposed to work." But that corporate environment no longer exists, and these habits are now working against you. Here are a few habits you need to break. ### 1\. Chaining yourself to 9-5 hours The corporate world trained you to work during set hours, regardless of whether you were actually productive. Whether you worked in an office or remotely, you probably followed a typical 9-5 schedule. I worked for companies that had really flexible work environments, but employees still tended to operate in core hours. I firmly believe that everyone has a natural body rhythm. If you follow rigid hours as a freelancer, you might be ignoring your [peak productivity times](https://blog.annabyang.com/daily-mix-of-productive-and-unproductive/). Maybe you do your best thinking at 6 a.m. or hit your creative stride at 9 p.m. You should lean into that as a freelancer. I do my best work early in the morning, and I'm usually done by 3 p.m. (because that's when my kids get done with school). My email signature says: > *"Because I work flexibly, my working hours may not be the same as yours. Please only respond during your working hours and I'll do the same."* This sets the tone so clients don't expect responses from me during the typical 9-5 working hours. 💡 ****Tip:** Track your energy for a week or two. When do you feel like you're doing your best work? When do you drag? Once you have this information, you can set working hours that make sense for you. ### 2\. Wearing "busy" as a badge of honor Corporate culture rewards busyness. Quick email responses. Back-to-back meetings. Always being available. Some people learn that looking busy is *almost* as important as being productive. As a freelancer, busyness destroys your most valuable asset: focused time. [Research shows](https://www.ideatovalue.com/curi/nickskillicorn/2023/07/it-takes-23-minutes-to-regain-focus-after-a-distraction-task-switching/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) it takes about 23 minutes to regain focus after you're distracted. If you're constantly bouncing between email, Slack, and client work all day, you're losing a lot of time. 💡 ****Tip:** [Single-task](https://blog.annabyang.com/single-tasking-strategies/) ruthlessly. Turn all of your notifications. Time block your day, so you're batching similar tasks instead of constantly context-switching. ### 3\. Saying yes to everything In corporate, saying yes is practically a requirement. Good employees take on extra projects and don't push back on unreasonable requests. They know that a "no" was career-limiting. As a freelancer, you're being paid **for the work in the scope of your project.** If you say "yes" to work [outside of scope](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-scope/), you're lowing the effective amount that you're paid for the project because you're putting in more work. You may even end up resenting clients and running yourself into the ground. When requests fall outside that scope, you should say: > "That sounds like a great idea! It's outside our current agreement, but I'm happy to put together an estimate for the additional work." 💡 ****Tip:** Get everything in writing. A clear contract with defined scope makes "no" much easier: you point to the agreement to show that the request is outside of scope. ### 4\. Waiting to be recognized In corporate jobs, you're promoted based on someone else's assessment. Some people learn to advocate for themselves, but most of the time, you wait for someone to notice your work. As a freelancer, if you don't articulate your value, no one will do it for you. You have to be crystal clear about the work you do for clients, and why you're worth the [rates you're charging](https://blog.annabyang.com/pricing-model-freelance-business/). 💡 ****Tip:** Identify what makes you different from other freelancers in your space. What do you offer that they don't? Niche expertise? A specific process? Reliability? Whatever it is, make sure clients know. For example, I'm a freelance [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/) and that's how I brand myself on platforms like LinkedIn. ### 5\. Waiting too long to build systems Corporate jobs have infrastructure, like onboarding documents, approval workflows, and IT support. More than likely, you didn't build any of that — you just used the systems already in place. As a freelancer, you start with a blank slate. No one hands you a process for managing your clients or organizing your files. Many freelancers wing it at first, which works until they're completely overwhelmed by your lack of systems. Then, as they try to grow, things get chaotic, and they spend a lot of time fighting a bunch of disconnected tools and broken workflows. 💡 ****The fix:** Build your systems **before* you need them. Use templates for contracts, invoices, and common emails. Automate any repetitive tasks you do. For example, I use Zapier to [create client folders](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/client-folders-google-drive/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) automatically when a new contract is signed. Automating that one task saves me time and makes sure my client folders stay organized. ## Common mistakes when going from corporate to freelance - Underpricing your services because you don't recognize your market value - Skipping contracts because "we have a good relationship" - Treating every client request as urgent when most things can wait - Never taking time off because there's no PTO policy forcing you to - Doing everything manually instead of building systems #### Break the corporate habits checklist ✅ - Identify your peak productivity hours and protect them for deep work - Turn off Slack and email notifications during your deep work time - Add response-time expectations to your email signature - Create a contract template that clearly identifies the scope of work - Build a standard folder structure for new clients - Set up one automation for a task you repeat every week - Build a freelance business that actually fits your life ## Build a freelance business that actually fits your life You left corporate for a reason. Maybe it was the rigid hours, the politics, the ceiling on your earning potential, or simply the desire to control your own time. Whatever drove you out, do **not** recreate the same type of environment as a freelancer. The corporate habits that made you a good employee don't work as well for a solo business. Make it your priority to [design your business](https://blog.annabyang.com/build-a-business-around-the-life-you-want/) around how *you* actually work best. Protect your time. Set boundaries. Build systems. Those are all things you need to do to create something that truly works for you. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/12/annabyang-business-design.png)](https://pages.annabyang.com/business-design?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Want to build a life-first business?* **These reflections will help you determine your priorities.* [Download ](https://pages.annabyang.com/business-design?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### ****How long does it take to break corporate habits?** Most freelancers pick up on the tactical pieces — invoicing, contracts, finding clients — within a few weeks. The mindset shifts take longer. It might be anywhere from three to six months before you're comfortable controlling your work schedule and taking charge in your business. #### ****What if my clients expect me to be available 9-5?** You need to guide your clients to care about results, not hours. Set expectations during a sales call or onboarding. Explain your working hours and response times upfront. The clients who need someone on-call from 9-5 probably aren't the right fit anyway. #### ****How do I say no without losing the client?** Be direct but helpful. Explain why you can't take something on and offer an alternative, such as a future timeline, an increased scope, or a referral to someone who can help. #### ****What's the first system I should build as a new freelancer?** A client folder structure in your Google Drive is an easy way to stay organized. A contract template protects you and your time. These two things prevent the most problems in the early days of freelancing. ### The Benefits of Networking as a Solopreneur URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/networking-solopreneur/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:14:56.000Z Solopreneurs certainly know the meaning of the word "solo." While we may work with clients, we're typically not working with any colleagues: no managers, no direct reports, no peers. For some, this is a marvelous setup, since it allows so much time for focused work. For others, it's isolating and lonely. No matter where you fall on the spectrum, networking as a solopreneur is a necessary part of running a business. You'll [grow faster](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-grow-a-solo-business/) — and have a much easier time doing it — if you're connected to other people. [Effective networking](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-networking/) is a lot more than swapping business cards at an event or firing off LinkedIn messages. It's about building relationships that can support your business. But networking takes time, so it's got to be something you prioritize in your busy schedule. However, it's worth the effort. Here’s how networking meaningfully impacts your solo business. ## More (and better) client opportunities One of the biggest perks of networking is simple: referrals. Referrals come from someone who already trusts your work, and referrals are easier to convert than cold leads. With good referrals, you can sometimes [win without pitching](https://blog.annabyang.com/win-clients-without-pitching/). A fellow solopreneur might pass along a project they don't have the capacity for. A former colleague might recommend you when they know someone who needs what you offer. This type of work is often a much better fit than random inquiries you might get through your website. Referrals aren't luck. They're a byproduct of being "[known for something](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-stand-out-as-a-freelancer/)" within your network. 💡 ****Pro Tip**: If you don't have public-facing pricing for your services, make sure people in your network know what you charge (at least ballpark). That way, they don't refer clients who don't have the budget to work with you. ## Collaboration with other people People who work 9-5 jobs don't understand the hustle of solopreneurship. You're constantly juggling the demands and emotional rollercoaster of running a business. When you connect with other solopreneurs, suddenly you have other people who understand the challenges you face. You can commiserate when things go sideways and sanity-check your ideas. You can even collaborate with other solopreneurs in a way that's mutually beneficial. People in my network have invited me to speak at events or appear as a [podcast guest](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/). Collaborations are an opportunity to reach a new audience. As I've collaborated with fellow solopreneurs, I see them as much more than peers: they're [my friends](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-friends/). 💡 ****Pro Tip:** Ask for intros. If someone in your network is connected to someone else you'd like to know, ask them to connect you. ## Stay on top of trends Your network is one of the easiest ways to stay informed about what’s happening in your industry. When you’re connected with peers, you’ll naturally hear about: - New tools other solopreneurs are using - Pricing shifts or rate trends - Changes in client expectations - Best practices for onboarding, communication, or project management You get to learn from other people’s experiences instead of making the same mistakes yourself. In fields that evolve quickly — like marketing, design, tech, or writing — your network becomes a shortcut to staying relevant. I joined a [writing community](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/) when I was a brand new freelancer. The people in the group gave me a ton of insights that I wouldn't have known otherwise. 💡 ****Pro Tip:** You need to give as much as you receive. Share your ideas, what you're seeing with clients, and any market changes you're sensing. ## Grow your visibility and reputation People are more likely to hire people they’ve heard of. When you participate in communities, show up on [social platforms like LinkedIn](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/), or share helpful insights, you increase the number of people who know what you do. That visibility builds trust over time. Trust leads to opportunities — referred clients, collaborations, and more. When people repeatedly see your name associated with specific topics, they start to think of you *as* the go-to person for the type of work you do. [How to Market Yourself as a FreelancerDon’t like cold pitching? You can still grow your business.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-151.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-market-yourself-as-a-freelancer.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/market-your-freelance-business/) ## Increase your confidence Networking isn’t just about getting work. It’s also about becoming more confident in what you do. Talking about your projects, answering questions from others, and sharing your experience forces you to get really clear about [your expertise](https://blog.annabyang.com/establish-freelancer-credibility-and-expertise/). It's also a form of market research. When you network, you'll understand how other people in your industry are positioning themselves — and how you position yourself differently. Over time, you get better at articulating your value. That carries over into client calls, portfolio updates, pricing conversations, and negotiations. Your confidence will always grow faster when you’re not building your business in a vacuum. ### Build a Business Around the Life You Want URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/build-a-business-around-the-life-you-want/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:30:56.000Z Many people leave the corporate world because they want more control over the work they do and how they spend their time. Yet they find themselves back in the same pattern: they work, and then try to squeeze their life around their work. Only difference? They're self-employed. They've recreated the same rigidity that they were trying to escape, with the added stress of running their own business. Sound familiar? When solopreneurs first start their businesses, they immediately think about how they can get clients and earn money. But the path to a sustainable business needs to put **life first** and then design your business to support it. 💡 ****TL;DR:** If you want a business that actually feels good to run, start by getting clear on the life you want. Then build your offers, boundaries, and schedule around your priorities. ## 4-part framework to determine your life-first business Your business model, services, revenue streams, and even your schedule are shaped by your priorities. That looks different for everyone. I have three kids and live in a suburb of Chicago. I have a house I love, which also has a mortgage. My goals with building a sustainable business are to 1) be available for my kids and 2) earn enough money to match my corporate salary. But I know other solopreneurs who prefer to travel or work as few hours as possible. Everyone is different. Business coach [Jenni Gritters](https://www.jennigritters.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) directly asks her clients about their priorities. She [says](https://www.workbetter.media/p/build-work-around-priorities?ref=blog.annabyang.com): > *I ask questions like, "What are your values? What do you care about right now? What are your priorities? And how do we structure work based on those things?" It's very life-first. It feels a little rebellious, too.* As you think about your offers, pricing, and marketing, you need clarity about the life you want to live. Don't be vague about it. The life you want will impact your day-to-day decisions in your business. ### 1\. Determine how much flexibility you want Start with your ideal day. - Do you want slow mornings? - Do you need to be available for school pickup? - Do you prefer long stretches of uninterrupted deep work? - Do you want the option to take a random weekday afternoon off? Because I have three kids, I need to shape my workday around the school day. That means no meetings after 3:00 p.m. I also need to think about days when my kids don't have school (like spring break) and summer. Your daily rhythm should influence everything: the services you offer, how often you meet with clients, your communication style, and the boundaries you set. For example, if mornings are chaotic, you can choose to only take calls after lunch. [Building a Business Allows You to Redefine WorkIt’s no longer about what other people want.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-161.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-redefine-work-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/building-business-redefine-work/) ### 2\. Identify your ideal client profile Who you work with matters as much as what you do. The wrong client can consume your mental bandwidth, drain your energy, and create unnecessary stress. (Think: the clients who demand too much or are consistently late with payments.) This is particularly true if you've had bad experiences with managers or co-workers when you worked at a corporate job. You'll find yourself asking, "Didn't I quit my corporate job to *escape* the drama?" Think about the types of clients that are aligned with your values and lifestyle. - Do you prefer clients who communicate async? - Do you work best with teams that give you autonomy? - Do you want clients who understand and respect your boundaries? Your ideal client profile (ICP) shapes the way you market yourself and how you vet new opportunities. You’re not just looking for people who will pay you — you’re looking for people who won’t make your business harder than it needs to be. 💡 ****Tip:** Sometimes [bad clients](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-evaluate-freelance-clients/) are hard to spot at first. But the longer you're in business and the more clarity you have around ideal clients, you'll learn to spot the red flags early — before you've signed a contract. ### 3\. Understand the work you want to deliver Not all work is created equal. Some projects light you up. Others feel like they are sucking your soul dry. I got to the point in my business where I dropped a client that was giving me mind-numbing work. I had built enough of a business around the work I enjoyed that I was able to say, "I don't need this work anymore." Think about the types of work you actually want to spend your day doing. - What projects give you energy? - Which ones feel like a slog? - What skills do you want to use more often? - What tasks do you never want to touch again? These questions help you shape services aligned with your strengths, interests, and desired lifestyle. If you hate long project cycles, for example, you don't want to offer services that can stretch on for weeks or months. Your offerings should be designed around the kind of work that feels like a [sustainable business](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/). ### 4\. Do the math with your financial priorities Money matters, without a doubt. But the *way* you want to earn money matters just as much. - Do you want to earn **more**, or do you want to earn **enough**? - Do you want a business that maximizes your income, or one that maximizes your time? - Do you have financial obligations that you need to meet? There’s no “right” answer, but the business model you choose will determine your earning potential, your availability, and your stress levels. High-ticket, low-volume work offers more income with fewer clients. But these offers may require deeper expertise or more client interactions. Low-ticket, high-volume products give you more scalability and less client management. However, these take a lot longer to build, and usually require a consistent online presence. [How to Think About Your Revenue Goals as a SolopreneurWhat to consider as you work toward your revenue goals.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-159.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-foundational-revenue-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/foundational-revenue/) ## Reverse-engineer your business model Once you’re clear about your priorities, the next step is designing a business that reflects them. Instead of starting with services or pricing, start with your life constraints and work backward. (If you've already established your business, think about the changes you need to make to build your business around the life you want.) ### 1\. Time structure Decide how many hours per week you *want* to work — not how many you *could* work. Any solopreneur *could* work 12-hour days, but that's not necessarily what you *want* to do. If you had a defined start and end to each workday, what would that look like? Consider any non-negotiables you have in your schedule, like childcare or going to the gym. From there, you can design your schedule: meeting-free days, your response times, and any time you need to set aside for deep work. If you only want calls on Tuesdays and Thursdays, you can structure your calendar around that. If you want Fridays for admin or creative work, you can block them off permanently on your calendar. 💡 ****Tip:** A calendar scheduling app (like Calendly) becomes a tool to reinforce the life you’re building. Don't let clients schedule meetings outside of your working hours or during your deep work time. ### 2\. Service design Make sure your services fit your lifestyle, instead of disrupting it. If you want predictable weeks, retainer work, or long-term clients may be a good fit. If you thrive on variety, project-based work might be better. If meetings drain you, make sure you offer services that don't require a lot of client interaction. You'll also want to identify any services you offer that aren't consistent with your goals. If a type of work is stressful, [difficult to scope](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-scope/), or hard to fit into your ideal schedule, you can phase it out. Replace it with something that serves you better. ### 3\. Pricing and packaging Pricing should support both your financial goals and your desired schedule. Many solopreneurs fall into the trap of charging more but also working more. Instead, you should [price your services](https://blog.annabyang.com/pricing-model-freelance-business/) to reflect the value you deliver. And, over time, you become more valuable because you have more experience. 💡 ****Tip:** Don't ignore scope creep (which happens when a client asks for more than what you've agreed to do). Clear deliverables in your contract will protect your time and the amount you've charged. ### 4\. Boundaries and expectations From my experience talking with fellow solopreneurs, boundaries are something they struggle with the most. They want to make their clients happy, so they respond at all hours or agree to additional work within the project. Boundaries are about protecting your time and energy. It's also about protecting your pricing. If you agree to do a project at $1,000 for 20 hours of your time, and then end up spending an additional 10 hours on the project, you've effectively lowered your rate. A business without boundaries will quickly grow into something you resent. Set expectations early and clearly: how quickly you respond to messages, when you’re available for meetings, what’s included in your services, how revisions work, and whether you charge rush fees. 💡 ****Tip**: Include information about your boundaries when you send information over to prospective clients or as a separate page on your website. That way, there are no surprises. If a client wants something outside of the boundaries you've set, it's not a good fit. #### Life-first business: A checklist for solopreneurs ✅ - Identify your top priorities - Define your ideal workday - Review and redesign your service offerings - Adjust your pricing based on time and energy - Set communication and meeting boundaries - Review your business annually ## Design your business around your energy, not just time Taylor Swift said on the New Heights podcast, "Treat your energy as if it's expensive. Not everyone can afford it." Time management is helpful, but energy management also has a huge impact. You may only spend five hours per day doing client work, but they are *exhausting* hours. As a result, you feel drained for the rest of the day. You should also recognize when **you** think and work best. Are you more focused in the morning or the afternoon? Do you get tired after back-to-back calls? Are there certain tasks that drain your energy more quickly? Time-tracking apps or a weekly audit of how you spend your time help you understand how your energy fluctuates. This awareness allows you to schedule your work in ways that reduce burnout and [preserve your energy](https://blog.annabyang.com/essential-apps-to-preserve-your-mental-energy/). ## Let your business evolve as your life evolves Without a doubt, your life priorities will change. Your kids get older. Your interests shift. Your energy levels change. Your financial needs evolve. And you should build a business so it can evolve with you. It’s normal for your goals to shift throughout different seasons of life. A business that once felt perfect may no longer fit. You've got to recognize the signs that things aren't working anymore and have enough [mental flexibility](https://blog.annabyang.com/mental-flexibility/) to make a change. Regularly revisit your goals, your ideal day, your services, and your systems. One of the best benefits of being a solopreneur is that [**you** get to decide](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-mindset/). You don't have to ask for anyone's permission or "wait until next quarter" to make a change. You get to build a business that supports the life you want now, however and whenever those changes occur. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/annabyang-business-design.png)](https://pages.annabyang.com/business-design?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Want to build a life-first business?* **These reflections will help you determine your priorities.* [Download ](https://pages.annabyang.com/business-design?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### ****What does it mean to build a life-first business?** A life-first business is one designed around your personal priorities, energy, and constraints instead of forcing your life to fit your work. It ensures your offers, schedule, and clients support the lifestyle you want—not the other way around. #### ****How do I choose which clients to work with?** Look for clients whose communication style, expectations, and values align with your preferred way of working. If a client consistently pushes past your boundaries, that's a sign they’re not a fit. #### ****How do solopreneurs set boundaries with clients?** Set expectations upfront around communication, response times, meetings, and project scope. Clear boundaries prevent misunderstandings and keep your work aligned with your desired schedule. #### ****How do I design services that fit my lifestyle?** Choose offerings that match your ideal workday, energy levels, and preferred amount of client interaction. If a service consistently disrupts your schedule or drains you, it’s a sign to revise or remove it. #### ****How do I avoid burnout as a solopreneur?** Pay attention to the tasks and clients that drain your energy and build in regular rest, breaks, and buffer days. Designing a schedule that matches your natural rhythms helps prevent feeling overloaded or burned out. #### ****How often should I reevaluate my business model?** Review your services, schedule, and priorities at least once a year to ensure your business still fits your life. Major life changes, like parenting shifts, health changes, or financial goals, may require you to reassess more frequently. ### 4 Ways to Repurpose Your Own Content URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/repurpose-your-content/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:36:28.000Z Being an online creator is *hard*. After all, how many original thoughts can you have in one day?? The message from top creators is clear: show up, be consistent, provide value. It can be overwhelming — especially as you’re [juggling multiple social profiles](https://blog.annabyang.com/omnipresent-social-media-strategy/). It’s also a necessary part of gaining a following. But there’s no Law of the Internet that says you have to come up with unique content for each platform. Instead, you can take one idea and tweak it for different audiences. I’m going to walk you through, step-by-step, how content for my main platforms (Medium, LinkedIn, and Twitter) are repurposed. **I turn 4 original ideas into 11 pieces of content**, at least. If you get into a groove with repurposing, you’ll be able to increase your presence across multiple platforms without a lot of extra energy. 💡 ****TL;DR:** Content that's only used once is a missed opportunity. By following a systematic approach to repurposing, you can turn original pieces of content into smaller posts across platforms. You can multiply your reach without burning out. ## The 4-to-11 content repurposing system Content repurposing is he practice of taking one piece of content and adapting it into different formats for various platforms. You can increase your reach without creating entirely new material. 94% of marketers repurpose their content across different channels and formats. It's a good practice to get into, so you're not constantly spinning your wheels creating *new* content. 💡 ****Tip:** I use [Buffer](https://join.buffer.com/anna-burgess-yang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **\[affiliate link\*\]* to schedule my social media posts. It makes it easier to batch create content in advance. Here are four ways to get started. ### 1) Repurposing articles you write Longform articles have the most opportunity for content repurposing. You’ve already done research and organized the ideas, so why not break those ideas down into bite-sized chunks for [different platforms](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-your-content-across-multiple-platforms/)? For each article, you can create: - 2 LinkedIn posts - 1 Threads post per H2 - 1 thread for Threads [**LinkedIn posts**](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/) will depend on your style. You might be able to squeeze more out of your articles, depending on whether you typically write long or short posts (or both!). Take the main concepts from your article and turn them into something “work-related” (since LinkedIn is still overwhelmingly a professional platform). Even if your article wasn’t about work directly, find ways to apply it to work, careers, or life skills. **Threads posts** (or tweets for Twitter)are low-hanging fruit. You should create at *least* one post per H2, and you might be able to pull lines directly from your article. **Longer threads** are often the bane of creators because they require more effort, with no guarantee that they’ll resonate. But your article is structured perfectly for a multi-part thread: the main idea from each H2 becomes a new part in your thread. Write a killer hook, and you’re good to go. Any longform article format will work: Medium, Substack, a blog, etc. Heck, I’ve even repurposed client work in this way, taking the ideas and turning them into my own social posts (with a *lot* of editing so they don’t resemble the client’s deliverable). [The Downfall of Twitter, the Rise of ThreadsHas a viable Twitter alternative finally arrived?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-174.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*-KrXnQhA7kFAapllpnE57g.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/the-downfall-of-twitter-the-rise-of-threads/) ### 2) Repurposing LinkedIn posts Let’s say one of your LinkedIn posts comes from an article you wrote. Great! But you should aim for at least 2–3 posts per week and work your way up to daily posts. LinkedIn is a [Great Multiplier](https://blog.annabyang.com/prepare-to-go-viral/): more posts increase your reach, a lot. For each new LinkedIn post, you can create: - 2 short posts for Threads - 1 article This assumes that your **LinkedIn posts** are medium to long-ish length. If they’re already short, then they might end up as only 1 Threads post. In that case — if punchy enough — you might cross-post to Twitter without changing the text at all. But let’s say you type up a longer LinkedIn post sharing an experience or insight. Break that down into **a few threads.** You can also expand the idea in a new **article** on Medium or elsewhere. The LinkedIn post might be your intro, and the H2s are your advice, steps to follow, or process. [Social Media for Solopreneurs: Tips and ToolsBuild a content muscle.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-131.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-social-media-for-solopreneurs-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/social-media-for-solopreneurs/) ### 3) Repurposing your Threads posts You might wonder how something *so* short can get repurposed on other platforms. You’ll definitely have to do some more tweaking, but don’t let the idea go to waste — especially if the post is getting some traction. For each thread, you can create: - 1 LinkedIn post (with a screenshot) - 1 LinkedIn longer post You’ve probably seen people post their threads as **LinkedIn screenshots**. The visual element certainly makes the LinkedIn post stand out more than straight text for a short post. I have a template in Canva that I use for this. ![Image post from Canva that says "The more you can rely on yourself for your career's direction, the more satisfying the results."](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/12/annabyang-image-post.jpg) You can also start with the thread and turn it into a **longer LinkedIn post**. The Threads post becomes your hook, and then follow up with a few sentences of explanation. Or ask a question, like “Have you ever experienced something like this? Let me know in the comments.” Asking questions is an excellent way to increase engagement. And if you’re in need of inspiration, turn to your own comments on LinkedIn, replies on Threads, and even your [highlights on Medium](https://blog.annabyang.com/medium-highlights-inspire-social-media-posts/). ### 4) Repurposing your multi-part threads Don’t let your time spent creating multi-part threads go to waste. They’re a lot of work! For each thread, you can create: - 1 LinkedIn carousel - 1 article LinkedIn carousels tend to get a lot of engagement. These multi-slide visual posts that users can swipe through are ideal for presenting step-by-step processes or lists. To create [LinkedIn carousels](https://blog.annabyang.com/steps-to-create-linkedin-carousels/), you can use Canva and create a visual post. Search for Instagram carousels because they’re the perfect size for a LinkedIn carousel. Make sure that the carousel matches your brand (colors, fonts, etc) or make adjustments. If your thread hasn’t already been repurposed from an article you’ve written, you can operate in reverse. Turn your thread into an **article**, creating an H2 for each individual post in the thread. Round out each thread with a few hundred words, and you will easily have a longform post to share on Medium, Substack, or your blog. ## Common content repurposing mistakes solopreneurs make - Posting identical content across all platforms without tweaking for the platform or audience. - Repurposing too quickly without checking if the original performed well. - Forgetting to track which repurposed pieces perform best. - Overusing the same hook or opening across platforms, which makes your content feel stale. ## Increase your output over time Start content repurposing next week. You’re going to write and publish four things: 1. Article 2. LinkedIn post 3. Thread (one post) 4. Thread (multi-part) You may produce a lot more, but start small if you don’t have a good content process in place yet. The following week, you’re going to do the following: 1. Everything from Week 1 2. Plus everything in the four steps in this article If that feels like too much, try doing half of the steps in Week 2 and the other half in Week 3\. But your net new published content in Week 2 will match Week 1. In Week 3, you’re going to start seeing the fruits of your labor. You’ll have four net new pieces of content, plus the repurposed content from Week 1\. You will have *far* more posts in Week 3, and the content will keep multiplying. You’ll have more opportunities to [engage with your audience](https://blog.annabyang.com/minimum-viable-audience/). If something feels like a low lift, do more of that. Write two threads per week instead of one, following the same repurposing steps. And repeat. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/12/annabyang-checklist-1x18.png)](https://pages.annabyang.com/1-18?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Want to learn how to turn 1 blog post into 18 pieces of content?* **Download this checklist.* [Download ](https://pages.annabyang.com/1-18?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### ****What is content repurposing for solopreneurs?** Content repurposing means taking one piece of content and tweaking it for different platforms, rather than starting from scratch. Instead of creating unique content for every social media channel, you modify your core ideas to fit each platform's format and audience. #### ****How many pieces of content can I create from one article?** From a single article, you can create at least 2 LinkedIn posts, multiple short posts for Threads or Twitter (one per H2), and 1 multi-part threads. Following the system in this guide, 4 original pieces turn into 11+ published posts. #### ****Do I need to rewrite everything when repurposing content?** Not at all. You'll need to make adjustments for each platform's style and format, but you're working from your already-published content and ideas. You've already done the heavy lifting. #### ****What tools do solopreneurs need for content repurposing?** You need Canva for creating carousels and to great image versions of text-based posts. Other helpful tools include Buffer for social media scheduling and a note-taking app to keep track of your ideas. #### ****How long does content repurposing take compared to creating new content?** Repurposing takes significantly less time because you're not starting from zero. Instead of spending hours writing for each platform, you're tweaking work you've already completed. Plan to spend about one hour per week writing repurposed content. ### Top Questions Clients Ask Before Hiring Me as a Freelance Writer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/top-questions-clients-ask-freelance-writer/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:55:30.000Z 🕐 **Updated December 2025* Much as I’d *love* for clients to simply review my portfolio and decide to hire me, sometimes they want a meeting. Probably to make sure I’m a real human (and a pleasant one at that!). The vibe is a lot different from the days when I interviewed for jobs to be an employee at a company. I’m certainly in more control of the situation, yet clients are still evaluating me to see if I’m a good fit for their needs. I’m not a fan of a [hard sell](https://blog.annabyang.com/market-your-freelance-business/), but I know that how I answer a prospective client’s questions will play a huge role in whether or not I’m hired. The more prepped you are — and the more you understand the reasoning behind the questions — the better you can position your freelance writing services. 💡 ****TL;DR:** The more prepared you are to answer prospective client questions, the more likely you are to be hired. You should know how to talk about your process, how you keep work organized, and your rates. ## What to expect during an interview with a potential client When a potential client asks to meet with you, they're trying to figure out if you're someone they can trust with their project. They've probably already reviewed your portfolio and liked what they saw. Now they want to get a sense of how you operate: your professionalism, your communication style, and whether you'll be easy to work with. According to a [report from Fiverr](https://npm-assets.fiverrcdn.com/assets/@fiverr-private/freelance%5Fimpact/freelance-economy-2024.990b757.pdf?ref=blog.annabyang.com), 89% of freelancers report that clients want to work with independent professionals who have specialized skills and expertise. This is your opportunity to demonstrate that you take your work seriously. Most potential clients aren't trying to catch you off guard. They have a mental checklist of concerns: turnaround time, how you handle feedback, and what happens if the project scope changes. If you're prepared to address these concerns clearly and confidently, you're already ahead of most freelancers they'll talk to. ## 6 questions every freelancer should prep for The longer you freelance, the more you'll hear the same questions from potential clients. If you're new to freelancing, here are a few common questions you should be prepared to answer. ### 1\. What is your writing process like? This question is very broad, but prospective clients want to know how you operate. A peek behind the curtain, so to speak. Even if your answer is, “I wake up and write things,” that’s not what clients want to hear. In an employer-employee relationship, the employer has a lot more insight into and control over the employee’s work. Because you’re operating independently as a freelancer, the client is trying to get some assurances that you *have* a process. That you’re not just winging it. If you don’t have a standard process, come up with something that will sound good to a client. Talk about steps you follow *most* of the time, even if it isn’t every time. Or, if your process varies depending on the project, pick a specific project and give it as an example. I tell clients that I’ll [review the topic](https://blog.annabyang.com/prep-for-a-week-of-writing/) and start outlining ideas based on my existing knowledge. Then I’ll supplement with additional research or an interview with a subject-matter expert — but I’ll emphasize that this isn’t always necessary. Because I’m a niche expert on certain topics, I don’t always need to collect outside info. I’ve also had several clients specifically [ask how I use generative AI](https://blog.annabyang.com/protect-writing-business-in-ai-world/) when I write. Clients will probably have opinions about using AI when writing, and you should absolutely be honest. I tell them that I don’t use generative AI. At *most,* I might use AI to jump-start ideas as a bullet-point list, but all of the output is 100% mine. ### 2\. Do you need a brief? Questions about [writing briefs](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-brief-for-a-freelancer/) can feel like a double-edged sword. On the one hand, a detailed brief is more work for the client. On the other hand, if you don’t get a brief, you risk missing the mark. I usually reply that I’ll work with whatever I’m given. Some clients give me extensive briefs. Other clients give me no more than a topic, and I determine the direction of the article. But when I’m asked this question, I immediately turn it around. I ask the client, “What type of brief do you provide to writers?” This will give me a sense of what they want. Unless there are some red flags, I’ll let them know that I can work with their format. I’ll also give examples of other work I’ve done based on similar styles of briefs (or lack thereof). ### 3\. How do you structure agreements? Clients want to know if you expect long-term arrangements or a certain amount of billable work for them. They also want to know what you’re including with each deliverable: the total value of your work. I let prospective clients know that most of my work is project-based and "upon request" ([ad hoc](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/)). I don’t require a monthly minimum, and clients can give me assignments whenever they have something for me to write. I tell them that I’ll do one live interview per deliverable. Sometimes this question goes deeper, and prospective clients want to know your turnaround time. Much as you might be tempted to show that you can finish work quickly, don’t overpromise. Don’t say you can turn around work in a day if that’s not your typical working style. Because most of my work is ad hoc, my turnaround time is 7–10 days for new assignments. I let prospective clients know this. However, I do *not* include an expected turnaround time in the agreements themselves because I don’t want to be bound to that timeframe. [How to Create a Freelance Contract (+5 Things to Include)Your contract can prevent some sticky situations.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-169.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-how-to-create-a-freelance-contract-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-contract-protect-yourself/) ### 4\. How do you stay organized? I got this question recently and thought, “Why does it matter as long as I deliver the work?” But again , clients are trying to gain confidence in your capabilities. If a freelancer is really disorganized, it might signal an inability to deliver on time or as expected. Because I work with a lot of clients, I assure prospects that I [have to be highly organized](https://blog.annabyang.com/juggle-freelance-clients/). I keep information about each client in Airtable, including a link to a style guide (if the client has one). I double-check the style guide before sending off a draft. I use Trello for project management and will even create a client-facing view, if the client wants that. ### 5\. How do you handle revisions? Revisions can mean a lot of different things to clients. They may want to know how you handle feedback, how quickly you can address revisions, how many rounds of revisions you’re willing to do — or all of the above. I’ve flat-out told clients that it’s their content and I’ll incorporate any revisions they request. I’ve certainly incorporated revisions that I don’t necessarily agree with, but at the end of the day, they’re paying for the work. I’ll address the timeframe for revisions (usually two business days) and I’ll do one round of revisions per deliverable. It’s *really* important that clients understand this because it sets an expectation about my work. Unlimited revisions can get really messy, and you’ll end up [spending too much time](https://blog.annabyang.com/avoid-spending-too-much-time-on-client-work/) trying to make the client happy. I’ve also described my process for handling revisions in Google Docs: making a copy of the original, ensuring that I address all comments, highlighting any changes in a different color, and copying the new version over while preserving the original for comparison. I want them to know that it will be easy to understand the revisions I made and how my revisions addressed their requests. ### 6\. What is your rate? This question always comes last, and I wish it came first. The client has a budget, and you have a rate. And if you and the client are not aligned, there is no reason to have the rest of the conversation. You should be prepared to share your rate during the meeting. Don’t say, “Oh, I’ll follow up and send you a rate sheet” because the question makes you uncomfortable. It’s not going to change the outcome. If you have to think about it based on the scope of the project, at least give a ballpark or range. You can also send rate information in advance. I do this sometimes, if I’m not sure that the client will be a good fit. I’m saving both of us time if my rate won’t work with the client’s budget. In my experience, my rate is either a “go” or “no-go” (which is why the question should come first). If it’s a “go,” then the rest of the questions give prospective clients a sense of what I’m like to work with. ## Common mistakes freelancers make during client meetings - Not having a rate ready to share - Overpromising on turnaround time - Offering unlimited revisions ## Don't forget to look for client red flags Most of the time, clients are looking for [red flags](https://blog.annabyang.com/red-flags-freelance-clients/). My portfolio showcases my work, and my rate is fixed. As long as I can assure them that I’m a professional who takes my work and business seriously, I’m golden. But remember that meetings with potential clients are a two-way street. You’re interviewing them as much as they’re interviewing you. If you’re getting a vibe that the client might be difficult to work with, trust your gut. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/12/ebook-pricing-services.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Freelance pricing is hard to figure out,* **so I’ve created a free resource for fellow writers.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### How long does a client interview take? Most interviews with potential clients last between 15 and 30 minutes. That's enough time for the client to ask questions and get a sense of how you work without it turning into an unpaid strategy session. #### Should freelance writers share rates before a client meeting? I'm a fan of sharing rates upfront. It saves everyone time if budgets don't align. You can include your rate range in an email before the call or on your website so clients know what to expect. #### What red flags should clients watch for when hiring a writer? Watch out for writers who can't clearly explain their process or promise unrealistically fast turnarounds. A lack of a portfolio or reluctance to share relevant samples are also warning signs. #### Do freelance writers require retainers? It depends on the writer's business model. Some do, but many (myself included) work on an ad hoc basis and don't requiring a monthly minimum. Just ask during your initial conversation to see what arrangement works best. ### Keep Track of Your Freelance Work in a Content Library URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/keep-track-of-freelance-work/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:53:12.000Z When your writing starts to spread across clients, platforms, and personal projects, it’s easy to lose track of what you’ve actually published. You dig through Google Drive. You hunt through email threads. You scroll endlessly through Medium or Substack trying to find something you *know* exists. And when you need a link quickly — for a pitch, a client inquiry, or a backlink opportunity — you’re scrambling. As a writer, you need a centralized hub to organize your writing life. This is why I built a system years ago to keep track of everything I create. Not just client work, but pitches, guest posts, Substack issues, blog posts, podcast appearances, and any “in the wild” mentions of my work. ## What is a content library? A content library is a centralized system that stores every draft, pitch, published link, and appearance tied to your writing business. It gives you instant access to your [freelance portfolio](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/), your history with various clients, and all the work you’ve produced — in an **organized** manner. You can search, filter, or sort to find what you need. I've built my content library in [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]*. But you could also use Notion or even a Google Sheet. The tool isn’t the important part. The structure is. ## Common mistakes writers make when tracking their work Many writers I know don't have *any* system to keep track of their work. Instead, they - Rely only on Drive or email search to find drafts - Forget to track pitches or follow-ups - Not saving the live URLs for any published work - Not taking backup copies of articles published online - Not saving links to any podcast guest appearances, interviews they give, or any other "appearances" in publications that they didn't write themselves A little structure goes a long way in keeping your writing life organized. ## 3 things to track in your content library I break everything into four key areas. Each area is a bit different, but it's easy to maintain and easy to use later when I need information fast. ### 1\. Client deliverables Every client I work with has a shared Google Drive folder. That’s where I store working drafts, final versions, and supporting assets like images. But Google Drive alone isn’t enough. Over time, each folder fills up with multiple drafts, brainstorm docs, and links. I've been producing weekly work for one client for more than three years. You can imagine how many drafts I have at this point. In Airtable, each project gets a record. I log: - Client name - Word count - Topics - Date completed - Amount paid - Draft link - Published link The **draft link** and **published link** are the most important fields. If I need to resurface a specific article six months later — or a client asks about something I wrote last year—I can find it in seconds. It’s significantly faster than relying on Drive search (which pulls up every [client brief](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-brief-for-a-freelancer/) or draft you've ever saved). ![A view in Airtable showing fields: title, client, date completed, word count, and draft link.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-olxr8zt3m9jxpp5qltabzq-jpeg-2.jpg) A view of my client deliverables in Airtable ### 2\. Pitches and other published work Pitches are notoriously hard to manage because responses are slow, inconsistent, or nonexistent. I track pitches in a separate Airtable table, including: - Publication - Editor email - Date sent - Status (waiting, accepted, rejected) - Link to the original email - Link to the draft (if accepted) The link to the exact email pitch has been invaluable. I can immediately see what I pitched, how I framed it, and whether I’ve contacted that editor before. ![Airtable view showing fields Link to Pitch, Link to Draft, and Published Link.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-ivhlxxvebatma3gedhikka-2.png) A view of my pitches in Airtable Once a piece goes live, I add the published link. I have a complete history of everything I’ve pitched, whether it was successful or not. [How to Write and Publish a Blog Post in 90 MinutesShorten your time from idea to publish.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-156.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-dictate-blog-post-1-3.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/dictate-blog-posts/) ### 3\. Other appearances on the web Your portfolio extends beyond your own writing. I track: - [Podcast guest appearances](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/) - Q&A interviews (like for someone's newsletter) - Articles where I’m quoted - Guest posts I've written Each item gets a record in Airtable with the publisher, the link, and notes. ## Maintain copies of your published work For many years, writers had to keep physical copies of their work from newspapers and other publications. These were known as "tear sheets," referring to the pages torn from a publication's pages. If online publication disappears, rebrands, restructures, or updates its site, the live link to your work can vanish. I keep digital copies of *everything* my clients have published, in my Google Drive, as a PDF. My own version of "tear sheets." I use Journo Portfolio for my online portfolio, and it automatically takes a PDF copy and a PNG copy of any link I add. I add links to all of my published work, whether I display it in my portfolio or not. That way, I can download a copy of the PDF Journo Portfolio creates. The difference between that and using "Print to PDF" on a webpage is that Journo Portfolio formats the PDF so that it looks nice. However you opt to save your work, make sure you have it somewhere and add a link to the PDF to your content library. That way, you ensure that all of your online work is preserved — even if the live URL disappears. ## Use automation to save time Does it sound time-consuming to maintain a content library? It doesn’t have to be. For some fields in Airtable (like the published links and PDF copy), I [block off time](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/) and only update once a month. I spend an hour or so entering the information. Because it’s my system of record and not my primary project management tool, I don’t need to touch it more often than that. But I also use automation to save time. For example, I use [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]* to capture my published work on Medium, my blog, and Substack using RSS feeds. Rather than manually entering the URLs each time I publish, records are written to Airtable automatically. Airtable AI can fill in some of the other fields, like topics. Bottom line: it's worth [building a content library](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/airtable-organize-content/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and maintaining it. I can't tell you how many times I've had to go through my content library to find specific links or examples to send to prospective clients. It's frequent. And my content library makes the search much easier. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/ebook-content-library.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/contentlibrary?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Want to get started with your own content library?* **Check out my free guide.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/contentlibrary?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ### Leaving a Toxic Job: What to Look For and How to Take Control URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/free-yourself-from-a-toxic-work-environment/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:44:29.000Z From the inside, toxic work environments rarely realize that they are toxic. There is a pervasive message that “everything is fine” or, worse, that **you** are the problem. From [bad managers](https://blog.annabyang.com/trap-bad-job-good-boss/) to unreasonable or unclear expectations, there are a *lot* of crappy companies out there. If you haven’t made a change yet but are thinking about it, there are ways you can reduce the stress of a job change. Even if you’ve already left your crappy job, you should always be thinking about the *next* time you may want to make a move. 💡 ****tl;dr:** This guide is for anyone navigating a toxic workplace, considering a [career change](https://www.workbetter.media/p/jobseeking-advice?ref=blog.annabyang.com), or wanting more control over their work life — whether you’re in corporate, creative work, tech, or the gig economy. ## Recognize that your workplace is toxic People rarely leave jobs they love (unless some amazing opportunity presents itself). They leave because they’re frustrated with some aspect of the job and look for something better. There’s a difference between a “mediocre job” — one where maybe the people are nice, but you don’t feel challenged — and a toxic job. You should learn to recognize the signs of a toxic work environment so that [you can GTFO](https://www.workbetter.media/p/perspectives-when-its-time-to-gtfo?ref=blog.annabyang.com). A **toxic work environment** is a workplace characterized by harmful behaviors, unrealistic expectations, [poor communication](https://blog.annabyang.com/instant-communication-in-the-workplace/), or discriminatory practices. For the most part, companies have built a work culture that tolerates these qualities (or pretends they don't exist). There's little hope that the company will change. ## Signs of a toxic work environment - The culture is dominated by conflict, bad attitudes, or bad behaviors, including racism and/or sexism. - In reverse, the culture is full of **toxic positivity**, when concerns are dismissed, and employees are discouraged from expressing negative or critical feedback. - The company fails to distinguish high performers, either by keeping everyone down or rewarding people who don’t deserve it. - The environment is fueled by high stress, unrealistic expectations, or confusing communication. Any of these can be detrimental to your mental health and wellbeing. [](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/annabyang%5Fcompanyculture-jobseeking-peoplefirst-activity-6897535278798434304-qvYE?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## Leaving a toxic job in a bad economy The Great Recession in the late 2000s brought a lot of stress to a lot of people, from the collapse of the housing market to high unemployment. People felt like they needed to toe the line and keep their mouths shut or risk losing their jobs. I’ve been there. My company laid off 30% of its workforce at that time — a necessary measure to stay in business. I survived the layoff, but it scared me into submission for a long, *long* time. Dedicated, hardworking employees were let go, which made me believe that no one was safe. [Research data from MIT shows](https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/toxic-culture-is-driving-the-great-resignation/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) that a toxic corporate culture is 10x more powerful than compensation in predicting a company’s attrition, or the rate at which people voluntarily or involuntarily leave a company. Enter: The Great Resignation for millions of people ([myself included](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/i-am-never-going-back-to?r=i98eg&ref=blog.annabyang.com)). The movement was about taking control and, sometimes, leaving corporate life altogether. But since then, there have been a lot of changes. Mass layoffs. Inflation. Economic uncertainty. If you're stuck in a toxic job, you may wonder, "Am I taking a big risk by leaving?" Short answer: yes. But keep in mind that staying in a toxic job is *also* a risk. You could lose your job and all of your income overnight. It's a balancing act, and you have to decide what the greater risk is and how much you can tolerate. ## 7 Steps to plan your exit from a toxic job If your workplace has any characteristics of a toxic environment, you should break free. This can be scary. After all, what if you move from one toxic environment to another? Some companies can masterfully craft job postings or the “Join Us!” page on their websites to make it seem like they’re a fantastic place to work. It could be a smokescreen. How can you protect yourself from getting into another bad situation? ### 1\. Decide on your criteria for a new job First and foremost, figure out what you want to do. This often comes down to your reasons for leaving your *current* job. Do you feel undervalued? Are you looking for a better team? Do you [prioritize remote work](https://www.workbetter.media/p/i-am-never-going-back-to?r=i98eg&ref=blog.annabyang.com) or flexible work? ### 2\. Take your time during your job search Unless you are desperate, don’t rush your job search. You can usually learn a lot about companies from public sources. Take a look at LinkedIn and the tenure of current employees. Is there a lot of turnover? You can also use Glassdoor to research work environments before applying for a job. ### 3\. Trust your gut during interviews Ask questions during the [interview process](https://www.workbetter.media/p/job-interviews-two-way-street?ref=blog.annabyang.com). You’re interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you. Try to get a sense of your direct manager’s personality, team cohesion, and the company as a whole. If there are any red flags, withdraw your application. ### 4\. Put yourself in control of your career Above all, you want to be in control of the outcome. Sometimes, this may mean that you leave traditional employment altogether. After all, there’s only so much you can do. There are certainly instances where companies start out great but deteriorate over time. This could be due to bad management, lack of focus, or getting “too big too fast.” The Great Resignation has seen a boom in the creator and gig economies. Many people have realized that opportunities exist far beyond both brick-and-mortar and virtual offices. If you’re not ready to strike out on your own, it’s fine. There are a lot of things you can do to prepare for a future leap. ### 5\. Build your personal brand I know — a lot of people shudder at the words “personal brand.” It sounds overly promotional or self-important. But the truth is that establishing who you are with a [social media presence](https://blog.annabyang.com/omnipresent-social-media-strategy/) will help you in *any* career path: whether you strike out on your own or continue to apply for traditional jobs. The **Rep Your Brand** podcast by [Nick Bennett](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickbennett1/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) has a great episode on personal branding. In it, guest and social media powerhouse [Amanda Natividad](https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandanat/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) says: > I wanted to set myself up to be in a better position of power… My goal became, “How can I never have to do a traditional job hunt again?” > > If you think about how to avoid the traditional job hunt, you start to think about things like, “How can I better connect with people? How can I find more people in my professional network? How can I learn from my industry peers or my industry heroes?” ### 6\. Think about additional revenue streams You can avoid feeling like you are “stuck” in your current, toxic job by building yourself a safety net. Savings is one way to accomplish this, but added income from an outside source is another. Whether you build an online course, sell artwork, or make money through a side hustle, this creates a cushion that allows you to walk away more easily. And, of course, a personal brand will only strengthen your ability to reach people who may be interested in your work. [How to Prepare for Freelancing LifeSet yourself up for success with these actionable tips.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-158.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-preparing-to-freelance.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/prepare-for-freelance-life/) ### 7\. Maintain your connections Your professional network is not only there when you need to make a job switch. You should actively work to stay connected with current and former colleagues, other people in your industry, and any followers you have on social media. If you disappear from sight, people will forget about you. You won’t come to mind when a new opportunity arises. LinkedIn is the best way for most people — even those in the creator or gig economy — because of its singular focus on professional life. Post or [comment on LinkedIn](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/) regularly. Don’t forget to reciprocate. Be on the lookout for introductions you can make when you know someone who is looking to make a career change. #### Career safety net checklist ✅ - Recognize signs of toxicity - Define what you want in your next role - Research companies and interview your interviewer - Build your personal brand - Keep your network warm - Create additional revenue streams - Trust your gut ## Above all: avoid burnout When you’re in a toxic work environment, the last thing you want to do is add more stress. Unfortunately, a job search or making a switch to full-time self-employment can often do just that. It’s ok to [push yourself to get what you want](https://blog.annabyang.com/time-for-rest-and-time-for-hustle/), especially if you know it’s temporary. But by focusing on your personal brand, additional revenue streams, and your connections, you may avoid some of that stress in the future. After all, the more you can rely on **yourself** for your career’s direction, the more satisfying the results. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/ebook-manage-time-content-1.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Check out my free guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## **FAQs** #### ****How do you know if your work environment is toxic?** You’re usually dealing with a toxic workplace if the culture is built on fear, confusion, or harmful behaviors like bullying, discrimination, or unrealistic expectations. If you constantly feel anxious, undervalued, or afraid to speak up, that’s a strong sign that something is fundamentally wrong. #### ****How can you avoid joining another toxic company?** Research the company before applying, including employee tenure on LinkedIn and reviews on sites like Glassdoor. Ask questions during interviews about culture, communication, and expectations. Trust your instincts —if anything feels evasive or like a red flag, it usually is. #### ****How do you plan an escape from a toxic workplace?** Start by identifying what you want in your next role, then take your time researching companies and preparing for interviews. Build a financial and professional safety net so you can leave on your terms. #### ****What’s the difference between a mediocre job and a toxic job?** A mediocre job may feel uninspiring or stagnant, but it doesn’t harm your mental health or sense of safety. A toxic job actively drains you, creates fear or instability, and leaves you feeling worse about yourself over time. #### ****How do personal branding and networking help you leave a toxic job?** A strong personal brand and active network reduce your reliance on traditional job-hunting because opportunities start coming to you. Staying visible and connected expands your options and makes it easier to walk away if you find yourself at a toxic workplace. ### How to Think About (And Prepare For) Long-Term Leave as a Freelancer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/long-term-leave-freelancer/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:31:10.000Z One of my friends recently ran an informal poll: "How do you take time off as a freelancer?" More than 30% of freelancers replied, "I don't." Others squeezed in a few days here and there, like during their slow seasons or when their clients weren't working around holidays. Other freelancers manage to plan for vacations throughout the year, embracing their flexible lifestyles. While vacation planning and taking the occasional sick day may be on the radar for some freelancers, far fewer think about long-term leave — at least not until they need it. A serious medical issue. A family emergency. Or even pregnancy and an upcoming maternity/paternity leave. No one should have to figure out long-term leave while they're in crisis mode. And no freelancer should think that they can go their entire careers without needing extended leave at some point. While you may not think about the exact logistics until it's necessary, you should at least consider what it would be like to step away from your business for an extended period of time. ## What would long-term leave look like for you? When I was [preparing for freelancing](https://blog.annabyang.com/prepare-for-freelance-life/) life years ago, I wondered, "What would happen if I got pneumonia and couldn't work for two weeks?" My business is mostly project-based work. If I don't work, I don't get paid. Taking a lot of time off would impact my income. Then I got to find out the answer to my own question, but not in the way I was expecting. I was diagnosed with a [brain tumor](https://blog.annabyang.com/self-employed-brain-tumor/). It was thankfully benign, but I needed surgery to remove it. During the weeks between diagnosis and surgery, a fear kept looping through my mind: **Will my business still exist when I come back?** Brain surgery has a pretty long recovery period, at least 6-8 weeks, possibly more. I had to tell my clients that I would be gone for a long period of time. I also let them know that I understood that work might not be availalbe for me when I returned. It's always a risk with freelancing: there are no worker protections. If my clients still needed work during that time, they would find another freelancer. So there was a two-fold risk. First, the lack of income while I wasn't working. Second, that even when I returned, my income would be significantly lower due to losing clients. [A Vacation Savings Plan for FreelancersA simple calculator to help you take time off each year.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-152.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-vacation-savings-plan-3.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-vacation-savings-plan/) ## Long-term leave depends on your business model There is no single version of "long-term leave." Preparation will vary wildly, depending on the situation. - **Maternity or paternity leave** gives you months to anticipate and plan, but the unexpected can still happen. - **Major surgery** typically gives you some notice. In my case: six weeks. - **Medical emergencies or family situations** may have no notice. - **Burnout or sabbaticals** require a different type of emotional and logistical planning.. Your ability to step away also depends on your **business model**, and this is where you can start thinking in advance of taking long-term leave. ### Do your contracts allow anyone else to help you? Whether you can subcontract work depends, first and foremost, on your [freelance contracts](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-contract-protect-yourself/). Some contracts expressly prohibit subcontracting. Clients are hiring *you* and expect you to do the work. If your contracts prohibit subcontracting, you can’t simply hand your work to someone else. ### Even if subcontracting is allowed, is it feasible? Subcontracting will depend a lot on how much you're able to interact with someone while on long-term leave. Let's say you're taking maternity or paternity leave. You're stepping away from the day-to-day work of the business, but you can still check in with the subcontractor. If you can't interact with the subcontractor at all (such as a medical emergency), you'd need to find someone you trust *completely*. That person would need to deliver without oversight and be able to meet deadlines. And the [project managment](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-management-skills/) is just the minimum. You'd also have to trust that the person would deliver work that meets your clients' expectations. ### Will new work slow down if you're not there? Maybe you depend on a steady stream of inbound work to keep your business churning. Will the work disappear if you're not the "face" of the business? That was a huge concern of mine when I stepped away from my business. My social media presence drives inbound inquiries. Because of this, I scheduled a lot of social media posts in advance. This kept my LinkedIn profile active, even though I wasn't around. My [virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) handled inbound inquiries, letting people know that I'd get back to them when I returned. I recently spoke on a panel about long-term leave and one of the participants shared: > *One of the things that I've sort of discovered more and more as I've built my business is that the more it is based on me running it, the more at-risk the business is. For the business to grow, it needs to be systems-led, not. Not founder-led. And it needs to sustain itself in the event that I'm not here.* Of course, this type of preparation is only possible if you have advance notice of your long-term leave. ## How freelancers can best prepare for long-term leave Freelancers rarely talk about long-term leave (or worst-case scenarios). If you've moved beyond the "thinking stage" to the "planning stage," here are some things to consider. ### 1\. Build a financial cushion My hypothetical, "[What if I get sick](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-client-deliverables-when-sick/) and can't work for two weeks?" was the driver behind early (and consistent!) savings. Obviously, I wasn't expecting a brain tumor diagnosis. But the savings allowed me to continue covering my business expenses — subscriptions, service providers, insurance, etc. — without panic. If you’re self-employed, an emergency fund is your safety net. Set aside money every time you get paid, or once at least once a month. ### 2\. Make sure your contracts reflect your future needs If you think you'd like the option to subcontract work, if needed, talk to your existing clients about modifying your contracts. You'll also want to add language that allows subcontracting to new contracts. Keep in mind: if you never want to subcontract, fine. But if you're not sure, add the language to your contracts so at least you have the option. ### 3\. Don’t be afraid to ask for help For all of my [business savings](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-savings-accounts/), I never thought I'd need to take a two-month leave from my business and have **zero** income during that time. I created a GoFundMe to help offset my lack of income. The response was heartwarming. I got donations from people I knew and people I didn't know. A few freelancers even shared it in their newsletters or on social media to help spread the word. The message was always the same: We need to support each other. My **business savings** paid for my operational costs. Money kept flowing out of my business for things like my accounting firm and subscriptions for apps I use. I could safely walk away knowing there was enough money in the business to keep it going even when I wasn't working. My **GoFundMe** paid for my life — the money I would have paid myself from my business. I also received some help from family members. For all of the stress during that time, I didn't have any financial stress, and I'm grateful for that. I needed every ounce of energy for my recovery. ### 4\. Look into insurance In the U.S., freelancers can access disability insurance through [Freelancers Union](https://freelancersunion.org/insurance/disability-insurance/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and other providers. Years ago, I went through the application process. I decided against paying the monthly premium, knowing that I was disciplined enough to save on my own. But disability insurance may be worth considering if: - You don’t have an emergency fund yet - Your income is unpredictable - You’d be financially devastated by a multi-month gap in your income Disability insurance won't cover burnout or sabbaticals, but it **will** cover medical leave. 💡 ****Note:** On the Freelancers Union website, it suggests a monthly benefit amount that's half of your monthly income. So if you earn $5,000 per month, choose a $2,500 benefit. Whether you rely on savings or disability insurance, it's important to know what you ****need** per month when you have no income. ## Operational readiness matters more than you think Stepping away from a solo business is rarely simple. You're *all* the roles in your business, from marketing to administration. Not to mention the actual delivery of work to your clients. Even if you have no idea what long-term leave looks like (or why you might need it), it's important to think about how you can prepare. You might not bring someone in to do the work, but you might rely on a virtual assistant, for example. For that to work, you need [documented processes](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/). If you were to take long-term leave starting tomorrow, what would happen? Ask yourself: what things can you put into place **now** that would make leave easier in the future. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/annabyang-ebook-long-term-leave-1.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/long-term-leave?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **If you need to step away from your business, this guide walks you through everything you need to do to prepare.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/long-term-leave?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### Build a Note-Taking System You'll Actually Use URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/best-tools-for-capturing-notes/ Last updated: 2026-02-24T20:25:23.000Z I have a stash of virtual notebooks on my computer: multiple apps and a system to keep my notes organized. While a dream might be to have One Note-Taking App to Rule Them All, I’ve found that it’s better to give each note-taking app a specific purpose. By using different products, I can take advantage of what they offer without confining myself to a product that doesn’t really work for a particular type of note. If you feel like your note-taking is all over the place — and I’ve been there — it’s helpful to put your notes into different categories. Then find the best fit for note-taking depending on the **type of notes**, also considering how you need to reference those notes in the future. 💡 ****TL;DR:** The best note-taking system is the one you can use with the least friction. You need to choose note-taking tools that make capturing and revisiting your ideas effortless — even if it means different types of tools for different types of notes. ## 6 types of notes every solopreneur needs When you run a solo business, not all notes serve the same purpose. Treating them like one giant pile is what makes most note-taking systems fall apart. Instead of trying to organize everything the same way, it helps to understand the distinct categories of notes you capture each day. These five types show up in nearly every solopreneur workflow and become much easier to manage once you know what bucket they belong in. ### 1\. Daily notes and/or journaling **Tools to try:** [Reflect](https://reflect.app/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Notion](https://affiliate.notion.so/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]*, [Roam Research](https://roamresearch.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) I’m in the camp of people who like to write down what I have going on in my life. Many years ago, I read Austin Kleon’s post about keeping a [logbook](https://austinkleon.com/2010/01/31/logbook/?ref=blog.annabyang.com): a simple list of the day’s events. No narrative. No prose. Just a list. He writes: > Keeping a simple list of who/what/where means I write down events that seem mundane at the time, but later on help paint a better portrait of the day, or even become more significant over time. By “sticking to the facts” I don’t pre-judge what was important or what wasn’t, I just write it down. So I copied his approach (using [Reflect](https://reflect.app/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)). Each morning, I write out the events of the prior day, in bullet point form. I use hashtags so I can go back and review notes about certain types of events or activities. Journaling is another form of daily note-taking that supports you and your business in less obvious but equally important ways. A quick end-of-day or start-of-day journal helps you process what worked, what didn’t, and what you want to focus on next. It doesn’t have to be long or emotional — even a few lines can help you stay grounded, spot patterns, and make [better decisions](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-mindset/) about how you run your business. In the book *The Artist's Way* by Julia Cameron, she advocates for "morning pages." With morning pages, you write out several pages, in a notebook, by hand. Just free-flowing thoughts until you've filled three to five pages. If you're a creative person, it can really get your juices flowing. ### 2\. Meeting notes **Example apps:** [Rocket Notebook](https://getrocketbook.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [reMarkable](https://remarkable.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Fireflies.ai](https://app.fireflies.ai/login?referralCode=c0Ux29gYtg&ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]* For years of my corporate career, I was an avid note-taker during meetings. I would diligently sit with my spiral notebook during meetings, taking notes. My handwriting is atrocious, and often the notes were nonsensical later, but it helped me commit information to memory. In today's world, it's smarter to take notes in a way that syncs your notebooks to the cloud. For many years, I used [Rocket Notebook](https://getrocketbook.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), but a [reMarkable](https://remarkable.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) would also work. That ways, you're not dependent on looking back through a physical notebook later. I've moved away from handwritten notes entirely (at least, for meetings). I use an AI transcription tool, such as [Fireflies.ai](https://app.fireflies.ai/login?referralCode=c0Ux29gYtg&ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Otter.ai](https://otter.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), or [Fathom](https://www.fathom.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). That way, I can be fully present for the meeting and pay attention to the conversation, rather than worry about taking notes and remembering follow-up items. With [Fireflies.ai](https://app.fireflies.ai/login?referralCode=c0Ux29gYtg&ref=blog.annabyang.com), the meeting transcript is automatically uploaded to my Google Drive (via [Zapier](https://zapier.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)). Fireflies has an AI-powered summary for each meeting, and I use Zapier to extract my follow-up items and add them to [Todoist](https://www.todoist.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). That way, I don't lose track of anything I need to do after the meeting is over. ## 3\. Research notes **Example apps:** [Readwise Reader](https://readwise.io/read?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Reflect](https://reflect.app/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Tana](https://tana.inc/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Capacities](https://capacities.io/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) If you’re like me, you probably consume information in a *lot* of places. Online journals, news outlets, social media, emails… And, if you’re like me, you probably often see things as you scroll through your feed but don’t have time to read at the moment. I articles and websites to [Readwise's Reader](https://readwise.io/read?ref=blog.annabyang.com) app. It works on my phone and in a browser, creating a single reading list for me. Sure, you can use a web clipper and save an article to something like Evernote or OneNote. You can organize web clips into notebooks or use tags, but this method has some shortcomings in cross-referencing related ideas. I use [Reflect](https://reflect.app/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for my research notes. Instead of an organized notebook, Reflect is more like creating your own Wikipedia. Wikipedia has no “folder structure” in which topics are organized : it has pages, with linked pages to related topics. Conceptually, Reflect is similar, except that a lot of the linking happens automagically. I can also highlight sections of web pages I read (using Readwise), and the highlights will sync to Reflect. ### 4\. Process documents (aka standard operating procedures) **Tools to try:** [Loom](https://www.loom.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) or [Scribe](https://get.scribehow.com/lp-1/?via=anna-burgess-yang&ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]* Every solopreneur has a mental list of “how stuff works”: the way you onboard clients, your publishing process, or how you organize things in your Google Drive. The problem is that most of this knowledge lives only in your head. That works fine until you’re tired, rushed, or simply forget what the next step is. Process documents and simple [standard operating procedures](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/) (SOPs) remove that mental load. When you write out the steps for recurring tasks, you eliminate mental fatigue and make it easier to repeat your work consistently. I use [Loom](https://www.loom.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to record a video of myself talking about a process and then Loom AI creates an SOP for me. [Scribe](https://get.scribehow.com/lp-1/?via=anna-burgess-yang&ref=blog.annabyang.com) can also capture your process and create written SOPs based on your mouse clicks within an app. If you ever plan to hire help (like a [virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/)), you'll need documented processes. Handing over a clear SOP means the person can get up to speed without you needing to explain everything from scratch. Even if you never hire, notes that document your processes act like an external brain. They keep your business running smoothly, even on the days when your *actual* brain is exhausted. 💡 ****Tip:** You don’t have to do all of this at once. Set aside a small amount of time each week to document the processes you do most often (like publishing content or sending invoices). Over time, you'll build a [library of SOPs](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/how-to-organize-your-standard-operating-procedures/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ### 5\. Voice notes **Tools to try:** [Cleft](https://www.cleftnotes.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), built-in voice notes for Android or iPhone If your best ideas tend to hit while you’re driving, walking, or doing anything *other* than staring at a screen, you need to add voice notes to your workflows. Typing isn’t always practical, because you're forcing yourself to stop what you’re doing just to jot something down. It can break your focus. A quick voice note solves that. You capture the idea in its raw form, exactly how it appears in your mind, without slowing yourself down. They’re also incredibly helpful for people who think better "out loud." Some ideas are too nuanced to type out quickly, or they come together as you talk them through. Recording a voice note gives you space to process in real time. Many voice note apps offer automatic transcription, or you could upload an .mp3 to a meeting transcription app later. I use [Cleft](https://www.cleftnotes.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to record voice notes. Cleft works with Zapier, so I can add tags to my notes and the note shows up in other apps I use — like Reflect, Todoist, or even my Google Drive. Voice notes have become a powerful extension to my note-taking system. They're a way to capture ideas I would have forgotten about otherwise. [How to Use Voice Apps to Capture IdeasDictating notes, tasks, and ideas.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-167.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-ideas-on-the-go-voice-apps-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/voice-apps/) ### 6\. Business ideas **What you need to do:** Combine voice notes, research notes, and [project management](https://blog.annabyang.com/project-management-vs-task-management-whats-the-difference/) Business ideas often come with a lot of moving parts. A single idea might turn into thoughts about messaging, target audience, social posts, a launch plan, or even what your [tech stack](https://blog.annabyang.com/evaluate-solopreneur-tech-stack/) would need to look like. Documenting the idea — and all the early thoughts attached to it — gives you a clearer starting point when you revisit it later. Think of these notes as the “first draft” of a potential offer or project. You’re not making decisions yet: you’re simply collecting the puzzle pieces. One note might include a positioning angle, another might include a possible timeline or materials you need to create. You might also collect some research from similar products or ideas from other solopreneurs who have similar product/service offerings. Keeping all of this in a single folder or tag helps you track the evolution of the idea — without trying to build the entire thing at once. I might start with a voice note, and then add a project to Trello, which is what I use for [project management](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-management-skills/). I'll store research in Reflect. I might even jot some things down in a physical notebook, if I have a visual in mind. The important thing is linking my notes together in one centralized place (for me, Trello). Once a week or once a month, you can review your business ideas. Some ideas will clearly need more development, some will get archived, and others will naturally rise to the top because you can see how they make sense for your business. #### 3-part note-taking system - ****Capture quickly** so you don't lose your thoughts. - ****Organize lightly** and let apps do the heavy lifting. - ****Review regularly** and put your notes to use. ## Make your notes work for you For a solo business owner, the ability to capture and retrieve ideas is an immensely useful skill. But even with note-taking, we can quickly become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of notes, so organizing them into systems that are actually *useful* is critical. By keeping my uses of different tools very distinct, I’ve made peace with the fact that I don’t have a “single” note-taking system. I use the tool that works best for that purpose. Spending the time to find what works best will help you move beyond a pile of scribbled thoughts. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/ebook-smart-tools-2.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Check out my free eBook and learn what tools you need* **at different stages of your business.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.* #### ****What is the best note-taking tool for solopreneurs?** The best tool is the one you can open quickly and actually use every day. Your workflow matters more than the specific app. #### ****How do I reduce friction in my note-taking workflow?** Use the fastest possible capture method and eliminate any unnecessary steps. The fewer taps, folders, and decisions required, the more consistent your note-taking will be. #### ****Should my notes live in one app or multiple apps?** Most solopreneurs do well with a multi-app system. That way, you can use the best app for the particular type of notes you're trying to take. #### ****How do I turn notes into content ideas?** Review your notes regularly and group related thoughts into themes or recurring patterns (by using tags or whatever your note-taking app offers). From there, you can turn each cluster or theme into outlines, posts, or scripts. #### ****What’s the simplest beginner system for capturing notes?** Start with one capture app with the type of notes you take or use most frequently. Then review and sort your notes once a day or once a week. From there, you can expand into other apps, depending on your needs. ### Do You Need a Domain and Business Email Address? URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/business-email-address/ Last updated: 2026-04-21T21:21:33.000Z It started with a single post on Threads: ![Text: How to instantly lose credibiltiy: using @gmail.com for your business](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/CleanShot-2025-11-22-at-07.54.07.png) ([Link to original](https://www.threads.com/@miloupietersz/post/DRUF0CkEcve?ref=blog.annabyang.com)) And wow — people had *opinions* on this topic. Some argued it’s unnecessary and you should save the money. Others said it signals legitimacy. I firmly fall into the second camp: a business domain and email address aren’t optional. They don’t need to cost much, but operating without them can *absolutely* cost you business. 💡 ****Tl;dr —** Solopreneurs should set up a low-cost domain and business email early, because it boosts credibility and improves deliverability. ## Why a business domain matters for solopreneurs A business domain is the custom web address you own (like yourname.com). It signals professionalism, strengthens your brand, and lets you create a matching business email address. If a business is operating with a Gmail address, I immediately wonder why. Either the business owner: - Doesn't take the business seriously (it's a hobby, not a business) - Truly can't afford the cost of a domain and business email - Doesn't have the tech skills to connect a domain to a website or Google Workspace Those assumptions may not be fair, but they *do* shape how clients see you. Perception matters a lot. On Threads, one person commented that they “don’t want to check multiple inboxes,” but that’s not a compelling argument. Mixing business and personal gets really murky, especially as you're growing. Think about signing up for apps or tools and classifying the expense as business. It's a cleaner paper trail to tie the expense to a business email address. 💡 ****Tip:** I use [Hey email](https://www.hey.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to consolidate multiple Gmail inboxes into a single account, but it does cost more to include a business domain. ## Your emails are more likely to land in the junk folder Using a free email domain is also a deliverability risk. Email deliverability refers to how likely your messages are to land in someone’s inbox instead of their spam folder. Using a custom domain improves deliverability because email providers filter addresses from free email providers (including Gmail) more aggressively. That’s particularly dangerous if you plan to send cold emails or build a newsletter list. In fact, if a cold email with a Gmail address manages to land in my inbox, I immediately report spam. I just don't trust it. You need every advantage you can get when you’re trying to land in someone’s inbox, and a free Gmail address will work against you. Email authentication solution Valimail confirms this, [writing](https://www.valimail.com/blog/why-emails-going-to-spam/?ref=blog.annabyang.com): > Using free email domains (Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) for business communications substantially increases the risk of landing in spam, especially for bulk sending. These domains lack the authentication capabilities of custom domains and appear less professional. ## 3 ways to keep costs low If cost is a concern, there are a lot of ways to keep costs low. ### 1\. Shop around for domains Domains don’t need to cost hundreds of dollars per year. I have a lot of domains, and some are less than $15 per year. If you're shopping for domains for the first time, check multiple providers like GoDaddy, Cloudflare, and Namecheap to compare pricing. You can also save money by using a less common extension like **yourname.me** instead of **yourname.com**. As long as it's brand-aligned, most clients won't care about the extension. Do **not** buy a domain directly from your website provider. For example, if you use Squarespace for your website, don't use Squarespace to buy your domain. It makes it much harder if you ever want to move away from Squarespace later. (I know this through experience with WordPress.) Buy your domain from a domain provider. ### 2\. Sign up for Google Workspace [Google Workspace](https://referworkspace.app.goo.gl/6dxC?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]* starts at $7 per month, and it’s extremely easy to set up with your domain. When I set mine up, it was literally a single click, and Google handled the rest. You get a professional email, access to the full suite of Google tools, and a clean separation between personal and business communication. For example, I also use Google Meet for meetings with clients since it's included in my Google Workspace plan. ### 3\. Connect your domain to an inexpensive website According to [research from WordStream](https://www.wordstream.com/blog/smb-website-trends-report-2026?ref=blog.annabyang.com), 94% of small- and medium-sized businesses say that a website is important to their business, with another 39% calling it "extremely important." You do need a website, but it doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. A simple [Carrd](https://try.carrd.co/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]* site works perfectly well for showcasing your services and linking to your contact information, and Carrd is only $19/year. It's really easy to set up and connect your domain to a website. You'll need to add some DNS (Domain Name System) records within your domain provider. When you “connect” your domain to a website builder, you’re simply updating DNS settings so everything points to the right place. Most website builders walk you through the DNS setup with step-by-step instructions and screenshots. If you’re really trying to save money or are uncomfortable with building a website, you *could* use a product like Linktree, though having a website on your domain is always better. #### Practical toolkit: To sum up, here's what you need and the potential costs: - Domain: GoDaddy, Cloudflare, or Namecheap ($15/year) - Website: Carrd ($19/year) or Linktree (free) - Google Workspace: $84/year ****Total cost: $118/year** ## A few exceptions While I'm speaking very broadly, I recognize that there are a few exceptions to the "you need a domain" argument. 1. You have operated with a Gmail address for years and have a well-established business. It's probably not worth the switch. 2. You're located outside of the U.S. and U.S.-based pricing is unaffordable in your country. However, for newly-established businesses located in the U.S. or in countries that have pricing similar to the U.S., I believe that your own domain linked to your website (at a minimum) and your email brings credibility to your business. ## Make the switch early to avoid headaches later When I first started freelancing, I used a Gmail address too. I switched quickly, and I’m so glad I did. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes — especially once you’ve opened accounts, created logins, and built client relationships tied to a personal Gmail. Switching early saves you a ton of administrative pain later. A professional domain is about building a business foundation that can grow with you. And you deserve a setup that reflects the legitimacy of your work. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/ebook-smart-tools.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Check out my free eBook for other tools you need at different stages of your business.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ## ### ### Tips to Better Manage Your Solo Business Cash Flow URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solo-business-cash-flow/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:42:27.000Z Nothing strikes stress in a solo business quite like money. And the most frustrating part? You can be doing everything "right" and still feel stretched thin. You might be owed a ton of work, but because of payment terms (or late-paying clients), the money hasn't hit your bank account yet. Until it does, it doesn't pay your bills. **Cash flow** is the movement of money in and out of your business. Lack of cash is often the real reason solopreneurs feel like they're in constant low-level panic, even if they have enough clients to support their business. Controlling cash in your business is often the difference between operating in survival mode and [financial stability](https://blog.annabyang.com/financial-stability-freelancer/). ## Cash is the cause of stress You have contracts signed and projects underway... but if payment hasn't cleared yet, you're panicking. In the meantime, rent is due, monthly subscriptions hit your credit card, and you need to buy groceries. One of my most stressful situations as a freelance writer was when a client owed me more than $3,000\. My emails were ignored. I had other work in progress and paused everything, saying, "I won't resume work until you pay me." That didn't motivate the client to pay. *Finally*, after almost three weeks, the client sent payment. I got an excuse that the accounts payable team had mixed something up. I've also had situations where client work stalls. I'll sign a contract for 10 deliverables, with payments due at different stages. Then the project is delayed, therefore I can't invoice for the project. Many situations aren't within your control, but they still affect how you get paid. You might see advice to "Just invoice for 100% upfront!" but that doesn't work for every type of solo business. Not having enough work or clients is one type of stress. A mismatch between *what you’ve earned* and *the money you actually have* is another. It's how so many solo business owners end up feeling like they’re one late payment away from disaster, even when their business is “doing well” on paper. ## Moving past survival mode The moment you get proactive about cash flow is when you'll create stability in your business. When you're low on cash, you're in survival mode. Survival mode forces you to make short-term decisions. You might say yes to low-paying work, take on clients you don’t want, or hesitate to [invest in tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/paying-for-tools-as-a-solopreneur/) that would actually save you time. When cash is tight, every decision feels reactive. Even if your cash flow feels "mostly fine," you also have to prepare for a larger market shift, [such as a recession](https://blog.annabyang.com/prepare-for-a-recession/) or some type of major disruption. But when you manage your cash intentionally, the dynamic of your business shifts. You're no longer depending on every payment to clear on time. You're not waiting for one client to pay so you can cover next week's expenses. You'll have some breathing room to actually [think strategically](https://blog.annabyang.com/think-like-a-ceo/) instead of scrambling. ## 3 Tips to manage your cash Not sure how to control your cash? Here are some tips to get started. ### **1\. Invoice clients on the same day every month** For a long time, I [invoiced my clients](https://blog.annabyang.com/invoicing-software-freelancers/) based on when I completed work. So invoices went out on different days every month. My clients also have different payment terms, so some are due within 15 days and others are due within 30 days. This system made it *really* hard for me to predict when cash would arrive. Some clients paid me within a few days of receiving an invoice, while others would pay me ON the due date. Meanwhile, my bills were due on the same days every month. I changed my invoicing process. I send out invoices on two days per month: the 5th and the 20th. It created a predictable flow of cash. Whether clients were paying me Net 15 or Net 30, I would receive money around the same time I was sending out the next round of invoices. Instead of wondering when money would come in, I had a rhythm. It also saved me time, since I was only preparing invoices twice a month instead of every few days. ### **2\. Add money to a savings account** When you have extra cash in your bank account, move some to a [business savings account](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-savings-accounts/). This becomes your buffer. If a client is late paying you or you have a slow month, you can pull money from your savings account rather than worrying about your cash flow. Moving money into savings is part of my overall budget as a solopreneur. Instead of only adding "extra" money, I transfer money **every** month. But start by contributing whatever you can. I promise it will reduce your stress at some point. Because now you're not as dependent on clients paying on time. One of my clients had a hiccup with a rather large payment. I transferred money for the amount of the invoice from my emergency savings into my checking account to cover the gap in my cash flow. As soon as the client paid me, I moved the money back to savings. If you choose a [bank for freelancers](https://blog.annabyang.com/choose-a-bank-for-your-freelance-business/) or solopreneurs, you'll often find features that make it easy to automate savings. ### **3\. Pay yourself a fixed amount** One of the biggest traps solopreneurs fall into is the “feast or famine” cycle with their own paycheck. Not only do you have to worry about your business expenses, but you're also dependent on clients to pay your own bills. Instead, pay yourself fixed amounts on a fixed schedule. Transfer the money from your business bank account to a personal bank account. I pay myself on the 15th and last day of every month. I've also given myself "raises" over the years. As I earn more, I pay myself more — but it's always a fixed amount. I don't scale back how much I pay myself during lean months, because that would make my personal life's finances unpredictable. Instead, I rely on my business savings account if I have a slow month. [A Vacation Savings Plan for FreelancersA simple calculator to help you take time off each year.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-150.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-vacation-savings-plan-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-vacation-savings-plan/) ## If your income stops, you’ll be ready At some point, you'll lose a client or have a slower month of revenue. (Or maybe you [break up with clients](https://blog.annabyang.com/reasons-to-break-up-with-clients/).) As solopreneurs, we expect that. But you've also got to consider bigger disruptions to your cash flow. I had a medical crisis this year and wasn't able to work for two months. Zero income from clients during that time. I floated myself with cash from my savings, putting enough money into my business checking account so my business expenses could be paid. The more cash you have on hand, the more options you'll have. You won't be thrown into chaos when something unexpected happens. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/annabyang-ebook-long-term-leave.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/long-term-leave?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **If you need to step away from your business, this* ***free** *guide walks you through everything you need to do to prepare.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/long-term-leave?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### What AI Can’t Replicate: Your Voice and Your Insights URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-writing-perspective-voice/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:28:25.000Z AI lets people generate content at a dizzying speed. I've seen websites with hundreds of barfed-out AI-generated articles. LinkedIn comments that literally say nothing because someone thought "quantity over quality" and used an AI tool. Cold emails that are written by a robot and not a human. AI-generated content is always going to be generic because it's a regurgitation of everything else on The Internet. It's not original thought. For writers, creatives, or anyone else building online, *your* [authentic voice](https://blog.annabyang.com/maintain-authentic-writing-voice-with-generative-ai/) and *your* opinion are the differentiators. So how does AI fit into the content creation process? You can use AI for speed. *I* use AI for speed. Many parts of content production are slow and tedious. But everything I published has been edited to reflect **me**. Here's why AI is a complement to, not a replacement for, creative work. ## You provide judgment I once heard someone say, "Generative AI lacks taste." And that pretty much sums it up. Generative AI can give you 1,000 ideas in a minute. But it can't tell you if any of those ideas are good. You can ask ChatGPT to give you five title ideas for something you're writing. But you still have to choose the best one. People who [publish "AI slop"](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-comments-on-linkedin/) are asking ChatGPT for **one** idea and then just publishing it. That's absolutely the wrong way to go about it. I'll use ChatGPT to give me four LinkedIn posts based on a blog post. But absolutely nothing gets published without review and editing. No matter how good generative AI gets at *predicting* my voice, it's never quite the same way I would phrase something. It lacks the nuance I would add or the angle I would take. AI [gives you speed](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-triangle-content-quality-time/) and volume. Your judgment comes from experience. And that can't be automated. [My Personal Guardrails for Using AI as a SolopreneurAnother tool in my tech stack.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-148.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-ai-guardrails-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-guardrails/) ## You go beyond summarization Generative AI is really good at summarizing articles, meeting notes, or transcripts — anything that would take a lot of time to review manually. But the summary is not the final step. It's only the starting point. You still have to interpret, question, and connect the dots. *Why* is this information interesting? *Why* does it matter? *Why* will someone else care? AI has incredible recall, in a way that humans don't. It can skim through an unlimited amount of data, which is really helpful for research and summarization. The other day, I had a meeting with a potential client. My AI notetaker (Fireflies) joined the meeting. It created a transcript and a summary of follow-up items from the meeting. One of the follow-up items was to send the client a proposal. The summary was helpful, so I could remember the task I needed to do. But I still had to draft a personalized, friendly email to the prospective client. I had to select examples of my work to help *her* connect the dots between what she needs and my skillset. An AI-generated summary is just that: a summary. You provide the context. ## You break out of patterns AI’s strength is prediction. Our lives are filled with familiar structures and patterns and AI follows those. Your advantage is that you see the exceptions. You notice when something doesn't follow the pattern. You know when to pivot, challenge assumptions, or take a contrarian stance. You bring lived experience and intuition into the process, which is impossible for AI. There's a reason people have been able to identify generative AI because it has certain "tells." It uses repetitive words and patterns. (For all frequent uses of the em dash — myself included — I'm sorry. AI gave the em dash a bad rap.) I can tell when someone sends me a cold email using generative AI. Often they're personalized in some way (from scraping the internet), but they sound "off." The emails are following a predictable pattern for cold emails, but they lack the qualities of real human interactions. ## You build meaning AI can generate words, but it can’t create *meaning*. When I write, I include examples and stories from my life. I include my opinions and frustrations. I'm endlessly curious. All of these things shape what I publish online. If you follow Google's E-E-A-T guidelines for [creating people-first content](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/creating-helpful-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com), your writing needs to demonstrate experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. Those come from your background and your perspective. Generative AI — on its own — lacks that. Generative AI has no way of knowing that I was a guest on the [Wisepreneurs podcast](https://www.wisepreneurs.au/anna-burgess-yang-business-resilience-smart-automation/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). On that podcast, I talked about maintaining my authentic writing voice in a world of AI. That conversation sparked the idea for this article. Did I use ChatGPT to help me build out an outline for this article? Yes. Do I use [automation in my blog publishing process](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/automate-your-blog-publishing-process/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)? Yes. Did ChatGPT include any personal experiences or my unique perspective? No. I had to decide what to include and how to incorporate those pieces into my full draft. Your voice, your experiences, and your point of view can never be replicated. [Why Proprietary Content Is the FutureStand out in a sea of online writing.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-149.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/1-frgeYux41egQUeVaG1-OmQ.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-proprietary-content-is-the-future/) ## The advantage of collecting ideas I've been an intense data collector for years. Notes, screenshots, quotes, highlights. I'd often go back and review these things later, but it was a laborious, manual process. If I wanted to quote something from an article, I'd have to go back and find it again. Generative AI has been a game-changer for people like me. My search results are less dependent on my memory, or adding the right tags or categories to my notes. If you're a writer who collects ideas, you have a huge advantage. You have a personal dataset that no one else has. And AI is now the tool to help you put that dataset to use in ways that weren't previously possible. On his podcast Wisepreneurs, host [Nigel Rawlins](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigelrawlins/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) [shared](https://www.wisepreneurs.au/anna-burgess-yang-business-resilience-smart-automation/?ref=blog.annabyang.com): > I am going to turn 70 next year. I am probably writing more than I've ever written in my life. I saw a quote somewhere that, for seniors, AI can accelerate what they already know how to do. > > My gut feeling is that older professionals have an advantage because they haven't always been digital. They've actually read books and can still read documents. Provided the older professional is still reading and looking at notes and thinking, I think AI actually gives them an edge. What Nigel said about seniors is true for **any** person who collects ideas and information. ## AI won't replace human writers A lot of writers are understandably concerned about generative AI. Will it [replace their jobs](https://www.workbetter.media/p/ai-replace-jobs?ref=blog.annabyang.com)? Generative AI, on its own, is not content that anyone wants to read. People will scroll past it in their feeds or click away from a generic blog post. If a client replaces a human writer with generative AI, the client likely did not care much about quality in the first place (unfortunately). But writers would be remiss not to use AI to their advantage, since it can speed up so many parts of the writing process. Research, [content repurposing](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-content-strategy/), outlining — all easier with generative AI. I've always been a person who uses **any** tool that [makes my work more efficient](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-improve-writing-efficiency/). That's why I'm not fighting AI. I'm figuring out how to incorporate it without losing my uniquely human perspective and voice. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/annabyang-ecourse-idea-collector.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/endless-idea-collector?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Check out my free eCourse and* **learn how to find content inspiration in everyday life.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/endless-idea-collector?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### How to Stay Grounded When Business Is Hard URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/business-is-hard/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:31:21.000Z Running a solo business is always full of ups and downs, but the past year has been a special kind of hell for many freelancers. The economy has been unpredictable, budgets have tightened, and costs are going up on everything. Even experienced solopreneurs are feeling the squeeze. When work slows down, panic can creep in. You start second-guessing yourself. You consider lowering your prices or chasing opportunities that aren't the best fit. That anxious voice, saying, "I just need *something"*?It's loud and very valid. But there are ways to keep moving forward, even when business feels shaky. You also need to trust yourself enough to determine the difference between a rough patch and **actual** changes that may require you to pivot your business. ## Keep calm and don't get desperate When things don't go as planned, desperation is a natural reaction. Desperation is rooted in fear, scarcity, and our need for control. In your head, you start to run through "just in case" scenarios. I have a [budget for my freelance writing business](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-budget-as-a-freelancer/). When things start to feel tight, I'll look at my budget. Over and over. I'll start planning different scenarios, like, "What if my income is only XYZ this month?" I did a lot of this after I had to temporarily shut down my business this year while dealing with a [medical crisis](https://blog.annabyang.com/self-employed-brain-tumor/). Planning is good, but fixating isn't. Desperation rarely leads to good decisions. Instead, you need to pause and remember: this is part of the cycle. All businesses — even thriving ones! even huge corporations! — have slow seasons. Staying calm helps you make the *right* moves instead of *desperate* moves. A slow period doesn't mean you've failed. But it is an opportunity to assess what's working (and, maybe, what isn't). ## Practical strategies to avoid frantic decisions When things feel uncertain, you need structure. Structure keeps you from spiraling. If you follow these steps, you'll feel more in control. Plus, you'll have some concrete information to work with as you plan for what comes next. ### 1\. Review your financials Sometimes, things aren't as bad as they seem. My work *always* gets slow at the end of the year, well into January. My clients take time off for the holidays. If I compare my business's revenue year-over-year, January is always the lowest-earning month. Yet, even knowing this, I start to panic in December when I don't have any work lined up. Then I look at my financial statements and remember, "This is a pattern that occurs every year." Look at your historical earnings. Don't compare one month to the previous month; look at the **same month** in the prior year. That's often a more accurate picture for many businesses since there are often seasonal fluctuations in work. If you are experiencing an abnormal dip, then take a look at your savings and recurring expenses. Do the math before instead of letting your emotions take over. Can you reduce your expenses? Can you [pull money from savings](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-savings-accounts/)? How long can you float yourself before you're *really* in financial trouble? Knowing your numbers will help you figure out how urgent your financial situation is. ### 2\. Reach out to past clients Strategies to [market yourself](https://blog.annabyang.com/market-your-freelance-business/) (like LinkedIn) can take a long time before they're effective. Even if you land a new prospective client, it can take some time to get an agreement in place, start work, and get paid. If you truly need more work, start with the people who already trust you. Send a friendly check-in email. Let the client know how much you enjoyed working with them, and let them know you're available. You can also let them know of any additional services you're now offering. Often a single reconnection can get you the work you need — and far faster than cold pitching ever could. 💡 ****Tip:** Every month, I share an update on LinkedIn, reminding people who I am and what kind of work I do. On more than one occasion, it has led to someone new reaching out. Doing this regularly is much more effective than showing up only when you need work. ### 3\. Focus on another area of your business Slow times give us much-needed space to work on other parts of our businesses. If your client work is light, you can do work that typically falls to the back burner when you're busy. Take on a project like: - Updating your portfolio - Refreshing your website - Creating and batch-scheduling social posts - Building a new lead magnet When you're productive, you'll feel like you're getting *something* done. You're doing something necessary that benefits your business. It takes the focus off your lack of paying work. [Tips to Maintain a Strong Freelance PortfolioMaintain a strong portfolio.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-147.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/freelance-portfolio-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/) ### 4\. Operate leanly One way you can reduce your panicked feeling is by auditing your expenses. I don't recommend this as an earlier step (like when you review your financials), because sometimes it isn't necessary. Cutting back on recurring expenses when you're going through a tight time in your business can create more work for you. For example, let's say you [pay for a tool](https://blog.annabyang.com/paying-for-tools-as-a-solopreneur/) every month that costs you $25, but saves you hours of time. However, it's not **critical**. So you could cancel and save $25, but now you're spending more time on busywork in your business. Is that a worthwhile tradeoff? It depends. But you might also take the opportunity to see if your business expenses are too bloated. Can you consolidate tools? Are there any that you aren't using much? If you operate leanly, you can reduce the amount you **have** to earn per month to support yourself and your business. This can reduce your overall stress when business is slow. ### 5\. Try to bring in some extra cash To fill an immediate gap in your income, think about ways you could earn some extra money. Maybe you can create a quick, low-priced service that you can offer to existing clients. Or, if you have an email list or online audience, you could create a paid [digital product](https://blog.annabyang.com/digital-products-flywheel/) or webinar offering. Keep in mind that if you create something that consistently brings in revenue — even a small amount — it will lessen the stress during your slow months. 💡 ****Tip:** I put all money from side projects in a separate business checking account. I don't touch that money most of the time. I think of it as "extra" and not part of my primary revenue for my business. ## Determine your tipping point Not every slow month is a crisis. But you should define what “desperate” actually means *for you.* Is it when you have to dip into savings? When your monthly revenue falls below a certain number? When you can’t pay yourself consistently? Knowing your "tipping point" helps you make proactive [business decisions](https://blog.annabyang.com/dont-apologize-for-your-business-decisions/). If you know that dipping below $X revenue per month makes you nervous, plan what your next move would be *before* you get there. Often, this doesn't happen overnight, but after several months of reduced income. Even if you reach that tipping point, you’re still the [CEO of your one-person business](https://blog.annabyang.com/think-like-a-ceo/). Your job is to steer the ship — not panic and abandon it. ## Recognize changes in market conditions There's a notable exception to the "don't panic" advice: when the market has drastically changed and your business no longer makes sense. Industries experience major shifts all the time. The COVID-19 pandemic changed in-person events, for example. Automation and AI have reduced the need for a lot of repetitive, redundant work. You have to differentiate between "this is just a slow season in my business" to "the market has changed, and my business needs to adapt." ## Don't let yourself overreact A solo business is cyclical, just like any business. You will always be slow seasons and underwhelming results. But how you respond to those moments determines whether you build a [sustainable business](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/) —or burn yourself out trying to frantically "fix" things. When things feel like they’re falling apart, don’t rush into decisions. Refocus. Move forward with intention. Because panic won't pay your bills. But the right [business strategy](https://blog.annabyang.com/what-is-business-strategy/) will. ![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/freebie-quarterly-review-1.png) **Need to review the health of your business?* **Check out my quarterly planning checklist for solopreneurs.* ### Build an Audience with a High-Quality Lead Magnet URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/lead-magnet/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:39:06.000Z If you're trying to grow an audience, it's tempting to believe that you need to do *everything* and be *everywhere*. YouTube. Newsletter. Podcast. Social Media. Whew. Many creators make the mistake of producing a lot of content so they can build an audience... with no clear goal of what to **do** with that audience. A large social media following doesn't translate to money in your bank account. Here's the thing: you don't need to have a big, fancy paid product today to build an audience. I've spent several years offering free products to build trust with my audience and collect email addresses. When I'm ready to launch a higher-ticket, paid item, I can send a campaign to these email addresses I've collected. You can start with one high-quality lead magnet that helps your audience solve a real problem. When you create something valuable and offer it generously, you lay the foundation for people ot want to learn more from you later. That's how you turn attention into relationships and relationships into paying customers. ## Identify your *exact* target audience When I first started creating content for freelancers and solopreneurs, I quickly realized how crowded the space is. There's no shortage of advice about finding clients, pricing, and productivity. I had a lot of information and resources to share with this audience, but I needed to create something *different* than everyone else. I worked with a brand designer, and he suggested trying to describe myself in just a few words. I kept coming back to my obsessions with tools operations — that "behind the scenes" stuff. Systems, processes, and automation make solo business life easier. And very few people were talking about operations (or, at least, they weren't giving a lot of concrete examples). Solopreneur operations became my thing. [Being known for something specific](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-stand-out-as-a-freelancer/) gives people a reason to follow you. It's how they remember you and how they decide that your content is worth their attention. Plus, it helps you refine your content. Before I honed in on "solopreneur operations," I was covering a *lot* of topics. With solopreneur operations, I can take a more focused approach when I create content. 💡 ****Tip:** If you're trying to figure out what you want to be known for, look at your competition. How do they position themselves? What are they missing? What do you do differently — or better? ## Show up where your audience can find you You can't build an audience if people don't know you exist. But not every platform is worth your time. I'm a big believer in not putting all of your eggs in one social media basket. Case in point: Twitter. The platform has [changed dramatically](https://blog.annabyang.com/the-downfall-of-twitter-the-rise-of-threads/) over the years. People who put all of their energy into Twitter found themselves starting over — and often starting from zero — if they left Twitter. But I also recognize that it's a lot of time and energy to create content for multiple platforms. It's ok to give up on one that isn't working for you. For example, I eventually stopped using Instagram. Growth there depends on a lot of video content, and I'm better with text-based content. Instead, I've focused my energy on platforms that are aligned with the type of content I like to create: LinkedIn, Threads, and Substack Notes. Those are also the channels where I've seen the most consistent growth. Because all three are text-based platforms, I'm not reinventing the wheel each time. Instead, I'm repurposing the content I've already created. I can start with long-form content (like this blog post), and create short-form social posts for LinkedIn. Then I have a workflow that [reformats those posts for Threads](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/repurpose-social-posts-using-chatgpt/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). 💡 ****Tip:** Focus on platforms where you can repurpose what you create. You'll burn out if you try to master too many skillsets (like video and text-based posts) at once. Track your growth on different platforms to make sure they're worth your time. ## Create a free lead magnet (so you can “own” the audience) Think of social media as rented space. You can't control the algorithms or the company's priorities (which may change over time). The only way to ensure you can consistently reach your audience is by getting them *off* these platforms. And to do that, you need to get them to give you their email address. With email, you always have a way to get in touch. That's where a free offer comes in, also known as a lead magnet. A lead magnet is something **really** valuable that your audience wants to have. My first lead magnet was an eBook, designed in Canva, and published on Gumroad. I promoted it on social media and added it as the CTA at the end of blog posts I published (which are cross-posted to Medium). The free download kicks off an automated email sequence and, eventually, my newsletter. Do **not** abuse a lead magnet opportunity by providing something really low-quality. I've been on the receiving end of terrible lead magnets, and it makes me distrust the creator. I feel like they tricked me into providing my email address. 💡 ****Tip:** Not sure what type of freebie to offer? Consider [digital products](https://blog.annabyang.com/digital-products-flywheel/), such as A checklist, a template, or a guide. Something easy for your audience to download and use. ## Maintain a relationship with your audience Once you've captured someone's email address, don't let them forget about you. I send a [bi-weekly newsletter](https://newsletter.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to my audience. In it, I include content that I haven't published anywhere else. I also include links to my previously published long-form content (like blog posts). Not ready to commit to a newsletter? I get it. A lot of newsletters are weekly, and mine is bi-weekly, simply because I'm already creating a lot of content elsewhere. Putting together a newsletter is a lot of work. Instead, you could send a monthly update to your email audience. That way, they remember your name. Social feeds are notoriously unpredictable, so even if they downloaded your lead magnet, that doesn't mean they're seeing your content. In your monthly update, you could include: - What you've been working on - Links to your most popular social posts - Any content you've created for other people, like being a [podcast guest](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/) - Articles you find interesting, even if they're written by other people - Upcoming webinars or workshops you're hosting Consistency is more important than "constantly." In fact, I immediately unsubscribe from creators who email me constantly. High-quality content doesn't end with your lead magnet. Remember, every time you land in someone's inbox, you're asking them to exchange some of their time and attention for the thing you're offering. Consistency signals reliability and will build credibility over time. [The Content Ecosystem That Grows My Audience as a CreatorHelp readers discover your work.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-145.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-content-ecosystem.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-ecosystem/) ## Expand your free offers If your lead magnet is working well, stick with it. But as your business grows, adding additional lead magnets can attract different segments of your audience. I now have several freebies available for download on Gumroad. I rotate which one I'm promoting, depending on the topic. Behind the scenes, I keep a list of ideas for new freebies in Trello. I work on developing them over time. Sometimes, a new freebie is tied directly to an [upcoming webinar I'm hosting](https://blog.annabyang.com/steps-to-host-webinars/). Other times, it's because I sense that a resource would be helpful and doesn't already exist (or I could do it better). Each new lead magnet provides another path for people to find you. 💡 ****Tip:** Keep your freebies organized. Mine are stored in [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **\[affiliate link\*\]* with information about the topics they cover, the live URL, and links to the Canva files. ![My lead magnets organized in Airtable](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/CleanShot-2025-11-10-at-18.31.20.png) ## Use AI as a sidekick I use ChatGPT to help me re-promote my lead magnets. I can upload the PDF and ask ChatGPT to [create some posts for social media](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/ai-summaries-for-social-posts/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I then edit the posts before scheduling. But, for me, it's a lot easier to edit a social media post than to write one from scratch. You can also use AI to brainstorm ideas for new free offers. Talk to ChatGPT about your audience's biggest pain points. Then, have ChatGPT suggest some free resources for you to create, whether they're checklists, templates, or something else. ## Practical toolkit - [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]*: Organize your lead magnets - [Canva](https://www.canva.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com): Create your lead magnet - [**ChatGPT**](https://chatgpt.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)**:** Develop lead magnet ideas - [Gumroad](https://gumroad.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com): Publish and sell digital products - [Kit](https://partners.kit.com/f9fp6buqnnz1?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]*: Send a monthly newsletter ## Build trust so you can offer something bigger I first launched my lead magnet about two years ago. I have yet to offer a high-ticket item. A few of my digital products are paid, but I'm not [relying on the income](https://blog.annabyang.com/path-between-audience-income/) at this point. I **want** to offer something bigger, like a cohort or consulting, but the timing hasn't been right for various reasons. So, instead, I continue to focus on establishing who I am and building trust. You don't need to know your exact paid offer to launch a lead magnet. And audience growth doesn’t require a complicated strategy or dozens of lead magnets. Start with one high-quality freebie that genuinely helps your audience solve a problem. Over time, the trust you build will become the foundation for whatever comes next, whether that’s a paid product, a service, or something entirely new. Monetizing an audience through a paid offer is about earning trust — and keeping it — through genuine value. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/ebook-manage-time-content.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Check out my free guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you use sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ### Thinking About Business Operations Improvement? 5 Things to Consider URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/operations-improvement/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:35:16.000Z I'm an operations person at heart. When I worked for a tech company, I was the person who "made things better" — implementing new systems and processes so people could work more efficiently. When I started my own business, I put systems in place right away. I *knew* that my future self would be grateful. The worst time to "figure things out" is when you're busy and drowning. The best time is when you only have one or two clients. You just need to build systems that can grow with you. Below are a few operations improvements you should make **while you have time**. Don't put them off as a "someday" project. ⚙️ For a list of tools to help you with your business operations, [click here](https://blog.annabyang.com/operations-improvement/#practical-toolkit). ## 1\. Create standard operating procedures Even if you’re the only person in your business, documenting what you do saves time and mental energy. On more than one occasion, I've forgotten my own process — because it's something I don't "touch" very often. A [standard operating procedure](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/) (SOP) reminds me why I've set something up a particular way, or how it works. The easiest way to do this is to record a quick video of yourself. You can then use a transcript from the video to create an SOP. Or Loom AI has a built-in SOP feature, which includes a link to the Loom video. If you don't use Loom AI, drop the transcript into ChatGPT and have it create an SOP for you. You can also use Scribe to create standard operating procedures, and it will capture each mouse click as you walk through your process. I use Scribe to create [written tutorials](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) of different tools I use and processes I have. I store my SOPs in a single folder on my Google Drive. ## 2\. Create templates — and automate them You should templatize as much as you can in your business — and **automate your templates**. Here are a few examples of the templates and automation I have set up in my business. 1. Every client has the same set of six folders in my Google Drive. When I add a new client to Airtable, Zapier **automatically** adds the folders to my Google Drive (here's a tutorial) 2. I have a Google Doc template I use for client work. When clients request a new deliverable from me, Zapier **automatically** copies the base template to a new file in the client's folder. 3. I use Trello for projects, like free downloads I create. When I add a Label to the card in Trello, Zapier **automatically** adds a checklist of to-do items for me. Templates are definitely the first step. When you use templates, you bring consistency to your business. It's less brainwork with [every project or task](https://blog.annabyang.com/project-management-vs-task-management-whats-the-difference/) because you're following the same steps. But when you add in automation, you save additional time. Sure, I could manually copy my Google template to a new file in my Google Drive. But when it happens automatically in the background, I don't even have to think about it. When I'm ready to work on the deliverable, the template is waiting for me. ## 3\. Audit your tools regularly It's so tempting to sign up for subscription products, especially if they save you time and aren't very expensive. I personally pay for dozens of tools every month. I'm a strong advocate for paying for tools as a way to "[buy back time](https://blog.annabyang.com/buy-back-time/)" in your business. But you might also find that your tech stack gets bloated. You might be [paying for tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/paying-for-tools-as-a-solopreneur/) that you're no longer using. Or some of your favorite tools have added new features that make other tools unnecessary. As you review the subscriptions you're paying for, ask yourself: - Is this tool still solving the problem I bought it for? - Can I replace two tools with one? - Is there a better (or cheaper) alternative? Regular tech audits free up money in your budget and reduce your overall tech clutter. You can approach audits in two different ways: 1. **Audit all of your tools regularly**, such as once a quarter. 2. **Audit one tool before its renewal date**. Many of my tools are on annual subscriptions, so there's no reason for me to dig into them halfway through the subscription. Instead, I make a plan to review it about a month before its renewal. I have a list of all my tools and their renewal dates so I can keep track. ## 4\. Know when to hire or outsource Even if you're not ready to hire any help yet, start thinking about what your tipping points would be. Is it based on a certain level of income? When you feel overwhelmed all the time? When you're doing work outside of your skill set? If you wait too long to hire, you won't be able to onboard someone properly. Bringing a new person into your processes takes time and communication. For a while, it will feel like *more* work, not less, as you get the person up-to-speed. If you figure out your tipping points in advance, you'll be in better shape. I hired a bookkeeper when my income reached a certain level. Before that, I did my own bookkeeping (and was comfortable with it). But eventually, I realized that my time could be better spent on other things. [How a Virtual Assistant Can Help Your Solo BusinessFree up your time for more high-value work.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-144.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-virtual-assistant-solo-business-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) ## 5\. Use AI to improve your systems I've got a lot of opinions about using AI. I think [it's overhyped](https://www.workbetter.media/p/ai-is-overhyped?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I don't think it replaces human creativity. *And* I think it can handle repetitive work. I've used automation for a long time. Usually, automation is based on a predictable path: If A happens, then B happens. Tasks that require a more nuanced approach (If A happens and C is present, then B happens, or possibly D) are harder. AI can handle the nuance. It can categorize data. It can summarize. It can take notes in meetings or make connections between your ideas. If you're using a tool that has AI capabilities, check them out. See if the features can reduce your repetitive work. Two of my biggest use cases are [ChatGPT in my Zapier workflows](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/integrate-chatgpt-into-workflows/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and [field agents in Airtable](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/airtable-field-agent/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Automation was already saving me a ton of time, but AI saves me even more. ## Practical Toolkit - [Loom](https://www.loom.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com): Record videos of your processes - [Scribe](https://scribe.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com): Create written procedures - [Trello](https://trello.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Asana](https://asana.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), or [ClickUp](https://clickup.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com): Project management - [ChatGPT](https://chatgpt.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) or [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]* field agents: AI to speed up repetitive work ## Set aside time to improve your operations It's really easy for "operations-type" stuff to fall to the bottom of your to-do list. Especially if it's something you don't need to address immediately. I have time blocked off on my calendar every week for admin time. One of the things I do during this time is work on business operations. Currently, I'm making sure all of my SOPs are up-to-date, so I spend some time recording Loom videos. Pick one area for operations improvement, and put in the time to work on it. Even if it's only fifteen minutes per week, it'll add up over time. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/ebook-getting-started-automation-2.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Download my free resource for more automation tips.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you use sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ### 5 Ways to Streamline Content Creation URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/content-creation/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T04:32:22.000Z How many social media channels are you managing each week? If you're like me, you're managing several. Some are more important for my business than others (like Instagram is mostly just for fun). Conventional wisdom says to put all of your energy into one channel, but that makes me too nervous. A platform can change overnight. So even though I have a "main" channel (LinkedIn), I still create content for several. Copy/paste between channels isn't always effective since each channel has its own vibe. So, on top of coming up with content ideas, you might be coming up with *unique* content ideas on a per-platform basis. If you're feeling overwhelmed, you're not alone. It's a lot of effort to show up online while also juggling client work, business admin stuff, and — oh yeah — life. I've got several processes powering my "content engine" behind the scenes. These make it easier to [produce content consistently](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-production-solopreneur/), without burning out. #### ⚙️ Practical Toolkit - [****Readwise Reader**](https://readwise.io/read?ref=blog.annabyang.com): Save ideas for later - [****Cleft Notes**](https://www.cleftnotes.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)****:** Dictate ideas - [****Todoist**](https://get.todoist.io/5vaw2q1il5zr?ref=blog.annabyang.com)****:** **\[affiliate link\*\]* Keep track of weekly content tasks - [****Trello**](https://trello.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)****:** Store content ideas - [****ChatGPT**](https://chatgpt.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)****:** Speed up content creation - [****Buffer**](https://buffer.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)****:** Social media scheduling ## 1\. Save articles for inspiration I get a *lot* of content ideas based on things I read. Sometimes I'll share my thoughts as a social post. In other cases, it becomes part of a long-form article I write (which is later chopped up into social posts). Here's a recent example: [Be wary of career advice in this job market](https://www.workbetter.media/p/jobseeking-advice?ref=blog.annabyang.com), which I wrote for Substack. I got the idea based on an article I read in Fortune. At the *exact moment* I saw the article, I wasn't ready to read it. But the headline caught my eye. I use [Readwise's Reader](https://readwise.io/read?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to save articles for later. Reader has a Chrome extension and also an app for iPhone or Android. I go through my saved articles once a week and do something with them. If I like what I read, I might add an idea to [Trello](https://trello.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (which is where I store half-baked ideas) or highlight interesting passages from the article. Highlights are synced to [Reflect](https://reflect.app/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), which is my knowledge management system. You can also sync highlights to apps like [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) or [Notion](https://www.notion.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ## 2\. Dictate ideas to yourself Ever get an idea when you're walking in the grocery store? Or some other inopportune moment? Happens to me all the time. I get content ideas when I'm in no place to write them down. Dictation has been my saving grace. You could use your built-in dictation tool (like Voice Notes on iPhone). I use [Cleft](https://www.cleftnotes.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) because it has integration with Zapier. Once I'm done with a dictation, I can add a tag, and that sends the transcript to Trello for [future content planning](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/automate-your-blog-publishing-process/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ## 3\. Build repeatable systems Content creation shouldn’t feel like reinventing the wheel every week. If you put systems in place, you'll know what you need to do and feel less stressed. For example, I have a recurring task in [Todoist](https://get.todoist.io/5vaw2q1il5zr?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]* to handle some content tasks that I can't automate — like creating images in Canva. I block off some time on my calendar to create image-based content every week, since it's different than writing text-based posts. I also keep track of content ideas (saved articles, dictated ideas, and other random sources) in [Trello](https://trello.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I have lists for each social platform: LinkedIn, Threads, Instagram, etc. When I'm ready to write content for the week, I'm pulling from a bank of existing ideas, rather than starting from scratch. ## 4\. Repurpose, repurpose, repurpose As I say all the time, "Why let your content live only one live?" The problem with most repurposing advice is that it's non-specific. "Just repurpose!" isn't tactical. You have to think about WHAT content you want to repurpose across WHICH platforms and WHEN and HOW you will get this done. Otherwise, repurposing is kind of a vague concept instead of an actual plan. I have two systems set up to repurpose existing content: repurposing posts from one social media platform to another, and another to re-share content I wrote previously. [How to Repurpose Your Content as a SolopreneurContent that’s only used once is a missed opportunity.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-143.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-repurpose-your-content.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/repurpose-your-content/) ### Social media posts When I publish a post on LinkedIn, the post is **automatically** sent through ChatGPT and reformatted for Threads. It's the same core idea, but with a different tone (and usually shorter). The draft Threads post is sent to Buffer, where I then edit it before publishing. You can read a tutorial on how to set this up [here](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/repurpose-social-posts-using-chatgpt/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ### Re-share links to blog posts Every week, I review content I've written in prior years to see if it is worth re-sharing. I have a field agent in Airtable that writes new teasers for the blog posts. Then, the teaser and URL are sent to Buffer, where I schedule the post across my social media platforms. You can read a tutorial (plus watch a video) of this setup [here](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/blog-post-teasers-airtable-field-agent/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ## 5\. Integrate AI (without losing your voice) AI can be a huge time-saver — but it should augment your work, not replace your voice. For years, I would write social posts based on my newly published blog posts. Since I write in batches, some time would pass between when I'd published the post and when I got around to writing social posts. So then I was revisiting the post, pulling out the main ideas, and rewriting them in a format suitable for social media. Now, I'm doing this with ChatGPT. I can pull out the main ideas from a published post and send the ideas directly to Buffer. I can also use ChatGPT to pull out a "[standout quote](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/quotes-from-blog-posts/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)" which I then add to a graphic in Canva, creating another type of content. I never, ever publish anything written by AI without editing it first. It's a starting point, not the final destination. It saves me time because it's a lot easier for me to edit a post than write one from scratch. Even with all the training in the world, the AI-generated drafts are never exactly how I would write it. But I trust ChatGPT enough to pull out the main ideas and structure basic posts. I can then tweak the output. Good content comes from personal experience and empathy — two things AI can't mimic. I use it for structure and speed, and then infuse [my own voice](https://blog.annabyang.com/maintain-authentic-writing-voice-with-generative-ai/). --- ## Create content with purpose Anyone who says that certain post formats "will go viral" is lying. You can hop onto different trends, but algorithms change all the time. The truth is, no one knows what type of post will take off (as I found when one of my [LinkedIn posts went viral](https://blog.annabyang.com/prepare-to-go-viral/) and hit almost 4 million views). It's *far* more important to achieve resonance instead of virality. When you resonate with your audience, they'll stay more engaged with your content. Creator Science founder [Jay Clouse](https://creatorscience.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) talked about his viral YouTube video with Jenny Hoyos, but said it attracted the "wrong" audience. New YouTube followers expected him to similar content, but his content is much broader than what Jenny covered. Yes, going viral will bring you a lot of attention for a brief period of time. But it's more important to produce content consistently and stand out for your particular point of view. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/ecourse-idea-collector.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/endless-idea-collector?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Check out my free eCourse and learn how to* **find content inspiration in everyday life.* [Sign Up ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/endless-idea-collector?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you use sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ### Understanding Your Taxes as a Solopreneur URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-taxes/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:42:42.000Z 💡 **This article is for informational purposes only. It is not financial, legal, or tax advice.* Taxes in the U.S. are complicated and confusing. They're hard enough for the typical employee filing a standard tax return. When you're self-employed, you have even more "tax things" to think about. Taxes - and the amount you owe - can feel like a mystery. There’s no HR department withholding income taxes. Suddenly, you’re the employee **and** the employer. The good news: depending on your business structure, you can start to plan for what you owe. Taxes become just another system to manage — and hopefully not a source of panic every year. Want a practical toolkit to help you manage your taxes? [Click here](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-taxes/#practical-toolkit). ## Your filing entity How you file your taxes depends on your business's legal structure. Many solopreneurs start out as sole proprietors by default. Basically, you're doing business as an individual. However, you might also form a Limited Liability Company (LLC) to protect yourself from a potential lawsuit. Forming an LLC does not change anything about how you file your taxes, unless you opt to be taxed as a Sub S Corporation. Here's a quick breakdown. - **Sole Proprietor:** You’ll report your business income and expenses on a **Schedule C** as part of your personal tax return (Form 1040). - **LLC:** Most single-member LLCs also file using **Schedule C**, unless you’ve elected to be taxed as an **S Corporation**. - **S Corporation:** You’ll file a **Form 1120-S** tax return. You'll also report the business's net income on a Schedule K-1, which you'll file with your Form 1040. A Sub S Corporation is a more complicated legal structure. You become a W-2 employee of your company and have to manage payroll for yourself. However, a Sub S Corporation offers tax savings over a sole proprietorship or LLC. You can take distributions from the business that are subject to income tax, but not subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes. There's a threshold at which the tax savings offset the fees you'll pay to manage your Sub S Corporation — around $75,000 - $100,000 in income, [according to CPA Devine & Associates](https://news.resourcesforclients.com/article.php?u=ceYqdMbCKq3w&n=CU&issue=193&a=6989&ref=blog.annabyang.com). I operated as a sole proprietor for the first several years of my business. I did *not* form an LLC, though I carried professional liability insurance. Later, I formed an LLC and opted to be taxed as a Sub S Corporation. The LLC formation and tax election happened simultaneously. ## What taxes you'll pay As a solopreneur, you’re responsible for several types of taxes in the United States: - **Federal Income Taxes:** Paid on your [net business income](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-income-calculator/) (income minus expenses). - **State Taxes:** Depending on where you live and work, you may also owe state income tax. - **Sales Tax:** If you sell taxable goods or services, you may need to collect and remit sales tax. Check your state’s requirements. If you operate as a sole proprietor or LLC, you’ll need to make [quarterly estimated payments](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estimated-taxes?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to the IRS (and possibly your state). These payments cover your expected tax liability throughout the year. Missing them can result in penalties when you file your tax return. If you operate as a Sub S Corporation, your federal income taxes should be withheld from your W-2 income through your payroll provider. However, you'll still owe income taxes on any distributions you take. [How to Budget as a Freelancer: A Real-World ExampleTips to get started.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-142.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-budget-freelancer-4.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-budget-as-a-freelancer/) ## DIY versus hiring a tax professional When it comes to actually filing your tax return, you have two options: do it yourself or hire a professional. If you DIY, you need to make sure you keep track of your business income and expenses throughout the year. For the first several years of my business, I managed my own bookkeeping. I kept track of income and expenses in [Wave Accounting](https://www.waveapps.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), and later [QuickBooks Self-Employed](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/solopreneur/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I also prepared and filed my own Schedule C with my tax return. [TurboTax](https://turbotax.intuit.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) walked me through everything I needed to do to gather information from my business and file the return. However, if you're *not* comfortable with finances, you should look at hiring a bookkeeper and tax professional. I started using an accounting firm after I formed my Sub S Corporation. My payroll is managed through [Gusto](https://gusto.com/d/annaburgesscda7990e?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]*, and Gusto takes care of withholding taxes and remitting payments to the IRS and state agencies. ***Note: Sign up for Gusto through*** [***my link***](https://gusto.com/d/annaburgesscda7990e?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ***and get $100.*** Hiring a bookkeeper and tax professional can save you time and maximize your tax savings. But keep in mind: they can only work with the information you provide. You'll still need to keep accurate records of your income and expenses. For example, I have to prepare invoices for my clients in QuickBooks. My bookkeeper has no way of knowing what to bill, because I keep track of that information in [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]*. The amount owed and the payment terms are highly dependent on each client's contract, so I still have to keep that information organized. Hiring a tax preparer can save time, but remember: they can only work with the information you provide. You’ll still need to [keep accurate records](https://blog.annabyang.com/managing-solopreneur-finances/) of your income and expenses. ## Practical Toolkit - [Wave](https://www.waveapps.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) or [QuickBooks Self-Employed](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/solopreneur/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for accounting - [TurboTax](https://turbotax.intuit.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for tax preparation - [Gusto](https://gusto.com/d/annaburgesscda7990e?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for payroll (if you're a Sub S Corporation) *\[affiliate link\*\]* - [LegalZoom](https://www.legalzoom.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to establish and maintain an LLC ## How to plan for taxes Taxes can sting if you haven’t planned ahead. I know more than one freelancer who has been surprised by a giant tax bill. Start by setting aside a percentage of every payment you receive. Many freelancers use **25–30% of income** as a rule of thumb, though your exact rate depends on your income and state taxes. It will also be different depending on your tax filing status, marital status, dependents (kids), and other factors. You’ll pay taxes on your **net income**, which is your revenue minus deductible business expenses. A [separate savings account](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-savings-accounts/) specifically for taxes can help keep your finances organized. Every time a client pays an invoice, transfer a portion into that account. That way, you're not scrambling when quarterly payments are due or when you prepare your annual tax return. Some business bank accounts will even do this for you automatically, making it even easier to save for taxes. Taxes are never fun, but they don’t have to be overwhelming. With the [right systems in place](https://blog.annabyang.com/working-on-business-vs-working-in-business/), you can be prepared for what you owe. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/freebie-quarterly-review.png)](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Need to review the health of your business? Check out my quarterly planning checklist for solopreneurs.* [Download ](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ### From Tech Executive to Solopreneur: How I Built a Freelance Content Marketing Business URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-content-marketing/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:55:41.000Z In 2021, I made a decision that changed the trajectory of my career. I walked away from my corporate executive job and pivoted to content marketing and journalism. At first, it was terrifying. I was hired full-time by a content marketing agency and also hired by a banking publication for ongoing freelance work. In both roles, I felt like an imposter. Everyone around me had *vastly* more experience. I wasn't a journalist, and I wasn't a content marketer. Eighteen months later, I lost my full-time job and started freelancing full-time. Within two months, I'd replaced my salary. Today, I run a thriving freelance content marketing business as a fintech writer. While I consider myself a good writer, building a business takes a lot more. You need the right tools, structure, and discipline. I brought a lot of skills from my former executive experience to my "role" as Chief Everything Officer in my solo business. Here's what benefited me the most. ## Leveraging my past experience When I left corporate life, I didn’t leave behind my expertise. I spent 15 years in fintech and six years before that in banking. That experience gave me something most freelancers don't have — real-world knowledge of how financial systems, software, and customer relationships actually work. At the fintech, I was a product manager. I called myself the "translator" between the customer service and development team. I had to turn user requests into technical language that the development team could understand. I also had to manage competing priorities between what users wanted and what the sales team demanded. No matter what your background, freelance content marketing isn’t just about writing or strategy. It's about understanding the audience you're trying to reach. If you're new to the particular industry, you're working in, you've got to gain the experience somehow: interviews, podcasts, and industry publications. Otherwise, the work you do won't resonate with the audience. [Establish Credibility and Expertise as a FreelancerEarn more with niche clients![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-141.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-establish-credibility-expertise-1-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/establish-freelancer-credibility-and-expertise/) ## Relying on tools and organization When I worked in corporate, I was often responsible for choosing the systems that the team used: project management, email marketing, and a CRM. I tested them out on my own, but had to get buy-in from other people before a purchase was made. With freelancing, you have to make similar purchases — but *you* are the sole decision-maker. If you can't find the right fit, you might have to build it yourself (which I've done, in [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\])*. Early on, I realized that staying organized was just as important as doing the work for my clients. ### Project management At any given time, I’m juggling multiple clients, deadlines, and deliverables. To keep everything running smoothly, I rely on a [project management system](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/) I've created (in Trello). There are a ton of project management tools out there, like ClickUp and Asana. You'll want to find one that mirrors how you think and fits within your budget. Do you like checklists? A Kanban board? A calendar view? The key thing you should look for is a centralized view of what's due, when, and for which client. ### Client management Every client has their own preferences, brand voice, and processes. For some clients, I'm working in *their* project management system. Each client also has a different billing process — like emailing a centralized AP team, submitting an invoice through a portal, or sending an invoice directly to my contact. To keep everything straight, Airtable is my central hub. I also have dedicated folders for each client in my Google Drive. In my GDrive, I keep copies of the clients' style guides, interview transcripts, outlines, and shared versions of docs for collaboration. Every time I add a new client to Airtable, folders are **automatically** added to my Google Drive. Here's a [tutorial for setting up client folders](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/client-folders-google-drive/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) using [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* ### Knowledge management Even though I have a 15-year background in financial technology, it's an industry that is *constantly* changing. It's also heavily driven by regulations. Here's my process for consuming and saving information: - The [Readwise](https://readwise.io/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) Reader lets me save articles for later - Readwise also lets me highlight text in articles, which syncs to [Reflect](https://reflect.app/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (but can also sync to other tools like Notion or Obsidian) - I can save interesting bits from podcast episodes using [Snipd](https://www.snipd.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) - If I need a transcript of a video file, I use [Rev](https://www.rev.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## Managing my workload As a solopreneur, you're doing the work, but you're also the boss. That means you have to understand your own bandwidth — and respect it. Delivering on time isn't optional for me, because it's part of maintaining trust. I only ask for more time if something *truly* unexpected comes up — like something with one of my kids, or I wake up so sick that I don't think I can work. I’m realistic with clients about turnaround times. Since I've been freelancing for many years, I know how much time a deliverable will take me. My project management system keeps all of my due dates in check, so I know my availability. And I use [time blocking](https://blog.annabyang.com/time-blocking-for-freelancers/) to structure my day into focused work sessions, using one in the morning and another in the afternoon. I also work in batches of time for non-client work. Every Friday morning, I set aside some time for admin-type tasks. [Social media](https://blog.annabyang.com/social-media-for-solopreneurs/) scheduling is another batch of time. That way, I'm not drawn to other items on my to-do list while I should be focusing on client work. ## Building relationships Over the years, my best freelance content marketing opportunities have come through referrals and inbound leads. Word spreads quickly when you’re dependable and good at what you do. In a few cases, I've gotten referrals from people who *haven't* worked with me directly. They simply know who I am because I show up online (LinkedIn, but [without cringe](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/)) and in a few online communities (mostly organized through Slack). So when someone says, "Does anyone know a good writer for XYZ topics?" my name comes to mind and they're willing to tag me. But that type of relationship-building takes time and requires you to [stand out as a freelancer](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-stand-out-as-a-freelancer/). You have to become known for something. Relationships also strengthen the work itself. When I need expert quotes or an industry perspective, I often reach out to people in my network for interviews. These connections elevate my work for my clients and also reinforce my own credibility. I also have a system to [keep track of my relationships](https://blog.annabyang.com/system-to-maintain-relationships/). I use [Clay](https://clay.earth/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) as a personal CRM and a pipeline I built myself in Airtable. #### ⚙️ Practical Toolkit - ****Project management:** [Trello](https://trello.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [ClickUp](https://clickup.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), or [Asana](https://asana.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) - ****Client management:** [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **\[affiliate link\*\]* - ****Personal CRM:** [Clay](https://clay.earth/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) or [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **\[affiliate link\*\]* - ****Automation**: [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **\[affiliate link\*\]* - ****Knowledge management:** [Readwise](https://readwise.io/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Snipd](https://www.snipd.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Reflect](https://reflect.app/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## Sharing knowledge with other freelancers When I was new to freelancing, I relied heavily on others who shared their knowledge freely. I read newsletters, followed freelancers on social media, and joined groups. The people helped me find my confidence as I built my business, shared their ups and downs, and also gave me tips for [pricing my work](https://blog.annabyang.com/am-i-charging-enough/). A career pivot by itself is a big thing. And right now, many talented professionals are entering the freelancing world by necessity, not by choice. For people who are having a hard time finding a job after a layoff, freelancing is preferable to endless job hunting. My goal is to make that transition easier by sharing the systems I use and what I've learned after many years of freelancing. People were open with me, and I want to pay it forward. Because the truth is: being a freelance content marketer doesn’t have to feel like a constant hustle or [unsustainable career.](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/) With clear processes, a bit of self-promotion, and finding the right clients, it's far more empowering than any 9-5 job. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/11/ebook-pricing-services.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Freelance pricing is hard to figure out,* **but I’ve created a* ***free** *resource for fellow writers.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you use sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ### How to Grow a Solo Business: 4 Changes You Need to Make URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-grow-a-solo-business/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:31:32.000Z Most solopreneurs I know started with a simple goal: freedom. They wanted the freedom to choose their clients, control their schedules, and do work they feel good about. But freedom can quickly morph into overwork. You have to do *everything* in your solo business — client projects, admin, tasks, marketing, and finances. Eventually, you'll hit a ceiling. You don't have any more hours in the week, so you feel like your business can't grow anymore. What worked for you as the scappy newbie solopreneur doesn't work as you continue to **build a business**. Growth requires structure, systems, and a willingness to change. Here are four changes you can make to shift from the always-hustling solopreneur to running a [sustainable, growing solo business](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/). ## 1\. Stop Doing Everything Yourself Lots of people think that "solopreneur" means that you are the only person in the business. To me, a solopreneur means you are the **main** person running the business. You are the only person making business decisions and the primary (or only) source of income. That doesn't mean you don't have help running the business. In fact, there are a few reasons to outsource tasks — either to humans or through automation. ### Hire help Over time, you will become your own bottleneck. If every task runs through you, you can't spend your time doing higher-value work. A [virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) can take over some repetitive tasks, like responding to emails or organizing files. More skilled VAs can also help with social media. It can feel hard to let go of work in your business, especially if you feel like no one can do the work as well as you. One thing you can do is create [standard operating procedures](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/) that outline exactly how the work gets done. I use Loom to record videos and Loom AI creates written versions of the SOP for me. ### Outsource projects If a project isn't within your skillset, you might end up spending *way* too much time on it — and possibly with sub-par results. Know your limits, and know when you should hire an expert instead of spinning your wheels. For example, I reached the limits of what I could create in Canva for social media. I hired a designer to create a consistent brand: fonts, colors, a logo, and Canva templates. I knew I was out of my element, and I wanted people to take my business seriously. [4 Reasons You Need to Organize Your Freelance Brand AssetsBuilding a strong brand matters. Make it easy to maintain.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-139.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-organize-freelance-brand-assets-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/organize-freelance-brand-assets/) ### Automate tasks in your business You can also save time by automating tasks in your business. Every time I sign a new client, Zapier creates folders in my Google Drive, adds the new client to QuickBooks, and does a bunch of other stuff. I'm not doing manual work, plus automation makes sure my business operates consistently. If I had to do all of those steps manually, chances are I'd make a mistake *somewhere*. Zapier runs **hundreds** of tasks for me per month. Everything from [social media posts](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/repurpose-social-posts-using-chatgpt/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to [sending me custom text alerts](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/sms-alerts/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I also use AI in parts of my business. AI [field agents in Airtable](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/airtable-field-agent/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) can categorize content. ChatGPT can [pull quotes from my blog posts](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/quotes-from-blog-posts/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (that I then turn into social posts in Canva). ⚙️ **Not sure about the difference between automation and AI? Check out this* [**article I wrote for Zapier*](https://zapier.com/blog/automation-vs-ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)**.* ## 2\. Understand your numbers Many freelancers I know shy away from their numbers. They claim they're they’re “not a numbers person.” Tax time is scary because they haven't been tracking their income or expenses. When I first started my freelance business, I was [sending invoices](https://blog.annabyang.com/invoicing-software-freelancers/) from a Google Sheet template. I quickly realized that I needed actual software to keep track of my business. Now, I look at my revenue and expense numbers month-over-month and year-over-year. I also built a [Notion](https://affiliate.notion.so/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\]* dashboard to track newsletter growth, freebie downloads, and other business metrics. I can use this information to figure out what's working, what isn't, and how I should spend my time. Even simple metrics can be powerful, such as: - How much are you earning per client or per project? - What are your main sources of new business (referrals, inbound, cold emails?) - If you're active on social media, what does your engagement look like every month? Tracking your numbers doesn't have to be intimidating. I look at everything once a month. And looking at the numbers doesn't necessarily mean I have to make a change. It just means that I'm aware of what's going on in my business. [How to Think Like a CEO in Your Solo BusinessHave confidence and courage in your decision-making.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-140.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-think-like-a-ceo.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/think-like-a-ceo/) ## 3\. Get feedback from other people One of the best things about working for yourself is that you can make decisions *without* other people. No boss to approve a change. No coworkers holding you up. However, this is also a really isolating part of working solo. When you plan everything in a vacuum, you lose the opportunity to learn from other people who've "been there, done that." If you join a peer group or mastermind, you can bounce ideas off of others. If joining a group (especially if it's paid) isn't an option for you, see if you can schedule 1:1 time with a friend for accountability. A friend and I meet regularly to talk about things in our businesses. Sometimes the focus is on me; sometimes the focus is on her. To make these conversations effective, ask **specific questions**. Instead of asking, "What do you think of this new idea?" ask questions like: - Have you launched anything similar? - If so, what worked/didn't work? - Do you see any drawbacks that I'm not considering? Remember, you have to be generous with your own knowledge. If the other person asks *you* for feedback, you have to share openly. Otherwise, mastermind groups or 1:1 sessions aren't effective. ## 4\. Build repeatable systems If every project or launch feels like starting from scratch, you're wasting valuable energy. Reinventing the wheel each time is exhausting. In addition to automation, you should build as many repeatable systems as possible. Every week, I have a few things I review on Monday mornings and Friday afternoons. I use Todoist to keep track of these items as a checklist. I also use Trello to keep track of bigger projects, and each project has checklists. When you reuse assets, you'll save time and streamline your work. Plus, standardized processes will help you appear more professional to clients. If you know you need to create repeatable systems, set aside some time to work on these. One thing I like to do is [check myself into a hotel](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-expenses/) for the weekend. This gives me the heads-down, focused time that I don't get during my weekly work. #### ⚙️ Practical Toolkit - [Loom](https://www.loom.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com): Record videos and create standard operating procedures with Loom AI - [Notion](https://affiliate.notion.so/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **\[affiliate link\*\]*: Create a dashboard that tracks your important metrics - [Wave](https://www.waveapps.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com): Financial reporting - [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **\[affiliate link\*\]*: Automate redundant tasks ## Choose one thing to change this month Improving your business doesn't mean overhauling everything at once. You can quickly find yourself pulled in too many directions. That's a quick path to overwhelm. Instead, start with **one** intentional change. Where do you feel the most stuck right now? Maybe it's finally documenting your processes. Or maybe you need to create a dashboard of your numbers so you feel like you know what's going on in your business. Once you’ve chosen your focus, block off dedicated time **each week** for the next four weeks. During your focus time, work on a small tweak you can make. Then track the results for the following 30 days. Ask yourself, "How did this change impact my business?" Repeat, regularly, so you can make the necessary changes to help your business grow. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/10/freebie-quarterly-review-1.png)](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Need to review the health of your business? Check out my quarterly planning checklist for solopreneurs.* [Download ](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you use sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ### Stop Letting Overwhelm Stall Your Solo Business URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-reduce-overwhelm/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:31:44.000Z You’ve got big plans for your business. Maybe you want to launch a new service, update your website, or finally tackle your to-do list. You sit down at your desk. But instead of moving forward, you find yourself spinning in circles: researching, planning, tweaking, second-guessing. Over and over. The overwhelm creeps in, and you’re constantly stuck. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. I’ve been there too. I'm particularly good at making project plans, and then I don't make any real progress on putting those plans into action. There are a few things I've found particularly effective when I'm overwhelmed. Here are some ways to break out of that cycle. ## Receive new blog posts in your inbox. Tactical advice for freelancers and solopreneurs. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ## Overwhelm has a real business cost Overwhelm isn’t just stressful — it’s expensive. All the time you spend in "analysis mode" costs you time, focus, and sometimes money. Want to do the math? Take the amount you earn per hour, on average. Let's say you charge clients $100/hour. Now, let's say you spend 10 hours overthinking your website. That's $1,000 of your time wasted. Time you could have spent doing something more productive. Plus, your overthinking is an opportunity cost. A new website might bring you new clients, so every day that your old website stays up, you may lose a potential client who never saw your improved site. Overwhelmed can sometimes *feel* busy. If you're like me, you set up project plans, spreadsheets, and automation tasks. But really, you're just moving things around the periphery, rather than moving the needle in your business. And the longer you wait to take action, the guiltier you might feel about not "doing enough." ## The trap of perfectionism Perfectionism and overwhelm often go hand in hand. You tell yourself you’ll start after you learn a little more, when your process is smoother, or once everything is “ready.” The irony is that [perfectionism](https://blog.annabyang.com/getting-over-perfectionism-techniques/) often disguises itself as productivity. You feel like you’re working on "just one more thing," but in reality, you’re delaying progress. That was me creating video content. I wanted polished videos with the perfect script, smooth transitions, and catchy visuals. I kept searching for the right video editing software, promising that I would improve my process and that video editing would get easier. But every time I sat down, I was frustrated with the output, thinking it wasn't perfect enough. I have a whole folder full of videos that I never posted anywhere. Perfection never arrived. And I was too overwhelmed by the video creation process. When you’re a solo business owner, chasing perfection will *quickly* lead to overwhelm and burnout. Done really *is* better than perfect, trust me. No one will notice that it isn't perfect except you, and you need to let that go. Or, if perfection truly gets in the way, you need to ask yourself: Is this really the right thing for my business? For me, that meant giving up on video content (at least for now). What I want to do is too far away from what I'm capable of doing with the time and energy I have. Even less-than-perfect videos aren't what I have in mind. I'd rather refocus my energy on other projects that *can* make a difference in my business. By letting go of video content, I've reduced the overwhelm (at least, in one area of my business!) [Why You Need Mental Flexibility In Your BusinessLearn to let go of perfectionism.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-137.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-mental-flexibility.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/mental-flexibility/) ## 5 practical strategies to reduce overwhelm Not sure what to work on next? Here are a few ways to break big projects into more manageable work. ### 1\. Set 90-day goals I used to think I had to plan an entire year as a solopreneur, but that was *always* a mistake. Instead, figure out what you want to get done in the [next 90 days](https://blog.annabyang.com/90-day-goals/). Or, if it's a really big project, what is a smaller piece you can get done in a shorter timeframe? If you have a goal to "update my website," start with something small, like updating your "About Me" page. **Pro Tip:** I keep a list of potential quarterly projects in [Notion](https://affiliate.notion.so/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*. However, I don't set any due dates on them until the current quarter. Then I choose a few to focus on, but still have the "big picture" on my radar. I add to this list all the time. ### 2\. Time block your work. Set aside a specific amount of time to work on tasks or projects. Maybe it's a recurring amount of time each week (like to knock out your to-do list) or maybe it's a large chunk of time on a Friday afternoon. Whatever you choose, tell yourself, I'm going to get X thing done in Y amount of time. Overwhelm can happen when you think you have an unlimited amount of time to work on something. If you set a "container" of time (through [time blocking](https://blog.annabyang.com/time-blocking-for-freelancers/)), you'll be forced to work more efficiently. ### 3\. Limit your options Time blocking is one way to limit your work, but another is to limit what you can "see." Got an overwhelming list of to-dos? Limit your list to those that are *most* important or time-sensitive. I keep loooong lists in Trello of everything I want to work on. But then when I start a project, I create a new List or Board in Trello. That way, I'm not looking at everything — I'm only looking at the current project. For example, I store potential blog post ideas in Trello. I have a list called "Up Next" and I'll move two or three to that List at a time. When I go to write a blog post, I'm not getting lost in the overwhelm of everything I *could* write. I've already made my selections for the upcoming weeks and I can focus on those. Of course, that means I have to set aside time to plan upcoming content and choose topics from my bigger list, but that is something I fit into a specific container of time. ### 4\. Launch before you're ready Treat every new offer, product, or system as a beta version. Launch small, learn fast, and improve the thing you made over time. That website you want to redesign? Launch it as soon as you have something viable. You can always add to it later. Of course, that also might mean you launch something and it doesn't go as planned. I've launched things that I thought would be interesting to my audience, only to see very few signups/downloads. But that's a problem with my information-gathering process or marketing, not the product itself. I can learn from that. You can also set up a system to review and improve your products, landing pages, and messaging. I try to do this once a year for the (many!) [digital products I offer](https://blog.annabyang.com/digital-products-flywheel/). Sometimes they're fine. Sometimes they're outdated and could use a refresh. I tweak and re-launch. ### 5\. Use templates and frameworks Why reinvent the wheel? If someone in your business has already created checklists, email templates, social media calendars, etc. — use those! You can reduce decision fatigue and free up your creative energy. If "Update my website" is on your list, see if you can find a checklist of things to consider. Then break the project down into smaller pieces and use time-blocking to get the work done. I've also relied on my own templates to make things easier. When I launch a new digital product, I have a specific checklist I follow in Trello and templates in Canva to create social media graphics and other assets. [How to Produce Content Consistently as a SolopreneurProcesses are key.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-138.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-content-production-solopreneurs-3.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-production-solopreneur/) ## ⚙️ Tools to help you focus Have trouble staying focused while you work? Here are some things that can help. - [**Focus Friend**](https://www.yourfocusfriend.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)**:** A delightful app that blocks you from using other apps for a period of time - [**Brick**:](https://getbrick.app/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) A physical device that does *not* allow you to access apps while your phone is in "brick" mode - [**Cube Timer**](https://a.co/d/g1wkVnD?ref=blog.annabyang.com): I love this thing to quickly set a specific amount of time I want to work (like 10 minutes, 30 minutes, etc.) - [**Ugmonk**](https://ugmonk.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com): Prefer analog? I love the Ugmonk analog system for keeping track of my daily tasks - [**Flow Club**](https://www.flow.club/?ref=blog.annabyang.com): Virtual co-working, if you work better with accountability ## Your business grows when you do **Every** solo business owner feels overwhelmed at some point. We have to wear "all the hats." And to grow, we usually have to do something different — and sometimes, that means stretching into new things outside of our skillset. You're not failing if you feel stuck and overwhelmed. You're learning your limits and bottlenecks. But you've got to figure out how to work through the overwhelm, or you can't grow as a business owner. And, truly, that means managing overwhelm and finding ways to reduce it. The best advice I have is to think of progress in small increments. When we see a giant pile of things to do, it feels impossible to get to the other side. You don't need the perfect plan to accomplish something. You just need to start taking action. The sooner you move — even with teeny, tiny steps — the sooner you can push past overwhelm and **get stuff done**. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/10/freebie-quarterly-review.png)](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Need to review the health of your business?* **Check out my free quarterly planning checklist.* [Download ](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### How to Stand Out as a Freelancer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-stand-out-as-a-freelancer/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T04:35:27.000Z When I first started freelancing, I knew I was entering a crowded arena. Calls for freelance writers on platforms like LinkedIn would get dozens (if not hundreds) of replies from freelancers, eagerly sharing their portfolios. But the freelancers who stood out in my mind were those who continuously promoted themselves — without sounding cocky or desperate. [Kat Boogaard](https://www.linkedin.com/in/katboogaard/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) is a great example. With more than 10 years of experience, she shares relatable posts about the ups and downs of freelancing, such as: > *What I say: "Looking forward to your feedback!"* > > *What I mean: "Looking forward to taking every single one of your edits super personally!"* Her posts are funny to both clients and fellow freelancers, so she gets a lot of engagement. Kat is smart — she likely knows that engagement ultimately brings clients, since she'll appear more in people's feeds. Many freelancers stand out for similar reasons. A [sharp portfolio](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/), clean website, and glowing testimonials are only a part of the puzzle. That's what potential clients look at *after* they've found you. But finding you — that discovery piece — is where you have to stand out in a sea of freelancers. ### **What “standing out” means for freelancers** Social media sites are overrun with people who proclaim to be "thought leaders" — experts in their fields that others should pay attention to. Sometimes their posts are interesting, and other times they're worthy of a gigantic eye roll. But, these people show up consistently and have a clear message. You know who they are and can usually identify the themes they regularly talk about. [Kaitlyn Arford](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmarford/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) has made a name for herself by sharing [freelance opportunities](https://www.findfreelanceopportunities.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) she finds on social media sites and advocating for pay transparency. What's interesting about freelancing is that you don't have to (necessarily) showcase your expertise in your client work. For example, I'm not the strategist behind my clients' content — I only execute on decisions they have made internally. I could talk about the value of high-quality content, especially as a [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/), but I assume clients who hire me already know that (or they wouldn't have come to me in the first place). Instead, I chose to become known for talking about tools, processes, and automation I use to operate my freelance business. It shows that I take my business seriously. Instead of showcasing specific knowledge, I'm showcasing a specific style: the ability to break down complex topics into easy-to-understand articles and social posts. Rather than sound stuffy or focus solely on the *type* of work you do, you can become "known for a thing." Find a topic you care about and dig into it. Because, odds are, there are hundreds of other freelancers who can deliver the same *type* of work as you, so that won't help you stand out. The whole point of standing out it to make yourself memorable. Potential clients may not need your services right now, but you want them to remember your name for the future. ### 4 **Types of expert content you can create** Once you know what you want to be known for, the next step is figuring out how to communicate it. Here are some types of content you can consider: ### Curated insights With this content, you'll amplify others' ideas and offer your perspective. This works well if you're a content newbie, since you're essentially piggybacking off another idea, rather than coming up with ideas from scratch. Find content from other people, leave a comment offering your perspective. Then expand on that content and turn it into your own post. ### Personal experiences Share what you've learned from freelancing or throughout your career. I spent many years as a corporate exec and shared my ideas about product management, customer service, and executive management. However, over time I found that these topics were too varied and I wasn't "known" for anything. So while personal experiences are relatable, they won't necessarily lead to a consistent message and help you stand out. The only thing I gained from talking about my past experiences is that I'm known as someone who pivoted from one career to another. I realized that standing out required focus — not just sharing any story, but the right stories that tied back to who I am as a freelancer. ### Educational content "How-to" content can be really interesting, especially if you're good at explaining tools, processes, or workflows. People LOVE educational content and often engage with it or save it. You can create screenshots, carousels, or short videos to add some variety to your content types. This type of content is critical if you offer any type of done-for-you service, such as setting up tools, providing design services, or strategy. Freelance brand designer [Joel Sousa](https://growingdesign.pt/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) creates [videos for Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHvcookN0AN/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) that show off his various projects and how he thinks about design. ### Opinionated content Opinionated content is the hardest to pull off... but can also be the most fun. Opinionated content often gets a *lot* of engagement — from people who agree **and** disagree. At a minimum, you'll get people to notice you. With opinionated content, you're positioning yourself as an expert: someone who knows enough about the industry to have opinions. The trick is to share opinions often enough so you're seen as a thought leader, but not cross the line into someone who only shares "hot takes" to get attention. [Social Media for Solopreneurs: Tips and ToolsBuild a content muscle.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-136.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-social-media-for-solopreneurs-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/social-media-for-solopreneurs/) ### **Getting started without overthinking** While most people will tell you to focus on a single platform, I don't think it's a good idea to put all of your eggs in one basket. (Just look at Twitter — it's not the same platform it was five years ago.) Instead, you can focus on a **primary platform** — where it seems like your message is resonating the most — and cross-post to a **secondary platform**. I don't think a copy-and-paste strategy works, since each platform has its own unique vibe. You should tweak the post. I do this automatically using Buffer and ChatGPT. My posts are first published to LinkedIn. The content automatically runs through ChatGPT with some instructions to re-format it for Threads. Then it is added to Buffer, where I add human editing to make sure it sounds like me before scheduling the reworked post. [Automatically Repurpose Social Posts Using ChatGPTAutomatically tweak your posts before publishing them on another social platform.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/1-5.png)Tinkering With IdeasAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/tinkering-with-ideas-repurpose-social-posts-chatgpt.png)](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/repurpose-social-posts-using-chatgpt/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## Don't forget to promote yourself "Standing out" means you should occasionally promote yourself and your services. Otherwise, people may know who you are, but not what you offer. Talking about yourself constantly can seem disingenuous, especially if you end every post with "Want to learn more? Send me a DM." But you can — and should — remind people that you're available for hire. I post a "re-introduction" ([with a photo](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/annabyang%5Fhappy-freelance-anniversary-to-me-on-this-activity-7380950540198805504-QJFT?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAV18kYB0cpoUEIUeJBWTqltzbq2ITMCid4)!) once a month. I also share links to [free products](https://products.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) I offer throughout the month, which gets people on my mailing list. You can also let people know that you have upcoming availability, if you work on longer-term projects or have the bandwidth to take on a new client. Self-promotion [can feel cringe](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/), but it doesn't have to be. Do it in a thoughtful, genuine way — like you're talking to someone interesting you met at a conference. The person asks, "So, what do you do?" and you have to give a quick elevator pitch of yourself. Make the self-promotional pieces fun, or share some personal information about yourself — like a photo of your workspace or pet. Standing out is about showing up with a clear message and confidence. When people remember your content because you have such a consistent message, they’ll remember who to hire. --- [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/10/ebook-manage-time-content-2.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Check out my free guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### How to Maintain an Online Social Presence When You're Going Through Something Rough URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/maintain-social-media-presence/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T04:36:08.000Z Marketers love to tell us that “consistency is everything” online. Algorithms reward it, audiences expect it, and your business depends on it. I've given the same advice myself: **be consistent.** But here's the truth: sometimes, consistency isn't possible. Life gets in the way. You burn out. Or — in my case — you're [diagnosed with a brain tumor](https://blog.annabyang.com/self-employed-brain-tumor/). When you're going through something rough, you shouldn't feel like you have to push through and post nonstop. Instead, you should figure out what type of online social presence honors your current reality. ## Sign up to receive new blog posts. Tactical advice for freelancers and solopreneurs. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ## Re-think your social media strategy For many years, I've pre-scheduled my social content. A social presence is important for my freelance writing business, so I didn't want to go silent during my recovery time. But I also had to consider what type of content would be low-lift and feasible to prepare in advance. Give yourself permission to do things differently when you're going through something difficult. You can take a step back and ramp back up when you're ready. Here are a few ways to approach social media differently while you're dealing with a life event. ### Option 1: Lighten your workload without going silent At the time I found out that I had a brain tumor, I was publishing more than 30 posts per week across my social platforms (LinkedIn, Threads, etc). I expected that I would not be able to work for about 6-8 weeks after brain surgery, and figured that I could pre-schedule enough content during that time. I quickly realized that it wasn't possible. While I have a large repository of unedited posts that need to be polished, I was also wrapping up client work and dealing with the enormous stress of "I have a brain tumor." I had to rethink my plans and prioritize. I leaned more heavily into repurposing old content and sharing links to evergreen blog posts. I also promoted some free products I have for freelancers. But I stepped back from the more time-consuming, thoughtful posts I usually write. Look at your current social media publishing schedule and think about how you can step back without hurting your business. You might want to change the format or publish less frequently. ### Option 2: Share authentically (without oversharing) Depending on your comfort level and the reason you're taking a step back from your business, you may want to share updates. What I've found — throughout my freelancing career — is that freelancers don't like to talk about the hard stuff. They don't share their challenges (at least not openly, though they might share in private communities). I wrote very publicly that I had a brain tumor and needed to take a step back from my writing business as I recovered from surgery. My clients were understanding, and by sharing on LinkedIn, I got the word out that I wouldn't be taking on additional work for a period of time. It helped people [see the human side](https://www.workbetter.media/p/no-shortcut-to-authenticity?ref=blog.annabyang.com) of my business. Several people reached out to me via DM to share their own challenges. I felt that by sharing publicly, I helped people feel less alone, so I continued to share updates as I recovered. But if you're *not* comfortable sharing the details of whatever you're going through, you can let people know that you're dealing with something without getting too specific: > *"I'm taking things more slowly right now, so you'll see less of me."* > > *"I'm working on some things behind the scenes, but still here!"* > > *"I have some things going on in my personal life that need my attention, so I'm not taking on additional client work right now. But I'll let you know when I return!"* I also shared differently, depending on the social platform. I shared updates every few weeks on LinkedIn, which were interspersed with my regular content. I shared much more openly on Threads, including some posts from my personal blog about my surgery and recovery. The vibes of the two platforms are very different, so I took different approaches. ### Option 3: Accept help from people Because I publicly announced that I had a brain tumor, many people reached out and asked how they could help. And I was ready with a suggestion. I asked people if they would be willing to contribute a guest post to my blog, my newsletter, or my Substack. I knew that it would be hard to maintain my posting schedule if I had to write dozens of long-form articles in advance. I also had no idea how long it would be before I could write again, so I wanted about two months' worth of posts ready to go. It was a win-win: I linked to the person's website and/or online profile, so they got additional exposure within my audience. I was able to feature some really interesting voices and perspectives within my publications. I kept track of everyone who said "yes" in Trello, which is where I plan all of my content. I followed up with people to make sure I got drafts. Then I spent the last week before my surgery pre-scheduling all of the content and pre-writing social posts to share the links for when the posts went live. [Your Friends Are an Asset (In Business and in Life)You can rely on fellow solopreneurs.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-133.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-solopreneur-friends.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-friends/) ### Option 4: Use a virtual assistant Some tasks I could not handle myself while I was recovering from surgery. For example, I share images on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) whenever I publish to my Substack or blog. My audience on Instagram is tiny, but I still wanted to maintain my posting schedule. I relied on my [virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) to help me with social posts. Once the content was published on Substack or my blog, she grabbed the images and added them to Instagram posts I'd pre-written. I also created a [process to dictate blog posts](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/automate-your-blog-publishing-process/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Automation got the transcript of my dictation in front of an editor. She polished it and then sent it to my virtual assistant, who added the post to my website. That way, I could continue writing, even when I couldn't use a computer. #### Practical Toolkit Here are a few of the tools I used to keep my social media presence running while I was recovering from surgery: - [Buffer](https://buffer.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to pre-schedule my content (my VA also has access) - [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **\[affiliate link\]* to store pre-written teasers for yet-to-be-published posts - [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **\[affiliate link\]* to automate parts of my content writing process - [Canva](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) templates for low-energy posts - [Trello](https://trello.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) Project management to keep track of guest posts from other people [Project Management vs Task Management: What’s the Difference?How to wrangle your to-do list.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-134.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-project-management-vs-task-management-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/project-management-vs-task-management-whats-the-difference/) ## Take care of yourself first Of course, you shouldn't feel pressured to do *anything* while you're taking a leave from your business. I spoke to a fellow solopreneur who stepped away from her business for three months when her baby was born. She didn't pre-schedule any content. She dropped a few updates on LinkedIn, "when the spirit moved me" (in her words). And then she picked back up where she'd left off when she was ready. I considered that for myself, but, frankly, preparing the content was a good distraction in the weeks before I had surgery. If I'd had less time (like an emergency procedure) or been in a different headspace, it would have been a different story. [Consistency matters](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-production-solopreneur/), but you — as a human — matter more. Social media is an ever-evolving beast, and fully stepping away may have zero impact on your business. In fact, you'll have an opportunity to re-introduce yourself to your audience when you return. You may even find that a major life event changes you in ways that you couldn't predict. --- [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/10/ebook-manage-time-content-1.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Check out my free guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### Agency vs. Freelancer: Which One Is the Best for Content Marketing? URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/agency-vs-freelancer/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:31:55.000Z Recently, someone posted on LinkedIn: "Hot take: if you're serious about content, stop hiring freelance writers." The poster went on to say that freelancer quality depends on their bandwidth that week, and if the freelancer "disappears," so does content. The OP is, not surprisingly, co-owner of a marketing agency, and proclaimed that "we're different." I'm not going to link to the original post, because I don't want to reward the false dichotomy of "agency vs. freelancer" with more attention. I've worked for agencies. I've been a freelancer for years. I've worked *with* agencies as a freelancer, filling a need when the agency didn't have an internal writer for a particular client. There are great agencies, and there are great freelancers — just like there are bad agencies and bad freelancers. Choosing one or the other has more to do with your business needs, and you should vet both of them thoroughly before entering into any agreement. ## What type of content support do you need? Agencies typically want to be a "one-stop shop" for your content. They provide everything from strategy (keyword and competitive research), to writing, to editing. They may even provide services like case studies (interviewing your customers) or social media. This is a good fit for companies that want to outsource the entire content marketing function. Your agency contacts might work with an internal VP or head or marketing, but you don't need to staff up an entire internal marketing team. Working with an agency might be less expensive than several internal hires — especially if you don't need full-time hires. Freelancers might also be a one-stop shop, but are more likely to fill a specific role. For example, I'm a freelance writer. I don't provide content strategy for my clients — I rely on them for that. Most of my clients do their own strategy, though some outsource that function to a different freelancer who offers strategy services, but not writing services. I've worked with some of my clients for years and know their content *very* well. Agencies, on the other hand, can have a lot of turnover. Many writers and strategists cut their teeth at an agency, and then move on to in-house roles or become freelancers themselves. Freelancers usually welcome long-term, regular work, so they'll stay with you as long as the [relationship makes sense](https://blog.annabyang.com/effective-freelancer-relationship/) for both parties. ## What type of niche expertise do you require? A benefit of hiring an employee is that they get to understand your business *really* well. If you're working with an agency or a freelancer, they're going to be more removed from your core product. Some agencies specialize in a particular type of content — like technical content or case studies. But many of them are generalized. If the agency is large enough, they may have a writer with the expertise you need, but you'll want to ask about writers, strategists, and their availability. Some freelancers are also generalists, but many try to differentiate themselves with niche expertise. For example, I am a B2B [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/), which is a highly niche area. The audience is very knowledgeable, which menas the content has to sound like it comes from someone who knows what they're talking about. A content agency may or may not have someone with that type of expertise on staff. A content agency that specializes in fintech (and there are a few) probably has the right knowledger within their pool of writer and strategists. I promote myself as a freelancer who specializes in fintech, and clients come to me specifically for my knowledge. Often, they've struggled to find the right expertise elsewhere, such as with agencies or generalist freelancers. [Top Questions Clients Ask Before Hiring a Freelance WriterPrepare your responses to common client questions.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-132.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-top-questions-clients-ask-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/top-questions-clients-ask-freelance-writer/) ## What type of project management do you expect? You may run internal project management, and that's great. Some of my clients have me deeply embedded in their project managment tools (like Asana or Monday.com). I also run my own [project management](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/), because I need to organize my client work behind the scenes so it's consistent. If you are interested in working with an agency, you should ask how they manage projects. Who keeps track of deliverables? Will you have a dedicated project manager? Will you have access to a client-facing project management tool? You should also ask about turnaround times, since this can vary widely among agencies *and* freelancers. Both are juggling multiple clients and deadlines. As a freelancer, I control my own schedule and work with my clients to assign a due date. Some clients give me regular work and have specific "slots" on my calendar. Others are more sporadic, so I have to schedule them around what I've already committed. Agencies sometimes function in the same way, but can have bottlenecks. For example, a strategist outlines the upcoming content, but a writer isn't available. Or the writing is done, but an editor isn't available. It's hard to get everything lined up, especially among dozens (or hundreds) of clients. Yes, some freelancers may fail to deliver on time. Just like some agencies may be unable to deliver because their writers quit (sometimes to become freelancers!) ## What is your budget? How much are you willing to pay for content? Chances are, you can find an agency or freelancer in *any* price range. But, as the adage goes, you get what you pay for. Assuming the same level of quality, an agency will almost always be more expensive than a freelancer. You're paying for more full-service support, but you're also paying for the agency's overhead. An agency may have several roles (managers, sales reps, C-suite) that have salaries and benefits that need to be paid. Apps and tools are more expensive for larger teams. I've worked for agencies that charge *twice* [what I charge](https://blog.annabyang.com/charge-for-your-knowledge/) as a freelancer. Does that mean I should charge more? Not necessarily. I *don't* have the same overhead — while I have to pay my own taxes as a freelancer, I also pay very little for the apps and tools I use. I know my rates are fair, considering I'm only one piece of a larger content puzzle. A cheaper freelancer might save a company money, but may require more editing or lack experience. ## How do you measure success? No matter which route you choose, you'll undoubtedly consider your return on investment. Is it pageviews? Clicks or signups? Establishing authority for your company or brand? Success is often the result of your content *strategy*: getting the right content in front of the right audience in the right medium. Does the agency or freelancer understand your goals and how you plan to measure success? Keep in mind that both agencies and freelancers may have little control over [content distribution](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-distribution-competitive-advantage/). They *might* publish directly to your blog or social platforms, but unless you're hiring a social media manager, they can't control how much an audience engages with content. They also can't control your website's domain authority (which impacts your ranking in Google). They may not be able to ensure that the link is included in the company's latest newsletter. So — ultimately — make sure your goals are realistic. Some content takes time to perform. You have to build trust with the audience so they start to see your content as worthy of their time. --- *Check out my* [*free guide*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for creators or brands looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### How to Create Financial Stability as a Freelancer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/financial-stability-freelancer/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:47:10.000Z Freelance income is like riding a roller coaster. Sometimes, you might even feel like you're blindfolded and unsure of what's coming next. You might get a new contract that fuels your income for months. Or you might have a sharp drop that makes you question why you ever started freelancing in the first place. Unless you work with very long-term, retainer clients, stable income is not the experience of most freelancers. But the income variations don't have to be a source of stress. With the right financial systems, you don't have to feel like the roller coaster will make you throw up. Here are a few days to keep your freelance finances even-keel — even when your income varies. ## Set aside as much money as possible Most of my career has been spent in the banking industry. I spent six years at an actual bank, followed by fifteen years as a fintech before becoming a fintech writer. As I launched my business, I benefited from such a strong financial background — but I know not everyone has had access to the same information. From Day 1, I set up a system of "paying myself": all client income was deposited into my business's checking account. I transferred money into a personal checking account twice a month — just like receiving a paycheck from an employer. As soon as I could afford to do so (after paying myself), I started to set money aside in a rainy day fund. If I had a lower-income month, I could pull money from my emergency fund, so that I could "pay myself" the amount I was expecting. Later, I used my emergency fund as a [vacation fund](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-vacation-savings-plan/). I could take weeks off throughout the year, know that my income for the month would be lower, and use my emergency fund to maintain a steady income. [How to Budget as a Freelancer: A Real-World ExampleTips to get started.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-129.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-budget-freelancer-3.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-budget-as-a-freelancer/) ## Create "buckets" for your savings Eventually, a single savings account wasn't enough to manage my business. I wanted separate accounts for different purposes. My [savings accounts](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-savings-accounts/) are separated into the following: - **Emergency/Vacation Fund** - **Taxes**: To pay business taxes, so you're not scrambling later - **Business Development:** To pay for things that enhance my business My business development fund covers a lot of things. I've used it to pay for courses I want to take or cohorts I want to join. I also used the account to pay for a brand designer to help me come up with a logo, color/font scheme, and Canva templates to use for my social media. Without money set aside, I might ignore opportunities to learn or grow my business. But by setting aside a little amount each month, I have a fund ready when I want to [make an investment](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-investments-solopreneurs/). ## Consider alternative business models Retainers are an enticing business model for most freelancers. You're guaranteed a steady income, which makes your financial management a lot easier. My business model is almost entirely project-based work. I take [ad hoc assignments](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/) from my clients: they need something, and I add it to my next available "slot." While this sounds like it would cause huge variations in my income, the opposite is true. Most of my clients reliably send me several assignments per month, even though they're not guaranteed. It's also easy for me to take time off, because I'm not committed to a fixed amount of work per month. I earn enough from my regular clients, and they account for about 70% of my capacity. That means, I almost always have the bandwidth to take on new clients — which keeps my calendar full. Some clients rotate in and out quickly, because they only need me for a short period of time. And that's ok. Bonus: It's *much* easier for clients to say "yes" to project-based work than long-term agreements. When the economy is rough and budgets are tight, this gives me an advantage over other freelancers. [How to Build a Freelance Project Management SystemUse tools that match the way YOU work.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-130.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelance-project-management-system-3.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/) ## Promote yourself constantly Part of maintaining a healthy sales pipeline, and ensuring that I have consistent work, is getting myself in front of potential clients. Some freelancers send cold pitches, but that's not my style. I prefer inbound work. The most effective way for that to happen — for me — is to show up on social media. LinkedIn is still the best social channel for the type of clients I work with (mostly B2B tech companies). Social media takes a lot of work. I have to spend time every week writing and scheduling content. This comes at a cost: my time. Time I spend on social media is time I *can't* spend on client work. But over the years, I can correlate my social presence with inbound inquiries. Showing up on LinkedIn [doesn't have to feel cringe](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/). You can promote yourself by talking about your process, the behind-the-scenes of your work, or sharing client wins that you're proud of. Talk about things that are interesting or important to you and you'll be much more authentic than a robotic rotation of things you feel will make the algorithm happy. I talk about several different topics, and my weekly content is a rotation of these topics. I also vary my content between text-based posts, images (created in Canva), and videos. I use [Buffer](https://buffer.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to pre-schedule posts so I don't have to think about it every day. ## Build your financial systems early If I could offer one piece of financial advice for freelancers, it would be to build your financial systems as early as possible. Create a budget based on your average income and monthly expenses. Set aside any extra money in a savings account for a rainy day. Use an accounting software like [Wave](https://www.waveapps.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Quickbooks Self-Employed](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/solopreneur/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), or [Xero](https://www.xero.com/us/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to keep track of everything. Figure out how you're going to build a steady pipeline of work. You might tell yourself that your business is small and you don't need those things yet. But the last thing you want is financial stress in the future, especially as your business is growing. You can't always control the ups and downs of your income, but you can control how you manage your finances, and that makes a huge difference. --- *Need to review the health of your business? Check out my* [*quarterly planning checklist*](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for solopreneurs.* ### How to (Temporarily) Shut Down Your Business URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/shut-down-your-business/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:32:06.000Z Earlier this year, I found out that I had a [brain tumor](https://blog.annabyang.com/self-employed-brain-tumor/) and needed surgery to remove it. Outside of worrying about the procedure itself and the side effects, I had to think about my freelance writing business. Ultimately, I decided to pause everything. My clients rely on my expertise as a [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/), so subcontracting wasn't an option (plus I couldn't supervise others while recovering). I ended up taking a two-month break from client work. However, I knew that I would eventually return and would need to ramp up my business again. Therefore, I needed to keep things running in the background (at least, as much as possible) in my absence. Here's how I prepped. ## Winding down client work I stopped working a few weeks *before* surgery. I actually thought I would work longer, but I was incredibly stressed and unfocused. I didn't feel like I could deliver my normal caliber of work to my clients. But this was also a business decision. By stopping work, I had fewer outstanding invoices by my surgery date. The few clients who hadn't yet paid were long-term clients whose [invoices were not yet due](https://blog.annabyang.com/invoicing-software-freelancers/). I felt confident that they would be paid on time. The last thing I wanted was to worry about unpaid work while I was recovering. I let my clients know when I expected to return. Due to the nature of my business, I knew some clients wouldn't be able to "pause" work while I stepped away. I estimate that I lost about 25% of my business this way: clients who wouldn't be able to wait and would need to find a replacement freelancer before I returned to work. [Why Ad Hoc Work Can Be Better Than RetainersYes, you can run your business smoothly with a variety of projects.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-127.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-ad-hoc-work-3.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/) ## Ongoing content New clients find me from the content I create online (mostly LinkedIn). On top of that, I grow my audience through longform content on Substack and Medium. I encourage people to download a free resource, which ultimately gets people into my [content ecosystem](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-ecosystem/), such as my newsletter and paid offerings. I considered halting all content. The idea of pre-scheduling enough for a 6-8 week recovery seemed daunting. I spoke with a fellow solopreneur who took several months off when she gave birth. She didn't publish anything and was able to resume her business as if there had been no interruption. However, her business is a lot different than mine. I wasn't sure that what worked for her would work for me. I was concerned about the long-term impacts on my business if I stopped publishing altogether. I also had about six weeks between my neurosurgery consult and my surgery. This gave me enough time to plan. In a way, it was a good distraction. So I dug in and pre-scheduled the following content: ### Long-form content I asked people I knew (and trusted) to contribute guest posts to my blog and [Substack](https://www.workbetter.media/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Many people were happy to do this, because I would link back to their website and social profiles. A few people had blogs of their own and let me republish their posts on my blog (with a canonical URL, pointing back to their post as the original). I did the same with some guest posts I'd written for other websites. I also pre-wrote and pre-scheduled teasers for these posts so they would be shared across my social profiles when they went live. ### Social media I share a *lot* of content on social media. My LinkedIn queue on Buffer (for example) was 14 posts per week. I have a ton of content ideas — more than enough to fill my queue for my recovery time — but it quickly became clear that I wouldn't have enough time to do everything. I had to choose between writing more long-form content and writing social media posts, and I chose the former. I thought the long-form content would benefit my business more. I also started sharing updates on Threads as I got closer to brain surgery and as I recovered. I noticed that these posts got very high engagement. People wished me well or shared their own journeys. It started to feel weird that my on-the-fly updates were intermingled with pre-scheduled posts about being a solopreneur. So I paused my Threads queue in Buffer. Eventually, I'll transition to talking about running a solo business again, and then the posts will be waiting for me. Or maybe I'll take on a new spin of running a solo business while also dealing with a major medical issue. Who knows. [Social Media for Solopreneurs: Tips and ToolsBuild a content muscle.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-128.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-social-media-for-solopreneurs.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/social-media-for-solopreneurs/) ## Sales pipeline A lot of my client work is inbound. People reach out either through my website or via a LinkedIn DM. For LinkedIn, I turned on an autoresponder that said, "I am recovering from surgery and I will reply in a few weeks." I get a lot of irrelevant DMs (cold pitches), so once I was back to working, I simply archived those and never replied. I let my [virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) handle inbound inquiries to my website. I gave her an email template to send, indicating that I was on medical leave. I also gave her guidance on inbound inquiries to ignore, such as messages that seemed spammy. If it seemed like a valid client inquiry, I had my VA log the message in [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*, which is where I keep track of everything related to my freelance business. ## Apps and subscriptions Since I had no income while recovering, I looked at my monthly spending to see if I could cut back on anything. A lot of the [apps and tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/paying-for-tools-as-a-solopreneur/). I pay for couldn't simply "pause" for a few months. Even if I wasn't actively using them, they needed to keep running in the background (like Loom, which is how my virtual assistant accesses videos of my standard operating procedures). I also needed to keep paying for things like my professional liability insurance and my accounting firm. But I was able to pause/cancel a few apps that I knew I wouldn't need while I was recovering, saving me some money each month. Then I made sure that I had enough money in my business checking account to pay all of my expenses every month — even if I wasn't actively monitoring the account. ## Thankful for a "rainy day" fund When I started my business, I started setting money aside in a [savings account](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-savings-accounts/) as soon as I was able to. I thought about dips in my income, such as losing a client or a week-long illness. Of course, "brain surgery" and a protracted period of not working weren't on my radar. My rainy day fund covered the weeks of not working pre-surgery, plus the decrease in client work as I ramped up upon returning. For full transparency: I had additional help. The gap in my income while I didn't work at all was covered by a GoFundMe and some support from family members. Funding a "medical leave" for myself wouldn't have been impossible, but would have been a lot harder and more stressful without this additional support. No one expects a diagnosis that has such a monumental impact on their life. By sheer luck, I'm an Extreme Planner, so I immediately went into Planning Mode rather than spiraling. I hope you never face something similar. But if you have to, I hope these tips help make your planning a bit easier. --- *Check out my* [*free guide*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### How to Stay in Your Lane as a Freelancer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/stay-in-your-lane-as-a-freelancer/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:55:51.000Z 💻 **This guest post was written by my friend* [**Sarah Duran*](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-duran-72246817/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)**, a coach for solo business owners. You can learn more about Sarah on* [**her website*](https://www.fruitioninitiatives.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)**.* Freelancers naturally care about the overall success of their clients. We love to solve problems, deliver outstanding products, and bring projects to fruition that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. This dedication to broader success can sometimes come up against our clients’ more significant structural and organizational issues. A freelancer, by definition, is a fractional worker who completes specific tasks or projects for their clients. When you’re “fractional,” you’re contributing a small piece to a larger puzzle that makes up the client’s business. When that puzzle has missing or broken pieces, it can mean that your “fractional” contribution doesn’t have the same impact it would have if everything were functioning efficiently. You can knock your project out of the park, and it still won’t have the intended impact if the overall organization is dysfunctional, if they don’t have the other pieces in place necessary to support your work, or if they can’t embrace the changes that they paid you to implement. ## When clients make their problems your problems When the problems outside your control make it look like you didn’t do your job, it can come back to bite you. Here are some real-life examples: - An HR consultant is hired to revamp a recruitment and hiring process, but the company sucks at onboarding its employees, so even when they get great ones, they never stay. - A project manager is hired to build a program, but the leader hasn’t thought through how that program fits into their larger goals, so there is no internal buy-in, and it eventually fails to launch. - A graphic designer is hired to design a new logo, but the company hasn’t thought through its overarching brand, so the new logo lasts only a few months before it is revamped again. - A VA is hired to make emails and calendars more efficient, but the people the VA supports don’t want to change their ways. - A business consultant is hired to create a strategic plan, but it is never operationalized, so it just sits on a shelf. No business is perfect (lord knows mine isn’t), which means that freelancers will always have to navigate how their fractional contributions fit into the bigger picture. Here are a few ways to stay in your lane and manage your sanity accordingly. ## Assess client readiness Many of the issues that fractional workers encounter can be diagnosed early with an effective client screening process. I have a set of questions I ask every client up front that helps me spot nightmare ones from a mile away. In addition to your client screening questions, think about the other organizational pieces that come before or after your work and will ultimately mean the success or failure of what you were hired to do. - Ask about their hiring and onboarding practices if you’re a recruitment consultant. - Ask about their overall brand and messaging if you’re a graphic designer. - If you’re a project manager, ask how the project fits into their overall goals and how they plan to implement it once you’ve completed your part. You should also ask questions about whether or not the client [knows how to work with freelancers effectively](https://blog.annabyang.com/effective-freelancer-relationship/). Many companies don’t understand the difference between a freelancer and an on-call employee, and this distinction can be crucial for an effective engagement. [How to Evaluate Freelance ClientsDon’t get stuck in a stressful situation.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-125.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelance-clients.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-evaluate-freelance-clients/) ## Cover your ass with an air-tight scope This is a constant work in progress, even for an experienced freelancer like me. I still have engagements where I look back in hindsight and think about things I should have spelled out [more clearly in my scope](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-scope/). With that said, an effective client screening and onboarding process will go a long way toward helping you write a clear and concise proposal/scope that spells out exactly what you’re hired to do. Make sure your scope also outlines what the client is responsible for and the conditions that dictate the success or failure of your work (e.g., if you don’t know what your product is…I can’t build it). ## Focus on your locus of control *Not my circus, not my monkey*, has become a daily mantra for me in work and life. I inherently try to solve problems that are not mine to solve, which leads me to get deeply involved in chaos that is not mine to manage. When you care about the success of your clients’ businesses and your own reputation, it can be hard not to worry about the factors outside of your control that will impact the success of your work. If you’ve done your due diligence upfront, hopefully, your work is clearly spelled out, and it is easy for your client to measure success. There will also be times when you do your thing, knock it out of the park, and it just sits on a shelf and never changes anything for the client. I can’t tell you how many projects, systems, and products I’ve built for people who never use them for various reasons. In these instances, I reflect on what I could have done differently to understand better what they needed or how it would fit into their work. I have also learned to let it go because; I got paid for completed work, and it is up to them to use (or not use) what I made them. Finally, you have to learn when to [let clients go](https://blog.annabyang.com/reasons-to-break-up-with-clients/). Sometimes the barriers to success are just too high; no matter how good you are at what you do, the mental anguish isn’t worth it. ## Have a deep bench of partners If your client screening questions make it clear that your clients aren’t ready for your work or don’t have the systems in place to put it into action after your job is done, being able to [recommend other freelancers](https://blog.annabyang.com/fellow-solopreneurs-are-not-your-competition/) to provide wrap-around services is a huge value-add. If you’re a graphic designer, find people who are good at branding and advertising. Find someone good at operations and implementation if you’re a business consultant. Having freelancers adjacent to your work will help you stay in your lane and still get your clients what they need. Being a freelancer is entirely different from being a full-time employee. Instead of being a cog in a larger wheel, you are an [independent business offering](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-start-freelancing-day-1-and-beyond/) your clients a discreet product or service. This doesn’t mean that you don’t care about their overall success; it just means that you are not completely responsible for it. As my friend and fellow freelancer, Leah Meyers recently told me, “You can’t care more about their success than they do.” --- *Not sure where to get started with a client proposal or contract? You can check out this* [*free checklist*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/proposal-contract?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *and download a template to use.* ### Preserve Your Content Energy: Let Tools and Automation Do the Grunt Work URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/preserve-your-content-energy/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:36:38.000Z > “Productivity is a trap. The day will never arrive when you finally have everything under control.” > *― Oliver Burkeman,* [*Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals*](https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/85465206?ref=blog.annabyang.com) Anyone who says they have everything under control is either lying or lives off-grid in a cabin in the woods. For the rest of us, we’re endlessly trying to juggle about 50,000 things that demand our attention. Our to-do lists never seem to stay all checked off, do they? Marketers feel this deeply as we try to do more with less: tighter budgets, fewer resources, and the mood board of “creative things we’d love to work on.” Non-stop creating, publishing, and distributing can lead to burnout. While I’ll admit that there’s no way to have *everything* under control, you can get *some* things under control with tools and automation. Trust me: I’ve tried working with automations and without, and my sanity improved dramatically once I removed the tedious and time-consuming work from my day. And maybe, just maybe, it’ll free up your brain space for the more creative work that you truly care about, too. ## Automate what’s tedious ASAP The actual process of content marketing is *filled* with repetitive tasks. I’m a freelance [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/) now, but I previously worked at content agencies. Every new blog post required adding the topic to a project management tool, creating a Google doc for a draft, tracking the progress through said project management tool, notifying the client when it was ready for review, and more. I use [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* to automate repetitive tasks, but you can also use a product like [Motion](https://www.usemotion.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) or [IFTTT](https://ifttt.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). The process is simple: you connect two apps and create an automation based on a **trigger** (something happens) and your desired resulting **action** (what you want to happen next). Even now, as a content team of one, Zapier runs more than 50 automations for me per week, saving me time on more than 200 tasks. Even if each task would only take me 30 seconds to accomplish manually, that’s a lot of time saved (plus the inevitable context-switching as you flip between apps). I have automations for everything from my client work to my day-to-day business operations. ![Weekly Zapier activity of automating 235 tasks](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/62aca710dc61be796b1f5b47/64ec6b1f544704de86c85953_content-marketing-automations-zapier-tasks.jpg) One thing to note: There’s a lot more to saving time than setting up single-trigger automations. My most complex automation in Zapier has 14 action steps, all related to new client work. If you’re reading this and thinking, “Please go into the weeds; I don’t know *how* to do this,” here are a few ideas to help you get started. ### 1\. Create a draft document **Basic Level*:* When a piece of content moves to a certain stage in your project management tool, have a trigger set up that automatically creates a clean slate, new draft with your preferred formatting in Google Drive. **Next Level*:* You can add the draft link back to your project management tool, create the Google Doc based on a Template, and organize the Google Doc in the correct folder in your GDrive. **Tools*:* I use [Trello](https://trello.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for project management, but this would work with any project management tool—[Asana](https://asana.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [ClickUp](https://clickup.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), or [Monday.com](https://monday.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for example. I use [Airtable](https://www.airtable.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for client management, and my “Next Level” automation relies on Airtable to organize my drafts into the [appropriate client folder](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/client-folders-google-drive/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ### 2\. Add published content to a content library or portfolio ***Basic Level***: When any new content goes live on your website, add a link to a Content Library where you keep track of all published work you’ve had a hand in. You can keep track of the article title, date published, URL, and possibly some tags or categories. **Next Level*:* (Check out the content repurposing section below for this!) ***Tools***: I use Airtable to track my published content, but you could use something as simple as a Google Sheet. I’m pulling in published work (using [RSS feeds](https://rss.com/blog/how-do-rss-feeds-work/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)) from my blog, Substack, and Medium. By using the RSS feed, you’re not limited to any particular publishing platform—though some (like WordPress) do have direct integration with automation tools.‍ ![Screenshot of my content library](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/62aca710dc61be796b1f5b47/64ec6b623a202cb053f08932_content-marketing-automations-rss-feeds.png) ### 3\. Brainstorm ideas with GPT without the tool fatigue Note: I’m quick to admit that I [don’t think GPT can replace human writers](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-will-not-replace-writers/), at all. But I’ll use it occasionally to jumpstart ideas on a topic. **Basic Level*:* Add a prompt in your project management tool (such as “What are 5 things to consider about X topic for Y audience?”). Send the prompt to GPT using an automation, and have it add the results directly to a Google Doc. This all happens in seconds, and then you’re not copying/pasting ideas from a GPT tool into your draft document. **Next Level*:* If you have your Google Doc link in your project management tool (see the “Next Level” advice from the first idea), when you move that content to a stage like “Review,” you could call GPT again and have it review the full draft with a prompt like, “What are three ways to improve this content?” **Tools*:* You probably won’t want GPT assistance on *all* of your content. Since I’m using Trello, I have a specific label set up called “OpenAI.” When I add this label, it runs the automation. Other project management tools would have something similar you could use, such as a category or tag. ## Automation is a content repurposing godsend Marketers will bang the drum of content repurposing and waterfall content. “Turn every blog post into five social posts!” they say. There’s some wisdom to this, but it lacks a specific strategy for *how* the repurposing gets done. Turn your blog post into five social posts… when? Right after it’s published, or later? When should those five social posts be published? Who is responsible for the repurposing? Automation can handle more of your repurposing tactics (1 blog post = 5 social posts) than you might think by turning them into a specific plan on your content calendar. You can take the logistical thinking out of the process and free up your mind for more creative work. **Basic Level*:* When your content is published, add reminders to your project management tool to create tasks or to-dos to repurpose that content as social posts. Your automation should add due dates to these tasks of three weeks later, six weeks later, and nine weeks later (or whatever interval you want). **Next Level*:* Use automation to assign the responsible person in your project management tool and identify the platform for repurposing (such as LinkedIn, TikTok, or another channel). Include a link to the original content for easy review. Add another to-do to re-share the original content again in six months. ***Tools***: I use Trello (are you noticing a theme?) for my content calendar, but you should use whatever tool you use to manage your content calendar. I add a date, labels, and the link to the original content. When I’m ready to schedule my content for that date, creating social posts is a breeze. ![An image in Trello](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/07/annabyang-time-management-01.png) ## Lean on a calendar assistant for time blocking I’m a big proponent of time blocking, especially as a creative person who often needs several hours of “focus time” per day for writing. But when you’re working on a team or at a company, it can be hard to preserve that creative time between internal meetings and other tasks you need to get done. An AI-powered calendar assistant can “move” time blocks around on your calendar as your schedule changes. For instance, were you planning to work on an article from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, but then a meeting was dropped on your calendar for 9:30 am? A calendar assistant will move that writing time to the next available spot on your calendar. And here’s the best part: When you’re bumping up against a deadline, then the AI will “defend” that time on your calendar. If you’re using an external calendar tool like [Calendly](https://calendly.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), it’ll show that you’re not free during that time. ***Basic Level***: Start blocking time for all of your projects and recurring tasks using an AI-powered calendar assistant. Heck, you can even block time for lunch or for checking email! Let the AI do its magic in planning your day. **Next Level*:*Use automation to add new events to your calendar. For example, if you know you need two hours to finalize a draft the day before it’s due, you can use the due date in your project management tool to create a calendar event and hold some space for you the next day. ***Tools***: [Reclaim.ai](https://go.reclaim.ai/fjoa2msu6i5g?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* and [Motion](https://www.usemotion.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) are two of the most-loved AI-powered calendar assistants. You connect them to your existing calendar and add your tasks/projects to block off time. I use Zapier to add calendar events automatically based on my different activities in Trello. ## Our brains can only do so much in a day Without my to-do list and project management tool, I would surely overlook pertinent details and be less effective at my job. It doesn’t matter if you’re creating content for an internal team, working for an agency, or hustling as a freelancer; Content creation just has a lot of moving parts. For me, better tech has handled *so* much grunt work for me in my business. I learned to set up automation years ago, not only to save myself time, but also to make sure I don’t overlook anything. Or make a mistake. Or handle work inconsistently. Like I said earlier, for everything you can automate or rely on a tool to manage for you, you’re [asking your brain to think less](https://blog.annabyang.com/single-tasking-strategies/). And preserving that energy for more valuable work. For better content. For ideas that turn into something that really helps people. Ask yourself this question: What’s something I do over and over? If it’s repeatable, there’s a good chance it can be automated. --- *Want to learn how to turn 1 blog post into 18 pieces of content using automation and AI? Download the* [*1x18 Blog Post Repurposing*](https://pages.annabyang.com/1-18?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *checklist.* --- *This article was first published as a guest post for* [*Beam Content*](https://www.beamcontent.co/resources/content-marketing-automations?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you use sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ### How to Create a Content Brief Based on a Freelancer’s Experience URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/content-brief-for-a-freelancer/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:32:17.000Z As a freelance content marketer, I’ve seen more than my fair share of content briefs. Some have been carefully crafted by my clients. Other times, clients use an Airtable form I’ve created that acts like a brief, collecting the information I know I will need. And sometimes I get nothing more than an email saying, “Hey, can you write a post about X topic?” Here’s the thing: I can work with any of those formats. But clients have to understand that my work is going to be based on the information I’m given. Your working [relationship with the freelancer](https://blog.annabyang.com/effective-freelancer-relationship/) will be driven by clear communication, and it starts with the content brief. And what you include in the brief depends on the type of freelancer and the type of content. ## What you should always include in your content briefs Freelancers can be an amazing complement to content teams. They can provide support when an internal team is overloaded or bridge a gap when a full-time resource is not needed. But it’s important to remember that they often don’t have access to the inner workings of your company: broader marketing goals, sales targets, product information, etc. At a minimum, you’ll need to provide some basics to a freelancer, no matter the experience level or industry expertise. **Target Audience**: Give the freelancer some background. Is the content TOFU, MOFU, or BOFU? **Keywords**: Unless you’ve hired the freelancer to manage your SEO strategy, include any primary and secondary keywords. **Style Guide**: If you don’t have an internal style guide, you’ll probably need to do some editing after-the-fact. (or [use AI to create a style guide](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/style-guide-ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)) **CTA**: Either let the freelancer know the CTA (book a demo, download an eBook, sign up for the newsletter, etc.) or add the CTA when the content is published. **Internal Links**: The freelancer won’t know your entire content library. If you want specific links included, provide them. **Resources**: Give the freelancer access to anything and everything that helps them understand the product and company, including internal subject matter experts. It’s very unlikely that a freelancer will say, “That’s too much information!” They’ll take anything you provide and use it as needed. Additional information you should include in your content brief will be based on a few different scenarios. [Working With a Freelancer? Identify a Clear Project ScopeProvide the necessary business context and set expectations.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-124.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelancer-project-scope.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-scope/) ### Scenario 1: An inexperienced freelancer Every freelancer has to start somewhere. You may see potential in a freelancer’s writing sample. Or the freelancer was previously at a content agency or in-house and is now striking out on their own. But without experience working with a broad range of clients, you’re going to need to provide more structure in a content brief — at least in the beginning. If the freelancer is **new to content marketing** overall, provide an article structure, such as the H2s, and a sentence or two about each section. It’s like training anyone in a new field; the freelancer will need to be given some guidance. Be prepared that the first few drafts may need heavy revisions. The freelancer agreement should clearly outline how many rounds of revisions are allowed per deliverable. If the freelancer has experience with content marketing but is [**new to freelancing**](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-start-freelancing-as-a-marketer/), you will still want to provide detailed briefs. The freelancer may not have seen a range of briefs or may be used to briefs in a specific format. Have a conversation with the freelancer about the briefs they’ve worked with previously, what they found helpful, and how yours may differ. Either way: plan some buffer time when working with an inexperienced freelancer. Beyond editing and revisions, new freelancers may also be new to project management. They may sit down to write and realize that they have questions for you — which then has a downstream effect on delivering on time. While perpetual late work is a problem, give some grace in the beginning as you get to know each other. ### Scenario 2: A niche or experienced freelancer While there is no shortage of freelancers able to write about well-covered topics, some industries require [specialized knowledge](https://blog.annabyang.com/hire-a-niche-freelance-writer/) to write with authority. Or you may be looking for a freelancer who needs less hand-holding and has proven results. In this case, you can rely on the freelancer to bring their expertise to the table. You don’t *have* to give as much guidance and can instead let the freelancer get to work based on a general topic and main takeaway (like your company’s stance on the topic). In fact, providing too much guidance might stifle the freelancer’s creativity. Think of the freelancer more like a consultant: in the brief, you’re providing some background information and relying on the freelancer to come up with the best solution. Working with an experienced freelancer can reduce the burden on your team—since the freelancer won’t require as much hand-holding. But you need to consider how much direction you want to provide in the content brief. If your reaction to the content is “This isn’t what I had in mind,” then a hands-off approach won’t work and will waste time and resources. Some of my best experiences with clients have been those where the client asks me what I need to be successful. And I’ll be very upfront: as a niche [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/), I can take a topic and run with it, but then the client has to trust my judgment. If the client wants a specific outcome, I need a more specific brief. If you’d like to give the freelancer a lot of freedom but want to have some assurances about the result, ask to see an outline. Just make sure that you build in enough time to review and provide feedback before the final deadline for the content. ### Scenario 3: Product-heavy content A freelancer is never going to understand your product (or services) as well as your internal team. Even if the freelancer understands the industry and the problems that your product solves, the specific nuances of what the product “does” or “doesn’t do” won’t be obvious. Freelancers can certainly support product-heavy content (like a how-to guide), but you’ll need to provide extra support to make sure that the content accurately represents your product and product messaging. Resources might include: - Videos that demo the product/features - Sales decks and internal sales support materials - Access to the product or tutorials For example, I worked with Gorgias to create “[Recipes](https://www.gorgias.com/recipes/chat-campaigns?ref=blog.annabyang.com)” that explained specific use cases for the product. I have a background in product-led content, but not specifically *their* product. In every brief, the editor pointed me in the direction of Help Docs that explained, in detail, the product functionality. He also explained *why* Gorgias users would benefit from the particular use case. I was given videos to watch and access to internal product SMEs. I also asked for access to the product so that I could click around as I was writing. With product access, I could make sure that I was correctly describing steps in the Recipes. ### Your content brief drives the outcome If content briefs feel like a chore, or you don’t have the time/bandwidth internally to prepare good briefs for your freelancers, remember: freelancers are not mind readers. They’ll do the best they can with the information they’re given. Provide feedback if you feel like the freelancer missed the mark based on the brief, but understand that it takes time to build the relationship. The freelancer should be willing and able to adjust the content based on your guidance in the spirit of shared success. --- *Do you publish a lot online? Check out this free guide:* [*How to Create a Content Library... and why you need one!*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/contentlibrary?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### Freelancers Are Built Different: No Learning Curve, Flexible, and Available URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancers-have-no-learning-curve/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:32:28.000Z 💻 **This guest post was written by my friend* [**Karine Bengualid*](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengualid/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)**, a French-Canadian-Moroccan-Jew, a recovering introvert, and an aspiring comedienne. When she’s not saving the world from un-fun marketing or researching everything about the science of fun, she’s building her animal rescue, Maison Misha.* **She’s always looking for new and exciting clients to help as a fractional CMO or content marketing writer, editor, and strategist. Learn more on her* [**website*](https://www.theletterk.ca/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)**.* I see a lot of need for writers, copywriters, content producers, and the like these days. Which is great. It means companies understand the need for people who can use words strategically to tell brand stories. YAY! But a lot of times, they want these great folks to only work in-house, or full time. Boo! # Freelancers have no learning curve So why are freelancers worth it? Because we start on day 1, that’s why. There is no learning curve. We can’t afford to have one. Our experience [jumping from one project to another](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/) over and over again means we can take the project and run with it (for the most part) from the moment you hire us. If you give me a one-week deadline for my first blog post, I have one week to learn, and write, and edit. That’s it. New hires typically give a minimum of two weeks’ notice. Then, once they start, they need to get acquainted with the way your business works, possibly a new industry, or a new job function. Either way, learning curves are typically estimated to be anywhere from 3 months to a year, depending on the complexity of the business and/or industry. Can you imagine if freelancers had learning curves? Nothing would get done. When you hire freelancers, your expectation is for the project to be [delivered on time](https://blog.annabyang.com/tips-to-avoid-missing-client-deadlines/), on budget (unless otherwise stated), and on-brand standards. No less. Look, I’m not knocking full-timers. Heck, I was a full-timer for 13 years before I started freelancing. So I understand the need for these good folks. They play an integral part in your company’s engine. But as a former marketing manager, I also appreciated the work ethic and consistency I received from my freelancers. # But HOW?! do freelancers learn so quickly? So the question I get asked super often is HOW? How do I write for so many different industries that I have no experience in? From plastics manufacturing, 3D printers, to gutters, women’s health, mental health, sports teams, HR, payroll, and every kind of SaaS under the digital sun. The simple answer is research. The long answer is research. So how can I write about YOUR business, YOUR industry, when I’m not a full-time employee and have other clients in different industries? Here’s my process in a nutshell: ### 1\. I scout your website That’s right, I start with your website. Assuming you have one. If you do, I read it, all of it, sign up for your newsletters, and then do it again. And if you don’t have one (and that’s what you’ve hired me for), I skip to the other steps. ### 2\. I follow your socials Depending on your industry and where your ideal clients are, I go on different social sites to see what people are talking about, how they respond, what they like and share. This could be LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, SnapChat, Pinterest, etc… Wherever the trail leads, I follow. I sometimes refer to this step as the black hole of doom. But don’t you worry about that (that’s a whole different blog). ### 3\. I stalk your direct competitors Next, I look into your competitors. Big and small, local and national. Again, I read their website, sign up for their newsletters, and see what they’re doing on social media. A little digital eavesdropping never hurt anyone. ### 4\. I sign up for Google Alerts Once I have a sense of the industry, I sign up for those wonderful Google Alerts. However many are needed to cover your products, services, industry, competitors, news, etc. That way, I’m always in the know and can act on it as it happens. ### 5\. I find your industry news Most industries these days have associations, trade publications, groups, or chat rooms for insiders. I find those, and guess what I do? I sign up and then read everything. This is a great place for the latest and greatest business trends because they talk about everyone in the industry. Lots of gems to be found here. [How to Become Known as an Expert in Your NicheGetting started and building an audience.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-126.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-known-as-expert-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/expert-in-a-niche/) ### 6\. I listen and ask questions to your marketing, sales, customer service, product teams My job is to get a better sense from YOU about what’s happening, what has and hasn’t worked, what you want to try, what you definitely don’t want to try (I might try to talk you in or out of some things, though), and more. The best way for me to do this is to speak with you. Either we do this by phone, video, in-person (if we’re close enough, or pay for my travel 😉) or good ol’ email. I’m flexible to accommodate your busy schedule. ### 7\. I travel abroad (virtually) to find similar businesses Lastly, I try to take a peek at what’s happening with similar companies in other countries. Depending on your business model you might not be in direct competition or you might be, either way, seeing what others are doing elsewhere can be a great way to see what works and what doesn’t work. # Some business gaps freelancers can fill OK, so now you get why freelancers are cool. Remember that they can help solve for a few different scenarios to help your team get more bang for your buck. ### Don’t have the budget for FTE Believe it or not, even some of the higher-end freelancers are overall less expensive than hiring a new team member. ### Hiring stopgap With so many incredibly talented candidates, sometimes hiring can take a little longer than we’d like. Yet, we need that person to start yesterday. The solution is to find a talented and [reputable freelancer](https://blog.annabyang.com/successful-freelancers/) who can help with any immediate projects while you take your time ensuring you hire the best fit. ### Project support If you’re running a lean team but need extra hands on deck for a project, campaign, or even a company-wide program, consider finding a freelancer who can support the work. This way, once the *thing* is done, you can go back to business as usual. ### Vacation/leave fill-ins Sometimes vacations overlap, or someone needs to take a personal leave. You can’t justify hiring someone, even just for a few weeks or months (the hiring process might take longer than they’re away). The solution could be a freelancer. They can pick up and run with the work, and avoid any dropping of the proverbial balls. ### Beta testing specialties Of course, if you want to justify a FTE for a specialty role, maybe hiring freelancers to do the work and then bringing the ROI to leadership, can help build a better case for your new hire request. Think about it, in my world (content marketing), a mid- to senior-level FTE can run anywhere from $90-150k (give or take, depending on industries and experience). Before a company can justify that kind of investment, maybe hiring a freelance content marketer to build and launch a solid content library, would cost a fraction of that salary, but by the end of it, you can have a content dashboard that shows your C-suite where your audience is coming from, how long they’re spending on the page, where they’re going to after they read X article, and their website journey, including any potential leads, sign ups, and demo trials (and so many more insights). # Don’t write off (*\*ahem*) freelancers So the next time you get a knock on the door and it’s a freelancer offering to help, don’t dismiss them right away. Give them a chance to prove their worth. You’ll be surprised; pleasantly surprised. Pinky promise. --- *Freelance pricing is hard to figure out, but I’ve created a* [*free resource*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for fellow writers. It outlines rates, how to think about pricing, and how pricing can evolved over time.* ### Plans to Make When Facing a Medical Crisis URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/plans-when-facing-a-medical-crisis/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:30:36.000Z "Plans are useless, but planning is indispensable." A phrase attributed to Dwight D. Eisenhower, which he used repeatedly throughout his life. Planning has always been an integral part of my personality. I budget for different financial scenarios in my business. My home is filled with lists and calendars to keep our family of five organized. I carefully planned to [quit my corporate job](https://www.workbetter.media/p/the-last-straw?ref=blog.annabyang.com) in 2021\. Months of thinking about the timeframe. Agonizing over our budget and whether we could afford such a drastic pay cut that would come with a new career. Eighteen months and two jobs later, I [found myself without a job](https://www.workbetter.media/p/the-end-of-a-job-an-untold-story?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I had no plan for that scenario. Sometimes life hits you and you can't plan. It might be a job layoff. Or it might be a health condition, like my recent diagnosis with a [brain tumor](https://blog.annabyang.com/self-employed-brain-tumor/). I've spent the last few weeks intensely planning for post-surgery and recovery time. But it's also impossible to know the outcome. Everything is in probabilities and likelihoods, with nothing definitive. I might be fine within a few weeks. Or I might face a really long recovery. Still, I'd rather plan than *not* plan. It's the only way I can navigate uncertainty without surrendering to the unknown. ## Plans give us a sense of control Two things can happen when you plan. 1) Things go according to plan. 2) Things don't go according to plan. It's a 50/50 chance (or a different calculus, depending on the scenario). But at least in some scenarios, you can use the plan. Without planning, you are unprepared 100% of the time. And maybe that's fine for some people. But I'd rather put some plans into place, on the chance that they're useful and save me some stress down the road. When I can't control the outcome, I can at least control my preparation. I hope you never need to plan for a serious health scenario (like my upcoming brain surgery). But in case you do, here are some things to consider. ### Prepare for a long leave from work The typical recovery from brain tumor surgery is 4-6 weeks. My neurosurgeon thinks mine might be longer. I have the added layer of being self-employed. It sucks that work is highest on my list, but it's a reality. If you're preparing for a long absence, you're probably thinking about your paycheck. Because the last thing you need is to worry about money *while* you're recovering. So do as much as you can to plan in advance. Decide when you'll stop working (and when you can afford to stop working). I thought I would keep working until closer to my surgery date, but I just couldn't do it. I was incredibly unfocused, plus I had a ton of things I needed to do around the house. Since I'm self-employed, I also had to figure out what I could reasonably hand off to other people (like friends and my [virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/)) and what needed to be entirely paused while I'm not working. I had to inform all of my clients. If you're working for an employer, you'll need to do something similar. How much you share is up to you, but I was forthright that I have a brain tumor. ### Update legal documents I have a will and a trust that outline how my estate will be handled if I'm no longer living. These documents have been in place for years. Earlier this year, my attorney's office reached out and asked if I wanted to do a review. At the time, I couldn't think of anything specific. But now, with a brain tumor, I thought, "Yep, time to make some changes." A healthcare power of attorney is also **critical**if you're undergoing any medical procedure. Your healthcare POA can make medical decisions for you if you're unable to, and also makes sure your wishes are carried out. The healthcare POA should be on file with your hospital or any medical provider. (I was able to upload a copy of mine through MyChart.) If you don't want to pay an attorney because you don't have the money or the time to get these documents in order, see if your medical provider has a standard healthcare POA that you can fill out. ### Prepare household finances I have to plan for a period of time when I won't be the person buying groceries or taking care of other household purchases. My parents will do a lot of that. I added my parents as authorized signers on my credit card. That way, they can make purchases and I don't have to worry about paying them back later. I also have a spreadsheet of how much we spend each week on things like groceries, for example. I don't expect my parents to monitor our budget, but they can have a number in mind. I also started a [GoFundMe](https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-annas-recovery-from-brain-surgery?ref=blog.annabyang.com). We're going to incur a lot of additional expenses over the next few months while I'm recovering. The GoFundMe helps to cover that. ### Plan communication A *lot* of people have asked, "How will we know how you're doing after surgery?" And that's a good question, especially since I don't know when I'll be able to send messages. My contacts are all over the place, like my phone, Slack, and Facebook DMs. I finally decided that the day before surgery, I'll start a giant group chat in my text messages. And designate one person (probably my dad) to provide updates. That way, people have information, and it's all in one place. I'll start a second group chat for family. Anytime someone asks how they'll get updates, I add them to a list of people to put in the group chat. ### Keep the important things moving A *ton* of my work happens online. It's [how I get clients](https://blog.annabyang.com/linkedin-client-acquisition/) (LinkedIn), how I grow my audience (my blog, newsletter, and social profiles), and how I share my writing (my personal blog). The idea that content would simply stop was upsetting to me. Not just because I [rely on content for work](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-production-solopreneur/), but because writing is an integral part of who I am. I pictured this void in my publications, serving as a constant reminder that I had to pause my life to deal with a brain tumor. So I've pre-written and pre-scheduled a bunch of content. Because it's important to me. It's also really important to me that things are as normal for my kids as possible. To do that, I've had my older two kids help with grocery shopping and making dinner. That way, they can guide my parents. My middle child (13 years old) is very detail-oriented, so he's done a great job with grocery shopping. He understands the staples I buy every week and how to find things in the store. Think about what's important to *you*. Maybe it's not content. Maybe you don't have kids. But assuming you don't want to put everything in your life on hold (and it's fine if you do!), think about the ways you can maintain some normalcy. ## Accept when plans aren't possible One thing I couldn't plan for: anxiety. As my surgery date gets closer, my anxiety is off the charts. I thought I'd finish writing one last deliverable for a client. Instead, I had to email saying, "I'm sorry, I can't do it." I was overwhelmed by everything. I had a bunch of content I wanted to pre-write and pre-schedule. And while some got done, it wasn't nearly as much as I'd planned. The time existed, but everything takes me longer because I'm so unfocused. There was no way to plan for the outcome of surgery. And there was no way to plan for the final days leading up to surgery. As much as plans gave me a sense of control, it was a reminder that so much is outside of my control. I can only do so much. And have to trust that things will work out. --- *Need to review the health of your business? Check out my* [*quarterly planning checklist*](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for solopreneurs.* ### Time Blocking for Freelancers: How to Manage Your Work URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/time-blocking-for-freelancers/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:39:26.000Z You probably entered freelance life excited about the work you can produce for clients. You have creative control and the ultimate flexibility with your schedule, two very appealing factors of freelance life. But, freelancing involves much more than client work. Too often, new freelancers aren’t aware of the “business side” of running a one-person operation. You’re essentially also sales, marketing, and finance — all wrapped up into one. It can quickly feel overwhelming, especially if you treat the business side of your freelance life as an afterthought. Instead, you should set aside time in your week to tackle all of the business tasks that will need your attention. Here are a few things you can do weekly to balance your deliverables and business tasks. ## Use calendar time blocking If you schedule time to do your business tasks, it’s like an appointment with yourself. This does two things: 1) creates a reminder that you need to set aside time for your admin work and 2) encourages you to do the task in one sitting rather than pushing it out and letting it slip from your to-do list. Some ideas for tasks you can calendar block for: - Sending invoices (and follow up if needed) - Planning your social calendar - Maintaining your [online portfolio](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/) - Managing your finances (budget or expenses) - Building [your network](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-networking/), engaging on social or sending cold emails The length and frequency of these tasks will vary, depending on the type of work you do. If you’re trying to drum up new business, you may want to send cold emails two or three times per week, for half an hour each time. Some freelancers only invoice monthly, others may send invoices every week. When scheduling your admin tasks into your calendar, take into consideration the time of day and the amount of energy you have. A lot of the business tasks will be less “brain intensive” than your client work, so save your peak performance time for your clients and schedule admin work at a time of day when you can simply execute on those more tedious tasks. [Managing Your Finances as a SolopreneurWhat you need to know for your business finances.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-120.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-managing-solopreneur-finances-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/managing-solopreneur-finances/) ## Tips to make the most of time blocking Client work can often be unpredictable, and it might be tempting to shift your calendar around or ignore the time you’ve set aside for business tasks when a client needs you. Doing this occasionally won’t have much of an impact, but if you’re constantly pushing aside your business tasks in favor of client work, you’ll find yourself working long hours or weekends to make up that time. Or, you’ll find that your business will suffer because you don’t have a good pipeline or your finances are a mess. There are a few ways you can manage your calendar to help you stay committed to the time you’ve set aside for business tasks. ### Color-code your calendar You may find that having a visual distinction between your calendar appointments for admin work and other client meetings is helpful. Having your business tasks in RED might remind you that you shouldn’t move that block of time. ### Protect your free/busy time If you’re trying to schedule a lot of meetings with clients (especially using a calendar assistant like [Calendly](https://calendly.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)), you need to think about how much you want to protect your blocks of time. You can control this using the free/busy option on Google Calendar. Letting people consistently schedule over your admin time defeats the purpose of adding that time to your calendar. ### Set aside a larger block of time If the idea of setting aside small amounts of time each day or week feels too disruptive, you could also block off a larger chunk of time and do several business tasks. Monday mornings or Friday afternoons are good — either kicking into gear for the week or winding down. Set aside two or three hours and knock out everything on your list. The same would be true for anything you need to do monthly. Pick [one day per month](https://blog.annabyang.com/deep-work/) and devote half a day (or whatever you need) to your monthly work. ### Use an AI-powered calendar assistant Setting recurring appointments on your calendar can be tricky if you’re juggling a lot of meetings. You may feel that you have to constantly move your calendar blocks around to accommodate client work. An AI-powered calendar assistant can take care of this for you. When a client schedules a meeting during one of your scheduled blocks for a business task, the calendar assistant will “move” your business task to the next available time on your calendar. [Reclaim](https://go.reclaim.ai/fjoa2msu6i5g?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* and [Motion](https://www.usemotion.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) are two options for calendar management. ## Factor your non-paying work into your pricing & capacity Scheduling time for your business tasks helps you with another challenge that many freelancers face: your pricing. When you’re [figuring out pricing](https://blog.annabyang.com/am-i-charging-enough/), you want to factor in the time you spend on your business as a whole, not just your client work. Having recurring blocks of time on your calendar shows you how much time you spend on this work and helps you better understand your business as a whole. It can also help you better understand your true working capacity. You may find that as your business grows, you actually need more time for admin tasks. Understanding your own capacity will help [prevent burn-out](https://blog.annabyang.com/avoid-career-burnout/) and build a [sustainable business](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/). ## Re-evaluate how you spend your time Over time, you’ll need to continue adjusting how you handle admin tasks. You may need to spend less time prospecting new clients as you build your business or more time sending invoices as the work increases. Or you may need to change the time of day or frequency. Re-evaluate your blocks of time every few months to ensure you’re still making the best use of your time. --- *Check out my* [*free guide*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* 🔗 ****Affiliate links**: I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. --- *This post was originally published as a guest post on* [*Harlow*](https://meetharlow.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*'s blog. Harlow provides tools, resources, and support for freelancers.* ### What Is Business Strategy? URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/what-is-business-strategy/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:32:40.000Z 💻 **This guest post was written by my friend* [**Sarah Duran*](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-duran-72246817/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)**, a coach for solo business owners. You can learn more about Sarah on* [**her website*](https://www.fruitioninitiatives.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)**.* You’ve heard it a million times: be strategic. When you work by yourself, the concept of strategy might seem like a luxury reserved for larger companies. In reality, strategy is crucial for solo business owners because every decision counts, and resources are limited. But what exactly is strategy, and how can you “be strategic” as a solo business owner? At its core, strategy is a plan of action designed to achieve a goal. It involves making deliberate choices about how to allocate resources, which activities to prioritize, and how to navigate challenges to reach your objectives. Think of it as a series of guideposts—steering your decisions and helping you stay on course. ## Why strategy matters for solo business owners As a solo business owner, you wear many hats. You handle everything from marketing and sales to customer service and product development. With so many roles to juggle, it is easy to get caught up in working *in* your business instead of *on* it. A coherent vision with an aligned strategy helps you see the forest instead of the trees, [staying focused on your longer-term plans](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-mindset/) instead of the day-to-day minutia. We’ve all been there…you sat down in December, created a bunch of incredible goals for your business in the coming year and then lo and behold, it’s September and you’ve been so busy reacting to client needs, doing all of the admin work in your business, and worrying about cashflow that not only have you not made progress on your goals, you forgot they were even there. A good strategy is a litmus test, helping you allocate your time, money, and energy more effectively. By prioritizing activities that align with your strategy, you avoid wasting resources on things that don’t contribute to your goals. This litmus test will also help you [stand out in a crowded market](https://blog.annabyang.com/social-media-for-solopreneurs/). When you know where you’re going and why, you can better identify your unique selling points and find ways to leverage them instead of just taking whatever comes your way. ## Emergent strategy: Navigating the unpredictable In the world of business strategy, there are two primary approaches: deliberate and emergent. While deliberate strategy involves meticulous planning and execution based on predefined goals, emergent strategy takes a different path. It’s more about [adaptability](https://blog.annabyang.com/mental-flexibility/) and seizing opportunities as they arise. Emergent strategy refers to a flexible, adaptive approach to strategy that evolves in response to real-time experiences and changes in the market. Unlike deliberate strategy, which is based on long-term planning and structured objectives, emergent strategy is characterized by its ability to adapt and adjust based on unforeseen opportunities, challenges, and new information. **Here’s the big secret: there’s no such thing as deliberate strategy, especially for solo business owners.** Most business strategists and self-help gurus promote the idea of big goals, strategic plans, and long-term thinking. The thing is, those plans and goals aren’t going to help you when things change, and you have to adjust quickly. To survive (and, dare I say, thrive), you need a flexible, adaptive strategy to plan for the unplannable and make yourself antifragile. > *“Antifragility is beyond resilience or robustness. The resilient resists shocks and stays the same; the antifragile gets better.”* > ― Nassim Nicholas Taleb Instead of using antiquated goal-setting and strategic planning tactics, solo business owners have to utilize flexible, emergent strategies to learn by doing and then adjust as they go. ## What is emergent strategy? **Adaptable:** Emergent strategy thrives on flexibility and responsiveness. Businesses that adopt this approach are open to changing their course based on new insights, market trends, or unexpected challenges. **Short-Cycle:** Instead of making sweeping, long-term plans, emergent strategy involves making small, incremental adjustments based on ongoing learning and feedback. **Opportunistic:** Emergent strategy often involves seizing opportunities as they arise, rather than sticking rigidly to a pre-determined plan. ## How do you make a strategy? So, how do you develop a strategy for your solo business? Here’s a simplified approach to get you started: ### 1\. First…vision The key to an effective emergent strategy is a [strong vision](https://blog.annabyang.com/create-a-roadmap-for-your-freelance-business/). You might not know exactly where you’re going or how you’ll get there, but you have to have a definition of the long-term effect you’re aiming to achieve. I call this the long game. The long game is the long-term effect you aim for, the miracle outcome you want to achieve. What effect do you want your work and life to have on the world? How to identify your long-game - Does it feel like a miracle? - Is it the work of a lifetime or even multiple lifetimes? - Is it intrinsically connected to who you are and what you want? (See the following two steps for more.) ### 2\. Know your baseline Take a moment to clarify where you are now, who you are, and what you value. What are your strengths and weaknesses? This is your starting place around which everything should be organized, at least for now. The question is simple, but the answer isn’t because most of us never spend the time to really think about it. Ask yourself, who am I? What is my work? Don’t get stuck here. The person you are today most likely won’t be who you are next year. You just have to know who you are to have a foundation from which to start. [How to Think About Your Revenue Goals as a SolopreneurWhat to consider as you work toward your revenue goals.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-119.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-foundational-revenue.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/foundational-revenue/) ### 3\. Decide what you want Most people think they know what they want, but don’t do the hard work of identifying their desires. This leads to meaningless “goals” that have nothing to do with what we want, which leads to lifetimes of following dreams that are not our own and doing things we don’t want to do. You can’t get what you want if you don’t know what it is. OG hustler Napoleon Hill calls this Your Definite Chief Aim, one of the centerpieces of his philosophy around manifesting your desires. > *“Wishing will not bring riches. But desiring riches with a state of mind that becomes an obsession, then planning definite ways and means to acquire riches, and backing those plans with persistence which does not recognize failure, will bring riches.”* > \- Napoleon Hill While Your Definite Chief Aim does not have to be about riches in the literal sense, it does need to resonate in your core as something you cannot live without­—something you can’t not do. Most people do not have this kind of single-minded focus, this obsession. That’s not because people are inherently lazy or unmotivated; it’s because societal mindsets around desire condition us. ### 4\. Set Better Goals Setting goals should be an exercise in defining success overall, not limiting yourself to that definition of success at a specific moment in the future. Let’s face it, things change. In reality, that is the only thing you can be sure of. So why build goals with deadlines and numbers that don’t push you toward what is the best thing for you in this moment? Instead, build meaningful goals that will help you now instead of forecasting the next best thing. Here’s how to do that: **Quality instead of quantity** Often, we don’t know exactly what we want to strive for until we go through the act of defining success. Using qualitative goals allows you to have something to aim for while honoring that you’re not going to be the same person or business next month or next year. A [qualitative goal](https://blog.annabyang.com/90-day-goals/) defines success by what it looks and feels like, not by arbitrary numbers. **Ambitious but ambiguous** Achievable is great, but seriously, aim for the stars. Don’t limit yourself to what you think is possible at this moment because it is only a moment. Circumstances change constantly. Make that ambitious (qualitative) goal, map out a few ways to get there, and then explore until you find the right path. Chances are you’ll find other options along the way that you never even thought of that end up getting you where you want to go. **Relevant…now** Make sure your goals are relevant to who you are and where you are now. While keeping in mind that who you are today is not where you’ll be tomorrow. Relevancy is iterative. You should always have a north star and orient around it, but that north star might move in the sky over time. What’s relevant to you in your 20s will likely be irrelevant in your 40s. Your “why” will change as your life does. **Timelines, not deadlines** The truth is, most of us set SMART goals, whether for our work or life, and then put them on a shelf where we revisit them at New Year’s or our annual review, and a) feel guilty about our lack of progress, b) see that we’ve blown them out of the water, or c) find that they’re no longer relevant. You don’t have to plan out the next five years of your life right now; get clear on what you think you want that to look like and what progress looks like at this moment. Reinforce your qualitative goals with quantitative timelines (AKA, actual dates). Do this in short cycles so that you have time to see progress and then adjust as things change, because they will. ### 5\. Align goals with strategies and tactics The biggest mistake people make is confusing strategies and tactics with goals. “[Post more on LinkedIn](https://blog.annabyang.com/linkedin-client-acquisition/)” is not a goal but a tactic. If you don’t know why you’re posting on LinkedIn and to what end, then the act of posting is pointless. There’s a lot of confusing advice out there about goals vs. strategies vs. tactics—let me give you a simple formula: - Goal: What do you want? - Strategy: What will you do to get it? - Tactic: How will you do it? If you have difficulty defining the goal, start with the strategies and tactics and work backward. The important thing is that they all align; tactics should be nested under strategies, strategies should be nested under goals; it should ALL be nested under your vision. ## Now do it This a guide for crafting a strategy, not executing it—that’s another guide in and of itself. With that said the most important thing to do once you’ve created a strategy is to make a plan and then revisit it regularly. Goals and plans are only as good as the systems you’ve built to revisit them and adjust accordingly. The person making that plan today is not the same person who will be living that plan next week or next month. Create a system for [checking in](https://blog.annabyang.com/quarterly-check-in/) on your structures regularly. Get a new baseline and update that framework to always to reflect your circumstances and context. For solo business owners, strategy isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a vital component of success. By defining your vision, setting your baseline, knowing what you want, and then building better goals to achieve it, you can navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship with greater confidence and purpose. Remember, a well-crafted adaptive strategy is your guide to turning your dreams into reality. --- *Need to review the health of your business? Check out my* [*quarterly planning checklist*](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for solopreneurs.* ### Your Friends Are an Asset (In Business and in Life) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-friends/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:56:02.000Z Pros of running a solo business: No one telling you what to do. No annoying colleagues. Cons of running a solo business: You're working alone much of the time. No one to help or bounce ideas off of. I've talked to many freelancers who feel isolated. Other than their client work, they're not interacting much with other people (at least, in a professional context). I have a *large* network of friends who are also freelancers. I'm talking to people almost every day — mostly via text message, Slack, and LinkedIn DMs. These relationships didn't happen by accident. I've spent a lot of time cultivating relationships with other solopreneurs. There are so many benefits to having a network of "freelance friends" — on both a professional and personal level. ## Solopreneurship doesn't have to be lonely The loneliest time in my professional career wasn't when I started a solo business. It was when I was working at a company that didn't have a supportive work environment. The company had grown too big, too fast. I was left to fend for myself. If I had a question, I didn't know who to ask. I didn't know anyone well enough to send fun messages during the day. I put my head down and did my work. But long before I started freelancing full-time, I worked to [build my network](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-networking/). At the time, I had *no* plans to go out on my own. However, a strong professional network seemed like a good idea. Today, that network fulfills me in many ways. Sometimes it's a message saying, "Hey, have you ever handled this situation before?" Sometimes it's a joke. But I never feel like I'm working alone, because these fellow solopreneurs are my substitute for colleagues. ## Friendships can support your growth Your freelance friends can be a sounding board for your ideas. They can be your [gut-check on pricing](https://blog.annabyang.com/am-i-charging-enough/), and your cheerleader when things go well. One of the private Slack communities I'm in has a #wins channel and also a #losses channel. We recognize that we will all face losses — like a deal that fell through — and those moments need support also. Your solopreneur friends don't have to do the same type of work as you. Some of mine have *vastly* different businesses. I still talk to them about [business ideas](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-mindset/). They can explain to me how they run something in their own business, and I can consider how it might apply to mine. Plus, client issues are fairly universal (unfortunately), and we can commiserate, vent, and talk about handling problems like non-payment. Additionally, a network of fellow solopreneurs can support your growth. If one of my friends is launching a product, I'll include it in my newsletter. They'll do the same for me. We co-host or cross-promote webinars so we can reach each other's audiences. I never think of [fellow freelancers as competition](https://blog.annabyang.com/fellow-solopreneurs-are-not-your-competition/). [Maintain Your Relationships With a Personal CRMA contact management tool can help.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-121.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-personal-crm.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/system-to-maintain-relationships/) ## Friends are there when you need them One of the most challenging aspects of working in a 1-person business is that the revenue depends *entirely* on you. If you need to take a step back, you either need to fill the gap or let some work go. Fellow solopreneurs whom you trust can help fill the gap. I recently found out that I have a [brain tumor](https://blog.annabyang.com/self-employed-brain-tumor/) and need surgery. It has a potentially long recovery period. I had to pause all of my client work as a freelance writer. Clients pay *me* for my expertise, and I wasn't comfortable subcontracting. But a large part of my business depends on inbound inquiries, mostly from LinkedIn. I also have an entire [content ecosystem](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-ecosystem/) on my blog, my newsletter, and my Substack. I didn't want to let those channels fall silent for weeks (or months) while I recover. I tapped into my network of freelance friends and asked for help. Several people were willing to contribute guest content. My friend [Nola Simon](https://www.nolasimon.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) wrote an essay for my Substack (which will publish in a few weeks). In the essay, she called out our friendship — and how it has existed entirely online: > *This essay is part of the system Anna designed to facilitate her recovery process. I’m honoured that she trusts me to help. Over the years, Anna and I have only met on Zoom twice to conduct two interviews, one which became a* [*podcast*](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/perspectives-transparency-isnt-trust-anna-burgess-yang/id1602822494?i=1000630291170&ref=blog.annabyang.com) *and the other a* [*long form Substack*](https://www.workbetter.media/p/perspectives-transparency-isnt-trust?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* > > *Most of our interactions happen asynchronously online on various platforms like LinkedIn, Threads, and Medium. Trust without presence is entirely possible.* ## Prioritize your relationships I wouldn't have been able to lean into my network for support if I hadn't nurtured relationships over the years. I make time for my solopreneur friends. I support them. I *never* expected that I would need to lean on them so much while dealing with a medical crisis. But, at this point, we're more than just online acquaintances. We're **actual** friends. And because of this, my friends were there for me. --- *Freelance pricing is hard to figure out, but I’ve created a* [*free resource*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for fellow writers. It outlines my rates, how I think about pricing, and how my pricing has evolved over time* ### 6 Business Investments for Solopreneurs URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/business-investments-solopreneurs/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:47:21.000Z It's easy to plan for your recurring monthly subscriptions. They're the same amount every month, or you pay annually and know how much you'll spend. It's harder when an expense costs more because you're parting ways with a lot of cash in your business. Is it worth the cost? Is it worth the risk of having less cash on hand? Part of running a business includes making investments: something you think will save you time or [generate more revenue](https://blog.annabyang.com/foundational-revenue/). Here are some larger investments I've made in my business that were worth the cost. ## 1\. Outsourcing admin or repetitive work For a long time, I ran my solo business entirely by myself (with a little help from [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]).* But eventually, I reached the limits of what I could automate. It was either put in additional hours myself, leave work unfinished, or hire some help. I chose to [hire a virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/). She helps with tasks like creating social posts in Canva and publishing completed drafts to my blog. VAs are also really good at tasks like inbox triage, managing your calendar, or organizing files. By hiring a VA, you can free up your time for higher-value work, like client projects or business strategy. My VA does 5 hours of work for me per week, and it's part of my business budget. However, if you're not ready for the ongoing commitment, you can hire a VA for project-based work. If you've got something you've been putting off because you simply don't have time, a VA can help you. ## 2\. Hiring an expert instead of learning something new When I first started writing online, I hired someone to help me build an email sequence for an eBook I created. I had very little experience with email sequences. Not only did the person write the copy, but also set everything up in [Kit](https://partners.kit.com/f9fp6buqnnz1?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (formerly ConvertKit) for me *\[affiliate link\].* Was that something I could have done myself? Sure. But I was new to Kit at the time. And rather than writing an email sequence that may have fallen flat, I could rely on someone with more experience. Once I had more confidence, I tweaked the sequence and replicated it across additional digital products. If you're thinking about hiring an expert, ask yourself a few questions: - Will learning this myself benefit me in the future? - Is my time better spent on other things? - What's the value in hiring someone to help me finish this project faster? The last point — finishing a project faster — often helps you see a return on your investment (ROI). You can start earning more, make fewer mistakes, or preserve your own time/energy. [Turn Your Free Downloads Into Paying CustomersKeep the momentum going.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-117.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-product-adoption-flywheel.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/digital-products-flywheel/) ## 3\. A coach or course that moves the needle No one has all the answers for their business all the time. A coach can help you see things from a new perspective. A course might give you some actionable steps or teach you a specific skill you need to change your business. Hiring a coach or buying a course comes with a big caveat though: they have to be worth the money. There are a *lot* of bad coaches and courses out there. Start with a recommendation from someone you know or do your research to make sure the person is reputable. I started working 1:1 with a coach when I was at a crossroads with my business. A medical diagnosis (a [brain tumor](https://blog.annabyang.com/self-employed-brain-tumor/)) was about to change my life drastically and, potentially, how I work. I needed someone to act as a sounding board and help me think through re-shaping my business (if necessary). With a coach or course, prioritize **practical** outcomes, such as your pricing strategy, building an online presence, or [shifting your mindset](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-mindset/). ## 4\. Legal help when it matters A strong contract protects you from scope creep and late payments. Yet only 28% of freelancers use a contract with every project, [according to the Freelancers Union](https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2024/05/14/introducing-the-freelancers-union-contract-creator/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). There are two issues. One, freelancers don't want to pay a lawyer to create a contract. Two, even with a contract, freelancers aren't comfortable editing the terms. I started with a free contract template I found online, but I had previous experience drafting contracts, so I was comfortable editing it. I later hired a lawyer to write a more professional contract for me. At a minimum, you should purchase a contract template. I've purchased contracts from [Boss Contract Society](https://shop.bosscontractsociety.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (and then edited them to meet my needs). ## 5\. Professional design (when DIY won’t cut it anymore) Like most freelancers, I used Canva for all of my design needs, like a LinkedIn banner and social posts. But over time, it was quite obvious that my templates lacked cohesiveness and looked "homemade." I finally hired a brand designer and worked with him to produce a huge range of assets, from social posts to eBooks. He spent a lot of time understanding who I am and what I do to come up with the right aesthetic. Design was one of the larger investments I made in my business, but the payoff was huge in the number of assets I received. Good design makes you look more professional and brings consistency to your business. [4 Reasons You Need to Organize Your Freelance Brand AssetsBuilding a strong brand matters. Make it easy to maintain.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-118.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-organize-freelance-brand-assets.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/organize-freelance-brand-assets/) ## 6\. Equipment that supports your work I'm in front of a computer most of the day. So things like a large monitor and an ergonomic chair are [must-haves for my home office](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-home-office/). I also use a mechanical keyboard simply because it brings me joy and makes me feel fancy. You'll also want to think about high-quality equipment based on the type of work you do. I'm a frequent podcast guest, so I've invested in a better webcam and microphone over the years. You might also consider nice headphones, if listening to music helps you focus. ## Plan and save for your investments Many of these investments are hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars. I save for business investments in two ways. I have a "wish list" of things I'd like to invest in. And then I put money into a separate [business savings account](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-savings-accounts/) every month, specifically for business investments. Once I've saved up enough, I'll make the purchase. Interestingly, sometimes once I've saved up, I decide that I no longer need the investment. My business priorities have shifted. That's a good thing: I'm not making impulse investments in my business, and confirming that I actually want to spend the money. Even if you don't have a specific investment in mind yet, start setting money aside. That way, you'll have money saved up when you decide what makes the most sense for your business. --- *Not sure where to get started with a client proposal or contract? You can check out this* [*free checklist*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/proposal-contract?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *and download a template to use.* 🔗 ****Affiliate links**: I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. ### Am I Charging Enough for My Services? URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/am-i-charging-enough/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:56:12.000Z When I first started freelancing, pricing was a giant question mark. I literally had no idea what to charge clients. Most freelancers are not gatekeepers and will willingly share what they charge. Even when I found a [community of fellow freelancers](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-networking/) who openly shared their rates, I was hesitant to charge the same. I thought, "They have more experience than me. How can I charge the same?" I quickly learned that pricing has little to do with how many years of experience I have. It's about the value you deliver — and finding the right clients who are willing to pay for that value. ## The pricing lies freelancers tell themselves "I can't afford to charge more" is a huge mindset block for freelancers. They fear that if they charge more, they'll lose clients. But undercharging is also risky. You'll have difficulty raising your rates (at least, not a meaningful amount) with existing clients. It's also really hard to build a sustainable business when you don't charge enough to support your lifestyle. Every freelancer will hear the words, "Your pricing is too high" at some point. It can be a confidence killer. You'll wonder if you should lower your pricing to win the next client (or even negotiate with the client who told you that your pricing is too high). Instead, tell yourself this. Your pricing is not too high. It's outside of **that client's** budget. That's not the right client for you. ## Perceived value drives pricing Clients have to believe that your work is worth the money you're asking them to pay. Very few things have guaranteed results. If clients are hiring you for a service, they have to believe that your work will lead to a return on their investment. In my work (as a freelance [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/)), there's often not a *direct* correlation between my work and results. I'm often hired to amplify a brand through thought leadership content. Does that type of writing lead to a specific increase in sales? Not necessarily. But it improves the brand, and that's worth something. Here are a few ways you can justify your pricing: **Your portfolio**. Make sure you [keep your portfolio current](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/) with your best work and your biggest clients. It's the best way to showcase what you're capable of doing. **Your professionalism.** Everything a potential client sees shows them that you take your business seriously. This includes things like your website or the [proposal template](https://products.annabyang.com/l/proposal-contract?ref=blog.annabyang.com) you use. **Your social media presence**. Talk about the work you do and demonstrate your expertise. There's a lot that happens behind the scenes that isn't obvious from your portfolio. For example, I worked in fintech for 15 years as a product manager before I pivoted into content marketing and journalism. I mention this frequently on social media, because it justifies my pricing: I'm an expert on certain topics. [Establish Credibility and Expertise as a FreelancerEarn more with niche clients![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-115.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-establish-credibility-expertise-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/establish-freelancer-credibility-and-expertise/) ## Revisit your pricing regularly My pricing has more than doubled since I started freelancing full-time three years ago. It's ok to start with pricing that you think clients will pay. But you should quickly raise your rates as you get better examples in your portfolio and establish yourself as a solid freelancer. In the early months, I would raise my rates with almost every new client. I had a target in mind, based on what I knew other freelancers were charging. I just needed to build a portfolio of work that demonstrated I was worth the same. It's also ok to charge a little higher than you think clients will pay. You'd be surprised. If you have a good social presence or other cues, clients might be willing to take a chance on you, even if you don't have the demonstrated experience. One thing I *don't* do is raise prices on existing clients. I know some freelancers do that, and that's certainly an option. But, to me, it's not worth rocking the boat in the relationship. I'm satisfied with the rates my clients are paying, and still occasionally raise rates for new clients (especially if it's directly within my niche). [Business Mindset for Solopreneurs: Trust Your DecisionsDecision-making is an essential part of running a business.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-116.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-business-mindset-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-mindset/) ## Pricing is an investment in your business If you don't charge enough, it's a quick path to burnout. You'll need to work harder to earn the amount you need. Plus, low-paying clients are sometimes the most difficult because they don't value your work as much. Charging higher rates gives you the resources to deliver better work, invest in tools, and build a [sustainable business](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/). You can serve your clients *and* protect your capacity by working less for the same (or more!) money. --- *Freelance pricing is hard to figure out, but I’ve created a* [*free resource*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for fellow writers. It outlines my rates, how I think about pricing, and how my pricing has evolved over time.* ### Peace and Quiet: Why You Should Create a Morning Routine URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/create-a-morning-routine/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:10:09.000Z When my kids were little, I felt like I never had any time for **me**. Feeding, playing with, and caring for small children is exhausting. I love my kids endlessly, but those years were rough. When my youngest child was a baby, she began waking up consistently at 5:00 am. At first, I was annoyed because I felt like I'd been robbed of an hour of sleep. But then I realized how *quiet* it was in the house in the morning. During the COVID pandemic, I began to [take advantage of this early morning time](https://blog.annabyang.com/a-club-for-early-morning-writers/). All three of my kids were home due to school closures, so early mornings were literally the only time I had to myself. Years later, I still maintain an early morning routine. It's not intense or a "wake up and plunge your face into cold water" approach. Instead, it's a way to ease into the day. Mornings are all about me and set me up for a day of [running a 1-person business](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-management-basics/). ## A morning routine split between personal and business When you're running a 1-person business, your days can be really varied. One day, you're juggling client updates and your social media presence and the next day you're heads-down focused on a deliverable. You might even embrace your freedom and flexible hours (which is amazing), but that also creates a lot of variation between days. Your morning routine can be an anchor. When your days look different every week, a morning routine creates structure. **You** are your business's biggest asset, which is why your prep for the day matters. Even a small routine (10-15 minutes) can put you in the right mindset for the entire day. But I encourage you to have a longer morning routine. Split the time between habits that are personally fulfilling and business tasks. Start with something that makes you happy, and then move into something related to your business. It creates a smooth transition before you dive into more intensive work for the day. [Building a Business Allows You to Redefine WorkIt’s no longer about what other people want.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-112.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-redefine-work.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/building-business-redefine-work/) ## What my morning routine looks like The most important part of my morning routine is consistency: doing the same thing, every day. I usually wake up around 4:30 am. This isn't a flex — at this point, I naturally wake up that early. My morning routine includes: - Sitting on my couch with a cup of coffee and playing Wordle (and a few other New York Times games) on my phone - Moving from the couch to my desk and spending a few minutes recapping the prior day in Reflect - Planning my day in blocks of time and writing down my plan using the [Ugmonk ](https://ugmonk.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)analog system *\[affiliate link\]* After I get through my morning routine, I write until other people in the house wake up. Sometimes my writing is work-related; sometimes personal. That part doesn't matter as much as the focused writing time. I'd like to say that every morning is super productive, but that's not true. Some days, I spend more time on the couch drinking my coffee and have less time to write. But the goal isn't to get a bunch of stuff done. It's to [show up consistently](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-production-solopreneur/) and follow a ritual. For example, planning the rest of my day usually only takes a few minutes. I break my day into blocks of time, so my plan will look something like: "9:00 - 10:30 — Work on Client Deliverable." This prevents decision fatigue later, because I know what I need to work on. If I don't finish everything on the list throughout the day, that's fine. I can add it to my list for the next day. ## Tips for building a morning routine that sticks If you're not a morning person and want to *become* a morning person to capture the glorious quiet time, there are a few things you can do to shift your schedule. **Start small**. Don't come up with an elaborate morning routine that takes you 90 minutes every day. Focus instead on what you would get done if you had an extra 15 minutes in the morning. **Force yourself to wake up early**. If you wake up early, you'll naturally start going to bed earlier. My evening routine is just chilling: getting my kids ready for bed and watching TV. I can turn my brain off for the day. Once you start waking up early and going to bed early, your entire [body rhythm will start to shift](https://blog.annabyang.com/perfecting-the-power-nap/). (I also eat lunch and dinner early as a result of this schedule.) **Stay flexible**. There are other things I'd like to do in the morning, like meditate. They don't always happen. My non-negotiables are coffee, Wordle, recapping my prior day, and planning the current day. Anything else I get done is a bonus. **Adjust to your current season of life**. Maybe you have a baby. Maybe you're currently [experiencing a medical issue](https://blog.annabyang.com/self-employed-brain-tumor/) that throws off your routine. Make adjustments as needed. Most importantly, give yourself grace. Missing a day doesn't mean you've failed. It just means that you haven't hit the tipping point yet where you *crave* the morning routine and hate to miss it. But if you keep working to create a morning routine, eventually you'll find that it's a really important part of your day. ## Create a morning routine that supports your life A morning routine supports my current season of life because it's the best way for me to get some uninterrupted time. By evening, I'm exhausted, so I can't think as clearly. Your morning routine should support *you* and how *you* want to start your day. Journaling? Do that. Exercise? Go for it. My days often feel dictated by other people's needs. My morning routine is just for me. --- *Check out my* [*free guide*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### Your Solo Business Quarterly Check-In URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/quarterly-check-in/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:10:43.000Z Think of all the maintenance-type items on your to-do list. Haircuts. Going to the dentist. Spring cleaning. Tasks designed to keep things in order or keep your life running smoothly. Your one-person business also needs regular maintenance, which includes a quarterly check-in. You need to spend some time evaluating what's working and what isn't. The way to do that is to look at actual data — something many solopreneurs put on the back burner. Your quarterly check-in doesn't need to be complicated. You can create a checklist of things to review and spend a few hours gathering information and reflecting. But the check-in is a way to make sure you're moving toward your [business goals](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-mindset/)on (instead of just staying busy). ## How to prepare for your quarterly check-in I have my quarterly check-in blocked off on my calendar, so that I don't skip it or schedule something else during that time. It's planned for a few days after the end of a quarter. I spend about half a day on my check-in, but you could spend more or less, depending on the complexity of your business. I'm a big fan of [90-day goals](https://blog.annabyang.com/90-day-goals/). Ninety days gives me enough time to try something new or experiment, while still seeing progress. With some metrics, I'm tracking information along the way (like how much I earn from digital products), but I review results at the 90-day mark. A quarterly check-in also helps you catch small issues before they turn into bigger problems. For example, let's say your client pipleline isn't as healthy as it used to be. During a quarterly check-in, you can try to assess what's happening. Is it external factors, like the economy? Has the market shifted? Did you change the way you [market yourself](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-self-promotion/)? By asking yourself questions about your business during your quarterly check-in, you can strategize for the next quarter. ## The 3 key areas to review each quarter Not sure where to start with your quarterly review? All businesses have a few things in common: financial performance, growth, and goals. While the exact data you review *within* these categories might vary, they're a good foundation for your review. ### Financial performance Your [business revenue](https://blog.annabyang.com/foundational-revenue/) is one of the top indicators of financial health. During your quarterly review, look at the following: - How much you earned and how much you spent - How much you're paying for tools and if they're all still necessary - The customers you gained and lost in the quarter and the impact on your income With customers gained, I also look at the source (such as an inbound inquiry through my website or a referral). That data informs my business strategy, because I can spend more time on the tactics that drive new business. (I keep track of my pipeline in [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\].)* I also keep track of how much clients are paying me and review that data. Over time, I've [raised my rates](https://blog.annabyang.com/charge-for-your-knowledge/) so I can compare my earnings in one quarter to the same quarter in the prior year. [How to Build a Sustainable Business as a FreelancerEscape the hustle and grind of freelancing.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-110.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-sustainable-freelance-business-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/) ### Growth In the "growth" category, I focus on my online presence. However, if your business model is different, you might also look at customers gained/lost as a metric of growth. I look at: - Website traffic - Followers and engagement across my social profiles - Downloads of free resources - Newsletter growth If you're trying to grow a social presence, it's *really* easy to beat yourself up in this category. You can't control the algorithms, and they can change on a dime. What you *should* try to figure out is what's working and what isn't. For example, video content is on the rise pretty much everywhere. If you've seen a dip in your reach, do you want to try video content? Or do you want to try something else? During your quarterly check-in, decide if you want to experiment during the following quarter. If you stick to it, 90 days is a really good indicator of whether something is working or not. ### Goals Every quarter, I set some 90-day goals. Usually, this includes something new I want to launch (like a free resource), and an investment I want to make in my business (such as spending money on equipment or a course). During my review, I look at my list of goals and ask myself: Did I meet them? If not, why? Sometimes, my priorities simply shift, and the goal I'd set no longer makes sense. In those cases, I have to decide if I want to add the goal to my plans in a future quarter or remove it from my list entirely. ### Bonus: How are YOU doing? Don't forget to consider how YOU feel during your 90-day check-in. How are you doing? Do you [feel overwhelmed](https://blog.annabyang.com/single-tasking-strategies/)? Do you feel good about your business? Or do you feel stuck? How you feel should influence your next quarter's goals, a lot. If you're overwhelmed, you might need to pull back on certain things. You could also hire a virtual assistant or learn how to use automation. If you're feelings are more existential (such as "Am I happy doing this work?"), you should take time to reflect. Ask yourself what your ideal business looks like. And what steps you need to take to move in that direction. ## Tips to stay on track between check-ins There are a few things you can do in between my quarterly check-ins, mostly to make the check-in day easier. - Setting aside [one day per month](https://blog.annabyang.com/deep-work/) for bigger projects - A [Notion](https://affiliate.notion.so/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) dashboard *\[affiliate link\]* or something similar to track my growth metrics and goals - An accountability partner who can cheer you on You don't want to obsess over metrics in between your check-ins. Think of this more like "information gathering." If you collect your numbers throughout the quarter, you can spend more time reflecting during your check-in instead of doing admin-type work. ## Create a quarterly check-in template To make the most of your quarterly check-in, create a checklist for yourself. On this checklist, add the data you want to review and the quarterly check-in questions you want to ask yourself. That way, you can follow the same process every time. Don't over-stuff your checklist (unless you want to spend an entire day reviewing your business). Instead, focus on the things that actually matter and impact your business outcomes. --- *Need some quarterly checklist inspiration? You can download my* [*quarterly planning checklist*](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *template.* 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you use sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ### 5 Ways I Buy Back Time in My Day URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/buy-back-time/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:39:35.000Z I run a one-person business and have three kids. Sometimes my to-do list is so long that I feel like I need 48 hours in the day instead of 24. In reality, I *can't* do everything myself. It's not possible. I have to figure out ways to "buy back" time in my day by [paying for tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-tech-stack/) or other types of assistance. If I didn't do this, I'd have to spend a lot more time doing tasks I don't particularly like. Better to spend that time on higher-value work (or at least take a nap once in a while!). ## Automating tasks If a task is repetitive, I automate it. Hundreds of tasks are automated in the background every week using [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\*\].* Zapier does work-related tasks like [adding new folders to my Google Drive](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/client-folders-google-drive/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) whenever I sign a new client, and personal tasks like sending me a notification when my teenager adds something to our family Google Calendar. Overall, Zapier automates about 1,500 tasks per month for me. If I estimate conservatively that this saves me at least 10 seconds per task, that's 4-5 hours of time saved per month. In some cases, it's probably a lot more. Plus, I don't have the [context switching](https://blog.annabyang.com/single-tasking-strategies/) of flipping between different apps to get tasks done. I can spend that time on other work for my business. Plus, automation makes sure that tasks happen immediately (no putting them off until later!) and consistently. Tasks are completed the same way each time, so it eliminates mistakes or typos that I might make otherwise. **Time saved each week: 1-2 hours** ## A virtual assistant Several years ago, I hired a [virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) to help with my business. She does behind-the-scenes work that is necessary and can't be automated. For example, I create some image-based posts in Canva for my social profiles. I write the content, but my VA adds the text to Canva and schedules the post in Buffer. Little things like this add up over the course of a week. My VA works anywhere from five to 10 hours per week. I have also had her work on special projects, like something that needs a few hours of attention, but not ongoing work. **Time saved each week: 5+ hours** ## A house cleaner When my third child was born, I hired a house cleaner. I have always *hated* cleaning, even though I like things to be clean. I resent the time spent, because I would rather be doing other things. Even though I'm now self-employed, my weeks are structured similarly to when I worked a corporate job. I work during the day, while my kids are in school (or day care, when they were younger). Weekends are our time together as a family. If I have to spend that time cleaning, it's less time for fun stuff. In 2021, I [quit my job](https://www.workbetter.media/p/the-last-straw?ref=blog.annabyang.com) as an executive at a tech company. My new job was at a marketing agency, earning a fraction of my prior salary. My family had to make a lot of lifestyle changes to accommodate this career shift, but one thing we did *not* give up was the house cleaner. My husband said he'd be willing to give up a lot of other things before the cleaner, because of how much it frees up our time (and how much we hate cleaning). **Time saved each week: 2 hours** ## AI for content creation I create a *lot* of content on The Internet. And I never let any content go to waste. I turn my long-form content (blog posts) into short-form content (social posts) using AI. I also use AI to [pull out my best quotes](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/podcast-quotes-ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) when I'm a [podcast guest](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/). I always*, always* edit anything created by AI before I share it. But it's a good starting point. It's much faster to edit something existing than to write something from scratch. For example, my instructions to AI for my blog posts are to write one social post per H2 (header). I have a lot of instructions about my voice, tone, and to keep the posts simple. I also have instructions not to use hashtags or emojis (because otherwise ChatGPT goes overboard). Once I share a post on LinkedIn, AI [automatically re-formats the post](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/repurpose-social-posts-using-chatgpt/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) into a shorter, punchier version that I share on Threads. Again, I edit the post before publishing it. In all of these cases, I'm starting with my ideas. But AI (specifically, ChatGPT) reduces the time I spend creating social posts. I *easily* spent 5 hours writing social posts each week, and now it's much less since I'm editing the pre-written posts instead of reviewing my most recent blog posts, pulling out an idea, and then writing the post. **Time saved each week: 2 hours** [My Personal Guardrails for Using AI as a SolopreneurAnother tool in my tech stack.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-109.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-ai-guardrails.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-guardrails/) ## Calendar scheduling My calendar runs my life. If it's not on my calendar, it doesn't exist. I'm a long-time Calendly user. It's perfect for cross-referencing my work and personal/family calendars. There's absolutely no reason to email back and forth to get something scheduled. I have several Calendly links set up for different types of meetings. The link I share with clients shows a lot of availability. The link for a virtual "coffee chat" is much more limited, because I don't want these calls to disrupt my focused work time. I also recently put my older kids (ages 15 and 13) in charge of [adding their own events](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/google-calendar-notifications-events/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to our family Google calendar. Before, they'd tell me something in passing, like "Oh, by the way, I have an after-school event tomorrow." This way, they're in charge of keeping the calendar updated for their events. It saves me some time, plus it reduces the mental load of keeping track of everyone's schedules. **Time saved: 15 minutes per week, plus mental bandwidth** ## Letting go of things that don't have value When I was much younger, I used to do all kinds of things to keep my life and household organized. Now, I think, "I don't have time for that." Over the years, I've had to simply let things go. If I had all the time and money in the world, I'd do a lot more. Instead, I have to prioritize the important things in my life, outsource what I can (either to automation, AI, or humans), and enjoy the additional time I've given myself. --- *Download my free resource —* [*Getting Started With Automation: A Guide for Solo Businesses*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— for more tips.* [Guide: Getting Started With AutomationYou know that automation can save you time in your solo business... but you aren’t sure where to start.In this guide, I break down exactly how automation works, using tools like Zapier. I also include some step-by-step examples (along with a video) that show you what to do.You can get this eBook for free. Just type $0 into the “Name a Fair Price” field.About me:I am a former product manager turned content marketer and workflow consultant. As a self-proclaimed productivity geek, I help solopreneurs and creators find the best tools and automate their processes.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/qrlfrlsmvmzcje243e5ad1ovgjjw-3)Gumroad![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/c0q7trr0vu1s2dh87otxt6cmk58h)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) --- 🔗 **\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you use sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ### Why You Need Mental Flexibility In Your Business URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/mental-flexibility/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:32:51.000Z You’re either crushing it or spiraling. Productive or stuck. Have a specific plan or no idea what to do next. Sound familiar? I've gone through this a lot in my one-person business. One day, it seems like everything is going my way. The next day, my to-do list is completely overwhelming, and I feel like all of my Big Plans are insurmountable. The world certainly rewards winners, so it's easy to feel like you've failed if you haven't achieved 100% of everything you've set out to do. I keep track of goals and whenever I fall short, I beat myself up for a bit, wondering if I could have just "done more" or "tried harder." If you've felt this way, you're trapped in an all-or-nothing mindset, which is a variation of perfectionism. It's exhausting. It's better for your business — and for you, personally — to let go of perfectionism. Mental flexibility allows for messy progress, [imperfect launches](https://blog.annabyang.com/digital-products-flywheel/), and learning from mistakes. Because the "not perfect, but still moving forward" zone is where you'll find [**sustainable** growth](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/). ## All-or-nothing keeps you stuck The brai*n loves* certainty. And, as fellow perfectionists know, one way to give the brain what it wants is to plan. I fall into the Extreme Planner category, adding all kinds of goals and metrics. I have a [Notion](https://affiliate.notion.so/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) dashboard *\[affiliate link\*\]* and update it frequently. The problem? I get excited when I check a box because I've reached my goal. And frustrated/stressed when I miss a target I've set for myself. If you feel the same way, it's because (like me), you think of [lists/goals](https://blog.annabyang.com/life-goals-are-more-than-a-to-do-list/) as binary. You either met the goal or you didn't. Doesn't matter if you've made progress along the way. This year, I've worked on changing my mindset. First, I started creating [90-day goals](https://blog.annabyang.com/90-day-goals/) instead of annual goals. A smaller increment has helped me break free from the "all-or-nothing" mindset. I also rely on systems to keep me going, even if I feel stuck or like I'm not sure which direction to take. For example, I have a whole process to turn blog posts into social posts using automation and AI (which I **always edit** before publishing). I might be swirling around in the background, thinking about a project or how to grow my business, but "showing up online" stays consistent. But, in this example, I have to be careful not to feel defeated by metrics or social media performance. I may set a goal of increasing my followers by X number within 90 days. If I don't meet that, I have to tell myself that it's not because I didn't show up. Fighting the algorithm is tough, and few people have "cracked the code." Instead of thinking, "I didn't meet the goal, I failed," I have to instead look at what resonated with people. I can't control the algorithm, but I *can* tweak my content as I connect more deeply with the [right audience](https://blog.annabyang.com/minimum-viable-audience/). ## Sometimes life is messy Let's say you plan out your 90-day goals, and even look forward to future quarters. You're *so excited* about the plans you have for your business. And then... something happens in your personal life. Something that completely throws you off, because it needs your attention. When you're [operating a one-person business](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/),, you don't have a backup person. You have to set your plans aside. That happened to me recently. I found out that I [have a brain tumor](https://blog.annabyang.com/self-employed-brain-tumor/). I need surgery, which will have a long recovery time. I had *just* launched a cohort that I was really excited about, and had to shut it down because there was no way for me to deliver. I had other plans for later this year, and have had to press "pause" on everything. Life happens — whether it's a major medical issue, a family change, or something else going on in your life. It's not a failure if you can't manage to keep your business going at the same speed (or at all) while you deal with those things. It also doesn't mean that you can't come back and achieve the things you wanted to achieve. The timeline just looks different for you. ## Moving forward without certainty Mental inflexibility happens when we think things have to happen a certain way. We see a specific path or outcome, and we work toward that goal. But nothing is certain. You may have certain audience goals or metrics you want to achieve, but you can't control The Internet (no matter how hard you try!). Or life happens. Mental flexibility is moving toward an *uncertain* future instead of a certain one — and being ok with that. This is **very** hard for my personality. I like to plan and make lists, and work toward goals. It's been easy for me to beat myself up in the past. I look at someone else who has achieved the things I wanted to achieve (like launching a cohort or course) and think, "I didn't try hard enough." That's the wrong mentality. Even big leaps start with small moves. If you didn't meet your goal, you still made progress. If your plans are derailed or you're not feeling motivated, try to think of something small you *can* do. The momentum will come ## Give yourself some grace You can still grow your business, even if you don't have the perfect conditions. Even if it takes longer than you thought. Even if you end up taking a different path. When you have mental flexibility, you are easier on yourself during any bumps along the way. And you also make space for experimentation. You let go of "it *has* to be this way" and start exploring alternatives. An [artist I know](https://www.workbetter.media/p/perspectives-rising-from-the-fire?ref=blog.annabyang.com) often uses the phrase, "What if it's awesome?" What if your business is awesome, no matter what you do? You can continue to take the next step. Even if it's small. Even if it's messy. Have the mental flexibility to say, "That's exactly the right effort, for now." --- *Check out my* [*free guide*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* --- *\*Affiliate link: I may earn a small commission if you use sign up, at no extra cost to you.* ### How to Think Like a CEO in Your 1-Person Business URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/think-like-a-ceo/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:33:02.000Z I'm the owner of a 1-person business, and it feels weird to call myself a CEO. I think of a CEO as someone who runs a *company* — one with multiple employees and departments. I sometimes call myself the "Chief Everything Officer" because that accurately describes what I do: sales, marketing, accounting, project management, and more. But in reality, I **am** the CEO: the person responsible for all decision-making within my business. Sometimes, that means making tough decisions... about clients, about budget, about strategy, etc. If you're not used to that type of decision-making, you might feel nervous or paralyzed by the idea that *you* are responsible for the outcomes of your business. I've been around a lot of CEOs (including a member of an executive team at a software company), and let me tell you: they don't have all the answers. But what they usually have is confidence in their ability to make decisions. They may not always make the *right* decisions, but they don't waffle in doubt. If something doesn't work out, they make a different decision. Not sure how to think like a CEO? Here are some tips to get started. ## Stay focused when things aren't going as planned Most companies face turmoil at some point in their existence. When I was an employee, the companies I worked for went through financial hardship, layoffs, and changes in demand for their products. During those moments of crisis, the CEO had to steer the ship. Your 1-person business might face some similar crises. Maybe your pipeline has dried up, or there's been a huge marketplace shift, and what you're selling is no longer working. I'm a freelance writer, and a lot of writers were impacted when AI hit the scene. But there's a huge difference between a crisis at a company and a crisis of a solo business: it's just you. You're not responsible for the livelihoods of other people. Yes, you need to financially support yourself, but you don't have to worry that you can't make payroll for your team. Any decisions you make impact only you. But it's undoubtedly stressful, even if it's just you. You don't want to spiral into thinking that your business is a failure (or you're a failure). You've got to stay grounded. ### Look at a situation objectively Your business is your baby, right? If something isn't working, it might feel like the outside world is calling your baby ugly. But that's probably not the case. Instead, you should assume that you've got something that people want or need. Instead, think about why your business isn't working the way that you were expecting. - Does your marketing not have the right messaging? - Do you need to re-package or re-price your offer? - Have external factors impacted your business? When you start going through this exercise, remember: it's not you. Whatever you figure out, you can make changes or work through it. [How to Market Your Solo Business (Without the Cringe)Without a formal background in marketing.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-105.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-solopreneur-marketing-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-self-promotion/) ### Don't get stuck or panic Ever feel like you're frozen and can't figure out what to do next? I've had this feeling before. Sometimes, I've even identified the root cause of a problem, but making the change is another ball game. Because you're business is so personal, you're likely feeling a lot of emotions. That's perfectly normal. What you'll want to do is acknowledge the emotions (frustration, defeat, scared), but don't get stuck there. As a writer, I find it really helpful to write down how I'm feeling. You'll also want to make sure that you're clear-headed when you make a decision. If something isn't working, it's tempting to pivot *immediately*. That's not always the right solution. Sometimes, you need to wait out a problem to see if it's a blip or if there's an underlying issue. If you pivot too often, you dilute your brand. I've seen it with fellow solopreneurs: if something doesn't work, they're constantly launching something new or coming up with new offers. The problem? At this point, I don't know who they are. And as a solopreneur, one of your greatest assets is to be [known for something](https://blog.annabyang.com/expert-in-a-niche/). ## Practical tips for running your business like a CEO Again, I'll acknowledge: [not all CEOs are good](https://www.workbetter.media/p/failing-upwards?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Some are really impulsive or make decisions out of ego. But good CEOs are methodical and long-term thinkers. They apply specific tactics to their decision-making. ### 1\. Set aside time to strategize If you're always buried in client work, you don't have time to [work on your business](https://blog.annabyang.com/working-on-business-vs-working-in-business/). You may recognize that something isn't working, but you don't have time to think about (or implement) changes. When I was on an executive team, I frequently met with the CEO and the COO to strategize. We'd discuss the rollout of new projects, budget and resources, and things that weren't working within the company. One tactic is to [set aside one day per month](https://blog.annabyang.com/deep-work/) to work on your business. During this day, you'll make sure you have no distractions. You'll think deeply about a problem you're trying to solve and how you want to tackle it. Can't do a full day? Set aside at least half a day. Feel like it's hard to strategize alone? Try using ChatGPT (or your AI chatbot of choice). Just start chatting back and forth, explaining your problem. I do *not* think AI is any type of great business strategist. But the back-and-forth can help you unlock different ideas, especially if you're working alone. ### 2\. Look at the numbers Before you make any decisions, identify the data to back you up. That might be your business financials, your social media engagement, or downloads of a [digital product](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-ecosystem/). For example, earlier this year, I was a bit panicked about my business as a freelance [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/). I had a lot less business than I'd had in Q4 of the previous year. A few clients had changed their strategy or had internal turnover, so my income was down quite a bit. I started to wonder if I needed to change my marketing strategy to bring in new business. But then I looked at my financial statement. I had a similar dip (percentage-wise) in the prior year. My work picked back up in Q2\. The numbers indicated that I should just wait it out instead of panicking. And that proved to be true. If you're a brand-new business, this is harder since you don't have prior years' data to compare. But try to gather as much information as you can before making decisions. I have a dashboard in Notion where I keep track of metrics, like downloads, website views, and income from various sources. That way, it's easy for me to see at a glance how different parts of my business are performing. ### 3\. Pivot if you need to One of the hardest decisions you'll make as the CEO of your 1-person business is pivoting. Everything about pivoting is hard: timing, new messaging, new offers, new clients. But sometimes, you have to pivot because you don't have a sustainable business. If that's the case, make the decision and [make a plan](https://blog.annabyang.com/create-a-roadmap-for-your-freelance-business/). You don't need to move at warp speed (unless you're not able to support yourself financially). Figure out how to make the transition and over what period of time. One of the best parts of running your own business is that *you* get to make these decisions. You don't have to consult anyone else. You don't have to wait for approval. And you don't have to worry that your [business decisions](https://blog.annabyang.com/dont-apologize-for-your-business-decisions/) are impacting an entire company. [Business Mindset for Solopreneurs: Trust Your DecisionsDecision-making is an essential part of running a business.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-104.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-business-mindset.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-mindset/) ## Have courage when you make decisions When you think like a CEO, you identify the problem and work to fix it. You're not "bad at business" just because something isn't working. A lot of people perceive CEOs as really confident decision-makers, and maybe you don't feel confident. But writer Dani Shapiro [says](https://danishapiro.com/on-doing-what-scares-you/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), "Confidence is highly overrated... originality and greatness come from the willingness to take risks. Courage involves feeling your fear — and doing it anyway." You can learn confidence over time. You'll gain more confidence every time you make some type of business decision. You'll troubleshoot, tweak, and try again. What you **need** is courage. The courage to make a decision. And the courage to keep showing up. --- *Need to review the health of your business? Check out my* [*quarterly planning checklist*](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for solopreneurs.* ### I'm Self-Employed. And I Have a Brain Tumor. URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/self-employed-brain-tumor/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:24:49.000Z I've always been a planner. I run my one-person business like a well-oiled machine. I've saved money in a rainy-day fund, in case I lose a client or something unexpected happens. None of those things prepared me for a brain tumor diagnosis. In many ways, I'm lucky. The tumor is benign. It's not impacting the "thinking" part of my brain. As I sat in the ER, waiting for the results of the MRI, I was terrified that I would lose who I am as a person. There are other risks to the surgery, but I'll come out with my faculties intact. But as the news sank in, I faced a devastating reality: my business will change, dramatically. At least for a period of time. It's *just me*. I am a freelance content marketer and journalist. I have a blog, Substack, and newsletter, and I run all of those things by myself. I work with a virtual assistant, but there's only so much she can do. On top of that, the recovery from brain surgery is a huge question mark. Because of the tumor's location, I might lose my hearing in one ear. Or have trouble smiling or using my arm. There's absolutely no way to know in advance. On top of *that*, there aren't a lot of resources around "how to run a business when you're dealing with a major medical issue." I've had to come up with a plan on my own. ## I've created lists of everything that needs to be done. Lists, lists, and more lists. All in [Todoist](https://www.todoist.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I've also created a bunch of iPhone notes as I think of things I need to get done over the next 40 days before surgery. Some of my lists are personal, like making sure bills are paid and coordinating transportation to my kids' activities. But a *lot* are related to running my business. For example: - Pre-writing and pre-scheduling content - Contacting all of my clients to let them know, since I won't be available for weeks - Thinking through all the tasks that need to get done while I'm gone For example, people regularly reach out to me through my website. *Someone* will need to field those requests and potentially reply, letting the person know that I'm not available for medical reasons. It's hard to think through *everything* that will need coverage while I'm unavailable, but I keep adding to the list. It's particularly hard because I don't know what recovery will be like. The neurosurgeon told me a minimum of six weeks before I can resume normal activities. But because of the risks of damage, it might be longer. I've had to make peace with the fact that whatever plan I come up with, I'll need to adapt. I need to take whatever time is needed to recover. ## My brain feels broken. With all of my planning and list-making, I'm constantly overwhelmed. Forty days seems like a long time to prepare, but it's not. There's just *so much*. Sometimes I sit at my computer, unable to think of what to do next. Other times, I'm thinking of a million things. I'm sleeping terribly. I wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. My mind spirals around the "what-ifs." Will my kids be ok? Will my business be ok? Will *I* be ok? I've never gone through anything like this in the years I've been self-employed. I've had to prioritize my personal life over work before, but nothing like this. All of my normal processes and tricks for [staying focused](https://blog.annabyang.com/single-tasking-strategies/) and on task while working have completely flown out the window. ## I have to lean on people. I realized very quickly that people *want* to help. I don't have to do this alone. Before I made a [public announcement](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/annabyang%5Fyou-know-how-sometimes-you-google-brain-activity-7338563260469694465-jLkW?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAV18kYB0cpoUEIUeJBWTqltzbq2ITMCid4), I had a list of tasks that I was going to divvy up among family and close friends. After I made the announcement, so many people have come forward saying, "How can I help?" I've always kept my business tightly within my control. That's part of what makes my work authentically *me*. While I can wrap up and pause client work, I can't pause everything. Putting all of my content on hiatus would have a long-term negative impact on my business overall, since content is part of my [marketing strategy](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-self-promotion/). I will already take a hit from pausing work. I can't rebuild from scratch. So I need to keep things moving. As people have reached out, I've started asking for *specific* things, based on my relationship with the person and their skillset. In some cases, I don't reply right away. But then I think of something and reach out later, saying, "Actually... could you help with XYZ?" People don't know what you need. But they won't offer unless they genuinely want to help. There's absolutely no way to get through this as a one-person business unless I lean on people. I have to trust that things will be fine long-term. My business will survive, even if it takes some time to rebuild. The people I'm relying on will take care of the things I ask them to do. And *I* will be fine. I'm not going to die. My brain will still work. Everything else, I can deal with. --- *If you'd like to support my brain tumor recovery, you can* [*buy me a coffee*](https://buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*. I also have a* [*GoFundMe*](https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-annas-recovery-from-brain-surgery?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *to offset the loss of income while I can't work. I'd greatly appreciate any support.* ❤️ *You can follow my brain tumor journey in my* [*personal blog*](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/tag/brain-tumor/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### Why I Have 3 Savings Accounts for My Solo Business URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/business-savings-accounts/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:47:41.000Z In my personal life, I have 11 savings accounts. Yep. Each one has a different purpose, like saving for vacations or spending on Christmas gifts. It's easy to set aside money every month with automatic transfers, so that the money is available when I need it. For example, when I have to pay my car insurance once a year, I pull a (large) amount from my "auto" savings account. When I started my freelance business, I decided to take a similar approach. I currently have four business savings accounts. These help keep my business finances organized, plus ensure that I have money when I need it. ## Account 1: Rainy day fund I put most of my savings in an account to save for a "rainy day." Most of my client work is [ad hoc](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/). Many freelancers believe this means irregular income. And while it's true that my income varies slightly from month to month, I have enough regular clients that it's not a huge swing from one month to the next. However, if I were to lose an entire client, that would be a different story. There's also some seasonal variation in my work. November and December are really busy for me (as a freelance fintech writer), as clients try to wrap up their year and spend their remaining marketing budget. Then January and February are slow as marketing teams determine their upcoming strategy before giving me work. My rainy day fund keeps my income fluctuations minimal. If I have a *really* slow month, I can take money from this fund. The opposite is also true: if I have a great month and earn more than I need, I add extra money to the fund. During my "regular" months, I also add money to my rainy day fund. It's part of my overall freelance budget. I've spent a long time building up this fund, so if something more serious happens that causes a loss of income, I have some money I can use. [How to Budget as a Freelancer: A Real-World ExampleTips to get started.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-103.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-budget-freelancer-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-budget-as-a-freelancer/) ## Account 2: Vacation fund If I don't work, I don't get paid. My clients are paying me per assignment or per project. If I take a week of vacation, it impacts my income for the month. With my vacation fund, I can take stress-free time off. Sometimes clients will give me extra assignments to "make up" for the time off. But if they don't (or I don't want to take on additional work), I can draw from my vacation fund. I take a *lot* of time off as a freelancer. Typically, I have 6+ weeks of vacation per year. I have school-aged kids, so I'm dealing with spring break, winter break, and **summer**. When I was working for an employer, I always took time off to align with my kids' breaks. We like to travel or do other activities when they have no school. After I started working as a freelancer, I didn't want that to change. So I set aside money to make sure I can take time off when I want to. **Note**: Taking time off also means I have to plan ahead with my clients. My [project management system](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/) helps keep everything organized. [A Vacation Savings Plan for FreelancersA simple calculator to help you take time off each year.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-102.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-vacation-savings-plan-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-vacation-savings-plan/) ## Account 3: Taxes Taxes. The thing *every* freelancer has to deal with. In the U.S., freelancers have to pay estimated taxes quarterly. [According to the IRS](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estimated-taxes?ref=blog.annabyang.com), "To figure your estimated tax, you must figure your expected adjusted gross income, taxable income, taxes, deductions, and credits for the year." Then you take the total amount you owe, divide by four, and make your estimated payments by the [required due dates](https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-as-you-go-so-you-wont-owe-a-guide-to-withholding-estimated-taxes-and-ways-to-avoid-the-estimated-tax-penalty?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to avoid paying a penalty. I've been operating as a freelancer long enough that I know (approximately) how much I'll owe each quarter based on how much I've earned. You can also talk with a financial professional, or the IRS has a [worksheet](https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040-es?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to help you calculate your taxes. I set aside money every month to pay my quarterly taxes. ## Account 4: Business investment My last account is a fun one. I set aside money to make investments in my business. In the past, I've used this money for things like paying for a course or hiring a designer to do brand work. I've also used it to pay for equipment, like a fancy microphone, since I frequently appear as a [podcast guest](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/). On a month-to-month basis, I'm not using the money in this account. Smaller investments (like maybe a book or paying for a template) come out of my regular business spending. This account is intended for larger purchases. I have a business "wish list" in [Notion](https://affiliate.notion.so/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\].* In some cases, I have a specific purchase in mind and I'm waiting to have enough money to make the investment. For example, I'd like to work with someone to help me assess my email marketing and automation. I have someone in mind, and her pricing is on her website. When I'm ready to move forward, I have the money available. ## Find a bank that makes account opening easy I'm so diligent about my freelance finances because I'm a former banker. I worked at a [community bank](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-we-need-community-banks/) for six years (and then at a fintech for 15 years). You'll want to find a bank that makes it easy to open and manage multiple savings accounts. The bank I use lets me open additional accounts online in seconds. Some banks even target small businesses, offering additional features you might want, like bill pay or invoicing. My bank is also connected to QuickBooks, so transactions sync with my accounting system. Your bank should never be a barrier to anything you want to do with your business. --- *This article is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered Financial or Legal Advice. Consult a financial professional before making any major financial decisions.* --- *Freelance pricing is hard to figure out, but I’ve created a* [*free resource*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for fellow writers. It outlines my rates, how I think about pricing, and how my pricing has evolved over time.* ### You Deserve More Than Corporate "Perks" URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/corporate-perks/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:33:15.000Z Gym membership. Stocked fridge at the office. Unlimited PTO. Companies often try to lure employees in with "perks" to make a role more attractive. But the tradeoff might be endless meetings, toxic coworkers, long hours, and rare promotions. Perks are your consolation prize (barely) for putting up with corporate life. When you start working for yourself, you give up those so-called perks — along with some of the stability that corporate jobs promise to provide. But I wouldn't trade being my own boss for all the corporate perks in the world. Instead, I get to create my own benefits. ## The Corporate Perks You Give Up The benefits of a corporate job aren't just the perks listed under "Why should you work here?" on a job posting. Even companies that don't offer cool perks like a wellness stipend or employee discount program have some baseline benefits that you'll no longer have access to. ### A backup person When you work for a company, there's usually someone to cover for you when you're sick or on vacation. That's completely gone when you're working for yourself. It can be tough to adjust, because it feels like you can *never* take time off. Illness might put you way behind with client work. Or you feel like you can *never* take a vacation. These aren't completely true, but they definitely require more planning. You can't simply call in sick or put in a vacation request and know someone else will take care of the work. ### Providing your own equipment and supplies No more company-provided laptop, or anything else you might need. You have to plan and budget for these purchases yourself. On the flip side, you might make *different* equipment choices than an employer would dictate. My prior employers always gave me bare minimum laptops, which I often upgraded myself with an external monitor and additional RAM. But I know other people have had employers who provided top-of-the-line equipment. In which case, what you buy (or can afford) as a self-employed person might feel like a downgrade. [Solopreneur Tech Support: How to Manage on Your OwnTech tips and things you need to do to protect your business.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-100.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-solopreneur-tech-support-3.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-tech-support/) ### Access to retirement and tax-advantaged accounts No more company-sponsored retirement plans. And if you're in the U.S., your employer may have provided tax-advantaged accounts, like FSAs or HSAs. Some of these are *possible* if you're self-employed (like a solo 401k), but you have to figure them out and manage them yourself. ### Bouncing ideas off someone else Self-employment can come with a lot of loneliness. Even if you're working with clients, you likely spend a huge chunk of your time working by yourself. If you get stuck on something or have a question, who can you turn to? I'm a big fan of communities, but it can be hard to [find the right one](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/). You want to find one that's the right "fit" - the right size, the right expertise, and the right level of engagement. ## Are the perks worth it for you? If you're thinking about self-employment, you're probably asking yourself: is it worth giving up all the perks that come with a corporate job? Throughout my experiences with corporate jobs, I've had the following: - 401(k) plans with a company match - Unlimited PTO and paid holidays - Health insurance - HSA and FSA accounts - Home office stipend - Wellness stipend - Reimbursement for professional development, like taking classes or books Plus, the promise of a steady paycheck. But in reality, all of those things can disappear in an instant. I was [laid off from one of my jobs](https://www.workbetter.media/p/the-end-of-a-job-an-untold-story?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Overnight, everything was gone. Plus, I've also dealt with [toxic co-workers](https://blog.annabyang.com/free-yourself-from-a-toxic-work-environment/), burnout, long hours, incompetent leadership, and general chaos. When you work for yourself, you're in charge of your future. It feels scary (it is scary!) but it's also empowering. I've created my own set of "perks." - I set aside money every month so I can "pay myself" to take time off. - I get to choose the tools and apps I want to use for my business - I've paid for professional development, like courses and coaching (Plus, business expenses are a tax write-off in the U.S.) I also don't have to ask anyone's permission to grow, pivot, or take a break. The amount of work I take on? Up to me. [Potential clients](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-evaluate-freelance-clients/)? I can turn them down if they're not a good fit. Need to take some time off? Whenever I want (as long as I make sure I deliver the work I've promised to my clients). [A Vacation Savings Plan for FreelancersA simple calculator to help you take time off each year.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-101.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-vacation-savings-plan.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-vacation-savings-plan/) ## Freedom is the best perk If you leave your job, maybe you give up some of the perks of corporate life. Maybe you can't afford to re-create those perks for yourself (at least, not in the beginning). But the greatest perk you'll gain is freedom. You get to build something that's yours — not clock in to contribute to someone else's dream. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ### Your Business Revenue: How Much You Need vs. Your Revenue Goals URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/foundational-revenue/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:33:26.000Z There’s a myth in entrepreneurship that we’re all supposed to be chasing endless growth—bigger revenue, bigger teams, bigger launches. We see people share their revenue numbers and feel a little envious. But endless growth isn’t always the right answer. At some point, you have to ask yourself: What am I really working toward? Solopreneurs are particularly vulnerable to hustle culture because we're in control of our own outcomes. Work harder, get more rewards... right? But without some boundaries, we can burn out. That's why defining how much you "need" is so important. When you know how much you need to sustain your lifestyle, you can decide if you want to push beyond that - and, if so, how far you're willing to go. ## You don’t have to grow just because you can In the beginning, most solopreneurs have a goal to build a business that supports their life. Once they've moved beyond that point, growth starts to feel intoxicating. Maybe you're earning more than your previous corporate salary, or maybe you're starting to earn $10k per month. You start to wonder, "How much is possible?" But you'll eventually hit a ceiling (at least, if you're doing any type of client work). You won't have enough hours in the day to keep growing. You could raise your rates (which I highly encourage!), but you may eventually find that you have stretched the market to its limits. You could also subcontract your work, but now you're supervising other people, and it eats into your profits. And maybe either of those is a viable path for you. If so, go for them - both have the potential to increase your revenue. I am a freelance [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/) for B2B tech companies. I charge more than most freelancers, so I don't think I can increase my rates much (if at all). And I have no interest in subcontracting my work. In some cases, my client agreements explicitly prohibit me from doing so. If I want to increase my revenue, I'd have to take on more work. I can't write faster, so that means more hours. If you're like me, you have to decide: Do I want to work more to earn more? Or is this "enough"? ## Calculate your foundational revenue When you think about your business's revenue, you should have two numbers in mind: 1. Your **foundational revenue** — how much you need to sustain your lifestyle 2. Your **goal revenue** — how much you'd like to earn Your **foundational revenue** is different than the [minimum revenue](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-income-calculator/)revenue goals usually have you **have** to earn. We could all make lifestyle cutbacks if we *had* to. I have a "bare minimum" number in mind, but my foundational revenue is my target. Foundation revenue means I've built a [sustainable business](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/). The formula is pretty simple: 1. The amount of money you need to sustain your lifestyle 2. Your monthly business expenses 3. Those two combined = your foundational revenue The amount you need to sustain your lifestyle includes expenses like your rent/mortgage, groceries, utilities — anything you pay for every month. For me, that includes expenses related to my kids, subscription services I pay for, and more. My business expenses also include setting aside money every month for a rainy day. While that's technically not an expense, I consider it a necessary part of running my business. I also set aside money to ["pay myself" when I'm on vacation](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-vacation-savings-plan/) and not earning money from clients. If you're not *consistently* earning your foundational revenue every month, you'll want to work on that first. Think of it as a step toward your larger goal. Look at your current pricing, clients, and bandwidth, and see if you can make any changes in your [business strategy](https://blog.annabyang.com/create-a-roadmap-for-your-freelance-business/) to hit that foundation. Consistently earning your foundational revenue lifts a *huge* weight for solopreneurs, both financially and emotionally. Reality check: I don't hit my foundational revenue number every month. The nature of my work means that there are *always* fluctuations. But I'm usually pretty close. And because I set aside money in a savings account every month, I can draw from it during months when I don't hit my foundational revenue number. During the months when I earn more than my foundational revenue, I add extra to my savings account. I'm comfortable with this approach because I've basically "created" foundational revenue for myself by moving money in/out of savings. Keep in mind that your foundational revenue may change as your lifestyle changes. If you buy a new house or have a baby, you may need to adjust your foundational revenue number. [How to Budget as a Freelancer: A Real-World ExampleTips to get started.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-107.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-budget-freelancer-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-budget-as-a-freelancer/) ## What will you need to do to earn your goal revenue? Once you've met your **foundational revenue**, you can turn your eye to your **goal revenue.** I track short- and long-term revenue goals, thinking about what I'd like to earn this year compared to last year, and what I'd like to be earning within the next five years. Short-term revenue goals usually have a clearer path. As you raise your rates, you might drop lower-paying clients. Or maybe you start [selling a digital product](https://blog.annabyang.com/digital-products-flywheel/) that earns some extra money. Long-term goal revenue requires some more thought. You'll want to consider: - What will your revenue sources be, and are they different from your current revenue sources? - What steps do you need to take to build that additional revenue? - What will it require *from you* to complete those steps? There's usually a tradeoff between your time, energy, and revenue goal. For example, I've maxed out my bandwidth for client work. So to earn my revenue goals, I have turned to alternative revenue streams like digital products and courses. However, those things (right now) take a lot of time and don't earn a lot of income. I have to think about the trade-off of time compared to potential future revenue. That's the calculus you'll need to consider as well — especially if your goal revenue requires a new revenue source. Nothing will happen overnight. ## Re-balancing your time and money If you're consistently earning more than your foundational revenue, you have another option to meet your revenue goal. You could scale back on your current work until you're at your foundational level. Then use the extra time to work on building toward your goal revenue. That means you'll earn less for a few months (or longer). If you've gotten used to the higher income, it *will* feel like you're scaling back on your lifestyle. But that's why knowing your foundational number is so important. You want to know the income you need to earn to feel comfortable; anything above that is a bonus. [A Time for Rest and a Time for HustleKnow how to apply your energy as a creator.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-99.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-time-for-rest-hustle-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/time-for-rest-and-time-for-hustle/) ## Keep your foundation in mind Working toward your goal revenue can be rough, especially if progress is incremental. One of my goals is to earn more from writing on platforms like [Substack](https://www.workbetter.media/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and [Medium](https://annabyang.medium.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). But those things take time to build, and I have to write a *lot* of content. Even though I can see growth, I'm starting from a small number. I have to keep in mind that the revenue keeps increasing and that it will gain momentum over time. But knowing my foundational revenue number helps, a lot. As long as I'm earning that number, I have options. If I'm feeling overworked or [burned out](https://blog.annabyang.com/avoid-career-burnout/), I know I can scale back and still sustain my lifestyle. Your revenue goal is just that: a goal. And it's important to have revenue goals, but keep in mind that you're only one person. Growth looks different for you than for teams or large companies. You have to understand what it would take to meet your revenue goal, and what trade-offs (if any) you're willing to make to get there. --- *Freelance pricing is hard to figure out, but I’ve created a* [*free resource*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for fellow writers. It outlines my rates, how I think about pricing, and how my pricing has evolved over time.* ### 5 Ways to Reclaim Time in Your Business URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/reclaim-time/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:39:46.000Z Ever finish up the day and wonder where your time went? Distractions aside (we all have them!), sometimes we spend too much time doing *little things* in our business. Maybe it's sending emails, or maybe it's some type of admin work. Important, sure. But every time you switch tasks from one thing to another, your brain needs time to catch up. It's called [context-switching](https://blog.annabyang.com/single-tasking-strategies/), and it costs you valuable time. If you can streamline, automate, or eliminate these little distractions, you can reclaim time in your day for more important work. Or simply enjoy the additional free time. Here are a few things to try. ## 1\. Control your calendar First things first: if you're not already using a calendar scheduling tool — *go get one*. There's no reason to have a string of back-and-forth emails with people trying to schedule something. I use Calendly, but you can also use an app like TidyCal or Cal.com. Google Workspace has also introduced scheduling features. With calendar scheduling apps, not only do you save time when scheduling, but you can also protect your time. I don't allow people to schedule meetings on Fridays, and I also [block off time](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/) for client work. I also have multiple Calendly links showing different availability. If a client wanted to schedule a meeting, it shows a lot more free time than if someone wants to schedule a "coffee chat." If you need a flexible calendar, [Reclaim.ai](https://go.reclaim.ai/fjoa2msu6i5g?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* works really well. Let's say you need a block of time to work on a project, but *if* a client wanted to schedule a meeting, you would allow it. Reclaim uses AI to move things around on your calendar. So your block of time would automatically move to later in the day, and you could take the meeting. If you were close to a deadline — like the client work was due that day — then Reclaim *wouldn't* allow the meeting to be scheduled and would instead preserve your working time. ## 2\. Control your inbox Email can be a time suck, especially if you feel pressure to constantly check and reply quickly. I have a line in my email signature to set expectations with people when I reply: > *I work asynchronously, so my response times can vary. Please do not respond outside of your working hours and I'll do the same!* That way, people know that I won't reply immediately. I usually reply to emails a few times per day: first thing in the morning, around midday, and in the late afternoon. But often, I keep my email closed while I'm working on other things, so it's not a distraction. I also use a tool called [Boomerang](https://www.boomeranggmail.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), which works with Gmail. It does a lot of things, but I primarily use it so I can archive a message and have it return to my inbox later ("boomerang") if the person doesn't reply. That way, I can keep a low volume of emails in my inbox, but make sure I don't miss following up with people. I don't have to spend time creating reminders for myself, because Boomerang is a button within a Gmail message. One click, and I know the message will resurface when I need it. Boomerang also has a feature that allows you to "pause" your inbox. When your inbox is paused, you won't see new emails come in until your inbox is "unpaused." I don't use this feature, but I think it would be helpful if you can't help checking your email for new messages throughout the day. ## 3\. Batch schedule your content I know a lot of people who write social media posts on the fly. Some people believe that scheduling tools will affect a post's reach ([here's an article](https://buffer.com/resources/scheduled-posts/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) that addresses this concern). Others just don't plan out content in advance. The problem with showing up on social media and writing a post is that it's *so easy* to get sucked in. One minute you're writing your post, and an hour later, you're still scrolling. I use a social media scheduling tool (I use Buffer). At a minimum, I schedule a week's worth of content at a time, but sometimes a lot more. In addition to avoiding the social media time suck of posting on the platform itself, I also avoid context switching. I write all of my social media posts (across multiple platforms) in one sitting. For me, there's an added bonus to doing this: I forget what I've scheduled for the day. Sometimes, when people write social media posts on the fly, they feel compelled to check on the [post's performance](https://blog.annabyang.com/prepare-to-go-viral/). In reality, a post's engagement often has nothing to do with the post itself — none of us can please the algorithm all the time. Because I schedule in advance, I don't think about the performance of any particular post. The one thing you need to keep in mind is that you *have* to engage. I'll usually look at a platform (like LinkedIn or Threads) a few hours later and make sure I reply to any comments. ## 4\. Create standard operating procedures Creating [standard operating procedures](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/), (SOPs) might *feel* like extra work. You have to take time out of your day to create them. But SOPs can help you in a few ways. Let's say you do a task like "offboard a client" but it only happens every few months. An SOP can refresh your memory, so you make sure you do the same steps each time. This happens to me a lot with [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*. I have tons of automations set up, and they rarely need changes. But if they *do* need changes, sometimes I don't remember why I created a task to work a certain way — especially if it's something more complex. An SOP will quickly refresh my memory. SOPs can also save you hours of time if you want to hire help in the future. Your process will already be documented, and you can simply hand over the documentation to the person you're working with. I use [Loom AI](https://www.loom.com/ai?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to create SOPs. All I need to do is record a quick video explaining the process. Loom automatically turns my video into written documentation, which I then save to my Google Drive. [How to Organize Your Standard Operating ProceduresAs your business grows, you’ll need SOPs.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/1-4.png)Tinkering With IdeasAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/tinkering-with-ideas-standard-operating-procedues-airtable.png)](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/how-to-organize-your-standard-operating-procedures/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## 5\. Hire a virtual assistant Once you've done everything you can to streamline and reduce your work, it might be time to outsource some of your tasks. Hiring out even just a few hours of help each week can be enough to get you out of the weeds. For example, you can [hire a virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) to handle some tasks for you. My VA preps images in Canva for my social posts (I still write the post) and updates my content library in [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*. She also handles one-off projects when I need some extra support. When you hire out work, you can focus more on the work that moves the needle in your business, rather than some repetitive or behind-the-scenes work. ## Start with the low-hanging fruit Of all the suggestions I've listed, what's one thing you can implement right away? Something as simple as creating a calendar scheduling link or scheduling a few social media posts can immediately help you reclaim time. Over the next few weeks and months, you can work on the others as your time (and budget) allow. --- *Check out my* [*free guide*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### Business Mindset for Solopreneurs: Trust Your Decisions URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/business-mindset/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:33:37.000Z Like many people, I've spent money on courses and templates for my business over the years. These things often teach me something tactical — but they don't teach mindset. Some entrepreneurs turn to coaches to help them develop a business mindset. Coaches are certainly an option, but they might not be in your budget, results aren't guaranteed, and there are a *lot* of bad coaches out there. I have a business mindset, but it didn't come from a course or a coach: it came from spending 15 years at a tech company before I started my own business. Part of that time was [spent on the executive team](https://blog.annabyang.com/transition-from-corporate-to-freelance-life/). *That* experience taught me what I needed to know. And it boils down to one thing: as a business owner, I have to trust my decision-making ability. And, as a result, I have to trust that things will work out because of my decision-making. If you can adopt this mindset, you'll have more confidence and clarity as you navigate the ins and outs of running your business. ## The risks are real (and necessary) Running a business is about taking calculated risks. I saw this firsthand when I was part of an executive team. The team would try to make the best decisions possible for the company, but they didn't always pan out. There were times when I *wished* the company would take a risk, to move the company forward, but the CEO liked to play it safe. As a business owner, I get to make those decisions. How aggressive do I want to be with my decision-making? Everyone's tolerance for risk is different. Even with the most conservative decision-making, you won't always get it right. And a lot of things are outside of your control. - Clients will ghost - Your [income will fluctuate](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-income-calculator/) - You'll launch a product, and it will flop Through all of these things, you have to keep moving forward. It's part of the deal of running a business. Setbacks don't mean you're "doing it wrong" — you're just doing business, like any business. Decision-making is part of those risks, but NOT making a decision is an even bigger risk. ## Comparison is the thief of everything It’s easy to scroll and feel inadequate compared to what other people are doing in their businesses. *"She’s fully booked.”* *“He made $20K this month.”* *“They landed a dream client.”* But public posts only tell a fraction of the story. Wins come with struggles. You don't know the full context. And people flat-out lie on the internet to make themselves look more successful than they really are. For example, I have three kids. I *cannot* achieve the same things as someone without kids, because I don't have the same bandwidth. In addition to running a business, my days include making lunches, picking my kids up from activities, and countless other tasks. You can't look to other people's business decision-making as a guide, because THEIR business is not YOUR business. Instead of measuring yourself against someone else's highlight reel, focus on *your* progress. Think about *your* decision-making. Do you feel like you're making good decisions for your business? And if you make mistakes, do you learn from them? [Steps to Create a Freelance Business RoadmapDon’t wander aimlessly through freelance life — start out with a plan.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-98.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelance-roadmap.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/create-a-roadmap-for-your-freelance-business/) ## Growth is rarely linear Business is a never-ending cycle of taking a step forward, and then a setback of some kind. It's totally normal. What matters most is your decision-making in those moments. ### Reflect and refine You have to first think about the type of setback. Is it temporary, or is something not working? I mostly do ad hoc work for clients, and I had a *very* slow start to the year. I had to make a decision: push hard to find new clients (which could potentially lead to too much work), or wait it out and trust that it was cyclical. However, if I waited and it *wasn't* cyclical, then it might be even longer before my income stabilized. To help with my decision-making, I compared my income to the prior year. By doing this, I assessed that this was *likely* cyclical. In moments of slow growth, gather as much data as possible before making a decision. ### Give yourself space to feel frustrated It's ok to be frustrated when you're not getting the results you want. I have two sides to my business: writing for clients and creating resources for solopreneurs. I have wanted to grow the latter for a *long* time, but I'm limited by my own bandwidth. It's frustrating, because it's work I really enjoy and want to do more of. You might feel the same if you're not attracting the clients you want, not reaching your income goals, or not able to [launch something new.](https://blog.annabyang.com/time-for-rest-and-time-for-hustle/) The important thing is not to quit. You might make decisions that change course or try a new tactic, but you don't quit. You're making a conscious decision to stay in business. ### Find support Solo businesses can be very, very lonely. Decision-making in a solo business can be even more lonely. You might question your judgment, since you don't have any other people to bounce ideas off of. One of the best things you can do is[ find a community](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/) of people running businesses similar to yours. I'm in several Slack communities for freelancers and business owners, and they're incredibly helpful. I can post questions like, "Has anyone run into this situation before?" and get a variety of perspectives. This is part of that "gathering data" process, so I can make a better decision. While I'm in free communities (organized by people I know personally), you can also look for paid communities. Paid communities likely have more active members and higher-quality engagement. ## Mental health is a business investment I talk a lot about investing in tools to grow your business, as well as paying for help, like hiring a virtual assistant. These are important business decisions: when to spend money, and when to save. Keep in mind that your mental health is *also* a business investment. You can't make good decisions if you're constantly stressed or overwhelmed. Mental health looks different for everyone. Some people can self-manage, like with prioritizing exercise and meditation. These tactics are enough (for them) to keep them feeling even keel. Other people might benefit from therapy, especially if you have a lot going on outside of your business or struggle with mental health issues like anxiety or depression. Therapy can help you clear your mind and reframe your thinking, so you can dedicate more [mental energy](https://blog.annabyang.com/essential-apps-to-preserve-your-mental-energy/) to your business. You might also hire a coach who can help you develop a better business mindset. Keep in mind that (unlike therapists), coaches are often not certified in any particular area of expertise (or their certifications are questionable). I think there are some great coaches out there, but it's also an industry that's known for a lot of scammers. Make sure you fully vet a coach before hiring them. A good way to start is by asking fellow business owners for recommendations. ## You're allowed to be both ambitious and gentle with yourself Here's the thing to keep in mind about developing a business mindset: there's no right or wrong way to make decisions. You're making decisions that are best for *you* and *your business.* Want to put in long hours and push yourself, taking bigger risks? Go for it. Want to take a step back to regroup, refocus, or prioritize things outside of your business? That's ok too. Running a business is betting on yourself and your decision-making skills. Trust that you're doing the right thing. And be willing to [define success](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/) on your own terms. --- *Need to review the health of your business? Check out my* [*quarterly planning checklist*](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for solopreneurs.* ### What to Do When an App You Love Shuts Down URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/app-alternatives/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:34:11.000Z If you're someone who relies on digital tools to manage your workflow, the announcement that an app is shutting down can be crushing. Earlier this week, Mozilla [announced](https://blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/building-whats-next/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) that it is shutting down Pocket, the read-it-later app. Like many avid Pocket fans, I was shocked. I mourned. I use Pocket all the time, on both my phone and desktop, to save articles I want to read later. Now what? It's not the first time an app I love has shut down, but it's certainly an instance that will impact me a lot. I use Pocket almost daily; it's an integral part of my workflows. I'm used to testing out new apps, so here are the steps I'm going to follow — and what you should do anytime an app shuts down. ## Export all of your data If an app you love is shutting down, find out if there's an export available. Pocket is offering an export of users' bookmarks until October 8, 2025. If an export *isn't* available, you should quickly work to figure out how to preserve your data in the app. You might have to download information manually or take screenshots. Start this process quickly, especially if you think it will take a long time. [Solopreneur Tech Support: How to Manage on Your OwnTech tips and things you need to do to protect your business.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-94.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-solopreneur-tech-support-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-tech-support/) ## Start looking for alternatives immediately In Pocket's case, I have a few months until the app stops working, but some apps may only give you a few weeks. Don't wait, since it could take some time to find an alternative that works for you. The first thing I did was Google "Pocket Alternatives." That led me to the names of a few apps I could check out. I also hopped on Threads and wrote a post asking if people had any alternatives they liked. (BTW - it was through Threads that I found out that Medium was interested in purchasing Pocket from a post by CEO [Tony Stubblebine](https://www.threads.com/@the%5Fcoach%5Flife?ref=blog.annabyang.com), but it seems that the folks at Pocket weren't interested. It's a shame, because I think Pocket would have been a great fit for Medium). ![Screenshot from Threads](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/05/pocket-threads.png) [Source](https://www.threads.com/@the%5Fcoach%5Flife/post/DJ%5FCErvNdK8?ref=blog.annabyang.com) Between my research and Threads, I narrowed down my Pocket alternatives to a few options: Raindrop.io, Reader from Readwise, and using a web clipper from Notion. ## Understand your feature requirements When you're looking for a new app, you have to understand what you *need* from the replacement. How do you use the app? What features do you *need*, and what can you live without? With Pocket, I have a few use cases: - I bookmark articles on both desktop (Chrome Extension) and mobile (an app) - I organize articles using Tags - I use [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* to move articles based on Tags. The last bullet point turned out to be the sticking point. Zapier automation is how I keep content organized without needing to review everything manually. In Pocket, I might add a Tag called "Blog Idea." That Tag adds the article to Trello into my board for content ideas. I also use Tags to bookmark things that might need action later, such as submitting a guest post to a website, and that adds the URL to Todoist. As I started to dig into my options more, I found: - Raindrop had Zapier integration at one point, but it's no longer supported - I'm already using Readwise, so Reader would rely on an existing tool in my tech stack, but has no Zapier integration. - I could probably make Zapier integration work with Notion, but Notion isn't an app I use regularly (at least, not for this type of work) I found myself waffling between Readwise and Notion. Do I give up Zapier integration, or do I change my workflow? [A Solopreneur Tech Stack: Why Price Isn’t the Only FactorConsider time saved.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-95.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-solopreneur-tech-stack-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-tech-stack/) ## Do a free trial to figure out which app you like best Since I could tell that Raindrop wouldn't meet my feature requirements, I didn't bother testing it. It could be the best read-it-later app, but I'm not interested in adding something new when I have two options that fit in with the tools I already use. So my comparison has narrowed to Reader and Notion. I'm going to test out my process with both, over the span of a few weeks. If I use Reader, I can still add Tags, but I'll need to include some time every week to manually review any saved links and move them to Trello or Todoist if necessary. If I use Notion, I'll have to build something that will capture the saved links and see what organization options are available. *Then* I'll have to see if I can get it to work with Zapier the way I want. I'm not going to test these processes simultaneously. Using Reader is more appealing than building something new, IF the manual review process doesn't take too much time. I'm going to try that first, and then will look into Notion if it seems too disruptive to my process. ## Saying goodbye to an app Losing an app you love is frustrating. I wasn't planning to spend time over the next few weeks testing out Pocket alternatives, but now I have to *make* time to avoid disrupting my workflow. Don't hang on to an app until the last possible date. Act quickly, figure out your must-haves, and test out replacements to see if they fit the way you already work. Who knows, in some cases, you may even find a better tool or process than the one you had before. --- *Check out my free guide:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ### Must-Haves for My Home Office URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-home-office/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:56:23.000Z I've been working from home for more than 15 years. But most of that time was spent working for an employer; I've only been self-employed for the past two years. When I was working for an employer, a lot of my home office supplies were provided to me, like a laptop. Now that I work for myself, I get to make my own decisions — not only about computer equipment, but also how I organize my day and get work done. Here are the things in my home office that I can't live without. ## A vertical second monitor I've worked with a second monitor for a long time. Being able to have research, notes, or email open on one monitor while working on the other monitor eliminates a lot of flipping back and forth between different tabs. When my employer gave me a laptop, I had my laptop screen, plus a large second monitor attached. Now that I provide my own equipment, I have a Mac mini with a large monitor and a second, **vertical** monitor. Most people think of monitors in a horizontal orientation and two monitors create a larger horizontal space. I bought a monitor that can be flipped to a vertical orientation and I'm MUCH happier. First, it takes up less space on my desk. Second, a lot of the apps I use make more sense with more vertical space on the screen than horizontal space. For example, reading an article doesn't benefit from horizontal space — it benefits from vertical space (less scrolling). Or I can have Slack open and see more channels and more of the feed. Not only am I saving the back-and-forth with a second monitor, but I have less scrolling with a vertical monitor. [Solopreneur Tech Support: How to Manage on Your OwnTech tips and things you need to do to protect your business.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-93.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-solopreneur-tech-support-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-tech-support/) ## Virtual co-working Self-employment can be *really* lonely, especially if you don't have a lot of client meetings. When I worked for an employer, I was in [constant communication](https://blog.annabyang.com/instant-communication-in-the-workplace/) with my colleagues. We sent emails, used a chat tool, and even hopped on the phone when needed (this was before video calls were a thing). Now, it's just me for most of the day. I'll occasionally go to a coffee shop, but I also enjoy virtual co-working. I have a membership to [Flow Club](https://www.flow.club/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), which offers virtual co-working sessions. You join a session with other people and work together for a specific amount of time (anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours). Some sessions have verbal check-ins, while others are purely for uninterrupted deep work. Either way, you see other people on the screen working "beside you," which helps with accountability. ## Planning and organization tools Working for a company often means that you use the tools the company dictates — such as project management tools, time tracking tools, etc. As a solopreneur, you get to choose your own tools. And while apps aren't necessarily a "home office" product, I have one thing that I use in my business: a giant paper calendar on my wall. I usually have an idea of the client work I'll complete within a month, but it's never definitive until I get a project brief. I use the paper calendar to plan out my bandwidth (and Trello once the project is more concrete). The visual of the paper calendar is very helpful as I talk to clients about additional work throughout the month. I also love the [Ugmonk analog system](https://ugmonk.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*. Every day, I write down the day's plan on one of the notecards, broken down into blocks of time, like this: - 9:00 - 10:00: Blog post - 10:00 - 10:30: Check emails - 10:30 - 11:30: Client outline - 1:00 - 3:30: Client deliverable I could add these [blocks of time](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/) to my Google calendar, but I like having it on the notecard so I can look at it during the day. Plus, I cross off the tasks as they're completed. ## A walking pad As a freelance writer, my days are a lot less structured than they were when I was working for an employer. I have more time to do non-work things during the day, like exercise. I have a walking pad in my office, so I can take a walk even when the weather is bad. I have a standing desk with a walking pad underneath. I don't do anything brain-intensive while walking, but I can usually manage something like engaging with people on social media (which is part of my [marketing strategy](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-content-strategy/)). It's an easy task to do while walking. ## Access to coffee and tea If you *really* want your home office to feel like a corporate office, add a coffee pot. In all seriousness, I love having easy access to coffee and hot water during the day. I have a coffee pot and a hot water kettle within reach. I also use an [Ember Mug](https://ember.com/products/ember-mug-2?variant=30843977760853&ref=blog.annabyang.com) to keep my tea hot for hours while I'm working at my desk. It seems like a small thing, but having coffee and tea within reach makes it easier for me to maintain focus while I'm writing (versus getting up and walking to the kitchen, which is a distraction). ## A mechanical keyboard I write for hours every day — both for my clients and for my own purposes (like this blog!). A mechanical keyboard has a satisfying *clackity-clack* sound as I type. It's reminiscent of my childhood, when I did my earliest writing on my grandfather's old typewriter in my room. Whatever type of work you do, I encourage you to add *something* to your home office that feels luxurious or reminds you of why you love your work. ## Make your home office a space where you can do your best work The tools and setup of my freelance home office make my workspace both functional and enjoyable. I love being in my office, because it feels like *my space*. Your home office doesn't have to be fancy — but it should work for you. I'm always looking for new ways to fine-tune my setup so I can be as focused and productive as possible. One of the best parts of being self-employed is that *you* get to decide how [best to get your work done](https://blog.annabyang.com/control-your-schedule/). Your home office should reflect that. --- *Check out my free guide:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ### One Day Per Month to Drive Progress in Your Solo Business URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/deep-work/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:39:55.000Z Ever feel like your to-do list is running your life? Since solo business owners have to wear *all* the hats, the work is never-ending. I'm a big advocate for weekly "admin time": time you set aside to knock out the items on your to-do list. But admin time doesn't really give you space to think about anything Big Picture, like your business strategy, something new you want to launch, or changes you want to make. You need to set aside time for deep work, and the best way to do this is by dedicating one full day per month to work on your business. ## What is deep work? Deep work is focused, uninterrupted time you spend on a project or task. You need deep work for anything that requires your full attention and brainpower. People typically set aside several hours for deep work. This is different than setting aside time for admin tasks or to knock a bunch of to-dos off your list — also known as shallow work or busy work. During deep work time, you must commit to avoiding distractions. Close Slack, don't check your email, and turn off your phone notifications. You have to be fully present and immersed in whatever you're working on. You should approach deep work with a [specific goal in mind](https://blog.annabyang.com/90-day-goals/), like making real progress on a project or working on something of high value. Often when I'm doing deep work, I find myself staring off into space simply *thinking* — I'm trying to problem-solve and thinking through how something could work or what I expect an outcome to be. I'll also [jot down notes](https://blog.annabyang.com/best-tools-for-capturing-notes/) during my deep work time, and later transform my notes into a more cohesive plan for a project. You'll also want to avoid the trap of "fake productivity." For example, making tweaks to your website is not deep work. It might be necessary, but it's not the same as something that will really move the needle in your business. If you're thinking about a complete website overhaul, that's different. You might use deep work time to plan out the changes you need to make, new messaging, etc. [Working On Your Business vs. Working In Your BusinessWhat does it mean to work \*in\* your business versus work \*on\* your business?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-92.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-working-on-business.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/working-on-business-vs-working-in-business/) ## The one-day-per month method When was the last time you thought deeply about your [business strategy](https://blog.annabyang.com/create-a-roadmap-for-your-freelance-business/)? The problem for solopreneurs is that we rarely fit time for deep work into our schedules. Between client work, admin (shallow) work, and living our lives, it's hard. Fitting multi-hour blocks of time for deep work into our schedules isn't always feasible. Rather than trying to fit deep work into your weekly schedule, you can take a different approach: one day per month. Block the day off on your calendar — don't allow any meetings and don't plan on any client work. Work a long day (if you can!) with at least two large [blocks of time](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/) for deep work, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. In advance of your deep work day, you'll pick one or two high-impact projects to work on during your blocks of time. Think about it: one day per month is 12 days per year. What big changes could you make with 12 days a year dedicated solely to working on your business? I call this my "CEO Day." I [keep track of potential projects/ideas in Trello](https://blog.annabyang.com/use-both-trello-and-todoist/) and pick a few in advance that I'll focus on during my CEO Day. Every business is different, but you could use your deep work day for things like product strategy, reviewing/updating your pricing, auditing your processes, or thinking about future growth within your business. ## How to set yourself up for focus Your environment plays a huge role in deep work. If you are constantly distracted, you won't get into the deep focus mode you need. If you work from home, your home isn't always best if there are a lot of distractions (like getting up from your computer to do a load of laundry). You could try a local library or co-working space (if you're able to stay for several hours at a time). For some people, being around other people makes them more productive. It's like accountability, even if you're not interacting at all. If you don't want to head to another location, [Flow Club](https://www.flow.club/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) offers virtual coworking sessions. Sometimes, I'll do my CEO Day [from a hotel](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-expenses/). I'll check myself into a hotel for 1 day, usually a Friday afternoon through checkout time on Saturday. I'll work on one project on Friday and another project on Saturday. The change of scenery helps me focus, a lot. Ambient music or lo-fi beats can help a lot. I like [brain.fm](https://www.brain.fm/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Flow State](https://www.flowstate.fm/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) on Substack, and [lofi hip hop radio beats to relax/study to](https://www.youtube.com/live/jfKfPfyJRdk?si=MKNXl-NN4UdfJLKp&ref=blog.annabyang.com) on YouTube. I've also found that wearing headphones improves focus, versus playing music through my computer's speakers. ## Your business *needs* deep work Unless you plan for deep work, you'll never find it. Something will inevitably come up. Or you'll say "yes" to additional client work rather than spend time on your business. You have to schedule time and commit to one day per month of deep work. Add it to your calendar, right now. Maybe it's the first Monday of every month, so you can start off fresh. Or maybe work slows down for you by the end of the month and that's better. Or maybe, like me, checking yourself into a hotel for a weekend sounds like the way to get the most done. The payoff for one day per month of deep work is huge. If you spend your time well, you'll have more strategic clarity around your business — which can lead to more confident decisions and real business growth. --- *Need to review the health of your business? Check out my* [*quarterly planning checklist*](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for solopreneurs.* ### Content Strategy for Solopreneurs URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-content-strategy/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:15:20.000Z To run a [successful solo business](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-success/), you have to get *really* good at marketing. Without a steady stream of clients, you'll constantly be in the "feast or famine" cycle. Marketing your business will involve [creating content](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-content-marketing/). But without a clear strategy in place, you won't get great results (at least, not compared to the amount of effort you put in). If you're new to content strategy, here are some things to think about and the tactics you should use to make your strategy effective. ## Get ridiculously clear about your audience Your overall content strategy should identify your **audience** and your **specific business goal**. That way, you can make sure every piece of content you create is aligned with these two things. First things first: what audience are you trying to attract with your content? This is a big mistake I made when I first started creating content for my business a few years ago. I was knowledgeable about a lot of topics, so I talked about all of them. After working with a brand designer, I narrowed my focus. I outlined (in writing!) **who** I'm trying to attract and **what** I want them to buy from me. You can start by looking at your competitors. What do they talk about? How will you differentiate yourself from these people? ## Build an email list Much of marketing is outside of your control. Algorithms are ever-changing and social media platforms come and go. But if you have an email list, you can contact your audience at any time. Your email list represents people who have *chosen* to hear from you. They may not open every email, but they're much more connected with you than your follower count elsewhere. And most importantly, you own your email list. You can start building a list with any email marketing service, and take that list with you (via an export of subscribers) if you decide to change providers in the future. Years ago, I went really [viral on LinkedIn](https://blog.annabyang.com/prepare-to-go-viral/), racking up nearly 4 million views with a single post. I didn't have an email list. So while the viral post led to some opportunities, it could have led to much more if I had a way for people to sign up to hear from me again in the future. I use [Kit](https://partners.kit.com/f9fp6buqnnz1?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* as an email marketing platform, but there are a lot of other options like Flodesk, Mailerlite, beehiiv, or Substack. [Why I Publish on Substack, Ghost, and KitI publish on three separate platforms because it works for me.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-91.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-substack-ghost-kit-3.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/publish-substack-ghost-kit/) ## Create a lead magnet Email marketing platforms will let you create a landing page to collect email addresses. But people will often ignore these since they don't know what you plan to send. You'll collect more email addresses if you offer something the person can download in exchange for their email address (also known as a lead magnet). Here's the kicker: a good lead magnet should be *really* valuable. Don't just throw together something for the sake of creating a lead magnet. Make sure it's something your audience needs or wants. I created a guide called [17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com),. I knew that sometimes solopreneurs struggle with knowing what apps and tools they need. My instinct was correct; the guide has been downloaded over 1,000 times Start with one lead magnet, and over time, you can add more lead magnets to help grow your email list. ## Create weekly long-form content Next, you'll want to think about weekly long-form content: something that helps your audience get to know you better. Long-form content might include: - A newsletter - A podcast - Blog posts - Webinars - YouTube videos (like a tutorial) Your content should be *so valuable* that people think, "Wow, I can't believe they give this away for free." (Same with your lead magnet.) That's how you [build trust with your audience](https://blog.annabyang.com/minimum-viable-audience/). When they're ready to buy whatever you're selling, they trust that your product/service will be good. If weekly sounds too overwhelming in the beginning, start with bi-weekly. You can increase the frequency over time if it makes sense for your business. Within your long-form content, you'll include a call-to-action (CTA) that drives people to your lead magnet. In the case of your newsletter, it's likely that you already have the person's email address (since they got your newsletter in the first place), but just in case it was forwarded, you'll want to give people a way to sign up to hear from you in the future. ## Choose a social platform Finally, you have to give people a way to find your content. The full buyer journey is: 1. Person finds your long-form content 2. Person downloads your lead magnet 3. Person starts receiving your newsletter or email announcements 4. Person decides to buy But how do people get to step 1? This is where you have to rely on social media. You talk about the topics that are interesting to your audience (that match your content strategy), in the hopes that they check out your profile. In your profile, you can include a link to your lead magnet. You should also share your long-form content on social media; *however*, keep in mind that some social platforms de-prioritize posts with links in them. So you might not get a lot of reach with a post that includes a link to a blog post, for example. Still, the more you create social content, the [more opportunities you'll have](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-ecosystem/) to reach your audience. ## Set aside time to work on content Weekly, you need to spend time creating social posts and your long-form content. Block off some time on your calendar to work on this (like a Friday afternoon). Make sure everything you create is tied back to your content strategy. I have a few main themes I talk about, and different lead magnets for each. I make sure I rotate through these themes and touch on different topics that are important to my audience. Consistency is critical. Don't rush to create daily content for social platforms if you haven't built up the writing muscle yet. Instead, focus on creating a cadence of social posts (maybe 3x per week) and one long-form piece of content to build your email list. That way, when you're ready, you can start contacting your email list with your offer. --- *Check out my* [*free guide*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### 4 Freelance Business Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-business-mistakes/ Last updated: 2026-03-15T11:57:53.000Z A few months ago, I was interviewed for a podcast called "Freelance Sucks." The host asked if there was anything I would change about launching a freelance business. In all honesty, I couldn't think of anything. However, I also worked as an executive at a tech company prior to launching a [freelance business](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-success/). There were many lessons I learned as a decision-maker that I was able to apply quickly — without going through the "Oops, that was a mistake" moments. That being said, I've talked with many freelancers and solopreneurs (as friends or on social media) who *don't* have any type of corporate background. There are a lot of missteps that can happen, especially early in a freelance business. They're not irrecoverable, but they can set you back. I want to share some of the most common freelance mistakes and what I did that worked for me (and helped me earn six figures in my first year of business). ## 1\. Not thinking about your pipeline The hardest thing about launching a freelance business is finding clients. The second hardest thing is maintaining a consistent income. One of the biggest mistakes I see freelancers make is waiting until they lose a client to start looking for new clients. They ignore [marketing efforts](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-self-promotion/) while they're fully booked, and then panic when they lose a large chunk of their income. Marketing doesn't work that way. You need to be on a prospective client's mind long before they reach out. Because odds are, there's a timing mismatch. You need a client when they're not looking, and they're looking when you're not marketing yourself. I market myself daily (on LinkedIn). There are ways to [market yourself without the cringe](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/). I don't necessarily post about my client work, but I keep myself in prospective clients' feeds. As a result, I have a steady stream of inbound inquiries. I will *always* take a call with a prospective client. I never consider myself at "max capacity." I have an "ideal capacity" (balancing client work with other projects and my family), but I could always take on a bit more. This is balanced out by months when I am below capacity. [Why Ad Hoc Work Can Be Better Than RetainersYes, you can run your business smoothly with a variety of projects.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-89.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-ad-hoc-work-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/) ## 2\. Not protecting your work or your time Inexperienced freelancers can find themselves in difficult situations because they don't know how to say "no" to a client or because they don't have a [good contract in place](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-contract-protect-yourself/). A solid contract that clearly outlines the [scope of the project](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-scope/) protects you. You don't have to do anything outside of the agreement. If a client asks you to, you can point back to the agreement and ask for more money. I had a client who asked me to do something outside of the agreement. I told the client it would cost more money, and he declined because he didn't want to pay more. Then he didn't pay my invoice for the work I'd already completed. In both of these instances, the contract protected me. I threatened legal action because I knew I had delivered according to the scope of the agreement (and he eventually paid). A contract is one thing. Enforcing it is another. You have to be willing to stand up to clients and prevent "scope creep." Even if the client's request seems like a small ask today, it could quickly turn into a bigger ask next time. Plus, if you deliver anything outside of the scope, it makes your work less valuable. Let's say you agreed to a project for 20 hours for $1,000\. The client asks you for something additional and it takes you another two hours. That $50/hour you were earning? Now it's only worth $45/hour. You donated your time to your client — and it came at a cost to your business. I have one exception to my "no work outside of scope" rule: I'll do something *if* I think it has a business benefit. For example, maybe the client is well-connected and might refer work to me. Or it's a type of project I don't currently have in my portfolio. I see potential future earnings from fulfilling the client's request and making them happy. ## 3\. Not building systems early A lot of freelancers I know are not systems people. They run project management out of a notebook or Google Sheet, and their finances are a mess at tax time. They think, "I'm just one person with a few clients; I don't need systems yet." That mentality is incorrect for a few reasons. First, the *worst* time to build systems is when you're underwater. Suddenly, you have a bunch of clients, and your spreadsheet isn't cutting it anymore. You also won't have the bandwidth to explore a [freelance project management system](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/). Second, systems make you appear more professional to clients. If you have a streamlined process for everything, clients will know that you take your business seriously. Build systems early. I built a project management system as soon as I had more than one client. I had to think about future growth — which can be a bit hard, but most tools are adaptable and you can change them as you grow. [Project Management Skills Every Freelancer NeedsLearn how to effectively manage your client work.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-90.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelance-project-management-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-management-skills/) ## 4\. Not maintaining a portfolio or collecting recommendations Most buyers are savvy. They'll check you out before reaching out or responding to a cold pitch. If you don't have a stellar portfolio or solid client recommendations, you'll find yourself lost in a sea of thousands of freelancers. Update your [freelance portfolio](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/) regularly. As a freelance [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/), I do this about once a month, making sure my writing samples reflect my best work. I also collect client testimonials regularly. I use LinkedIn for this because it serves a dual purpose. The testimonials live permanently on my LinkedIn profile, and I use them throughout my marketing and self-promotion. I include some testimonials on my website, plus I have a Canva graphic that I use to share testimonials on social media. You never know when clients are checking out your website or social profiles. You have to make sure you're always showcasing your best work. ## A thriving business leads to freedom A thriving business is one that requires *less* work over time. You might think thriving business = more work to earn more income, but the opposite is true. You protect your time, so you earn more per project. You collect great testimonials so you can find better clients. With better clients, you can charge more so you can earn more with less work. It's almost never overnight. But put some good strategies in place early, and you'll be in much better shape and on the path to a [sustainable business](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/) sooner. --- *Not sure where to get started with a client proposal or contract? You can check out this* [*free checklist*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/proposal-contract?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *and download a template to use.* ### My Personal Guardrails for Using AI as a Solopreneur URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-guardrails/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:28:37.000Z When I open one of the tools in my tech stack, they are increasingly powered by AI. In some cases, AI made my work faster (like summarizing a podcast so I don't have to review the transcript later). In other cases, it was simply a helpful companion (like giving me feedback on an article draft). As a writer and creative person, I've set boundaries around how — and when — I use AI in my process. Clients and people who read my work online expect my writing to be authentically **me** — and I wouldn't want it any other way. That being said, I have a few ways that I've incorporated AI into my process to speed things up or spark ideas. Here's how I make the distinction: I use AI to supplement human work, not replace it. ## What I don't use AI for There are clear boundaries I won’t cross with AI: quality, trust, and human connection. ### Client work As a [freelance writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/hire-a-niche-freelance-writer/), my clients are paying me for my skills. Therefore, I don't use AI to generate anything for clients. No exceptions. All of the writing is done by me, from scratch. I promised my clients the highest quality, and the way to deliver is by doing the work without the use of AI. This maintains my voice, which is why they hired me in the first place. The most I'll use generative AI for in writing is some very light sentence rephrasing with Grammarly. Probably about 75% of the time, I discard Grammarly's suggestions because they don't sound like me. But every once in a while, Grammarly will tighten up a sentence or rephrase something in a way that I think improves the work. ### My own writing I also don't use AI in any of my own writing, on my blog or Substack (Though you'll see in the next section that I use AI for light tweaking, which I then edit). Google, in particular, is really keen to "write for me" in my Google Workspace using Gemini. Whether it's email composition or a "help me refine" in Google Docs, I can't stand this feature. I wish Google would let me turn it off entirely, but even with Gemini disabled in my Google Workspace, the "help me write" still shows up (you know, *just in case* I change my mind...) I don't need or want Google to compose an email for me, because it would take just as much time for me to edit it as it would to write it myself. I also don't use generative AI to write social posts from scratch. A *huge* trend right now is to [use generative AI to leave comments](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-comments-on-linkedin/) on LinkedIn posts. I think this practice is absolutely the wrong use case for AI. The comments are *so* obviously written by AI, so the impact is annoying — the opposite of what you'd want from engagement. ### When accuracy matters AI still hallucinates a lot, so I can't rely on it for anything like stats, figures, and numbers. If I'm researching something, I still need find the original source. I can't trust ChatGPT or Google's AI overviews. I've also found that I can't trust ChatGPT if I use it as a "how-to guide." For example, I was trying to figure out something in Airtable. I asked ChatGPT for step-by-step instructions, and the response I received was wrong. I *knew* it was wrong because I understand Airtable well enough, but ChatGPT could have easily sent me down a frustrating rabbit hole. ### When human context matters I don't try to replace human interactions with AI (which is one of the reasons I'm so annoyed by AI comments on LinkedIn). I've been on the receiving end of cold emails that were clearly written by AI, and it is incredibly off-putting. There are parts of my business that depend on human interaction or human decision-making. Last year, I worked with a designer to make some significant changes to my brand. Could ChatGPT have generated a logo and suggested fonts for me? Sure, but it was more important to me to work with someone who spent a lot of time understanding me and my business. I *do* use AI to [generate images for my blog posts](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/streamline-image-creation-ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), because that replaced using generic images from Unsplash (the same images that everyone else was using...) I also work with a virtual assistant. She does work that AI cannot handle. In some cases, ChatGPT could automate part of a process, but I can't guarantee that the information would be correct. As AI's capabilities have improved, I *have* been able to offload more of my virtual assistant's tasks to ChatGPT, but that frees up her time for higher-value work. ## What I use AI for: Even though there are many ways in which I won't use AI, it has still become an integral part of my daily process. Some tasks have been sped up while others weren't possible before AI. ### **Brainstorming and feedback** While I can't rely on ChatGPT for research, it's a good assistant as I brainstorm. I'll feed ChaGPT an outline and ask, "What is missing?" or "What can I add?" I prompt ChatGPT to give me a lot of suggestions, because most of them are terrible. But every once in a while, I'll get an idea or angle that I hadn't considered. I do the same with finished articles and ask ChatGPT for feedback. As a self-employed person, I don't often don't have the benefit of working with an editor. I've also used ChatGPT to create a "voice and tone" guide for my work. I gave ChatGPT a bunch of published examples and asked it to describe my writing. Then I saved the results into a Project. When I write something new, I add it to the project and ask ChatGPT to identify where my writing doesn't match my voice and tone guide. ### **Automating tasks** I use AI to automate tasks that were previously not possible. I've been a longtime user of [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*, but automation within Zapier requires a very specific "point A to point B" workflow, and sometimes I needed tasks that had some, "Well, in this case..." requirements. I had to do those tasks manually (or have my VA do them). For example, I store everything I've published online in a content library. New blog posts are added to the library in Airtable based on the RSS feed, and I add categories to each post. Previously, the categories had to be added manually. Now, I can have ChatGPT review the text of the blog post in the RSS feed and select the best categories from a predefined list. What's important here is that the categories might not be correct, but they're close enough. The *exact* category isn't a requirement, since sometimes a blog post can fit into more than one category. I'm willing to rely on the "second-best category" ChatGPT selects in some cases because it saves me so much time. ### **Content repurposing** I use AI to turn longform content into social posts. ChatGPT starts with the text of my blog post from the RSS feed and [generates a few social posts](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/repurpose-social-posts-using-chatgpt/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for LinkedIn based on instructions I provide. The generated social posts are *never* posted directly to a social platform. I always edit them, and often edit them quite heavily. But they are a good starting point, and working from a draft created by ChatGPT is faster than starting from scratch. [Use Generative AI Without Sacrificing QualityYou can benefit from generative AI without lowering quality.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-88.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-generative-ai-quality-absolutist-3.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/maintain-authentic-writing-voice-with-generative-ai/) ## AI is not autonomous Even with all these boundaries, AI still shows up in my work — just not in ways that replace me. Yesterday, I used AI in three ways. I asked ChatGPT for an idea for my newsletter because I was stumped (the results were terrible, and I used none of them). I used Midjourney to create the hero image for a blog post. And I used ChatGPT to reformat a LinkedIn post into a Threads post, which I will still edit before publishing. AI can assist and speed up parts of my work. But it doesn't understand nuance, doesn't make judgment calls, and can't replicate my unique writing voice (at least, not *exactly* the way I would write.) Even as I wrote this, Grammarly suggested that I change "speed up parts" to "accelerate certain aspects." Just no. AI is not autonomous. I will always be the one who makes the final decision. --- *Download my free resource —* [*Getting Started With Automation: A Guide for Solo Businesses*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— for more tips.* ### Solopreneurs: Create a Schedule that Makes Sense for How YOU Work URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/control-your-schedule/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:40:39.000Z In the days of my corporate job, the weekend couldn't come soon enough. As a product manager, I'd sometimes be caught up in the middle of a difficult release, dealing with a serious customer issue, or simply overwhelmed by the volume of work. Long workdays were the result of working on a team that was perpetually running behind. Someone else's fire became my emergency to fix. But at this company, weekends were typically quiet. Everyone at the company took a break on the weekend (for the most part), and customers' businesses were closed on the weekends. I could enjoy my weekend time, until the "Sunday Scaries" crept in... the sense of dread on Sunday evening that I'd have to repeat the cycle starting Monday morning. I left that company years ago and pivoted into content marketing and journalism. Now, I'm a solopreneur, running my own business. I no longer look at weekends as a "break" because the work I do doesn't feel like such a grind. I also choose to work on weekends, but it is *my decision.* And that's one of the most important parts of running your own business: you get to create a schedule that makes sense FOR YOU. You're not beholden to other people's ideas of when and how work should get done. [Freelancing “Secret Sauce”: How You Spend Your TimeRather than feeling constrained, use time to your advantage.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-85.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelancers-spend-time.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/successful-freelancers-spend-time/) ## Create a routine that matches your natural rhythm I wake up very early, by 4:00 am most days. I love the quiet mornings and [use the time for writing](https://blog.annabyang.com/daily-routine-of-a-writer/). I maintain this routine on the weekends, because my body is accustomed to it. But I have a specific schedule for client work during the week, working for a large [block of time](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/) in the morning, and again in the afternoon. If I have overflow work (like something came up during the day), I'll work into the evenings. But I've also structured my day around my kids' school schedule and taking a long break for lunch/nap/walk in the middle of the day. This schedule mirrors how I like to work. I want to be done working by 4pm, because that's when my daughter gets off the school bus. I can work for long chunks of time without a break, but I know other people who take breaks after 1-hour intervals (or even shorter). I also control when people can meet with me by using Calendly. I think routine and consistency are important for self-employed people, but you don't have to follow a typical 9-5 schedule. Find a rhythm that works for you. Tweak it when you need to. My daily schedule changes in the summer, because my kids don't have school. It also takes time to [adapt to a new routine](https://blog.annabyang.com/adapt-to-a-new-routine/), so give yourself some grace as you try to figure out what works best. ## Set aside time for admin work A lot of solopreneurs I know neglect the "admin work" that's needed to keep their businesses running smoothly. They'll do the essential things like send invoices, but other tasks fall by the wayside. This includes things like marketing, making decisions about tools and processes, or keeping business files organized and up-to-date. I set aside an hour every Friday morning for admin work. I have a recurring task list in [Todoist](https://get.todoist.io/5vaw2q1il5zr?ref=blog.annabyang.com) of everything I want to get done during that hour, plus other things that crop up during the week. I sometimes join a [Flow Club](https://in.flow.club/?inviteCode=anna448&ref=blog.annabyang.com) session, which is virtual co-working. Flow Club helps me stay on task during that hour. I also have a list of things that need my attention monthly instead of weekly. For example, I update my [online writing portfolio](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/) and review some stats on my website. If you have monthly tasks, you could set aside some additional time on the first Friday of the month, or set aside an additional block of time on a different day. Fridays are also my "overflow" day. I avoid scheduled client work on these days, but if [something unexpected comes up](https://blog.annabyang.com/tips-to-avoid-missing-client-deadlines/) during the week, I know I have Fridays as a "catch-up" day. ## Work on the weekends only if it makes sense I'm pretty firm that I **don't** do client work on the weekends. But I still work. That's a choice I make because I want to maintain daily routines, rather than take a break on weekends. As a tradeoff, I have shorter workdays during the week. In addition to my early-morning writing, I set aside a block of time on Saturday to prep my social media for the upcoming week and a block of time on Sunday to prep outlines for anything I want to write during the upcoming week (in my blog, Substack, or newsletter). I don't let this work time interrupt my family time: I'll work while my kids are napping or while they have screen time. If we have something planned as a family, I put that first. I have one major exception, and that's dedicating more time to work if I'm trying to launch something new. I host webinars and create free resources for fellow solopreneurs. If I'm trying to wrap something up, and need more time, I'll work on the weekend. This can happen, in particular, if I have more client work than expected leading up to the launch. [A Time for Rest and a Time for HustleKnow how to apply your energy as a creator.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-87.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-time-for-rest-hustle.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/time-for-rest-and-time-for-hustle/) ## Plan a business retreat Sometimes I feel like I have *so many* things I want to work on and not enough time. These are usually bigger projects, or I feel like I'm behind on admin work. I try to plan a [quarterly "business retreat."](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-expenses/) I check myself into a hotel room on a Friday afternoon and don't check out until Sunday morning. I savor the uninterrupted work time. I also use these weekends as planning sessions for future webinars I want to host or digital products I want to create. To make the most of the weekend, I plan out what things I want to get done and how much time I want to spend on each thing. I'll also usually buy food in advance and put it in the hotel fridge, so I don't even have to leave the room (unless I want a break). Corporations often take retreats. Teams gather to brainstorm, plan the next quarter, or reflect on past projects. You should *absolutely* do the same thing as a solopreneur, if you can afford the hotel weekend. The change of scenery does wonders for the brain. ## Remain flexible Even though I like to stick to a schedule, I know that I have to remain flexible. Sometimes things come up with clients, or one of my kids is sick, or something unexpected happens. I have to adapt and make it work. But the difference is that I have *so much* more control over how I address these things. In the corporate world, it was "X thing has to be done by Y date" — even if someone else caused a delay. With clients, I can negotiate a delivery date. Or I could push back the launch of a new product, if I fall behind for some reason. If I'm not "feeling it," I can choose not to work for part of a day (or a whole day). That freedom is everything. --- *Check out my* [*free eBook*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— a guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### How to Start Networking as a Freelancer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-networking/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:56:33.000Z If you're a freelancer, chances are you don't mind working alone. Freelancing is often a solitary life — perfect for introverts and people who like working independently. However, there's one big reason you need to find and reach out to other people: networking. Networking as a freelancer is a safety net. A strong network can be a source of new clients when work slows down. It can also support you through advice, referrals, and collaboration that can help you grow your business. Building a network takes consistent effort. If you find yourself [short on time](https://blog.annabyang.com/successful-freelancers-spend-time/) (isn't that the case for all of us freelancers?), choose one or two networking tactics that work best for you and focus on those. ## 1\. Connect with people on social media Posting on social media is an entirely different ball game, and not something you *have* to do to build a network. You can engage with people on social media by commenting on other people's posts. I create [saved lists of LinkedIn profiles](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/list-of-linkedin-profiles/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), which makes this process easier (especially since LinkedIn's feed can get weird at times). If you're using a platform like Threads, you can create custom feeds in the desktop app based on searches (like hashtags). There are three ways to connect with people on social media. ### Comment on the posts of large(ish) creators If you engage with people who have large audiences, you're likely to get more visibility because more eyeballs will be on each post. Ideally, you should look for creators who have decent-sized audiences, but not *too* large. If the creator has hundreds of thousands of followers, your comment will get lost in a sea of other comments. It's also unlikely that the creator will reply to you directly. Aim for creators with audiences between 20,000 and 50,000\. The audiences are big, but not enormous, so the creator might engage. Find creators who are in a similar industry as your target customer. For example, I'm a freelance content marketer, so I'll comment on the posts of marketers with large followings. [Self-Promotion on LinkedIn Without the CringeCut through the noise with these simple tips.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-84.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-linkedin-less-cringe-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/) ### Comment on the posts of ideal clients You never know when an ideal client might need freelance help. That's why I don't do much cold pitching: the odds of my pitch landing in someone's inbox at the exact time they need a freelancer are slim. It adds noise to people's inboxes, since many people receive a large volume of cold pitches. Instead, I strategically engage with ideal clients on LinkedIn, using a multi-step approach: - Research ideal companies I'd like to work with - Find the marketing person who works for that company - Use the "bell" icon on that person's profile so I'm notified about new posts - Comment thoughtfully on the person's posts My LinkedIn headline says "Freelance [Fintech Writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/)," so it's obvious what type of work I do. If that person ever needs freelance support, hopefully my name comes to mind since we've been interacting on LinkedIn for a while. Another opportunity is if the company posts a full-time role. Companies hire for two reasons: they're growing, or someone has quit. Either way, they probably need *immediate* support, and hiring can take weeks. If I see a full-time job post, I'll DM the contact and ask if they need any temporary freelance support until they get a new full-time hire ramped up. ### Comment on the posts of fellow freelancers Some of your biggest supporters can be fellow freelancers. Many freelancers in my network know who I am, and what I do. If they see an opportunity that isn't a good fit for them (because it's a different industry, for example), they're likely to tag me, recommend me, or send the opportunity in my direction. And I do the same for them. ## 2\. Reach out to your existing connections Sometimes, new freelancers forget that they have an existing network, such as former coworkers, college classmates, and past clients. Or maybe you had an awesome conversation with someone at an event, but they're not active on social media. You need to develop a system to stay in touch with people. I use a [personal CRM](https://blog.annabyang.com/system-to-maintain-relationships/) (I use [Clay](https://clay.earth/invite/ff453a?ref=blog.annabyang.com)) to keep track of connections. Clay suggests people I should keep in touch with, and I'll send a message like "Hey, just wanted to check in and see how things are going with you." I make notes in Clay about the conversation, and also set reminders if I want to follow up on a specific date. ## 3\. Join industry communities Social media isn't for everyone, but communities are another way to network with people. I'm in several [Slack communities](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/) for marketers, and I'll engage in conversations when I have something to contribute. Some communities will even post freelance opportunities, and then I have a chance to connect with the hiring manager more directly by sending a DM. You might even find a few in-person events, like industry conferences. Conferences can be pricey, but connecting with potential clients offsets this cost (plus, you'll learn some things). I attended a large marketing conference with a few hundred attendees and walked away with three potential clients. Two didn't pan out, but one did — so it was worth attending the conference. On top of finding potential clients, you can also expand your network, which could lead to future opportunities. [How to Become Known as an Expert in Your NicheGetting started and building an audience.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-82.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-known-as-expert.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/expert-in-a-niche/) ## 4\. Ask for referrals (strategically) Even if people in your network don't need your services, they might be able to connect you with others in *their* networks. A natural time to ask is when you're wrapping up a project. You can say something as simple as, "If you know anyone who would be a good fit for my services, I'd love an intro." You could even offer a referral fee. I worked with a designer last year, and at the end of our project together, I referred him to a few of my fellow freelancers. He ended up closing a contract, and I earned a referral fee. Another option is to establish cross-referral arrangements with other freelancers. I work with several who offer complementary services. If a client needs something I don't offer, I know exactly which freelancer I can refer (and they do the same for me). [How Successful Freelancers Build a Great ReputationStand out from the crowd.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-83.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelancer-success.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/successful-freelancers/) ## 5\. **Use cold outreach as a networking tool (not a sales pitch)** I will regularly connect with people on LinkedIn, even if we've never connected in a community or IRL. If I see someone who works in my industry, I'll send a connection request. A lot of times, it leads to a brief conversation (for example, asking the other person about the type of work they do). I'll also connect to people as they join the Slack communities I'm in. I [do *not* pitch the person](https://blog.annabyang.com/market-your-freelance-business/). Instead, I might send a DM occasionally and check in. I've built up many connections this way over time, and am planting the seeds for future opportunities. ## **You have to give in order to receive** Networking works best when you *give* before you ask. If you only show up in someone's inbox when you need something, it doesn't work. You have to nurture the relationship before you make a direct request. Besides, some of the best opportunities happen when you don't have to ask at all. The real power of a network as a freelancer is when people think of you, refer work to you, or approach you with a potential project. That's when your networking efforts really pay off. --- *Freelance pricing is hard to figure out, but I’ve created a* [*free resource*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for fellow writers. It outlines my rates, how I think about pricing, and how my pricing has evolved over time.*, ### When Should You Charge for Your Expertise? URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/charge-for-your-knowledge/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:39:16.000Z When you're a solopreneur, there's a fine line between charging for expertise and building trust by giving information away for free. You share as much as possible, because you're a helpful person and you know that trust will eventually lead to sales. But, at some point, you're selling yourself short. Charging for your knowledge is how you make money. So what's the tipping point between free offerings and [paid products](https://blog.annabyang.com/digital-products-flywheel/)? ## What to charge for: There are a few things you should *never* give away for free, even in your earliest days as a solopreneur. These things come at too high a "cost" to your business, or take advantage of you. ### 1:1 calls As you start to grow your audience, you'll get a lot of requests for 1:1 calls. People will frame this as wanting to "pick your brain" or "ask for some tips." I get these requests a lot. People see me as a successful freelancer and want to learn, especially as they are first getting started. I used to take calls — because I genuinely wanted to be helpful — but they weren't a good use of my time. There was a "time cost" in these calls, in which I could have focused on client work. And the calls didn't benefit me in any way. I could build rapport with a single person, but that's not scalable and didn't translate to income. Eventually, I decided to limit calls to clients. When I get a request, I reply: *Thanks for reaching out! I get a lot of requests for calls, so I have to limit 1:1 conversations to calls with clients. As a solopreneur, I have to be really cognizant of my time.* *I share a ton of resources for other solopreneurs, so you might want to check out \[links to resources\].* If someone *really* wants to talk, I let them know that I offer paid coaching calls and send them a link to book a call. If you implement a "no 1:1 calls" policy, there are a few exceptions you should consider (noted in the "What to give away for free" section below). ### Product feedback If you're active on social media, you'll start getting requests for feedback. For example, I got a DM from someone who wanted me to check out an [invoicing tool for freelancer](https://blog.annabyang.com/invoicing-software-freelancers/)s. Usually, these people try to convince you that their product is something better than what you're currently using, and maybe even offer a discount in exchange for your feedback. Don't do it. You're giving the company free market research. And it's *very* unlikely that an early-stage company will have such an amazing product that it will be better than whatever you're using. Better to wait and see how the product matures. This is how I reply to these requests: *Thanks for reaching out! I'm happy to review your product and give you feedback. My rate for this is $XXX.XX per hour. If you'd like to move forward, here's a link to pay.* Most of the time, the person will reply that they have no budget to pay for my feedback. Which is exactly what I suspected: they were hoping I'd give away free advice. Advice that benefits *them* but doesn't benefit *me* in any way. ### Anything that trades on your audience or authority As your audience grows, people will reach out who want access to your audience. Collaborations are good, but promoting another person, product, or company without anything in return is free advertising. Here are some requests I get regularly: - "I thought this blog post might be interesting to your audience" (wants me to place a link in my newsletter or website) - "I thought this product might be helpful for your audience" (I've never heard of or used the product) Most of these are a "spray and pray" approach. The sender is sending *dozens,* if not *hundreds,* of these requests, hoping someone will say yes. If you think a product, service, or blog post might be **genuinely** helpful, offer paid sponsorships. Here's how to reply: *Thanks for reaching out! I agree, I think this could be a great fit for my audience. Here's a link to my sponsorship opportunities.* I use [Passionfroot](https://www.passionfroot.me/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to manage sponsorships because I can list different offerings (blog post, newsletter, social media) and packages. Recently, a company reached out to me, wanting to feature me in a blog post. I told them that a feature is fine, as long as they include a link to my website and LinkedIn profile. A backlink helps my website's domain authority. Then the company wanted me to promote the published blog post to my audience, telling me, "We both benefit from growth." In reality, the company was trying to get additional exposure by having me promote the article to my audience. At that point, it crossed a line from free (mentioning me in an article) to paid (promotion of their product by sharing the article). I told the company that we would need to discuss sponsored content in order to continue. Collaborations are fine, but be careful that you don't end up giving more than you receive in return. ## What to give away for free: It might sound like I'm in the "charge for everything" camp, but I'm not. I just think people who want to "get something" from you should offer something of value in return. Otherwise, there's a financial benefit to them, but not to you. That being said, you absolutely *should* give away things for free **when it benefits you**. ## Your knowledge I share a ton of information on my blog, in my newsletter, and on my social profiles. I want people to trust my expertise, and think of me as the "go-to" person for certain topics (such as [freelancing](https://blog.annabyang.com/prepare-for-freelance-life/) and [solopreneur operations](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-management-basics/)). When they're ready, I have paid products and services that can help. "Charge for everything" doesn't work if you haven't established your authority first. I see creators *all the tim*e with pitches like, "I built up my audience and here's how you can do the same with my product that costs $299!" Or "Want to know the secret to my success? Pay to access it." Don't gate your knowledge. No one will believe you. Paid products should be expanded versions of what you already talk about (like a course). Or convenient packaging for what you talk about (like an eBook). Or 1:1 access to you (like coaching). ### Connections to people who can help you While I won't schedule 1:1 calls when I'm only offering advice, I *will* schedule calls with people who can help me in some way or give me access to other people. It might be a "me giving advice" call, but the person is well-connected or can return the favor in some other way. Think of these more like networking calls. Even if the benefit to you isn't immediate, it's important to have that person in your network. ### Promotions that can help your business I cautioned against helping another person or business if you get nothing in return. But if you *do* get something in return, you should absolutely give away your knowledge for free. A few examples: - Writing a guest post for someone else's blog - Appearing as a [podcast guest](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/) - Offering quotes for an article if the article includes a link back to your website or social profile In all of these cases, there's a dual benefit. The person or company benefits from me sharing my expertise. I also benefit from gaining access to a new audience. Your connections may help you. I love doing collaborations with [people I've met](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/). We might co-host webinars or cross-promote each other's products or services. ## Know your worth The most important thing to keep in mind is that **your knowledge is worth something**. Ask yourself: Does this benefit **me** or **my audience**? If not, you should be charging the other person. If the other person values your time or expertise (and can afford it), they'll pay. There is **nothing** more valuable than your time when you're running your own business. Use it wisely. --- *Need to review the health of your business? Check out my* [*quarterly planning checklist*](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for solopreneurs.* ### My Process as a 1-Person Content Producer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-content-marketing/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:35:27.000Z As a solo business owner, blog posts are a huge part of my overall marketing strategy. They build trust with my audience, demonstrate my expertise, and drive people to other products/services I offer through calls-to-action. But I'm also end-to-end content operations, since I'm a team of one. That means in addition to writing, I need to plan, optimize, schedule, and distribute. And since I'm a systems person, *of course* I have a content process in place. With a process, I know (approximately) how long each blog post will take and when I will work on blog content each week. Here's how I get it done. ## Step 1: Adding content ideas to a planning tool Blog post ideas pop into my head all the time. If this happens to you also, you need a way to [capture those ideas](https://blog.annabyang.com/tools-to-capture-ideas/) so you can add them to your content calendar later. I use Trello for my content planning. The app itself isn't important — a lot of different apps would work for this purpose. But when I have an idea, I **immediately** add it to Trello. I'll add it through the web browser, the app on my phone, or a voice command (I have an automation set up through Siri + a webhook + [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*). I add just enough info so I can remember the idea later. In Trello, I organize my content ideas into different "pillars" based on the topics I talk about (solopreneurship, apps and tools, content marketing, and more). When I plan my content, I pull from different lists in Trello so I make sure to rotate through all of my different pillars. I don't add any due dates to my content planning tool at this point. Ideas just sit in Trello until I've completed the next step (an outline). [Why I Use Both Trello and TodoistYes, I need two productivity tools. But I use them very differently.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-80.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-trello-todoist.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/use-both-trello-and-todoist/) ## Step 2: Create an outline through dictation Before I start drafting the blog post, I'll dictate my ideas. I use an app called Cleft that turns my ideas into an outline. The more I dictate, the better my outline. For me, dictation is a lot faster than drafting an outline by hand. Plus, it gives me the opportunity to get all of my ideas out at one time. Cleft is really good at organizing my dictated notes into something coherent. Sometimes, I'll jot down a few talking points into a notebook, but never more than a few words. I only do this so I don't forget a topic while dictating. Once I have an outline, I'll run it through ChatGPT, with a prompt like this: *This is the outline for a blog post I plan to write. \[Include some information about who I am and my audience\].* *The goal of this post is: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* *Based on this goal and my audience, is there anything else I should include?* ChatGPT will give me a *lot* of suggestions. Most of them aren't great, but usually one or two are things I hadn't considered. As a solo content person, I don't have the benefit of working with an editor, so this type of "feedback" from AI is helpful. Once I have an outline, I'll schedule the post on my content calendar in Trello. The due date is when I plan to **write** the post, not **publish** the post. Once I've written it, I'll schedule it on my website. I have specifica publish dates (Mondays and Thursdays), so I'll schedule it for the next available "slot." I don't plan out my content in Trello more than 2-3 weeks at a time. As a solopreneur, work can quickly go off the rails, and I don't want to do a bunch of rearranging. ## Step 3: Write the blog post Once I have an outline, I'll start drafting the blog post. This is usually NOT the same day that I write the outline. Since I [use dictation for an outline](https://blog.annabyang.com/dictate-blog-posts/)Since, I sometimes create an outline while sitting in the parking lot, waiting to pick up one of my kids from an after-school activity (such is the life of a working parent). Working from my dictated outline saves me a **ton** of time in the drafting phase. I've already gotten the main ideas into a document; now I only need to add the details. For drafting, I work in blocks of time on specific days. In addition to my blog, I also have a newsletter and Substack (and client work!). Each day has a specific writing focus. ### A note about SEO: I'm not an SEO expert, but I know the fundamentals. I also don't want my writing to be solely driven by SEO. At the same time, some of my website traffic is driven by ranking posts in Google. When I start drafting, I'll do some *very light* keyword research in Ahrefs to see if I can find a keyword or phrase that matches what I plan to write. If so, I'll incorporate the phrase in the article. But I rely on Google's E-E-A-T framework (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) to help my articles appear in search results more than stuffing my articles with keywords to meet a specific search intent. ## Step 4: Add internal links When I'm done writing, I'll add links to other relevant articles on my website. I've written more than 200 articles. I keep everything organized in [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* by content pillars and keywords. **Every** new article is added to Airtable (via Zapier), so it's a complete "content library" of everything I've written, across all of my websites. I'll find related articles and sprinkle them throughout my new draft. I add links in two ways: - Inline links based on related topics (like when I write about [project management for freelancers](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/)) - Cards that display links visually, like this: [4 Tools to Capture Ideas as a WriterA writer’s tech stack.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-78.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-capture-ideas.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/tools-to-capture-ideas/) I'll also run the draft through ChatGPT and ask it to find relevant articles from my blog. Sometimes it comes back with a surprising suggestion — something I hadn't considered that might be relevant to the reader (which I'll add as a card link). ## Step 5: Create a hero image I [use Midjourney to create images](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/streamline-image-creation-ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for my blog posts, and have been using Midjourney for a few years. Before that, I used Unsplash (like everyone else). I hated how generic the images were. I tried to do things like add a filter in Canva, but it was never quite what I wanted. Midjourney gave me the ability to create hero images that don't look like everything else on the internet. I use [style codes](https://midjourneysref.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) so that my images have a similar look/feel across the website. I'll add my draft to ChatGPT and ask it to create a prompt for Midjourney based on the topic of my blog post. Then I'll tweak the prompt a bit and feed it into Midjourney. I'll continue to work in Midjourney until I'm happy with the results. I should add that AI-generated images are **not** a substitute for a designer (just like [AI can't replace me as a writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-will-not-replace-writers/)). I hired a designer to do brand work for me last year. But, as a one-person business, I'm not in a position to pay a designer to create unique hero images for me every week. It's either AI-generated images, or Unsplash. And I prefer the AI-generated images. ## Step 6: Publish and distribute Once my post publishes, I get to work on [distributing the ideas](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-distribution-competitive-advantage/) in other ways. At a minimum, I: - Share the link across my social profiles and my newsletter - Create some social posts based on the topic - Add relevant links from *older* blog posts to this new post Monthly, I look at my top-performing posts in Google Analytics. My website (Ghost) allows me to "feature" posts on the home page, so I'll rotate these based on posts that are getting the most traffic. In Airtable, I also look at a list of "evergreen posts." Let's say a post publishes on April 15, 2025\. I'll look at it again in April 2026, April 2027, and so on. In April of the following year, I'll look to see if I should create some more content from the original post. I might share the link again, or create some additional posts. I'll do this until I decide that the post is no longer relevant. At that point, I'll either remove it from my "evergreen" list or decide if it's worth updating the post. Writing a blog post is a lot of work, especially as part of a solopreneur content marketing strategy. I want to make sure that I get the most mileage out of each blog post. That means the work doesn't end when I hit "publish": I have to make sure that blog post keeps working for me for years to come. --- *Need to keep track of everything you publish online? Check out this free guide:* [*How to Create a Content Library... and why you need one!*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/contentlibrary?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### Turn Your Free Digital Downloads into Paying Customers URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/digital-products-flywheel/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:39:27.000Z Ever feel like you put a ton of work into a digital product, only to have its launch fall flat? Or maybe you get some initial traction, but then it fades over time? You might create the exact digital product your audience wants and needs, but you fall short on launching and re-launching the product. I'm guilty of this myself: I'm so excited to "get the thing out the door" that I don't do enough planning to make sure my audience is aware of it. Especially since everyone's inboxes and feeds are cluttered. If you create a consistent process for launching and re-launching your product, you'll find that it draws in an audience that keeps growing over time — also known as a flywheel model. You'll follow the same motions, but each launch gets easier and has a bigger impact. ## Create an engaging onboarding experience In product management, we think a lot about onboarding. What does the customer first experience when they access the product or feature? A product should be easy to use and keep users coming back. The same is true for digital products, even though the experience is different. At the bare minimum, your product should deliver as promised. The user should feel good about providing their email address or paying in exchange for the product. Beyond that, you'll want to think about what happens *after* the user clicks "download" or "purchase." For starters, you may have no idea how users found you or your product. First impressions matter, so you should send an intro email thanking them for their purchase/download and introducing yourself. Let them know what you hope they get out of the digital product. Three days after they download the digital product, send a follow-up email pointing them in the direction of other helpful resources. I **never** use this as a sales pitch. Many of my digital products are free, and I want my audience to trust that I share a lot of valuable information. I'll usually send links to blog posts directly related to the resource they downloaded. I use Gumroad to host my digital products, so it's really easy to set up a sequence of emails based on the product downloaded. Over time, I'll tweak these sequences to make sure that I'm sending the best follow-up resources possible. [Create a Clear Path Between Audience and IncomeViews and followers are vanity metrics.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-81.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/1-8qzawwe2ygn2wbrld_3e5a-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/path-between-audience-income/) ## Provide some guidance and suggestions You want to make it really easy for your audience to understand *how* to use your digital product. In software, this is called the "aha moment" — when users realize that a product will improve their work in some way. You want to have a similar experience with your digital product, by guiding your audience to that "aha moment." If you provide something like an eBook, include a checklist or some other step-by-step process that your audience could follow. You could include that within the digital product itself, or in your email sequence. If your digital product is a course, it's really helpful to show a progress bar or some other visual indicator of how much of the course has been completed. Many tools that host course products have this built in. In your follow-up email sequence, you can also ask people if they have any questions. Doing this gives you a chance to add more value, plus it [collects additional information](https://blog.annabyang.com/minimum-viable-audience/) to help you refine your digital product. If people are consistently confused by something, you might want to tweak it or include additional guidance in your welcome email. ## Prepare your announcement You're ready with the product and your email sequence. Now you need to announce the product. In my earliest days of launching digital products, I was *not* very thoughtful about the launch process. I'd literally finish the product and throw it out into the universe. Now, I have a specific process I follow with each digital product launch. ### Step 1: Announce the product I'll send an email to my audience announcing the new product. Later, I'll send an additional announcement in my newsletter — just in case people missed the first announcement. Sometimes, I'll [host a webinar](https://blog.annabyang.com/steps-to-host-webinars/) related to the product. This is an additional way to collect email addresses, since people will sign up to attend the webinar. I'll offer the freebie as an incentive to attend the webinar. When I use this tactic, I wait a few weeks before announcing the product to my email list again, and exclude webinar attendees (since they already got the product for attending the webinar). ### Step 2: Create social media posts I'll create several social media posts related to the product announcement (or webinar announcement, if I'm using a webinar initially). I have a template in Canva for product announcements, and I'll also create a video. I like to put the URL of the product in the Canva graphic itself. Some social media sites (like LinkedIn) are **very** punishing of links to external resources. Sometimes, I'll share the announcement post with the link; sometimes, I rely only on the URL in the graphic. That way, I'm giving the post as many chances to be seen as possible. ## Re-promote your product Don't forget to re-promote your product — a lot. Product launches can quickly lose steam because creators spend a lot of time pushing the product initially, and then don't spend *any* time re-promoting it. Remember: your audience grows all the time. So some people will have no idea that this product exists. Remind your newsletter that you have this digital product available. I'll usually include it when it makes sense with the topic of my newsletter, rotating out different digital products in each issue. I also re-share the graphics I created on social media regularly. Additionally, I use my products as a call to action within my blog posts. Every post has a link to a different free product. People find my blog through organic search, plus I share the links across social channels. I also cross-post the posts to Medium, where I can reach a much larger audience. It's a way to continuously get new downloads for products I created months — or even years — ago. ## Give your customers resources to go deeper Free products are an excellent way to build your audience — especially if you're new to launching digital products. But, eventually, you'll want to give your customers a way to pay you for the knowledge you offer. After your customers get through the basics, they will start asking more detailed questions. Like, “How do I [apply this in my business](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-management-basics/)?” or “What’s the next step after this module?” These deeper questions are actually a good thing — they show that your users are engaging with what you offer on a deeper level. There are a few ways to turn free customers into paying customers: - Offer an upsell to your digital product, like a version that has additional information - Offer coaching related to your digital product - Use your email list to promote a new paid product in the future By itself, your free product should be valuable. You don't want people to feel like they *have* to pay for a product in order to get something from you. The paid product should be a deeper dive, or a 1:1 application of the general advice you provided in the free version of your product. You'll want to be mindful of *when* and *how* you offer these paid opportunities. For example, in your email sequence, you might direct customers to several additional free resources. Or maybe the customer receives a few issues of your newsletter. Only **after** the customer receives value do you send an offer for a paid product. The paid version should be a natural extension of whatever free product you offered. I have several paid offerings, so I'm careful to match the paid offering with the right free product. ## **Keep the flywheel in motion** A flywheel is a machine that gains momentum as it keeps turning. Jim Collins applied the flywheel model to business in his 2001 book *Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap, and Others Don't.* In the book, he talks about momentum kicking in and writes: > “You’re pushing no harder than during the first rotation, but the flywheel goes faster and faster. Each turn of the flywheel builds upon work done earlier, compounding your investment of effort.” If you create digital products and put in the work to launch, re-launch, and re-promote them, eventually you'll have a flywheel effect. You're putting in the same amount of initial effort, but each rotation has a bigger audience and more opportunities to lead customers to your paying products. --- *Check out my* [*free eBook*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— a guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### 4 Tools to Capture Ideas as a Writer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/tools-to-capture-ideas/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:34:21.000Z As someone who writes a lot on The Internet, I'm constantly on the lookout for ideas. I'm inspired — daily — by things I read, podcasts I listen to, and my experiences out and about in the world. Many writers have a system to capture ideas, but often, ideas end up scattered across many different apps, tools, and bits of notebook paper. I wanted a streamlined and organized way to capture ideas. Over time, I've built a system that relies on several different apps, but then centralizes the ideas in one main knowledge base. Here's what I use. ## 1\. Pocket [Pocket](https://getpocket.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) is a tool that lets you bookmark almost anything. Article that you want to read later? Save it to Pocket. LinkedIn post you find interesting? Save it to Pocket. Pocket works on both web browsers (as a Chrome extension) and as a mobile app, so you can save ideas wherever you're reading. ![Screenshot of saved articles in Pocket](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-05-at-10.24.57-AM.png) Sourec: My own screenshot Before Pocket, it was *really* hard for me to bookmark ideas. I sometimes used Google Keep, but struggled with making it "fit" with other tools I use. I also saved directly in social media apps, like on Instagram or Threads, but found I'd never come back to my bookmarks later. Pocket changed all of that. Most of the time, I revisit my Pocket saves once a week. I'll read the article and highlight any sections I find interesting (which I'll talk about in the next section). Then, I'll archive the bookmark in Pocket. **Cost:** Free. Pocket makes money through advertising. ## 2\. Readwise Most of the time, when I read an article, I don't want to save the entire thing. I just want to [save the interesting parts](https://blog.annabyang.com/best-tools-for-capturing-notes/). Readwise lets you highlight sections of online articles and sync your highlights to an external source (like Notion, Evernote, Roam Research, Obsidian, or Reflect). You don't use Readwise by itself; the whole point is to sync saves from Readwise to another app. As a Chrome extension, you can highlight text and select "Save to Readwise" or you can use the Readwise mobile app. ![Screenshot of highlight and save to Readwise on a webpage](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-05-at-10.28.11-AM.png) Source: My own screenshot Readwise is an integral part of my idea capture. I'm constantly saving little pieces of articles that I want to reference later, like a quote, stat, or interesting idea. Additionally, Readwise can capture ideas from your Kindle books OR physical books. Highlights from your Kindle books will automatically sync if you set up the integration one time. With Readwise's mobile app, you can scan the text of a book using your phone's camera. Then you can adjust the highlighted section on the page in the photo. Finally, you can tie it to the actual book in the Readwise library (which I assume comes from Amazon or something). **Cost:** $4.99/month ## 3\. Snipd Snipd is an amazing app that lets you capture ideas in podcasts. You would use Snipd instead of another podcast listening app. (Prior to Snipd, I was using Apple Podcasts). When you "create a snip," the app's AI knows to go back *just slightly* to capture the entire idea so you don't miss anything. Each snip includes both an AI overview (in bullet points) and the actual transcript from that section of the podcast. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/04/IMG_4926--1-.jpg) Screenshot of a Snip from The Vergecast Snipd will also auto-create snips, but I prefer to control the snips myself so I can capture ideas *I* find interesting. I'm an avid podcast listener, mostly in my car. Snipd works with Apple CarPlay, which is a bonus. One tap on the screen, and I can create a snip. Snipd will integrate with Readwise or Notion, and also has exports to other products like Obsidian. The Readwise integration is perfect for what I need. **Cost:** $11.90/month or $83.90/year. I paid for the annual subscription, which is the equivalent of $6.99/month. [A Solopreneur Tech Stack: Why Price Isn’t the Only FactorConsider time saved.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-77.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-solopreneur-tech-stack-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-tech-stack/) ## 4\. Cleft Sometimes, I'll be driving along and an idea will pop into my head. For a while, I tried using my iPhone's voice notes, but found that the notes got "stuck" — I didn't have an easy way to export them into a format I could use. I don't need my voice as much as I need a transcript of the idea. And I didn't want any type of manual process, because I would forget. [Cleft](https://www.cleftnotes.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) is an iPhone [voice app](https://blog.annabyang.com/voice-apps/) that lets you dictate a voice note, organizes the voice note using AI, and then can sync your notes to another source using Zapier. (Or you can copy/paste the notes from the Mac version of the app.) What's unique about Cleft is that it knows *how* to organize your ideas. The AI output is different if I dictate an idea versus create a voice note of some to-do things I need to get done that day. ![AI results in Cleft](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/04/annabyang-cleft.jpg) My idea capture for this blog post You can use either the AI-organized version or the raw transcript — but trust me, the AI version is much better. If I'm driving, I have my phone positioned in a holder on my dashboard. When I get an idea, it's one tap of the "record" button in Cleft and I can capture my thought. Pocket works on both web browsers (as a Chrome extension) and as a mobile app, so you can save ideas wherever you're reading. **Cost:** Free for recordings of up to 5 minutes, or $39/year for a 30-minute limit plus Zapier and Obsidian integrations. ## Store all of your ideas in a central hub The only reason that my system of multiple apps works to capture ideas is because everything ends up in one place: an app called Reflect. - Saved ideas in Pocket eventually become saved highlights with Readwise. - Saved highlights in books will sync to Readwise. - Saved snips with Snipd will sync to Readwise. - Everything in Readwise will sync to Reflect. - Voice notes in Cleft will sync to Reflect. Whether you use Reflect or one of many other similar tools on the market, you goal should be **knowledge management**. ![Example of synced notes from Readwise](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-05-at-11.35.02-AM.png) Example of a synced highlight from Readwise In Reflect, for example, I can tie notes with similar ideas together using hashtags or linking the pages. I draft all of my blog posts in Reflect and will pull in related notes and ideas, all synced from these external sources. I can also do a search to find specific notes or ideas. So Reflect is where I put my idea capture to use. These ideas aren't scattered around the internet or trapped within disparate tools. Everything I need to [get my writing done](https://blog.annabyang.com/daily-routine-of-a-writer/) is in a single app, and I never lose track of any ideas. --- *Check out my free eCourse* [*The Endless Idea Collector*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/endless-idea-collector?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *and learn more about finding content inspiration in everyday life.* ### How to Evaluate Freelance Clients and Avoid Bad Situations URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-evaluate-freelance-clients/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:56:45.000Z I started freelancing because I was sick of corporate culture, especially toxic work environments. I wanted to be in control of who I worked with and how work got done. *Most* of my clients have been lovely, but there have also been a few doozies. In some cases, I suspected the client would be difficult, but I needed the money. In other cases, I missed some red flags. Based on my years of experience as a freelancer, plus a prior career as a tech executive, here are some things to consider as you evaluate potential clients. ## **1\. Identify your needs and set clear deal-breakers** At a bare minimum, you need to meet your [income goals](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-income-calculator/) — whatever those are. If you take work that's *far* below what you want to earn, you're setting yourself up for a cycle of low-paying work that's hard to break. You should establish an amount you'd like to earn per client or project, and the minimum amount you'd be willing to accept. Don't go below that. If clients want you to accept a rate that's far below what you normally charge, the client won't respect your work. I spoke to a potential client last year — a prominent finance brand (I'm a [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/)). The proposed rate was 1/4 of what I usually charge, and 1/2 of my absolute bare minimum. I *knew* this client could afford more, so it demonstrated a lack of respect for writers and their work. I said no. I would have accepted the work for my bare minimum, to get the brand in my portfolio, but I wasn't willing to do work at 1/4 of my usual rate. You'll also want to identify the types of clients and work that aren't a good fit. In the beginning, it's ok to accept imperfect work while you are trying to establish a [freelance portfolio](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/). But over time, refine your ideal client and offer. Odds are, work that's outside of your skillset is going to absorb more of your time than it's worth. Better to stick to what you do best (unless you're trying to branch into a new product or service). ## **2\. Assess a freelance opportunity** Freelance jobs will often have some type of job description, whether they're on a job board or shared on a social platform like LinkedIn. I've also had people approach me directly about freelance opportunities (such as sending me a DM). Not all opportunities are good. As you vet the client and the potential freelance work, withdraw yourself from the process if you sense red flags. You can simply say that the work doesn't seem like a good fit. Or you could tell a white lie and say that you took on some more work for another client and no longer have the bandwidth. Here are a few things to watch out for: ### An unclear project scope Clients who don't know what they want will be impossible to please. Make sure the client is *very* clear about the [project scope](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-scope/) and goals. ### Clients who haven't worked with freelancers before Clients who haven't worked with freelancers before aren't bad *all* the time, but it's definitely harder. They don't always understand how the client-freelancer relationship works, how to respect your boundaries, and how to treat you as an independent professional. You might find yourself doing more work than expected or find the client hard to communicate with. [5 Red Flags That a Potential Client Doesn’t Know How to Work With FreelancersInexperienced clients can cause headaches for freelancers. Here are 5 red flags to watch out for so you can protect yourself and your business.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-76.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-client-red-flags.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/red-flags-freelance-clients/) ### Unrealistic expectations Rushed deadlines or fast turnaround times aren't realistic and put unnecessary stress on you. I've also seen freelance projects that have a fixed rate and an unreasonable amount of work for the amount being paid. ### Unpaid test projects Unpaid test projects are exploitative. In some cases, really terrible clients take the free work and *use* it, such as publishing a test blog post to their website without compensating the freelancer. You can do a test project for a client — it's a great way to see if the [freelance relationship](https://blog.annabyang.com/effective-freelancer-relationship/) will work — but it should be paid at your normal rate. I actually have clients sign a full contract. Most of my work is ad hoc, so doing a test project is no different than any of my other assignments. ### A sketchy business Does the business have a website? Does your contact have a social media presence? Can you find any reviews or information about the company/person? There are, unfortunately, unscrupulous clients in the world. They might have you do work, and then ghost payment. You can require payment upfront (such as 25% - 50% of the total project), or require payment at different milestones. Make sure the terms of the milestones and payment are clear in your [freelance contract](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-contract-protect-yourself/). For example, I require payment based on when I deliver work, not when the client approves work. Otherwise, I might be waiting forever for client approval. ### A full-time job disguised as a freelance role Employee misclassification is illegal in many countries, including the United States. A company can't hire someone to do the work of an employee and call it "freelance" simply to skirt taxes and labor laws. An example might be a role that is 40 hours a week, requires you to join internal meetings, and may even require time at the company office. While there are some instances where this might be freelance (such as a temporary role), it should not resemble the work that a full-time employee does. Avoid roles like this because they can cause a lot of headaches later if it becomes a case of employee misclassification. ## Consider communication and working style Everyone has their preferred communication methods and ways of working. You need to evaluate if your client's expectations align with yours. For example, your client might [expect immediate replies](https://blog.annabyang.com/instant-communication-in-the-workplace/) to emails. But you prefer to check your email once per day, or you work outside of normal business hours. This should be a discussion *before* you take on the client. A freelance friend of mine lets clients know that she would **only** use email to communicate; she wouldn't join a client's Slack channel. That's a boundary she's set for herself. If a client insisted on using Slack, it wouldn't be a good fit. An easy way to talk to potential clients about this is to include the information on your website or in proposals you send. You can include a "Working With Me" section that outlines your typical working hours, response times, and methods of communication. You can also let clients know if you use a [freelance project management system](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/), or if you're willing to use their tool of choice. ## **Make choices that are in your best interests** *Every* freelancer has worked with a terrible client at one point or another. It's the nature of the work. But as you gain more experience, you should know what to look for. And as you're first getting started, you can always take on an iffy client and drop them later. Or keep raising your rates, so that at least you're**a** compensated for the extra energy. Bad clients are a headache and can really put a strain on your business. The better you get at evaluating potential clients, the more you can avoid the bad ones. --- *Not sure where to get started with a client proposal or contract? You can check out this* [*free checklist*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/proposal-contract?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *and download a template to use.* ### 4 Things in My Freelance Budget That Are Worth Every Penny URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-expenses/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:31:07.000Z In my freelance budget, I like to differentiate between **critical** and **non-critical** expenses. Critical expenses are necessary to run my business, whereas non-critical expenses fall into the "nice to have" category. If I had to, I could cut them from my budget. But there are a few non-critical expenses that I would be *very* sad about cutting — because they make my work so much better or more enjoyable. Here are my favorite non-critical expenses. And as a bonus: business expenses are a tax write-off! ## 1\. A Weekend Alone I live in a house with five people, including three kids. While the kids are at school, my days are filled with client work. My evenings are filled with family responsibilities. I set aside time for non-client work during the week, such as planning my [social media content](https://blog.annabyang.com/social-media-for-solopreneurs/) or [sending invoices](https://blog.annabyang.com/invoicing-software-freelancers/)my, but it's a lot harder to fit in bigger projects that I want to do for my business. I simply don't have large blocks of time to sit and focus. To give myself that time, I check myself into a hotel for the weekend. I plan this for a three-day weekend (like when Monday is a federal holiday). This gives me several days of uninterrupted time, which is invaluable for my prodcutivity. I maximize my time by planning out what I want to accomplish in advance. I'll also buy food and some snacks to put in the room fridge, to minimize the number of times I need to leave. I even have a portable monitor that I can use with my laptop so I have dual monitors in the hotel room. For example, during one trip I was *determined* to get my social media scheduled out for several weeks so I wouldn't have to think about it. By the time I left my hotel room, I'd scheduled more than 300 posts across my different channels. I've also planned workshops or created free resources during my weekends alone. I'm always overly ambitious with what I want to get done. But I also have a running "hotel list" of things I want to do on my next trip. Ideally, I like to do this once per quarter. [How to Budget as a Freelancer: A Real-World ExampleTips to get started.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-75.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-budget-freelancer.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-budget-as-a-freelancer/) ## 2\. Tools that make my life easier I invest a lot in various tools in my [solopreneur tech stack](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-tech-stack/). Last time I checked, I was paying for more than 20 different tools every month. (You can check out my tech stack [here](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/my-tech-stack/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)). Some are 100% necessary. I couldn't function without [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com), for example, as it's the central hub for my business. I also rely heavily on [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*, and the automation I have set up makes my bandwidth possible. But I also pay for some "nice to have" tools. I'm on a paid version of ChatGPT. Could I get away with the free version? Probably. But I like some of the features of the paid version. I also use Loom AI to create written standard operating procedures for my business. Could I create videos only, and skip the written version? Sure. But I like having both the video and written formats. I also use [Scribe](https://get.scribehow.com/lp-1/?via=anna-burgess-yang&ref=blog.annabyang.com) to create screenshots for my tutorials website, which is a lot easier than the manual cropping that I'd have to do with other screenshot tools. None of these are mission critical, but they certainly streamline my work and save me time. ## 3\. Brain.fm and Flow Club I'm a freelance writer, so I create content (usually blog posts) for clients. I also have my own blog, [Substack](https://www.workbetter.media/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), and [newsletter](https://newsletter.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). So I'm writing all day, every day. Staying focused is essential, so I pay for two services: [brain.fm](https://my.brain.fm/payment?extended%5Fpromo=30&utm%5Fsource=referafriend) and [Flow Club](https://in.flow.club/?inviteCode=anna448&ref=blog.annabyang.com). Brain.fm provides focus music that helps me concentrate. I've tried other music apps, and there's something really unique about this app's music. The website claims that brain.fm "contains patterns that shift your brain state with entertainment. Our music sounds different — and affects you differently — than any other music." Flow Club offers virtual co-working. You join sessions for anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours, and work with a small group of people. Attendees are encouraged to stay on camera, though it's not required. It's a form of body doubling, a productivity technique where you work alongside another person to enhance focus and motivation. I usually join anywhere from one to three Flow Club sessions per day. ## 4\. Outsourced help I've been running my solo business for several years. Over the past year, I started investing in outsourced help. I realized that even though I *could* do everything myself, it doesn't mean I *should.* I hired a bookkeeper and a [virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/). My bookkeeper categorizes transactions in Quickbooks, reconciles statements, and prepares month-end reports. My VA does some organizational tasks and preps some social media posts in Canva (though I still write the copy). This has freed up my time and allowed me to focus on what I'm good at. I'm not bogged down by certain aspects of my business. Having this support makes a huge difference in my efficiency and my ability to grow my business. (Plus, then I come up with projects that I need to work on during my next hotel trip...) ## The ROI of these expenses At the end of the day, investing in your freelance business is about more than the money you spend. It's about buying back time, reducing stress, and giving yourself the space to grow. While these expenses aren't essential, the return on investment (ROI) makes them 100% worth the cost. I gain so much. The right expenses can make your work more efficient and enjoyable — which helps you build a [sustainable business](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/). Don't think of non-essential expenses as a splurge: think of them as an investment in yourself. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ### Ditch the Year-Long Goals and Adopt a 90-Day Mindset URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/90-day-goals/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:10:54.000Z I've never been a fan of New Year's resolutions. All of my best-laid plans seem to fall by the wayside and by February, I've lost steam. My goals begin to feel unachievable*,*, like an impossible mountain to climb. Earlier this year, I heard a podcast guest talk about setting goals based on a 90-day plan instead of a year-long plan. This *really* resonated with me. Instead of setting a goal based on 365 days, I needed to think about what I could achieve in three months. I tested a 90-day goal-setting plan and, turns out, it's very effective. If you feel like your big goals are always out of reach, or you struggle to fit new goals into your existing routine, you might want to try a 90-day plan. ## Your goals are more manageable There are two ways of approaching 90-day goals. You can condense a full year's plans into 90 days, or you can look at your 90-day goal as one slice of a larger pie. ### **A 90-day year** You'll use a full-year approach if you want to achieve *something specific* by the end. Let's say you want to increase your water intake. You're giving yourself 90 days to form that habit. This can also be used for larger goals, if you want to approach your quarter as a 90-day sprint. During those 90 days, you would *really* push yourself. It's a way to hit a specific goal or metric faster, rather than dragging it out over an entire year. This only works if you have the time and energy to put into your goal. But the results can be very rewarding: you did something big, in a short timeframe. A 90-day year also works well for personal projects, like a [writing goal](https://blog.annabyang.com/daily-routine-of-a-writer/) or learning a foreign language. ### **One Step in a Larger Goal** The second approach is to take a larger goal and break it into smaller chunks. You'll decide what you can accomplish in 90 days,*,* and that becomes your goal. If you take this approach, it's important not to plan too far ahead into subsequent quarters. If you end up falling behind in the first quarter, it has a cascade effect. Instead, you want to focus only on the current 90-day goals and then set a new goal for the second quarter in the next 90 days. This is a really helpful approach if your bigger goal has a compounding effect. Maybe your year-long goal is to run a marathon. Your first quarter goal might be to run a 5k. Your second-quarter goal builds on the first quarter. I'm self-employed and have a goal to grow my audience across different platforms. I know that this type of growth eventually hits a compounding effect. The growth rate I saw in Q1 might be completely different than Q3\. Therefore, it makes more sense to start with a 90-day goal and set my goal higher in subsequent quarters as I start to gain momentum. ## Your tracking is easier Most goals have some type of incremental progress. It's easier to review your progress when you're working with a smaller amount of data. Over the course of a year, you might have a lot of variation — at some points,*,* you're more focused than others. Or your progress isn't substantial each week, so it's harder to stay motivated. If your goal is to "run a marathon" by the end of the year, you need to track consistent progress over a *long* period of time. You might get behind early, and then it's harder to catch up and meet your goal. But "run a 10k" by the end of a quarter, and you're tracking your progress over just 12 weeks. I created a dashboard in [Notion](https://affiliate.notion.so/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to track my 90-day goals. I also created a tracker to show the progress of the 90 days as a percentage. This is a simple formula: if we are 7 days into the 90 days, the calculation is 7 / 90 or 7.8%. I like to see this because if we're 50% into the 90 days, I want to be 50% of the way to my goal. ![My dashboard in Notion](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-12.01.45-PM.png) My dashboard in Notion Other goals are simply a checklist. They don't have any hard numbers tied to them, but they are things I want to get done within the quarter. I'll create subtasks for the larger project within the 90-day timeframe. ## You might push yourself more Condensing your goals into a shorter timeframe can have a *huge* impact on how your approach the goal. I found myself checking my Notion dashboard frequently and thinking, "Ok, I only have X weeks left to reach this goal. What else can I do?" With a 90-day goal, I found that I put a little bit of time into my goal each day. Whenever I set goals over a longer timeframe, it was easy to skip a day. I could tell myself that I had time to catch up later. That wasn't true with a 90-day goal. I knew that skipping a few days would throw me off track — possibly making the goal unattainable. On the flip side, you should also give yourself some grace. It can be hard to know how to break a longer-term goal down into smaller chunks — especially with a goal that builds momentum. If you're working toward a marathon, you'll be slower the first time you set a 90-day goal. Each time you set a new 90-day goal, you'll improve. You can't think of a year-long marathon goal as "take the final output of 26.2 miles and divide by four." Each quarter, you can be more aggressive. I had to reframe my thinking around my own goals. Some are completely [standalone goals](https://medium.com/swlh/5-steps-to-create-a-roadmap-for-your-freelance-business-b438d43a8746?ref=blog.annabyang.com): I want to achieve something in 90 days, and then that project is done. But others (like growing an audience for my business) are like a marathon: the progress will gain momentum all the time. It was hard to judge what I could realistically accomplish in 90 days. I realized within a few weeks that I'd set my sights too high. I scaled back my goal. I still gave myself room to push myself, but not at a pace that felt overwhelming. ## How to get started with 90-day goals If you want to give 90-day goals a try, here's what you should do. ### 1\. Choose one clear, focused goal. Pick something that's meaningful, but achievable in 90 days. Ask yourself: *What would feel like real progress if I met this goal in the next three months?* Once you're comfortable with 90-day goals, you can set multiple goals within your 3-month timeframe. I typically set multiple personal and business goals, but that's because I'm used to breaking the goals down into small increments and knowing*unachievable* what's feasible in 90 days. ### **2\. Break the goal into milestones** Divide your goal into smaller chunks over the course of 90 days. Let's say you want to launch your website in 3 months. What tasks do you need to get done? And how much should you work on the tasks each week? You might want to set either weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly milestones within your 90-day goal. This will reduce overwhelm and will give you some natural checkpoints. ### **3\. Set up a simple tracking system** Whatever tool you use — like Notion, Google Sheets, or pen and paper — you'll want a tracking system. In your tracking system, keep track of two things: - Progress toward your goal (like workouts completed, pages written, etc.) - Time elapsed (e.g. you're 30% through the 90 days) ### **4\. Build in weekly reviews** Each week, reflect briefly: What worked? What didn't work? This helps you stay focused on your goal. If something isn't working, you *can* course-correct, but don't feel like you have to. You can also keep going for the entire 90 days. The data will help you set a more reasonable goal for the next 90 days. The whole point is to find a goal that forces you to push yourself, but in a sustainable way. ## You can build on your progress After you finish your first 90-day goal, you can set a slightly more aggressive goal for your second set of 90 days. Because now you know what you're capable of accomplishing. And if you didn't meet the goal, ask yourself why. In some cases, you might need to change your routine more to make time in your day to work on your goals. You need to [give yourself time to adapt](https://blog.annabyang.com/adapt-to-a-new-routine/) to a new routine. I find that it often takes 90 days to adjust to any type of change in a routine. Give yourself some grace if you need time to settle into any changes you want to make. Every 90 days, you have the opportunity to reset, reflect, and decide how you want to move forward. --- *Need to review the health of your business? Check out my* [*quarterly planning checklist*](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for solopreneurs and small business owners.* ### Your Solopreneur Tech Stack: Why Price Isn't the Only Factor URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-tech-stack/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:35:36.000Z Many solopreneurs try to keep their expenses low, especially in the beginning. Understandably so. When you're first starting out and don't have a steady income, every monthly subscription is another commitment. Expenses impact your overall profit margin (how much you earn compared to how much you spend). However, if you don't invest money back into your business, two things can happen. First, you might end up doing *more work* because you're doing things manually instead of letting apps and tools make work easier. Second, a lack of tools might result in a worse client experience. It's harder to collaborate, or you might end up making mistakes when you do everything manually. If you don't incorporate technology into your work, both of these things can end up hurting your business. You have to think beyond the price and consider the long-term benefits of the tools in your solopreneur tech stack. ## How a lack of technology impacts your work When you're a solopreneur, your time is *literally* money. Your clients are paying you for a deliverable, but you have to factor in all the other time you spend on your business. Let's say a client deliverable takes you 20 hours. But on top of that, you need to plan your week, promote yourself on social media, and send invoices for the month. You could do all of these things manually, but — - It's harder to plan your bandwidth without a [freelance project management](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/) tool - It's harder to maintain a consistent social media presence without a scheduling tool - It's harder to figure out your income and expenses without accounting software - .... etc., etc., etc. All of these things cost you valuable time. At the very least, you could save hours of time every month by using apps and tools that make your work easier. ### Automation and integrations In the ideal scenario, you can put tools to work for you by using automation and integrations. **Automation** happens within a tool. Let's say you're using a project management tool. Every time you add a new project, the tool automatically adds a checklist of tasks you need to complete. That saves you time every time you add a new project, and makes sure all of your projects get the same checklist. Same with features like templates. **Integrations** are connections between tools. For example, my project management tool (Trello) is integrated with Google Calendar. I can see my Trello projects alongside meetings and other things I have scheduled. This integration saves me time because I don't have to check two different tools to see what I have going on each day. Automations and integration can also move data from one tool to another. If you add a new client to your project management tool, automation and integrations can add the client to your accounting software. Not only is this saving you time, but it eliminates mistakes you might make if you do that work manually. Sometimes, a tool you love may not have the best automation or integration. If that's the case, you can use third-party tools like [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*, Make, or IFTTT to make automated actions happen. These tools have a bit of a learning curve, but they can save you a ton of time. I've been using Zapier for years, and it saves me hours of time every single week. ## How a lack of technology impacts your client Skimping on tools doesn't only impact *your* work experience; it affects your clients as well. Sure, you can email back and forth with clients to find a time to meet. Or, you can use a scheduling tool like Calendly, Cal.com, or SavvyCal and save everyone some time. There's also a perceived professionalism when you use tools. When I first started freelancing years ago, I sent my clients an invoice that I created in a Google Sheet. It worked, but it didn't look all that great. Plus, collecting payments was tricky since I didn't have a way to collect credit card payments. [Invoicing software for freelancers](https://blog.annabyang.com/invoicing-software-freelancers/) is a must, because such tools have payments embedded into the invoice itself. Your customers can click a button and make a payment via credit card or bank transfer. Not only is collecting payments easier, but it also looks like you run a professional business. You'll also impress clients when you have a clear process, such as a project management tool or collaboration tool, that makes it easier to work together. I use Trello, but other tools like Asana or Notion have similar features. In some cases, your tools may not be client-facing, but they still have an impact on your clients. My use of [Trello for project management](https://blog.annabyang.com/use-both-trello-and-todoist/) is *mostly* internal. I've only had a few instances of creating a shared board to collaborate with clients. However, by using project management, I serve *all* of my clients better, because I can keep track of deliverables and ensure I don't [miss client deadlines](https://blog.annabyang.com/tips-to-avoid-missing-client-deadlines/). [Project Management vs Task Management: What’s the Difference?How to wrangle your to-do list.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-74.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-project-management-vs-task-management.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/project-management-vs-task-management-whats-the-difference/) ## How to calculate the real cost of a tool If you're new to running your own business, you might look at all of the tools you *could* be using, and the cost adds up fast. At this point, now more than four years into freelancing, I use 29 different tools (you can check out my tech stack [here](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/my-tech-stack/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)). Some are free, but most of them are paid, which adds up to hundreds of dollars per month. But here's how to think about the cost of a tool: - Calculate how much you earn per hour. - Estimate how much time the tool will save you per month - Compare the cost of the tool to your effective hourly rate To calculate how much you earn per hour, start with your total monthly earnings. Divide by the *total* number of hours you spend on your business — not just directly on client work, but any time spent marketing yourself or doing administrative work. That's your effective hourly rate. Here's an example: a standard subscription to Calendly is $10/month. Let's say you earn $40/hour. As long as Calendly saves you at least 15 minutes of time per month, the tool has paid for itself. You can put that banked time toward something more meaningful for your business, such as additional client work or time spent marketing yourself. ## Start with free tools Of course, my example of paying $10/month for a tool can quickly add up. Even if you save time, it may not directly turn into more revenue for your business (especially in the beginning) A lot of tools have free plans, so that's a good place to start. Free plans often have limitations, but they're a good place to start. I used free plans of Trello, Airtable, and Canva for a long time before I moved to a paid plan. Eventually, I wanted access to features on paid plans but I waited until my business had the revenue to support the added cost. If you're looking at free tools, take a look at the paid versions. The last thing you want to do is move to a new tool later, since that's often a time-consuming process. In other words, choose a free tool you think can grow with you and your business. Usually, tools will offer a free trial of the paid version so you can check out the features, and downgrade to the free plan at the end of the trial period. Upgrade again to a paid plan when you're ready. Whether you get started with free tools or invest in tools that help your business, adding tools to your [solopreneur tech stack](https://blog.annabyang.com/evaluate-solopreneur-tech-stack/) is doing yourself a favor. You're setting yourself up for future efficiency and better client interactions. Your goal shouldn't be "keep expenses as low as possible" but instead "choose tools that will save me time and make my work easier." --- *Download my free resource —* [*Getting Started With Automation: A Guide for Solo Businesses*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— for more tips.* ### Social Media for Solopreneurs: Tips and Tools URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/social-media-for-solopreneurs/ Last updated: 2026-05-11T15:02:33.000Z If you're running a solo business, where does social media fall on your priority list? You probably focus on client work first, admin-type work second, and social media... somewhere further down the list. Even if you hate or are indifferent to social media, there's no denying that it can boost your [client acquisition](https://blog.annabyang.com/linkedin-client-acquisition/) strategy. You basically have two choices: you can pitch people (which has limited effectiveness, in my opinion), or you can let the work come to you. And work is more likely to come to you if you have a consistent social media presence. A lot of solopreneurs can't find the time to create content for social media, or aren't sure what type of content to share. You can build processes that help with both, making it easier to sit down and create a batch of social media posts. ## Tips to maintain a consistent social presence At any given time, I have over 400 ideas for social media posts stored in my social media planning tool. About 90% of those ideas are coming from somewhere else — something I've read, an interaction I had online, etc. I'm in constant "idea acquisition mode." I've created a process to collect, refine, and publish ideas so that I'm never staring at a blank screen when I'm trying to write social media posts. ### Collect ideas for social media content To start, you need to figure out your sources for content ideas, and where you'll store those ideas. One of my best sources for ideas is LinkedIn. I'll comment on other people's posts, save the comment, and turn it into a future social media post of my own. With this strategy, you can start really small — a few meaningful comments per day. Over time, you'll build a giant repository of ideas (like I have). You can also save interesting tidbits from articles you read, podcasts you listen to, or newsletters you receive. Anything you think you can put your own spin on later. I save ideas indiscriminately. In the moment, I don't want to think about *how* I'm going to use the idea later. Focus only on idea capture, so you have a ton of material to work with later. The bigger your backlog, the more consistent you'll be with social media. [How to Repurpose Podcast Content as Social Media PostsGet the most mileage out of your podcast guest appearances.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-content-strategy-hero-image-12.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/repurpose-podcast-content/) ### Think about varying content types and platforms I wish that a single social platform would work for client acquisition. But, in reality, I think that's a risky strategy. Social media is a "borrowed audience," and you can't control how a platform might change its priorities or algorithms. Just look at Twitter/X and [how much it changed](https://blog.annabyang.com/the-downfall-of-twitter-the-rise-of-threads/) when Elon Musk took over. Instead, you need to think about at least two platforms, which might require different types of content. At a minimum, you might have to tweak any content to fit the "vibe" of each platform. You can repost from one platform to another, but you'll want to think about that reposting schedule (How often? All content, or just some posts?). You'll also need to figure out which mediums work best for each platform, such as text-based posts, images, carousels, or videos (or all of the above). You'll probably end up several types of content [across various channels](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-your-content-across-multiple-platforms/). Focus on the channels that prioritize content types that play to your strengths. (For me, that's text-based posts, not visuals.) ### Block off time to work on social media content If you don't set aside time to work on social media, it will quickly fall by the wayside. I use time-blocking to work on social media, and I typically have three blocks of time per week: 1. **Processing:** I look at all of the ideas I've collected from the week and delete any that I don't think I'll use. I'm **not** writing the social posts yet, but I'm at least filtering out ideas that aren't as good when I look at them a second time. I also start organizing the ideas based on social platforms (like LinkedIn versus Threads). In some cases, I might also set the idea aside to include in my newsletter or turn into a blog post. 2. **Text-based posts**: I'll write posts for all text-based platforms (LinkedIn, Threads, and Bluesky) in one sitting. I also share links to any long-form content I've written (like my blog) and write the teasers at the same time. 3. **Image-based posts**: I also create images using templates in Canva, like carousels for LinkedIn. I work on these separately from my text-based posts. It's easier than doing everything in one sitting. Admittedly, I haven't gotten into a good flow with creating and editing video content yet. It's something I want to do, but haven't been able to work into my existing routine. ### Hire a virtual assistant to help you with social media In some cases, a VA can alleviate some of the "busywork" associated with social media content creation. For example, my VA creates images in Canva based on the information I provide. I still write the text that accompanies the image, but fiddling around in Canva is one less thing I have to do. My VA also creates carousels based on prior blog posts I've written. While my VA is working with very explicit instructions from me, you could also [hire a virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) who specializes in social media. That type of VA can work with less guidance or infuse their expertise into your social media content, such as keeping track of the latest trends so you don't have to. ## Tools to manage social media Managing multiple social media platforms might sound like a headache, but it doesn't have to be. With the right tools, you can streamline your process and easily cross-post across different platforms. ### Content planning As you're collecting ideas for social posts, you have to put them somewhere. I use a few tools to keep my content ideas organized. - **Pocket** lets you easily save links to any website, from the web or mobile. Use this to keep track of articles you find interesting or any other inspiration (rather than storing bookmarks within different apps). - **Readwise** lets you highlight the text on any webpage (say, a stat you find interesting) and then can sync your highlights to external sources (like [Notion](https://affiliate.notion.so/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com), Roam Research, or Google Docs). - **Trello** is what I use for content planning, but you could really use any similar app. I have separate lists in Trello for each social media platform (LinkedIn, Bluesky, Threads, etc). My saves from Pocket sync to Trello so I can decide how I want to use the inspiration in my social media posts. When I'm ready to work on content, I open Trello and work from my lists of saved ideas. ### Content scheduling I use a social media scheduling tool. Some platforms (like LinkedIn) have a native scheduling feature, but I think they're pretty clunky. Plus, you'd have to go to each individual platform to publish, rather than working from a centralized publishing tool. I use Buffer, but there are a lot of scheduling tools out there. If you want something built-in with AI content generation and a 30-day content planner, [SocialRails](https://socialrails.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) is worth checking out, as it lets you create and schedule posts across 9 platforms in one place, which is especially handy for solopreneurs managing multiple channels. Scheduling is pretty critical to maintaining consistency. When I sit down and write a batch of posts, I schedule them at the same time. ### Automation and AI A *huge* part of my content creation process involves automation and AI. Let me be clear: I think fully generated AI content is garbage. However, I think AI is a useful tool for speeding up content creation, especially if you [rely on your ideas](https://blog.annabyang.com/maintain-authentic-writing-voice-with-generative-ai/) as a starting point. It's a lot easier to edit a draft of a social post generated by AI than to start with a blank screen. For example, when I publish this blog post, automation and AI will run in the background. AI will pull out some of the main ideas and create draft social posts (which I will edit later). Automation will add those ideas to my content planning in Trello. When I open Trello to work on a fresh batch of social posts, some drafts based on my long-form content will be waiting for me. I also use automation and AI to tweak posts for different platforms. Once I send a post to LinkedIn from Buffer, [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* (an automation tool) picks it up. The post then [automatically runs through ChatGPT](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/repurpose-social-posts-using-chatgpt/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) with instructions to reformat it for Threads. From there, the post is automatically added *back* to Buffer, so I can schedule it for Threads (with some editing, of course). I wouldn't be able to produce *nearly* as much social media content without the help of automation and AI. ## Building a content muscle One of the hardest parts of social media posts for solopreneurs is getting started — especially if you don't have a good process in place. Don't start with a goal of daily posting — it's not realistic. Start by collecting ideas and organizing them with a content planning tool. Once you have a good repository, start batching and scheduling your content (aim for 2-3 posts per week). Gathering ideas and creating social posts in batches will get easier over time. At this point, it's a natural part of my process to save ideas and write social posts every week. Eventually, you can add in automation and AI and build a social media process that hums along in the background, doing a lot of the heavy lifting for you. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/04/annabyang-cta-getting-started-automation--1-.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Want to see what automation actually looks like in a solo business?* **Check out my free guide.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### Do You Host Webinars? Follow These 7 Steps URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/steps-to-host-webinars/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:16:40.000Z As a self-employed person and online creator, I find webinars to be a really effective way for me to [grow my audience](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-ecosystem/). I pick topics that are relevant, promote them myself, and gently guide attendees to other content and products I offer. To be clear, if webinars aren't your thing, don't host them. You should feel comfortable talking — live! — to a group of people. It's not for everyone. But if you've got knowledge to share and you make it easy for people to register, chances are you'll get some signups. There are also a lot of steps to host webinars, especially if you're doing everything yourself. You'll want to develop a process you can follow every time, so you can focus on the webinar **content**, rather than the logistics involved in setting up a webinar. Here are the steps I follow every time, including the tools I use to get this done. ## Step 1: Set up the webinar At the bare minimum, you need a link for people to join your webinar. And you have to set this up before you do anything else, because you'll need the link when you promote the webinar and send your attendees a confirmation email. I use [Riverside.fm](https://riverside.fm/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to host webinars. People can join the webinar **without** logging in. They provide me with an email address when they sign up, and I want to make joining webinars as low-friction as possible. Attendees also join via chat only — there's no audio or video (unlike other platforms, like Zoom). In the future, I might host interactive sessions, but right now, I don't want to worry about attendee moderation. If you want to capture email addresses for attendees, Riverside has that option. But I prefer to use my own landing page to collect registrations (which I'll cover in the next section). I also use a free tool called [Add to Calendar](https://www.labnol.org/calendar?ref=blog.annabyang.com). With Add to Calendar, I can create links that allow attendees to add the event to their Google, Outlook, Office 365, or Yahoo calendars. I add the links to the email confirmation I send out. It's a really great option to make sure registrants get the event on their calendars. ## Step 2: Set up a landing page I use [Kit](https://partners.kit.com/f9fp6buqnnz1?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (formerly ConvertKit) as my email marketing platform. At this point, I have a landing page template in Kit, so I can just create a copy with each new webinar I host. I'll add the topic I'm covering, date, time, and a few bullet points about what we'll cover in the webinar. I have a custom domain (annabyang.com) added in Kit, so I *could* use annabyang.com/webinarname for the webinar landing page. However, some platforms (like LinkedIn) are known to suppress posts that contain links. So instead, I have a subdomain set up: webinars.annabyang.com. When I promote the webinar, I include a graphic I've created in Canva that points people to [webinars.annabyang.com](https://webinars.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to register. That way, I can promote the webinar with an easy-to-remember URL and worry less about including the URL in the post itself. I'll usually promote it several times — some with the URL in the post, some relying only on the graphic. Each time I create a new webinar, I connect it to the [webinars.annabyang.com](https://webinars.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) domain. This has another added benefit. Since the URL is static and the landing page changes, if people land on that page, they'll always see my most recent webinar — whether it's current or past. I have an email sequence set up if people sign up for a past webinar (which I'll explain below). [Why I Publish on Substack, Ghost, and KitI publish on three separate platforms because it works for me.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-71.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-substack-ghost-kit-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/publish-substack-ghost-kit/) ## Step 3: Create email sequences Next, I create email sequences based on webinar registrations. I start with a confirmation email that thanks people for signing up and provides a link to the session. In the email, I include the links from [Add to Calendar](https://www.labnol.org/calendar?ref=blog.annabyang.com), which also includes the link to the session within the calendar event. In the email, I let people know that they don't *have* to save that particular email with the link because I'll send out a reminder. In addition to the registration confirmation, I create two additional emails: a reminder that goes out one hour before the webinar starts, and a "thank you" email that goes out fifteen minutes after the webinar is finished. In the thank you email, I let attendees know that I'll send out a reply of the webinar within 24 hours (after I've done some light editing). Finally, I need an announcement email. ## Step 4: Develop a freebie All of my webinars include some type of free resource. I'll create a checklist, a guide with step-by-step instructions, or a template (like a Google doc or something). The freebie acts as an additional incentive for people to attend. I let people know that they'll receive the freebie whether or not they're able to attend the live session. My audience is global, and the time zone doesn't work for everyone. In the "thank you" email that goes out after the webinar is finished, I'll include a link to the freebie. Sometimes, I'm still working on the freebie at the time I start promoting the webinar. I'll still create the thank you email, but leave it as a draft until I'm ready to add the freebie link. In addition to the freebie, I'll usually also (gently) point people in the direction of some paid product or service I offer. Like "Here's your free thing, and if you want more from me, I also offer XYZ." About a month after the webinar is over, I'll add the freebie to either Gumroad or its own landing page in Kit. I use Gumroad if it's a larger resource like a guide, and Kit if it's a one-pager like a checklist. Gumroad has a storefront, so I only want my more substantial resources included. But I'll use one-pagers as CTAs in blog posts, so I'll need a landing page for them. Sometimes, I spend quite a bit of time creating a resource for my webinars. By using them as future CTAs and in my storefront, I get more mileage out of them. Once I've created a landing page in either Gumroad or Kit, I'll send out an email announcement to my list, *excluding* people who attended the webinar. Webinar attendees already received the link to the freebie, and I want them to feel like webinars have an incentive to join — not that if they wait a month, they'll get the freebie anyway. ## Step 5: Promote the webinar Once I have my landing page and email sequences ready, I'll create some graphics in Canva to promote the webinar ([I have templates](https://blog.annabyang.com/organize-freelance-brand-assets/)). Most of my webinar registrants come from two sources: LinkedIn and my existing email list (though I got a few signups from Threads recently!). If you're on Instagram, you can use [ManyChat](https://manychat.partnerlinks.io/5rluog6zyegn?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to DM your audience a link to the webinar signup page if they comment on a post (like "comment WEBINAR" to sign up). This works really well since it's hard to get links to people on Instagram otherwise. I'll create several posts to announce the webinar: at least two text-based posts with the Canva graphic, and one video post. I'll share the video post on LinkedIn *and* Instagram (as a Reel). I'll record two different calls to action for the video. For LinkedIn, I'll say, "Head over to webinars.annabyang.com to sign up" and for Instagram, I'll say, "Comment WEBINARS and I'll send you a link to sign up." That way, I can use ManyChat with Instagram. I schedule the promotion posts in Buffer, starting about 10 days before the scheduled session. I know people are busy and it's a balance of not announcing too far in advance and also giving people enough time to get it on their calendars. Most of my webinars are on Thursday mornings, so my first announcement will be the Monday or Tuesday before the session. I'll also send an announcement to my email list. ## Step 6: Post-production I'm not going to talk about the webinar itself because it's basically "join and record." But I follow several steps in post-production. I start with polishing the webinar recording. Usually, this is just a small amount of cleanup. I'll typically remove any live Q&A, for example. I upload the webinar to YouTube. Usually, I set the video as "Private" — only the people with the link can watch. It's another incentive for people to sign up. Even if they can't attend live, they still get the replay. If they don't register, they have no way of watching the webinar. Once the video has been uploaded, I'll send out another email to webinar attendees with a link to the replay. Since I'm using a single domain for all webinar landing pages, I'll update the page and indicate that the webinar is over, but people can still sign up, and I'll send a link to the replay. I update my email sequence tied to the landing page so that it includes a link to the replay. It's rare that people sign up *after* the webinar is over, but it happens. Some people may be delayed in reading their emails and don't see the email announcement until after the webinar is over. I'll also update my Kit audience and include webinar registrants in future newsletters and announcements. I don't want them to receive any non-webinar emails from me until the webinar is over, so that's why I wait until post-production to do this. I'll also create some social clips based on the webinar content, such as 1-minute video clips. This is pretty easy to do with the recording in Riverside. ## Step 7: Use AI to create additional content I'll take the transcript of the webinar and use AI to create the outline for a blog post that I'll write in the future. I don't want the blog post to mirror the webinar *exactly* (same as not sharing the link publicly — people need a reason to register). But I can usually take the webinar topic, put a different spin on it, and create a blog post. I also use AI to pull out a few key takeaways that I turn into text-based social posts. Webinars are a lot of work — as evidenced by the number of steps to host webinars! Even though the email addresses I collect are valuable, I get even *more* value when I [repurpose the content](https://blog.annabyang.com/repurpose-podcast-content/) and make the webinar value stretch further. A blog post and future social posts aren't something I need to create immediately, but the content is there, waiting for me to use it in the future. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ### How to Start Freelancing as a Marketer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-start-freelancing-as-a-marketer/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:56:56.000Z Far too many companies view marketing as a "nice to have" rather than a "must-have" department. Meaning, as soon as times are tough, marketing is often the first team to get laid off. Over the past few years, thousands of marketers have lost their jobs for reasons that have nothing to do with performance. On top of that, they're trying to look for new jobs at a time when many companies aren't hiring. As a result, many marketers have turned to freelance work. In many ways, freelancing is a natural fit for marketers. Since companies are operating on tighter budgets, they're looking for temporary or fractional help instead of a full-time employee. By working with multiple clients, you can reduce the risk if you lose a client. Plus, freelance marketing is often less stressful than working as an in-house marketer: no meetings and less responsibility for things like reporting. If you're not sure how to start freelancing as a marketer, I've got you covered. I made the switch from working at marketing agencies to working as a full-time freelancer a few years ago and never looked back. ## Prepare to make the leap If you're currently employed and have even an *inkling* that you'd like to start freelancing, start building up your network. The marketing world is *very* small, and you'd be surprised how many people know each other and can either refer you or hire you. You can start by engaging with other marketers on LinkedIn, either leaving comments on their posts or connecting and sending a DM. One thing about marketers (compared to other industries) is that they are *very* active on LinkedIn. It shouldn't be too hard to find other marketers talking about topics like email marketing, content marketing, growth marketing, and more. Even if you were laid off and looking for a job, you can use the same tactics to start to build your network. Work on network building until you're fully ready with the next step below. Then, you can announce that you're taking on clients. The other thing you can do is [freelance alongside a 9-5 job](https://blog.annabyang.com/prepare-for-freelance-life/). I did this for more than 18 months. I never took on a ton of freelance work — just enough to build a nice portfolio of samples. Doing this can help you decide if freelancing is right for you. ## What you need when you start freelancing To get started with freelancing, you don't need much, but there are a few essentials: 1. A website with your portfolio 2. A contract 3. A way to invoice clients and collect payments Some people might argue that a website isn't necessary, but I disagree. Clients need a way to review samples of your work. It also signals that you take your business seriously. If you're a writer, you can use a site like [JournoPortfolio](https://www.journoportfolio.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), which has a free version, to get started. I've also seen people set up portfolio sites through [Notion](https://affiliate.notion.so/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com). You'll also need a contract that outlines the scope of work and how much you'll be paid. Do **not** risk operating without one. There are tons of contract templates available on the internet (including one of mine). If you get into a dispute with a client, you can always point back to the contract. Finally, you need an invoicing system and a way to collect payments. Apps like [Stripe](https://stripe.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and [Wave](https://www.waveapps.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) allow you to send invoices for free, and then take a percentage of the payment as a processing fee. With these apps, your clients will be able to use their payment method of choice — like a credit card or bank transfer. Clients don't have to have Stripe or Wave accounts to make payments; they use a button directly on the invoice. [How to Create a Freelance Contract (+5 Things to Include)Your contract can prevent some sticky situations.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-68.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-how-to-create-a-freelance-contract-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-contract-protect-yourself/) ## Determine your pricing Freelance pricing is *hard* — especially if you have no idea what freelancers charge. Here are a few things to keep in mind: ### Client type Business-to-business (B2B) companies typically pay a lot more than business-to-consumer (B2C). They're charging more for their products/services and have higher margins, so they have bigger marketing budgets. If you're working with individuals (like coaches or consultants), they may have even smaller budgets — unless you're working with well-established business owners. I work almost exclusively with B2B companies. Most of them are venture-capital-backed, which means they have received money from outside investors. I can look on [Crunchbase](https://www.crunchbase.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to see exactly how much funding they've received. Companies that have received tens of millions of dollars in funding are ideal, because they usually have very healthy marketing budgets. ### Scope of work Your pricing will also depend on the type of work you're delivering. Do you offer a lot of services? Do you bundle your services together? For example, most of my work is done based on a client brief — I'm not determining the marketing strategy; the client is. Strategy would be a separate service (that I choose not to offer). If you're working on a project end-to-end versus delivering a portion of the overall work, that should impact your pricing. ### Niche or industry Some niches pay more than others, because they require specialized knowledge. Within B2B, a healthcare or legal writer will be able to charge more than someone writing about sales or marketing. I am a [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/), which is a highly niche field. ### Pricing model You'll also want to consider how you'll charge for your services. The most common [pricing models](https://blog.annabyang.com/pricing-model-freelance-business/) are per hour, per project, or per word (in my case, as a writer). There are pros and cons to each. You could charge per project, but make sure you **very clearly** identify the scope so you don't end up working an unreasonable number of hours. If you charge per hour, you might sell yourself short — especially as you gain more expertise. ### Consider what marketing agencies charge Before I pivoted to content marketing, I worked as the product manager for a fintech. The company worked with an outside marketing agency that charged $500 for a blog post that was about 500-750 words. Later, I joined a marketing agency that charged $2,200 for a blog post ranging from 1000-2000 words. This information gave me a great perspective when I first started freelancing. I knew I could price myself lower than an agency, but still earn a decent amount. As a marketing freelancer, you're a great alternative to an agency for clients. Marketing agencies have a lot of turnover, so clients might have different people on their account over time. With a freelancer, you're more dedicated to your clients and their businesses. Agencies also often require long-term commitments, and you can be more flexible. Most of my contracts with clients are based on [ad-hoc work](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/). ## Build your business operations Even though you only need a website and an invoicing system to get started, you should start thinking about other apps and tools that can help your business. [Freelance project management](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/) is a big one, especially as you add more clients and projects to your workload. You may also need a personal CRM or a way to keep track of prospects and your pipeline. I also use tools like an AI notetaker to capture meeting transcripts, a social media scheduling tool, and a calendar scheduling app. While these apps aren't 100% necessary, they sure make my work a lot easier. I think about how an app saves me time or makes my business appear more professional to clients. In the beginning, you might be focused on keeping your expenses as low as possible. But over time, you should think about how to turn your freelance services into a **business**. Anything you can do to make your work more efficient or valuable to clients will help you create a [sustainable freelance business](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/). --- *Not sure where to get started with a client proposal or contract? You can check out this* [*free checklist*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/proposal-contract?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *and download a template to use.* ### Is Freelancing Hard? It Doesn't Have to Be! URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/is-freelancing-hard/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:57:19.000Z Conventional wisdom says freelancing is hard. Never-ending hustle, unreasonable clients, low-paying work. I spent most of my life thinking that freelancing was for people who couldn't get a full-time job. Now, I know better. Many, *many* people opt for a freelance career because of the freedom and flexibility freelancing offers. Working in a toxic environment or for an employer that doesn't value you is also hard. Choose your hard. It *can* be hard if you don't have a freelancing plan. There are a lot of things you can do to set yourself up for success. Even if you can't do all of these things on day 1, you should have a plan to get there. ## Think like a business owner As a freelancer, you're running a business (even though it's a solo business!). One of the biggest mistakes freelancers make is being too passive. They don't set up processes and systems to make work easier/better. They let clients strong-arm the relationship. But *you* [are in control](https://blog.annabyang.com/successful-freelancers-spend-time/). Look at a lawyer or a small law firm, for example. When you hire a lawyer, you're paying them for their expertise. They are an independent business that runs on client work. And while you're hiring them to meet *your* desired outcome, you're not "in charge" of the relationship. It's the same with freelancing. **You** are the center of your business, not your clients. While clients hire you, you don't work *for* them in the same way that you work *for* an employer. That means you need to set boundaries. A lot of this happens in [your contract with your clients](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-contract-protect-yourself/), but you should also set boundaries around communication. Don't feel pressure to respond immediately, or to deliver work outside of the scope of the project. Remember, clients are hiring you because *you* are the expert. You're providing a service to them. ## Create a client acquisition stream One of the hardest parts about freelancing is unpredictable and irregular income. Freelancers struggle with this a lot. The "feast or famine" cycle is real: you'll have a ton of work one month, and then suddenly find yourself without any clients. Yes, you need to consistently work to get new clients, but it doesn't have to be a hustle. Most freelancers I know who are burned out by client acquisition are sending hundreds of cold emails/DMs. Or they're replying to freelance job postings. But both of those tactics are losing their effectiveness. It's nearly impossible to cut through the "noise" of people's inboxes. Instead, you should focus on client acquisition tactics that lead clients to you. When I first started freelancing, I leaned heavily into my network. Friends and former colleagues were willing to refer me to potential clients, or even hire me. But, I also had a 15-year corporate career before I started freelancing, so I had a large network. If you're earlier in your career, you might not have a network yet (though you should definitely try to build one, like by joining an online community). You should also promote yourself. There are ways to do this that don't feel cringe. I publish on LinkedIn, but rarely in a sales-y way. Instead, I talk about topics I care about. I also spend time connecting to people and commenting on posts, to grow my network. If social media makes you feel squeamish, consider other ways to promote yourself. You can offer a guest post to an online publication, or appear as a podcast guest. Both of these are ways to get in front of potential clients. The thing to keep in mind is *consistency.*Spend time on [client acquisition](https://blog.annabyang.com/linkedin-client-acquisition/) even when you don't need new clients. If you wait until you *need* clients, it's too late — it could take weeks or months to find a new client. If you spend time on client acquisition every week, you can maintain a steady pipeline of potential clients. ## Stabilize your monthly income You can't control the cash inflows of your client work (unless you're on a long-term retainer). But you can smooth out your monthly income in other ways. When I have a "feast" month, I put money aside in a savings account. When I have a "famine" month, I draw from that savings account. That way, I'm maintaining a relatively stable freelance income — even if my client work is less stable. I also look at my [projected monthly income](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-income-calculator/) in different scenarios: what is the **minimum** I need to earn, what is the **average** I earn, and what does a **great** month look like? With these numbers in mind, I know how much to put into or take out of my savings account. You can also stabilize your cash by diversifying your income streams. I've never worked with one or two clients on a retainer. For me, that feels too risky. If the client suddenly decides to stop working with me, it's a huge hole in my income. Instead, I opt to work with a lot of clients on smaller projects. Clients also like this business model. It's easier for them to say "yes" when they're not locked into a long-term commitment. [Why Ad Hoc Work Can Be Better Than RetainersYes, you can run your business smoothly with a variety of projects.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-67.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-ad-hoc-work.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/) ## Stand out from other freelancers If you search for "B2B freelancers" on LinkedIn, you get about 1.9 **million** results. There are a lot of criticisms to niching down, like that it limits potential opportunities. I take the opposite view. When you niche down, you stand out. You're perfectly aligned with clients that need your *specific* skillset. You may not be able to niche down immediately, but you can work toward this goal over time. My LinkedIn headline starts with "Freelance Fintech Writer." Fintech is my niche, and this headline clearly shows potential clients what I do. You should also highlight work within your niche in your [freelance portfolio](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/). In the beginning, my portfolio featured *any* client work, but over time, I've narrowed it down to the best work within my niche. (Tip: make sure your contracts include the right to publish the work in your portfolio.) Another way to stand out is to promote yourself. Most freelancers don't. In fact, only about 1% of LinkedIn's users share content weekly — across *all* users. If you share consistently, you'll stand out from the pack. Potential clients will remember you when they need freelance help. ## Price your work appropriately Freelancers burn out fast and hard when they have to deliver a ton of work just to pay the bills. And if you're constantly delivering client work, it's hard to work on other parts of your freelance business, like client acquisition or building systems to support freelance project management. Freelance pricing is really hard to figure out, especially when you're first getting started. You don't know what clients are willing to pay. One way to find out is to increase your rates steadily with every *new* client you sign. Assuming you're targeting the right clients, you'll eventually find a sweet spot for pricing. And the more you develop a niche, the more you can charge. Clients will pay a premium for an [expert freelancer](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancers-journey-to-niche-expert/). Raising your rates has two outcomes (both good). You'll either earn more per month, or you can earn the same amount per month by [working fewer hours as a freelancer](https://blog.annabyang.com/work-fewer-hours-and-a-shorter-week-as-a-solopreneur/). ## Maintain your work-life balance In a survey by FlexJobs, 62% of respondents said that **work schedule flexibility** is one of the main reasons they freelance. Remember, you're in control. [Don't apologize for business decisions](https://blog.annabyang.com/dont-apologize-for-your-business-decisions/) you make. You can work non-traditional hours. I'm often writing at 5:00 am, because it fits with my body's natural rhythm. You can work around other obligations, like family or volunteer work. But the freedom to work whenever and wherever often leads to overwork. In addition to setting boundaries with your clients, you have to set boundaries for yourself. Otherwise, you'll feel like you're working all the time. For example, you can tell yourself that you'll stop working when your kids get home from school. Or you can commit to not working on the weekends. Freelancing doesn't have to be an uphill battle. These recommendations are all related. If you put yourself in control of your business and have a steady stream of well-paying clients, you'll have a lot of flexibility with your work. --- *Freelance pricing is incredibly opaque, but I’ve created a* [*free resource*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for fellow writers. It outlines my rates, how I think about pricing, and how my pricing has evolved over time.* ### Project Management vs. Task Management: What's the Difference? URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/project-management-vs-task-management-whats-the-difference/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:31:18.000Z One of the trickiest things about managing projects and tasks is that people sometimes confuse the two. They try to manage a project as individual tasks, or treat a task as a giant project. In either case, you end up spending the wrong energy on project management vs. task management. If you can clearly identify a "project" vs "task" you can find the right app (or other processes, like a paper checklist) to help you keep everything organized. You might end up using a single system, or you might end up using more than one process so you can use the best tool for the job. Here's how to distinguish between projects and tasks. ## How you should identify projects vs. tasks Projects and tasks have a few key differences. Think of it this way: projects are "big picture," and tasks are the details. ### Characteristics of a project: - Projects have a much larger scope. - Projects are temporary — you start a project and end it when you reach a goal. - Projects have different phases, like "prep work," "execution," and "review." - Projects may involve multiple people. - Projects often include specific tasks. - Projects may have multiple deadlines for the different phases or tasks involved. ### Characteristics of a task: - Tasks have a very narrow scope: a specific thing you need to get done. - Tasks can be a one-time thing you need to get done, or they can be recurring. - Tasks don't have different phases; you just start the task and then finish it. - Tasks are usually completed by a single person. - Tasks have one deadline, although some apps allow tasks and sub-tasks. ### Examples of projects versus tasks I am a self-employed freelance writer, so I have projects and tasks. Here's how I think about projects and tasks. - Work for a client is a **project**. I need to create an outline, write the draft, send it to the client for review, and send an invoice once it is done. - Sending an invoice is a **task** (and a recurring task, since I need to send invoices a few times per month). - I host free webinars for fellow solopreneurs. That is a **project** because it has a specific start and end timeframe. Within that project, I need to do a bunch of **tasks**, such as setting up a landing page, creating a presentation in Canva, and promoting the webinar on social media. - Every week, I do some administrative work related to my business. This is a **task**, and I track **sub-tasks**: seven unique items I need to complete each week. [How to Build a Freelance Project Management SystemUse tools that match the way YOU work.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-66.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelance-project-management-system-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/) ## Getting started with project management Whether you're tracking projects for yourself or working with a team, one of the biggest questions you need to answer is: what are the phases of this project? It's a fine balance. You want to track the major milestones within the project, but don't want to spend all of your time managing the project instead of doing the work. (Same with tracking tasks within the different phases). You'll also want to distinguish between different projects. In my world of client work, I have a large project for my client work, and then each individual client deliverable is also a project. In some cases, I collaborate with clients on a project. Hosting webinars is a separate project. Here are some things to ask yourself as you set up projects. - Who is involved in this project? - What are the milestones within this project? (this helps you set up phases) - Does this project have distinct tasks I need to keep track of within each phase? - What is the big final deadline or overall project goal? Most project management tools let you set up your own phases or statuses for a project. You move projects through the workflow by changing the status (such as moving a project from "drafting" to "client review" in my world). ### How to make time for your projects Because projects are often quite large and can include multiple tasks or phases, they can often [feel overwhelming](https://blog.annabyang.com/tame-freelance-chaos/). One of the most effective ways to work on projects is to use [time blocking](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/). You'll set aside a block of time — whether it's an hour or multiple hours — to work on the specific phase of the project. Your goal should be to get it to the next phase or next step, whether you're handling the next phase yourself or handing it off to someone else. In the many, *many* projects I've worked on over the years, I often need a large amount of "heads down" time to work on a specific phase within a project. Time blocking is the best way to get this done. When I'm working, I protect the time on my calendar so I'm not interrupted by meetings. I also close all apps and my email so I'm not distracted. If you're tracking tasks within the project, you can do the same thing. Set aside a block of time to complete all of the tasks within your project so you can move it to the next phase. ## Getting started with task management Task management should help you keep track of *all the little things* you need to get done — whether they're part of a project or simply something you need to do to keep your life in order. Tasks are usually pretty short. Calling your dentist to schedule an appointment is a pretty short task. Cleaning your bathroom might be a longer task, but it's still a task (whereas remodeling your bathroom would be a project). A *lot* of tasks might happen on a recurring basis, such as something you need to do weekly or monthly (or any frequency). Task management apps are really good at this. You mark the task as "complete," and the app bumps the due date to the next time you need to complete the task. I put **everything** on my to-do list, no matter how small. If it's not on my list, I probably won't remember. In addition to my task management app, I [use voice commands](https://blog.annabyang.com/voice-apps/) to add to-do lists on the go. That way, I can add them when I'm thinking about them. I put a due date on **every** task, even if it doesn't have a firm date by which it needs to be done. If I can't get the task done by the due date, I will move it to the next available date. Even though tasks aren't the same as a project, you can still organize your tasks into different categories or lists. For example, I have lists of work-related tasks and household-related tasks. I also have a shared list with my spouse so we can both see a list of tasks that one of us needs to complete. ### How to make time for your tasks Tasks are a lot different than projects, because some tasks might take you only a few minutes. One thing you *shouldn't* do is work on tasks as soon as you think of them. More than likely, you're working on something else. If you stop and work on the task that popped into your head, you'll lose focus. Doing this is called context-switching, and it's a productivity killer. You should stay focused on your task at hand (also known as [single-tasking](https://blog.annabyang.com/single-tasking-strategies/)). Instead, write down the task or add it to an app and work on it later. You can still work in blocks of time, like you do for projects. Sit down, and knock out a bunch of related tasks at one time. Or just try to make your list shorter. Or focus on your most urgent tasks. Some task management apps can sync to your calendar. However, this can quickly become overwhelming, because you'll see a huge list of daily tasks. Calendar syncs also make it hard to keep track of overdue tasks, because you might lose sight of them. If you'd like to see tasks on your calendar, add a block of time called "Work on Tasks" and sit down with your task list during that time. ## Should you use separate tools for project management and task management? If you're looking for an app to handle both projects *and* tasks, you might be able to [find one that does both](https://blog.annabyang.com/use-both-trello-and-todoist/). However, for me, it works better to have one tool for projects and a different tool for tasks. My project management software ([Trello](https://trello.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)) lets me organize my client work on a Kanban board, so I can move client work through different lists. I can also link related files from my Google Drive, or link related deliverables together. My task management software ([Todoist](https://get.todoist.io/5vaw2q1il5zr?ref=blog.annabyang.com)) is really good at recurring tasks and organizing tasks into different lists. I can give tasks a different priority and easily send emails to Todoist to create tasks. The downside is that I have to check two apps to figure out what I need to work on. I'm ok with this, but you might prefer an all-in-one option. I *could* do everything in Trello or Todoist, but I'd be giving something up if I did tasks in Trello instead of Todoist (and vice versa). If you really want an all-in-one app, you could look at [Notion](https://affiliate.notion.so/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) or [Asana](https://asana.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ## Don't get bogged down by project management or task management Even though I'm a huge advocate for tools, it's easy to get wrapped up in functionality. You'll spend too much time managing the projects or tasks — in the tool itself! — which takes away from time you could spend on other work. For example, I've worked on complex projects that have *far* too many phases set up in the tool. It wasn't necessary to keep track of every step; my team really just needed to know when the project moved from one person to the next person. You can simplify your processes by looking for examples of busywork. If you *always* need to do something for a project — and it's really obvious — you don't need to create a task within the project. You're just checking a box to check a box — it doesn't do anything to move the project forward. On the other hand, if adding the task within the project increases the visibility for other people on the team, then you might need it. As another example, my to-do list is extensive. I know that if I don't put something on my list, I'll forget. But other people may not have that issue and prefer to keep their task list more streamlined. Whatever tool you choose should make it *easier* to get your work done. It should help you figure out what needs to get done each day, and shouldn't feel like a chore to update. --- *Check out my* [*free eBook*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— a guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### 4 Tips to Make Your Freelance Portfolio Work to Your Advantage URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-portfolio/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:57:30.000Z If you're a freelancer in a creative field, you know the importance of an online portfolio that shares your best work. Any number of articles will give you tips to create an eye-catching portfolio. But there's another aspect to creating a portfolio: maintaining it. Your portfolio is *not* a "build-it-and-forget-about-it" activity. You've got to do work — both on the client-facing portion and behind the scenes — to make sure your portfolio continues to do its job: attracting leads. You also have to think about how your social media presence is an extension of your freelance portfolio. At the very least, your social media should be [driving traffic to your portfolio](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-self-promotion/). Here are some things you should do to maintain a strong portfolio. ## 1\. Make sure your portfolio displays your best work In the early days, my writing portfolio displayed *everything* my clients published. Starting from nothing, I had to show potential clients I'd been published and the types of projects I could work on. Now, my portfolio is much more curated, showing my expertise as a [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/). I show bylined work (rather than ghostwritten work I used to write) for top brands. Only a small selection of work is included in my portfolio. If I'm talking to a potential client who wants to see specific examples, I send them the URLs directly. While my portfolio site has filters so potential clients can filter by topic, the reality is that most won't. They'll look at the homepage to get a feel for my work, and then reach out for more specifics. Whether your a writer like me, a graphic designer, or some other creative, you'll want to update your portfolio site frequently so it continues to show your best work. As you wrap up projects or have newly published work, you'll have more examples you can consider adding. Remove older items from your portfolio. For example, I write a lot of eBooks for clients. When a new one is published, I look to see if I should replace an older one — either because it's a bigger brand, a flashier design, or a better example of my work. I've also removed outdated content from my portfolio (like articles I wrote about the Covid-19 pandemic). ## 2\. Collect testimonials and share them While samples of your work are important for your portfolio, testimonials can also have a huge impact. They're social proof and can [build your reputation](https://blog.annabyang.com/successful-freelancers/) as a great freelancer. Like updating your portfolio with current examples, you should also make an effort to [collect current testimonials](https://blog.annabyang.com/successful-freelancers/). Does it feel awkward to ask clients for a testimonial? There are ways to do this in a way that feels natural. ### **At the conclusion of a project** This is a very natural time to ask for a testimonial if the project went well. Here's a simple script you can use: *"I really enjoyed working on this project with you! Would you mind providing a testimonial about our work together?"* ### **After you receive client feedback** I work on a lot of ongoing projects. If a client says something like, "This is really awesome!" I ask for a testimonial. That way, it doesn't feel like an out-of-the-blue request. Here's a simple script you can use: *"Thank you so much for \[whatever the client said\]. Would you mind putting that in a testimonial I can use?"* ### **After your contact leaves the company** I work with a lot of big companies that have internal turnover. When my contact leaves, I never know what the replacement will be like and how it might impact our working relationship. I'll ask my outgoing contact for a testimonial — usually via a LinkedIn DM. I'll do this either right after the contact leaves or after I see that they've announced a new job (and then congratulate them on the role). *"Hi \[name\]* — *congrats on the new job! Would you mind writing a testimonial about our work together at \[prior company\]?* ### How to collect the testimonial I always collect testimonials using LinkedIn's Recommendation feature. Most of my clients are on LinkedIn anyway, so it's easy for them to click the link and add a testimonial. Plus, then the testimonial is displayed on my LinkedIn profile. I also do a few other things: - Screenshot the testimonial from LinkedIn and add it to my Google Drive so I have a backup copy - Add it to my portfolio page and a Canva guide I send to potential clients (if it's really good) - Add it to a Canva graphic that I share on my LinkedIn company page ([here's an example](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7294826326161596416?ref=blog.annabyang.com)) ## 3\. Organize your work Ever had a client ask you for specific examples and then you're scrambling? I've written *hundreds* of articles for clients, sometimes on very niche topics. If a client asks me for samples, I want to have them ready. I [keep track](https://blog.annabyang.com/keep-track-of-freelance-work/) of all my published client work in [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Airtable is my central "hub" so as soon as I get an assignment, I add it. I have a field for "Published URL" and add the link once the client publishes my work. Once a month (or so), I'll comb through my clients' websites, looking for newly published articles. At the same time, I'll add categories to the record in Airtable. Each article will usually have several categories. That way, if I'm trying to find all work related to a specific topic, it's easy to do. While you may not have most of your work publicly displayed on your freelance portfolio, it's important to keep track of any links. Think of it as a non-public version of your portfolio. You'll also want to keep PDF copies of your published work — you never know when a client might take down a website or edit something you've written. If you have a backup copy, you'll still be able to provide it as an example to prospective clients. [Tips to Organize Your Day as a FreelancerHow to manage your workload and stay on track.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-60.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-organizing-daily-work.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/organize-day-freelancer/) ## 4\. Promote yourself on social media Clients (probably) won't stumble upon your portfolio. They have to find you — somewhere — and then choose to click over to your portfolio. Sometimes this might happen via referrals from current clients. But in other cases, clients see you on social media. They might not be looking for freelance support at the moment, but when they're ready, they remember you. Think of your social media presence as an extension of your portfolio. Your website shows clients examples of your work, but they get a sense of your personality through your social media presence. You can also give them a peek behind the scenes by sharing information about your process. This helps assure clients that you're running a professional business. I know that [self-promotion can feel cringe](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/). And it doesn't need to be that way. You don't have to constantly brag about the results you've gotten or anything like that. Just talk about your day-to-day work. But you'll also want to add a *little* self-promotion. Otherwise, people might not remember who you are and what you do. I have a reminder on my calendar to share a promotional-type post once a month on LinkedIn. The whole idea is that people see me, click over to my LinkedIn profile page, and then click on my website to learn more about me. ## Think about how clients will find you Outside of social media, you have to think about how clients will find you. They'll never see your amazing freelance portfolio unless they know you exist. You can collaborate with people to get in front of a new audience. For example, you can be a [podcast guest](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/) or contribute a blog post to another person/company's blog. At some point during the podcast or guest post, you should be able to share some information about who you are and what you do (and include a link to your portfolio!) Always consider how to drive traffic to your freelance portfolio. It's often the gateway to a discussion with a future client. Unless potential clients **arrive at the gateway**, they can't take that next step and reach out. --- *Freelance pricing is incredibly opaque, but I’ve created a* [*free resource*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for fellow writers. It outlines my rates, how I think about pricing, and how my pricing has evolved over time.* ### AI Comments on LinkedIn: Endless "Slop" URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-comments-on-linkedin/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T04:38:25.000Z In the span of one week, I received the following two comments on my LinkedIn posts: Exhibit A: *"Your journey is a testament to resilience and adaptability, showcasing significant growth and success. Looking ahead to 2025, consider leveraging your unique skills and experiences to explore new markets. Strengthen your personal brand through thought leadership and strategic networking. Opportunities abound for those who remain curious and proactive. Keep inspiring others."* Exhibit B: *"Congratulations on your incredible journey! Your resilience and determination are truly inspiring. It's amazing to see how you've navigated through such significant changes and emerged stronger each year. I'm excited to see what 2025 holds for you and your thriving business. Wishing you continued success and growth in the coming year!"* The comments were *clearly* generated by AI. One profile looked like an absolute bot. The other looked like someone who was just using AI to beef up their speed of engagement by leaving AI comments everywhere. The AI comments are *everywhere* and increasing exponentially. I've started blocking profiles that leave AI-generated comments, because once they start, they don't stop. I'll get constant notifications (especially when the comment tags me). I have been relying on LinkedIn for years as a way to build an audience and reach potential clients. I still believe in the power of the platform — the reach is far better than other social media sites. But if LinkedIn doesn't get the AI comments under control, it's going to devolve into something unusable. ## AI-generated comments are killing genuine connections Suffice it to say, *everyone* has noticed. LinkedIn trainer and advisor Richard van der Blom was recently part of a group invited to a group to discuss what's happening behind the scenes at LinkedIn. He [shared](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/richardvanderblom%5Fthe-linkedin-algorithm-more-questions-than-activity-7292815294698258432-xYg3/?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop): > *One of the biggest frustrations \[of the group\] was the rise of AI-generated comments—sometimes insightful, often generic, and increasingly everywhere. We all saw an increase since LinkedIn suggested AI to write comments. Many believe they dilute real engagement, making it harder to identify valuable conversations.* I've long suggested to people — such as fellow freelancers and solopreneurs — that they use comments to build a presence on LinkedIn [without feeling cringe](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/). It's a way to connect with people *and* comments can be expanded into future social posts. While that strategy works, for the time being, it's getting harder to recommend. Because I know everyone who relies on LinkedIn for genuine connections is fighting the same battle against AI-generated comments. [Self-Promotion on LinkedIn Without the CringeCut through the noise with these simple tips.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-59.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-linkedin-less-cringe-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/) ## AI slop makes LinkedIn decidedly worse This isn't the first time LinkedIn has pushed AI "slop." About a year ago, I wrote about [LinkedIn's "Takeways" feature](https://blog.annabyang.com/linkedin-takeaways-generative-ai/) — an AI-generated summary that would appear below posts in the feed. I never understood the purpose, since most posts are a few hundred words, max. No one asked for an AI-generated "takeaway" that would summarize the post into one or two sentences, while also stripping it of any personality. It also made the user experience much, much worse. There was no way to turn off Takeaways, so I was annoyed every time I looked at my feed. LinkedIn has since removed Takeaways from the platform. But why add it at all? In [The Anti-SNARF Manifesto](https://www.buzzfeed.com/jonah/the-anti-snarf-manifesto?ref=blog.annabyang.com), BuzzFeed Founder and CEO Jonah Peretti offers the following: > *These deep learning AIs are designed to maximize the time we all spend on these apps. It turns out when an app company *doesn't care about content* and *asks an AI to maximize usage* the result is a service that incentivizes content that maximizes addictiveness* LinkedIn probably hopes that AI-generated comments lead more people to stay on the platform, responding to comments. But LinkedIn isn't realizing *how annoyed* people are. Not all engagement is good engagement. It's a poor user experience to spend time every day blocking profiles just so I don't have to see AI comments anymore. ## It's harder to cut through the noise The other half of the equation is people *creating* AI comments. If you Google "AI comments for LinkedIn" you can find all kinds of AI post generators that promise the following: - "Get the attention of your prospects on LinkedIn!" - "Engage with a high volume of posts!" - "Comment automatically on LinkedIn posts that contain specific keywords!" - "AI-driven automated comments for 150 prospects per day!" If the people *using* these tools think other people can't tell, they're sorely mistaken. I can always tell. Plus, it's easy to confirm by looking at the person's profile. I can see that they leave comments at a rate of 1-2 per minute. Not possible for human writing. Why *anyone* believes that quantity matters over quality is beyond me. The comments aren't thoughtful or insightful in any way. We were annoyed by spam decades ago, and now AI slop has entered the arena. Personal branding expert Lara Acosta was a guest on the [Creator Science podcast](https://podcast.creatorscience.com/lara-acosta/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). She said that she only posts a few times per week: > *I wanted to prioritize quality over quantity. I want to create this good expereince for my reader* — *that they actually enjoy the content and that it doesn't feel like I just wrote it to post. I feel like if you're disrespecting your audience with a shitty piece of content, they're not going to come back.* AI-generated comments are disrespectful to the people trying to use LinkedIn as a networking platform. It's getting harder to cut through the noise. I get so many notifications from AI-generated comments that it's harder to see the good ones. Forming connections and starting meaningful conversations on LinkedIn is harder as a result. I use [AI tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-tools-for-solopreneurs/) myself — they have a lot of really good use cases. I even use AI to [repurpose my *own* social posts](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/content-repurposing-automation/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) — tweaking them from one platform (LinkedIn) so they match the style/vibe of another platform (like Threads). But I still **always, always** edit the output. AI is a tool, not a destination. People using AI to generate comments have missed that memo. --- *Check out my* [*free eBook*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— a guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### The Content Ecosystem That Grows My Audience as a Creator URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/content-ecosystem/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:36:50.000Z Does your content feel like a bunch of disjointed strategies? Like you publish on Platform A, take a different approach with Platform B, and hope either of those lead a reader to Platform C (where you have an offer)? That approach *might* work — especially if you use platform-specific tactics — but it's a lot of effort. Another approach is to create a content ecosystem: a web of interconnected connected tactics, all designed to support each other [across different platforms](https://blog.annabyang.com/omnipresent-social-media-strategy/). No matter where readers find you, they eventually land in the same place. From there, you can introduce them to your content on other platforms or continue to connect with them via an email list. The stronger and more strategic your content ecosystem, the more opportunities you have to bring readers into your marketing funnel. I've developed a tightly woven content ecosystem that consistently grows my audience (and my newsletter, in particular). Here's how it works. ## Step 1: Publish a post on my blog I start with longform content on my blog. I take one of two approaches when coming up with topics. I'll either think of a topic and add it to Trello (which is where I plan my content), or I do some keyword research in Ahrefs. Long-form content is admittedly time-consuming. I've been an online writer for many years, but even with fast fingers and a lot of practice, it still takes time to craft and write a blog post. However, watching my audience over the years has taught me that people want (and crave) long-form content about running a freelance business. There just isn't enough high-quality information out there for solopreneurs looking to improve the operations side of their businesses. So I know the demand is there. I'll [dictate a blog post](https://blog.annabyang.com/dictate-blog-posts/) to speed up the process. I'll spill out my jumbled ideas into an app called Cleft and then Cleft organizes them into an outline. From there, I'll sit down and write the blog post. [Why I Publish on Substack, Ghost, and KitI publish on three separate platforms because it works for me.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-53.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-substack-ghost-kit-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/publish-substack-ghost-kit/) ## Step 2: Cross-post to Medium Once my blog post has published, I'll cross-post it to Medium. In Medium, I can add a canonical URL so it doesn't hurt the search engine optimization of the post on my blog. I get *some* organic search traffic from my blog, but Medium has an enormous built-in audience — especially for the type of content I'm creating. I'm a contributor to several publications, so I'm able to get my content in front of that publication's audience. Over the past several years, Medium has doubled down on quality content. My posts have been "boosted" by editors several times, which moves them into an even larger pool of readers. I also feel really good about the publications I'm in, that the editors are prioritizing quality content. I didn't pay attention to Medium for a long time, even though I occasionally published there. I even [challenged myself](https://blog.annabyang.com/medium-article-challenge/) to write on Medium every day for 30 days. I saw amazing results from that effort, but it *still* wasn't enough to get me to focus on Medium. It was only when I started keeping track of stats across different platforms that I realized that Medium was driving the most audience growth. ## Step 3: Include a CTA to a free resource Of course, readers of my blog or Medium content aren't an audience that I "own." I have to capture email addresses in order to connect with people. At the bottom of everything I publish, I have a link to a free resource, either on Gumroad or Kit (formerly ConvertKit). The resources range from eBooks to checklists to email courses. When someone signs up for a resource, they provide their email address. I put a lot of time and effort into these resources, because I want people to feel like they got something valuable in exchange for providing their email address. ## Step 4: Send a welcome sequence Once someone downloads a free resource, I send a short welcome sequence. The first email just contains a brief intro to me: who I am, and the type of content I create. In the second email, I provide links to three additional pieces of content, all related to the free resource. I have multiple websites with different types of content, so I share a variety. That way, the person can see examples of my content beyond the post that originally led them to the free resource. In a final email, I ask the person what's going on in their world. Sometimes I get replies! I respond to every email, and it's an opportunity for me to connect with the person. ## Step 5: Publish a bi-weekly newsletter and announcements Once someone has moved through my welcome sequence, I add them to my newsletter list. My newsletter is part of my overall [marketing plan as a solopreneur](https://blog.annabyang.com/even-creators-need-a-marketing-plan/). I publish bi-weekly and share a short list of tips and products for anyone looking to make their life easier. In my newsletter, I also share links to recently published content (like anything new on my blog) as well as some older content (giving it a chance to be viewed again). My new content isn't a primary focus of my newsletter; it's a list of "more resources" at the bottom. I'll also occasionally include links to my free resources on Gumroad. People may have downloaded one resource but aren't aware of the others I have available. I'll also send announcements to my email list, such as free webinars I'm hosting or new resources when I create them. ## Step 6: Repurpose blog content as social media posts Because it's so much work to create a blog post, I want to get the most mileage out of it. I'll [repurpose the content](https://blog.annabyang.com/repurpose-your-content/) to create social posts, including text-based posts, images, and carousels. I run the blog post through ChatGPT with some instructions for creating the content. If it's a text-based post, I'll edit it (ALWAYS edit first!) and schedule the post in Buffer. If it's a carousel or image-based post, I'll create the images in Canva and then schedule them. For example, ChatGPT will generate the text to use for a carousel, but I still have to create the carousel in Canva. Plus, the text isn't *exactly* what I would use. I have to clean it up, so it sounds like something I would say. Even with [a lot of instructions around style and tone](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/social-posts-train-chatgpt/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), the ChatGPT output is never exactly what I would publish. However, it's a lot easier to edit ChatGPT text than to start with a blank screen. ## Step 7: Re-share old content Everything I've ever published on the internet is stored in Airtable. I categorize my posts so I can add links to every new thing I publish. I'll also go back to old posts and add links to the new content. Once a week, I review posts published in past years. If it's the first week of February, I look at my posts published during the first week of February one year ago, two years ago, etc. I'll decide how I want to re-use those posts. Should I re-share them in my newsletter? Create some new social posts? Because I think of a content ecosystem as a giant web, I want to make sure that the threads stay tight. I'll update older posts with a better CTA before I share them, if it makes sense to do so. I never know exactly *how* people will find me, but I want to make sure that they have an informative experience that leaves a good impression. That way, they'll want to stay in my ecosystem. --- *Do you publish a lot online? Check out this free guide:* [*How to Create a Content Library... and why you need one!*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/contentlibrary?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### Business Management Basics for Solopreneurs URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/business-management-basics/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:57:42.000Z If you're trying to learn about business management and Google the term, you'll get a ton of articles about managing a team, marketing, operations... all directed at people running **companies**. While the principles are the same for a one-person business, how you implement the principles is vastly different. You're not interacting with a team (which, many solopreneurs would consider a good thing!) and you can make decisions quickly. On the flip side, you don't have anyone else to provide expertise or a different perspective; it's just you. I spent years on the executive team at a tech company before I branched out on my own. Because of my role, I saw the ins and outs of running a business. Here are some key business management basics that I've applied to my own business — and highly recommend to anyone looking to create a solid foundation. ## Contract management You need a contract for any project. Period. The lack of a contract (or unclear contract terms) is how you'll get screwed over. Or simply end up doing work that you hadn't planned to do. Here's an example from my corporate days. I wrote contracts for custom projects that allowed 20 hours of work. As my team got more efficient, we could complete the work in less than 20 hours. One client thought they were *entitled* to 20 hours, so had us do a bunch of extra work — stuff that wasn't a good use of anyone's time. After that, I changed the contract to read that projects were *up to* 20 hours and clearly outlined the exact work that would be completed. If the work was completed in less time, the client wouldn't get more hours because it would have been outside of the scope. Whenever you're writing a scope of work for a contract, you should think about: - What, exactly, is included? - When will it be delivered? - What happens if the client is a roadblock? - What is **not** excluded? (and will you do that work if the client pays you more?) - If it's a deliverable, how many revisions does the client get? - What are the payment terms? One **critical** thing I include in my contracts is that payment is due after it's delivered, not when the client approves the work. If I had to wait on approval, sometimes I'd be waiting for months. You can also protect yourself by requiring upfront payment (such as 50%). [How to Create a Freelance Contract (+5 Things to Include)Your contract can prevent some sticky situations.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-52.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-how-to-create-a-freelance-contract.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-contract-protect-yourself/) ## Sales pipeline Companies of all sizes keep track of their sales pipelines: who they've talked to, what products/services the prospect is interested in, deals they've won, and deals they've lost. That might feel like a lot of work since it's just you, but in the future you'll be grateful you kept track of the info. For example, I kept track of the sources of my various leads and realized that most of my work comes from inbound leads or referrals — cold outreach isn't very effective for me. This helped me refocus my efforts on my social media presence. You might also revisit your past opportunities that didn't work out. Sometimes a promising deal might go cold simply because the timing is bad. You can stay connected and reach back out in the future. A customer relationship management (CRM) platform helps you keep track of your deals. I use a homegrown system in Airtable, but you could also use an app like Notion or a spreadsheet. I also use a [personal CRM](https://blog.annabyang.com/system-to-maintain-relationships/) called Clay to manage overall networking, not specifically deals I'm working on. I like to stay connected to people, even if they aren't part of my sales pipeline and Clay helps with that. ## Project management As you gain more clients, you'll want a clear process for moving clients through different stages of a project. One thing to consider is whether or not you want to share the progress of a project *with* your client. In my business (freelance writing), this isn't necessary because most projects are ad hoc assignments. However, if you have multi-stage projects, you might want to give your clients a 360 view or collaboration tools. Apps like Trello and Notion are easy to customize, and you can let your clients share files or leave comments. Some of my clients use project management tools like Asana or monday.com, which have detailed to-do lists for each project. If you're *not* sharing an app with your clients, you'll want to think about how you'll communicate or provide updates. My stance is that I'll use whatever communication tool my clients want to use. If they want to use email, I'll use email. If they want to use Slack, I'll use Slack. But from a project management perspective, I need centralized communication. So I use Slack settings to send all updates to my email. That way, I'm not constantly checking multiple apps. And while my clients often have their own project management tools, I standardize everything on my end using Trello. If the client is using Asana, for example, I'll add the project to Trello so I can track it using my own process. Effective [freelance project management](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/) is how I know when deliverables are due and when to bill clients. ## Administrative work Businesses often have one (or more) people working in the background to keep track of things like bookkeeping, organizing files, and a lot of other behind-the-scenes work. When you're running a solo business, it's just you. Set aside time every week to do administrative work. I have a recurring block of time on my calendar every Friday. Sometimes, I even do virtual co-working during my admin time. I'll do a video call with friends — fellow solo business owners — and we all work on our admin tasks for an hour. I also use Flow Club and will co-work with strangers, listening to low-fi beats or other music that's good for flow. As your business grows, you can hire roles to help with administrative work. For a long time, I managed my own accounting, but I recently hired a bookkeeper to take over. I realized that bookkeeping wasn't the best use of my time (other than sending invoices). You can also [hire a virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) to handle repetitive tasks. I also use a *ton* of automation to reduce manual work. Automation helps keep my Google Drive organized, sends me reminders for different projects, and syncs data between Trello (for project management) and Airtable (my overall system to run my business). ## Strategy and self-motivation As the person in charge of your solo business, no one will tell you what to do. You have to decide what to work on every day, and make other business decisions. Procrastination and indecisiveness aren't luxuries we have as self-employed people. Over time, you'll get more comfortable with decision-making. One of the *best* benefits of working for yourself is that you can pivot quickly. You can change your offer, your pricing, your marketing strategy — anything you feel isn't working. Of course, if you're trying something new, you need to give it enough time before you evaluate its success. But if something isn't working, you don't have to consult other managers or a leadership team. The best strategies will come from self-motivation and setting business goals. You might set aside time each month to think strategically about your business. Or if your client work is slow, you might use the extra time to work on a larger project. And if your goal is [working fewer hours as a freelancer](https://blog.annabyang.com/work-fewer-hours-and-a-shorter-week-as-a-solopreneur/), that's ok too. But you **have** to know what you want. Make a [future goals list](https://blog.annabyang.com/life-goals-are-more-than-a-to-do-list/). What are you working toward? What does business success look like for you? When you know that, you'll find the self-motivation and design the right strategy for your business. --- *Not sure where to get started with a client proposal or contract? You can check out this* [*free checklist*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/proposal-contract?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *and download a template to use.* ### How to Become Known as an Expert in Your Niche URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/expert-in-a-niche/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:16:48.000Z A lot of online creators have become known for "a thing." Jay Clause runs Creator Science. Matt McGarry is The Newsletter Guy. Katelyn Bourgoin is The Buyer Psychologist. These people, and many others, have carved out a specific niche and they are the go-to people for information on those topics. Of course, setting yourself apart in an enormous sea of online voices is no small task. Over the past few years, I've worked to establish myself as the person who talks about tools and provides operations advice for solopreneurs. And while I'm still in the audience-building phase, I see signals that I'm becoming known for "a thing." This confirms what I suspected: I needed to define a clear and unique niche. Based on my experiences and what I've observed from top-notch creators, here's what you need to do. ## 1: Figure out "your thing" What, specifically, do you want to be known for? I spent a few years publishing content online with no specific game plan. I shared anything that popped into my head, anything that I felt I could speak about authoritatively. I have a background in product management and running a customer success team... but I realized that sharing stories on those topics wasn't doing me any good. I wasn't appealing to a **specific** audience. I started to narrow my focus and in 2024 I underwent a major project with a brand designer. In addition to a visual identity and [brand assets](https://blog.annabyang.com/organize-freelance-brand-assets/), we identified some key phrases and my overall core message. Then I updated my website and social profiles to consistently reflect what I want to be known for: solopreneur operations. Lots of people talk about freelancing or running a one-person business, but I want to be known as the person who talks about what happens behind the scenes. First, you have to know who you're talking to. Who are they? What do they do? What are their pain points, and how can you solve them? Then you have to sum up who *you* are in just a few words. Sit down and write out a bunch of short phrases, no more than two or three words. Try different combinations until you land on something you think will resonate with your audience. ## 2: Talk about your niche more than you think is necessary Once I narrowed in on a topic, I worried that if I talked about it too much, people would find me repetitive. The truth is, most people only see a tiny fraction of your content. You're one fleeting post in a never-ending feed. Unless they're specifically getting notifications on a social platform (like LinkedIn's bell feature), they're not going to see everything you post. You can also identify a few key pillars within your niche. For example, I talk about tools, automation, and [freelance project management](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/) (along with other topics). They all fall into my overall category of solopreneur operations, but it keeps my content interesting. And my pillars are all closely related to my overall niche. Some people worry that talking about one topic too much will become repetitive. The truth is that most people only see a fraction of your content. Unless they're specifically getting notifications from a platform like LinkedIn, they're not going to see everything you post. Construct a narrative about who you are and what you do. I plan my content calendar around these topics, mixing various content types such as text posts, carousels, videos, and images. I'll also sprinkle in other topics I care about (like remote work) because I enjoy talking about them. Even though I know that I need to focus on content in my niche, I want people to see different sides of my personality. [Why Proprietary Content Is the FutureStand out in a sea of online writing.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-51.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*frgeYux41egQUeVaG1-OmQ.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-proprietary-content-is-the-future/) ## 3: Show up in communities In addition to social platforms, you should [participate in communities](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/) where your audience hangs out. I'm in several Slack communities and Discord groups. Communities serve a dual purpose. You can essentially "listen" to your audience talk about specific pain points. And you can share your knowledge by commenting and connecting with people. I spend a little bit of time each week hanging out in different communities and participating where I see an opportunity. I connect with people from these communities on LinkedIn (which is my main social platform). I also keep track of relationships in a personal CRM, especially if I think there's an opportunity to collaborate with someone in the future. ## 4: Build authority on other people's platforms Building authority is *critical* for standing out in your niche. It's not just talking about your ideas — it's building social proof that people trust you because of your knowledge about your niche. One way to do this is to be a [podcast guest](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/) so you can talk about your niche. You're also accessing a new audience of people who might not otherwise find you. Find podcasts that are related to your niche and pitch them. I've had a lot of success finding podcasts through LinkedIn and Threads when hosts share the episodes. Some hosts will have a form on their website for potential guests. In other cases, I'll interact with the host's social content and then send a pitch via DM. Many hosts are happy to get a pitch because it gives them additional content (assuming your niche is aligned with their audience). As a bonus, you can also [repurpose podcast content](https://blog.annabyang.com/repurpose-podcast-content/) as social posts or creating a blog post based on the conversation. If podcasts aren't your thing, you can also pitch to write guest posts on blogs. Guest blogging *can* be trickier, since a lot of companies/people won't accept guest posts. I'm most successful when I have a good working relationship with someone and then ask if we can collaborate in some way (like offer to let them write a guest post in return). ## 5: Give away a ton of free knowledge A mistake I see *all the time* is people who put their knowledge behind a paywall of some kind. *"I've been really successful doing XYZ. Pay for my course to learn more!"* You may know that you're an authority on your topic. And you've seen success. That doesn't mean that other people will *pay you* for that information. You [establish credibility](https://blog.annabyang.com/establish-freelancer-credibility-and-expertise/) and demonstrate your expertise by giving away your knowledge for free. A **lot** of knowledge. Even to the point where you think, "People should be paying me for this." By giving knowledge away, you're building trust with your audience. You are *showing them* results. I share a ton of information, and then have free resources on Gumroad. If people want to learn more, they can download a resource. Gumroad also captures the person's email address so I can stay connected to them through my newsletter and other offers. ## 6: Listen to feedback Are you getting signals that you're reaching the right audience? Keep track of comments and other interactions. Maybe someone says, "You are my go-to person for XYZ" or "Thank you for sharing this information!" These signals tell you that your message is being heard. In the beginning, this [minimum viable audience](https://blog.annabyang.com/minimum-viable-audience/) — a small number of people interacting with you based on what you share — confirms that you're doing something right. Screenshot any signals and save them in a folder you can refer to later. You should also keep track of any questions people ask you. Feedback and questions will help you further refine your message or might spark new content ideas. (Plus, when you save the screenshots and review them later, you'll smile because people have said something nice to you!) You can also invite your ideal clients to a video call. During the call, ask them pointed questions about their pain points and what would be helpful to them (that you're not currently providing). You can use this information to craft paid offers based on a combination of your expertise and what your audience needs/wants. ## Rinse and repeat Put your ideas on a rotation. Talk about your different topics throughout the week or over several weeks' time. Re-share assets you've created, such as webinar recordings or blog posts. Remind people about your free products. Share the content across multiple platforms. The end goal is that *eventually* people will buy from you. Maybe they don't have the specific pain point today, but they will eventually. And when that time comes, you'll stand out in their minds as someone with a coaching program, course, or digital product that can solve their problems. If you put in the work to become known as an expert, you'll leave a lasting impression. --- *Check out my* [*free eBook*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— a guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### How to Repurpose Podcast Content as Social Media Posts URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/repurpose-podcast-content/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:37:02.000Z I think podcast guest appearances are a great way to market yourself. You're able to reach a new audience without all the headaches that come with podcast production. If you're lucky, the host will send you some assets to share on social media — like a graphic announcing the episode or video clips. Whether you get assets from the host or not, your guest appearance is a huge opportunity to generate a lot of additional social content for yourself. Might as well make the most of the brilliant insights you shared. If you're a [guest on a podcast](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/), here are a few quick ways to [repurpose the content](https://blog.annabyang.com/repurpose-your-content/) into social media posts. ## 1\. Use AI to pull your best quotes from the podcast Whatever you said on the podcast can turn into a future social post. And a good place to start is by pulling out your best quotes. You could certainly read through the transcript and look for your best quotes. Or you can use [AI tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-tools-for-solopreneurs/) to do this for you. An easily accessible option is to [use ChatGPT](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/integrate-chatgpt-into-workflows/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Feed it your podcast transcript (make sure the speakers are identified!) with a prompt like: *This is the transcript from a podcast where I was the guest. I am identified as speaker \[your name\]. What are my best quotes from this transcript?* Sometimes getting a podcast transcript is a bit of a trick. Not every podcast includes a transcript with the published episode, so you might have to go back to the host. If you don't want to do this (or the host won't provide it), you might have to use an external app to create a transcript yourself. I've legit played the podcast through the speakers on my computer while recording it through Google Meet... That was before I discovered [Snipd](https://www.snipd.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Snipd will generate a podcast transcript for you and let you interact with the transcript. I use the chat feature and ask Snipd to pull out my best quotes: ![Screenshot of AI results from Snipd](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/02/annabyang-snipd-example.jpg) You can then copy/paste the text response from Snipd, or Snipd also works with [Readwise](https://readwise.io/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to sync with apps like Notion, Evernote, Roam, and more. Whether you use ChatGPT or an app like Snipd, some of the quotes won't be that great. Or you have to tweak them to make them meaningful, because the way you spoke on the podcast isn't how you would share the idea on social media. From the list, get rid of any that you don't plan to use. ## 2\. Turn your quotes into social posts Next, you'll take your quotes and turn them into social media content. And you can get more mileage out of each quote if you turn it into a text-based post *and* an image post. ### Create text-based posts If the quote is good, you can share it as-is. Short and punchy works well on a lot of social platforms, so you could share your quote on LinkedIn, Threads, and/or Bluesky (or another social media platform). You can also take the idea from your quote and turn it into something more substantial. Longer text-based posts can do well on LinkedIn. Or both! Share the shorter version and longer version, spreading the posts out by a few weeks or months. ### Create images For shorter quotes (like a sentence or two), you can add them to a template in Canva and create an image-based version of the post. Visual content catches people's attention in a feed, plus you can share the images on Instagram. Here's an example of how I share a quote post using Canva. This isn't my exact quote from the podcast: I edited it slightly. ![Image post that says "The worst time to set up systems is when you need them."](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/02/annabyang-quote-post.png) I'll also share the text from this image later as its own social media post. ## 3\. Create your own video shorts If the podcast host gives you video clips, awesome. If the podcast has no video or you don't get clips, you can easily make your own based on the content of the podcast. Just use the quotes you pulled and create a short video. Or you can also use AI to create a video script. Here's an example: *This is the transcript from a podcast where I was the guest. I am identified as speaker \[your name\].* *Based on what I said in the podcast, I want you to create three video scripts. Each script should be about 100 words.* *\[Provide some additional detail about your audience.\]* (Humans speak at a rate of about 100 words per minute, so by specifying 100 words, you'll end up with a script for a 1-minute video.) I like asking for three video scripts (or more) so I have a few to choose from. In my prompt, I also include some sample scripts from actual videos I've created in the past. Creating videos is a bit more work since you'll have to edit them, but making videos based on your podcast guest appearances gives you a really good starting point (versus thinking of topics from scratch). ## Bonus: Write a blog post I also turn my podcast guest appearances into blog posts, then share the blog post across my social profiles. This is the most "permanent" way I make use of the content. The podcast episode isn't hosted by me, and social posts are a fleeting glimpse in a feed. But when I create a blog post, I have a long-term asset, which is really valuable content for me. Of course, writing a blog post takes more work. I create social posts first, then set aside the blog post for a later date. I use AI to generate an outline for the blog post. Here is my prompt: *You've been provided with the attached webinar or podcast transcript. From the transcript, you need to generate an outline for a blog post.* *As much as possible, you should stick to the original ideas in the webinar. Do not add anything new and do not omit any ideas. Organize these ideas logically into an outline.* *You will complete this task based only on the ideas from the speaker identified as \[your name\]. All other speakers' responses should be ignored.* *Here is some background information:* *\[DESCRIBE YOUR AUDIENCE\]* *\[PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT YOU AND THE TYPE OF BLOG POSTS YOU TYPICALLY WRITE\]* This is an example of a blog post I wrote based on a podcast guest appearance. [Work Fewer Hours and a Shorter Week as a SolopreneurReclaim your time by shortening your workweek.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-50.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-solopreneur-shorter-workweek-3.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/work-fewer-hours-and-a-shorter-week-as-a-solopreneur/) Don't forget to share the blog post in your newsletter or with your email list once it's published! ## Schedule your podcast social posts over a few weeks' time Out of each podcast guest appearance, I'll usually end up with at least five good quotes. Sometimes more. From those, I can create at least 10-15 social posts between short quotes, expanded text-based posts, and image posts. That doesn't even include video. Plus, I get even more mileage because I'm sharing each piece of content across multiple social profiles (as part of an [omnipresent social media strategy](https://blog.annabyang.com/omnipresent-social-media-strategy/)). Once I write the posts and create the images, I'll schedule them to be published across my social media channels. I like to space them out, especially if my text-based quote posts and image versions are essentially the same. I'll drip them out over a few weeks so I have a [consistent flow of content](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-production-solopreneur/). These tactics also work well with webinars, panels, Q&As, or other appearances. If you've got a transcript, you can set yourself up with dozens of social posts — without a ton of effort. --- *Check out my* [*free eBook*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— a guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### Content Marketing Insights From a Fintech Writer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:37:14.000Z If you were to ask a content marketer how they feel about fintech content, a lot might say, "boring" or "difficult." Fintech content is certainly unique in the skill and knowledge required to write authoritatively. On top of that, creating something people *actually want to read* requires a deep understanding of the audience and the value proposition — while also making the content interesting. Even though I've only been a content marketer since 2021, I have worked in the banking/finance industry for almost 20 years. I know **exactly** who I'm talking to, across categories of finance from payments to lending. I was previously a product manager **at a fintech**, and before that worked at a bank. It was a [natural pivot](https://blog.annabyang.com/tech-career-to-professional-writer-journey/) from trying to solve problems through technology to **writing about** how problems are solved through technology. Fintech requires a different approach than other types of content marketing. I see companies struggle to figure out how content fits into an overall marketing strategy. From my work with companies like [Ramp](https://ramp.com/blog/scaling-startup-teams?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Mercury](https://mercury.com/blog/building-healthy-budget?ref=blog.annabyang.com), and others, I've seen what works well — and contributed to the content's success. For any fintech prioritizing content, here are the top things to keep in mind. ## What makes fintech content different? I've written for many industries, almost always for a B2B audience. Fintech, in particular, has an *incredibly* knowledgeable audience. I'm often writing for bankers, compliance officers, or other financial experts. Content has to accomplish two things. ### Teach the audience something new Personal finance content is often "how-to" or educational. ("How do I open a savings account? What type of retirement account is best for me?"). B2B fintech content's audience doesn't need to learn the basics of anything. I can't write an article about "How to comply with XYZ regulation." The audience already knows how to comply (or if they don't, they certainly should find a source more reliable than a blog post on the topic.) Instead, writing fintech content is about presenting a solution to a problem. "You have XYZ problem because of this regulation. Here's one way to solve this problem." The content has to be insightful and actionable instead of surface-level. ### Establish the fintech as an authority When I worked at a fintech, one of the biggest components of the messaging was, "Built by former bankers." For my clients, I have to make sure that the audience perceives the company as an authority on the topic. That means using the jargon they use, referencing laws/regulations, and demonstrating expertise. For many writers, this is a tall order. It takes a *lot* of research and work to write in a way that sounds natural to the audience. Because if the language is off — even a little bit — the audience can tell. ### Balancing compliance and creativity Here's the thing: no one wants to read a boring article. It could be the most educational thing **ever**, but it doesn't catch the audience's attention. So, on top of being authoritative and compliant, the content has to be interesting. This approach often depends on the client. Some will take a more easygoing tone, while others will rely on unique insights — like interviews with experts — to make the content stand out. ## Overcoming challenges in fintech content marketing Given that content marketing has to accomplish a lot (teaching, authority, compliance, and creativity), it's no wonder that many fintechs struggle with their content strategy. What type of content makes the most sense? While SEO *can* work (and some of my clients have seen success with long-tail keywords), targeting a highly knowledgeable audience often means meeting people where they're already spending time. Think: LinkedIn, industry publications, and webinars. ### Thought leadership As an absolute bare minimum, the audience has to trust the fintech as an expert. Why is the fintech qualified to solve whatever pain point the audience is experiencing? This might be highlighting the background and experiences of people in leadership roles (such as the founder/CEO). The founder could appear as a webinar or [podcast guest](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/) to reach a new audience, talking about industry issues and *lightly* pitching why the fintech is a solution. Placements in industry publications are also effective but usually require collaboration with a PR expert. As [Michelle Garrett](https://www.michellegarrett.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), Public Relations Consultant, [points out](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/prstrategist%5Fbrandmarketing-publicrelations-b2bmarketing-activity-7278853112897912832-0Yim/?ref=blog.annabyang.com): > *PR plays an essential role in brand marketing by helping B2B companies build, maintain and protect their reputations. It also increases visibility. And, in this age of AI-based search, you want to show up *everywhere.** The more places a fintech can show up and demonstrate expertise, the better. ### Case studies Fintechs have to be able to demonstrate that their product *works*. It actually does the thing that the company claims it would do — whether it's saving time, saving money, helping the customer achieve better compliance, etc. Fintechs should make a concerted effort to get case studies and testimonials from customers. As a content marketer, I'll often interview happy customers for case studies (usually in conjunction with an account manager). A case study can be repurposed in so many ways. Published on the company's website. Quotes turned into social posts. I'll even reference case studies in future blog posts. For example, if I might be writing a blog post about a specific topic and I know a case study illustrates the point. I'll pull a quote and a stat from the case study. If customers aren't willing to do a full case study, testimonials are also great. They can be just a few sentences that talk about the product *or* the company's implementation/onboarding team. ### Personal brand (& company brand) Personal brand often goes hand-in-hand with thought leadership, but a really effective way to reach the right audience is through social posts on LinkedIn. Founders and sales reps can talk about the industry and specific challenges. No one likes overly promotional content, so this has to be done gently — but gradually associate the company with its people. I know some executives aren't comfortable writing on LinkedIn (or simply don't have the time). I'm a big fan of ghostwriting. Even if people aren't writers themselves, they deserve to have their ideas shared. A 30-minute conversation with someone internally or a freelancer can turn into a month's worth of social posts. [Self-Promotion on LinkedIn Without the CringeCut through the noise with these simple tips.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-49.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-linkedin-less-cringe.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/) ## The role of AI in fintech content It's the question on everyone's mind: what role does AI play in content? I've done a lot of exploring with AI. I've used it to help me do some background research (I use Perplexity.ai) for an article. But I can't rely on AI by itself. It's too inaccurate, and fintech content *has* to be precise. I double-check everything when I'm researching; AI is a starting point, not an end result. Most fintechs recognize that AI simply doesn't work for the type of content they need to produce. Even something accurate is far too surface-level for such a knowledgeable audience. The content has to go deeper, and that only comes from lived industry experiences. That being said, I think AI can work in some capacities. For example, AI could pull the best quotes out of a webinar transcript, or create an outline based on a case study interview. It does well with summarizing and organizing when the information has already been collected. ## What's next for financial content marketers? A lot of social channels and content feel really "noisy" right now. Companies (and people) need to shake things up to stand out. Does that mean more video content? Maybe. The format is certainly appealing. Fintechs don't have to necessarily hire a fancy video editor. Hosting a webinar or panel can turn into a bunch of shorter clips that can be shared across social channels (and a blog post — don't forget about content repurposing!) But expertise, [consistency](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-production-solopreneur/), and personality will continue to thrive. Building trust and establishing a brand/person as a thought leader takes time. *Any* content marketing takes time. Too often I see fintechs put content marketing on the back burner. And this is a mistake. Because it's **hard** to reach the right audience. You have to show up where they are and share something that catches their attention. A cold call won't do it. A search won't do it. The *first* message probably won't do it. It's a repeated message, told in different ways, reminding the audience that the product is available whenever they're ready for a solution. --- *You can check out my work as a fintech content marketer* [*here*](https://www.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### How to Budget as a Freelancer: A Real-World Example URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-budget-as-a-freelancer/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:49:30.000Z Ever wonder what other freelancers spend their money on? Sometimes, we get a glimpse when fellow freelancers share info about their spending, like their tech stack (mine is [here](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/my-tech-stack/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), for example). But overall, [full-time freelancers](https://blog.annabyang.com/full-time-freelancer/) prioritize spending in different ways. Like, how much are they paying themselves? Do they have any savings? Do they spend money to reinvest in their business? As a former banker, I created a budget for myself very early in my freelance life. (It *might* have been[ Day 1](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-start-freelancing-day-1-and-beyond/), but who's keeping track?) Here's a breakdown of my monthly budget by percentages, which you can use as a guide to develop your own budget. In order to get started, you only need your average monthly income. These are **very** broad categories, but I've added some details about what's included in each category. ## Paying myself: 70% of monthly income By far, my largest expense is paying myself. In the U.S., I used to operate as a sole proprietor so this was much more informal — I would simply withdraw money from the business on the 15th and last day of the month. Like creating a paycheck for myself. Now, I operate as a Sub S corporation, so I'm required to pay myself a salary (and use a payroll provider). I also contribute to a solo 401(k) for retirement and I include my retirement contributions in the "paying myself" category. I also include required taxes in the "paying myself" category, since the amount is based on my taxable income ## Savings: 15% of monthly income For me, savings has always been a top priority. I believe that part of building a sustainable freelance business is based on a steady cash flow (money coming into the business and money going out). I try to standardize [getting paid as a freelancer](https://blog.annabyang.com/getting-paid-as-a-freelancer/), but sometimes I have irregular income. So I put money in savings. That way, when I have a slow month, I can draw money from savings to keep my cash the same. I maintain three separate savings accounts: - **Emergency/Vacation Fund:** Contribute when I have extra cash; withdraw when needed. Also, I use a [vacation savings calculator](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-vacation-savings-plan/) so I can "pay myself" when I take time off - **Tax Savings Account:** Money set aside specifically for tax payments - **Business Development Account:** Money for professional development (like investing in a course or something to grow the business) or a major business expense (like purchasing a new computer) One way to get started is to set a specific savings goal, like maintaining $5,000 in an emergency fund. ## Legal and professional fees: 10% of monthly income My business has operational expenses that I need to pay every month. Of the total amount, 8% goes to people who help with my business. I have a bookkeeper and a virtual assistant. I also have someone who helps with occasional tech support, like maintaining my website. I also have to pay my payroll provider (Gusto) and my 401(k) provider (Guideline). Occasionally, I pay someone to help with [design assets](https://blog.annabyang.com/full-time-freelancer/) for my business. The other 2% pays for dues and professional subscriptions. I'm a member of the National Writer's Union and pay monthly dues. I also pay for subscriptions to a few news publications that I need to access regularly for my client work. I also pay for business liability insurance, which is included in this category. If your business is new, you may not have a lot of fees in this category. For example, I didn't [hire a virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) until I was about two years into my business. Even now, I *could* do the work myself, but my time is better spent elsewhere. ## Apps and subscriptions: 5% of monthly income I pay for a **lot** of [solopreneur tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/evaluate-solopreneur-tech-stack/) and apps, but most are so inexpensive that they're a fraction of my overall monthly income. I think this is true for a lot of solopreneurs. Even if you're trying to keep your expenses low, I recommend [investing in tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/paying-for-tools-as-a-solopreneur/) if they save you time. The math makes a lot of sense. Calculate how much you earn hourly (even if you don't charge hourly). Let's say the app or tool costs $15 per month and will save you **at least** one hour of time. Do you earn more than $15 per hour? If so, the tool is worth the cost. I also have to pay for things like my domain and website provider (Ghost). I include these costs in my overall budget for apps and subscriptions, though these expenses are annual, not monthly. ## Additional monthly expenses A few other expenses come up, though they're not recurring monthly expenses. I pay for office supplies, like pens and notebooks, that I use for work. I also have to pay merchant fees for credit card processing. This is basically a deduction from my overall income. If a client pays me $1,000, I might have to pay 1.5% in a processing fee. But this is a necessary part of running a business since I need to accept credit card payments. [Invoicing for Freelancers: What You Need to KnowMake it easy for clients to pay you.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-48.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-invoicing-software-freelancers.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/invoicing-software-freelancers/) ## Getting started with your budget While I've shared percentages here, IRL my budget is based on hard numbers. For example, I **have** to pay the same amount every month for the apps I subscribe to and my payroll. Those costs don't fluctuate based on how much I earn, and I consider them essential expenses. But because I put 15% in savings, I can easily adjust that number each month if I need to. I keep a Google Sheet of my projected monthly business income and all of my fixed expenses. I also have to keep track of a few regular expenses that are paid annually instead of monthly. ## Separate business and personal account One of the first things you need to do when setting up a budget is to separate your business and personal finances. If everything is flowing in and out of a single account, it can get messy very fast. Not only is it harder to manage your budget, but this becomes a nightmare when you're trying to file your tax return. Open a separate bank account and credit card for your business. You can even find a [bank for freelancers](https://blog.annabyang.com/choose-a-bank-for-your-freelance-business/) that has added features you might use (like built-in invoicing). Put all of your income in the bank account and charge your expenses to your credit card. Not only does this keep your bookkeeping clean, but you can more easily compare your monthly expenses to your budget. --- *Not sure where to get started with a client proposal or contract? You can check out this* [*free checklist*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/proposal-contract?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *and download a template to use.* ### How to Take a Brain Break During Your Workday URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-take-a-brain-break/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:31:34.000Z I've worked from home for more than 15 years. I've spent entire workdays sitting cross-legged at my desk. I've eaten lunch and snacks at my desk, not giving myself any sort of break in the day. I don't say this as a badge of honor. Sitting at a desk all day is bad for both our physical and mental health. Yale Medicine [links](https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/sitting-health-risks?ref=blog.annabyang.com) prolonged sitting to back pain, heart disease, depression, and more. On the flip side, [researchers have found](https://www.inc.com/peter-economy/how-taking-regularshort-breaks-can-increase-your-productivity-happiness-at-work.html?ref=blog.annabyang.com) that taking breaks can help you "recharge and short-circuit the negative spiral of exhaustion and decreasing productivity." I'm no longer the "sit at my desk all day" person I once was. But to give my brain a break during the workday, I have to plan. If I'm not [intentional about breaks](https://www.workbetter.media/p/we-need-breaks-in-life?ref=blog.annabyang.com), I find myself slipping back into bad habits. ## Schedule your break Whether you're working for an employer or working for yourself, there are a few ways you can take a brain break during the day. ### Pomodoro technique With the Pomodoro technique, you work in 25-minute intervals, followed by a five-minute break. If working for long periods of time is exhausting, the Pomodoro might be a good fit for you. You can easily use the Pomorodo technique for longer periods (like 90 minutes, broken down into three Pomodoros), or within a 30-minute window between meetings. People often use a timer with the Pomodoro technique to stick to the 25-minute/5-minute rhythm. There are also apps — like the [Forest](https://www.forestapp.cc/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) app — that have built-in Pomodoro timers. One thing to keep in mind: you'll want to get up from your desk even with the short 5-minute break. Stretch, go get a snack, or do something. If you stay sitting at your desk, you don't get the full benefit of the break. ### Time blocking Pomodoro doesn't work for me because I need longer blocks of focus time. As a writer, I don't want to be interrupted after 25 minutes. Instead, I use [time blocking](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/). I work for a block of time very early in the morning, followed by a break. Then I work for another block of time (usually 2 - 2.5 hours) and take a long break for lunch and a nap. I plan out my day each morning, so I know when my breaks will occur. Routine is a big part of my time blocking. I follow a similar schedule of work/breaks every day. At this point, my brain knows when a break is imminent. I also have more options during my breaks because I'm stepping away from my desk for a longer period of time. ### Set boundaries Maybe your schedule is more fluid, and you can't plan on consistent Pomdoros or time blocks each day. You can do other things to protect your calendar to make sure you get breaks. You can use calendar scheduling apps (like Calendly, TidyCal, etc.) to block off time for breaks each day. Even if your schedule is varied, you can make sure no one can schedule meetings from 10:00 - 10:30 on a Monday or 2:30 - 3:00 on a Thursday. By doing this, you can protect your calendar from unwanted meetings that interrupt your day. Alternatively, you could also add a block of time to your calendar that says "BUSY" each morning. That way, you could set a different time every day, depending on what you have scheduled. If you need an ever-adjusting break, you can use [Reclaim.ai](https://go.reclaim.ai/fjoa2msu6i5g?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*. With Reclaim, you can indicate that you need a break "sometime between 9:00 and 12:00" (as an example). Reclaim will automatically adjust your break time on your calendar depending on what else you have scheduled. ## Things to do on your break Your break should take you as far away from work and work thoughts as possible. You want to refocus your attention elsewhere, otherwise you're not really giving your brain a break. If you're a serial "sit at your desk all day" person, here are some brain break ideas. ### Change of scenery Staying in your home office doesn't give your brain the full recharge it needs because you might find your thoughts wandering back to your work. Go outside or move to a different room. Run a quick errand if you want to get out of the house (and time allows). ### Exercise Need some physical movement? Go for a walk (either outdoors or on a treadmill). Use home exercise equipment, if you have it available. I have a walking pad in my office. I'm not following my own advice to leave my home office *but* the proximity reminds me that I need to get up and move around. I listen to a podcast or watch a video on YouTube while I'm on my walking pad. Your exercise doesn't have to be vigorous to be an effective brain break. ### Eat lunch or a snack Break the terrible habit of eating while working. Get up and eat somewhere else, like in your kitchen. Go out to lunch. My spouse and I both work from home. We do "lunch dates" and order Uber Eats, eating at our kitchen table. Admittedly, I *don't* get up from my desk when I have a snack. Snacks aren't part of my break routine. But if you're working Pomodoro-style, a snack is a great thing to do during your 5-minute break. ### Scroll a little, but not too much If you need your brain breaks to be *truly* mindless, scroll some social media like Instagram or Pinterest. Watch a few short videos on YouTube. Something that doesn't require any thinking. However, social media can also quickly become a time suck. If you're the type of person who gets lost in social media scrolling, do **not** do this during your brain breaks. Or, if you think you'll be tempted to scroll longer than planned, use a timer. ### Do something you enjoy If you take longer breaks, you'll have enough time to get immersed in something other than work. Read, draw, or listen to a podcast. Think of your break as a reward for getting your focused work done. You'll also be more likely to take a break if you look forward to doing something other than work. [How I Make Time for My Own ProjectsFinding time between work and family for things that matter to me.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-47.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-make-time-projects.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-time-for-projects/) ### Do an easy chore Maybe if you get out of "productivity mode," it's harder to get back into it. Maybe you want to feel productive for your *entire* workday. If this sounds like you, you can still take a break from work, get up from your desk, and get something done. Do a chore like laundry or put dishes away. Or a lengthy chore that is hard to squeeze in otherwise. Knock off a few items from your non-work to-do list. ### Take a nap One of my FAVORITE things to do during a break is take a nap. I'm a proud member of the [#5amwritersclub](https://blog.annabyang.com/a-club-for-early-morning-writers/) and because I get up really early, I'm tired by mid-afternoon. A nap re-energizes me for the rest of the day. It took me a long time to realize that napping is a skill. I used to struggle to take a nap in a short period of time (like under 30 minutes). But I "taught myself" to nap over several weeks, and now I consider [power napping](https://blog.annabyang.com/perfecting-the-power-nap/) to be a superpower that helps me get through the day. If a nap feels like too much (or not your jam), you could also try meditating or some deep breathing. ## Take yourself out of "the zone" No matter what you decide to do during your break, get up from your desk. Walk away from your computer. Even if you're doing something like cleaning out your email inbox, do it from a different device. You need to mentally give yourself a reprieve. One additional thing I do is use music and scents when I'm in "work mode." At my desk, I light incense and listen to brain.fm. I *only* do this when I'm working, not if I'm at my desk doing something else. It helps me delineate between work time and the rest of my life. It can feel hard to truly step away when you work from home. The more you can do to create an environment you associate with work, the more you'll feel like you're taking a break when you get outside of that zone. --- *Check out my* [*free eBook*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— a guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### My Daily Routine As a Writer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/daily-routine-of-a-writer/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:53:21.000Z As a writer, I'm always fascinated by the writing routines of other writers. I know this feeling is shared by other creative folks. Mason Curry wrote a whole book on habits of famous writers ([Daily Rituals: How Artists Work](https://bookshop.org/p/books/daily-rituals-how-artists-work-mason-currey/8714942?ean=9780307273604&next=t&ref=blog.annabyang.com)), which I *devoured* when I read it years ago. It is a mixture of inspiration ("Maybe that habit would work for me?") and fascination ("I could *never* do that"). After years of struggling to make time for writing, I found that early morning — a #[5amwritersclub](https://blog.annabyang.com/a-club-for-early-morning-writers/) as its referred to on socials — works best for me. It's not necessarily about the time of day: it's about finding a block of time that works and sticking to that routine. Writing habits aren't about the **writing** itself, per se. They're about things you do throughout the day to [prepare for writing](https://blog.annabyang.com/prep-for-a-week-of-writing/), both mentally and actual prep work (like research or outlines). Here are a few things I do every day. ## 1\. Coffee and Wordle Nothing happens until I've had a cup of coffee. Absolutely nothing. I make a single cup and while I wait for it to brew, I tackle [Wordle](https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I've played this word game **every single day** since January 2, 2022\. I haven't missed a day. I've *lost* the game, but I haven't missed playing. I also play Strands and The Mini crossword puzzle — if I have time. It depends on how long Wordle takes me. (And I like a good score in The Mini, which is a timed game, so if I'm not feeling awake enough, I'll skip it). This morning ritual of coffee and Worlde gives me a chance to wake up before I sit down at my desk. I'll play Wordle on a couch in my living room while I take my first few sips of coffee. ## 2\. Meditation I used to check social media first thing in the morning. I felt guilty about it; I knew the mindless scrolling wasn't necessary. In the article "[How Morning Phone Habits Shape Productivity and Well-Being](https://www.fielding.edu/how-morning-phone-habits-shape-productivity-and-well-being/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)" published by Fielding Graduate University, Dr. Pam Rutledge writes: > *If we launch into the news, email, or social media, we use the cognitive energy from a good night’s sleep without direction or purpose. Once the phone is open, it seems harmless to spend a few minutes scrolling. But it’s easy to get distracted by something negative that impacts our mood.* Now, I spend a few minutes meditating instead. I use the Headspace app and listen to Today's Meditation. I can set it to varying lengths of time, so I've started with a simple 5-minute meditation. While I listen, I watch nature scenes on YouTube, so that my eyes are focused on something. I like [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHACKCNDMW8&t=2520s&ref=blog.annabyang.com) from Cat Trumpet (with the sound muted since I'm listening to Headspace). ## 3\. Morning pages In her book "The Artist's Way," author Julia Cameron talks about morning pages. She advocates for writing a few pages every morning, by hand. It should be free-flowing, stream-of-consciousness work. She writes: > *Morning pages will teach you that your mood doesn't really matter. Some of the best creative work gets done on the days when you feel that everything you're doing is just plain junk. The morning pages will teach you to stop judging and just let yourself write.* I free-write my thoughts, ideas, and anything else that comes to mind in a large Moleskine notebook with my favorite pen. I don't set a specific goal; I just write until I feel like I'm done. It's different than a journal because I'm mostly writing about writing or my creative practice. I'll reflect on things I want to write about, or work I've done recently. I try *really* hard not to beat myself up, but sometimes it happens. Much as I'd love to have a day without variation (and my creative life would benefit from such a routine), stuff gets in the way. Maybe something comes up with one of my kids and I didn't get the writing time I had planned. I'll vent about this in my morning pages because it's an outlet, though I'll also try to give myself some grace. [How to Produce Content Consistently as a SolopreneurProcesses are key.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-46.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-content-production-solopreneurs-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-production-solopreneur/) ## 4\. Recap my prior day After I'm done with my morning pages, I'll [recap my prior day](https://blog.annabyang.com/organize-day-freelancer/) in an app called [Reflect](https://reflect.app/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Reflect opens up to Daily Notes (though it stores *all* notes), and I'll create a bullet point list of everything I did: both professionally and personally. I don't do any traditional journaling. My reflections are a combination of my morning pages and my recap. In my recap, I try to be very matter-of-fact and not get wrapped up in how I felt about a particular event. I just state what happened. This is on purpose, because it's more my own record-keeping. I can tag activities or people, so I can see patterns or past things I did. For example, if I'm not feeling well, I'll add the tag #sickness. As a self-proclaimed data nerd, I think this information is useful. It usually only takes me a few minutes to do a recap. Reflect also connects to [Readwise](https://readwise.io/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), so if I highlight anything in a Kindle book or an online article, it will also sync to the day's notes. ## 5\. Dictate a blog post Over the past year, I've become really adept at using voice apps to capture my ideas. I have a never-ending list of things I want to publish, both in my blog and my Substack. Using an app called [Cleft](https://www.cleftnotes.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), I'll [dictate a blog post](https://blog.annabyang.com/dictate-blog-posts/) for about 15 minutes. Cleft then organizes my ramblings into an outline. Dictation offsets some of the slowness of writing, when I feel like I can't write as fast as I think or when I'm trying to fit writing into a specific [block of time](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/). I use Zapier to send the outline from Cleft to Reflect, where I'll then draft the blog post later. But you can also easily copy-paste the outline from Cleft to another app. I'm constantly adding new ideas to Trello, which is where I plan my content. When I'm ready to dictate, I'll select one of the ideas and start dictating. Separately, I'll organize my dictated posts into a content calendar to publish later. Dictating isn't part of my morning routine, but it's part of my daily writing habits. By dictating and using Cleft to create an outline, I can focus purely on writing when I sit down to write. I don't have to organize my thoughts in the same writing session. ## Tracking my routines with Streaks I'm intensely motivated by streaks. If I can track the habit in an app and get into a groove, I won't want to break the streak. The important component (for me) is a visual reminder of my streak. I use an (appropriately named) app called [Streaks.](https://streaksapp.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) Streaks has a widget that shows me how many of my habits I've completed for the day: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/01/annabyang-streaks-app-writing-routine.jpg) The Streaks widget on my home screen If you're trying to form a daily writing habit, I highly recommend [tracking your habits](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-minded-solopreneurs/) in some way. Whether you use an app or a 30-day calendar (like [this one](https://austinkleon.com/2017/11/01/30-day-challenge/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) from writer Austin Kleon), the visualization will help a lot. That's not to say everything you try will make sense for your routine. Try different things and see what sticks. If you're finding it hard to maintain a streak, it might not be the right thing for you. But once you've [found a routine](https://blog.annabyang.com/adapt-to-a-new-routine/) that works, you'll find that you look forward to completing it every day. --- *Check out my* [*free eBook*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— a guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### How Successful Freelancers Build a Great Reputation URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/successful-freelancers/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:57:53.000Z Job postings for freelancers often receive **hundreds** of applicants. Most do the same thing: share a link to their portfolio and hope for the best. Other freelancers spend a lot of time cold pitching clients — a tactic that's increasingly less effective. It's hard to stand out from the "noise" all around. Freelancers who maintain a steady stream of clients and inquiries often rely on referrals and testimonials. They rise to the top because they've proven that they're good. For clients, it's less risky to work with someone who came highly recommended. To build a great reputation and stand out from the crowd, you have to do a few things differently than other freelancers. ## Be reliable This might sound obvious, but a shocking number of freelancers don't deliver work on time or as promised. You can immediately rise to the top in your client's eyes by [meeting deadlines](https://blog.annabyang.com/tips-to-avoid-missing-client-deadlines/). That's the first step to asking clients for testimonials (which I'll discuss later). Many freelancers struggle with deadlines because they don't have good time management skills. They underestimate how much time a project will take. Or they're not good at structuring their day around work so they fall behind. There are a few things you can do to avoid missing client deadlines, including: - Review a project immediately and ask any questions you have - Build in some buffer time, in case something unexpected comes up - Use [time blocking](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/) and add the project's milestones to your calendar Clients consistently refer to me as "reliable" — which helps tremendously when potential clients review my profile and what it's like to work with me. Being known as a reliable freelance will immediately help you stand out. [How to Build a Freelance Project Management SystemUse tools that match the way YOU work.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-45.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelance-project-management-system.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/) ## Communicate clearly and frequently If missing a deadline is unavoidable (it happens — we all have lives outside of work), make sure you communicate with your client as early as possible. Provide a new date by which you expect to deliver. The last thing you want to do is let clients know at the last minute that your work will be late. Clients are depending on you to meet their own internal deadlines. Late work can have a downstream impact on their projects. Additionally, let your clients know your expected response time for communication. Don't feel pressured to [respond immediately](https://blog.annabyang.com/instant-communication-in-the-workplace/), but make sure clients know if they can expect to hear from you the same day, within 24 hours, etc. You'll also want to communicate your availability for ongoing work. For example, I [take vacation time](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-vacation-savings-plan/) throughout the year. I'll let my clients know well in advance — usually a month — that I'll be unavailable. That way, they can plan their work around my absence. ## Collect client testimonials Successful freelancers proudly showcase their happy clients. Testimonials are proof that your work is amazing and help you secure future work. A lot of good freelancers don't take the time to collect customer testimonials. That's what sets really successful freelancers apart: they **know** that testimonials strengthen their business. I look for opportune times to ask my clients for testimonials. If a client compliments my work, it's a natural time to make the request. I'll say something like: *"Would you mind saying this in a testimonial I can use? Testimonials from my clients really help my business."* I also ask clients for a testimonial when they are leaving an organization. I work with a lot of big companies, so my internal contacts come and go. If I find out one is leaving, I ask for a testimonial. I don't know what the replacement contact will be like, and I want to capture a testimonial that reflects a [good working relationship](https://blog.annabyang.com/effective-freelancer-relationship/). I collect client recommendations on my LinkedIn profile. That way, the testimonials are publicly displayed. I'll add the best testimonials to my website, but LinkedIn makes it easy to collect recommendations. ## Keep your portfolio current I know, I know... keeping your portfolio updated can be a chore. It's *one more thing* to maintain. But here's the thing: you improve over time. Your sample work gets better. You work with better clients. Or some of your work might simply become outdated (like all of the stuff I wrote about the Covid-19 pandemic impacting technology back in 2021...) Some of the earliest examples in my writing portfolio were ghostwritten. Over time, I've been able to replace those examples with bylined work for more prominent companies. I still sometimes send links to my older work if a client needs a *very specific* example, but my portfolio showcases very current, relevant examples. I keep track of all of my published work for clients in [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*. I'll add the link to the live URL on the client's website. Then I'll add the best examples to [JournoPortfolio](https://www.journoportfolio.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), which hosts my portfolio. JournoPortfolio takes a PDF backup copy of all URLs added, so if the published work is taken down for some reason, I still have a copy. I make updates to my portfolio every month or two. ## Maintain a digital presence You could have amazing testimonials and an awesome portfolio, but you won't draw in more business unless clients find you. Sure, you might build a steady stream of referral work from your existing clients. But if you combine your portfolio and testimonials with a social presence, you'll drive business that outearns most freelancers. With a presence on social platforms, you can showcase your personality. You do *not* have to be overly promotional (I know platforms like [LinkedIn can be cringe](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/)). Just show up and talk about the work you do. It's a way to establish additional authority as a freelancer. I'm really active on LinkedIn. Potential clients see me in their feeds. They check out my profile and can see the testimonials from happy clients. They check out my portfolio, which confirms the quality of my work. Then they reach out. From there, it's much easier to sign a contract because they've already confirmed (at least somewhat) that I'd be a good fit for their needs. You [win without pitching](https://blog.annabyang.com/win-clients-without-pitching/). ## Solid work + reputation = increased rates Over the years, I've steadily raised my rates. The more I gather examples in my portfolio and testimonials from clients, the more I can demonstrate the quality of my work. This has allowed me to increase my pricing. In addition to added revenue, a great reputation builds a more sustainable freelance business. You'll have a consistent stream of inbound inquiries because there's never a shortage of clients who need high-quality freelancers. And many of these clients will never post on a job board. They'd much rather approach a freelancer they think would be a good fit than sift through 1,000 applications. As a result, your reputation brings you opportunities that aren't widely available to other freelancers. --- *Freelance pricing is incredibly opaque, but I’ve created a* [*free resource*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for fellow writers. It outlines my rates, how I think about pricing, and how my pricing has evolved over time.* ### Invoicing for Freelancers: What You Need to Know URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/invoicing-software-freelancers/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:06:13.000Z If you're running your own business, one of the things you need from Day 1 is a way to collect payments. You need to send invoices and be able to collect payment. If you've never done this before, it can feel intimidating: how does the customer's money get from their bank account to your bank account? Additionally, your invoice is a reflection of your business. If you simply send a request for payment via an email, instead of an invoice, an unscrupulous client might be tempted to ghost you. An invoice creates a paper trail of your request for payment and details the amount owed. Here are a few things to keep in mind regarding invoicing software and preparing invoices for your clients. ### 1\. Clearly outline payment terms in a contract Always, *always* have a [signed contract](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-contract-protect-yourself/) that outlines how and when you'll be paid. If you ever run into issues — and it happens to every freelancer — it's much easier to enforce and collect on a signed agreement. In the contract, you'll outline payment terms, such as: **When you'll send invoices.** You might require an upfront deposit (like 50%) or payments as different milestones are completed. Or, the entire amount will be invoiced when the project is completed. **When the payment is due**. You'll put a due date on the invoice such as Net 15 (due 15 days after the date of the invoice) or Net 30 (due 30 days after the date of the invoice). You may also make invoices due upon receipt, which means payment is due immediately. However, it might be tricky for many clients to make same-day payments simply due to internal processing time, especially if your clients is a company, not an individual. Net 15 gives them a few days to review the invoice and approve it. **A clear definition of milestones.** If you're invoicing for different milestones, make you you outline what those milestones are and how their completion is determined. For example, my invoices are sent after the delivery of a **first draft** of my work, not the final version. I can't control how long it takes clients to review or approve my work, and I don't want payment to hinge on an internal review process. If your clients want to approve the work before you invoice, you can compromise by offering a two-week review period. If clients don't review/approve within two weeks, then you invoice. That lets your clients feel like they have a chance to review and ask for any changes, but doesn't give them an unlimited amount of time. I once worked with a company that went through some internal changes and *never* ended up reviewing my final deliverables. But because I had the clause in the contract that I would invoice two weeks after delivery, I was still paid for the work. ### 2\. Use professional invoicing software My first invoices were created using a Google Sheet template that I downloaded as a PDF and emailed to clients. My first clients also paid me with a paper check, sent via snail mail, so it wasn't an issue. But I quickly realized that I needed a more robust invoicing system so I could accept credit card payments and bank transfers. Payment processors like Quickbooks Online, Wave, Stripe, or Wise offer professional invoicing features and accept various payment methods. - **Stripe** allows you to create invoices and can accept a large array of payment types (like credit cards, bank transfers, and PayPal) - **Wise** is great if you need to facilitate payments with international clients - **Wave** is an invoicing tool and an accounting tool rolled into one. If you use only the invoicing, it's free and can collect payments via credit card or bank transfer - **Quickbooks** is a more robust accounting and invoicing tool If you only need invoicing, you can use Stripe, Wise, or Wave's free version. If you need accounting, you'll want to use something Wave or Quickbooks. Accounting isn't mission-critical, but it's pretty important since you'll need income and expense tracking for your tax filing. It's far easier to keep track in software than in a spreadsheet. All payment processors will collect a fee for processing payments, deducted from what the client pays you. Stripe, for example, has fees of 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction. However, the fees are worth paying, so you have the ability to collect payments easily. Customers can enter their credit card information or bank information and your payment processor will handle collecting the payment for you. The collected payment is then deposited into your business [bank account](https://blog.annabyang.com/choose-a-bank-for-your-freelance-business/). ### What to include on an invoice Invoicing tools will usually have template you can use/modify, but you'll want to include the following: - Your name/company name and address - Your client's name/address - The invoice date - The due date (such as net 15 or net 30) - An itemized list of the services provided, such as the date, a quantity, and a price Most online invoicing software will also allow you to add a logo so the invoice looks more professional. ### Automate your follow-ups Many invoicing products have an automatic payment reminder feature built in. If you haven't received payment by the due date, the software will send late payment reminders at 3 days past due, 7 days past due, or whatever frequency you set up. If a client truly forgot to make a payment, an automated reminder might help. [Project Management Skills Every Freelancer NeedsLearn how to effectively manage your client work.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-44.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelance-project-management-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-management-skills/) ## Be aware of applicable laws There are a few laws, in particular, that apply when you're sending invoices: the late fees you can charge and your recourse if your invoice isn't paid. ### Late fees In the U.S., limits on late fees vary by state. Some states have no maximum on late fees; others have limits, like 5% of the balance due. Additionally, some states require a grace period, or an amount of time after the invoice is due before you can charge late fees. [This guide](https://www.paidnice.com/blog/late-fee-laws-by-all-us-states?ref=blog.annabyang.com) has a state-by-state breakdown. If you provide services in multiple states and want to charge late fees, it can be tricky to keep track of what you're allowed to charge. You have to include the late fee provisions in your contract, which might mean updating your contract on a per-state basis or making state-specific changes to your invoices. Because of this, I don't charge late fees on my invoices. It's not worth the hassle of trying to stay compliant across multiple states for the few times I've had to chase down a late invoice. ### State-specific freelancer protections Two states in the U.S. have specific legislation to protect freelancers from late invoices: New York and Illinois. The cities of Los Angeles and Columbus, Ohio also have such protections. Other states have similar legislation pending. Under New York's Freelance Isn't Free Act, for example, freelancers have recourse with the state for unpaid invoices. Freelancers may be entitled to **double** the amount of the invoice in damages. Anecdotally, the threat of the law is usually enough for a client to cough up the money for the unpaid invoice. I live in Illinois and have experienced this. A client was 17 days late paying an invoice. The contract was clear and the work had been delivered. I made him aware of the Freelance Workers Protection Act in Illinois and that I would be entitled to double the amount of the invoice. He paid it later that same day. Even if you don't live in one of the jurisdictions, the law may still apply. Such laws are typically written to protect freelancers working in that jurisdiction **and** clients located in that jurisdiction. So if your client is based in New York, you may have a claim. Of course, that leaves many, many states without any freelancer-specific protections. I'm a member of the [National Writer's Union](https://nwu.org/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), which offers contract and grievance help for its members. If you're not a writer, you could look to join an industry-specific group that offers similar support. On your own, you would have to enlist an attorney, which costs money — just to collect the money you are owed. It's a terrible position to be in. ## Minimize the risks of non-payment with proper invoicing Like any freelancer, I've had issues with late payments and non-payment. If a client is truly terrible, sending a nice-looking invoice isn't going to change that. But a professional invoicing process will make some clients take you more seriously, especially at the [start of the relationship](https://blog.annabyang.com/effective-freelancer-relationship/). When you demand a contract and send professional-looking invoices, you're sending a message that you take your business seriously. You're also making it very clear what you are owed and when so that *if* you have a situation of non-payment, you have records to support your claims. Plus, an invoicing app will help you provide more payment options to your clients. You never want to make it harder for clients to pay you: they should be able to make a payment, using their payment method of choice. The easier it is, the more promptly you'll be paid, and the better for your business and cash flow. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com). --- *This article is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice.* ### Tips to Organize Your Day as a Freelancer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/organize-day-freelancer/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:58:18.000Z If you're just getting started as a freelancer, figuring out a good daily structure is a hard nut to crack. When you're working for an employer, a large portion of your day might be dictated *for* you. As a freelancer, you're on your own. On the one hand — freedom! On the other hand, it's easy to get off track if you're not careful. I've been a freelancer for several years and manage my daily work using a few different tactics. A combination of paper and digital keeps my systems organized yet flexible, ensuring I consistently [meet client deadlines](https://blog.annabyang.com/tips-to-avoid-missing-client-deadlines/) without feeling overworked. ## 1\. Plan out your day using time-blocking One of the first things I do every day (after coffee and Wordle, of course) is plan out my day. I look at what I need to get done and the amount of time I have available. Then I plot out my day in [blocks of time](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/). A typical day might look something like this: - 8:30 - 9:00: Engage with people on social media - 9:00 - 11:00: Work on client deliverables - 11:00 - 12:30: Lunch/break - 12:30 - 1:00: Catch up on emails - 1:00 - 1:30: Client meeting - 1:30 - 4:00: Finish client deliverables My days change because of things like varying client meetings, or something personal like a doctor's appointment. I have to fit my client work around other things I have on the calendar. A critical part of this system is **writing down** my day's plan. I use [Ugmonk](https://ugmonk.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and write down my time blocks on a daily notecard that sits on a stand next to my computer monitor. That way, the plan is within my line of sight all day. I don't beat myself up if something takes longer than expected, but it's a reminder of what I need to get done. You could also use a notebook and keep it on your desk. In the past, I've added blocks of time to my Google calendar but found that it's faster and easier if I just write down my day's plan. If you want a more formal tool to help you manage work, [Reclaim.ai](https://go.reclaim.ai/fjoa2msu6i5g?ref=blog.annabyang.com) will block off time during your day *and* adjust your calendar based on changes (like a newly added meeting). It's like time-blocking and to-do list management rolled into one. ## Separate potential work from committed work I do a lot of [ad hoc work](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/) for clients, which means I only know my writing schedule about 7-10 days in advance. Even if I wanted to plan out weeks of writing work, I couldn't. (I also think that planning too far into the future is problematic, because it's hard to recover when something goes wrong). The way I structure my work, I set aside an entire day for a single client deliverable. Your work might be different, if you have to do research or other prep that happens over a multi-day period. In order to assess my bandwidth, I have a calendar of **potential work**. Some of my clients routinely send me the same amount of work every month. When I get the project brief, I add it to Trello. I don't want to add it to Trello without a brief, because things can come up (like the client doesn't have the brief ready for me). In other cases, I've had new clients discuss potential projects — so I know that I might need to block off a few days, but the work isn't committed yet because we don't have a contract in place. I love apps and tools, but I need to keep potential work and committed work separate, otherwise it messes up my system — both for [project management](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/) and invoicing clients for completed work. I have a giant calendar in my office and use small post-it notes to block off days for **potential** work. That way, at a glance, I can understand my bandwidth. Once I get the project brief, I [add the deliverable to Trello](https://blog.annabyang.com/use-both-trello-and-todoist/). Post-it notes make it easy for me to move things around as in-discussion projects change. I can also glance at my giant calendar while on a call and give clients potential project dates based on the work I'm expecting to complete for other clients. ## 3\. Rely on automation to stay organized Automation runs a lot of my business (and my life!). I rely on automation to help me understand what I need to get done each day. For example, I use [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to keep track of invoicing and payments from clients. Two times per month, Airtable automatically emails me a list of clients to invoice. On those days, I know I need to set aside a little bit of time to prepare and send invoices. Also, every Monday, [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* automatically creates a new Google Doc for each deliverable due that week based on a template I have set up. It's a small thing, but it saves me time because I'm not creating those Google Docs manually. You can certainly stay organized by writing stuff down or adding things to a to-do list app (I use Todoist). But automation removes some of the *thinking* from the process, especially for work I need to complete on a recurring basis. Automation also saves me time, so I'm spending almost no time on menial tasks, leaving me more time for client work. [Essential Apps to Boost Productivity and Save Brain EnergyAutomate the boring work and reclaim time for deep work![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-43.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*Y6txhscQb4QivoBeJSuf4Q.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/essential-apps-to-preserve-your-mental-energy/) ## 4\. Streamline client communication If you're constantly pulled into client communications, they can be a huge distraction during your day. Contrary to what many of us believe, we are *not* good at [multi-tasking](https://blog.annabyang.com/single-tasking-strategies/). Every time you shift your focus, your brain needs some time to adjust. There are a few things you can do to manage your client communications during the day. ### Centralize communication Some of my clients use email, some use Slack, and some use their own project management tools. Checking for communication updates in multiple tools wouldn't be a good use of my time. Instead, I make sure that all notifications come into my email inbox. That way, everything is in one place on my end. ### Set expectations around response times If you feel compelled to reply to communication **immediately**, your day can quickly fall apart. In order to stick to your blocks of time for client work, you should set aside a block of time specifically for client communication, like replying to messages or sending outbound emails. And stick to it! If you're used to replying immediately, it's a hard habit to unlearn — but worth the effort because it will improve your efficiency each day. To help, you can [set expectations around response times](https://blog.annabyang.com/instant-communication-in-the-workplace/) with your clients. The bottom of my email signature contains the following: *I work asynchronously, so my response times can vary. Please do not respond outside of your working hours, and I'll do the same!* That way, clients know not to expect a response from me immediately. ### Protect your calendar As you can see from my daily schedule, I have several blocks of time set aside for client work. It's really important that I don't have interruptions during those times, because I'm often immersed in deep, focused work. Because of this, I don't allow anyone to schedule meetings during my deep work time. I use Calendly to control my calendar, offering meetings at the start of the day and end of the day, but steering clear of the blocks of time in the morning and afternoon when I plan to focus on client work. Apps like TidyCal or Cal.com do the same thing. Google has even released its own version of calendar scheduling for Google Workspace users. (You can read more about that [here](https://workspace.google.com/products/calendar/?ref=blog.annabyang.com).) Most scheduling apps allow you to create more than one scheduling link. I have three scheduling links that display different availability: - **Standard meeting**: Shows availability that preserves my time for client work - **Interviews:** I often interview people for articles and they are time-sensitive, so this calendar shows *more* availability - **Virtual chats**: Sometimes I'll chat with fellow freelancers or people in my industry. This calendar shows *less* availability, because they're not urgent ## Build in some buffer time While my goal is to wrap up by late afternoon every day, it doesn't always work out. Sometimes, work takes longer than planned or I'll have an unexpected interruption (like a sick kid who needs to be picked up from school). If something happens, I can always work in the evenings to catch up. But my goal is to finish whatever I had planned for the day, rather than let the work spill over into the next day. Mentally, it's a guardrail I've set for myself: get the work done that I've committed to doing. --- *Check out my* [*free eBook*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— a guide for creators looking better to manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* --- *This post contains some affiliate links so if you sign up, buy, whatever, I earn a small amount.* ### Recap 2024: Highs and Lows of Running a Solo Business URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-recap-2024/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:35:48.000Z I just wrapped up my second [full year of freelancing](https://www.workbetter.media/p/in-the-wild?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (huzzah!). I know a lot of freelancers struggled this year, but I had more demand than ever for my work. My gut says this is partially due to my niche focus — fintech — which is heavily dependent on human-crafted, expert content and hasn't been disrupted much by AI content. I had a 16% increase in earnings compared to 2023, and my average rate was $0.95/word. I also have earnings from Substack, Medium, and Gumroad, but they're a small percentage of my total income. I worked 47 out of 52 weeks in the year, taking five full weeks of vacation throughout the year (which I plan and save for). I also took various days off for holidays, kid events, etc. As a [fintech writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/fintech-writer/), I wrote for 22 different clients throughout the year. 12 were new clients, and of those, 10 were either inbound inquiries or came to me via referral or my own networking efforts. The most deliverables to a single client was 33\. I had three clients with a single deliverable: one had mass layoffs the day after I turned in my article, one was unsure of their content strategy and decided not to proceed, and one hired me for a specific media placement, and I hope to work with the company again in 2025. I had to chase down one client for payment. I finally informed the client of the Freelance Workers Protection Act in Illinois, which would entitle me to double the amount of the invoice as damages. The invoice was then paid later that same day... and I immediately [broke up with the client](https://blog.annabyang.com/reasons-to-break-up-with-clients/) after that. Financially, it felt like a really good year. Here are the other highs and lows of working for myself. ## Highs ⬆️ - **Brand:** I underwent a brand overhaul and worked with a designer to get a more consistent, polished look. - **Marketing:** I had a goal to be a guest on 12 podcasts and met that goal. [Podcast guest appearances](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/) are one way I market myself. - **Audience:** I hosted both joint and solo webinars, talking about various topics related to freelancing. - **Team:** For the first time, I hired outside help. I hired a bookkeeper and a [virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) to help with my work. - **Products**: I launched a new course on authentic writing and a new eBook on AI tools for solopreneurs. - **Consistency:** I committed to posting more regularly on my blog, which has SEO benefits and helps familiarize people with my personal writing style. Published articles are cross-posted to Medium. [How to Produce Content Consistently as a SolopreneurProcesses are key.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-27.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-content-production-solopreneurs.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-production-solopreneur/) ## Lows ⬇️ - **Video Editing**: I wanted to focus more on video this year (including YouTube), but struggled with editing and fitting it into my routine. - **Guest Posts**: I like to write guest posts on other sites and did fewer this year than in 2023, which is a missed opportunity. - **Too Focused on One Social Platform**: I wanted to spend more time on Threads, because I think it's dangerous to [put all eggs in one social media basket](https://blog.annabyang.com/downfall-of-twitter-impact-on-writers/). But I continued to prioritize LinkedIn. - **Product Promotion**: I didn't do enough to re-promote existing products on Gumroad (though I continue to include them at the end of every blog post I write). - **Education**: I purchased Amy Porterfield's Digital Course Academy with plans to launch a course in 2025\. The course included 12 weeks of an online community with other enrollees. However, due to some personal stuff I had going on, I didn't take advantage of this. I still have access to the material and coursework, but now will be on my own. - **Personal Writing**: I failed to prioritize my personal writing, often overriding my Friday afternoon writing time with either client work or internal admin work. I need to enforce this boundary better. ## Goals for 2025 🌟 Basically, most of my lows for 2025 have turned into my goals for this year. - **Income**: I'm comfortable with my income from client work, but want to increase income from other sources (Substack, Medium, Gumroad, etc). - **Video Content**: I'm determined to figure out how to create video content in a way that doesn't feel like a chore. - **Social Media Engagement**: I'll [focus more on Threads](https://blog.annabyang.com/the-downfall-of-twitter-the-rise-of-threads/) (and possibly Bluesky). I'm also letting go of platforms that aren't doing anything for my business (Instagram). - **Product Marketing**: Come up with a dedicated plan to re-promote my existing products. - **Course Development**: Still have plans to launch a course for solopreneurs in fall 2025. - **Personal Writing Time**: Protect my Friday afternoons for personal writing. Here are some other [reflections on the year](https://www.workbetter.media/p/the-best-and-worst-of-a-year?ref=blog.annabyang.com). --- *New year, so it's time to re-think your pricing! I’ve created a* [*free resource*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for fellow writers. It outlines my rates, how I think about pricing, and how my pricing has evolved over time.* ### 4 Ways to Set Your Freelance Business Up for Success URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-success/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:58:54.000Z Recently, I was a guest on a podcast, and the host asked what I would do differently if I were starting my freelance business over again. I gave an answer I'm sure the host wasn't expecting: Nothing. I wouldn't change a thing. Before I became a freelance writer, I was an executive at a tech company. Because of this experience, I knew many of the ins and outs of running a business. Delivering client work was new, but I was comfortable with the "behind the scenes" work. This knowledge gave me an advantage, because I wasn't figuring things out as I worked to build a business. If you're thinking about freelancing, here are the top things I'd recommend. ## 1\. Protect yourself with a solid contract Freelancers can easily find themselves doing more work than expected if the contract doesn't have a clearly defined [project scope](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-scope/). Clients will ask for more work or changes to your existing work — without paying more. And you'll feel like you have to accommodate them because the contract doesn't explicitly say otherwise. While all freelance work is different, here are a few musts in my contract as a freelance writer - I will invoice based on the delivery of a first draft, not based on the final revision or client approval - I clearly outline how many rounds of revisions I'll do, based on the length of the deliverable - Once a client gives me an assignment, they can't cancel it for any reason - Payment cannot be withheld for any reason The first — invoicing based on the initial delivery of the work — is a big one for anyone in a creative field. If your invoicing is subject to a client's approval, you might be waiting forever. I have some clients who push back on this, saying that they want to approve the work first. In this case, I add a clause that I will invoice after approval or two weeks after delivery of the work, whichever comes first. That way, the client has two weeks to review and complete a round of revisions, but I'm not stuck waiting forever if the client takes longer. [5 Things to Include in Your Freelance Contracts to Protect YourselfYour contract can prevent some sticky situations.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-24.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/1-ehbmywcrgybjk5-2d1ruea-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-contract-protect-yourself/) ## 2\. Learn how to manage your cash Even though freelancing goes through "feast or famine" cycles, that doesn't mean that your finances have to be on a similar rollercoaster. You can create consistency in your monthly income, even when your payments from clients are irregular. Money coming in and money going out are known as cash flow. You want to manage your cash flow in such a way that you don't come up short when you need money (because you're waiting on client payments). Start by figuring out how much money you need per month: how much you need to earn and your expenses. Put your expenses into two buckets: personal expenses and business expenses. Next, divide your personal expenses in half and plan to "pay yourself" twice a month. For example, if your personal expenses are $5,000 per month, plan to pay yourself $2,500 on the 15th and last day of the month. To create more consistency in your cash flow, start invoicing clients on the same day every month. Most of my clients are invoiced on the 5th of the month for all work delivered in the prior month. Invoices are either due in 15 or 30 days. That means some of my cash arrives on the 20th, and the rest arrives on the 5th of the following month. Either way, it arrives before I plan to pay myself. If you're invoicing every client on different days of the month, it's harder to manage your cash. Finally, figure out a starting cash balance for the beginning of the month. This is the amount you need in your [bank account](https://blog.annabyang.com/choose-a-bank-for-your-freelance-business/) to pay your expenses for the month — including your expected payments from clients. Here's an example: ![Freelancer cash flow example](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/01/annabyang-cash-flow.png) Ideally, your starting cash balance should cover your expenses for the first half of the month. That way, if your clients pay late, you're not short on cash. It might take some time to work up to the starting cash balance you need, but it's worth making this a goal. If your bank account has more than you need at the beginning of the month (like $3,200), move the excess **to** a savings account. If your starting cash balance is below what you need, move money **from** that savings account. This creates consistency in your monthly income, even when you have slower months. **Bonus Tip**: In my monthly business expenses, I also set aside money in a savings account to "pay myself" for vacation time. If I don't work, I don't get paid, so I want to have a healthy cushion of savings to draw from in months when I have a lower income. [A Vacation Savings Plan for FreelancersA simple calculator to help you take time off each year.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-25.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*KsFOD980v3BEQ7Zm-d4Pxw.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-vacation-savings-plan/) ## 3\. Narrow your product offering I know many freelancers who are generalists and serve a broad range of customers. There's nothing wrong with this approach, especially as you're first getting started and need to accept any work that comes your way. However, I've found that narrowing your product offerings does a few things. It's easier for clients to say, "Yes, you're the right freelancer for my needs because you do the **exact** work I need." It's also easier for [project management](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/) your work because your deliverables are more consistent. There are two ways you can narrow your product offerings: - **Subject-matter expertise:** [Choose a niche](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancers-journey-to-niche-expert/), such as particular topics or industries - **Type of deliverable:** Offer specific services and only those services When I first started freelancing, I would write for any type of technology company. I'd write blog posts, landing pages, sales one-pagers, case studies, and more. Now, I *mostly* focus on financial technology, and only write blog posts, eBooks, or editorial placements (like ghostwriting for a publication). If a client asks for something else, like email copy, I let them know that I don't do that type of work and refer them to another freelancer if I can. If you decide to narrow your product offerings, make sure your website copy and social profiles reflect your focus. You'll also want to highlight any completed work that [showcases your expertise](https://blog.annabyang.com/establish-freelancer-credibility-and-expertise/) in a portfolio or examples you send to potential clients. ## 4\. Find a freelance community Freelancing can be incredibly lonely and isolating. In my work, my client communication is via Slack or email and I have very few meetings. It's just me and my computer most days. I learned about freelancing from **other freelancers**. I had the business knowledge, but it helped immensely to hear from other freelancers about their experiences with clients. Plus, other freelancers would share their rates which helped me learn how to price my work. [Peak Freelance](https://peakfreelance.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) is a great community and has a Slack group for freelancers (along with other resources). I connect with other freelancers on LinkedIn. I've also done several co-working sessions with groups of freelancers, where we join a video call together for some focused work time. Solo work definitely isn't for everyone. If you're considering freelancing, keep in mind that you'll spend a *lot* of time working alone — with no coworkers or boss to talk to. I worked remotely for a long time before I started freelancing and it was different. Even though I was physically alone in my house, I could always ping someone on chat or call a colleague if needed. I don't have that with freelancing, which is why I've surrounded myself with other freelancers and participated in communities. In addition to reducing isolation, freelance [friends and communities](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/) can be incredible support networks. Whether you have a question, refer work back-and-forth, or simply need to vent about a terrible client, fellow freelancers are the ones who "get" it. *This article is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered legal or financial advice. Consult a legal or financial professional before making any major legal or contract decisions.* --- *Freelance pricing is incredibly opaque, but I’ve created a* [*free resource*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for fellow writers. It outlines my rates, how I think about pricing, and how my pricing has evolved over time.* ### AI Strategy for Freelancers: How to Future-Proof Your Work URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-strategy-freelance-business/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:36:50.000Z In mid-2023, I wrote about [protecting a freelance writing business](https://blog.annabyang.com/protect-writing-business-in-ai-world/) in a world that has become dominated by AI. At the time, ChatGPT had been released only 8 months prior. My tips were practical: pivot your value proposition and show clients that you can bring something to the table that robots can't. Since then, generative AI has experienced massive shifts. [Analysis of online job postings](https://hbr.org/2024/11/research-how-gen-ai-is-already-impacting-the-labor-market?ref=blog.annabyang.com) found a 30.4% decrease in writing jobs and 20.6% decrease in software development jobs between July 2021 and July 2023\. In my industry, freelancers have been hit particularly hard, with many unable to find work. While generative AI is not the *only* reason (the economy is terrible, and budgets are right), it's certainly a factor. Companies know that AI is cheaper and are willing to experiment. So, where does that leave freelancers today? Back in early 2020, some businesses were entirely upended by the Covid-19 pandemic. Many had to shift, quickly and permanently. Those that didn't may have closed permanently. AI is a similar seismic shift, in which you have to plan and think hard about the potential impacts. While many freelancers I know have been struggling, my writing business has been doing fine: I've had no decrease in revenue. There are a few key things I'm doing differently than other freelancers and adopting some of these tactics can help you weather an AI-powered storm. ## Decide how you will use AI in your work On an episode of the podcast [Hard Fork](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/03/podcasts/hard-fork-work-hank-green-deepfake.html??ref=blog.annabyang.com), a video script writer shared that she was using generative AI for *every* part of her process. The hosts were skeptical, wondering if she had basically replaced herself at work. If AI can do *everything*, why is a human needed at all? When you consider what you offer to clients, is it speed? Or is it human creativity? If it's the latter, you want to be really thoughtful about your use of AI. Any work you produce should have elements that are uniquely you. That's not to say that you shouldn't use AI at all. However, you need to think about your own "acceptable use cases" versus ways that don't make sense for your clients or your business. Clients are paying me to **write**, so the writing is all me. But I'll use AI to review a draft and make suggestions of ways I can improve. Or I'll use generative AI to give me some talking points on a particular topic. I also rely on generative AI *a lot* on the operations side of my business. I keep track of everything I've published online in a content library in Airtable. Previously, there was a manual process of assigning different categories in Airtable so I could find related articles. Eventually, I hired a virtual assistant and had her take over this task, but it felt like it wasn't the best use of her time because it was so mundane. Now, I've [embedded ChatGPT into my workflow](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/integrate-chatgpt-into-workflows/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), using automation through [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*. ChatGPT assigns categories to each published article and I was able to give my VA some higher-value work. Even though all of my client work is human-generated, AI has still impacted my business because it saves time by completing repetitive tasks. Those are the types of use cases you should look for. ## Offer flexible contract terms My entire business is built around [ad hoc work](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/). Most freelancers I know *love* retainers because of their predictability and stable income. When I started freelancing, I wanted the same. However, I had also lost my full-time job and needed work, so I was willing to take one-off or short-term projects. Eventually, I found that I could keep my queue completely full with this type of work. AI's impact on your [contract terms](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-contract-protect-yourself/) may not be direct, but it shouldn't be overlooked. Let's say a company has a limited budget. The company doesn't want to use generative AI but needs to figure out how to stretch its dollars further. I don't think freelancers should decrease their pricing, because that devalues your work. But if you offer more flexible contract terms, you'll be more desirable than a freelancer who continues to chase retainers. Flexibility gives the clients an option to end the relationship, if needed. They're not signing up for a long-term commitment. While this may seem risky to you, the freelancer, it can work out in your favor. Because I juggle more clients with smaller projects, I'm in less danger when I lose a single client. It might only be 1/10 of my income, rather than 1/4 or 1/3, if I only worked with a few clients. I've had more interest from potential clients than ever because companies are looking for fractional or on-demand support. Ad hoc work also makes it easy for clients to say "yes." If they want to test out working with me for one or two deliverables, they can. My contracts are structured so that everything is "as requested. They sign a full agreement, and if it doesn't work out, the agreement simply ends when they stop assigning work. It gives me a chance to prove myself (and prove that I'm better than AI), while not needing to write up any special language in my contracts. A test project is treated the same way as any project. [Project Management Skills Every Freelancer NeedsLearn how to effectively manage your client work.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-23.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelance-project-management.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-management-skills/) ## Diversify your income If you're getting income from multiple sources, you'll be less impacted if one source dries up. This happens naturally with ad hoc work since you'll have more clients, but it also happens when you diversify your income streams. Diversification might be offering more services to your clients or expanding your business to work in additional niches. Or it might be sources that are unrelated to your client work. For example, I earn money from writing on Substack and Medium. I also have products on Gumroad. While these are a small portion of my income compared to my client work, they've grown over time. Ask yourself: What if the work I'm doing right now becomes less relevant because of AI? What other skills do I have? And how can I use those skills to create an additional income stream? A second (or third!) income stream de-risks your work as a freelancer — especially since you may not be able to predict AI's [future impact on your work](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-income-calculator/). ## Save, save, save your money One thing that has always given me some peace of mind is a [healthy savings account](https://blog.annabyang.com/managing-solopreneur-finances/). I know that this is hard when you're not earning a lot, but here's how I pull it off: - At a minimum, I contribute a fixed amount to a savings account every month. It's part of my budget. - My budget is based on the amount of cash I need at the start of every month in order to pay my expenses (including paying myself) - If I have more money in my checking account at the start of the month, I move the excess to savings Because of this, I have a nice cushion. If something happened, I could pull money from my savings account. If you don't have a lot of extra money each month, start small. The important part is creating a habit of regularly contributing to your savings account. With generative AI, things change *really* fast. You don't want to be in a situation where your work is impacted in an unexpected way and you have no savings. A savings account also gives you the space to pivot your business, if needed. ## Maintain an online presence Most people hiring freelancers have gotten a lot smarter about it. They know that if they put out a generic call for freelancers on social media (like LinkedIn or Threads), they'll get hundreds of replies. On the hiring person's end, it's nearly impossible to sort through. And on the freelancer's end, it's nearly impossible to stand out. Cold pitching also has diminishing returns since most people's inboxes are overflowing. People hiring freelancers have realized that it's much better to approach freelancers directly. They'll either do some searching online or ask others in their industry for referrals. Because the hiring model has shifted so much, you want to build a business that brings clients to you. I have become known as a financial technology writer. I have a ton of work in my portfolio that showcases my expertise. People find me (mostly on LinkedIn) and refer me because the type of work I do is very clear, and I maintain an active social media presence. Of course, it takes a long, long time to [build an online presence](https://blog.annabyang.com/omnipresent-social-media-strategy/). You need to start *before* you need it — *before* you find yourself in a pinch, looking for your next client. It took about 18 months of consistent online posting before I started to see results from my efforts. But I consider social media posting part of the administrative work that I have to do for my business: it's a sales/marketing necessity. When you build an authentic online presence, you'll attract the right type of clients. Some companies are looking to replace humans with AI. Those clients are not **your** clients. Your clients want a human touch, and an online presence goes a long way in establishing you as a human-centric freelancer. ## Create a personalized AI roadmap Setting aside time to learn new skills is *hard* as a freelancer. You feel like you should devote most of your time to client work or otherwise [working on your business](https://blog.annabyang.com/working-on-business-vs-working-in-business/). AI is such a transformative technology that you can't afford to ignore it or "learn it later." Ben Angel, author of "The Wolf Is at the Door: How to Survive and Thrive in an AI-Driven World" says, "If people feel that the rate of change is speeding up, it's because it is. And it's ok to take a step back and incubate and allow yourself to find those ideas that are going to help you to move forward." You don't need to learn AI-related skills in a day. But you should [set aside time](https://blog.annabyang.com/create-a-roadmap-for-your-freelance-business/) to explore new tools (or AI features within your existing tools). Many industry leaders have said, "AI isn't going to replace you. But you *are* going to be replaced by people who can use AI better than you." Even if you don't incorporate AI at all into your client work, freelancers who lean into AI will build more efficient businesses. You can't be hindered by your reliance on manual tasks. Figure out how AI can make your work easier. --- *Not sure where to start? Check out my guide:* [*12 Unique AI-Powered Tools for Everyday Creators and Solo Businesses*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ai-tools?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### How to Start Freelancing: Day 1 and Beyond URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-start-freelancing-day-1-and-beyond/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:59:08.000Z Experienced freelancers remember the early days. *"How should I price my work? What tools do I need? How do I even find clients??"* Whether you make a conscious choice to begin freelancing, or you lose your job and suddenly need money (which was my case), starting a freelance business can be really overwhelming. A lot of freelance advice — even the advice directed at new freelancers — doesn't distinguish between the *must-haves* and the *nice-to-haves*. You can use this article as a checklist for the earliest days of your freelancing career: what you need on Day 1, what you need as soon as possible, and what you need to manage your work as your business grows. ## A way to collect payments My earliest client invoices were created using a template in Google Sheets. Then I panicked, wondering how I'd actually collect payment. Would the client send me a check in the mail? Did I need a business PayPal account? What if the client wanted to pay with a credit card? Before I became a freelancer, I worked in the financial technology industry. People want to make payments using *their* payment method of choice. The more options you offer, the easier it is to collect payments. Platforms like Stripe allow you to send invoices and collect payments. PayPal is another option, but I've heard stories from other freelancers who have had PayPal freeze their accounts or delay payouts without explanation. You can also use a platform like [Wave](https://www.waveapps.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Quickbooks](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), or [Xero](https://www.xero.com/us/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), that combines sending invoices, collecting payments, and accounting. Wave is free if you only need to send invoices and collect payments. To use accounting features on any of these platforms, you'll need to pay a monthly fee. While you don't need an accounting system on Day 1, you'll need it pretty quickly to keep track of your income and expenses to pay your taxes. With any payment processor, you'll pay a fee for each payment received from a client. Stripe, for example, charges 2.9% plus 0.30 USD for each credit card transaction. The fees vary depending on the payment method used (credit card versus bank transfer). While this decreases your earnings, it's a necessary cost to collect payments. If you're working outside of the U.S. or collecting payments from companies outside of the U.S., you can use Wise for international payment transfers. In the U.S., you can also ask clients to send payments directly to your bank account via an ACH transfer. However, this requires you to share your bank account information. If you use a payment processor, the processor can transfer payments to your bank account without clients ever seeing your bank information (for a fee). Some of my clients use payment portals that allow me to securely enter my bank information for an ACH transfer (no fee!), but you can't rely on that since not all companies use such portals. Alternatively, you can use a platform like Fiverr or Upwork. These platforms collect payments from clients on your behalf and remit them to you. [AI Tools for Solopreneurs (That Are Actually Useful)The best AI tools have a very specific purpose.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-22.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-ai-tools-solopreneurs.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-tools-for-solopreneurs/) ## Pricing information Potential clients will want to know how much you charge for your services. It's usually part of your initial conversation: clients need to understand if your work will fit within their budget. You want to approach pricing conversations with confidence. Outline the services you'll offer and your [pricing model](https://blog.annabyang.com/pricing-model-freelance-business/), whether hourly or a per-project rate. You'll want to think about what's included in each service and what's *not* included. "Scope creep" is real, and clients may ask you to do additional work if you don't specifically state that the request is outside of the [project scope](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-scope/). You'll look more professional if you have a pricing sheet. Canva has a ton of free templates you can use to get started (it's what I use for my pricing guides!). Send your pricing guide to the potential client as a PDF or send a link to the Canva file. If you don't have time to create a formal pricing sheet (a client is in your DMs **right now!**), at least write up some pricing in a Google Doc that you can easily copy and paste into an email. My pricing guide is several pages long and includes more than just pricing info. I also include: - Some information about my background - A list of some of the more prominent companies I've worked with - Details about my working style ([communication](https://blog.annabyang.com/instant-communication-in-the-workplace/), turnaround times, and project management) - Testimonials from past clients When I send my pricing guide, I'm not only answering questions about my pricing: I'm also letting the client know what I'm like to work with. ## A contract for your first client Do *not* wait until a client says "yes" to prepare a contract. At that point, you'll be scrambling. Have a contract ready to go, and make sure it includes a detailed description of the services you're going to offer and how much you will charge. There are a ton of resources out there for freelancer contracts, including this [free contract creator](https://freelancersunion.org/contract/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) from Freelancers Union or [this free template](https://wise.com/us/freelance-contract/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) from Wise. The Everyday Lawyer published [this article](https://www.thelawlesslawyer.com/articles/contracts-101-contract-negotiation-strategies?ref=blog.annabyang.com) about contract negotiation strategies. I include a few things in my contracts to [protect myself](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-contract-protect-yourself/): - Work belongs to me until I receive payment - Payment isn't dependent on final approval (prevents delays) - The right to include the finished work in my portfolio - A limit on the number of meetings I'll attend You'll also want a way to collect e-signatures on your contracts. [Google Workspace](https://workspace.google.com/resources/esignature/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) has recently rolled out e-signatures. You can also collect three free e-signatures a month through [PandaDoc](https://www.pandadoc.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Other platforms like HoneyBook have contracts, invoicing, and payments all rolled into one, but you'll pay a monthly platform fee. ## Professional email on your own domain On Day 1, you don't need your own email domain. You can correspond with prospective clients from a free Gmail account. However, as soon as its feasible, i would recommend getting your own domain and connecting it to Google Workspace. It looks more professional and signals to clients that you take your business seriously. Buying a domain from a site like GoDaddy can be very inexpensive (like $20/year), depending on the domain you want. Google Workspace starts at $6/month. It's seamless to integrate Google Workspace to a site like GoDaddy so you can start sending emails from yourdomain.com instead of gmail.com. These are minor investments to establish your freelance business. ## A website Some people will say that you don't necessarily need a website, or they'll suggest you use something like Linktree. However, a website is often your client's first impression of you, so I think you should have *something*. (Another reason to buy a domain!) Your website can be as simple as a landing page that explains who you are and what you do, with a form for potential clients to reach out. You can create a one-page website through platforms like [Carrd](https://try.carrd.co/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com), which costs $19 per **year**. Carrd is a simple, inexpensive option with a lot of templates. You'll also want to share examples of your client work. Because I use Carrd for my website, my portfolio is stored separately on [JournoPortfolio](https://www.journoportfolio.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). With JournoPortfolio, I can easily add links to newly published work and include information like clients and topics. I have a link to JournoPortfolio from my Carrd site. At some point, I'll probably pay a developer to create a site for me, but right now, I don't need anything fancy. Just a landing page and a way for clients to view my work — and a site that I can easily update myself. A portfolio site showcases your best work to clients. This might feel like a catch-22 when you're first getting started. When I first started freelancing, I had no experience other than a personal blog, which was different from the client work I was aiming to do. I secured a job at an agency that paid poorly, but doing the work gave me examples to include in my portfolio. You could even include some side projects in your portfolio to show your earliest clients what you can deliver. ## Project management systems When you land your first client, you may not feel like you need a [project management system](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/). You're only keeping track of one client and one deliverable, so you might feel comfortable managing the work on your calendar, a spreadsheet, or even a notebook. However, one client might quickly turn into more clients. The last thing you want when trying to ramp up your business is to be bogged down by your lack of systems. A lot of project management tools, like Trello, Asana, and Notion have free plans. It's much easier to get started with a single client, figure out what you need, and use more features as needed. I stayed on [Trello's free plan](https://blog.annabyang.com/use-both-trello-and-todoist/) for a *long* time until I finally wanted some of the features of the paid plan. You can get started as a freelancer for *practically* free (just payment processor fees). However, you'll want to decide which tools are worth the additional cost and at what stage of your freelancing journey. I'd make the case that accounting software, a website/domain, and a project management system are worth the time and cost so you can set yourself up for future success. --- *Freelance pricing is incredibly opaque, but I’ve created a* [*free resource*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for fellow writers. It outlines my rates, how I think about pricing, and how my pricing has evolved over time.* ### How to Manage an Omnipresent Social Media Strategy URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/omnipresent-social-media-strategy/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T04:40:52.000Z If you're trying to build a sustainable business, social media is undoubtedly part of your strategy. And anyone without the unlimited budget of a large corporation knows they have to spend their time wisely. Is it better to focus on a single channel, or split your focus between creating content for multiple channels? The advice to focus on growing a single social channel is outdated (unless you're positive that your target audience only spends time on one channel). The world moves too fast, and you might miss opportunities if you put all of your eggs in one basket. Or, worse, that single basket falls apart and suddenly you're starting from ground zero on another channel. Just look at the [downfall of Twitter](https://blog.annabyang.com/the-downfall-of-twitter-the-rise-of-threads/) and how users have fled to multiple alternatives, including Bluesky and Threads. Of course, creating content for multiple channels requires more effort — but it doesn't have to be exponentially more. You can learn and grow on multiple channels simultaneously by putting a few simple systems in place. ### Cross-post to different channels One of the easiest ways to show up on multiple channels is simply to copy and paste your content [from one channel to another](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-your-content-across-multiple-platforms/). This works if the platforms favor similar types of content, such as publishing a text-based post to both LinkedIn and Threads or publishing a video on both Instagram and TikTok. If you know the type of content your audience is looking for, you can attract a similar following across multiple channels. Social media scheduling apps make this really easy. I use Buffer posts can be "duplicated" from one channel to another. By using a social media scheduling tool, you'll spend less time copying and pasting than you would if you manually publish across multiple apps. One thing to keep in mind is that some people *might* notice the strategy, if they pay attention and follow you on multiple channels. I follow a few people across different channels and immediately notice if they publish identical content. You might decide not to worry about this, or you can make a very slight adjustment to your publishing process to address this issue. I use [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* (an automation tool) to add a delay between my published content across different platforms. For example, if I publish something on LinkedIn (via Buffer), Zapier picks up the post and holds it for 30 days. After 30 days, Zapier sends the post *back* to Buffer and then I publish it on Threads. At that point, I assume anyone who saw the original post will have forgotten about it. I'm careful to only apply this strategy to non-time-sensitive posts. No one wants to see my holiday posts thirty days later! I have some filters set up, so these posts aren't included in my automation. ### Tweak your content for each channel Cross-posting is the easiest way to show up on multiple channels, but your content may not resonate in the same way. Each channel has its own vibe. For text-based LinkedIn is more button-up, and Threads is more "anything goes." Algorithms also favor (or punish) the format of your content, such as including hashtags, trending sounds, and external links. They also have different requirements for characters you can include or the length of video you can upload. While it takes more effort, you may want to tweak the message for each channel instead of simply copying and pasting. A lengthy post I write for LinkedIn might get broken down into something shorter and punchier for Threads. You can automate this process also, at least with text. When I schedule a post from LinkedIn, the post automatically runs through ChatGPT (via Zapier) *before* I schedule it for Threads. My instructions to ChatGPT are to take the original LinkedIn post and reformat it for Threads. I provide some [examples of Threads posts](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/social-posts-train-chatgpt/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and also the requirements of the platform (character limit; only one hashtag per post). The reformatted post is then sent back to Buffer. I still tweak the ChatGPT output — it's never 100% how I would write the post — but it's usually pretty close, and much faster than rewriting the post by myself. Because it's based on my original content and my examples, it sounds like me. It just needs some final editing before I can publish it. This process runs behind the scenes and whenever I open Buffer, my queue is ready with reformatted posts from 30 days ago that I need to apply a final polish and publish. If you're not comfortable using a tool like Zapier, you could quickly copy and paste your posts directly into ChatGPT with some instructions to reformat before you publish them on a different platform. ### Edit your calls-to-action While a lot of your content might be to educate or entertain your audience, sometimes you'll want them to take a specific next step, such as downloading a resource or signing up for a webinar. Most social platforms try *very* hard to keep you on the platform, meaning they make it tricky for you to share a link. I've gotten around this in a few ways, but I have to change tactics depending on the platform. On LinkedIn, I'll put the link in either an image or a video, instead of the text of the post itself. Let's say, for example, I'm hosting an upcoming webinar. I'll share an image (from Canva) announcing it, and the image will say "Sign up at webinars.annabyang.com." The URL is short enough that I assume people will follow it — and most people know that LinkedIn punishes links and understand why I do that. I'll usually schedule several posts, so at least one will have the actual URL in the post itself, but at least the webinar announcement has more than one opportunity to be seen. If I create a video to announce the webinar, I'll say the URL at the end of the webinar and also display it with text at the bottom of the video. I use similar tactics with Instagram, but for Instagram I use [ManyChat](https://manychat.partnerlinks.io/5rluog6zyegn?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*. With ManyChat, I can set up automation that if a user comments "WEBINAR" on a post, I can send the link via DMs. The instruction "Comment 'WEBINAR'" will either be in the image post, or I'll say it in a video. I also put it in the caption of the post. When a user adds a comment with the word you've set up, the DM with the link will arrive within seconds. If I'm recording a video to use on both LinkedIn and Instagram, I record both CTAs in the same video. The video content is like this: - Talk about the product/webinar that can be used for both platforms - Let people know they can visit the URL to sign up - Let people know they can comment with a keyword to receive a DM with a link to sign up This is a **single video**. I then make a copy of it. In the first copy, I edit out the part about a comment and in the second copy, I edit out the part about the URL to sign up. That way, I have platform-specific CTAs using the same main video content. ## Prioritize your attention When you implement an omnipresent strategy, you can get sucked into spending too much time on platforms. In almost every case, creating content alone isn't enough; you have to engage with other people. This is where you *should* prioritize. I set aside a block of time to engage with people every morning. I prioritize LinkedIn first, because that's my **primary** channel with my largest following. I also know that's the [primary way clients find me](https://blog.annabyang.com/linkedin-client-acquisition/). Then I'll spend a smaller amount of time on other channels. I don't have unlimited amounts of time, so I have to focus on the channels that are generating the most benefit for my business. I use a timer so I don't lose track of time. If I decide that I want to give Threads or Bluesky more attention, I'll adjust accordingly. The key is not to push yourself on all platforms *simultaneously.* You're putting the content out there so people can find you, but also paying attention to what's working and putting more effort there. You may also find that a channel simply isn't worth the effort because you never get *any* results. However*,* I'd hesitate to give up on a channel too quickly, since any channel takes time. Examine the amount of time you spend and if the channel fits your overall goals. I was very late to Twitter (before it became X), and the platform was well-established. My growth there was minimal, but I kept showing up because I had a feeling that potential clients might be there. I was right. I landed a client via Twitter that ended up paying me over $20,000\. So the effort I put into Twitter — even though it was small compared to the amount of time I spent on LinkedIn — paid off. I never would have landed that client otherwise. ## Hire a virtual assistant or a content strategist I have a virtual assistant who helps me with my social media postings. She creates the Canva images I publish on different channels (using templates developed by a designer), while I handle the copywriting and captions for each post. While my Instagram following is minuscule right now, it's something I want to grow over time. I also use the same images in multiple ways, with my VA changing the size so it's platform-appropriate (square vs. horizontal vs. vertical). It saves me time every week — time that I can spend focusing on the copy, rather than the images. If you really want your channel to **grow**, consider hiring someone with strategy experience on the specific social media channel. You might work with this person on a short-term basis, while you learn the ins and outs of that channel, or you might have the person help you create content long-term. [How a Virtual Assistant Can Help Your Solo BusinessFree up your time for more high-value work.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-21.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-virtual-assistant-solo-business.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) ## Keep an eye on trends At some point, I think cross-posting to multiple platforms will look much different. In the future, we may publish only to the fediverse, and the content will be distributed across various social media sites. If you're not familiar, the fediverse is an interconnected ecosystem for social media platforms, based on an open protocol. Not only could you publish your content once and have it distribute across platforms, but you can also port your follower graph between networks. Mastadon, Bluesky, and Meta have all been talking about the fediverse for years. With the fediverse, you [truly own **all** of your content](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-proprietary-content-is-the-future/) and aren't married to a specific platform. Of course, the dream of using social media platforms in the fediverse doesn't exist yet. Meta is still working on Threads compatibility with the fediverse, one feature at a time. And Bluesky uses a different protocol than Mastadon and Meta, so interoperability is still in question. However, it's not out of the realm of possibility and something to keep in mind. *Someday* maybe all of these efforts to be omnipresent across multiple channels won't be necessary. Until then, build systems and processes that don't require a ton of lift and still allow you to show up where your audience can find you. --- *Check out my* [*free eBook*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— a guide for creators looking better to manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### How to Boost Client Acquisition with LinkedIn Content URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/linkedin-client-acquisition/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T04:41:05.000Z I'm a freelance writer and, at this point, about two years into freelancing full-time, most of my work is inbound via LinkedIn. It's certainly not the only tactic for finding clients, but it works well for me as someone who hates outbound pitches. Plus, I think that people's inboxes and DMs are simply overflowing and it's harder than ever to stand out. When you pitch someone and say, "Do you need XYZ service?" there's a good chance that your timing is off. They might need you, but not at that moment (and then you have to hope they remember you later). Instead, I focus on making myself *incredibly* visible on LinkedIn. If someone happens to need the services I offer, they may have seen me in their feed or find me through a search. That gets them clicking over to my profile and looking at my portfolio. It's a lot of work to maintain an online presence, but you're putting in the hours one way or another. Either you can spend time researching and pitching potential clients, personalizing each message so you have a chance of standing out. Or you can create content for *yourself,* content that not only attracts potential clients but that you can use and re-use in different ways. ## Collect inspiration for your content One of the biggest hangups for people is that they don't know what to publish on social media, especially on LinkedIn. LinkedIn can feel intimidating, but it's your best bet to gain clients since the platform is designed for business use. One of the ways I'm able to come up with so many post ideas is that I *don't* focus solely on self-promotion or content that I think my ideal clients would be interested in. Constant self-promotion doesn't work well on social media, because you want to focus on building trust and relationships. Demonstrate your expertise, [without "selling" too much](https://blog.annabyang.com/market-your-freelance-business/). Instead, you can post content about what you're like to work with. Give potential clients a peek behind the curtain and show them your human side. I often share information about my project management skills or how I use automation to speed up mundane tasks. You can also use other people's posts as content inspiration. Leave thoughtful comments on posts from other people in your industry or people who might be your target clients. Then, expand on those ideas and turn them into *your own posts* in the future. If you leave even a few comments per day, you'll quickly amass a library of comments that you can turn into posts. I use an app called [Readwise](https://readwise.io/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to help with this process. Once a week, I go through my LinkedIn comments. I use the Readwise Chrome extension to highlight any comments I think could turn into future posts. Readwise will sync your highlights to an external app, like a Google Doc or Notion. From there, you can work through your comments and create posts. ## Develop a consistent posting schedule This tactic of boosting your client acquisition only works if you create consistent, semi-frequent content. I currently publish 2x per day on LinkedIn (my primary platform) to ensure I stay visible. Since I'm working from my repository of collected ideas (mostly comments, but I also use my blog and [podcast appearances](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/) as sources of inspiration), I spend time each week crafting my social posts. I do this on the weekend since that's what works best with my schedule, but all you need is a chunk of uninterrupted time. Since I've been doing this for a long time, I've built up a writing muscle so it doesn't take very long to write the posts based on the original inspiration. In the beginning, it might take you longer, but the process will speed up as you get used to it. You can also cross-post to other platforms (if you think your ideal clients might be there). I use Buffer to schedule my social media content, and it's really easy to duplicate posts to other channels. Start with a posting schedule that feels manageable, such as three times per week. Gradually work your way to more frequent posting as you gather more ideas, and it takes less time to write posts. ## Engage with other people LinkedIn (somewhat uniquely) displays engagement in the main feed. So, if you comment on *other people's* posts, you'll show up more often in the feed. This has a twofold benefit: creating ideas for your own content (as described above) and improving your overall visibility. My morning routine includes engaging with other people on LinkedIn while using a walking pad and a standing desk in my office. My social posts are pre-scheduled to go out, so I don't need to worry about that. I focus solely on commenting on other people's posts, and connecting with people (if appropriate). Since engagement has such a huge impact on your overall visibility, you should do the following: - Engage with posts from your ideal clients - Engage with a few people who have large audiences - Engage with fellow freelancers Each of these has a different benefit. When you engage with your ideal clients, you get on their radar (even if they're not ready to hire a freelancer today). Engaging with people who have large audiences boosts your visibility in the feed. And when you engage with fellow freelancers, you can form connections that may benefit you in the future (such as referring work to each other). All three tactics give you potential social posts of your own. The notification "bell" in LinkedIn can be really helpful. When you hit the bell on someone's profile, you get a notification when they post. You can work through the notifications and comment on the new posts. ## Optimize your LinkedIn profile If you create content for the purpose of getting clients, you have to make sure your profile clearly shows who you are and what you do. On LinkedIn, part of your headline is displayed every time you leave a comment. Be as specific as possible to let clients know what type of work you do. Mine says "Freelance Fintech Writer," so it's clear that I'm not just any freelance writer: I have [niche industry experience](https://blog.annabyang.com/establish-freelancer-credibility-and-expertise/). Since your headline can be a lot longer than what is displayed on comments, make sure the most important words are at the beginning. In your LinkedIn profile, you should take advantage of: - The About section, to describe who you are (and show some personality!) - The Featured section, to share relevant links, like to your portfolio - The Company section, to clearly show that you're a freelance running a business I've created a Company Page for my one-person business. I'll occasionally share links to my published work on the Company Page, but I mostly do this so I can show a company logo and description on my LinkedIn profile. Plus, my Company Page additionally appears in search results on LinkedIn. ![Anna Burgess Yang's LinkedIn Profile](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/12/annabyang-company-page-linkedin.jpg) Source: my own screenshot ## Play the long game I keep track of every potential opportunity for client work and notate how clients find me. I *know* that many of them come from LinkedIn. Staying visible — even though I talk about a wide range of topics — keeps my pipeline full. Of course, this wasn't an overnight success. I started [posting consistently](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-production-solopreneur/) on LinkedIn about 18 months before I started my own business. I had a hunch that an online presence would serve me well, no matter what I ended up doing with my career. Turns out, I was right. --- *Need more content inspiration? Check out my free eCourse* [*The Endless Idea Collector*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/endless-idea-collector?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *and learn how to collect ideas in your everyday life.* ### How I Use Dictation to Write Blog Posts URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/dictate-blog-posts/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:53:30.000Z Every week, I publish three or four pieces of long-form content between multiple blogs I run, plus a Substack. That's on top of writing for clients, which is an additional few thousand words per week. I'm sure many writers will understand the pull of writing. Time is always a limiting factor, though. I *have* to [get client work done](https://blog.annabyang.com/avoid-spending-too-much-time-on-client-work/), since that's how I earn money, and I also have three kids. For years, blog posts fell to the bottom of my priority list — a near-constant source of personal frustration. To finally land on my consistent publishing schedule, I changed a few things. First, I prioritize writing, waking up early every day to write before my family wakes and I start client work. Second, I rely on dictation to get the first draft of a blog post out of my head and onto the computer. Yes, I've built up a muscle since I've been writing online for more than 10 years. But additionally, my process allows me to publish a new blog post (about 1,500 words) in about 90 minutes. That includes everything, from writing and editing to creating an image and publishing it on my website. Here's what goes into my blog production. ## Prep work: Capture blog post ideas Coming up with blog post topics is a separate process for me (and not included in the time it takes me to publish a post). I'll [capture ideas on the go](https://blog.annabyang.com/voice-apps/) and organize them in Trello, which is how I plan my content. During a dedicated planning session, I'll sit down with my Trello list and decide what I'm going to publish for the upcoming week or two. Sometimes, I've added a few bullet points to Trello of things I want to discuss; other times, it's nothing more than a fleeting thought. If you do something similar and you're in the "fleeting thought" stage, you could run your idea through AI (like ChatGPT) to come up with a few talking points before you start dictating. ## Step 1: Dictate the blog post The first thing I do for blog post creation is pull out my phone and dictate the blog post to myself, based on what's on my content calendar. I'll dictate for about 15 minutes. The average rate of human speech is about 100 words per minute, so I'll end up with around 1,500 words by the time I'm done. I even do this while I'm on the go, such as in the car or taking a walk. As I dictate, I say things like "Next section" so I'm verbally identifying some of the structure that's necessary to create a blog post. **Total time spent: 15 minutes** ## Step 2: Clean up the transcript with AI I use an app called [Fireflies.ai](https://app.fireflies.ai/login?referralCode=c0Ux29gYtg&ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[referral link\]* for dictation and once I'm done, Fireflies generates a transcript. I use [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* to automatically send that transcript to my Google Drive, but you could also download a copy from Fireflies. Once it's on my Google Drive, I run the transcript through ChatGPT with some instructions for *very* light editing. I want to stay true to my original ideas, but ChatGPT can remove the timestamps of the transcript and any words like "um." ChatGPT can also format the headers of the blog post based on my verbal cues in the transcript. As a result, I end up with a rough draft that's ready for editing. [How to Integrate ChatGPT into Your Zapier WorkflowsWant some actual ChatGPT use cases?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/1-2.png)Tinkering With IdeasAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/tinkering-with-ideas-hero-image.png)](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/integrate-chatgpt-into-workflows/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Total time spent: 0 minutes.** For me, this is happening in the background using automation with Zapier. If you do this step manually (download the transcript and run it through ChatGPT), add 5-10 minutes. ## Step 3: Polish the dictated blog post My next step is to take the slightly cleaned-up version from ChatGPT and write the draft. I use an app called [Reflect](https://reflect.app/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for drafting and automation sends the ChatGPT output to Reflect, but you can also copy and paste your ChatGPT output. For me, dictation and drafting rarely occur on the same day. I'll dictate all the time, but I have a specific writing schedule. In Trello, [I'll keep track](https://blog.annabyang.com/use-both-trello-and-todoist/) of which blog posts are dictated and ready for polishing, and work on those on specific days during the week. The way I dictate isn't necessarily the way I write, especially if my thoughts get a little jumbled during dictation. The first thing I do is organize the output, moving ideas around into different sections. However, I've also gotten significantly better at this over time and now my dictation is a lot closer to the actual way I write. The only way to improve is to practice and not get discouraged if, at first, you feel like dictation doesn't save much time. **Total time: 45 minutes** to turn \~1,500 dictated words into a polished draft ## Step 4: Create a hero image I use AI to generate hero images (the large images at the top of the blog post). I want my images to stand out more than the generic photos on sites like Unsplash. So the next step is to [create an image](https://blog.annabyang.com/writers-should-care-about-ai-art/) using Midjourney, my image generation tool of choice. I have a saved ChatGPT prompt and I take the final content of my blog post and paste it into ChatGPT. The prompt says, "Generate a Midjourney prompt based on this blog post" with some specific instructions about the style of post I want for the publication. I'm not a visually creative person, and I often can't think of what my hero images should look like. ChatGPT comes up with something for me, based on the content of the post. I take the suggested prompt from ChatGPT and put it into Midjourney. Sometimes I don't like the output, so I'll keep re-generating images or tweak the prompt until I'm satisfied with the result. Once I've selected an image, I run it through an app called [Squoosh](https://squoosh.app/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to shrink it to a size that's appropriate for a website. Midjourney images are far too large (several MB) and can impact page load speed. **Total time: Less than 10 minutes** ## Step 5: Add the post to my website Finally, I'll load the blog post into my content management system (CMS), [which is Ghost](https://blog.annabyang.com/publish-substack-ghost-kit/). I run the blog post through Grammarly to look for spelling or grammatical errors. I also load the image from Midjourney and add a caption and alt text. Then I add internal links to the post. I have a "content library" in Airtable that keeps track of everything I've ever published online. I'll find posts about similar topics and add the links where appropriate. Reflect, the app I use for drafting, also suggests related articles while I'm writing, so I'll add those as well. In Ghost, I also add categories to the post, the meta title and meta description, and a call-to-action, which is one of several free resources I have available on Gumroad. I rotate through CTAs depending on the content of the blog post. Finally, I schedule the blog post to be published. Once published, I cross-post my blog posts to Medium. There's a process to import the blog post to Medium, clean it up, and submit it to one of the publications I'm in. That process takes less than 10 minutes. I don't include it in the total time because it's not part of the time it takes me to get the post out into the world through my own blog. Plus, I submit posts to Medium in batches, usually once per week, rather than immediately after they're published. **Total time: 20 minutes** ## Building a writing muscle Part of the reason this process works so well is because I stick to topics I know well and have opinions about. It's easy for me to dictate blog posts. Dictating was really the game-changer in my publishing ability. Previously, I would write and publish all in one sitting, a process that could take several hours. Now, the dictation happens separately, and the "time at a computer" to clean up the dictated blog post and publish it is just over an hour. That's a much more manageable amount of time to spend each day. --- *Do you publish a lot online? Check out this free guide:* [*How to Create a Content Library... and why you need one!*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/contentlibrary?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### Work Fewer Hours and a Shorter Week as a Solopreneur URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/work-fewer-hours-and-a-shorter-week-as-a-solopreneur/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:41:34.000Z A solo business is alluring: you can set your own schedule and have a ton of freedom. Yet many solo business owners end up working *more* hours, far more than they'd work in a traditional 9-5 job. They're not sure how to cut back, work more efficiently, or say "no" to clients. One of my main goals for my solo business has always been to condense my work into as few hours as possible. By doing this, I have time to pursue personal interests or hang out with my family. I also knew, when I first [launched a freelance writing business](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancers-journey-to-niche-expert/), that writing all day, every day would burn me out so I intentionally created a schedule to avoid that. Today, I only do client work a few hours per day and have one day per week set aside for no client work. I share this because I want other solopreneurs to know it's possible. You can set the boundaries and design a schedule that minimizes your working hours, giving you more flexibility. 💡 ****TL;DR:** You can work fewer hours as a solopreneur by setting defined working hours, committing to activities that disrupt your workday, and establishing clear boundaries with clients. ## **What does working fewer hours as a solopreneur l**ook like IRL? Working fewer hours means intentionally designing your schedule to condense client work into fewer days or hours per week while maintaining (or increasing) your income. To do this, you have to set clear boundaries, use your time efficiently, and price your services to support a shorter schedule rather than maximizing billable hours or client projects. ## The shorter workweek framework: 5 steps According to DemandSage, the average [full-time freelancer](https://blog.annabyang.com/full-time-freelancer/) works 43 hours per week. That's not terrible, compared to a 9-5 job, but many solopreneurs want to work *less* than they did in corporate life, not the same. Here are some strategies for solopreneurs, freelancers, and solo business owners who want to reclaim their time without sacrificing income. ### 1\. Create structure around your work 9-5 life has *some* parameters around working hours (at least, in theory). You have an expected start and stop time. As a solopreneur, you can embrace non-traditional hours, but this can quickly derail into working *all* hours. There's no boss or team to keep your working hours confined. One of the first things you can do to reduce your working hours is to set defined working hours. At my last corporate job, the company had a 4-day workweek, and it was glorious. I got so used to not working on Fridays that I couldn't imagine going back when I became self-employed. Fridays are **my** day, to go grocery shopping or work on my own projects. You should also set working hours each day: what time do you expect to begin and end work? My working day *mostly* ends by 4:00 pm. If life happens and I don't get everything done, I'll extend my work into the evening, but it's never planned that way. I also work in [blocks of time](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/), with the first block from about 9:00 to 11:00 am and another block from 1:00 to 4:00 pm (and a giant break for lunch and a nap in the middle). 💡 ****What is time blocking?** A scheduling method where you assign specific tasks to defined time periods throughout your day. The more I stick to this schedule, the less willing I am to work outside of these blocks of time. I use time blocking to plan out what I'm going to do during these blocks of time, such as client work or something else related to my business. While I stick to a mostly "normal working hours" schedule, you should follow a schedule that matches the time of day that *you* work best. In addition to my client work, I write in this blog, [run a publication](https://www.workbetter.media/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), and I have other [creative projects](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-time-for-projects/) I enjoy. While this writing is outside of my client work, I still preserve a block of time in my day. I naturally wake up early, so the first thing I do is write. If you feel more energized early in the morning or late at night, follow your body's rhythm. Do your important work when you're most productive, and set different start/stop times for yourself based on those working hours. [How to Prep for a Week of WritingSet yourself up for a week of productive work![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-20.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-writing-prep.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/prep-for-a-week-of-writing/) ### 2\. Experiment with a shorter workweek Let's say you start by defining specific working hours, but still find that you work close to 40 hours per week and want to work less. One of the first things you should do is commit to an activity that takes place during your working hours. Go to the gym or a yoga class. Run errands every Friday morning. Volunteer. Do something that disrupts your defined working hours — but don't lengthen your workday. You'll quickly figure out how to adjust by the 2-hour reduction in your day (or whatever amount of time it takes to do the activity). Suddenly, your 40-hour workweek has turned into a 38-hour workweek. The reason this works so well is that you're **doing something**. If you try simply starting your day later or ending earlier, you might be tempted to "cheat" if you have a busy day. But if it's an activity you've signed up for or are looking forward to, you're less likely to skip. You'll find that you enjoy taking time out of your day to do something for yourself, and you won't want to give it up. As you continue to shorten your workday and workweek, you'll look for ways to work more efficiently (such as [using tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/paying-for-tools-as-a-solopreneur/) and automation) or otherwise save time. ### 3\. Set boundaries with your clients Years ago, a fellow freelance writer published some suggestions for "going above and beyond" to make yourself indispensable to clients. I think that's terrible advice. Your time is *literally* money, and if you go above and beyond, you're donating your free time to clients. It's a quick path to overwork. Complete your best work, within the scope of the project, and nothing more. If you don't have [good contracts](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-contract-protect-yourself/) in place, make that a priority. Make sure the agreement clearly outlines the scope of what you'll do (and, in some cases, what you won't do). If clients ask you to do something additional, you can point back to the agreement and say, "This wasn't included, but I'm happy to do that for $XX additional dollars and it will take YY amount of additional time." Don't rush to complete the work in the same timeframe, or you'll break your shorter workweek boundaries. Use a scheduling app (like Calendly or TidyCal) to put additional guardrails around your work. Because I work in blocks of time, I can't have a ton of interruptions. My Calendly link reflects the times that work best for me, rather allowing people to schedule any time I'm technically "available." You should also set boundaries around your response time, so that you don't feel pressure to respond to clients immediately or outside of your working hours. My email signature says: *"I work asynchronously, so my working hours may not be the same as yours. Please do not respond outside of your working hours, and I'll do the same."* ### 4\. Benefit from buffer time If your schedule is full to the brim with client work (or you're overbooked), it's hard to adjust when something comes up, which it invariably will. You can have the best [project management system](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/) in the world, and something might still take longer than you thought. Or you get sick or have an emergency come up in your life. With shorter weeks, you're not thrown off as much by the unexpected. While I try really hard not to work on Fridays, it's also my "catch-up" day if something happens throughout the week that throws off my schedule. At the same time, I really enjoy not working on Fridays — so that prevents me from abusing my own system. I try not to let work spill into Fridays, but if it does, it [keeps me from falling behind](https://blog.annabyang.com/tips-to-avoid-missing-client-deadlines/). ### 5\. Price your work accordingly Of course, working a shorter week is only possible if your pricing supports it. The first things you should examine are efficient use of your time, preventing scope creep, and setting boundaries with clients. If you're already doing all of those things and still feel like you can't work less, consider your pricing. Can you raise your rates a bit with your existing clients — or at least raise rates with any new clients? Higher rates allow you to work less and still earn the same amount. If you're currently charging clients by the hour, shift to project-based pricing. People with more experience can work faster, but that doesn't mean the output is worth less to the client. Start by charging exactly the same as you do now, but as a flat rate instead of an hourly rate. Finally, keep in mind that people [working in the corporate world](https://blog.annabyang.com/transition-from-corporate-to-freelance-life/) routinely get annual raises or cost of living adjustments. Personally, I'm not a fan of raising rates with existing clients, but I routinely increase the rates I present to new clients. You're worth more with additional experience and a better portfolio, and your pricing should reflect that. #### Your shorter workweek checklist ✅ - Define your ideal working hours and days - Sign up for one recurring activity during traditional work hours - Update your Calendly/scheduling tool to reflect your boundaries - Add an email signature noting your asynchronous work style - Review existing contracts for scope creep protection - Calculate if your current pricing supports fewer hours - Block out one full day per week as your non-client day - Set up time blocking for your remaining work days ## Design a schedule that works for you One of the best parts of running a solo business is having the freedom to design your own schedule. You don't need to default to a traditional 40-hour workweek just because that's what everyone else does (including other solopreneurs). Working fewer hours doesn't mean you're less successful or less committed to your business. It means you're working smarter, protecting your time, and building a [sustainable business](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/) that doesn't lead to burnout. Your shorter workweek is possible. You just need to be intentional about making it happen. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/12/ebook-pricing-services.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Freelance pricing is hard to figure out,* **so I’ve created a free resource for fellow writers.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## FAQs #### How many hours should solopreneurs work per week? There's no magic number, but many successful solopreneurs work 30-40 hours per week, with high earners often working closer to 20-30 billable hours. The key is finding a schedule that allows you to meet your financial goals without burning out. #### ****What's the best schedule for solopreneurs?** The best schedule is one that matches when ****you** feel most productive and energized. Follow your body's natural rhythm, whether that's traditional 9-5 hours, early mornings, or late nights, #### ****How do I work fewer hours without losing income?** Focus on efficient time management, prevent scope creep with clear contracts, and raise your rates to make up for fewer billable hours. Shift from hourly to project-based pricing so your income reflects the value you provide, not just time spent. #### ****Can freelancers have a 4-day workweek?** Absolutely. I work a 4-day week myself, keeping Fridays free for personal projects and errands. Start by blocking out one day per week for non-client work and structure your remaining days with focused time blocks. #### How do I prevent clients from taking up too much time? Use clear contracts that define project scope, set boundaries around your response time in your email signature, and use scheduling tools to control when meetings can happen. If clients request additional work beyond the original scope, let them know that the extra work will cost more and provide them with a quote. ### A Solopreneur's Guide to a Holiday Season on Your Terms URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-holiday-workload/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:35:58.000Z Most solopreneurs I know feel like they work a *lot* of hours or don't have good boundaries. They'll work in the evenings or on weekends — anything to make clients happy or get their business off the ground. While I'm not a big fan of hustle culture, I get it: you do what's necessary to keep your business afloat. The holiday season (late November through the start of the new year) is a different story for many reasons. You may want to take time off to spend with friends or family *and* you need to set proper expectations with clients. Our minds may be elsewhere, but that doesn't mean our clients or our businesses are elsewhere. The last thing you want is to get into a situation where you're forced to do client work when you'd rather be celebrating. Here are a few things to think about as you approach the holiday season: how you can feel less anxious and how you can prep each year. ## Decide in advance how much time you'll take off If you plan to take time off, it shouldn't be a last-minute decision. Decide on your last working day of the year and start communicating to your clients — early and often. I stop working around December 20th every year and don't resume until after January 1\. This was my schedule long before I became a solopreneur: I have kids, and they have winter break from school. It's nearly impossible to get anything done with them at home. Once I became self-employed, I had to figure out how to maintain my desired holiday schedule while still meeting client expectations. I start communicating my availability around late November (before U.S. Thanksgiving). Because I end up not working for around 1/3 of December, I need to make sure my clients know I won't be available during that time. This *typically* ends up kicking client work into high gear for several weeks, because clients [want to complete projects](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/) before I'm unavailable. Sometimes I feel like I'm limping over the finish line, but it usually adds to my December income (which I'll talk about later). If you're delivering work for clients, you may need to build in some time for feedback before your holiday break. For example, I'm a freelance writer. If I deliver something on my last working day of the year, clients don't have time to review it and request revisions. I have to let clients know the last day that I'll deliver any **new work** and the last day I'm working overall. In addition to taking time off, think about your response time during the holidays. Will you still check your email, or will you wait until you return to respond? I'll typically set an auto-responder that my response time will be delayed until January 2, but I'll keep an eye on email. If something urgent comes in (like a prospective client), I'll reply and acknowledge that I received the email and let the person know that we can connect in January. ## Budget for your holiday break Many solopreneurs face the same situation I face: if you don't deliver any work, you don't get paid. This can add financial stress to the holiday season because you feel like you can't afford to take time off. I usually have really busy weeks leading up to my holiday break, but it's not enough to offset the reduced income for two or two-and-a-half weeks at the end of the year. Ideally, you want to be in a situation where you don't feel pressured to work. If you're able to, set aside money every month in a [separate savings account](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-vacation-savings-plan/). During the holidays, or whenever you take time off, pull money from that savings account so you can "pay yourself" and don't feel any sting from reduced income that month. You should also plan for the time it takes to "ramp up" once you return after your holiday break. When I resume client work in January, it takes a bit for my clients to have work ready for me. They're usually returning from their own holiday breaks or consumed with year-end reviews and reporting. I don't know that this would necessarily change if I worked throughout the entire month of December, but I have to be prepared for a lag in January. If that's the case for your business, you could take the time to reflect on your own year, plan for the upcoming year, or do some internal/admin work. That way, you can keep your business moving, even if you are slow with client work. ## Reach out to your clients Every year, I send a holiday email to my current clients. I thank them for their business and share anything I've been up to outside of their working relationship with me. Sending a holiday email is a simple way to stay connected with your clients and remind them that there's a human on the other side of the invoice. You could also include past clients that you wouldn't mind working with again, to remind them that you were a great asset to their business. Sometimes, clients may simply not have the budget to work with you, or you lost your internal contact with a company. If the relationship didn't end on bad terms, so it's worth including the past client in your holiday email. I [maintain an email list](https://blog.annabyang.com/create-and-maintain-client-email-list/) throughout the year, so it's easy for me to send an email to my clients in early December. ## Holiday marketing If you sell digital products, courses, or coaching, the holidays are a great time to market those products and earn a bit of extra money. People are used to Black Friday deals, so you can offer a discount to draw in new customers. Keep in mind that holiday marketing takes some planning. You'll need to schedule some social posts and an email campaign to go out, which might include graphics or videos you'll need to create. You'll want to schedule them over several weeks, depending on your offer. If you need some inspiration, The Consistency Corner has a [holiday marketing planner](https://www.theconsistencycorner.com/holiday-content-planner?ref=blog.annabyang.com). You'll also want to market anything you plan to launch in **January** — especially if it means collecting money in November and December. A business coach I know created a workshop for freelancers looking for help as they set goals for the year. She created content around year-end reviews and goal-setting that she published throughout December, driving her audience to sign up for her workshop. [Even Solo Creators Need a Marketing PlanDon’t overlook opportunities to promote yourself.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-12.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/1-yojrxd3tukq2xuxisxfvmw-2.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/even-creators-need-a-marketing-plan/) ## Remove the guilt Ultimately, *you* know best how you want to work throughout the holidays. Maybe you only take a step back. Maybe you fully unplug and don't look at your email again until January. Whatever you do, commit to the boundaries you set. Otherwise, you might feel guilty if you reply to a client's last-minute emergency on December 23rd. Give yourself permission to do what's best for you and your business, and [don't apologize for the decisions](https://blog.annabyang.com/dont-apologize-for-your-business-decisions/) you make. --- *Need to review the health of your business? Check out my* [*quarterly planning checklist*](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for solopreneurs.* ### Solopreneur Tech Support: How to Manage on Your Own URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-tech-support/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:36:07.000Z I'd venture to guess that *most* solopreneurs are not technical experts. You know the basics of technology — and certainly the tools you need to get work done for clients! — but other things are unfamiliar. This can get tricky when you have to be your own "tech support" for your solo business (unless you pay someone to help you). Computer won't connect to your new microphone? Website certificate error? App integrations won't work? It's all on you to figure out. Google can help, but it doesn't always provide the answers you need. The worst is when you run into something unexpected that's impacting your business, and now you're spending hours (or days) trying to fix it. I'm lucky to come from a tech(ish) background; I worked at a tech company for more than 15 years before I became a writer. While you can't prevent every problem, there are a few tech-related things you can do to keep your business running smoothly. ## Protect your accounts from hackers There are a ton of bad actors in the world and, at some point, somebody will try to [hack your accounts](https://blog.annabyang.com/prepare-for-worst-case-scenarios/). It's happened to me several times, most memorably repeated attempts to access my LinkedIn and Instagram profiles. Those hacking attempts were only thwarted by two-factor authentication. I got emails saying, "Is this you trying to log in?" It was unnerving, but I knew without either an authenticator code or SMS text code, the person would not be able to get into my accounts. Eventually, they gave up. You should protect your business with two-factor authentication (2FA), and the strongest 2FA possible (an authenticator app, if that's an option). Yes, it's an annoying extra step when you're logging in from a new device or location, but it's worth it. You don't want someone hijacking your social profiles or, worse, any client information stored in your Google account or in apps you use. If you use an authenticator app, you should download any backup codes and store them in a safe place, in case you need to use them to regain access to your account. ## Use strong passwords and a password manager Hopefully, you abandoned "password123" a long time ago, but many people still use insecure passwords or re-use passwords across multiple apps. If you were working for a company, an IT administrator would (or, at least, should) require you to use a strong password. As solopreneurs, we have to set our own guidelines — and that should include complex passwords. Microsoft [defines](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-and-use-strong-passwords-c5cebb49-8c53-4f5e-2bc4-fe357ca048eb?ref=blog.annabyang.com) a strong password as: - At least 12 characters long - A combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols - Not containing any common words (like those in a dictionary or names) - Significantly different from your previous passwords Remembering unique passwords for every website would be nearly impossible, so I use a password manager. [LastPass](https://www.lastpass.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and [1Password](https://1password.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) are both good options to generate and store strong passwords. I use LastPass, and it has a Chrome extension which will log me into a website based on the password saved in my vault, and also works on iPhones and Android phones. I can also securely share passwords with other people, like my virtual assistant: she can use the passwords, but can't see them. ## Backup your files and data Whether you're storing your files and data in the cloud or on a device, you should think about backups and consider dual backups. Dual backups mean you're storing all information in two places: on a local device *and* in the cloud. Think of it this way: if your computer is damaged in some way, your online files would be safe. And if your online account were compromised or you can't access the internet, you'd have copies of the files on your computer. You need both to ensure that you're 100% protected. I store everything related to my business in Google Drive and also have backups to an external hard drive. Here's how to set this up: 1. Use [Google Drive for Desktop](https://support.google.com/drive/answer/10838124?hl=en&ref=blog.annabyang.com) to sync files to your local computer (Mac or Windows) 2. If you're a Windows user, [this article](https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-11-how-to-create-backup-on-external-hard/6b5adafc-6583-48da-9440-0c1cfc5328e0?ref=blog.annabyang.com) explains how to set up a regular backup to an external drive 3. If you're a Mac user, you can use [Time Machine](https://support.apple.com/en-us/104984?ref=blog.annabyang.com) Your backup process should just run in the background. While many automated backup processes will send you error messages if they fail to run, you should also check your files occasionally to ensure your backups are working. If you store your files locally and want to back them up to the cloud, Windows OneDrive and Apple iCloud can automatically sync your local files and cloud files. **Tip:** Pay for the cloud storage you need to fully back up your files. It isn't worth your time to delete old files or sort through them. ## Control access to your files and apps There are two things different types of people who might need access to your files or apps you use: clients and people who work with you (like a [virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) or bookkeeper). For each **client**, I [create a specific folder](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/client-folders-google-drive/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) in my Google Drive. All files in the client's folder are shared with the client. I do all of my work in an *unshared* folder and copy it over. That way, it's really clear to me which files are shared and which files aren't. Once a client engagement has ended, I revoke access to my Google Drive. I'm not a file storage system, so I don't want any responsibility for maintaining client files once the engagement is over. This language is actually written into my contract: clients are responsible for maintaining copies of anything I share. You'll want to think about the same for any other apps or tools you grant access to, such as a project management tool you may use to collaborate with clients. For **contractors** or people who work with me, I think about the risks of providing access to different apps or tools I use. Earlier this year, I worked with a designer on updating my brand. I securely shared the credentials to my Canva account, because that was the easiest way to collaborate (and then revoked access after we were done working together). But my virtual assistant has a separate login and password for some of my tools like [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and Buffer. I want to control what she has access to and what she can add/edit. My VA also has a separate email address and password within my Google Workspace. Providing access to your account using your username and password depends on the type of app or project. How mission-critical is the information, if the person really screwed something up (either intentionally or unintentionally)? If it's critical business information, you'll want to pay for a separate seat in the app or tool — even with the added expense for your business. It's not worth the risk. ## Budget for technical purchases IT departments at companies budget for technical purchases — everything from hardware to the apps they use. We all know computers don't live forever, or you may need to upgrade to other hardware (like a new webcam) as your business grows. For example, I'm a frequent [podcast guest](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/), so I've slowly invested in better hardware to improve the quality of recordings. If you can, set aside money for larger technical purchases. If your computer died today, would you be prepared to buy a new one tomorrow? It's less catastrophic if you can set aside a small amount of money each month for a larger purchase, like a new computer. You should also factor software into your budget, and plan to increase your budget for apps and tools over time. You may want to keep a tight budget in the beginning, but as your business grows you'll be more willing to [invest in tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/evaluate-solopreneur-tech-stack/) that save your time or make your work easier. Think of a threshold, like "When I get to X monthly income, I'll be willing to invest Y additional amount in this tool that will help my business." ## Keep up with trends Sometimes "technical things" change, even in a solopreneur's world. For example, Google introduced [new rules in 2024](https://blog.google/products/gmail/gmail-security-authentication-spam-protection/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) regarding bulk email sends, which would solopreneurs with larger email lists. If you don't follow Google's requirements for authentication, you could end up in the spam folder. You have to stay current on any technical changes that might impact your ability to do business, whether they're requirements from a company like Google or changes in the pricing of a tool you're currently using. You might be forced to make changes to comply with new requirements or move to an alternative. As a solo business, being your own tech support can be hard — especially if you're not tech-savvy. Most of the time, you don't need to act immediately. Set aside time to work on the technical side of your business, whether it's exploring a new tool or figuring out an internal process. Technology will always need your attention, just like your sales, marketing, project management, and every other hat a solopreneur wears. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ### How a Virtual Assistant Can Help Your Solo Business URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:36:38.000Z As your solo business grows and becomes more complex, you might feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you need to do. Some of the work relies on your expertise and skillset, while other work is tedious or repetitive. Just because you’re a solopreneur doesn’t mean you need to work completely alone. Hiring a virtual assistant can ease your workload — and often a natural step for solopreneurs as they grow. You can offload tasks that either free up your time for more high-value projects, or simply reduce the number of hours you work. I hired a virtual assistant earlier this year, and her assistance has completely changed what I focus on each week. But [hiring a VA](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-hire-fractional-support/) can also feel intimidating if you don’t know how to get started. You need to set your VA up for success; otherwise, you’ll feel like you’re spending too much time managing the person (which doesn’t help your bandwidth). Here’s how to go about finding the right VA for your business. ## What tasks are a good fit for a VA? If you start your VA search knowing you need help, but not knowing *exactly* what you want your VA to do, you won’t be able to identify a good fit. Start by listing everything you think a VA could help with. Then, narrow down to those that have a very clear Point-A-to-Point-B process. At least in the beginning, repetitive tasks are best so you can explain your process to your VA and then hand over the task entirely. If the task involves too much decision-making, your virtual assistant might be constantly pinging you and asking questions. If you have to provide a lot of oversight to your VA, it won’t necessarily free up your time (and may even end up feeling like *more* work). A good VA should be able to follow a process, especially if you can outline the steps clearly. Over time, your VA may be able to take on additional work as they learn your business, but start with basic tasks. Some good tasks for virtual assistants include: - Data entry in tools or systems you use - Administrative work, such as organizing files - Email management, such as prioritizing your inbox - Calendar management, such as scheduling meetings - Social media management, such as scheduling posts For example, I keep track of every blog post I publish in Airtable. Newly published posts are automatically added to Airtable (via [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*), but some of the information I keep track of needs a human touch. My VA helps me manage my content library, which is important for my business but was hard for me to keep up with on my own. ## What skills does your VA need? Once you know the tasks you’d like your VA to do, you can identify the skills and experience you need your VA to have. When I first started looking for a VA, I knew I wanted someone who was familiar with the tools I use (Airtable, Trello, Buffer, and Canva). I didn’t want to spend my time teaching the VA how to use the tools — I wanted the person to dive right into the tasks themselves. Knowing that you need a VA to help with social media management, email management, or other tasks will help you narrow your search. If you look for a VA on a [platform like Fiverr](https://go.fiverr.com/visit/?bta=1053489&brand=fp&landingPage=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.fiverr.com%252Fcategories%252Fbusiness%252Fvirtual-assistant-services%253Fsource%253Dvertical-buckets&ref=blog.annabyang.com), you can review a VA’s profile and their experiences, or use [Fiverr Pro](https://pro.fiverr.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to help you with talent sourcing and project management. You can also look at reviews from other people who have used that VA for tasks that are similar to yours. As you start considering your options, you’ll also need to think about whether you’ll want to pay on an [hourly basis](https://pro.fiverr.com/cp/hourly-clients?utm%5Fsource=external%5Flanding%5Fpage&utm%5Fmedium=cta7&utm%5Fcampaign=202407%5Frelease) or per project. When using a VA platform like Fiverr, you should use filters to find a VA that matches your specific needs: ![Screenshot from Fiverr](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXf0pOkr0aXoT4dqBamsQdo5HCSd1MUUiSy4So3m1Tu2zDpxKLcr0LnuFD-ENndgE7UZHiNkOTczfcefwiqc0fzfVwGDkqLjpUXTemoaMAdF7EOA3FaGo9zK5fGqdsc3B1YM3ewNL94OiaP7RxgjNH-NJlY?key=PEIPbix08M3wgf0TAu7WYw) The more familiar a VA is with the tools you use and the type of work you want, the more efficient they’ll be. I knew when I hired my VA that she wouldn’t be as fast as me in the beginning — while she was still learning — but eventually, I expected her to be able to complete work quickly. I rarely have to explain how to do something in a tool (like Canva) because she’s used the tool before. ## How will you communicate with your VA? The type of work you expect your VA to do will often drive your communication. Specifically, you have to think about synchronous versus asynchronous work. If you need to communicate with your VA in real-time or need immediate responses, you’ll need to find a VA who is either in a similar time zone or willing to work at the same hours you work. If real-time communication isn’t important, then neither is time zone. The work my VA does is never mission-critical, so her working hours don’t matter. Sometimes, we overlap when we’re working, but I’ve told her that I never expect an immediate response from her and vice versa. In the beginning — and every time I give my VA a new task — I record a video showing her how to complete the task and provide her with written [standard operating procedures](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/) she can reference. That way, the expectations are clear. ## Find a virtual assistant who can grow with you While it’s a good idea to have your VA do very linear tasks in the beginning, eventually, you may want your virtual assistant to help with tasks that require more decision-making or give your VA more responsibility. This happens the longer you work with your VA, and the more you build trust in the relationship. I give my VA a lot of one-off projects because she now knows how I work and how I explain my processes. So she can take on new things without much direction. As you search for a VA that matches your needs, consider what you *might* want the VA to do in the future. You don’t want to get into a situation where you feel like you’ve maxed out your VA’s capabilities. Think about your immediate needs and potential future needs so you can hire a VA with the right skill set. --- 💡 **This article was produced in collaboration with* [**Fiverr*](https://www.fiverr.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)**, a whole world of freelance talent in a single platform.* ### What Makes a Freelance Business Sustainable? URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/ Last updated: 2026-03-15T12:01:09.000Z Feast or famine. Bad projects. Overwork, too many hours, no balance. Inability to say no. Sound familiar? As freelancers, we know what makes a freelance business unsustainable. You feel like you're constantly working and catering to clients' whims (which is not sustainable for any business model). It's the opposite of what you signed up for, which was freedom from the confines of a 9-5 job. Freedom from a boss telling you what to do. Freedom to choose the type of work you want. However, many freelancers feel trapped in unsustainable, low-paying work. What does the opposite of that look like? What makes a freelance business not only stable, but also sustainable? Sometimes, we're limited by not knowing what's possible. A lot of freelancers have been struggling, especially with the [rise of AI](https://blog.annabyang.com/protect-writing-business-in-ai-world/). However, some freelancers (myself included) have emerged with sustainable businesses. There are a few things you can do to build a solid foundation for your own business. ## Charging a sustainable rate A big barrier to freelance sustainability is low pay. You earn so little per project that you have to do a *ton* of work to meet your income needs. When I first started freelance writing I was paid an abysmal rate. I had no business strategy because I was working for an agency, and no idea that I could build a business on my own. I did the mental math and knew that I'd have to crank out thousands of words per day to earn the bare minimum to meet my family's needs. At the time, I had no idea that freelancers charged more — substantially more — than what I was earning. My first freelancing job (for an agency) paid $27 per 1,000 words. Now, I charge clients up to $1,250 for 1,000 words. I only knew what was possible because *other freelancers* shared their rates with me. I knew that $1/word was possible with the right clients. Many freelancers take a "throw spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks" approach to pricing. To build a sustainable freelance business, you need to understand what other freelancers are charging. You may be charging a rate that feels good to you, but other people are charging a lot more. They may have the same skills and expertise as you, but are targeting different clients — those that are willing to pay. I write for venture capital-backed tech companies with large budgets. And if you feel like you're in a good place with your pricing, pay it forward by sharing it with other freelancers. I'm in a few freelancer communities and talk with other freelancers all the time. I respond to DMs when I'm asked directly about my rates. I also talk about the evolution, because I didn't go directly from 2.7 cents per word to $1.25 per word overnight. It was an [evolution of my business](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancers-journey-to-niche-expert/) over a period of time. Transparency is how we know what we're worth to clients and what they're willing to pay. ## Predictable income After you reach a point when you feel like you're charging a good rate, the next step in business sustainability is to have a predictable income. You may charge a great rate, but if your income is still up and down, your business won't feel sustainable. You'll be stressed during the low-earning months. Predictable income happens when you have a steady stream of clients interested in you and your work (which I'll talk about in the next section). But predictable income isn't the same as consistent income. You may have a **predictable** amount of income each month — enough to cover your needs — but that doesn't mean it's **consistent** from month to month. I still have variations in my monthly income; no two months are the same. And that's one of the biggest differences between [freelancing and a full-time job](https://blog.annabyang.com/full-time-freelancer/), since you need to plan for those variations (and even [calculate what-if scenarios](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-income-calculator/)) Even though you may never have a fully consistent income, you can create predictable income by saving during high months and pulling from your savings in low months. This is pretty easy to do: 1. Open a new savings account 2. Figure out your desired monthly income (after expenses) 3. When you earn more than your monthly target, put the extra in savings 4. When you earn less than your monthly target, pull from your savings I say "target" monthly income rather than "minimum" monthly income. To a minimum is the bare minimum of what you need to pay your bills, leaving you with nothing extra (and probably still stressed). A target monthly income is a comfortable amount, similar to how you might feel if you were working a 9-5 job. [How to Choose the Right Pricing Model for Your Freelance Writing BusinessThe pros and cons of different pricing models.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-4.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/1-56xfmpndclosw6dk37wvyq-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/pricing-model-freelance-business/) ## A healthy pipeline of new clients The best way to build predictable revenue is to break the "feast or famine" cycle. Too often, freelancers only look for clients when they *need* a new client (like after losing a client). Marketing always has a delayed effect: if you announce today that you're taking on new clients, it could take weeks (or months) before you can replace the client you lost. Sometimes, freelancers get busy and put marketing on the back burner. That's the opposite of what you should do, because it can have a negative impact on your business. If you [consistently market yourself](https://blog.annabyang.com/market-your-freelance-business/) — even when you don't need new clients — you can create more interest. When you need more work, potential clients will know who you are and what you do. They don't need to familiarize themselves with you, which shortens the cycle from a discovery call to a [signed contract](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-contract-protect-yourself/). Self-promotion is almost a necessity for a sustainable freelance business. I say "almost" because I know some freelancers who have built businesses entirely on referrals or multi-year contracts. But otherwise, it's unlikely clients will find you unless you show up online. Cold pitching has limited effectiveness because people's inboxes are so noisy. And many job posts for freelancers receive hundreds of applicants, making it hard to stand out. I *hate* traditional self-promotion, which can [feel cringe-y on platforms like LinkedIn](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/). Instead, I talk more generally about content marketing-adjacent topics, mixed in with topics I care about. I also talk about how I stay organized as a freelancer, so potential clients understand what it's like to work with me. I also schedule posts, sometimes weeks in advance. That way, if I'm busy, I don't have to worry that my marketing engine has slowed. ## Unique product or service offerings There are a *lot* of freelancers in the world, so you need to give potential clients a reason to choose you over other freelancers. My area of expertise is pretty niche (financial technology), so that sets me apart from generalists. Building expertise is certainly one route to take, and can usually command higher rates. I've done a lot of work to position myself as a financial writer and demonstrate my skills through my portfolio. [Establish Credibility and Expertise as a FreelancerEarn more with niche clients![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-5.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/1-jak56hdmfhcqc_llevyknw-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/establish-freelancer-credibility-and-expertise/) Even though my expertise is unique, my services are very narrow: I only offer long-form content (blog posts, eBooks, thought leadership). I think copywriting for landing pages or emails is a very different skillset. If you *are* able to offer a variety of services, that's also attractive to some clients. They'd rather hire a single freelancer than hire multiple freelancers for different types of work. You can also offer different contract structures or innovative business models. Almost all of [my work is ad hoc](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/), or "as requested." Even though many freelancers chase retainers and their promise of predictable income, I rarely do them. Clients can hire me without a huge commitment, and that's really appealing. Since I'm working with marketing departments, they can often face abrupt budget changes or even shift their strategy and publishing cadence. Potential clients can easily say "yes" after meeting with me because they don't need to get the specific budget for a retainer approved. I can increase or decrease my output for a specific client as they need it. The trade-off is that I can't always turn work around quickly, because I schedule clients on a first-come, first-serve basis. This approach has kept my client roster consistently full. If I lose a client, it's usually a small portion of my income, rather than the potential loss of a large retainer. ## Diversified income streams I hate to say that you should have a side hustle for your freelance business, because that feels counterintuitive (especially since many freelance businesses start as a side hustle!). Why add **one more thing** when you're already self-employed? But diversified income streams can help during the lean months. For example, I create resources on Gumroad and I publish on Medium. Both of these earn money, which has increased steadily over time. If you [lose a client](https://www.workbetter.media/p/no-one-is-indispensable?ref=blog.annabyang.com), diversified income can lessen the impact or lessen the amount you need to pull from your savings account. You won't have to worry as much about fluctuating income from your primary source. Another way to build a sustainable freelance business is to find ways to rely less on *your time* to earn money. Everyone has a maximum capacity, and if you're always trading your time for money, eventually you'll max out. Even if you start charging more, you may hit a ceiling with how much clients are willing to pay. Unique product or service offerings might also get you a more diversified income. A few of my freelance friends offer coaching services to other freelancers, in addition to their primary client work. ## More freedom with sustainable business practices A sustainable business allows you to feel good about the work you do. Growth and freedom don't necessarily mean more money. You might have more free time, or you can [decline projects](https://blog.annabyang.com/reasons-to-break-up-with-clients/) that aren't a good fit for you. You might be able to [hire someone to help you](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-hire-fractional-support/) when you reach a higher income level. All of these are signs of a healthy business. You've created a sustainable freelance business when your work doesn't feel like a constant hustle. It can reflect whatever level of freedom you envisioned for yourself when you started freelancing. --- *Freelance pricing is incredibly opaque, but I’ve created a* [*free resource*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for fellow writers. It outlines my rates, how I think about pricing, and how my pricing has evolved over time.* ### How I Use Voice Apps to Capture My Ideas URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/voice-apps/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:37:00.000Z As a writer and solopreneur, my brain never really turns off. Sometimes, ideas hit me at the least opportune moments, such as when I’m driving my kids to school or cooking dinner. Never when I have a notebook nearby, poised to write something down. I’m a systems person at heart, so not only do I want to capture my ideas, but I also want them to be *organized —* at least a little bit. For me, having a running list in the Notes app on my iPhone wouldn't work. I’ve created a few ways to capture ideas with my iPhone and then send them to another app, whether it’s my to-do list, my project management tool, or my knowledge management tool. ## To-do list My to-do list is never-ending, and if something isn’t on the list, it isn’t happening. I [use Todoist](https://blog.annabyang.com/use-both-trello-and-todoist/), and it’s really easy to add items from sources such as my email or directly in the app. It doesn’t matter if it’s household, personal, or work-related — everything needs to be in Todoist (and then I have separate lists based on the type of to-do). I like to add items using voice commands so I can capture to-dos hands-free. [Todoist](https://get.todoist.io/5vaw2q1il5zr?ref=blog.annabyang.com) used to work with Alexa devices (“Alexa, add \_\_\_\_ to my to-do list), but Amazon stopped supporting the integration. I was devastated and on the hunt for a replacement. My friend [Tyler Sellhorn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-sellhorn/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) suggested I look at connecting Siri Shortcuts to [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*. By doing this, I could add items to Todoist. I’m a longtime Zapier user, but don’t rely on Siri much (even though I’ve had an iPhone for a long time). However, I followed [this simple tutorial](https://zapier.com/blog/zapier-siri-shortcuts/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to set it up, and it works like a charm. On my iPhone, I have a Shortcut set up with the command, “Hey Siri, **new item**.” Siri then prompts me, “What do you want to add?” I might say, “Schedule a dentist appointment,” or “Take the car in for an oil change.” ![Screenshot of Siri asking "What item do you want to add?"](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeuIy6_mG8ALUFSjFr_GVmb6VwKy15SWUC7gyIawjzPPACZR3Lokc9cAMwbzMhUYhTDkAlu-wpOXfYpb3lMv-vwX5J73k9_0QOL0GxFveNMQh73JEDwtbgWEnqpNMQmNR1ncWl7nN0pfvN2p8s_X5buHQmY?key=RlbygCu5uBJ4TzBGlKGFSQ) With the Siri voice command, Zapier runs in the background and adds the new to-do item to Todoist, with a due date of “tomorrow.” I do this so I don’t lose track of the to-dos: without a date, they can easily become lost in the shuffle. With a date, at least they show up on my to-do list, and then I can reassign them to an actual due date when I see them. ## Shopping list Verbally adding to-dos ensures I don’t forget the fleeting thoughts in my head. It also works well for adding items to my shopping list — except I use my Alexa devices for this. Siri is limited to my phone and computer, so while it makes sense for my use cases, it doesn’t work with an entire family involved. Our household (of five people) was an early adopter of Amazon’s Alexa devices, starting with the first generation Echo tower in 2014\. Since then, we’ve added an embarrassing number of devices all over the house for easy access to voice commands. One of our most-used commands is adding items to the shopping list (“Alexa, add \_\_\_\_\_ to my shopping list”). *Everyone* does this, and I taught my kids to add items when they were really young. Did you use the last of the ketchup? You add it to the list. *Check out more ways you can use Alexa with* [*this list of voice commands*](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/voice-commands-for-amazon-alexa/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ## Project management While Todoist is great for adding a quick task to my list, I use a more robust app (Trello) for [project management](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/). Trello helps me keep track of my client work, my social media calendar, and content I plan to publish on my blog, Substack, and newsletter. I also use Trello to keep track of longer-term business ideas, such as updating my website or creating a new resource on Gumroad. Ideas fly into my head all the time, just as easily as something for my to-do list or my shopping list. Frequent wheel-turning moments include when I’m out for a walk or right before I go to sleep (and should, in theory, be winding down). To capture my ideas, I use a Siri shortcut, but with a different voice command (“Hey Siri, **new idea**”) and a different destination (Trello). In Trello, I have a list of “Incoming” ideas that I can sort later. Using this list is a bit trickier. I keep my responses as short and precise as possible so Siri can pick up my words accurately. I also need to say enough so that I remember what I meant when I review it later. In a few cases, if I don’t review it right away, I won’t remember what I meant. In particular, this happens when I have an idea for a blog post. I’ll speak my big picture idea to Siri, but later, when I review it, I’ll have forgotten the supporting arguments or subtopics — the things that made it a good idea in the first place. But for the most part, this works well to capture things I want to dig into more later. ## Riffing on an idea It’s frustrating to know that I *had* an idea for a blog post in my head but forgot the details — even though I captured the idea through my Siri shortcut. When I want to capture more substance, I use [Cleft](https://www.cleftnotes.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I’ll talk about my idea for a few minutes, and Cleft organizes my thoughts into either a bullet-point list or sections with paragraphs. Then, I’ll copy the text (in markdown format) from Cleft to [Reflect](https://reflect.app/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), the app I use to draft my long-form content. Later, I’ll expand on the idea. [How to Write and Publish a Blog Post in 90 MinutesShorten your time from idea to publish.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-31.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-dictate-blog-post-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/dictate-blog-posts/) ## Capture, or it’s gone If it’s not written down, I won’t remember. There are simply too many things in my brain at all times. The mental load of being self-employed, having three kids, and general adulting is real. If I didn’t have a way to capture thoughts with voice commands, they wouldn’t make it onto my lists. There are simply too many situations where I’m not able to write things down. You can see the cycle play out: not able to capture the idea or to-do, not on my list, doesn’t get done. While I’ve been using voice for a long time with my Alexa devices, I’ve started leaning into it more. Technology — particularly AI — has made voice capture and voice transcription so much better. I find myself [capturing notes](https://blog.annabyang.com/best-tools-for-capturing-notes/) throughout the day, adding context to whatever I’m working on and ensuring I don’t lose a single idea that pops into my head. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ### 7 Things I Got Right About Marketing Myself as a Solo Business URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-self-promotion/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:37:38.000Z Until 2021, I'd never worked in marketing. I was a tech executive who joined The Great Resignation and quit my job, pivoting to content marketing and journalism. About 18 months later, I became a full-time freelancer. I'd done *some* marketing when I worked in tech, but it was haphazard at best and only because the company didn't want to invest in marketing efforts. By any measure, I'm new to the party, especially compared to people who have been in marketing for decades. I don't claim to have a pulse on the latest trends (especially on platforms like TikTok). But I've grown my little one-person business to an income that rivals my executive salary. It's all because I've marketed myself — and done it in a way that doesn't feel cringe. It feels good, actually, because I create content I care about. A lot of it was trusting my gut and learning from smart people who were further along in their solo journeys. Here are a few things I've done to get where I am today: a steady stream of client work that's almost entirely inbound. ### 1) Optimizing my name for SEO For the first 15 years of my career, I was known as Anna Yang. I graduated from college and started a full-time job about six weeks later — and between that time, I got married. So I've always been "Anna Yang" professionally. When I [changed careers](https://www.workbetter.media/p/the-last-straw?ref=blog.annabyang.com) in 2021, I started using "Anna Burgess Yang." Burgess is my middle name and also my maiden name. I had two main reasons for doing this. First, I was changing careers and wanted to create a "new identity" that somehow separated my past from my future. Second, I thought Anna Burgess Yang would be better for search. At the time, I only knew the basics of search engine optimization (SEO), but I knew a more unique name would make me easier to find. I also updated my LinkedIn profile. Whether you're operating under your name or a business name, you *have* to think about search. If you're using your name, consider adding your middle name or middle initial. Make sure your company name is also easy to find. Years after I decided to use Anna Burgess Yang, I listened to the podcast episode [How to Invent a GREAT Brand Name](https://podcast.creatorscience.com/alexandra-watkins-replay/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). The guest, Alexandra Watkins, has some great tips for establishing a brand name, making sure it's memorable, but also accessible. You can also run a potential name through the [Free Name Evaluation Test](https://eatmywords.com/free-name-evaluation-test/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) on the website Eat My Words. ### 2) Building a presence on LinkedIn When I first started posting regularly on LinkedIn, I had no specific goal. I'd just quit my tech job and wanted to share updates with my network. It was almost like a more frequent version of the "life updates" you might get in an annual Christmas card. I'd formed some really good relationships with people in my prior career and wanted to stay connected. Eventually, my weekly posts became twice a week, because people started commenting back and I genuinely enjoyed engaging with them. I noticed that other people were building personal brands — even people who had a full-time employer, like I did at the time. I had an *inkling* that I might become self-employed someday, and I knew a social media presence could contribute to success. At worst, an online presence would enhance any career moves I made from one company to another. I worked my way up to publishing daily on LinkedIn and now post twice per day. I have systems in place to make this easier. Most of my posts start as comments on *other people's* posts. I harvest those comments (using an app called Readwise) and then later expand on them, turning them into my own posts. That way, I'm not staring at a blank screen when I sit down to batch create my posts. [Self-Promotion on LinkedIn Without the CringeCut through the noise with these simple tips.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/10/annabyang-logo-light-orange.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w1200/2024/10/annabyang-linkedin-less-cringe.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/) ### 3) Networking As a solo business, your network is *everything*. People know you, refer you, and bring your name up in conversations. You want people to think of you when you're not in the room. Even before I went out on my own, I knew that my network would be critical for my career. I joined several Slack communities and engaged with people there, which paid off with some initial freelance work and LinkedIn connections. I use an app to keep track of interactions with people (also known as a [personal CRM](https://blog.annabyang.com/system-to-maintain-relationships/)). If you're time-constrained, [be strategic about your networking](https://www.workbetter.media/p/building-a-professional-network-without?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Focus on networking with people who can help grow your freelance business or potential clients. One boundary I've had to set is limiting the number of coffee chats I have with people. I get requests constantly, and at first I would schedule them because it seemed like a good way to network. However, I quickly realized that the coffee chats almost never benefitted me and cost me time. I want to stay connected to people who take the time to reach out, so I'll usually reply: *"Thanks for reaching out! As a self-employed person, I have to be really protective of my time, so I only meet with potential clients. Happy to answer a question via DM though!"* I'll make an exception if the person has a large network themselves, and it would be good for me to stay on their radar. ### 4) Appearing as a Guest on Podcasts As I learned more about SEO, I knew that I could build my website's domain authority with quality backlinks. So I started appearing as a guest on podcasts. I'm comfortable talking, I don't need to prep much, and it usually results in a backlink from the host's main podcast page. It also provides additional content for me to share on my social profiles. Podcasts are inherently self-promotional but don't have to feel sales-y. You can talk about yourself and your work in a way that builds awareness for yourself and your company. When the episode is shared, you've reached a new audience (the host's audience) that you may not have had access to otherwise. [How to Use Podcast Guest Appearances to Market YourselfHere’s what you need to know.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/10/annabyang-logo-light-orange.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w1200/2024/10/annabyang-podcast-guest.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/) ### 5) Creating a lead magnet Plenty of solo businesses *only* do client work, and that's fine. Personally, I like diversified income because it de-risks my client relationships. So I also create resources for fellow freelance writers and solopreneurs. I talk about these resources on social media, and any smart marketer will tell you that you should find a way to capture people's email addresses. Social platforms will come and go (just [look at Twitter](https://blog.annabyang.com/the-downfall-of-twitter-the-rise-of-threads/)) and your audience could disappear overnight. You need a way to get in touch with people and land in their inboxes. The easiest way to do this is with a lead magnet. The lead magnets I have created have driven more than 1,000 people to my email list. Initially, I made some mistakes, like putting my first resource out into the world without much thought about how to drive traffic to it. However, writing on Medium has become a huge distribution channel for me. - I publish an article on my blog and cross-post to Medium with a canonical URL - I include the lead magnet as a call-to-action at the end of my Medium posts - The lead magnet is hosted on Gumroad, which captures the person's email address - Gumroad is integrated with [Kit](https://partners.kit.com/f9fp6buqnnz1?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (formerly ConverKit) *\[affiliate link\]*, which allows me to segment the audience I originally worked with fellow freelancer to build my lead magnet, which was incredibly helpful. Together, we worked through the following steps: 1. Identifying a topic that my audience (fellow solopreneurs) would find compelling 2. Designing the lead magnet (an eBook) in Canva 3. Building a landing page 4. Crafting an email welcome sequence for people who download the resource I've since modified my lead magnet — the design, the landing page, and the emails — but these steps gave me a solid foundation in the beginning. ### 6) Investing in design About 1.5 years after I became a full-time freelancer, I invested in design. I'd reached the limits of what I could create in Canva. Working with a professional designer is A Very Big Project, but I'm 1000% glad I did it. Design gives me more credibility and consistency. I can always tell when someone is winging it with generic design templates and I didn't want that for myself. Investing in design elevated my brand. If you're thinking about working with a designer, here are some things to keep in mind: - You have to be super clear about who you are and the clients you serve since design is about attracting the right audience - Make a [list of your current assets](https://blog.annabyang.com/organize-freelance-brand-assets/), such as your website, social profiles, social graphics, presentation files, etc. so your designer can properly scope the project Additionally, working with a designer is time-consuming. More than likely, you'll need to update your assets yourself with your new brand files. I had to roll mine out slowly over a few weeks simply because I didn't have the bandwidth to update everything at once. ### 7) Publishing Consistent, Good Content Every week, I publish long-form content (my blog and Substack) and social posts. I follow SEO best practices (though I still mostly write about topics I care about rather than chasing keywords) and my content is starting to rank organically. Long-form content pays off as it can be repurposed in other formats, such as [LinkedIn carousels](https://blog.annabyang.com/steps-to-create-linkedin-carousels/). While I don't think a high volume is necessary — I'm a writer, so this comes naturally for me — [showing up consistently *is* necessary](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/my-work-in-the-world/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for marketing yourself and your business. The worst time to market yourself is when you **need** clients, because marketing efforts take a long time to pay off. Better to build the muscle now, so it becomes part of your weekly routine. As a solopreneur, you have to be a little bit of everything: sales, accounting, project management, and marketing. Marketing yourself doesn't have to feel like a chore if you set aside a small amount of time to market yourself each week. And as a note: I'm rarely self-promotional with my content. I [show up on platforms](https://blog.annabyang.com/omnipresent-social-media-strategy/) talking about my expertise in a few different areas. This has been effective because people find me and either follow me (audience) or reach out (clients). They know who I am and get a sense of the work I do based on talking consistently about a few themes. ### I never expected miracles. I want to build a sustainable freelance business. Through my marketing efforts, I've seen consistent growth in my revenue and audience. It takes time, but I know I'll outlast many who give up too soon. You also never know what will happen. Back in 2022, one of my LinkedIn posts went viral and hit almost 4 million views, leading to a huge increase in my audience and a lot of inbound work. So even though I didn't expect this to happen, it did. Every time you publish something online, you have a *chance* that it could go viral. It's like playing the lottery, over and over again. Virality aside, you should create systems (such as a content calendar and templates) you can use when marketing yourself. Repeatable processes will make your efforts easier. Start by setting aside a small amount of time per week (an hour) to focus on marketing using whatever tactics you choose. Consistency will pay off. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ### I Publish on Substack, Ghost, and Kit. Here's Why. URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/publish-substack-ghost-kit/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:16:58.000Z When I tell people that I publish on three different platforms, they often look at me like I'm nuts. I create content weekly on Substack, have a bi-weekly newsletter on [Kit](https://kit.com/?utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=annaburgessyang7511&utm%5Fsource%5Fplatform=partnerstack&pscd=partners.kit.com&ps%5Fpartner%5Fkey=YW5uYWJ1cmdlc3N5YW5nNzUxMQ&ref=blog.annabyang.com&ps%5Fxid=GyQjyFHiK07Js5&gsxid=GyQjyFHiK07Js5&gspk=YW5uYWJ1cmdlc3N5YW5nNzUxMQ) (formerly ConvertKit), and publish regularly on my blog, which is hosted by Ghost. Blog content is then cross-posted to [Medium](https://annabyang.medium.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I'm a writer, so creating content is a natural part of "showing up online." I have very specific reasons that I publish on three different platforms. Maintaining three platforms is undoubtedly more work than choosing a single solution. But I've mastered the art of self-promotion, I can reach distinct, yet overlapping, audiences by using three different platforms. I've created loops of cross-referencing my own published work to bring more people into my content ecosystem. And because I have great systems and automation set up, it doesn't feel like an overwhelming chore. Here's why I've opted to use Substack, Kit, and Ghost/Medium simultaneously — and how I've created integrations between them. ## Substack: The OG **Content type: Journalism-style, opinionated content with a subscription option** I [started writing on Substack](https://www.workbetter.media/p/the-great-resignation?ref=blog.annabyang.com) back in October 2021\. A post I wrote about remote work went viral on LinkedIn, getting about 4 million views. When it happened, I *really* wished I had an existing newsletter or something because, suddenly, I had thousands of new followers and profile views. It was a huge missed opportunity. Alas. After things calmed down (going viral like that is overwhelming), I started a Substack. I was familiar with the platform from reading articles published by other people. There are a few big benefits: - You can add a custom domain for a one-time fee of $50 (I did this). - There is no monthly cost, unlike a traditional website. However, if you start to monetize, Substack takes a 10% cut. - Discoverability is good. I recommend the Substacks of people I like; they recommend me, and we can cross-promote each other. - You can collaborate with other people on Substack, like inviting them to write a guest post or share posts. - Substack auto-generates square and vertical images to share on social profiles. - Substack has other features like podcasting, but I don't use these right now. A lot of Substacks have a journalistic vibe, which is what I was going for. While I started with content about remote work, eventually, I started writing about corporate culture and why work sucks. Without knowing it at the time, I was laying the foundation for future customers: freelancers and solopreneurs. I create resources for this audience, like digital products. My Substack audience *might* someday become paying customers, and I'm mindful of this, so I will link to relevant content outside of Substack. ## Ghost: The traditional blog **Content type: Informational, how-to content; cross-posted to Medium** Years ago, I [started a blog](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/loss/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) on WordPress. Eventually, I became frustrated by that platform. It felt like a dinosaur compared to more responsive sites. I didn't have the skills to do a bunch of customization on my own, so I started searching for alternatives. I migrated my website from WordPress to Ghost. Later, I [created a second blog](https://blog.annabyang.com/) on Ghost. And a [third blog](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (because apparently, I don't know when to quit when it comes to writing...) For me, Ghost is more like a traditional website than Substack. Right now, I'm using Ghost primarily for blogging, but eventually I plan to set up a full-blown homepage with different menus and sections. I just haven't hit that point yet since I'd probably need to have a website developer help me create something custom. What I like about Ghost: - Blog posts are emailed to website subscribers (with the option to monetize) - You pay for hosting the website, but Ghost doesn't take a cut of your subscription revenue - Very clean and easy to use, much better than WordPress I publish blog posts on Ghost and articles on Substack. It feels nuanced to say this, but I think it has a lot to do with style and tone. Substack feels more like journalism, often sprinkled with my opinion. Ghost feels more like a traditional helpful and informative for the reader. My Ghost content is aimed at my primary audience of freelancers and solopreneurs. I cross-publish the content to Medium, so I benefit in a few ways. On Ghost, I can take advantage of search engine optimization, and lately I've been seeing an uptick in traffic as some of my content has started to rank organically. Medium, which sits behind a paywall, has the distribution advantage. I'm in many publications and have thousands of followers. I can add the canonical link from Ghost to Medium, essentially getting double benefit for a single published piece. Medium makes it really easy to import content from another platform, which I appreciate. I have to admit, I'm not thrilled about Substack's [approach to content moderation](https://www.platformer.news/substack-says-it-will-remove-nazi/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (or lack thereof). I thought about moving Substack to Ghost, but as a one-person operation, that's not feasible right now. It would take time and cost money because of how Ghost's pricing structure is different than Substack's. I'd also lose the discoverability of Substack. Ghost has "recommendations" also, but the feature is fairly new (at the time I'm writing this) and I haven't benefitted from it in any way. ## Kit (formerly ConvertKit): The newsletter **Content type: Bi-weekly newsletter with tips and tricks, and links to blogs and Substack** At some point in 2022, I decided that I [needed a newsletter](https://newsletter.annabyang.com/profile?ref=blog.annabyang.com): a very different style than the long-form content I write on Substack and Ghost. My newsletter is short: in each issue, I share a reflection, a tip, and a product or tool. [Kit](https://partners.kit.com/f9fp6buqnnz1?ref=blog.annabyang.com)'s main selling point is the behind-the-scenes automation. I have all types of funnels set up — including welcome sequences for Substack and Ghost. All of my email subscribers, from all platforms, converge in Kit, though I'm very careful to only send my newsletter to people who are actually expecting that content. Read more: How to send subscribers from Substack to Kit What I like about Kit: - Automation, automation, automation. - Email sequences - Landing pages - Really good analytics (much better than Substack and Ghost) - Audience segmentation Some things I can do with Kit, like sending emails based on audience groups or tags, simply aren't possible with Substack or Ghost. But, Kit isn't a blogging platform. I have a Creator Profile, but it's much different than a website home page. [How to Produce Content Consistently as a SolopreneurProcesses are key.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/10/annabyang-logo-light-orange.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w1200/2024/09/annabyang-content-production-solopreneurs.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-production-solopreneur/) ## How my content ecosystem works I'm mindful that people reading my content have distinct expectations, so I want to give them what they expect while also leading them to other content (if they choose). Here's how it works: 1. I publish to my blog (Ghost) and cross-post to Medium. Each post has a relevant CTA at the bottom, inviting the reader to download one of my free resources on Gumroad. 2. Gumroad is directly integrated with Kit, so the people who downloaded are added to my email newsletter. 3. My email newsletter in Kit includes links to recently published content, such as Substack and my blog posts. 4. I interview people for my Substack, which gets me in front of someone else's audience when it is shared. 5. Blog posts and Substack will have internal links to each other. 6. I [use Zapier to add subscribers' email addresses](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/automatically-add-substack-subscribers-to-kit/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) from Substack and my blog to Kit. I do **not** add these people to my newsletter — I only have the email addresses added for a special announcement. 7. On social platforms, I'll talk about work culture (Substack audience), solopreneur/freelance life (Ghost audience), and tips and tricks (newsletter audience). I share the published content across social platforms also. 8. I have a [landing page](https://start.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (built with Kit) that links to all content. Here are a few things I know about my audience: - People in my Sustack audience *might* quit their corporate jobs one day. In which case, my solopreneur audience is relevant. - People who subscribe to my newsletter *might* be solopreneurs, but they might not be — the content is relevant to anyone looking for tips/tricks. This has the largest appeal. - My most-consumed content is aimed at freelancers and solopreneurs. My blog — which contains most of this content — can easily be [repurposed into other formats](https://blog.annabyang.com/repurpose-your-content/), such as social posts, video scripts, or carousels. I use [AI and automation](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/content-repurposing-automation/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to help with this process. ## Choose the tool that's best for the job Do I wish everything were on a single platform? Yes. But also, not really. I always want [the *best* tool for a job](https://blog.annabyang.com/evaluate-solopreneur-tech-stack/). Not an all-in-one tool that does things halfway. Substack is good for discoverability. Ghost is good for building an actual website with a blog. Kit is good for newsletters, automation, and landing pages. I don't want to give up any of these things, because they're all important to the audience I'm trying to reach. As long as I show up consistently, all three are effective. But one thing that's critical — across all three platforms — is the ability to land in people's inboxes. I never take that for granted either: inboxes are noisy and people will quickly unsubscribe if the content isn't valuable. I'm here to deliver, however people find me. --- *Check out my* [*free eBook*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— a guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### Overwhelmed? Remove Multi-Tasking from Your Day URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/single-tasking-strategies/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:31:53.000Z As a one-person operation, you know that the demands on your attention are endless. We don't have the luxury of narrow job descriptions: we are literally sales, marketing, accounting, and project management all rolled into one (plus the work we actually deliver to clients). Because of this, it's easy to get pulled in different directions. You sit down to work on a client project and a Slack message comes flying in. A quick glance at your phone and you see a notification from your project management tool. Then you remember that you need to write a social post for the day. Before you know it, your day is half over and you feel like you haven't gotten anything done. Sound familiar? Multitasking feels like a necessity, but research shows over and over that it harms productivity. Psychology Today says that we can [lose up to 40% of our productivity](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brain-wise/201209/the-true-cost-of-multi-tasking?ref=blog.annabyang.com) when we multitask. Even if you *think* you're good at multitasking, research says otherwise. Only [2.5% of people show zero deficits](https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/PBR.17.4.479?ref=blog.annabyang.com) when multitasking. For you, chances are, multitasking comes at a cost. You lose time *and* you're more likely to make a mistake. When it's just you — with no one double-checking your work — you can't afford lost time or mistakes. The opposite of multi-tasking is **single-tasking**, or focusing on one thing at a time. Because we've been wired to move in a million different directions, this can feel strange at first and definitely takes some effort. But with practice, you'll find that you're more productive and focused. Here are some steps to re-train your brain for single-tasking. ## 1\. Create a Task List One reason we struggle with multi-tasking is because our to-do lists are never-ending. You're in the middle of something, think of something else, and immediately open another app to complete the new task. This gives you a false sense of productivity, like you're moving something off of your task list immediately, rather than letting it linger. A perfect example is seeing a new email and replying immediately. But what actually happens is something called context-switching. Whatever you were doing was interrupted. You lose time and focus, and over time, it adds up. It's better to be blissfully unaware that a new email arrived in your inbox until a dedicated time — of your choosing — when you sit down and reply to all emails. You should keep a running list of everything you need to work on. If you happen to think of something while you're in the middle of something else, write it down. Add it to your list (so you don't forget), but otherwise don't stop what you're doing. I [use Todoist for tasks](https://blog.annabyang.com/use-both-trello-and-todoist/) and have the app open all the time so I can quickly add items. I also use [voice commands](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/to-do-list-voice-commands/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to add things to Todoist if I'm on the go. If you're not an app person, keep a pen and paper in your workspace so you can quickly jot something down. Having a list also answers the question, "What's next?" In most to-do list apps, you can assign a priority or due date. That way, you're not expending additional brain energy trying to figure out what you need to work on (which can feel paralyzing if your to-do list is unorganized). ## 2\. Time Blocking for Focus I'm a *huge* proponent of [time blocking](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/). When you use time blocking, you set aside a specific amount of time (a "block") to work on a specific project or task. This works perfectly with single-tasking because you work *only* on one task during that block. You can even benefit from creating short blocks of time for tasks like "replying to emails" and "engaging on social media." That way, you focus on those tasks only during your blocks, rather than context-switching throughout the day. I also have blocks of time for "random small tasks." For example, let's say you need to call the dentist to schedule an appointment. It's silly to set up a block of time for something so small. But you could set aside a block of time to "knock things off my to-do list" and go through your list one by one. I use a few different methods for time blocking. I have some recurring blocks of time on my calendar, such as a block of time to write my newsletter or a blog post. Then, every morning, I'll write out my blocks of time using [Ugmonk cards](https://ugmonk.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com). My blocks will be added around other things I have planned for the day, such as meetings. You can also use [Reclaim.ai](https://go.reclaim.ai/fjoa2msu6i5g?ref=blog.annabyang.com), which is an AI-powered calendar that can automatically move blocks of time around on your calendar. For example, let's say you have a block of time set aside for a project, but someone drops a meeting on your calendar. Reclaim will move that project block to your next available "slot" of time. To effectively time block, you have to start with your prioritized task list (from step 1). I always focus on, "What do I need to get done *today?"* While I need to keep an eye on future due dates, I try not to plan too far into the future. If I do, and something goes off the rails, it feels harder to recover. Between recurring blocks and planning my day, I feel like I can manage what needs to get done. ## 3\. Protect Your Calendar—and Your Focus When you start single-tasking, you need to be aware of your most productive time of day. This is when you want to do **deep work**, or work that requires an intense amount of focus. For me, this is [writing time](https://blog.annabyang.com/early-morning-writing/). I need several hours of writing time per day. If there's a meeting in the middle of my writing block, I lose a *lot* of time. My brain starts to prepare for the meeting and then it takes me a while to get back into focus mode went the meeting is done. So even though I may be single-tasking (writing-meeting-writing), I'm still not in my most productive state. You should protect your calendar as much as possible. If you use a scheduling tool like Calendly, don't allow clients to schedule meetings during your deep work time. Resist the urge to say "yes" to an interruption, even if you feel pressure to do so. Remember, interrupting your deep work comes at a much, much higher cost than interruptions during other blocks of time. I also like to send signals to my brain that, "It's focus time." This helps me stay laser-focused on a single task during my deep work time. I use incense and [brain.fm](https://my.brain.fm/payment?extended%5Fpromo=30&utm%5Fsource=referafriend) to create an atmosphere that I *do not use* during any other work. With those two things, my brain more quickly switches into the mode I need for deep work. [Work Fewer Hours and a Shorter Week as a SolopreneurReclaim your time by shortening your workweek.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-28.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-solopreneur-shorter-workweek.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/work-fewer-hours-and-a-shorter-week-as-a-solopreneur/) ## 4\. Limit Distractions It's *so* easy to get pulled away while you're single-tasking, no matter how hard you try to focus. Social media and other apps are designed to grab our attention with notifications, badges, and sounds. The [small dopamine hit](https://hbr.org/2022/11/our-social-media-addiction?ref=blog.annabyang.com) we get from notifications keeps us wanting more. Unfortunately, avoiding such distractions relies on our own intervention. Move your phone into another room. Close Slack and your email. My phone is on silent 100% of the time and almost all apps are configured not to show me any alerts or notifications. Limit the people around you — like if you [work from home](https://www.workbetter.media/p/should-remote-work-be-offered-to?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and there are other people around, go into a room and close the door or go to a coffee shop to work. For me, the change of scenery is helpful rather than distracting. **Pro Tip**: Go to a coffee shop with about 2 hours of battery life left on your laptop. You'll be amazed at what you can get done when you know your battery life is your limitation. ## Build Your Single-Tasking Muscle Most of us have spent our lives believing that multi-tasking is the answer to everything. And I'll admit that it still exists in my own life. I listen to a podcast while cooking dinner or scroll social media while I'm waiting in line at Target. But there's a big difference between layering one task on top of a brainless task, and trying to flip back-and-forth between multiple tasks that require your attention. That's where you lose the most. Training your brain for single-tasking takes time. Start small. Set a timer for 20 minutes and dedicate that time to one task. Do everything you can to remove distractions and close every window on your computer other than that *one* task. As you build your single-tasking muscle, you'll notice that you can work for longer periods of time without feeling the urge to jump between tasks. Before you know it, you'll turn into a single-tasking, time-blocking powerhouse. --- *Check out my* [*free eBook*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— a guide for creators looking better to manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* --- *This article contains affiliate links so if you buy, sign up, whatever – I earn a small amount.* ### Why You Should Invest In Tools as a Solopreneur URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/paying-for-tools-as-a-solopreneur/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:36:51.000Z Many solopreneurs try to keep their expenses really low. Understandably so, especially when you're first starting out and don't have a lot of income. Every monthly subscription is another commitment (even though many of them are easy to cancel) and expenses impact your overall profit margin: how much you earn compared to your expenses. However, if you don't invest some money back into your business, two things can happen. First, you might end up doing *more work* because you're doing things manually instead of letting apps and tools make work easier. Second, it might make for a worse client experience, either because it's harder to collaborate or because you make mistakes doing everything manually. Digging into these two things a bit more — your experience and your client's experience — it can hurt your business if you don't incorporate technology into your work. ## How a lack of technology impacts your work When you're a solopreneur, your time is *literally* money. Your clients are paying you for a deliverable, but you have to factor in all the other time you spend on your business. Let's say a client deliverable takes you 20 hours. But on top of that, you need to plan your week, promote yourself on social media, and send invoices for the month. You could do all of these things manually, but — - It's harder to plan your bandwidth without a project management tool that gives you a clear view of all your work - A lot of social media platforms' built-in scheduling tools are clunky (or you can't schedule at all, and it's harder to maintain a [consistent online presence](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-production-solopreneur/)) - Without accounting software, you'll spend a *lot* of time figuring out your income and expenses when it's time to file your tax return All of these things cost you valuable time. At the very least, you could save hours of time every month by using apps and tools that make your work easier. At best, you can put tools to work for you by using automation and integrations. Automation happens within a tool. Let's say you're using a project management tool, and every time you add a new project, the tool automatically adds a checklist of tasks you need to complete. That saves you time every time you add a new project (same with features like templates). Integrations are connections between tools. For example, my project management tool (Trello) is integrated with Google Calendar, meaning I can see my Trello projects alongside meetings and other things I have scheduled. This integration saves me time because I don't have to check two different tools to see what I have going on each day. Integrations can also do things like move data from one tool to another, like if you add a new client to your [project management tool](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/), it adds the client to your accounting software. Not only is this saving you time, but it eliminates mistakes you might make if you do that work manually. Sometimes, a tool you love may not have the best automation or integration. If that's the case, you can use third-party tools like [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*, [Make](https://www.make.com/en?ref=blog.annabyang.com), or [IFTTT](https://ifttt.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to make automated actions happen. These tools definitely have a bit of a learning curve, but they can save you a ton of time. I've been using Zapier for years, and it saves me hours of time every single week. *Here's a tutorial on how to use automation to help you* [*create LinkedIn carousels*](https://blog.annabyang.com/steps-to-create-linkedin-carousels/)*.* ## How a lack of technology impacts your client Skimping on tools doesn't only impact *your* work experience; it impacts your clients as well. Sure, you can email back and forth with clients to find a time to meet. Or, you can use a scheduling tool like [Calendly](https://calendly.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Cal.com](https://cal.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), or [SavvyCal](https://savvycal.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and save everyone some time. There's perceived professionalism when you use tools. When I first started freelancing years ago, I sent my clients an invoice that I created in a Google Sheet. It worked, but it didn't look all that great. Plus, collecting payments was tricky. Invoicing tools and accounting software have payments embedded into the invoice itself, so your customers can click a button and pay via a credit card or bank transfer. You'll also impress clients when you have a clear process, such as a project management tool or collaboration tool that makes it easy to work together. In some cases, your use of tools may not be client-facing, but they still have an impact on your clients. My use of Trello for project management is *mostly* internal. I've only had a few instances of creating a shared board to collaborate with clients. However, by using project management, I serve *all* of my clients better, because I can keep track of deliverables and make sure I meet all of my deadlines. [Why I Use Both Trello and TodoistYes, I need two productivity tools. But I use them very differently.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-3.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*n9kJa-1_QggcGYkyU0IIVA.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/use-both-trello-and-todoist/) ## How to calculate the real cost of a tool If you're new to running your own business, you might look at all of the tools you *could* be using, and the cost adds up fast. At this point, now more than four years into freelancing, I use 29 different tools. Some are free, but most of them are paid, which adds up to hundreds of dollars per month. But here's how to think about the cost of a tool: - Calculate how much you earn per hour. Start with your total monthly earnings and divide by the *total* number of hours you spend on your business — not just directly on client work, but any time spent marketing yourself or doing administrative work - Estimate how much time the tool will save you per month - Compare the cost of the tool to your effective hourly rate Here's an example: a standard subscription to Calendly is $10/month. Let's say you earn $40/hour. As long as Calendly saves you at least 15 minutes of time per month, the tool has paid for itself. You can put that banked time toward something more meaningful for your business, such as additional client work or time spent marketing yourself. ## Start with free tools Of course, my example of paying $10/month for a tool can quickly add up. Even if you save time, it may not directly turn into more revenue for your business if you're having a hard time finding clients. Many tools have free plans, so that's a good place to start. Free plans often have limitations, but they're a good place to start. I used free plans of [Trello](https://trello.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*, and [Canva](https://trello.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for a long time before I moved to a paid plan. Eventually, I wanted access to features on paid plans but I waited until my business had the revenue to support it. If you're looking at free tools, spend some time looking at the paid versions. The last thing you want to do is move to a new tool later, since that's often a time-consuming process. In other words, choose tools you think can grow with you and your business. Usually, tools will offer a free trial of the paid version so you can check out the features, downgrade to the free plan at the end of the trial period, and upgrade again to a paid plan when you're ready. Whether you get started with free tools or invest in tools that help your business, adding tools to your [solopreneur tech stack](https://blog.annabyang.com/evaluate-solopreneur-tech-stack/) is doing yourself a favor. You're setting yourself up for future efficiency and better client interactions. Your goal shouldn't be "keep expenses as low as possible" but instead "choose tools that will save me time and make my work easier." --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ### How to Use Podcast Guest Appearances to Market Yourself URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:17:07.000Z I love podcasts, and at one point in my life, I thought I would host one. Earlier in my career, I did a lot of on-site training and led conferences, so I'm comfortable talking about topics I know well. But the more I dug into podcast production, the more I realized that the logistics weren't a good fit for me (at least not right now). However, I realized a few years ago that podcasting is a *very* effective way for me to [market myself](https://blog.annabyang.com/market-your-freelance-business/) — even if I'm not the host. I reach a new audience and end up with a lot of content I can reuse. My goal is to appear on 12 podcasts per year (which I did last year and am on track to do the same this year). If you are interested in being a podcast guest (and like to talk!), here's what you need to know. ## Find and pitch podcasts There are several sites that act as a "matchmaker" between podcast hosts and guests, such as [PodMatch](https://podmatch.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and [MatchMaker.fm](https://www.matchmaker.fm/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). You can create a profile and be matched based on your areas of expertise. I've created profiles before, and you *can* end up with low-quality requests, like from podcasts that aren't well-established or podcasts that want you to pay to be a guest. I don't like to be a guest on brand new podcasts, unless they're backed by a well-known production company. The host typically doesn't have a good process in place, and the conversations can be awkward — though you may need to do a few of these to get some experience as a guest. One of the best ways to find podcasts is through LinkedIn. Many hosts, especially in the business, solopreneur, and marketing categories will share episodes when they're released. If I see one that might be a good fit, I'll listen to an episode or two. Because the marketing industry is small and it feels like "everyone knows everyone else" I'll try to find an episode where I know the guest. Then, start interacting with the host on LinkedIn. Send a DM and say that you listened to the episode with so-and-so, and say what you liked about it. Continue interacting with the host for a period of time, so you stay on their radar. *After* you've interacted for a while, send your podcast pitch. I'm not a fan of cold pitching (even [in my own business](https://blog.annabyang.com/win-clients-without-pitching/)), and I know some podcast hosts are very annoyed by this. The only time I'll cold pitch is if a host explicitly says, "I'm looking for podcast guests." But warm pitching is very different. Often, hosts are grateful for the pitch (one less thing for them to — find a guest for a future episode!). Once I've identified a podcast, I'll look for information on pitching, which is sometimes on the podcast's website. If I can't find anything specific, I'll send the host a DM on LinkedIn and ask if they are interested in letting me be a guest. I'll include a topic or two that I think would be a good fit for their audience. About 90% of the time, I get a "yes" from the podcast host. ## Preparing for the podcast If you've never been a podcast guest before, you'll quickly learn that hosts typically ask for a few things, so it's helpful to have them ready. 1) **A high-resolution photo**. Podcast hosts will create cover art for the episode, which often includes the guest's photo. 2) **A short bio**. Bios do two things. First, the host will use your bio to introduce you on the podcast (such as your role and the company you work for). Second, your bio will often appear in the show notes. I'll check the bios from published episodes to get a feel for what the host typically includes. Then I have several variations of my bio pre-written and I'll send the one that's most appropriate (and tweak it if necessary). 3) **Links to your social profiles and website**. Good hosts know that their listeners may want to connect with you. They'll include links in the show notes. Some hosts will happily include links to multiple social profiles (LinkedIn, Threads, X/Twitter, etc) so that listeners can follow you on their platform of choice. [The Downfall of Twitter, the Rise of ThreadsHas a viable Twitter alternative finally arrived?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-dk-blue-2.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*-KrXnQhA7kFAapllpnE57g.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/the-downfall-of-twitter-the-rise-of-threads/) Always, always include a link to your website. You'll get some SEO benefits from the backlink, which will boost your website's overall authority. If you discuss something specific on the podcast — such as a resource you created or a blog post you wrote — ask the host if they can include that link in the show notes. That way, listeners can easily find the thing you referenced. Hosts will request this information in different ways. Some will want it upfront as soon as you schedule the podcast recording. Others will ask that you send it over as soon as the recording is completed. Make sure you provide everything promptly so it doesn't hold up podcast production. Every host will record the podcast differently. Some may use specific podcast recording software; others may simply use Zoom. Make sure you're clear about how the recording will take place, and test your equipment in advance. Also, ask the host if the podcast will include video or audio only. Many podcast hosts now add a video of the recording to YouTube. ## Promoting the podcast The podcast host will usually send you assets, such as links to the episode's landing page, visual assets, audio clips, and more. They want to make it as easy as possible for you to share and promote the podcast. Usually, I don't get much notice — I'll get the assets and links the day the episode is published. I'll do my best to quickly reschedule any existing social media posts so I can promote the podcast instead. I'll also include a link to the episode in my newsletter. In some cases, the hosts are surprisingly bad at promotion. I'll find out that the episode was published when I'm tagged on social media and don't receive any assets. If that's the case, I don't go out of my way to promote the podcast. But that doesn't mean the interview has gone to waste. The audience will still hear the episode, and I'll use the podcast content in other ways. ## Repurposing the podcast for myself Once the podcast episode airs, I will download the transcript if it's available or create my own from the audio, using an AI transcript tool. From the transcript, I create several additional pieces of content that are entirely mine and not affiliated with the podcast in any way. - I'll write a blog post based on my half of the conversation - I'll pull out some of my main ideas, add them to a template in Canva, and publish them as an image-based post - I'll create some short video scripts. Maybe my phrasing wasn't right in the podcast itself, but the idea was there. I can record it as a new video. My [content repurposing is automated](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/content-repurposing-automation/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Once I upload the transcript to a specific folder on my Google Drive. [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* picks up the transcript and runs it through ChatGPT with some prompts for the additional content. I output the results to Trello, which is what I use for project management. #### ⚙️ Tools to Promote Your Podcast Guest Appearances - [****Rev**](https://www.rev.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com): To create a transcript from a YouTube link - [****ChatGPT**](https://chatgpt.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)****:** To pull your best quotes from a podcast transcript - [****Canva**](https://www.rev.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)****:** To design visuals from your best podcast quotes - [****Buffer**](https://buffer.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com): To pre-schedule social posts with your podcast content ## Is podcast guesting an effective marketing tactic? I've never gained thousands of new followers after a podcast episode aired. Nor have I ever seen a huge spike in traffic on my website. But there are some signals that podcast guesting is worth the effort. I'll get DMs on LinkedIn that start with, "I heard you on XYZ podcast..." I benefit from the exposure to the host's audience, even if the results aren't immediate. Plus, as I mentioned, I benefit from the backlink to my website. All in exchange for about an hour of my time. I also believe that podcasting is a form of [proprietary content](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-proprietary-content-is-the-future/) that will become essential in the future. In a world where writing, audio, and video can be generated by AI, proprietary content will stand out because it's unique. For me, it's worth the effort to research and pitch podcasts. Podcast guesting is one tool in my overall self-promotion toolkit. --- *You can use automation to repurpose your own content in MANY ways. Here is a* [*list of ideas*](https://pages.annabyang.com/automation-checklist?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*, plus the instructions you need to set up automation.* ### Managing Your Finances as a Solopreneur URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/managing-solopreneur-finances/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:49:53.000Z For part of my career, I was on the executive team at a small startup. Every month, we'd review the company's financial performance, compare the results to the budget, and make adjustments if necessary. We also had to make decisions about hiring, larger business investments, and the overall direction of the company. Today, I'm a solopreneur. I run a freelance writing business and create online resources for other freelancers/solopreneurs. Even when my business was very new and very small, I paid close attention to my finances. Because of my past experience, I know how to manage my money and how to plan for different things (particularly unexpected expenses!). But a lot of solopreneurs *don't* have that [corporate background](https://blog.annabyang.com/corporate-life-prepare-solopreneur-life/) — and don't know where to start. There are a few basic things you should understand about your business finances and also know when you need outside help. You can't ignore the money part: as long as money is coming in, you should know how it impacts the overall health of your business. ## Reviewing overall profit and loss Every month, I review my business's Profit and Loss Statement (P&L), which tracks all your money coming in (revenue) and money going out (expenses). The difference between the two is either Net Profit (if you earned more than you spent) or Net Loss (if you spent more than you earned). My P&L statement is generated through Quickbooks, which is my accounting tool and also what I use for invoicing. Any accounting software would have the same, and usually is a click of a button. While there are some standard categories, you can usually customize your P&L so it reflects how *you'd* like to understand your business. ### Income and expense categories For example, I have different income streams, so I have subcategories of my income so I can track how much each is earning. I also pay for a lot of apps and tools, so I categorize these as "Critical Apps" and "Non-Critical Apps." Critical means I need the tool to make my business run. Non-Critical means it's helpful, but I could cancel if needed. This designation is completely specific to me and how I like to think about my expenses, but those are the things you can set up to make your P&L more meaningful for you. ### Financial trends Now that my business has been running for a few years, I also look at month-over-month and year-over-year trends. Month-over-month compares my most recent loss to the month before it. So, if I were looking at the P&L for June, the comparison would be to May. Year-over-year compares June of the current year to June of the prior year. Sometimes, year-over-year is more meaningful. I have seasonal dips in income, like many freelancers. Summers are often slow because many of my clients are on vacation. But if I compare June of one year to June of the prior year, it's a more accurate picture of how my business did for the month. Since it's just me and I'm a solo business, I don't look too hard at monthly swings. I like to look at quarterly statements to understand if my business is growing. ### Profit margin Part of reviewing your profit and loss is understanding your profit margin: how much money did you earn compared to how much you spent? If you earned $5,000 and spent $500, that's a pretty healthy profit margin. Much different than earning $5,000 and spending $3,000. Profit margin is expressed as a percent. If you earn $5,000 and spend $500, your profit margin is 90%: you keep 90% of what you earn. In this, you also have to consider what you pay yourself. You may have earned $4,500 more than you spent, but pay yourself $4,000 — so only $500 is "staying in the business." Your expenses are (most likely) within your control. If you want to improve your profit margin, you'll either have to earn more or cut back on expenses. As a solopreneur, the most valuable thing in my business is my time: how much time I can give to clients (without [spending too much time on client work](https://blog.annabyang.com/avoid-spending-too-much-time-on-client-work/)), and how much time I can dedicate to creating resources for other solopreneurs. Because of this, I'm willing to spend a lot of money on tools that buy me time in my day. My [tech stack](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/my-tech-stack/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) consists of about 30 tools, all of which save me a little bit — or a lot! — of time each month. If you're not sure about investing in tools, many have month-to-month plans. They are usually a little more expensive than an annual plan, but then you're not locked in to the commitment and cost. Look at how the increased costs impact your profit margin and think about whether those tools are worth it for the time they give you. [How to Evaluate Your Solopreneur Tech StackWhich tools best meet your needs, for the right price?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-dk-blue-1.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-solopreneur-tech-stack.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/evaluate-solopreneur-tech-stack/) ## Create a budget In the early days of freelancing, it's hard to stick to a budget because you're trying to earn enough to cover your expenses — including how much you need to cover your rent, food, and other living expenses. You're probably also working hard to keep your business expenses as low as possible. Eventually, you'll earn enough consistently that you can start to work from a budget, rather than basing your business solely around "when cash comes in." One thing I changed when I reached this point was invoicing all clients on the same day each month (the 5th) rather than when I completed work. If I invoice clients on the 5th, then I can expect cash to hit my [business bank account](https://blog.annabyang.com/choose-a-bank-for-your-freelance-business/) around the same time every month. Some of my clients have payments due within 15 days and some within 30 days, so I can plan accordingly. I have a monthly budget I stick to for my business. I list the income I expect to earn, my recurring expenses, and how much that leaves me at the end of the month. Because most of my freelance [work is ad hoc](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/), it *can* vary from month to month, but I base my budget on my average monthly income. If there's extra cash — like if I earn more than I expected — I have three options: - Put the cash in my "rainy day" savings account - Pay myself a little extra that month - Reinvest the money in the business A reinvestment is something you spend money on because you think it will help you grow your business. It might be a one-time purchase, like a course or working with a business coach for a few months. ## Know when to add fractional or full-time Help Many solopreneurs attempt to do everything themselves and wear "hustle culture" as a badge of honor. But at some point, you'll realize that you could [hire out some work](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-hire-fractional-support/) for less than you earn. Yes, you're reducing your profit margin, but you're also freeing yourself up for more meaningful work that can grow your business. To start, calculate your effective hourly rate — even if you don't work hourly. Take your monthly income and divide it by the number or hours you work per month. Let's say that number is $100/hour. You could outsource some work for $50/hour (assuming that you are profitable and have extra money each month). This year, I outsourced two functions: I hired a bookkeeper and a virtual assistant. Although I'm comfortable doing my own books, I recognized that it wasn't the best use of my time. My bookkeeper processes everything weekly and sends me my monthly Profit and Loss, along with a few other reports. I still dig into the numbers myself, so I can stay informed about trends and changes in my business. My [virtual assistant](https://blog.annabyang.com/viritual-assistant-for-a-solo-business/) handles repetitive tasks. Although I rely heavily on tools and automation, some tasks simply can't be automated and need a human touch. I'm also considering hiring my teenager as a part-time employee next year because they could learn a lot about business and handle work that I'd prefer to keep in the family. ## Your Strategic Vision When you understand your business financials, you can decide where you want to go next. For me, I've maxed out my capacity to take on more client work. My best opportunity is to grow other income streams. Therefore, I'm paying close attention to what I'm earning each month in these other income categories. Because of this goal, I have to consider what steps I need to take to make this happen and plan for them. It might mean partnering with someone with expertise in platforms I'm not relying on right now, such as Instagram and YouTube. That's another fractional role, so I have to think about the cost. But on the flip side, teaching myself could be very time-consuming, and that would be only to learn the basics. You might have a goal of increasing your income based on the work you're doing now, so you'll think about the additional value-add you can bring to your clients, and how to raise your existing rates. Whatever your strategic vision is, you should set goals to get there. Think of it as your [business roadmap](https://blog.annabyang.com/create-a-roadmap-for-your-freelance-business/). Don't go too big because then it's harder to track progress and adjust if needed. Quarterly goals are a good place to start. As you review your financial statements, you can see the changes and decide if you're on the right track. --- *Want to better understand your business with a quarterly review (not just financials)? You can download my* [*Quarterly Review Checklist*](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### How I Produce Content Consistently as a Solopreneur URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/content-production-solopreneur/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:37:54.000Z Back in 2022, I had an inkling that I might [become self-employed](https://www.workbetter.media/p/in-the-wild?ref=blog.annabyang.com) one day. I also realized that the easiest way for me to create a sustainable business was to build a personal brand. It worked. Almost two years later, all of my work is inbound, and I rarely have to do any hard selling with clients. That doesn't mean I don't spend *any* time on sales. But instead of sending dozens of cold DMs per week, I create content that puts me in front of my target audience. Today, I post two times per day on LinkedIn and create content for Threads and Instagram (though the latter two are not my primary platforms). I create both short-form and long-form videos. I send out a newsletter every other week, publish on Substack once a week, and write blog posts. And yes, I do sleep! And I have three kids! I'm not superhuman, but I focus very intently on content production as a solopreneur. It fits naturally into my week and relies heavily on repurposing my ideas to create volume. Here's how to get started and how to maintain a high volume of content, even as your business grows. ## Repurposing Comments from LinkedIn My original LinkedIn game was much more chill. I'd post once per week (Thursday mornings) with whatever popped into my head that day. However, I also spent a lot of time commenting on other people's posts, usually five or more per day. These weren't basic comments like, "I agree!" I would leave thoughtful comments, adding my perspective to the conversation. These comments eventually became the basis of my own posts for LinkedIn. You can see the math: if you end up with at least seven good comments per week, you have seven of your own posts the following week. At the rate I was commenting, I had a lot more. And a giant queue of ideas is never a bad thing (for example, I can take a step back from commenting and know that I have plenty of ideas for future posts of my own). I used to have a great process of exporting my comments once per month from LinkedIn. However, LinkedIn stopped including comments in the available data export. I'm still hoping this will return at some point, but in the meantime I have a workaround. I use an app called [Readwise](https://readwise.io/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) that allows me to highlight text on any website. On my LinkedIn profile, I can see all of the comments I've left on other posts. I use Readwise to highlight my comment, and then Readwise will sync my highlights to an external source. I sync to an app called Reflect, but you could also sync to something like Notion or a Google Doc. Then, you can work through your document of comments and create your own social posts. Simply delete the comment from the doc once you've used it. At this point, my queue of comments to turn into posts is *hundreds* of comments long. I'm never at risk of running out of ideas. Turning comments into social posts is an easy one since you're using someone else's ideas as a prompt for your own ideas. **Here's why this works:** My clients are all on LinkedIn. Commenting *and* posting my own content increase my visibility on the platform. ## Repurpose from Other Platforms I used to post on Twitter (back when it was known as Twitter), though I was never really good at it. By the time I started taking Twitter seriously, it had a very specific vibe, and I had a tough time gaining any traction. While I [no longer use Twitter](https://blog.annabyang.com/the-downfall-of-twitter-the-rise-of-threads/), I downloaded my archive of Twitter data. This now serves as an additional source of inspiration, especially Twitter threads, which are a different format than my typical LinkedIn content. I also repurpose my content from one platform to another. I start with a LinkedIn post and repurpose it to Threads. Between the two platforms, I use generative AI to tweak the format. That way, I'm not simply copying and pasting my posts from LinkedIn to Threads. It's a preference of mine: I know people follow me on both platforms, and I don't want duplicate content. Plus, my Threads style is different (and Threads has a different character limit). I use Buffer to schedule my LinkedIn content and have this process automated with [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*. It works like this: 1. New post published to LinkedIn via Buffer 2. Zapier picks up the post and runs it through ChatGPT with some instructions for reformatting for Threads 3. The reformatted post is sent back to Buffer as a draft for my Threads profile I edit the post before scheduling it for Threads, because the output is never quite how I'd word my posts. But it's close, and faster than doing this manually. If you're not comfortable using generative AI but still want to automate sending your content from one platform to another, you could do something like this: 1. New post published to LinkedIn via Buffer 2. Zapier picks up the post and uses a 30-day delay 3. 30 days later, the post is added to your Buffer queue for your Threads profile The 30-day delay accomplishes the same goal of not copying/pasting from one platform to another. After 30 days, anyone who saw the post the first time will likely have forgotten. ## Creating Long-Form Content Because I'm a writer, I create a lot of long-form content. This isn't directly related to my client work, but is adjacent to my overall strategy. - I create free resources for fellow solopreneurs - By publishing long-form content, I can use a CTA that encourages readers to download a resource - I can repurpose the long-form content into other formats, like LinkedIn, where potential clients see me - Even though the content isn't directly tied to my client work, it shows that I'm an organized, seasoned freelance writer — someone clients can trust But building up that writing muscle takes time, especially if you're not used to writing long-form content. Back in 2022, I started with one [Substack essay](https://www.workbetter.media/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) every other week. Eventually, it became weekly. Then I added a [newsletter](https://newsletter.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) of actionable tips every other week. And I continue to write on my blog. If you write any long-form content, you have to ask yourself: - What purpose does it serve? (For example, does it demonstrate expertise to your clients? Are you publishing to boost your SEO?) - Can you set aside time in your week to commit to writing? I set aside time every morning for writing, *before* I begin client work. That fits best with my schedule and natural body rhythm (I'm a morning person). Because it takes a lot more time to create, I make sure I [repurpose long-form content](https://blog.annabyang.com/repurpose-your-content/) in a few ways. ### Re-Sharing the Content Once I publish the content, I share the link across my social platforms and in my newsletter. I also make sure to add links to my older content. Some of my older blog posts rank for keywords in Google, and (if appropriate) I want to direct people to newer content. I keep track of everything I've written in a "content library" that I've created in Airtable. Every single thing I've published is listed, with the URL, topics, and some other things I track. A content library makes it easy for me to find related content and link to it. I also have a process of re-sharing my content. If the older content is evergreen, I re-share it in the future — whether it's re-sharing the actual post, or simply re-sharing some of the ideas as a social post. My content library makes it easy for me to resurface older content. ### Generative AI I use generative AI to repurpose my new blog posts into different formats. For each piece of long-form content, my ChatGPT instructions create the following for me: - Three LinkedIn posts - The [text of a carousel](https://blog.annabyang.com/steps-to-create-linkedin-carousels/) (that I design in Canva) - A short video script (This is all happening automatically when a new blog post is published. You check out [this tutorial](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/content-repurposing-automation/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for step-by-step instructions.) I want to get the most mileage possible out of my long-form content, and that means turning it into shorter content for other platforms. Generative AI is a good head start, since I can then edit the output rather than staring at a blank screen. I even use generative AI to create the teaser that I use when I initially share a link to the blog post on my social platforms. [Use Generative AI Without Sacrificing QualityYou can benefit from generative AI without lowering quality.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w1200/2024/07/annabyang-generative-ai-quality-absolutist.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/maintain-authentic-writing-voice-with-generative-ai/) ### Video Content Vido is especially challenging for me, but I recognize that it's an increasingly important platform. Even LinkedIn, which is my primary platform, is pushing a video feed. And as someone who relies on an online presence to get clients, I have to follow what the market is doing. My generative AI step gets me started. I can use my long-form content and turn it into a short-form video (about 100 words for a 1-minute video). But another easy way to create video content is to rely *directly* on social posts you've created in the past, especially if you're creating longer posts for a platform like LinkedIn. Just use the prior post as your video script. That way, you're not trying to think of new ideas for video content. ## Batching Your Content Production as a Solopreneur When you're relying on content to drive your business, consistency is **everything**. It matters for your visibility on any platform and the relationship you build with your audience (and potential clients). In addition to all gathering ideas, you also have to **write** and **schedule** your content. I create content in batches. I'll usually spend about two or three hours on weekends writing and scheduling social media posts for the upcoming week. There are a few factors in play. First, I'm scheduling content for a *lot* of platforms, so it takes longer than focusing on a single platform. Second, I've also been doing this a long time, so posts don't take me long to write. You may focus only on one platform (like LinkedIn) and only one post per day, but the process of batching content might take longer in the beginning simply because you're not used to mining your ideas and drafting posts. I also have separate blocks of time to work on video content and long-form content creation. ## Scheduling Your Content I strongly recommend using a social media scheduling tool of some kind. You can write and post on the fly, but life will inevitably get in the way. I find it's much easier to schedule, so I don't have to think about it. Plus, scheduling can reduce your anxiety if you're nervous about putting yourself out there or if [posting feels cringe](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/). When scheduled in advance, you'll forget what you had planned for the day until notifications start rolling in. Ultimately, content production as a solopreneur is something you have to plan for and set aside time to work on. With a strategy to collect ideas and product content, it doesn't have to feel like a chore. And once you start seeing results (like more inbound opportunities), you'll be even more motivated to work on content as a necessary part of running your business. --- *Check out this free guide:* [*How to Create Your Content Library (... and why you need one!)*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/contentlibrary?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### Working On Your Business vs. Working In Your Business: What's the Difference? URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/working-on-business-vs-working-in-business/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:37:00.000Z What does it mean to work **in** your business versus work **on** your business? When you're working **in** your business, you're doing tasks, such as client work or admin work. It's everything you do day-to-day to keep your business running. Working **on** your business involves thinking more strategically about how you can move your business forward. This type of work may not have an immediate financial benefit, but you're taking the steps to make a change or build something for the future. As a solopreneur, it's hard to set aside time to work **on** your business. I've certainly struggled with this over the years, especially when I feel like taking a day to work on my business reduces the amount of client work I can do (therefore reducing my income). But I've come to realize that it's *critical* to work on my business if I want to reach the goals I've set for myself. Here are four ways to think about working on your business. ## 1) Learning and development Working for a company often comes with a professional development budget, and (if you're lucky) time to build your skills while "on the clock." Being a solopreneur is a bit different because you have to dedicate the time and money to learn new things. I have a [monthly budget](https://blog.annabyang.com/choose-a-bank-for-your-freelance-business/) for professional development and set aside money in a separate savings account. I'm careful with how I spend my money: I don't want to buy a course, for example, unless I *really* think it will have a tangible outcome. It's not only an investment of my money, but also my time. If you buy a course or a resource, commit to finishing it within a particular timeframe (especially before you jump on the next course you see). Development may also come in the form of outside help, such as hiring someone to do a website audit and giving you actionable tips to improve it. That's something that would help your business, but not something you want to take the time to learn. Be mindful that if you go this route, you need to commit to taking the advice of the person you hired. Some solopreneurs also hire a business coach to help them brainstorm new ideas or challenge limiting beliefs they may have. You may also learn from peers or potential clients. You can open up your calendar for coffee chats or conversations to validate your ideas. Amy Porterfield talks about this in a [podcast episode](https://www.amyporterfield.com/2019/09/280/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), in which she talks through an idea for a potential course. Rather than developing a course based on gut instinct alone, she interviews a potential enrollee. That time investment gives her a better understanding of what students may need, so she doesn't go down the wrong path when she creates her course. Whether you're creating a product to sell or thinking about offering new services, these research activities are necessary so you can better position yourself. ## 2) Creating systems Creating repeatable processes often falls by the wayside, especially if you're working by yourself. You're not forced to do things the same way every time. But over time, this can hinder you in a few ways. One, you should create systems *before* you need them so you're not overwhelmed as your business expands. Two, you'll appear more professional to your clients if you have obvious systems in place (such as an onboarding process or [project management](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/)). And three, you're better positioned to [hire fractional help](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-hire-fractional-support/) in the future if you have a process that someone else can follow. Not only that, but handling work in a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants fashion takes a mental toll. You have to think through, "How should I handle this?" rather than *knowing* how to handle it based on your existing systems and processes. You should set aside time to: - Implement apps and tools that can make your work more consistent - Document your processes with standard operating procedures - Audit your systems and tools, to see what can be improved. I am a tools geek almost to a fault — sometimes I'm distracted by "shiny object syndrome." Documenting and reviewing my processes is harder. I have time set up with a fellow solopreneur — a systems "power hour" — every two weeks. During this time, we do virtual co-working and spend time improving our systems. [Managing Your Finances as a SolopreneurWhat you need to know for your business finances.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-managing-solopreneur-finances.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/managing-solopreneur-finances/) ## 3) Networking Growing a sustainable business means you can't exist in a vacuum, even if you are a solopreneur. You can create all the plans and goals you want, but without **people**, it'll be really hard to achieve those goals. Your network is critical when: - You have a downturn in business and need new clients - You want to move upmarket and reposition yourself - You want to launch something new People in your network will be your biggest cheerleaders. Take time to connect genuinely and network with potential clients *and* fellow freelancers. My friend and fellow solopreneur Ryan Baum [writes](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ryanbaum%5Fnetworking-is-easy-to-ignore-and-tempting-activity-7230213337437929473-GFJ8?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop): > *Generosity + Gratitude = Impact.* > *This will get you further than you can imagine.* > *I am a fanatical believer in gratitude. In giving folks their flowers while they can still smell them.* > *In acknowledging that none of us do this life alone.* I use a [personal CRM](https://blog.annabyang.com/system-to-maintain-relationships/) (Clay) to keep track of my relationships. My CRM suggests people for me to reconnect with each day. I also spend time engaging with people on social platforms. As a result, my network is invaluable, and most of my client work is inbound due to my online presence and these connections. ## 4) Strategic planning When working **on** your business, you think about what the "next level" looks like and whether that's achievable with your current bandwidth and resources. Strategic planning involves thinking about [where you want your business to go](https://blog.annabyang.com/create-a-roadmap-for-your-freelance-business/) next and the steps to get there. If you don't change the number of hours you work, can you scale if you pay for the right tools? Can you hire some additional help? Both of these have associated costs, so you'll need to factor them into your budget. You should also think about the return on investment (ROI), which is the point at which you earn more than you spend paying for tools or additional help. Another option is to add just a few more hours per week to reach a [particular goal](https://blog.annabyang.com/life-goals-are-more-than-a-to-do-list/). I'm not a fan of hustle culture on the whole — I think it's a quick path to burnout — but I think it's ok to hustle temporarily if you're trying to achieve something specific. Put a timeframe around your strategic plan. Quarterly goals are good because they give you enough time to work on a particular project. If you've set your sights on a much larger goal, break it down into smaller milestones over several quarters. ## Set Aside Time to Work On Your Business For many people, working **on** the business feels like unpaid time. And truthfully, it can be because your work doesn't immediately generate income. It may *never* generate income directly (such as [building solid processes](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/) for your future self). That doesn't mean it's not critically important to work on your business. Those that move to the next level are those that have their sh\*t together. In addition to my tools/systems "power hour" every two weeks, I set aside time every month to plan my upcoming month's projects, always tied back to my quarterly goals. I've even checked myself into a hotel for the weekend (away from distractions from my family!) to truly focus on working on my business. Whatever you need to do to set aside focus time within your schedule, do it. *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ### The Top Project Management Skills You Need as a Freelancer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-management-skills/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:59:23.000Z It all starts with a single client. One client becomes two clients, and now you're keeping track of two sets of deadlines and deliverables. Two becomes four, and suddenly, you're juggling a *lot* of projects with moving parts. Almost all freelance work requires some project management skills. Your clients aren't going to manage the work for you: it's up to you to determine your bandwidth, communicate with your clients, and deliver as promised. Before I became a freelance writer, I was a product manager at a tech company — a job that required a significant amount of project management. Those skills made it a lot easier to pivot from a corporate life to a freelance life. If you're feeling overwhelmed by project management, here are the top skills you should look to improve. ## Organization Once you move beyond a single project, a simple spreadsheet won't be enough. You'll need a system to organize everything your clients give you. My clients give me a lot of info, from a project brief to internal messaging docs. I also end up with research, interviews, and other stuff to get my work done. At this point, I've worked with more than 50 different clients. Without strong organization skills, the work would be much, much harder — and take more time. As soon as you're working with more than one client, you should use a project management tool. The tool you use depends a lot on the type of work you do. For example, do you need a client-facing tool so clients can collaborate with you, or is it just you? Do you need to keep track of a lot of subtasks within a project, or are you mostly keeping track of big deliverables for a client? I use [Trello](https://trello.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to keep track of client work, and move my deliverables through different stages. Additionally, I also use [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to keep track of client payments for each deliverable. I recently worked with a brand designer, and he used Notion to keep track of the different phases of our project. Both Trello and Notion make it easy to collaborate. You could also check out tools like Asana or ClickUp. Every client has the same set of folders in my Google Drive, which are [automatically created](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/client-folders-google-drive/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) when I onboard a new client. That way, if I'm looking for something later (like an interview transcript), I know where to find it. I add the client's primary GDrive folder to both Airtable and Trello, so it's easy to link to my client's files as I'm working. [How to Build a Freelance Project Management SystemUse tools that match the way YOU work.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-tj4k3drtlu79rma3iskvyq-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/) ## Prioritization If you're juggling a lot of client work — particularly if you have a lot of subtasks within a project — you need to determine the "next thing" you need to work on. Whether you organize your work by day, week, or month, you need to know what to focus on when you sit down at your computer in the morning. Prioritization is often driven by due dates. However, for larger projects, you may have a smaller breakdown of tasks to complete prior to the due date. For example, the only thing I have "due" to my client might be a blog post. But ahead of that, I need to schedule an interview, do research, and set aside some time for self-editing — none of them have a specific deadline. The hardest part about prioritization is when you have competing priorities. Maybe you have a deliverable due for a client, and another client asks you to make changes to something you've already delivered. How do you prioritize? Here are some ways to think about prioritization if you're in a pinch: - What does [your contract say](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-contract-protect-yourself/) about turnaround time? Don't let clients demand things outside of the contract (like a last-minute change) - Does your *client* have a firm deadline on their end? Prioritize those that do over those that don't. - Prioritize new clients over existing clients, if you feel like the existing client would be understanding and you need to establish a good relationship with the new client. - Consider the business risk of changing priority on a small project versus a larger one. True project management involves a lot of decision-making (sometimes without much time to think about the decision). You need to sharpen your decision-making skills so you can trust your instincts and not get paralyzed when facing competing priorities. ## Time management and productivity Without a boss looking over your shoulder (clients don't count!), you are solely responsible for managing your own time. Whether you stick to a rigid daily schedule or follow a more fluid one, you've got to find a system that works for you. I work in blocks of time during the day— a morning block and an afternoon block filled with tasks that need to get done. I organize my day around when I am most productive, getting the bulk of my work done in the morning and scheduling meetings in the afternoon when I don’t need intense focus. I use Calendly to control access to my calendar, so people can't schedule meetings during my focus time. I also have some "buffer time" built into my day. If something [goes off the rails](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-client-deliverables-when-sick/), or work takes longer than expected, I can catch up in the evening. This approach works for me mentally, rather than letting work spill into another day. I also have an "extra" day built in every week — Fridays — to accommodate any additional client needs or to catch up from any off-track tasks from the week. Your time management should also include time set aside for "internal work" on your business. If you think of your *entire* business as one enormous project, you have to manage everything that keeps the ship afloat. This includes things like sending invoices, marketing yourself, or updating your portfolio website. Depending on the frequency, set aside time weekly or monthly to do this type of work. Make sure it's built into your schedule, so it doesn't always get de-prioritized behind client work. Working ON your business is just as important as doing work FOR your business. [How to Build a Sustainable Business as a FreelancerEscape the hustle and grind of freelancing.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-10.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-sustainable-freelance-business.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/sustainable-freelance-business/) ## Delegation You may reach a point in your business where your project management includes [delegating some work to others](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-hire-fractional-support/). You might subcontract some of your client work, or hire a virtual assistant or bookkeeper, all as a way to reduce your workload. Even though delegating tasks takes *some* work off your plate, you still need to manage the other person. Make sure you allocate time in your day (or week) for reviewing work, communicating with other people, assigning tasks, and paying that person. Keep in mind that delegation is *always* harder in the beginning. You'll need to work more intensively with that person as they learn your process and their assigned work. It may feel like you haven't really gained any time back in your day. But, if you're convinced that the person will **eventually**free up some of your time, stick with it for a few weeks or months (depending on the complexity of the work). You should notice a difference in how much hand-holding the person needs over time. ## Setting boundaries Contrary to what the corporate world would have you believe, effective freelance project management is NOT saying "yes" to everything. When I worked as a product manager, I had a mantra: [scope, quality, and time](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-triangle-content-quality-time/). Think of it this way: - If you have a specific scope (your deliverable) and a standard of quality, it will take X amount of time - If a client wants the same quality and faster, you need to reduce the scope. - If a client wants the same scope and faster, they might sacrifice quality because you'll be rushing. Hold firm to your quality. Scope and time are the variables for your work. Clearly outline the project's scope in your contracts and clearly communicate your turnaround times to clients. If you do those two things, that's half the battle with project management. --- *Want to learn more about the right tools to help you stay organized? Check out my free guide:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com). --- *This article contains affiliate links which means if you sign up, buy, whatever, I earn a small amount.* ### How to Hire Fractional Help as a Solopreneur URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-hire-fractional-support/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:37:10.000Z Not all solopreneurs are working *completely* solo. To me, being a solopreneur means that you are the sole decision-maker within the business, delivering all outcomes, and you don't have employees or full-time help. However, at some point, every solopreneur needs fractional support. Maybe you can bring on a few people to help in different roles for a few hours per week, or maybe you can find a unicorn assistant who can help with everything. But bringing on help can be scary. You want to find someone good who can actually contribute to your business — and you have to assign work and review the person's work. Here are some things to think about if you've maxed out on your bandwidth or know you need help with certain tasks. ## How to Know When It's Time to Hire For solopreneurs looking to hire, there are two main considerations: 1. **You don't have the right expertise**: Sometimes, you simply do not have the expertise for a task, and you don't have any desire to learn the necessary skills on your own. This might be something related to your website, video production, or other areas crucial to your business but not a core part of what you do daily. 2. **The work is not a good use of your time.** Some tasks are within your wheelhouse, but your time could be better spent doing other work. For example, I hired a bookkeeper despite having a background in finance. Categorizing transactions and reviewing financials in Quickbooks took up valuable hours that could be spent elsewhere. Then there's the money factor since hiring comes at a cost. When evaluating whether you can afford help, calculate your hourly rate — even if you don't work hourly. Take your total annual earnings and divide them by the approximate number of hours you work. This should include hours spent on *all* work — client work, content creation, administrative work, and more. This is your effective hourly rate. If you can hire someone for less than this rate, it's worth it because it [frees up your time](https://blog.annabyang.com/full-time-freelancer/) to focus on higher-value tasks. Sometimes, it might even be worth hiring someone slightly above your hourly rate if their contributions can significantly impact your bottom line. ## How to Find the Right Person Posting a role on a job board or social media can lead to an overwhelming number of applicants — potentially hundreds. Unless you want to spend dozens of hours reviewing applications and interviewing people, this isn't a good way to hire fractional help. When I look to hire, I always start with recommendations from other solopreneurs. Sometimes, I'll even ask for recommendations *before* I'm ready to hire for a role. If I see a fellow solopreneur rave about someone they work with, I'll ask for that person's contact info and save it for later. Another way I've found help is by finding people on social media and approaching them directly. I assume that people promoting themselves are invested in their businesses. I'll review their social media posts and website to see if it might be a good fit and then meet with the person. You can also work through an agency, especially for something like a virtual assistant (VA). The benefit of working with an agency is if the person doesn't pan out, you can ask to be reassigned. The downside is that agencies are typically more expensive than hiring a person directly, since the agency has overhead. Once you find someone, do a test project to see if it's a good fit. For instance, I hired a VA through an agency, and it was obvious very quickly that the person couldn't handle the work. I asked the agency to give me another VA. Another time, I talked to a video editor based on a recommendation from a friend. However, during the test project, the video editor didn't follow the instructions I'd provided, so that was a dealbreaker for me. Another option is to look for help a little closer to home, if you're comfortable with hiring someone like a friend or family. My website needs some simple updates, so I hired my teenager. It's a great way for them to earn some extra money. ## Tax Considerations of Hiring Fractional Help When you hire, you may be responsible for issuing tax documents or withholding payroll taxes. In the U.S., there are a few employment types for fractional help. ### Independent Contractor An independent contractor runs their own company and pays their own taxes. This person probably has multiple clients. The IRS has strict rules about [what is considered an independent contractor](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/independent-contractor-self-employed-or-employee?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to prevent people from skirting tax laws by claiming someone is an independent contractor when they're actually an employee. You run into different tax scenarios depending on how and how much you pay the person. - If the person operates as an individual or LLC, and you pay them under $600, you don't need to file any tax documents. - If the person operates as an individual or LLC, and you pay them more than $600, and you pay via **credit card or payment processor** (like PayPal), you do not need to file any tax documents. The person's credit card company will [issue a 1099-K](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/understanding-your-form-1099-k?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for tax purposes. - If the person operates as an individual or LLC, and you pay them more than $600 and you pay them **directly** (like via ACH), you will need to [issue a 1099-NEC](https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1099-nec?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (non-employee compensation). - If the person operates as a Sub S Corporation, you do not need to issue any tax documents. ### Part-Time Employee A part-time employee does not run their own company, even if they work more than one part-time job. You direct the work and payment. With a part-time employee, you need to have the employee [fill out a W-4](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf?ref=blog.annabyang.com). You need to withhold state and federal employment taxes, including Social Security and Medicare, and pay unemployment taxes in your state. You also need to [issue a W-2](https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-2?ref=blog.annabyang.com) at the end of the year. The employee will file their own tax return. ### Agency Another benefit of working with an agency is that you'll have no tax implications. The agency is a vendor, and your fractional help (like a VA) is an employee or independent contractor of the agency, not you. ### Outside the U.S. Most of the time, you can hire fractional help from anywhere as long as you can collaborate using online tools and apps. Non-U.S. citizens are subject to the tax laws of their own countries. All you need to do is have the person complete [Form W-8 BEN](https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-8-ben?ref=blog.annabyang.com), certifying that they are not a U.S. citizen. Keep the form for your records. This doesn't apply if you're working with a platform like Upwork. Upwork is more like an agency: you're paying Upwork, and Upwork is paying the person. ## Fractional Roles to Support Solopreneurs Every solo business runs a bit differently, so the fractional help you need depends on the type of strain you feel or the skills you don't have. ### Virtual assistant A VA is a really common role to hire for because a VA can take a *lot* off your plate. A VA can handle tasks like email management, document organization, social media, and more. If you hire a VA, you'll want to start with tasks that are straightforward, don't change, and don't require a lot of decision-making. I use Loom videos and written [standard operating procedures](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/) to outline the work I want my VA to complete and the expectations. If tasks are *really* repetitive, you can also use automation. I have [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* running in the background for hundreds of tasks. This saves my VA hours for higher-value work or work that can't be automated. [How to Evaluate Your Solopreneur Tech StackWhich tools best meet your needs, for the right price?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w1200/2024/07/annabyang-solopreneur-tech-stack.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/evaluate-solopreneur-tech-stack/) ### Bookkeeper Unless your business itself is finance-related, managing your books is better handled by someone with specific expertise. My bookkeeper has view-only access to my [bank accounts](https://blog.annabyang.com/choose-a-bank-for-your-freelance-business/), but manages everything in Quickbooks. ### Social media manager While a VA can handle certain social media tasks, in other cases you may want someone with specific platform expertise, like an Instagram expert. Another option is to hire a role specifically to repurpose your content, such as turning podcast episodes into social media posts, or creating social posts from your newsletter. If you know you need to be active on social media but don't have the time, you could alternately hire a ghostwriter. I was a LinkedIn ghostwriter for a while. I'd meet with my clients monthly and let them talk about different topics they wanted to cover. I'd then take the transcript and turn the ideas into well-written LinkedIn posts. The [ideas were still theirs](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-proprietary-content-is-the-future/), but I helped with turning those ideas into a format suitable for LinkedIn. ### Website or SEO expert Like bookkeeping, unless you're a web developer or an SEO expert, you might be better off outsourcing these roles. An SEO expert, in particular, can help you optimize and analyze the performance of your blog. ### Video editor Video content is on the rise, and video editing can be very time-consuming. A video editor can take your raw footage and edit it, add captions, and add other elements like music or a CTA. Basically, fully prep the video for you to load onto a social platform. I'm not ready to hire a video editor (yet), but I'm using a tool called [Capsule](https://capsule.video/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), which allows me to edit videos easily. I tried several other tools and they were all far too complicated. ### Editor or copywriter An editor or copyeditor might feel more like a "nice-to-have" rather than a "must-have" and it depends on your business. Here's the difference if you're not familiar with these roles: - An **editor** will make your writing sound better. They'll also check for things like spelling, grammar, and consistency within your writing. - A **copywriter** creates new work from scratch. Copywriters typically specialize in content that's intended to entice your audience to take action, such as a landing page. Copywriters might also help with email sequences or newsletters. Editors and copyeditors can really propel your business forward, if you feel like your writing is holding you back. ### Project manager Once you hire several fractional roles, you may want a project manager to keep everything running smoothly. Your project manager may also help you with larger projects, such as a product launch or event. You may also hire a project manager to help with client work, if the project management isn't the deliverable itself. For example, a project manager can help keep *you* on tasks, so you can focus on client communications and the actual deliverables. ## Ongoing vs. Project-Based Support The last thing to think about is whether you need ongoing help, or if you need help with a specific project. Updating your website might be a project that lasts a few months. I worked with a designer to update my brand, and that was also a specific project. At the end of the project, the designer gave me hundreds of templates in Canva, which my VA now uses on an ongoing basis. I've also paid professionals for specific coaching in a skill that I'm not ready to hire for yet. If you simply need a jump-start a particular area of your business, consider hiring fractional help for a limited time. You might also hire someone to help you with a project that is hanging over your head but doesn't need ongoing work. Running a solo business doesn't mean you have to operate completely solo. At some point, you'll need to get comfortable working with and managing people who can help you. The alternative is limiting yourself to your own bandwidth and skillset, which won't allow your business to grow. *This article in no way constitutes legal or financial advice. Please consult with a professional to discuss your unique tax situation for any roles you hire.* --- *Check out my* [*free eBook*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— a guide for creators looking better to manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### 6 AI Tools for Solopreneurs (That Are Actually Useful) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-tools-for-solopreneurs/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T20:37:44.000Z As a tech enthusiast, I’m always eager to try new tools, but I also recognize the limits of my time when it comes to exploring something new. The same is true for most solopreneurs I know: adding new tools to [your tech stack](https://blog.annabyang.com/evaluate-solopreneur-tech-stack/) can be a drain on your time by the time you test a product and figure out how to add it to your daily processes. AI is *particularly* unique because the use cases aren't as obvious. If you add a tool like Calendly, you know exactly what it's designed to do, and have clear expectations for the results. When generative AI burst onto the scene, it was a different phenomenon altogether. The potential outcomes are unclear, because they're unique to each person. Initially, I was hesitant to dive into generative AI because I couldn't immediately see the benefits, and I didn’t have the time to explore them. I opened up ChatGPT a few days after it was released, tried a couple of prompts, and thought the output was subpar. So, I didn’t return to it for a long time. But I've started exploring AI more and the tools I use have saved a ton of time, or allowed me to do things I couldn't otherwise do on my own. AI-powered tools have streamlined various tasks for me, completed data analysis, and definitely improved my overall productivity. Here are some of the best AI use cases for solopreneurs. ## Generative AI (text) ChatGPT is the most obvious product for generating text, content creation, data analysis, and more — it certainly has the broadest range of use cases. However, good output requires good prompting and many people simply haven't acquired those skills (yet). You have to provide ChatGPT with the right context. As a solopreneur, I write a *lot* of content, including blog posts. A good use case for ChatGPT is to take my longform content and [turn it into social posts](https://blog.annabyang.com/maintain-authentic-writing-voice-with-generative-ai/). With the right prompts — including information about my audience and examples of other posts I've written — ChatGPT can get me to the first version that I can edit. I’ve also started using ChatGPT within automations I have set up. Automation is great for taking a task from point A to point B when there's a clearly defined path. But sometimes, the path isn't as obvious — and that's where AI can come in. To get started, ask yourself: what am I doing that's repetitive? And then start researching how to create the right prompts to get the output you're looking for. You can also create Custom GPTs (on paid plans of ChatGPT) that allow you to save your prompts if you plan to use them over and over. For example, I store all of my published content in [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Newly published articles are automatically added (via [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*), but I also like to add categories to the content. The categories aren't obvious, so I had to go back and add them to Airtable later. Now, ChatGPT can handle that with some instructions about how articles should be categorized in Airtable. Categories are a necessary part of my process, but not a good use of my time. Adding AI has been a huge time saver and allowed me to retroactively apply categories within a few hours. I've also used ChatGPT for data analysis, such as uploading an extract of my LinkedIn data and asking ChatGPT to look for topic themes and trends. I got some some valuable (and surprising insights). I keep track of my most popular content and themes in Airtable, and use that information to topic categories in my content management system (Ghost). If you're stuck, ChatGPT can help you brainstorm. Ask it to generate a list of ideas, and then choose the best one. I usually ask for a *large* list of ideas — far more than I need. Most of them aren't what I'm looking for, but usually one or two nuggets will spark some inspiration. You might do this for ourlining digital products or courses, if you're not sure what route to take. [Use Generative AI Without Sacrificing QualityYou can benefit from generative AI without lowering quality.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-6.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-generative-ai-quality-absolutist.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/maintain-authentic-writing-voice-with-generative-ai/) ## Generative AI (images) No matter your business, you're probably using stock photography (unless you're a designer yourself or have hired an illustrator). And stock photos are boring, but for most solopreneurs, they've been our only option. That's where tools like Midjourney or DALL-E come in. I prefer Midjourney and I can create custom images with a certain look/feel. I use different styles across different publications. On Medium, I use a "pop art" style, so that it's eye-catching. On my Substack, I use a graphic novel style. I also have some AI-generated images on the writing portfolio that clients review before they decide to hire me. I also use ChatGPT to help *generate* a prompt for Midjourney. I'm not a creative person (outside of writing!) and sometimes I can't think of anything. I have a custom GPT that allows me to drop in a draft with some instructions about crafting the right prompt for Midjourney, based on the content of my blog post. ![Screenshot of a custom GPT in ChatGPT](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-14-at-11.15.30-AM.png) My Custom GPT Of course, AI image generators have their limitations. It's hard to get a completely consistent look (unless you're a Midjourney expert, which I'm not). But I feel like [they're a good option](https://blog.annabyang.com/writers-should-care-about-ai-art/) for people who don't want to use stock photos and can't hire an illustrator. You can create visually interesting and more unique social media posts. I've also tried out [Napkin AI](https://www.napkin.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), which is a product that creates a visual based on a text prompt. Good for social media or embedding a visual within long-form content. This is one I created to represent a bottleneck in the content creation process. ![A bottleneck doodle created via Napkin AI](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/08/annabyang-napkin-ai-example.png) ## Generative AI (video) If photos are the face of your brand, videos are the heartbeat. But in my experience, they're also the biggest time suck in content creation. Traditionally, you either needed a studio setup or hours of patience to learn professional editing software. I don’t have that kind of time, yet still want videos to be on-brand and polished. This is where an AI video editor like VEED fits into a creator ecosystem. VEED is a streamlined web app with "plug-and-play" AI tools designed to eliminate the tedium of video editing. Generative features can be game-changers for your workflow. If you’re feeling camera-shy (or just haven't had enough coffee yet!), you can rely on their AI avatars and [voice generator](https://www.veed.io/tools/text-to-speech-video/ai-voice-generator?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Simply drop my written script into the editor, and a hyper-realistic digital twin delivers the message with perfect lip-sync. It allows you to maintain a consistent "talking head" presence without needing perfect lighting or multiple takes. A really exciting addition is the AI Playground, which gives you access to cutting-edge [AI video models](https://www.veed.io/ai-models/video?ref=blog.annabyang.com) like Sora 2 and Google Veo 3.1 without leaving the editor. With these, you can generate hyper-realistic B-roll or animated clips. You can compete in a video-first social feed, even if video isn’t your thing. *\[VEED provided me with complimentary access to the product.\]*, ## AI tools for note-takers AI note-takers are a *fantastic* use of AI. At a minimum, a note-taker will join your web calls, record the call, and produce a transcript. By itself, this is a huge productivity boost since you won't need to take notes during meetings — you can simply review the transcript after the fact. But the best note-taking apps also use AI to create summaries, key takeaways, and follow-up action items. For example, I use [Fireflies.ai](https://app.fireflies.ai/login?referralCode=c0Ux29gYtg&ref=blog.annabyang.com) and it records a call with a potential client. In the summary, Fireflies correctly identified the next steps. ![Screenshot of Fireflies Action Items](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/08/annabyang-fireflies-action-items.png) Screenshot of Fireflies Action Items AI note-takers (like [Fireflies](https://app.fireflies.ai/login?referralCode=c0Ux29gYtg&ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Otter. ai](https://otter.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), or [Fathom](https://fathom.video/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)) are inexpensive and invaluable for solopreneurs who need to stay engaged during meetings without missing important details. They can extract insights from your meeting transcripts, identifying words that are used repeatedly throughout conversations. For example, if you're doing customer research and interviewing people, AI notetakers can analyze the key terms used across multiple conversations. You could do this manually, but it would take longer. Quickly reviewing summaries or common themes can help you make business decisions faster. ## Create documentation I send quick videos all the time. Whether it's my clients or my VA, I like to record my screen so I can explain something and demonstrate what I'm talking about. As a solopreneur, you know that creating written documentation often feels like a **chore.** Video is so much easier. I use [Loom](https://www.loom.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to record videos and Loom can take my video and turn it into written documentation, such as [standard operating procedures](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/) or step-by-step instructions. This has filled a gap in my business: actually documenting my processes and procedures! I love having videos *and* written versions of my processes. I organize my SOPs by different categories, such as administration work, processes, business strategy, and more. Another product is [Scribe](https://get.scribehow.com/lp-1/?via=anna-burgess-yang&ref=blog.annabyang.com). With Scribe, you create a recording, and then the product creates written documentation based on your mouse clicks. Scribe zooms in to specific spots on your screen and can redact sensitive info. If you want to create documentation, but don't want to have a video, Scribe is perfect. I use it to create screenshots for [written tutorials](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/streamline-image-creation-ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I've also gotten in the habit of relying on voice recordings a *lot*. [Cleft](https://www.cleftnotes.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) lets me dictate notes to myself, and then turns the notes into a to-do list in markdown format that I can easily copy and paste to another tool (like Todoist). Easy enough to ramble my daily ideas while I'm getting ready in the morning — or even while taking a walk. Any of these tools are time savers and can help you with documentation or your to-do list. [Solopreneur Tech Support: How to Manage on Your OwnTech tips and things you need to do to protect your business.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-203.png)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-solopreneur-operations-hero-image-7.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-tech-support/) ## Search One of the best use cases I’ve found for generative AI is its ability to search *within my own content*. Whether it's your published content or your own notes, AI search is far more powerful than regular search at surfacing relevant information — or even answering questions, using only your own knowledge and not the entirety of the internet. For Notion users, [Notion AI](https://www.notion.so/product/ai?ref=blog.annabyang.com) is built into the product, and it goes beyond search and Q&A. I personally use a note-taking app called Reflect and its search is immensely powerful. It also surfaces related notes while I'm writing, finding things I may not have otherwise uncovered on my own. Within web searches, I'm increasingly turning to AI. I think Google search has degraded a lot over the years. Search results often how me content with the best search engine optimization, not necessarily the [most helpful content](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/stop-publishing-garbage-on-the-internet/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). And Google's AI search results (now displaying at the top of many searches) are terrible and sometimes flat-out wrong (like [telling people to eat rocks](https://www.platformer.news/google-ai-overviews-eat-rocks-glue-pizza/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)) For search, I like [Perplexity](https://www.perplexity.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I get an overview summary, but then I can *also* see the source. If I'm doing some research for client work, Perplexity can get me started. I could ask ChatGPT the same thing, but I don't see the source in the results and I always want to double-check. Plus, Perplexity is showing me what I need **first**: a summary answer to my query. With a Google search, I often have to click through multiple articles to find what I'm looking for. From the summary, I can dig into the information and read more details. ## Look for micro use cases that can support your business growth I'm the first to admit: I think a lot of AI is hype right now. Every company and product has been racing to add AI to their list of features, and not all of the use cases are *actually useful*. I think the future is **micro use cases**: AI that solves a very specific problem, instead of a wide range of problems (like ChatGPT). ChatGPT's biggest challenge is that most people simply don't know where to start. Micro use cases make learning AI more accessible, since you're not trying to learn everything at once. That isn't to say you should go out and try every new AI product available. But as a solopreneur, you probably know where your biggest challenges lie. Whether it's a drain on your time or something slightly outside of your skill set, you can [look for AI tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/paying-for-tools-as-a-solopreneur/) that solve those specific problems, and then figure out how using them fits in with other tools you use. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-ebook-smarttools-1.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-smarttools?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Learn the best apps and tools solopreneurs use to take their businesses* — *and productivity* — *to the next level.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-smarttools?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### How I Juggle 10+ Clients as a Freelance Writer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/juggle-freelance-clients/ Last updated: 2026-05-15T09:48:23.000Z As a freelance writer, most of my work consists of ad hoc assignments. This wasn't my original business model. Retainers were far more alluring with their promise of steady income. However, I'd lost my job at a marketing agency and needed income, so I was willing to take one-off assignments. I quickly realized that ad hoc work was an easy "yes" from clients. Now, it's the primary structure of my client work. I'm typically juggling about ten clients at once. Four provide me with a fairly regular stream of work, and the other six pop in and out. Because my work is ad hoc, I'm also frequently onboarding new clients. It's a tough market for freelancers right now. I believe ad hoc work is a [viable business model](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/), but it requires more project management on your end to make it all happen. Here are the ways I've created a streamlined process for myself and for my clients. ## Organizing Client Information When a new client signs an agreement with me, one of the first things I do is prep for work to begin. I use [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* to keep track of my clients' information, but a tool like Notion or something similar would also work. Basically, you need a centralized "hub" for everything related to your clients. I keep track of the following: - Company name and website - Primary contact's name and email address - Status (an Active or Inactive client) - A link to the client's style guide, if available - The agreed-upon pricing - How to invoice the client (payment terms, etc.) When I add a new client to Airtable, automation runs in the background and automatically adds new folders to my Google Drive. Each client gets the same series of subfolders: 1. **Agreements**: Contains any contracts with the client. For clients requiring separate agreements for each deliverable, those documents are also stored here. 2. **Draft**: This folder holds my copies of client deliverables. It includes two additional subfolders: - **Brief**: My copy of the client’s brief. - **Revisions**: If the client requests revisions, I work on a copy in this folder 3. **Collaboration:** A shared folder with my client. I copy over deliverables from my Draft folder to the Collaboration folder (since my Draft versions usually have my notes, research, etc). 4. **Resources**: Anything provided to me by the client or things I collect, such as style guides, messaging decks, gated research I download, and more. 5. **Portfolio**: I save a backup copy of published articles as PDFs here, preserving my work independently of online portfolio services. ![Screenshot of my Google Drive](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/08/image.png) Google Drive Setup *Check out my* [*step-by-step process*](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/client-folders-google-drive/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *to set up this automation.* ## Scheduling New Deliverables Ad hoc work doesn't mean I'm available on demand. For clients, the tradeoff of "no ongoing commitment" means that delivery dates are subject to my availability. Usually, I'm booked out about 1.5 to 2 weeks. Every week, I have three or four client "slots" available. When a client sends me a request (such as writing a blog post), I add it to my next available slot. I discuss this process when I'm talking to prospective clients so they understand how I schedule work. Some of my clients have gotten savvy and send me multiple deliverables at the beginning of the month. That way, they can request specific due dates because I'm not booked out yet. When a client assigns me something new, I add the project to Trello, which is how I keep track of projects. Trello has a great calendar view so I can visually see how my deliverables have filled my slots. ![A screenshot of the calendar view in Trello](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/08/annabyang-trello-view.png) My calendar view in Trello I also use a paper calendar (surprising, since I use a lot of tools!). I'll use the paper calendar to plot out work *before* it has been assigned. For example, one client routinely gives me two or three deliverables per month. I'll pencil those in on my calendar, even though I haven't gotten project briefs yet. I don't want to add them to Trello — just in case they fall through — but I also want to see how my calendar is shaping up for the month. It helps me understand how I can accommodate requests from my less-frequent clients. I use a similar process to plot out my projected income for the month. For me, one deliverable is usually one slot on my calendar. I *like* to knock out an entire project in a single day. If you prefer to break up projects into smaller pieces or have a lot of moving parts, you can use this same methodology, but treat each day as two or three smaller slots instead of one large slot. Within a single slot (one day), I [use time blocking](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/) to divide the client's deliverable into a few different deep working sessions throughout the day. [What Does Full-Time Mean as a Freelancer?Determine the maximum amount of work you can take on.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-mqtuwk0_wceeq6kvh5dpjq-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/full-time-freelancer/) ## Standardizing Client Requests My clients give me project briefs and they come in a *wide* variety of formats. Some are very detailed and some are, well, brief (pun intended). When I talk with prospective clients, I assure them that the format doesn't matter. I want to make things as easy as possible. But on my end, I look for a few key pieces of information, such as the topic and the audience. I've created an Airtable form for myself and fill it out with information from the client's brief. This does two things: 1. It populates a Google Doc template I have set up. That way, I'm always working from a unified format, not matter what the client's version of the brief looks like. 2. Filling out this form automatically adds the deliverable to Trello so I can [track the project](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/). ![A screenshot of an Airtable form](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/08/image-1.png) My Airtable Form I *could* provide this Airtable form directly to clients and have them fill it out. I tried that once, but it didn't work. I want a low-friction process so it's easier for clients to send me a brief in their format and then I fill this form out to get it into my preferred format. ## Double-Check Your Work From an [operations perspective](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/), you can manage a larger pool of clients using the tactics I described above. But one of the hardest parts (at least for me) is tracking the nuances of each client's needs. For example, one client likes me to always include alternate titles and a meta description. Another doesn't. One client always wants me to include a call-to-action. Another doesn't. As any freelancer knows, these are little things you learn over time working with clients. When you're juggling more — and sometimes working very infrequently with a client — it's harder to remember. I create a Google Doc with a mini checklist for each client. As clients give me feedback, I add it to the checklist. The checklist also includes a link to the client's style guide and any other resources I need. When I start working on a *new* deliverable, I copy the checklist over to the Google Doc in my drafts folder. This helps me make sure I don't make a mistake or overlook something as I'm completing the work. This is probably the most "extra" work I have with managing so many clients. Everything else doesn't feel like much of an additional lift, but context-switching between projects can be hard. However, I far prefer the additional lift of more clients than the additional stress of not having enough work. Accepting ad hoc work — and making it my primary business model —has allowed me to consistently maintain a full roster of clients. --- *You can download a checklist and the Google Doc template I use for client work* [*here*](https://pages.annabyang.com/checklist-freelance-writers?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### Does Freelancing Feel Chaotic? Here Are Some Ways to Tame Your Workload URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/tame-freelance-chaos/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:59:37.000Z It's easy for freelancers to feel buried under the weight of their workloads. Sometimes, it's not even the deliverables, but it's everything else that comes with managing projects and a freelance business. This can be especially true for new freelancers who may not have good systems in place or know how to set boundaries with clients. If you're feeling overwhelmed, here are some ways to rein in the chaos and keep your freelance life on a more even keel. ## Make your tools work for you I'm a huge advocate for [project management tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/). As a former product manager and a successful freelancer for several years, I see their value. However, in talking with other freelancers, I find that they're reluctant to implement tools. Part of it is cost — not wanting to pay for something, especially in the early days. The other part is not seeing how project management tools can benefit them. But I also recommend using some type of project management tool as early as possible, since the last thing you want to do is add a new tool when you're drowning in client work. I never recommend a specific tool, even though I'm often asked about my preferences. The truth is, there’s no shortage of tools on the market, each working a bit differently. This variety exists because people think and plan in different ways. Your tools should match how *you* organize your work. Some people prefer detailed task lists for every project, while others (like myself) prefer a high-level overview. Managing things on a spreadsheet just isn’t sustainable long-term. Eventually, your work will become too complicated to track without proper tools. Additionally, clients may want a shared view of the work you're doing, which will necessitate a client-facing tool. For example, I use Trello. While my overall deliverables are managed on a private Trello board, I also have shared boards with clients for collaboration. Try out different tools and envision how they would work with double your current workload. The tools I use have worked well for me as my business grows, and I've made tweaks over time. Here are some things you should consider: - **Client information**: A centralized place to store data about your clients, such as contact information, contracts, and payment terms. - **Project information**: Your assigned deliverables, due dates, and the project's overall progress - **Tasks:** Keep track of recurring to-dos, such as sending invoices I use [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for client management, [Trello](https://trello.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for project management, and [Todoist](https://get.todoist.io/5vaw2q1il5zr?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for tasks. [Why I Use Both Trello and TodoistYes, I need two productivity tools. But I use them very differently.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*n9kJa-1_QggcGYkyU0IIVA.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/use-both-trello-and-todoist/) ## Centralize Your Communication One of my freelance friends refuses to use Slack with her clients. I admire this boundary she's set for herself. Slack can be incredibly distracting, especially if you're in multiple channels. Plus, it forces clients to use *her* preferred method of communication, which is email. I haven't set the same boundary: I'm willing to use whichever communication method my client prefers. This means sometimes I'm in their Slack channels, sometimes they're in my Slack channels, sometimes we use email, and sometimes we use a project management tool like Monday or Asana. What I don't like to do is check multiple tools all day long. Instead, I ensure everything flows through my email inbox by setting up notifications. If someone tags me in Slack, a notification goes to my email. Because I like to work to inbox zero, the message stays in my email until I've replied in Slack or otherwise dealt with it. That way, email remains my primary way to [process client communication](https://blog.annabyang.com/instant-communication-in-the-workplace/). I also turn off unnecessary notifications. Most of my client collaboration happens through Google Docs and I get email notifications for comments. However, sometimes I get multiple notifications for a single deliverable. To keep my inbox peaceful, I let clients know that any notifications from Google Docs are sent directly to my Archive folder. I ask that they notify me when they're done reviewing the deliverable. This also [keeps me from being distracted](https://blog.annabyang.com/single-tasking-strategies/) by the Google Docs notifications. Sometimes, a deliverable has multiple stakeholders doing a review or I'd be tempted to look at the notifications as they come in. But this isn't a good use of my time: I should wait for my client to be fully done reviewing before I review the feedback. ## Handling project timelines and scope changes Every freelancer knows the feeling when a project doesn't go as planned. A client drops a last-minute change in your lap or requests a quick turnaround. Or pushes back a project altogether, and now it conflicts with other work you have lined up. This adds stress to your plate, especially if you're juggling multiple clients. Repeat after me: the client's emergency is *not* your emergency. That's one of the beautiful things about freelancing. You don't have to deal with the internal priorities and deadlines of your clients. And, with enough practice, you can feel comfortable pushing back if a client's requests are unreasonable. After all, you're running a business. Saying no, when appropriate, is crucial. In some cases, you might have terms in [your freelance contract](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-contract-protect-yourself/). I have outlined **exactly** what's included in the scope, including how many rounds of revisions I'll do with a deliverable. I don't have a specific turnaround time in my contracts, because most of my work is ad hoc. I also don't want to get myself into a bind if something unforeseen comes up. If a client asks you for something that's [outside of scope](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-scope/), you can say: *"Absolutely I can handle that request! The additional charge will be $X. Would you like me to proceed?"* And if a client asks for a change to a timeline and you can't accommodate it, you can say: *"I'm not available to deliver on that date, but here are the dates I can deliver: XYZ. Which date works best for you?"* These responses are polite and firm. You can meet the client's requests, but on your terms, not theirs. ## Outsource work when needed I reached a point in my freelance business when I felt stretched way too thin. I had to keep up with client work, plus everything related to running a business. Tools and systems help a lot, but at some point, you'll reach the limit of what a tool can do. You'll need human assistance. I don't outsource any client work. This might work for some people (subcontracting), but clients [hire me for specific expertise](https://blog.annabyang.com/establish-freelancer-credibility-and-expertise/) and I want to deliver on that. Instead, I outsource other parts of my business. I hired a bookkeeper. Even though I'm comfortable [managing my own books](https://blog.annabyang.com/choose-a-bank-for-your-freelance-business/), it wasn't a good use of my time. My time is better spent on the core parts of my business. I also hired a virtual assistant to do some social media management. I write my own social posts, but she handles preparing accompanying images or cross-posting to other platforms. Social media is one way I promote my business, so it's really important for me to maintain an online presence. However, I recognize that outsourcing isn't something every freelancer can afford. And even if you *can* afford it, it's hard to part with your hard-earned profits. Here's how I think about outsourcing: - I calculate my hourly rate. I don't do client work hourly, but take my average monthly income and divide by the number of hours I work per month. - If I can hire someone for less than my hourly rate, it's worth the cost. Because I can spend the time doing more meaningful work for my business. Onboarding an external person takes some effort. For example, I had to familiarize my bookkeeper with my accounting process, such as how I categorize different expenses. I had to make a ton of Loom videos to [create standard operating procedures](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/) for my VA. So there's some upfront work — and you feel even *more* squeezed — but then it gets better. [Habits of Business-Minded FreelancersThink beyond the services you provide.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*gCkr3sbKitD_aJ38U7_ZUQ.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-minded-solopreneurs/) ## Deliver maximum value, but not more I've seen people recommend that you become a client's "favorite freelancer" by going above and beyond. That might be turning in work early or doing something that's not specifically in the project scope. I don't agree with either of these suggestions. If you turn in work early, you're setting an expectation that you can deliver in a shorter turnaround. The client may come to expect it. If you deliver something extra, you're devaluing your pricing. For example, if you charge $1,000 for the project, and deliver something outside of scope, your $1,000 is now worth less to you because you spent more of your time and energy on the project. And, on the flip side, the client gets more than what they paid for. Plus, the work you may have done as a one-time courtesy to the client quickly becomes the expectation — which leads to overwork as you add more clients. You can deliver excellent work **within the scope of the project.** Deliver as expected and you can become a client's favorite by being a reliable freelancer. --- *Freelance pricing is incredibly opaque, but I’ve created a* [*free resource*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for fellow writers. It outlines my rates, how I think about pricing, and how my pricing has evolved over time.* ### The Key to Generative AI Is to Rely On Your Ideas as a Starting Point URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/maintain-authentic-writing-voice-with-generative-ai/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:29:00.000Z I'm quick to say it: I think most output from generative AI tools (like ChatGPT) is Not Good. The "writing" is generic, bland, and lacks the *depth* that we, as writers, love and crave. Until proven otherwise, I think readers still have high expectations for quality. I've seen people complain about AI-generated content on social platforms: they're immediately turned off when they think someone has taken a shortcut. Whenever I see AI-generated content, I think the person who published it either has a very low opinion of readers or is oblivious to how obvious it is. That being said, I'm also a [nerd about tools and automation](https://blog.annabyang.com/tech-career-to-professional-writer-journey/). While I've resisted using generative AI for a long time for *any* reason, I eventually started playing around with different prompts. By heavily relying on **my ideas** as a starting point, I've figured out how to use tools like ChatGPT in a way that feels authentic to me, yet still saves time. ## Repurpose Long-Form Content to Short-Form Long-form content is often my starting point. I write on Medium, Substack, and my blog. Turning long-form content into social posts for platforms like LinkedIn and Threads has always been part of my process. I'll usually review the published article at a later date, pull out the main ideas (one per section), write a few social posts, and add them to my content calendar. As a writer, I know that publishing on social platforms is a critical part of audience building. By itself, the process of turning long-form content into short-form posts is a lower lift than creating net new posts. Plus, I'm creating more value from the long-form article I wrote. With some good prompting, ChatGPT can take my long-form articles and generate social posts. I still edit them — heavily — but it saves me the brainpower of combing through the article to pull out the best points. The results are a starting point that saves me time. **What's included in my prompt**: - My bio (a description of who I am) - Information about the audience I'm trying to reach - Several examples of past social posts so ChatGPT can mirror my voice and tone My prompt also tells ChatGPT not to include hashtags or emojis, since I think ChatGPT goes overboard. I add those things myself (if appropriate). ## Turn Podcast Content into a Blog Post Outline One of the ways I promote myself as a writer is to appear as a guest on podcasts. This has the dual benefit of reaching a new audience plus creating backlinks to my website (which improves search engine optimization). Once the episode has aired, I feed the transcript to ChatGPT with instructions to create an **outline** for a blog post. My verbal responses on a podcast aren't the same as my writing style, but the ideas are there. Even if the topics are things I've talked about repeatedly in the past, they're always packaged and framed for that specific podcast. It makes sense to turn the ideas into a future blog post. This is something I've done manually in the past, but ChatGPT can generate an outline in seconds. I can spend my time fleshing out my ideas from the outline, versus reading the transcript, creating an outline, and *then* writing a blog post. **What's included in my prompt**: I tell ChatGPT to only look at my half of the conversation (identified by the speaker name in the transcript). I don't want ChatGPT to pull anything from what the host has said; only from my responses. [How to Write and Publish a Blog Post in 90 MinutesShorten your time from idea to publish.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-32.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-dictate-blog-post-1-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/dictate-blog-posts/) ## Adapt Social Posts for Different Platforms Writing online often feels like an endless game of producing content to draw an audience. I *have* to give people a way to find me, and that means consistently showing up on multiple social platforms I'm not a fan of simply copying-and-pasting my content from one platform to another. First, I don't think it's very effective since each platform has its own unique style, tone, and audience. Second, I think it annoys people who follow me across multiple platforms. I'm using ChatGPT to reformat some of my social posts. I start with a post I've published on LinkedIn and ChatGPT reformats it to a format more appropriate for Threads. Then I tweak the output a bit more and publish it to Threads. With this process, I have an endless supply of posts for Threads. I actually wrote a post about this process *on* Threads, and someone commented that I was publishing AI-generated content and it "wasn't a good look." I replied, politely, that the ideas are still mine. The output is still mine since I tweak posts before I publish them. I'm just using AI in the middle to speed up the process. That interaction sums up my approach to generative AI overall: I want the input *and* the output to reflect me as a writer. **Tip:** This is actually a **very** automated process. I use [Buffer](https://buffer.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to schedule social posts. Once a post is Sent in Buffer, it goes to ChatGPT automatically (via [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*). The ChatGPT output is then automatically sent *back* to Buffer to create a Draft post for Threads. I only need to edit the draft in Buffer — I'm not copying and pasting my posts from LinkedIn to ChatGPT to Threads. If you use Zapier at all, here's what it looks like: ![Screenshot showing Zapier steps for this automation](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/07/annabayang-buffer-linkedin-threads-openai-1.png) Screenshot from Zapier ## Prep Long-Form Content for Publication Every piece of long-form content on The Internet requires a bunch of little things to appease Google's SEO machine. These [little things add up](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-improve-writing-efficiency/) and take time. Instead of doing these manually, I use a tool called Writer that has these features built-in. For example, I can: - Generate a meta description - Generate alt text for images - Find links to other relevant content in my blog ChatGPT could generate a meta description and alt text also, but it's easier in [Writer](https://writer.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Plus, Writer has some other features I use. The product will enforce a style guide I've created for myself, plus add a call-to-action with a single click based on some CTAs I have stored in the product. ## Riff on Headlines and Outlines Working as a solo writer (as so many of us do), I don't have a sounding board if I'm stuck and need some additional inspiration. I use ChatGPT to come up with alternative headlines and expand on blog post outlines. This is as close as I get to having ChatGPT create something "for" me. But the way I have my prompts worded, I'm asking for *way* more than I actually need. I'll ask for 10 headline alternatives. Usually, I won't use any of them — but I'll pick little pieces out of a few different headline suggestions to create my own. It's the same with adding to an existing outline. I'll ask ChatGPT for three additional ideas per section. I reject almost all of them. But once in a while, a little nugget will pop up, and I'll think, "Oh yeah, that *is* a good idea for this article." Usually, it involves adding some additional examples. The suggestions make me realize that more examples would be appropriate, prompting me to find sources or add my own experiences to back up my argument. ## Create Blog Posts via Dictation I'm sure I'm not the only writer who struggles to [find enough time to write](https://blog.annabyang.com/prep-for-a-week-of-writing/). In addition to publishing my own content, I also write for clients. I have a ton of ideas, but never enough time to sit with my fingers to the keyboard, writing everything I want to write. I use a transcript tool ([Otter.ai](https://otter.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)) to dictate my ideas to myself. This allows me to capture my thoughts on the go, such as while I'm driving or taking a walk. Usually, I've already turned the idea into an outline (and by outline, it's usually just some bullet points). I'm dictating a rough draft of the article I want to write. In 15 to 20 minutes, I can dictate an entire blog post, usually ending up with around 1,500 words. I feed the transcript into ChatGPT with instructions to clean it up *without* introducing any new ideas. My original voice needs to be preserved. Writing a post from start to finish might take me two to two-and-a-half hours. With dictating first and using ChatGPT to clean up the transcript, I have 15 minutes of talking and maybe an hour of editing. My dictated version is far short of the post I want to write, but this process still saves a significant amount of time. It's easier for me to re-write my half-baked ideas in my rough draft than to write from scratch. Plus, I can talk faster than I can type. **Tip:** The more I do this, the better I've gotten at it. Out loud, I'll say "New section." That helps ChatGPT with formatting the output: it will create section headers for me. I'll also tell myself to do different things, like "move this idea to the intro" as I talk. ## Play Around with Generative AI When I first experimented with ChatGPT back in November of 2022, I was surprised by its speed but quickly bored by its output. Since then, two things have happened. The models have improved significantly (I'm using GPT-4o on a paid plan), and I've gotten better at crafting prompts. Bad prompting was definitely hindering my ability to see generative AI as an effective tool. I (mistakenly) thought that I should be able to type up a quick prompt and get great output. Typing up a long prompt seemed contradictory to "saving time." Today, my prompts are quite long and it has made a world of difference in getting usable output. I save the prompts, so I'm not reinventing the wheel each time. I've also learned how to tweak them if I'm not getting the expected output. I still edit everything that comes out of generative AI tools. I feel like my use cases still reflect my ideas and who I am as a writer. I'm simply giving myself a productivity boost. [AI Strategy for Freelance Businesses: A GuideStart learning and planning.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-37.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-future-proof-business-ai.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-strategy-freelance-business/) --- *Need to keep better track of your online content? Check out this free guide:* [*How to Create a Content Library (and Why You Need One!)*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/contentlibrary?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### Why You Need Standard Operating Procedures for Your Solo Business URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:37:19.000Z Running a solo business eliminates bogged-down procedures and red tape of working with a company. Want to make a pivot? You are the only decision-maker. Want to change a process? Go ahead and do it. But at some point, every solo business owner starts to think about growth. That might mean bringing on a full-time hire or fractional help. At that point, you may find that you're scrambling to explain the processes and procedures that exist only in your head to another person. I ran into this a few months ago when I hired a virtual assistant. Within a short period of time between signing an agreement and her start date, I needed to create some standard operating procedures (SOPs). The SOPs explained the work she needed to do and also why that work was important for my business (to give her the appropriate context). Since then, I've created standard operating procedures (SOPs) for other parts of my business, even those that I'm still doing myself. I don't know what the future holds or at what point I might be passing off some of that work to other people. It's better to create the documents now and tweak them than be in a mad scramble in the future. Here are the steps I'm taking to create my SOPs and how I'm keeping them organized. ## What Is a Standard Operating Procedure? An SOP is a document that details *exactly* how a process gets done. It's more than just what happens: it includes detailed step-by-step instructions, such as what button to click or text to enter. It may also have templates for emails or other communications. Even my little one-person business will probably end up with hundreds of SOPs. There are so many things that I do that are specific to **my** process, the tools that I use, and how work happens behind the scenes. Plus, I have another problem. I have a lot of automations running in the background, sometimes using [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* and other times using built-in automation within a tool. Occasionally, I've flat-out forgotten an automation I have set up and what it's doing. Later, I may need to tweak this automation and I can't remember exactly what I set up or why. I've had the same thing happen with [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com), which is my "source of truth" for a lot of things related to my business. I'll create a new field, thinking, "Oh, I'm going to use this a certain way in the future." Later, I forget how I had intended to use that field because it's not something I rely on every day. Standard operating procedures take care of this problem. Now, I've developed a habit of creating a new SOP whenever I create a new process or touch an existing one. I can quickly reference my documents and remind myself what the heck I was thinking at the time. ## How to Quickly Create SOPs You're probably thinking that SOPs are a ton of work, especially since your time as a solopreneur is valuable. You may not see the immediate need to create SOPs because you have no plans to expand in the future. (Or you don't have the problem that I do where you have so much running around in the background that you forget what they're doing!) A few months ago, I listened to an episode of the Creator Science podcast and [Bonnie Christine was the guest](https://podcast.creatorscience.com/bonnie-christine/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). She talked about the importance of creating SOPs. And, as a [former product manager](https://blog.annabyang.com/from-end-user-to-product-manager/), I *knew* the importance of creating documentation. But I was running into the same issue she described: overcomplicating the process in my head. There's a way to create SOPs without taking a ton of time. I'm using [Loom](https://www.loom.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to record a quick video of myself explaining the process, what it is, why it's important, and what exactly are the steps that need to be completed, showing these steps on my screen. Loom AI can then take your video content and turn it into an SOP with a single click. I was floored when I figured this out. When I review the SOP that Loom auto-generated, it usually needs very few tweaks. Maybe something was misunderstood, and I have to edit it, but usually it's pretty accurate. ![Example SOP from Loom](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/07/annabyang-solopreneur-standard-operating-procedures-01-1.png) Image source: author screenshot The other interesting thing is that sometimes Loom will include in the SOP things I didn't explicitly say, but are still best practices. For example, make sure you have a standard file naming convention. Not only that, the SOPs are generated in the same format every time, with the following sections: - Objective: An overview of the process and its purpose - Key Steps: Step-by-step instructions, as a bullet point list - Cautionary Notes: Things to watch out for, such as common mistakes - Tips for Efficiency: Things to make the work better, such as reviewing the process - Link to the Loom On the podcast, Bonnie Christine says: > "This is freedom. We're talking about those little tiny things we're doing, that we have in our heads... and we create this SOP library. Even if you don't have anybody in your business working for you yet. You're going to create a little training, and then you're going to give that to someone else as their standard operating procedure. You can so easily bring in someone who's willing to help you." I've gotten in the habit of recording a Loom video and generating an SOP every time I create a new process or touch an existing process. If I have five minutes to spare, that's all I need. Since I started, I've already accumulated a few dozen SOPs. ## Organize Your SOPs Once I've created the SOP using Loom AI, I put it into my Google Drive. I just copy the SOP from Loom AI and paste it into a Google Doc. Because the SOP includes a link to the Loom video, I can easily go back and review the video later. If a process changes, I simply record a new video and replace the existing SOP with a new one that Loom generates. The problem with this is organizing the docs. Sure, I could put them into subfolders in Google Drive, like "Project Management" or "Record Keeping." But for some SOPs, it's not always obvious how that particular SOP should be organized, especially if it's something small that may pertain to more than one area of my business. Not only that, but what if I wanted to pass along *everything* related to using Trello (which is what I use for project management)? Those SOPs might span multiple folders and would be hard to locate. So, instead of trying to organize my SOPs within Google Drive, I organize them within Airtable. This would also work in something like Notion or even a spreadsheet. Airtable is linked directly to Google Drive, so every new SOP shows up automatically in Airtable. Then, I add categories in Airtable, such as "Website" or "Bookkeeping" — but I can add more than one category. Each record has a link to the Google Doc and the Loom video. By organizing my SOPs this way, if I know that something is related to Trello (for example), but I can't quite remember the name of the SOP, I don't need to search my Google Drive for it. I can just go into Airtable, apply a filter, and look through the different documents. ![A list of SOPs in Airtable](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/07/annabyang-solopreneur-standard-operating-procedures-02.png) Image source: author screenshot Eventually, if I take on additional fractional help, I can share this Airtable base so that other people can view it. ## Treat Your Business Like a Business If you still want to put off getting started, consider this: the number of SOPs you need will never *decrease*. You'll only add more as your business grows, you take on new tools, or your work becomes more complex. In addition to running my business, I spend a lot of time creating resources for other freelancers, small businesses, or solopreneurs. One of the things I run into most often is that the people running these businesses focus on what they can deliver to their clients. That's certainly important and why they went into business in the first place. But they also need to consider how to run their business [*like a business*](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-minded-solopreneurs/). That means doing things not-very-exciting-yet-still-necessary things like creating standard operating procedures. If you're not sure where to start, just start. Use something like Loom, or [Scribe](https://get.scribehow.com/lp-1/?via=anna-burgess-yang&ref=blog.annabyang.com), or create a short template for yourself. Next time you touch a particular process, create the documentation. Eventually, you'll have this library of your SOPs. Your future self will thank you. *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ## What to Read Next: [Building a Business Allows You to Redefine WorkIt’s no longer about what other people want.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-3xuzmkqvn8ucwxqkshjrvq-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/building-business-redefine-work/) *Note: This article contains affiliate links, which means if you sign up, subscribe, whatever, I earn a small amount.* ### How to Evaluate Your Tech Stack as a Solopreneur URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/evaluate-solopreneur-tech-stack/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:37:28.000Z As a freelance writer, I pay for about 20 apps per month. Each subscription costs about $10 - $20, but it definitely adds up. Because I'm very willing to pay for tools if they help my business, I also have to consider that sometimes they no longer serve their original purpose. Maybe I don't use it the way I thought I would, or maybe my needs have changed. Many tools entice subscribers with an annual discount, and I'll often jump on that. Usually, I'll pay for one month of the tool to play around with it, and then switch to annual if I think it's worth the cost. But after the additional year of having access to the tool, I need to determine if it's still worth the cost come renewal time. Here are the questions I ask myself when I evaluate my solopreneur tech stack. ## Does the tool still meet my needs? Because I often sign up for annual subscriptions, my needs can change a lot within a year. I might be really excited about a tool in the beginning, but my interest wanes over time. Or, as I dig into it more, I find that it doesn't quite fit into [my day-to-day process](https://blog.annabyang.com/keep-track-of-freelance-work/). Sometimes I'll find that I'm doing a lot of "workarounds" — like supplementing the tool with *another* tool, because it doesn't fully meet my need. In other cases, I *thought* I would use the tool in one way (future-planning-me), and never got around to the project. If you frequently wish that a tool could do more than it does, or if you mostly ignore it, it probably isn't the right fit. ## Is the tool worth the cost? Because many tools are cheap, it's easy to say "yes" to the monthly cost. But that cost is only worth it if the tool **saves you time** or otherwise makes your life easier. I I place a premium on my free time, so for me, I usually ask myself: "Can this tool save me at least an hour of time every month?" If so, then it's probably worth the [investment in the tool](https://blog.annabyang.com/paying-for-tools-as-a-solopreneur/). A lot of tools offer free trials in the beginning, but I find that's often not enough time to evaluate the tool. I want to *really* get in the weeds and make sure the tool works with my process. If I haven't determined that by the end of the trial period, but I think the tool still has potential, I'll pay for a one-month subscription. At the end of the month, if I think the tool is worth the cost, I'll switch to an annual subscription. But sometimes, over the course of the year, my interest in the tool declines. Maybe I *thought* I'd use it more frequently than I actually ended up using it. I'm often the victim of "shiny new object" syndrome because I love tools and will eagerly sign up if I think they'll save me time. By the time the annual subscription renewal rolls around, I have to take a good, hard look at my use of the tool. If it didn't live up to its promise and didn't save me as much time as I thought, I need to cancel. I've also had tools that raise their pricing without adding *any* additional features. That usually makes me angry: I signed up based on a cost vs. benefit analysis. If the tool isn't giving me any additional benefits, I don't want to pay more. A price increase is sure to send me on the hunt for other options. This happened with a [customer relationship management (CRM) tool](https://blog.annabyang.com/system-to-maintain-relationships/) I was using. The price increase was substantial, so I canceled. In that case, I can only assume that the company was trying to move upmarket, and I was no longer the target customer. ## What other options are on the market? Here's the thing about tools and apps: new options *constantly* emerge. And sometimes new tools are either cheaper or better (or both). If you're not using a tool as much as you thought, or you wish it could do other things, you should explore your options. A really good example of this is note-taking apps (such as [Otter.ai](http://otter.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Fathom](https://fathom.video/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), or [Fireflies.ai](https://fireflies.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)). These apps are all very similar. I'm paying for Otter, but Fathom has a free version. When I learned this, I had to ask myself: "Is the free version of Fathom enough for me? Or do I need the additional functionality of Otter's paid version?" In the end, I stuck with Otter, but with any tool, it's good to be aware of competitors. If you're paying annually, set a reminder on your calendar about a month before a tool renews. Spend some time researching alternatives. If any look good, give them a test run. I say a month before renewal because testing out new tools can take some time. I also think switching comes at a cost. Let's say a tool is *slightly* cheaper per month. But you also have to spend time learning the tool and changing your processes. When you take that into consideration, is the switch still worth it? [What Does Full-Time Mean as a Freelancer?Determine the maximum amount of work you can take on.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-mqtuwk0_wceeq6kvh5dpjq-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/full-time-freelancer/) ## Can the tool grow with you? One tricky aspect of growing a business is that growth isn't linear. You may experience a sudden boost in work that changes how you use a particular tool. A lot of tools have tiered plans, meaning you can upgrade to access more features. That's ideal because (assuming features meet your needs), you don't have to make a switch. With many of my tools, I started with free plans and then upgraded to paid plans as needed. In some cases, I'm now on Premium plans because I rely on the tool *that much*. If the tool only has two options — free or paid — you may find that you outgrow the paid version. Tools like this often do one very specific thing. Most of the tools I use now have multiple paid tiers, so I know I can access additional functionality if I need to. That being said, you should evaluate the higher tiers just like you would evaluate any *new* tool. In some cases, the paid tiers don't have what you need. I've run across several tools recently that have "upgraded" plans that only include AI features that [I don't need or want](https://blog.annabyang.com/protect-writing-business-in-ai-world/). Those AI features aren't going to help me expand my business, so they're not worth paying for. ## All-in-one vs. multiple tools For many people, an all-in-one is the ULTIMATE tool. They can open a single app and do everything they need. My take? These tools usually fail to live up to their promise. Instead of doing a few things *really* well, they do a lot of things *sort of* well. I'd rather have the best tool for the job than settle for something mediocre simply to have fewer tools. One of my must-have features for almost any tool is [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* integration. That way, I can connect the tool with other tools using Zapier. [My tech stack](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/my-tech-stack/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) includes tools like Trello, Airtable, Calendly, Otter.ai, Todoist, and more — all of which fill specific roles in my business. I find that the better the tool at its job, the less I need *other tools* to supplement the work. Or, they'll be less of a drain on my time. And if you're a solopreneur or a small business, your time is **everything**. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### Hiring a Freelancer? Here's How to Get the Most Out of the Relationship URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/effective-freelancer-relationship/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:33:51.000Z If you're not quite ready for a full-time hire, freelancers can fill a specific need within your growing company. Collaboration is critical for an effective freelancer relationship. You can't hand something over to a freelancer and expect the exact result you have in mind without communication and treating the freelancer as a part of your team. But a client-freelancer relationship is different from an employer-employee relationship. Freelancers are running their own small business (even if it's a business of one!) and are often working with multiple clients. Even though freelancers aren't employees, you can treat the relationship like a partnership. Freelancers should be invested in your success, because that means they've done their job — and can hopefully form a long-term working arrangement. If you want the most out of your freelancer, you have to clearly identify what you're looking for, find the right freelancer, and then treat the freelancer as both a part of your team and an independent professional. ## How to Find Freelance Talent Before you [start your freelancer search](https://blog.annabyang.com/hire-a-niche-freelance-writer/), you should know *exactly* what you need. Freelancers have a wide range of skills, from generalist to incredibly niche. For example, I'm a freelance writer for financial technology companies, but I don't do strategy. I'm only executing on a client's already-existing strategy. That works for some companies, but not others — some also need strategy help. A lot of people post on LinkedIn, something like "I'm looking for a freelancer with experience in XYZ." That approach is almost guaranteed to get you *hundreds* of responses to sift through, and many of them won't be good. There's a huge range of freelance skills, and you'll find yourself reviewing tons of portfolios, looking for a potential good match. A better strategy is to ask people you know, such as fellow entrepreneurs. You could also ask in a community (provided the community doesn't also serve freelancers who'll jump at the chance to send you a portfolio). You can search for freelancers on LinkedIn using keywords. Clients find me by searching for "fintech writer" because that's my area of expertise. If you find a few freelancers, you can review their portfolios first and *then* reach out to your top candidates. You'll save a ton of time by targeting your search and talking to a few freelancers, versus reviewing everyone who replies to a job posting. Even if you're not in the market for a freelancer right now, but know you may need one in the future, be on the lookout. Many freelancers promote themselves and their services. If you see someone who might be a good fit, bookmark their profiles to reach out in the future. ## Set Expectations About the Working Relationship My relationship with each client is unique. Some give me a very detailed outline to follow and some give me nothing more than a topic and expect me to run with the idea. Either is fine with me — but it's important to [discuss your expectations](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-scope/) when you first talk with the freelancer. I also have clients who want me to provide suggestions or push back if I don't agree with the deliverable's approach (and then it's an open discussion/collaboration). Others want me to follow the outline exactly as written. You have to ask yourself: do you want the freelancer to guide the deliverable, or do you expect them to take direction? It changes the vibe of the relationship. I'm fine working either way, but some freelancers may strongly prefer one or the other. If that's the case, you need to make sure you and the freelancer can work well together. You'll also want to discuss communication and, specifically, [response times](https://blog.annabyang.com/instant-communication-in-the-workplace/). Because freelancers are working with multiple clients, they may not respond as fast as an internal employee would. On the flip side, when the freelancer delivers something to you, you'll want to commit to reviewing it and providing feedback within a specific timeframe (such as a week). Also, talk to the freelancer about any internal tools you may want them to use, such as a project management system or Slack. One of my freelance friends protects her peace by refusing to use Slack with any of her clients. If Slack is the primary conversation tool for any of her potential clients, they need to have a conversation about how they'll communicate effectively. ## A Two-Way Street of Respect Some clients treat their freelancers like an afterthought. And while they certainly aren't as visible as your employees, they are contributing to your overall business goals. I ensure I'm transparent about my availability and [communicate any delays](https://blog.annabyang.com/tips-to-avoid-missing-client-deadlines/) well in advance (though I try exceptionally hard to always deliver on time). I expect clients to pay on time, set reasonable deadlines, and communicate clearly. We need to have mutual respect to have a solid foundation for collaboration. If you've never worked with a freelancer before, create a process for approving invoices and paying the freelancer. The freelancer shouldn't have to chase down payment. Of course, you want the freelancer to respect the working relationship also. Review testimonials from other clients and look for signs that the freelancer is reliable and turns in quality work. ## Treat the Freelancer Like a Partner The best freelancers become an extension of your team. They take feedback in stride and incorporate your comments into future deliverables. The freelancer should *want* to see a good outcome, whether it's for a specific project or ongoing work. Your success is their success. Share feedback with your freelancer, especially as you start to see results from their work. Unlike employees, freelancers don't get performance reviews: they often have no idea how their work has impacted a business. They can continue to improve their work the more feedback you give. Plus, sharing success metrics validates their work and helps freelancers refine their strategies to better serve you. If possible, let the freelancer share the outcomes of your work together in their portfolio. The freelancer is helping you grow, so in return, you can help them grow their own business. [A Freelancer’s Journey From Cheap Projects to Niche ExpertA peek behind the scenes of a thriving freelance writing business.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*9_KmhL8qHjeWomkVunavcA.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancers-journey-to-niche-expert/) --- *Subscribe to my* [*newsletter*](https://newsletter.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for tips to make your day better and make your life easier.* ### 5 Things to Include in Your Freelance Contracts to Protect Yourself URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-contract-protect-yourself/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:00:06.000Z Freelancers have mixed opinions about contracts. Enforcing a contract is challenging, as it often requires an attorney and money. On the other hand, that’s the worst-case scenario (like not getting paid). Contracts are great for outlining the scope of a project. If a client asks you to do something additional, you point back to the contract as a reference point. There are a lot of standard contracts on the internet and they work just fine. But I used to work as an executive at a software company, and I *wrote* contracts for custom projects. As a result, I know how to protect myself — and how to write freelancer contract terms that are favorable to me. Here are some things you should always include in your contracts ## 1) The right to include the work in your portfolio Your portfolio is one of your greatest assets as a freelancer. More than likely, a client will [scope out your portfolio](https://blog.annabyang.com/hire-a-niche-freelance-writer/) before ever reaching out. Your portfolio speaks to your skills, past experiences, and the type of work you can do. You *want* clients to look at your portfolio and envision what you could create for them. As a freelance writer for tech companies, a *lot* of my work is ghostwritten. But I still want to include it in my portfolio as an example of what I can do. I include the following clause in my contracts: > Contractor reserves the right to publicly disclose its business relationship with Client. Contractor may mention Client in all forms of press and media, describe the kinds of projects done for Client and mention Customer and use information in any form, including sales presentations, pitches, and videos. Some clients explicitly ask me to strike this clause, and I will. I’ll ask if they’re willing to add language that I can publicly disclose upon obtaining written permission first. It’s an extra step, but it at least leaves the door open that I could include the work in my portfolio. My one exception to the above clause is if I’m ghostwriting social media for someone. In that case, my contract explicitly states that I *won’t* disclose the nature of the relationship. It’s different, in my opinion. When I’m writing something like a long-form blog post, there’s a reasonable expectation that the person bylined isn’t the writer, as many companies have content teams. But writing LinkedIn posts for someone is more like a representation of that person, and I respect that relationship. ## 2) How many meetings you’ll attend When you’re a freelancer, time is *literally* money. If you don’t outline how much time you’ll spend with clients, you could find yourself getting dragged onto endless calls. In my project scope, I outline that I’ll do one call per deliverable. It can be an internal call or an external call with a subject-matter expert. Since I’m a writer, if it’s a longer deliverable, I’ll do two calls. My contract also specifies a rate for additional calls, if they’re requested. With some clients, I’ll also include one strategy call per month. My language for this is pretty straightforward: > Each deliverable can include one (1) 30-minute live meeting or interview per 1500 words. Requests for additional meetings or interviews will be billed at **$75 per 30-minute meeting.** ## 3) Rollover limitations for retainers Retainers offer a lot of stability for freelancers since you have a predictable amount of work each month. However, they can also be a giant headache if you don’t structure them well. Without some type of use-it-or-lose-it policy, you can end up owing clients a lot of work. I worked for two different marketing agencies, both of which had variations of retainer agreements with clients. One agency had a fixed number of deliverables per month, and deliverables could only roll forward one additional month. So, for example, if clients had four blog posts per month but didn’t approve any ideas, the next month, they would have eight blog posts. But if they still didn’t approve ideas, the four blog posts from the first month would expire. The second agency had retainers that were for a specific time period (such as three or six months). Clients could use their allotted work in a variety of ways, but it *had* to be used by the end of the contract period. It didn’t have to be delivered — but the ideas at least had to be approved so someone could start working on the project. Personally, I do very few retainers. I don’t like the idea that undelivered work from one month rolls into the following month. In that way, I’m losing out: I’ve reserved space for the client in one month and now have to give them more time in the second month — which prevents me from taking on other work. Almost all of my work as a freelancer [is ad hoc](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/). No matter how you structure your retainer, make certain there’s a definite end or expiration date for the agreed-upon work. ## 4) Limits on hours for deliverables I don’t like hourly work for several reasons. If you’re efficient, you’re punished. If you work slowly, clients may question the hours you’re putting in. I was chatting with a freelancer friend recently about pricing a project for a client. She thought each deliverable would take 6–8 hours. I asked her if she thought she’d get faster over time (since she was hoping for a long-term relationship). She said yes. In this case, hourly pricing eventually doesn’t work in her favor. Instead, you can charge a flat rate for “up to X hours.” In my friend’s example, she might charge $800 for *up to* 8 hours. Then state an hourly rate for anything above 8 hours. If it takes less than 8 hours, you’re still paid the same. And if it takes *more* than 8 hours, you charge more. You’ll want to specify that clients need to approve additional hours in writing. You don’t want to send them a bill and then have them contest the hours. When I did custom project management work, before my freelancing days, I’d notify clients when they’d used up 80% of their allotted hours *if* I thought the project was going to run over. If you’re tracking projects by hours up to a cap, you’ll need to keep an accounting of how you’re spending your hours so you can justify overages. You’ll also want to think about *why* you’ve gone over the estimated hours. If your estimate was bad, it’s hard to ask clients for more money. They are [expecting a specific deliverable](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-scope/) based on a specific budget. But if you’ll exceed the hours because the client has been difficult or asked for a lot of changes, then it’s completely fair to bill for the extra time. ## 5) Payment isn’t dependent upon final approval If a client’s [payment is due](https://blog.annabyang.com/getting-paid-as-a-freelancer/) upon final approval of a deliverable, you could be waiting forever. I’ve had clients take *months* to approve my work. But in the meantime, I’m not waiting for my money. You can structure payment terms in any of the following ways: - Invoice upon delivery of a first draft or first version (this is what I do) - A fixed payment schedule (like one payment per month for 3 months) - Invoice 2 weeks after delivery or upon approval, whichever is sooner The last is kind of a hybrid approach — you are giving clients a two-week time frame to review/approve. But if they take too long, you send an invoice. If you have a client that absolutely *insists* on not paying you until they approve, don’t have the entire payment be dependent on approval. Request a payment schedule based on milestones within the project timeline, like 50% upfront, 25% upon delivery of a first version, and 25% upon approval. [How to Start Freelancing: Day 1 and BeyondThe tools you need to launch your freelance business.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-34.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-how-to-start-freelancing.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-start-freelancing-day-1-and-beyond/) ## Modify your contracts as things come up My contracts are an ever-evolving document. As new situations come up, I’ll tweak the contract language to protect myself in the future. In some cases, the client requires me to sign *their* contract instead of mine. I’ll provide the client with language that outlines the project scope and ask them to include it in the contract (usually as Exhibit A). The language includes the payment schedule, the number of meetings I’ll attend, and anything else I want to include. You might find yourself agreeing to something that wasn’t in scope because the contract language wasn’t clear. That’s a good reason to go back and modify your contract. I have a few standard contract templates I use (depending on the project) and I’ll *immediately* add new language. You always want to be thinking of ways to better protect yourself in the future. --- *This article is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered Legal Advice. Consult a legal expert before making any major legal or contract decisions.* --- *Not sure where to get started with a client proposal or contract? You can check out this* [*free checklist*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/proposal-contract?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *and download a template to use.* ### Let AI Make the Boring Parts of Writing Production More Efficient URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-improve-writing-efficiency/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:37:14.000Z A marketer I know referred to his team as “quality absolutists.” I instantly loved that term because it’s how I feel about my work as a writer. Relentless commitment to quality — and therefore [skeptical of the promises of generative AI](https://blog.annabyang.com/protect-writing-business-in-ai-world/). That being said, I *am* intrigued by AI use cases that can speed up parts of the writing process. I’ve found a few small ways to incorporate AI into my work. The output is still all me, but I think of AI as a handy assistant (and one that needs a lot of supervision!) Here are some ways generative AI can be helpful for fellow quality absolutists. ## Research assistance (avoiding Google) Google’s search results have become a complete cesspool. I’m not getting the best results — I’m getting results with the best SEO. After scrolling past the ads, I’ll click into article after article, irritated by the lack of useful information. Sure, I could go to ChatGPT with my search. But I don’t trust the results due to AI hallucinations. I know from firsthand experience that if ChatGPT doesn’t know the answer, it’ll make something up. I have to independently verify what ChatGPT tells me, so it’s not a time saver. However, [Perplexity.ai](http://perplexity.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) cuts through the noise of Google *and* provides citations. I had to write an article for a client about “cost-benefit analysis.” In a pre-Perplexity world, I’d have started with Google. Instead, I started with Perplexity and got a nice summary. ![Search results from Perplexity.ai](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-ujqxh_cwduyyo4abtcpn2w-2.png) Source: My own screenshot I can see that one of the results is from Harvard Business School online, so I’d probably click to read more. I can also click on any citations to read a specific article. Perplexity also suggests additional searches, such as “What are the limitations of cost-benefit analysis?” to dive further into the topic. You can also limit your Perplexity searches to certain sources, such as academic journals, Reddit posts, or YouTube videos. Compared to Google, Perplexity is a much better search experience for the type of work I do. ## Connecting ideas within my own writing I’ve been writing online for years, with hundreds of thousands of published words across several sites. I’d *love* to be able to surface related ideas within my own notes. A lot of note-taking apps rely on proper categorization. You add tags or hashtags to find related ideas — which is hugely prone to human error. AI can do a better job by finding related ideas based simply on the content itself. This type of AI is emerging. [Notion](https://www.notion.so/product/ai?ref=blog.annabyang.com) has announced its version, a Q&A chatbot that searches your Notion docs. Google’s [Notebook LM](https://notebooklm.google/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) allows you to connect your Google docs in a personalized AI (though I find connecting sources to be very clunky). Personally, I use an app called [Reflect](https://reflect.app/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for my note-taking, research, and drafting. One of the best features is showing me related notes while I’m writing — without any prompting from me. Here’s an example as I was writing this article: ![Similar notes in the Reflect app](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-gtjrpk4mjiupa0fdflhp7a-2.png) Source: My own screenshot Based only on my draft, Reflect found three related articles I wrote (two have been published in The Writing Cooperative!). These become easy opportunities to link to my other published work. And since I keep notes about articles I read online, Reflect would also surface those. Here’s an example from an article I was drafting about remote work. Reflect found my notes from related articles. ![a screenshot of related notes in Reflect](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-xycsgfdevm13ocnyetgcra-2.png) Source: My own screenshot ## Repurpose long-form content into social posts Because I write so much online, I’m sitting on a treasure trove of social posts. But I have to take the time to turn my long-form content into something suitable for LinkedIn or Threads ([I’ve abandoned X/Twitter](https://blog.annabyang.com/downfall-of-twitter-impact-on-writers/)). Yes, writing a social post based on an article is easier than writing something from scratch. But it still requires brain energy to sift through the article. AI can do this faster, pulling out the best ideas in the form of a social post. ChatGPT could do this with a good prompt. You could feed it your entire article and ask it to chop the article up into a social post appropriate for a specific platform. I use an app called [Writer](https://writer.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). As an actual product (versus a chatbot) it’s a lot easier to use. I’ll drop in my article draft and use a “Highlights” feature to generate social posts. Here are the Writer results for a LinkedIn post based on a recent article I wrote: ![The highlights feature within the Writer app](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-rh7wbjqg0zbvehznanmvjw-2.png) Source: My own screenshot Of course, I’ll edit this before publishing it because it doesn’t sound like me. However, the idea is already there, and tweaking the output is a pretty quick process. ## Generate meta descriptions Another element of writing that simply takes time: creating a meta description. Like generating a social post, I’ve already done the hard work. Now I need something to appease the Google robots. I also use Writer for this, since it has a meta description generator. ChatGPT would also work. Here’s what it generated for a recent Medium article I wrote about LinkedIn. ![Example of meta description generator from the Writer app](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-j1p8qeqi0zwwr2ud7ynfbg-2.png) Image source: My own screenshot Some generative AI platforms, such as [Frase](https://frase.io/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) or [Copy.ai](https://www.copy.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), are specifically geared toward SEO. If you’re doing that type of writing, you might want to check out those platforms. [Use Generative AI Without Sacrificing QualityYou can benefit from generative AI without lowering quality.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-70.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-generative-ai-quality-absolutist-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/maintain-authentic-writing-voice-with-generative-ai/) ## AI is a complement, not a replacement There are other ways you can use AI to complement your writing. I use Midjourney to [generate AI images](https://blog.annabyang.com/writers-should-care-about-ai-art/) for my published articles, rather than selecting a stock photo. If you do anything with audio or video, you can use AI to chop a long-form recording into shorter snippets. In each of these instances, you’ve already done the creative work. You’ve written something or produced something unique and original — something *human.* AI is simply helping you re-format or repurpose it for various audiences and platforms. Full-blown generative AI, such as writing an entire article, creates a lot of noise and garbage on the internet. No amount of editing can replace the human experience of good writing. My crystal ball leads me to believe that quality writing will stand out **even more** in a world of generative AI. But I’m also a productivity nerd. I’m constantly looking for ways to be more efficient. If AI can speed up certain steps — without sacrificing quality — then I’ll gladly add it to my process. --- *Check out my free guide:* [*Manage Your Time + Content Across Multiple Platforms*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### 5 Red Flags That a Potential Client Doesn’t Know How to Work With Freelancers URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/red-flags-freelance-clients/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:00:17.000Z There’s a lot of advice out there for inexperienced freelancers. How much to charge, how to deal with difficult clients, how to manage your work. But the advice often overlooks that a *client* can also be inexperienced, meaning they’ve [never worked with a freelancer before](https://blog.annabyang.com/startups-working-with-freelancers/). A combo of an inexperienced freelancer and an inexperienced client *might* be fine… or it might be a disaster. An inexperienced client might not have the right expectations for a client-freelancer relationship. And an inexperienced freelancer can quickly lose control of the situation. If you’re a new freelancer, here are some red flags that a client hasn’t worked with freelancers before. If you decide to take on the client, you’ll probably have to guide the relationship more than other clients. Be prepared to assert your boundaries and the scope of the agreement. ## 1\. Asks for a resume Some potential clients will have a job posting, just like any other job, and indicate that the role is freelance. If the job posting requires a resume, that’s a huge red flag for me. It often means that the client thinks of the freelancer as a pseudo-employee, rather than an [independent professional](https://blog.annabyang.com/business-minded-solopreneurs/). Companies that regularly work with freelancers understand that most freelancers don’t maintain resumes. Prior employment might be completely irrelevant. And some freelancers have never had a 9–5 job. For me, personally, I do a lot of ad hoc work so my client list is *long.* If a prospective client asks for a resume, I’m not even sure what they’re expecting me to include. I’ve considered creating a PDF that says “Resume” at the top and the body of the document is a link to my portfolio. A prospective client might be irked by this, but I’ve never gained a client that asks for a resume anyway, so I have nothing to lose. Perhaps it would educate the prospective client that asking for a resume isn’t appropriate for a freelancer. In reality, I’ve stopped applying to freelance roles that ask for resumes. Freelancers don’t have resumes. They have portfolios and sample work. Experienced clients know this. ## 2\. Has a multi-step interview process If you’ve ever seen the TV show Mad Men, there’s a scene where a copywriter is interviewing for a job (Season 5, Episode 3). During the interview, he says, “You looked at my book. What more can I say?” I’ve had clients hire me without ever having a call with me. They look at my portfolio, reach out, and sign a contract. At most, clients might have a single call to [learn more about my work and my process](https://blog.annabyang.com/top-questions-clients-ask-freelance-writer/). If you’re being hired for substantial, ongoing work, you *might* expect a call with more than one stakeholder. But outside of that, requests for multiple calls are similar to a request for a resume. The prospective client is treating the process like hiring an employee, not partnering with a freelancer. I had a company ask for **three** interviews. Each interview was nearly identical to the last: same questions, but with a different person internally. Not only was it not a good use of my time, it wasn’t a good use of *their* time. They could have just shared notes from the prior call to review my responses. Looking back, I wish I’d pulled myself out of the process when the company requested a third call. My gut was telling me that they were putting me through the paces like an employee. (Same company also asked for a resume…) Additionally, requests for multiple calls show a lack of respect for your time. When you’re a freelancer, your time is *literally* money. If the prospective client is demanding multiple calls just to get the job, chances are they won’t respect your time once you’re hired either. ## 3\. Asks for free work Never give a client free work. Ever. I’ve known freelancers who have written sample blog posts or designed a sample strategy for a potential client for free. The freelancer doesn’t get the job *and* the client still uses or publishes the work. At best, the client isn’t respecting your business. At worst, it’s a slimy way for the client to get free work they can later use. A portfolio should be enough for most clients. If they want to test out the working relationship, they can pay you for a test project. I make clients sign an entire agreement before I do any work. My agreement has language around [delivering ad hoc work](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/) (which is basically the same as a test project). I’ve had clients only give me a single assignment and that’s fine. At least I’m compensated for my time and effort. [How to Start Freelancing: Day 1 and BeyondThe tools you need to launch your freelance business.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-35.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-how-to-start-freelancing-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-start-freelancing-day-1-and-beyond/) ## 4\. Vague project details Inexperienced clients often know they need help from a freelancer, but can’t articulate the details of the project. The problem is that you might end up with misaligned expectations. The client is expecting some specific output and you’re not aware of the expectations. You could do everything right, and the client would still be unhappy with the result. Experienced clients know that they need to give freelancers the context they need to get a good result. I’ve been able to navigate inexperienced clients by having them follow the [process I use for all projects](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/). Sometimes it works, and we’re able to create a good working relationship. Sometimes it doesn’t. Even after my guidance, the client still doesn’t understand how to work with a freelancer. You can guide a client through a project, but make sure that everything is part of your contract. You can outline things like: - Timelines for delivery - What you need from the client to get started (like an approved project brief) - Any revisions you might make if the client isn’t satisfied. But be aware that this is harder when you’re a new freelancer and don’t have a ton of client experience yet. You might not be able to anticipate potential issues and include them in your contract. ## 5\. Lack of respect for your boundaries Inexperienced clients expect immediate responses or seem irritated by your working hours. They expect you to join a lot of meetings, uncompensated. To be fair, *experienced* clients can do this also, but it’s far less likely. If clients are used to working with freelancers, they know that freelancers [control their own time](https://blog.annabyang.com/career-importance-control-over-time/). The best clients ask *me* how *I* like to work, rather than expecting me to conform to the way *they* work. This is a really easy one because you can set expectations upfront and even write them into your contract. For example, you can let clients know that your turnaround time is a specific number of days, or that you only work during certain hours. My email signature says: > “Because I work asynchronously, my response times may vary. Please do not respond outside of your working hours and I’ll do the same.” My contract also explicitly states how many meetings I’ll be joining. Some clients have a monthly call, and some have a call per deliverable. Anything above that, and the time is billable. Remember, you have the right to control your time as a freelancer. If you want to work a lot of hours and be available to your clients, it should be your decision. Not because the client demands it. ## Inexperienced clients can turn into a rocky relationship If you see any of the red flags above, you can outright ask: “Have you worked with a freelancer before?” If the answer is no, you need to prepare yourself to address any of the potential issues that may arise around boundaries or an unclear scope. If that makes you uncomfortable or you’re not sure you can wrangle the client, it’s probably not a good fit. The amount you’re paid might not be aligned with how much time and energy you put into the relationship. Of course, I fully recognize that if you’re a new freelancer, you might not have a choice. We’ve all taken on less-than-ideal clients because we need the money. If that’s the case, the best thing you can do is try to protect yourself in your contract. Take the work, if you need it. Maintain your boundaries, if you don’t need it. And keep in mind that you can always break up with a client later if the client ends up being too difficult. [Don’t Apologize For Your Business DecisionsStay true to the customers you serve and the boundaries you’ve set.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*c9KdXjeA7IUZ4s4TSgV0VA.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/dont-apologize-for-your-business-decisions/) --- *New to freelancing? Check out my* [*pricing guide*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/freelance-pricing?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for freelancers. I trace my entire pricing history (from the earliest days!) and explain how I currently think about pricing.* ### How to Recover from Career Setbacks (Even if the Setback is Your Decision) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/recover-from-career-setbacks/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:44:39.000Z I’ve had two major setbacks in my career. The first one was my decision. The second one wasn’t. I was on track to run a company. When the CEO retired in a few years, I would have become COO. Looking even further into the future, a role as CEO might have been a possibility someday. At one point in my life, that’s what I wanted. Instead, I decided to completely change careers. I quit my job. I took a salary that was about 1/3 of what I was earning previously. Financially, it was a setback — even though it had been my choice. My family’s financial goals had to be put on hold. The second time was 18 months later. I was at a marketing agency, in a role that was a terrible fit for me (and I knew it). I approached my manager, expecting to find an amicable way to exit my job. Instead, I was kicked out the door. I found myself immediately with *no* salary. The thing that got me through both of these setbacks? Clarity. I knew the next steps and [moved forward](https://blog.annabyang.com/longer-career-more-clarity/). If you experience a career setback, you need to make a decision. But here’s the thing: it doesn’t need to be your *final* decision. You just need a game plan for moving forward. ## Tell yourself you deserve better You can’t dwell on the past when you experience a career setback. If you made the decision yourself, you need to stand by your decision. You made the decision for a reason. If the decision was made for you, you can’t ruminate on the “why.” Companies lay people off all the time — often for reasons that have nothing to do with performance. Or the job was a bad fit (as was my experience). You can’t move forward unless you *know* that your next move will elevate your career. Even if you’re scared or nervous about the unknown, tell yourself: I deserve better. I *will* find something better. I quit my job because it was the [best thing for my mental health](https://blog.annabyang.com/free-yourself-from-a-toxic-work-environment/). I lost a job that was a terrible fit for me (and I knew it). Both times I told myself: I deserve to be appreciated for my work. And I wasn’t getting that. ## Find support Navigating the days after a career setback can be really hard — even more so if it wasn’t your decision. When I chose to quit my job and pivot to a new career, I was filled with imposter syndrome. I left a software company to work at a marketing agency. Every day, I felt like I was a burden to my team because there were *so* many things I didn’t know. And when I lost my job, I felt like I’d failed. Even though I knew the job was a bad fit, I’d always been good at everything I tried. What had I done wrong? Colleagues, mentors, and peers can [lift you up](https://writingcooperative.com/how-a-writing-community-gave-me-support-as-a-new-writer-b9c79bb028d0?ref=blog.annabyang.com) in times of doubt. Your *head* may know that you deserve better but your *heart* is telling you a different story. You need other people to reinforce the message: it’s not you. You’re amazing. And you’ll find something better. If you’re feeling insecure, find a community of like-minded people. For me, that was a writing community. The group generously offered advice and support. It would have been a lonely and more confusing road if I’d traveled alone. ## Set a (realistic) goal Whether you lose a job or leave a job, you have to ask yourself: where do you want to be? If you walked away from a lot of money, is the goal more money? More balance? More fulfilling work? If you lose your job, what’s the next step for you? Another, similar job? Or is it time to try something new? My financial goal was pretty simple. My family made a lot of sacrifices for me to quit an executive job. I wanted to work my way back to an income that gave us more breathing room. I began [freelancing on the side](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancers-journey-to-niche-expert/). After 8 months at my first marketing agency job, I went to another agency that paid a lot more. I was able to quickly overcome my feelings as the “new kid” and leverage my (short) experience for better work. When I lost my job, it was the chance to pursue something that had been brewing inside me: the desire to go out on my own. Make no mistake: I would have preferred that the timing was *my* decision. But the door was wide open. I told my spouse that I would give it six months. I had a concrete goal: to replace the monthly salary of the job I lost. I replaced it within two months. If you put a timeframe around your goals, you’re more likely to meet them. [Life Goals Are More Than a To-Do ListChecking the boxes isn’t enough.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-mhbr67ge153zj9vt54sdjw-2.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/life-goals-are-more-than-a-to-do-list/) ## Find clarity and move forward You meet the goal. You’ve overcome the career setback. Now what? One goal should become the next goal. Getting back to even keel is obviously priority #1\. But where do you go from here? You’ve accomplished one goal. Now on to [the next goal](https://blog.annabyang.com/design-career-path-you-want/). I successfully pivoted to a new career. I successfully became a solopreneur. I successfully replaced my final employer’s salary and am on track to replace my executive salary. Does it mean that you’ll never face a setback again? Of course not. Life can really suck sometimes. Does it mean that you can’t regret a decision you made? Of course not. You may miss some things about the career you left behind. Or even a job you lost. You can change your mind again. You can start over again. You were able to rebuild once. You can do it again. --- *You can read about the future of work and career pivots on my* [*Substack*](https://annabyang.substack.com/)*.* ### LinkedIn’s “Takeaways” Feature Is a Terrible Use of Generative AI URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/linkedin-takeaways-generative-ai/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:29:11.000Z I recently noticed a new feature as I was scrolling through LinkedIn. At the bottom of a post, I saw a few buttons. One said “Takeaways” and the other was different with each post. ![Example of the takeaways button in LinkedIn](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-hyx8slfbicba-cae0_ls0q-jpeg-2.jpg) Source: My own screenshot Curious (and assuming the sparkle icon meant that AI was involved), I clicked on it. I was completely dismayed by the results. The AI-powered Takeaways stripped the post of anything interesting. I got a generic recap, in bullet point format, with a suggestion for me at the end, either to create my own post or explore more information. I immediately asked myself: what is LinkedIn even *doing?* Who thought **this** was a good use of generative AI? ## AI-powered takeaways remove the human story The most engaging posts on LinkedIn tell a story. Readers [connect with the post](https://blog.annabyang.com/prepare-to-go-viral/) because they can relate or have learned something. I tried the Takeaways on a [post from Aaron Wallace](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/aaron-wallace1992%5Fmost-companies-are-doing-linkedin-all-wrong-activity-7153147849881329665-zGU5?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop). He told a story about tagging companies in LinkedIn posts. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-mebqxi4hectotcty8cyc4q-2.png) Source: My own screenshot The AI-powered Takeaways were bland and, frankly, useless. ![the AI-powered takeaways generated by LinkedIn](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-yslhqgwmqahy8zjrhyc4ea-jpeg-2.jpg) Source: My own screenshot Aaron’s post was engaging. It caught my attention because he shared a specific example and the results. The AI-generated Takeaways told me very little because the original elements that “stopped the scroll” in my feed were gone. There was an action item for me at the bottom to “create a workflow” to monitor mentions. When I clicked on this, the workflow suggestion included products like Hootsuite to do the monitoring. However, a Google Search suggests that Hootsuite cannot do this for personal profiles. As the suggestion correctly deduced, I work with clients, but I’m not responsible for their social media at all. So the suggestion wasn’t useful. I tried Takeaways on another post. This one was a very personal story from a woman who recently. Due to a terrible parental leave policy from her husband’s employer, he was headed back to work a mere seven days after their daughter was born. Her post was paragraphs long, lamenting the lack of good [parental leave policies](https://www.workbetter.media/p/how-work-can-support-parents?ref=blog.annabyang.com) at many companies. The Takeaways summarized her impassioned post with the following bullet point: “Paternity leave is a crucial support for parents and children.” It was an insult to the original post. So what have I gained from the Takeaways? Nothing. I’ve received a shallow copy of the original post, devoid of anything compelling. ## The proliferation of AI-generated content on LinkedIn According to LinkedIn, the AI-powered Takeaways feature is being slowly rolled out to users. LinkedIn [states](https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a1709013?ref=blog.annabyang.com): *“This feature helps you by providing personalized takeaways, content summaries, and suggestions related to the post you’re viewing.”* Someone at LinkedIn has an odd interpretation of “helpful.” I’ve noted that the Takeaways feature only shows up on longer posts. Understandable, since it would be hard for generative AI to summarize something short. The Takeaways button appears after the first two lines of the post, where a reader would typically click “More” to read the full post. Does LinkedIn assume our attention spans have been reduced so much that we can’t even read a few hundred words? Will readers click “Takeaways” instead of “More”? The summaries don’t even reduce the length by much. In the case of Aaron’s post, the Takeaways *removed* the helpful part, which was his specific example and the results. LinkedIn has started to become a cesspool for AI-generated content. It started months ago with collaborative articles, encouraging people to contribute to earn a “Top Voice” badge. Might as well gamify the experience, right? I was skeptical the first time I was invited to contribute, especially when I noted that the conversation starters within such articles were created by AI. Because people were incentivized to contribute, they’d add their comments — even if they had no specific knowledge about the topic. The result? A pile of [garbage content](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/stop-publishing-garbage-on-the-internet/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Sometimes a few gems were sprinkled into the mix from well-meaning people who wanted to contribute. But, for the most part, people were quickly adding replies to earn their Top Voice badge. I’ve also noticed an increase in AI-generated comments on my own posts. Many people know that engaging with others is a path to growing your own audience on LinkedIn. You comment on posts, you show up in the feed, people might follow you. But AI-generated comments are a worthless tactic. No one is going to see the generic comments and think, “Wow, that’s someone I should *definitely* follow.” I’ve started blocking people who leave AI-generated comments on my posts because they’re so annoying. There is no shortcut to becoming interesting on LinkedIn. Nothing is improved through volume if that volume has nothing to say. ## LinkedIn benefits from users’ interactions with AI — even if users don’t Right now, I’m most annoyed by the Takeaways because they’re disruptive to my LinkedIn feed. Seeing them on a majority of posts makes the scrolling experience much worse. But beyond that, I’m concerned about LinkedIn’s generative AI push. Every time we, as users, interact with AI on LinkedIn, we’re training its massive dataset. Anyone contributing valuable content to collaborative articles has donated their knowledge to LinkedIn. Those responses can be ingested to improve generative AI in the future. LinkedIn is owned by Microsoft and Microsoft has a significant investment in OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. Has LinkedIn uncovered a clever way to feed OpenAI’s large language model with additional data not found elsewhere on the internet? Microsoft would benefit in such a scenario. Clicking on Takeaways is also undoubtedly training the AI in some way. Who clicks on it? Do they end up taking action on the suggestion at the bottom? Do they use AI further to aid in the suggestion? I’m concerned that LinkedIn will eventually punish me for refusing to play the AI game. Will my posts be de-prioritized in the algorithm because I haven’t contributed to AI articles? Will LinkedIn favor those who click on Takeaways and follow the suggestions over those who don’t? ## The wrong place for generative AI As a professional writer, I have [Opinions about generative AI](https://writingcooperative.com/protect-your-writing-business-in-a-world-of-ai-958c1e641d5d?ref=blog.annabyang.com) as a whole. I use generative AI to do some light brainstorming. I use it to turn my long-form articles (including Medium) into short social posts — though I rewrite the output before publishing, so it sounds like me. AI creates transcripts from my meetings and provides sentence suggestions when my writing gets wordy. There’s definitely a place for generative AI in the world. But it doesn’t replace human ideas. And that’s where LinkedIn is getting it all wrong. Part of what I’ve always liked about LinkedIn is the wealth of knowledge other people share. I do my part and [contribute to the conversation](https://blog.annabyang.com/linkedin-client-acquisition/). Some people post *really* unique ideas. Or have fun, engaging personalities. LinkedIn’s Takeaways feature represents the worst type of use case for generative AI: replacing interesting content with uninteresting content. Removing the human element. It makes generative AI skeptics even more skeptical because they’ll roll their eyes and groan at the output. I want to spend my time on platforms (like Medium) that shun the use of generative AI to create content. That value human writing. I fear that LinkedIn is headed in the wrong direction and will soon become a feed overrun with generic AI-generated posts. Robots talking to other robots. Generative AI has its place. But replacing original content with a generic summary won’t increase or improve engagement, despite what LinkedIn seems to think. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*Manage Your Time + Content Across Multiple Platforms*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### From a Career in Tech to Professional Writer: A Full-Circle Journey URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/tech-career-to-professional-writer-journey/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:25:03.000Z I never thought I could make a career out of writing. I graduated from college with an English degree, with no intention of ever using my writing skills. I chose that field of study because I loved to write. Back then, a college degree was a prerequisite for many of the “good jobs,” even though the exact major didn’t matter so much. I was able to spend four years reading and writing my way through my classes. At the time, the only viable career choices for actual writers seemed to be “write a novel” or “work for a news publication.” Neither were appealing to me. I didn’t have a story inside me, and working as a journalist seemed to be low-paying. Instead, I went into tech, spending 15 years at a software company. I kept writing. Without knowing it, I was building the foundation for a [career in writing](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancers-journey-to-niche-expert/). I did some things right; some things wrong. But the interesting part of this story is that I never *planned* to be a professional writer, in all those years. And now I am. ### Writing while working at a job in tech Anyone will tell you that the ability to write well will enhance any career, and it’s true. I could communicate clearly with colleagues and customers. But my first foray into writing for my employer was creating user guides. Some guides existed, but they were terrible. A few weeks into my new job, I offered to rewrite them. This turned into a monumental task, with the guides eventually reaching hundreds of pages. Was it interesting writing? Not at all. The only creative decisions I made were around the guides’ organization. I was writing for clarity. A few years into the role, I started a quarterly company newsletter. This allowed me to infuse a *bit* more creativity, but not much. I also wrote for the company’s blog. Outside of my job, I was writing a lot. When my son was born in 2009, I started a “mommy blog.” I posted updates about life with an infant several times per week, sharing the links on Facebook. In the back of my mind, I wondered if I would get “discovered” like some of the major bloggers at the time (Glennon Doyle, Jen Hatmaker, and The Bloggess). None of my posts ever went viral. Admittedly, I knew nothing about writing on the internet and [writing for an audience](https://blog.annabyang.com/path-between-audience-income/). Eventually, I spun my writing off into a new blog — one that I still update to this day. What began as a deeply personal writing project, a way for me to process the stillbirth of my daughter, eventually became a way to connect with others who had experienced something similar. But, to this day, it’s still a personal project and not something I make money from. ### Getting a job as a writer I had no idea that writing could be a well-paying profession until I thought about changing careers in 2021. I wanted to leave tech, but didn’t know what else I could do. I felt deeply underskilled, having spent my career at a small company that lagged behind its competitors. Somehow I stumbled into content marketing. I’d never heard the term before. As it turns out, my years spent in tech gave me experiences that not many other writers had. I spent about 18 months at marketing agencies with mediocre salaries, while my employers raked in millions of dollars from clients. I knew how much was being charged for my work — and the portion I received as compensation. Eventually, I [struck out on my own](https://www.workbetter.media/p/in-the-wild?ref=blog.annabyang.com) as a freelance writer. And my business has been very successful. ### The writing I do now It sometimes boggles my mind that people pay me to write, something I didn’t think was possible back in 2006 when I graduated from college. Granted, writing online has changed *drastically*. What I do now may not have even been possible or sustainable back then, writing for pennies per word. But I wonder where I’d be now if I’d taken that path. Or if I’d taken the time to really examine the success of early online bloggers. While I make a living from writing every day, it often doesn’t feel like *my* work. I’m writing for clients. Most of my clients are tech companies, so I’m relying on the knowledge from my prior career. Often, I’m ghostwriting. The results reflect the client’s needs, not my own ideas. When I made the shift to content marketing and journalism, I began writing elsewhere online (Medium, Substack, a newsletter, and Gumroad). Do these things really make money yet? Nope! But I’ve learned more about building an audience and know that, outside of getting lucky and going viral), it will take time. I see incremental progress as a win. I started with a love of writing and eventually came full circle, doing work I enjoy. But not work I *love*. I have a tiny gap left to fill to close the circle: getting paid for *my* work. But now I’m determined. I can see the possibilities: the possibilities that didn’t exist when I was younger. And, if I’m being honest, I was too afraid to chase. I see writers come and go online all the time. They’ll start to show up in my social feeds, engaging and sharing their work. A few months will pass and they’ll disappear, either because they lost interest or didn’t see any results. I’m in it for the long haul. I’ve started to see momentum build from my work. New subscribers and followers are happening more frequently. People who want to read *my* work —and not solely my technical prowess or tips about tools and apps. The pennies add up. The Gumroad downloads. The paid Substack readers. I have a destination now, and I’m not going anywhere. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### How to Build a Freelance Project Management System URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:01:14.000Z When I first started freelancing, I tried out a *lot* of different project management tools. Some of them promised to be an all-in-one solution for contracts, invoicing, time tracking, and task management. None of them worked for me. I felt like I was forced into a box. They didn’t match how I think about project management. From my days as a product manager, I *knew* systems were critical. I also knew I’d have to build my own. Whether you’re new to freelancing or have a current process that isn’t working, here’s how to think about creating a truly **epic** project management system. ## Start early A lot of freelancers [start their journey](https://blog.annabyang.com/full-time-freelancer/) focusing on clients rather than systems. Understandably so — you need money! But you can quickly feel overwhelmed, especially if you’re managing multiple clients and projects. The earlier you can get started with a project management system, the better. You’ll be able to track your progress and ensure nothing slips through the cracks. I started thinking about systems as soon as I had two clients. By that point, I was already tracking multiple due dates per month. If you wait too long, you’ll be too swamped with client work. And that’s the worst time to try and build new systems. It’s too hard to manage client work *and* try to learn a new tool. I use Trello for project management because it follows how my brain thinks about work. If you don’t have a tool in mind, try several over a few weeks. Hopefully, one feels like a good fit — even if you’re not using all the features yet. [How to Juggle Multiple Clients as a Freelance WriterCreate systems to streamline your work.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w1200/2024/08/annabayng-juggle-clients.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/juggle-freelance-clients/) ## What to include Project management tools (Trello, Asana, ClickUp, Airtable, etc) can be really powerful. They can also be really intimidating. Some of them have templates you can start from, but they’re also a giant blank canvas. Sky’s the limit — but you have to know what you want. At a minimum, your project management system should help you keep track of a few things: clients, deliverables, and payments. I use [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) because of its flexibility and customization. ### 1\. Clients You’ll need a list of your clients and some basic information about them. In my system, I keep track of: - The primary contact (name, email address) - The date the contract was signed - How much the client is paying me - The payment terms (net 15, net 30, etc) - The type of project - If I’m actively working with the client ![Client view of Airtable](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-mguw1qhf-0xio7xczdt36a-2.png) Source: Author’s screenshot Plus a few additional fields, such as a link to the contract in my Google Drive. ### 2\. Deliverables Your project management system should keep track of your deliverables: what you’re sending to your client. You’ll want to tie each deliverable to a client in your project management system. That way, you can easily look back at all the work done for a single client. For each deliverable, you should keep track of: - The due date - The type of project (in my case, article, blog post, case study, etc) - Any specifications (in my case, expected word count) Airtable is my source of truth for everything related to freelancing. But I don’t think it’s great for project management, especially when I need to add notes, links to external sources, and collaborate with clients. I’ll add a deliverable to Airtable, but then I’ll work on the deliverable in Trello. ![Planning view in Trello](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-xsw_-rwuymq4d86y9s4jxa-2.png) Source: Author’s screenshot It’s always better to use the best tool for the job — even if that means [using multiple tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/paying-for-tools-as-a-solopreneur/). For me, Airtable is better at keeping track of my business, like clients and payments tied to deliverables. And Trello is better for working through my projects. [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* runs in the background. When I add a new deliverable record to Airtable, Zapier automatically adds a card to Trello with all of the information. That way, I’m not duplicating my work by adding the deliverable in two systems. ### 3\. Payments The last “must track” thing in your project management system is the [payment for the work delivered](https://blog.annabyang.com/getting-paid-as-a-freelancer/). You need a list of how much the client will pay you, when you will invoice, and when it is due. This *can* be tricky to track. For me, I have varying rates and payment terms. Some clients are billed once a month and some are invoiced as soon as I deliver work. Some payments are due within 15 days and some are due within 30 days. Every once in a while, a deliverable will have multiple payments, such as a portion due immediately and the balance due upon completion of the project. Airtable lets me keep track of all of this. I have a payments table, tied to my deliverables. When I add a new deliverable, I immediately add the payment information. ![Payments view in Airtable](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-03ollbjuqnsfuwbvpvl2ba-2.png) Source: Author’s screenshot I’ll regularly review my list of payments, especially when I’ve delivered work. I have a check box for “Invoiced” so I can keep track of the invoices that have been sent and what is outstanding. ## Follow your process Project management tools are often designed to handle really complicated projects, like multiple tasks split between teams. When it’s just you, you don’t need to build something complicated. For example, as a freelance writer, I need to research, outline, draft, and edit every deliverable. But I don’t set these up as separate tasks in Trello. I *know* where a project is at. But if you need a reminder or like checklists? Go for it. Instead, I think about work for the upcoming month. My Trello board is divided into lists: - **Incoming**: New requests from clients - **Next Month**: Work due in the next calendar month - **This Month:** Work due this month - **Done:** Work that I’ve delivered As I work through the month, my “This Month” list should get shorter. I have automation set up in Trello so at the beginning of the month, everything in my “Next Month” list moves into “This Month.” It works for me. It might not work for you. You’ll want to create a system that can easily tell you [what’s on your plate right now](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/), and what will be on your plate in the future — whatever that looks like. And tweak your system over time. I’ve changed my Trello process as my business has grown and I’m handling more projects. [Why Solopreneurs Need Standard Operating ProceduresTake the time to create documentation.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w1200/2024/07/solopreneur-standard-operating-procedures.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-you-need-standard-operating-procedures-for-your-solo-business/) ## Think about client-facing systems Most of my clients have their own project management tools and I’ll use theirs if asked. But I still include their work on my Trello board, because I have to see everything in one place. It’s not ideal, since I’m maintaining two systems, but I want to keep my clients happy. Sometimes, clients want to see my progress on their work. They want access to *my* Trello board: a shared view. If this comes up for you, you’ll need to think about how to give clients access. Obviously, I can’t give clients access to my full board and other client work. I have to separate it out. With any tool you choose, check how access works. Can you add clients? Can you restrict what they can see? Do you have to pay more for additional access? ## Build to scale Even though I built my project management system when I only had two clients, I was thinking about the future. What would I need when I was managing five clients? Or ten? Admittedly, my system wasn’t perfect. For example, I didn’t think about multiple payments for a single deliverable until it happened. I had to change my Airtable setup for that to work going forward. But I created a great foundation that has allowed me to scale my freelance business. When I left the corporate world and became a full-time freelancer, I only needed to think about getting more clients. My project management system was already in place. --- *Check out my free guide:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### Building a Business Allows Me to Redefine Work URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/building-business-redefine-work/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:34:13.000Z Sometimes, I’d look around at my corporate job and wonder, “What are we even *doing?”* The goals weren’t clear. Or the work felt pointless. Or the ask felt impossible with the resources available. Yet, I played that game for a long time. I spent 17 years in the corporate world, job-hopping for the final two years. Each time, I hoped that my new employer would have its act together more than the last. But doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. I developed a negative connotation with work. But eventually, I realized that it wasn’t *work* I despised. It was *working for other people*. The only way to find joy in work was to [work for myself](https://blog.annabyang.com/tech-career-to-professional-writer-journey/). ## I know how work ties to business goals. I spent most of my career at a tech startup. The company veered off-track many times. New features would be developed because of a promise made during the sales process. We’d rush features out the door to match a competitor’s offering. And sometimes, those projects weren’t aligned with the product’s core value proposition. There were times I’d wonder, “Will we ever see a return on investment for this effort?” By running my own business, I *know* how my work [aligns with my goals](https://blog.annabyang.com/life-goals-are-more-than-a-to-do-list/). I can see the impact on my financial statements. I can spend time on work that doesn’t have a clear throughline to income (such as engaging on LinkedIn), but know that my time there eventually [leads to new business](https://blog.annabyang.com/working-on-business-vs-working-in-business/). I’m not doing work that has an unclear outcome. ## I’m accountable for my own commitments. Recently, one of my Facebook “On This Day” posts reminded me that I’d put in a 14-hour day for my employer. It was crushing to read. While I don’t remember the circumstances, no doubt I was racing to meet some ridiculous deadline. An example of “overpromising” from someone else. These days, if I overpromise (which I try very hard not to do!) I have no one to blame but myself. I know that if I can’t meet my client obligations, they won’t trust me and I’ll lose business. There are times [I push myself](https://blog.annabyang.com/time-for-rest-and-time-for-hustle/), but it’s because I *want* to work harder. I’m building momentum or I see a clear business reason to work harder. ## My mission and values are clear. Ever read a company’s mission statement on its website and think, “What the heck does that even mean?” It’s all fluff, no substance. Even worse, you work for a company, and its mission and values are completely disconnected from how the company actually operates. I have a very clear mission for the work I do. I know *exactly* the type of clients I’m targeting and what I can offer. I operate by a set of values — and working for myself means I can choose to break up with clients if they don’t align with my values. Working for someone else meant I often had to put up with *terrible* clients. Clients with unreasonable demands. Clients that were rude to the customer service team. Clients that needed *so much* attention, yet paid the company a paltry amount. As a business owner, one of my values is to protect my time. I set boundaries with clients. I don’t work with terrible people. And since my mission is to create a sustainable business, I pay attention to how much I’m earning versus how much a client is paying me. [3 Reasons to Break Up With Your ClientsYou can choose the people you work with.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*dzcmYZx3f3uE2XoSnRjXjg.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/reasons-to-break-up-with-clients/) ## I can opt out of corporate nonsense. If I had to think about the number of pointless meetings I’ve sat through in my life, my head would probably explode. Hours-long planning meetings that didn’t result in an actual decision. Product meetings where the employees bickered. Status update meetings that should have been an email. On top of that, I’m sure thousands of hours of my life were wasted on office politics. I’ve been working remotely for years so there was no “watercooler talk” but the complaining, whispering, and (sometimes) backstabbing happened via company chat channels or emails. It was part of the corporate game and hard to ignore. Now, my work life is mostly peaceful. I can sometimes tell that my clients have *internal* office drama, but I don’t have to participate. I can deliver my work and remain on the outside. I don’t have [pointless meetings](https://www.workbetter.media/p/the-best-way-to-sync-is-async?utm%5Fsource=publication-search) because every meeting is costing me time. While I’m a solopreneur now, I expect to bring on contractors to run parts of my business at some point. My focus will remain clear: we do our work, we respect each other’s work, and we work as efficiently as possible. Leave the drama somewhere else. ## I’m working for my own benefit, not someone else’s. One of the worst feelings I had as an employee was knowing how much an employer was earning compared to how much I was paid. My work was the direct reason clients increased their investment with the company. Or the reason they [signed contracts](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-contract-protect-yourself/). What did I see out of that? Very little compared to the money I was earning for the company. Hard work earned me nothing more than a pat on the back. Eventually, I became disillusioned. I stopped working hard because it didn’t benefit me in any way. I wasn’t professionally satisfied or rewarded in a way that correlated with my hard work. Then I realized that I *could* directly benefit from work: if I became an entrepreneur. Everything I do benefits me and my business in some way. I can take on projects I know I’ll enjoy and decline projects that aren’t a good fit. I’m proud of the work I deliver to clients. Everything I do has a purpose and a business goal. And I’m the one who reaps the rewards. --- *Check out my free guide:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### What Does “Full-Time” Mean as a Freelancer? URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/full-time-freelancer/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:01:26.000Z Full-time employment. 40 hours per week, right? Most corporate jobs “assign work” in some way or another. You’re expected to do certain tasks by a certain date in exchange for a paycheck. While some companies will try to squeeze everything out of employees, there’s still a concept of 40 hours per week (and you’re overworking if more than that). But when you’re a freelancer, it’s a lot different. When a client comes to you with a project, you’re assessing how much time it will take and when you can reasonably deliver. Experienced freelancers [talk about boundaries](https://blog.annabyang.com/successful-freelancers-spend-time/) a lot. But boundaries can only happen when you know *what the boundaries should be*. How can you avoid taking on too much, especially when you’re new? ## Identify your most productive hours each day I’m a freelance writer. That doesn’t mean I can write for 8 hours per day. Far from it, I usually only have a few hours per day, max, that I can write. You need to be honest with yourself about how much you can get done *in your productive hours* (not your total number of working hours). For me, that’s probably 3–4 hours of writing time, split into two writing sessions. I can write \~500 words per hour, so that means I could write up to 2,000 words of client work per day. Anything above that, and I know it will take me more than one day. Go through a similar exercise with any type of work you do. Start with an average amount of time per project. If you’re not sure, use a time-tracking app like [Toggl](https://toggl.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (it’s free) to get a feel for how much time you’re productively working per day and how much you’re getting done during that time. And as a side benefit: this will also help you bid accurately for future projects. Outside of my productive hours, I’ll do [smaller tasks](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/) related to client work, like replying to emails or some light brainstorming related to a future deliverable. [Work Fewer Hours and a Shorter Week as a SolopreneurReclaim your time by shortening your workweek.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-30.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-solopreneur-shorter-workweek-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/work-fewer-hours-and-a-shorter-week-as-a-solopreneur/) ## Add time for meetings One of the delightful parts of freelancing (at least for me) is FAR fewer meetings compared to working for an employer. But my days aren’t completely meeting-free and I have to bake that time into my schedule. Over the course of the week, it adds to the total amount of time I’m working. Here are some meetings to consider: ### Touch-base calls with clients Any meetings to discuss the project. You should limit the number of meetings per deliverable or per contract. Otherwise, you could get pulled into two many meetings. You should factor time for client meetings into your total cost. ### Other project-related calls As a freelance content marketer and journalist, I spend a *lot* of time interviewing subject-matter experts. I will limit the number of interviews for deliverable (one interview per 1500 words, or it costs more) but I still have to factor the time into my week. And for me, interviews can interrupt my writing time, since I need to have these calls whenever the interviewee is available. ### Sales calls You’ll spend some time [meeting with prospective clients](https://blog.annabyang.com/top-questions-clients-ask-freelance-writer/). It’s a necessary part of getting additional work, but not always a great use of your time. If the prospect’s budget isn’t aligned with your rate, for example, it’s not worth meeting. You can avoid some of these calls by including pricing on your website, asking qualifying questions, or sending over a pricing guide when the prospect reaches out. ### Networking calls I’ll have calls with people that aren’t directly related to my work. Usually this [happens on LinkedIn](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/): I’ll get a request for a “virtual chat” from other freelancers, people in the industry, or people who are interested in what I do. I like chatting with other people, but there’s a limit to how many calls I can take — especially if I don’t think there will be any benefit for me. I’ll usually assess the following: - Could I refer work to this freelancer and vice versa? (like the freelancer works in a different industry or does different work from me) - Does this person have a decent network that I might benefit from? Even if not a potential client, some people can make intros. - Can I help an earlier-stage freelancer with advice? I want to pay it forward, since I received help when I was first starting out. Outside of those reasons, I have to weigh how much time I’m willing to dedicate to virtual chats. I can’t take them all — I’d have no time to work! If I decline a meeting, I’ll usually offer to answer questions via DM or email. ## Set aside time for admin tasks You have to think beyond your client work to anything else you need to do as a freelancer. You’ll need time to send invoices, track your expenses, post on social media, send cold pitches, and keep your portfolio up-to-date. Plus more. It can be a lot! It’s easiest to break these tasks down by frequency. Do you need to do cold outreach every day? Are you sending invoices every week? I try to “bundle” my admin work together as much as possible. For example, I’ll schedule a *lot* of social media posts in one sitting. I also send a lot of my invoices on the 5th of the month for all work delivered in the prior month. [AI Tools for Solopreneurs (That Are Actually Useful)The best AI tools have a very specific purpose.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w1200/2024/08/annabyang-solopeneur-AI-tools.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-tools-for-solopreneurs/) ## Acknowledge any time constraints As a freelancer, you have *so much* flexibility in designing your own schedule. But sometimes, other people will dictate how you spend your time. And I’m not talking about clients (since you can control that relationship!) I’m talking about things in your personal life. I’m a parent, so part of my day revolves around the school bus pickup in the morning and drop-off in the afternoon. When my kids are home, not a lot of work gets done. I also have to pay attention to the school calendar for non-school days each month and holidays. You may have kids, or be involved in local groups, or are a caregiver for an elderly parent, or have a pet. Or maybe you like to attend yoga class three times per week. You need to think about these external [demands on your time](https://blog.annabyang.com/adapt-to-a-new-routine/) and how you’ll work around them as a freelancer. ## Create blocks of work time Once you’ve considered all of the above, you can create blocks of time for client work. I basically have 16 blocks for client work per month: one per day, four days per week, four weeks per month. I dedicate the 5th day each week to admin work and “me time.” If I’m working on a longer deliverable, it might take up two blocks of my time. I’ll also look ahead for any non-working days (like a holiday) and cross off those blocks. If I feel like I want to do more work, I *might* slot something into one of my Fridays, when I otherwise wouldn’t do client work. Plus, depending on how the days of the week fall in a given month, I may end up with more than 16 blocks anyway. When I get assignments from clients, I slot them into one of my 16 blocks. I’m very, very unlikely to go above that. I know if I over-commit, it would be hard for me to get all of the work done at the level of quality that I’m used to. I’d be working longer hours or sacrificing some of my own time. This system works very well. When you figure out how much productive time you have per day and how long a project takes, you can comfortably slot your projects into blocks of time. Is my freelance week the same number of hours as a full-time job? Nope! If I were to math everything out, I’m probably spending about: - 16–20 hours per week on client work (productive writing time plus prep) - 1–2 hours per week of admin work - 2–4 hours per week on social media, since most of my work is inbound - 2–5 hours per week on calls (this varies a *lot*) So on the high-end, my full-time week as a freelancer is \~30 hours. I spend a lot of time writing on other platforms (Medium, Substack, and my blog), taking my kids to their various extracurriculars, and working on [personal projects](https://blog.annabyang.com/split-time-between-professional-and-personal-writing/). For me, it’s the perfect balance. *Check out my eBook:* [*Manage Your Time + Content Across Multiple Platforms*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### 5 Ways Corporate Life Prepared Me for Solopreneur Life URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/corporate-life-prepare-solopreneur-life/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:34:25.000Z I’m not a person who always dreamed of self-employment. In fact, I spent 17 years in the corporate world, including five as an executive. Do I wish I’d started a solopreneur life sooner? Sometimes. But in reality, I gained a *lot* of knowledge about running a business from my years in corporate. I still had to figure out my deliverables, my messaging, and how I would acquire new clients. But borrowing concepts from the corporate world helped me to quickly adapt to a solopreneur life. ## 1\. Review your financials Money can be tough when you’re first starting as a solopreneur. You hope only to earn enough money to cover your living expenses. You’re thinking only about the cash coming in and going out, rather than the [overall health of the business](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-income-calculator/). When I was part of an executive team, we looked at the company’s financials monthly and compared it with the budget. It was a way to assess how things were going and *if* we needed to make any adjustments. In my experience, solopreneurs overlook their financials because they don’t know what they’re looking for. Your finances are likely simple and there are a few key things to watch for: ### **Income and Expenses:** How much money do you earn per month and how much do you spend on your business? What’s the difference between the two (your profit)? At a minimum, you need to keep track of income and expenses for tax purposes. ### **Budget**: Plan for how much you *expect* to earn per month and how much you *expect* to spend. Then compare to your actual income and actual expenses. Once you start earning a profit per month, you can budget for things like professional development or paying yourself for vacation time. ### **Trends:** I compare my profit between months, and also to the same month in the prior year. Comparing month-over-month shows me if my business is growing and comparing to the same month in the prior year takes seasonal fluctuations into account. I have a [separate checking account](https://blog.annabyang.com/choose-a-bank-for-your-freelance-business/) and credit card for my business, to make tracking my financials really easy. I am using [Wave](https://www.waveapps.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for accounting and it generates reports for me with the click of a button (previously I used Quickbooks Self-Employed). ## 2\. Spend money to save time Every employer I’ve worked for had an approach to expenses. Some wanted to keep expenses as low as possible. Others understood that certain expenses were an investment, like licensing an app or tool that would make employees more efficient. I’ve talked with a lot of solopreneurs who try to keep their expenses as low as possible — even long after they’re profitable. But here’s the problem: when it’s just you, your time is everything. Let’s say an app costs $15/month, but it will save you at least an hour of time every week. How much is your time worth? What else could you be doing with that time? Even when I was earning very little as a freelance writer, I spent money on tools. If it [saved me time](https://blog.annabyang.com/essential-apps-to-preserve-your-mental-energy/), it was worth the cost because then I could use that time for more client work. You can factor your expenses into your budget, especially if there’s something you think could help, but don’t want to spend the money right now. Plan that once you hit a certain income level, you’ll invest in additional tools or apps for your business. [How to Evaluate Your Solopreneur Tech StackWhich tools best meet your needs, for the right price?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w1200/2024/07/annabyang-solopreneur-tech-stack.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/evaluate-solopreneur-tech-stack/) ## 3\. Fill your pipeline with marketing No matter how good you are at what you do, clients are unlikely to just “find” you. And it can take a long time to grow a business based solely on referrals. I worked for two different employers that were (frankly) terrible at marketing. They never invested in it. No surprise, business was really rocky at times. The pipeline could be fine for months and then quickly dry up. That type of unpredictability is even harder for a solopreneur. Business often have savings they can fall back on in the lean months. But when it’s just you, it can be incredibly stressful. You *have* to [market yourself](https://blog.annabyang.com/market-your-freelance-business/). Constantly. Even when you don’t need it. There are a lot of different approaches. I don’t like cold pitching, so I’m active on LinkedIn. I appear on podcasts and write guest essays that put me in front of my target audience. As a result, I’m constantly having conversations with potential clients. Most of my work is ad hoc, so I never worry that I’m taking on more work than I can handle. ## 4\. Balance boundaries with business impact One of the best parts about being a solopreneur: you get to set your own boundaries with clients. No more “this client is really important so my boss told me to put up with a jerk.” Or “this client is demanding something we don’t normally do, but my boss said to do it anyway.” You don’t have to work with jerks. You don’t have to do anything outside of your contract with your client. But you *do* have to think about the [business impact of your decisions](https://blog.annabyang.com/dont-apologize-for-your-business-decisions/). I’ve worked with clients I didn’t like because I needed money. But as soon as I started earning more, I dropped them. I’ve done work outside of the scope of an agreement because I saw a longer-term tradeoff in future business with a client. But I also stick to certain boundaries, like taking vacation time and not doing any client work. I also typically won’t respond to clients outside of my normal working hours. Decisions you make can have a downstream effect. So if you’ve set boundaries and are thinking about bending them, ask yourself: Will this have a positive impact on my business? Will this have a *negative* impact in the future? And decide from there. ## 5\. Think about your strategic vision Companies plan for their growth, usually for at least the upcoming year. When I was an executive, I participated in annual strategic planning. We’d do a retrospective of the prior year and think about what the company’s goals were for the upcoming year. It wasn’t only about the budget and targeted income. It was about initiatives, such as launching a new product or [hiring additional people](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-hire-fractional-support/). What was the company going to *do* in the upcoming year? As a solopreneur, maybe a year is too far into the future, especially if you’re just starting out. But you should go through some type of [goal-setting exercise](https://blog.annabyang.com/create-a-roadmap-for-your-freelance-business/). Where do you see yourself in the next quarter, or six months from now? If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be? What feels like it isn’t working? Year-end is a great time to reflect, but you can do strategic planning at any time — especially if you feel like you need to pivot. That’s the beauty of a solopreneur life: you don’t need to wait for a company’s blessing to change course. And it’s also ok to acknowledge that things are going well and you simply want to maintain what you have. Solopreneur life doesn’t have to mean constant growth, especially if growth means that you’re working too many hours or feeling overwhelmed. Your strategic vision might include spending more time on your interests *outside* of your business. But you need to have clarity, no matter what you’re doing. You should be working *toward* your vision of an ideal solopreneur life. --- *Check out my free guide:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### I Challenged Myself to Write an Article for Medium Every Day, for 30 Days URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/medium-article-challenge/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:53:39.000Z For years, I’ve wanted to participate in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). The challenge is to write an entire novel (50,000 words) throughout the month of November. There are entire planning guides and YouTube videos dedicated to NaNoWriMo prep: it’s a *serious* commitment for 30 days. I’ve [tried to do NaNoWriMo](https://annabyang.medium.com/nanowrimo-2021-plans-eff558a683ac?ref=blog.annabyang.com), many times, and failed miserably. Usually after a few days I’ll find myself so drastically behind on my word count that it feels impossible to catch up. My intentions are good. Last year, I did a **lot** of planning. But life happens, I have kids, we have the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S. Plus I’m a freelance writer, so I’m churning out thousands of words per week for *clients*, let alone adding NaNoWriMo to the mix. This year, I decided to try something different. I wanted to write one article for Medium per day. At \~1,200 words per article, this felt much more manageable. Plus, writing more consistently on Medium has been my goal for a long time. I knew I wouldn’t publish every day, but a side benefit would be creating a backlog of articles to publish in the future. Thirty days later, I was more than a little surprised by the results. ## I planned out topics for 30 days. For years, I’ve published 2–3 stories per month on Medium. I’d tell myself that I wanted to publish at least one per week and it just… didn’t happen. I also publish a weekly Substack and bi-weekly newsletter and manage to get that work published as planned. Something about having a specific due date (when I know the audience is expecting new work) is more motivating than Medium. I’ve been accepted into many Medium publications, but have no control over how quickly they publish. So it’s always felt haphazard. But even with my inconsistent publishing, I’ve continued to save ideas for Medium articles. I [use Trello to plan my content calendar](https://annabyang.medium.com/why-i-use-both-trello-and-todoist-dd137b96ef86?ref=blog.annabyang.com). So ahead of my November challenge, I selected 30 ideas and scheduled them out over the course of the month. I even did a small amount of prep, adding bullet points to each idea. I wanted to focus on executing the article, not thinking through its structure or what I wanted to cover. I sat down each morning (I’m an early riser!) and typed out the article according to my Trello schedule. ## My earnings increased by 12x. My earnings on Medium have always been mediocre. In October, I earned a whopping $37, with two new articles published. I’ve had a few articles take off over the years, but most of my work would only get a few hundred views at most. My earnings in November, after publishing 15 articles: $471.56\. I also gained about 150 new followers throughout the month. I was *shocked*. While I earn a lot of money as a freelance writer, my own writing isn’t a source of income (yet). I only recently added paid subscriptions to my Substack and my newsletter earns nothing. But I’ve told myself that I’m in it for the “long haul” and will continue to write and publish my own work. Suddenly, Medium feels like a viable additional income stream, if I stay consistent. My first freelance writing job (back in 2020) was for a content mill and I was paid $27 for 1000 words. An entire 2.7 cents per word. Based on the number of words I published on Medium in November, I earned about 3 cents per word. A far cry from what I charge as a freelance writer now, but kind of wild compared to what I was earning for client work three years ago. And the difference? This work is *mine*. My ideas. My content. My potential to keep earning more every month. ## Medium editors convinced me that they care about quality. There is a lot of [garbage on the internet](https://annabyang.medium.com/stop-publishing-garbage-on-the-internet-c0760b63aa8c?ref=blog.annabyang.com); some truly *terrible* writing. It permeates social platforms, crappy blogs, and even Medium. Generative AI has certainly made this worse, with robots churning out hundreds of thousands of words that no human would actually want to read. Medium staff send occasional emails to writers with platform updates. In February 2022, Medium announced a new “Boost” feature, rewarding writers for high-quality work and helping them reach a larger audience. About a month later, one of my stories (about [the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank](https://annabyang.medium.com/whats-going-on-the-silicon-valley-bank-collapse-vs-the-2008-financial-crisis-8b5539995e63?ref=blog.annabyang.com)) was boosted and got nearly 40,000 views. I figured it was something of an anomaly, since it was a timely topic. In July, Medium [announced](https://blog.medium.com/new-partner-program-incentives-focus-on-high-quality-human-writing-7335f8557f6e?ref=blog.annabyang.com) that its Partner Program would incentivize “high-quality personal stories, hidden life wisdom, and deep knowledge that’s locked up in our collective lives.” Out of my fifteen published stories in November, **five** were boosted by Medium editors. Like with my Medium earnings, I was *shocked*. But it made me believe that Medium editors are truly standing by what they say: they’re going to reward writers for publishing great stories on the platform. I’ll still publish in my Substack and newsletter. I write about very different topics and for a very different audience on those platforms. But Medium has become my home for sharing my experiences: [leaving the corporate world](https://medium.com/swlh/from-corporate-to-freelance-5-mental-shifts-for-success-29fd3b94c72b?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [launching a freelance writing business](https://medium.com/p/27766255c648?ref=blog.annabyang.com), and the occasional quips about productivity or [parenting](https://betterhumans.pub/how-being-a-parent-improved-my-career-7b01a9a3e6dd?ref=blog.annabyang.com). [How to Write and Publish a Blog Post in 90 MinutesShorten your time from idea to publish.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-33.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-dictate-blog-post-1-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/dictate-blog-posts/) ## I gained momentum. I was stuck in a cycle for years. I couldn’t figure out how to motivate myself to write consistently on Medium. The 30-day challenge was exactly what I needed, because of the results I saw — both with earnings and boosted posts. Did I write all 30 days? No. I wrote 18 days. I got a sinus infection which knocked me out for about 10 days. It was all I could do to deliver my *client* work, let alone anything else. I published 15 stories, which means I still have a few sitting in my queue, ready to submit to a publication. Am I going to shoot for writing 30 stories per month? No. Based on my results, publishing 12–15 per month feels like a good goal. But I’m also planning to do my 30-day challenge twice a year. That way, I can grow my backlog of written work. If something happens (like an illness), I can maintain my publishing schedule. Looking back, I’m so proud of sticking to my writing cadence as well as I did. I’m *so* pleased with the results. It was the kick-in-the-pants I needed to prioritize Medium as a platform for my words. --- *You can read about the future of work and career pivots on my* [*Substack*](https://annabyang.substack.com/) *or get productivity tips delivered to your inbox through my* [*newsletter*](https://newsletter.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*. (or both!)* ### Self-Employment Is More Stable Than a Corporate Job URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/self-employment-more-stable-than-corporate-job/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:01:38.000Z It’s a widely-held opinion that self-employment is unstable. Your income is unpredictable and it’s hard to [balance work](https://blog.annabyang.com/avoid-career-burnout/) and life-outside-of-work. An employer gives you a salary, benefits, [corporate perks](https://blog.annabyang.com/corporate-perks/), and security… right? It was really easy to perpetuate this myth until a few years ago. The corporate world has been *ravaged* by mass layoffs. Hundreds of thousands of people have found themselves without jobs in an insanely tough economy. In some cases, the layoffs have been announced amidst record profits. The message is clear: You are disposable. Meanwhile, as someone who started freelancing full-time in late 2022, I’ve been doing fine. More than fine. Even though my income varies every month — most of my work is ad hoc — it always meets my needs. I’ll admit that I used to believe self-employment was risky. But I’ve watched friends and former colleagues suffer when their employers toss them aside, while my business has been fine. I’m completely convinced that self-employment (specifically, a solopreneur life) is more stable than working for an employer. ## You’re in control of the results. Another widespread myth: laid-off people weren’t as good at their jobs. Maybe they were good, but they weren’t the best. The “best” people kept their jobs during company downsizing. This is also untrue, and a harmful view. Entire departments can be laid off. Nepotism and favoritism can play a role. Sometimes the best people *are* impacted because they’re earning the most so the company can save more money. The truth is, if your company decides to do layoffs, there’s [little you can do to save yourself](https://www.workbetter.media/p/no-one-is-indispensable?ref=blog.annabyang.com). The company chooses its direction forward, not you. When you’re self-employed, you’re in charge of your own outcome. You’re not dependent on competent leadership, a clear strategic vision, or a manager who likes you. At a company, you’re dependent on so many other people. You may be excellent at customer service, but sales are slow. You might be savvy with marketing, but the product sucks. You can’t fix company or individual shortcomings. When you’re a solopreneur, you’re in control. You only need to like working with yourself (ha!) and you’re making decisions about the direction of your business. [The Most Important Thing In Your Career Is Your TimeWork a lot. Or a little. As long as it’s up to you.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*h-uCiVL2cW1Gmd5ThTYW1A.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/career-importance-control-over-time/) ## You manage the entire client relationship. Corporate environments often have a breakdown between different departments. New clients or customers may have a great sales experience, only to be disappointed later. Or maybe they’re frustrated with products or services. Or maybe accounting screws up an invoice. Any of these can cause friction in the relationship and *any* of them can be a reason that a client leaves. Or a customer doesn’t return for additional purchases. When you’re a solopreneur, you’re managing the relationship end-to-end. You’re making promises upfront ([hopefully not overpromising](https://blog.annabyang.com/risk-when-you-overpromise/)), delivering on what you promised, and crafting the client experience. You’re writing the contract, managing your projects, and sending the invoices. If there’s a mistake, it’s on you. But on a positive note, if you make a mistake, you also have a relationship with the client and can rectify the situation. You’re not passing it off to another department. Clients will always leave. Their needs changed, their budget changed, or they weren’t a great fit. But a lot of things are within your control: quality, dependability, and communication. ## You avoid office politics. It’s pretty terrible to do your job, to the best of your ability, and get caught up in office politics. It can range from squabbles within a department to a boss actually hindering your career. I worked with a team that bickered intensely, all the time. I cringe when I think about how much time was wasted (not to mention the toll on my own mental health). With a solopreneur life, I avoid all of that. I also avoid pointless “watercooler talks” and internal [meetings that should have been emails](https://blog.annabyang.com/instant-communication-in-the-workplace/). My success as a solopreneur isn’t dependent on a colleague liking me. I only need to ensure that my *clients* like me. Sure, clients can be frustrating. But they’re also frustrating when you’re at a company. The difference is, I can opt not to work with difficult clients — which can often be an important business decision. Companies will hang on to terrible clients because they need the money, making everyone suffer. But if I’m in a good spot financially, I can drop difficult clients and focus my efforts on finding a better fit. ## You are an “easier hire” for a client. Layoffs are driven by money. The company is either in a dire financial situation and trying to preserve its cash or wants to increase its profits. A tough economy for full-time employees has actually [benefitted me as a solopreneur](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/). My clients are working with tighter budgets. I’m less of a commitment than a full-time hire. They can get the help they need on a part-time or as-needed basis. I’m also less risky for companies. A full-time hire is a big investment. A freelancer is easier to onboard and, if necessary, easier to end a relationship. The result? It’s easy for clients to say “yes” to me. That’s why my business has been so successful, even in a tumultuous job market. I’m a good alternative for a full-time internal hire and more companies are turning to freelance or fractional support. ## You know your finances. Layoffs are often a surprise to employees. They had no idea that the company was struggling or the company had decided to eliminate an entire team to “go in another direction.” No surprise, most companies aren’t transparent. They fear that if employees know that the company is on shaky financial ground, they’ll look for another job (as they rightly should do). Instead, companies maintain control by keeping their finances under wraps so *they* can decide when an employee’s last day will be. Does a solopreneur life come with fluctuating finances? Absolutely. My billables are different every month. But I [*know* what to expect](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-income-calculator/) and can plan for it. I have a “rainy day” fund if my income is lower than expected. And if I lose one client, it’s not like my income goes to $0\. I have other clients. When you lose a full-time job, you go from earning a full-time salary to $0. ## You can pivot if needed. Most companies are not agile. It takes resources to change strategies (and the bigger the company, the slower they move). So if there are market or buyer shifts, they can’t always respond quickly. But you can. If you notice a change in what your clients need, you can respond accordingly. You can offer new services or update your messaging. You can advertise in new channels. And while you should certainly [plan for any changes](https://blog.annabyang.com/create-a-roadmap-for-your-freelance-business/), you can move far more nimbly than a company. Being responsive to market conditions is perhaps one of the best parts of being self-employed. You’re not waiting on anyone else. If you see an opportunity, you can seize it. It’s your decision. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### How You Spend Your Free Time Is More Important Than Your 9–5 Job URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/importance-of-free-time/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:48:02.000Z Most people don’t have control over what happens between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. An employer tells you what to do. You do those tasks. Clock in, clock out, right? If you let those eight hours define you, your employer is *truly* controlling your life. You’re living to work rather than working to live. You still have 16 more hours in your day. If you make the most of those hours, you can flip the script — whether it’s spending more time on yourself or preparing to leave your 9–5. ## Follow a schedule that’s best for you Flexible work is on the rise, especially for people who work from home, but most people can’t break free from a 9–5 mindset. And I get it: it’s a routine. It’s comfortable. Maybe you’re worried that if you work non-standard hours, you’ll end up working *all the time*. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, if you follow your body’s natural rhythm, you’ll end up being more productive and working *fewer* hours. I’ve [always been a morning person](https://blog.annabyang.com/early-morning-writing/). I wake up before the sun rises. It’s quiet and I can get a lot of focused work done without the constant distractions of emails, texts, and other messages. I don’t work 40 hours because I’m so productive early in the morning that I can get everything done in a shorter day. If it’s hard for you to think about stretching beyond 9–5 hours, schedule something for yourself in the middle of the day. Go to a class at your gym or to a movie — something with a scheduled time. Force yourself to break out of your 9–5 routine. ## Set boundaries around your 9–5 The tricky part about working non-standard hours is that you risk working all the time. If you start working at 5:00 am, you might fall into the trap of working a longer day. That’s a bad outcome: you want to simply shift your working hours. You need to [define your working hours](https://www.workbetter.media/p/break-the-old-communication-habits?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I don’t work past 3:30 or 4:00 pm each day. I’ve already put in a “full day” by that point. But I also have a defined stopping point: my kids get home from school. It’s easy for me to walk away from my computer. If you don’t have obvious stopping points, create them. Turn off your computer. Set up a space in your home dedicated to “working” and leave that space at the end of your day. Remove work-related apps from your phone, if you can, or use the phone’s built-in features to limit your access to those apps. My email signature also helps people understand my availability. It reads: *I work asynchronously, so my response times may vary. Please do not respond outside of your working hours and I’ll do the same.* ## Invest in yourself You can’t rely on an employer to care about your career aspirations. Many companies fall far short of dedicated learning and development programs. On top of that, any continuing education provided benefits the *company* — not necessarily you. Your life outside your 9–5 might feel chaotic, especially if you have kids. But if you don’t take time for yourself, you’ll feel completely drained, all the time. You’ll feel like your life is dedicated to *other people’s needs*, rather than your own. Set aside at least an hour per week to learn something new. Maybe it’s reading or listening to a podcast. Maybe it’s taking an online course. Maybe it’s something *completely* unrelated to work, like spending time with your hobby. I’m a big fan of [time-blocking](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/), so I have this time on my calendar. I have an hour blocked off on both Saturday and Sunday just for me. It doesn’t always happen (because life happens!), but it’s a reminder that it’s important to carve out time for myself. ## Prioritize time to recharge If you’re always running on fumes, it’ll have a cascade impact on how you spend your time. And chances are, you’ll dedicate energy to your 9–5 job, which leaves no energy left for your 5–9 time. I used to be a *terrible* sleeper. My sleep was inconsistent and I was exhausted all the time. I’d toss and turn at night, worrying about how I was going to function the next day. The best piece of advice I ever got was to stop worrying. I was *capable* of functioning on little sleep, even though it wasn’t ideal. This removed a lot of the pressure. Then I realized that although I was bad at sleeping, I hadn’t really tried anything to make it better. Sleep hygiene matters, a lot. It’s different for every person, but now I: - Sleep with a weighted blanket - Use a face mask and blackout curtains to remove light - Lower the room temperature before bedtime - Listen to white noise - Maintain a consistent bedtime - Don’t drink alcohol in the evening I’ve also [trained myself to take naps](https://blog.annabyang.com/power-napping-is-a-superpower/) during the day — another thing that fuels my asynchronous working hours! The results have been astonishing. I was convinced that I had “bad sleeping genes” because I’d slept so poorly for most of my life. Now I consistently get 6.5–7 hours of good sleep per night. And my FitBit informs me that my sleep quality ranges from “Good” to “Excellent.” ## Identify what’s most important Your life will always be a division between “work” and “life outside of work.” Even if you set boundaries around work, you still have a finite number of hours per day. And no matter what, there will always be something else on the never-ending [to-do list of life](https://blog.annabyang.com/life-goals-are-more-than-a-to-do-list/). That means making choices about how you spend your time. I opt to “buy” myself time. I pay for a bi-weekly cleaning service to come into my home and clean. I hate cleaning, and I would rather spend my weekend time with my kids. Could I spend that money on other things? Absolutely; I don’t have an unlimited budget. But I’m trading money for more time in my day. Next time you find yourself saying, “I don’t have time” replace it with the words, “It’s not a priority.” Because every time you choose one thing over another, you’re prioritizing. How does that feel? If you shrug and move on, you’ve made the right decision: your priorities are aligned with what you feel is most important. But if “It’s not a priority” makes you uncomfortable, you need to re-examine how you’re spending your time. What else can you cut (or outsource)? Can you buy yourself more time in your day? What is an unnecessary demand on your time? ## Prepare for what’s next I spend a lot of time thinking about the future. How I spend my time *today* won’t be the same as how I spend my time in one year, five years, or ten years. [Routines are good](https://blog.annabyang.com/adapt-to-a-new-routine/) but my priorities shift. My kids are older, so they’re more self-sufficient. But that also means they’re involved in more after-school activities. I used to work for an employer and now I’m self-employed. That has had a dramatic impact on how I spend my time. Plus, I’ve gotten older. I’ve never prioritized exercising, but aches and pains remind me that I need to take care of myself. So it’s ok to look at how you spend your time *today* and know that it won’t be forever. You may de-prioritize something now, but know you’ll come back to it in the future. It’s important to check in with yourself. Occasionally review how you’re spending your time. Little things can creep up on you, demanding your attention. Otherwise, before you know it, your 5–9 is controlled by what other people want from you, rather than what *you* want. --- *Check out my guide:* [*Manage Your Time + Content Across Multiple Platforms*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### How Being a Parent Improved My Career URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/how-being-a-parent-improved-my-career/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:20:02.000Z Countless articles talk about how having kids can be a career setback. Parents often find themselves passed over for promotions, struggling to work the required hours, or discriminated against. It’s easy for those without kids to say that a new parent’s “*priorities have shifted,*” and that’s what holds them back. Women, in particular, are impacted, with their [earning potential dropping 20%](https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleystahl/2020/05/01/new-study-millennial-women-are-delaying-having-children-due-to-their-careers/?sh=15fb889276ad&ref=blog.annabyang.com) compared to their male counterparts after having children. These issues are very valid and frustrating for anyone who wants to have children. My three children have changed every aspect of my life, but people rarely talk about how kids can make a working person’s life *better*. I’m long past the difficult early days of diapers and bottles and no sleep. It’s easier to reflect when you’re not “in the thick of it.” And my children have had a positive impact on my career. ## I Have To Be Flexible I used to think very rigidly about work. There was a right way to get things done and a wrong way. I’d find myself irritated when other people (parents or not) didn’t meet my standards. Children completely upended my thinking. I realized that I *couldn’t* control other people. No matter how much I want something to happen a certain way, children have their own plans and ideas. And I have to adapt. I was a perfectionist before I had kids. But perfectionism wasn’t sustainable with babies in the house. I learned to let go of things that didn’t matter and be more flexible with my thinking about “good enough.” It didn’t mean that I sacrificed quality in my work or my job. But I approached work differently. I learned to be more forgiving of myself and others. And I came to *expect* flexibility in the workplace. Not only was I more flexible with others, but I expected them to be flexible with me. Flexibility should be [extended to *everyone*](https://www.workbetter.media/p/should-remote-work-be-offered-to?ref=blog.annabyang.com), not just parents. Because life happens and our lives don’t revolve around work. ## I Have To Protect My Time Along with being a perfectionist, I was an over-achiever. I had no boundaries. I worked long hours, but I can’t say that my time was well spent. My work habits developed because I liked work and had all the time in the world to dedicate to work. When my kids were born, my “*extra tim*e” vanished. I *couldn’t* put in long hours, even if I wanted to (which I didn’t — I was exhausted). My kids forced me to set boundaries with my time. When they were babies, they went to daycare. Dropoff and pickup became the bookends of my workday. If I had continued to work long hours, there would be *no time* left for myself. And I quickly saw that I would fall apart if my entire existence revolved around children and work. As my kids grew older, after-school activities and other kid-related things also crept into my day. I don’t allow work to interfere with those things. I learned not to let work control my time: *I* was [in control of my time](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/) and made decisions about how to spend it. ## I Have To Be Ruthlessly Efficient All of my talk about flexibility and protecting my time may make it sound like I was dedicating less to my job. I was, but only by using hours as a measurement. Not based on what I could accomplish. I realized that I was measuring hard work by the number of hours I put in. But it didn’t have to be that way. I “*cut the fluff*” from my day — work that didn’t really have an impact. I learned to [use automation tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-your-content-across-multiple-platforms/) to get rid of boring and tedious (but necessary) tasks. Protecting my time also meant getting rid of useless meetings, so I was “gaining time” in my day. Work smarter, not harder. ## I Am More Empathetic When I first started working, one of my colleagues had really young kids. And they were *always* sick. Her workday was constantly interrupted by calls from daycare or trips to the doctor. I thought she wasn’t as dedicated to her work. I was so, so wrong. Kids *are* sick all the time, and people without kids have no idea. My colleague had learned, and I later learned, to be efficient even when caring for sick kids. It might mean catching up in the evening or working while the sick kid was napping. Later, when I [became a manager](https://annabyang.medium.com/as-a-manager-i-always-ask-my-team-this-unique-question-adf959fb867?ref=blog.annabyang.com), I was so much more empathetic to life outside of work, whether it was kids or something else. It’s about prioritizing what’s important. Sometimes it’s work. Sometimes it’s life. And while my heart became more empathetic, my tolerance for nonsense went down to *nothing*. Part of ruthless efficiency means that I hate people who waste my time. Endless meetings where nothing was accomplished? My enemy. People who leaned on me for answers instead of looking up information themselves? Infuriating. But it also made me realize that I’d been very accommodating. I *wanted* to help people instead of teaching them to help themselves. In some cases, I was truly the only one with the answer, but in other cases, people were taking advantage of me. What’s the saying, “Give a person a fish, and they’ll eat for a day; teach a person to fish, and they’ll eat for a lifetime?” The people around me needed to learn how to fish. I no longer had time to feed everyone. ## I Am Setting an Example for My Kids When my kids were still young, I was promoted to an executive role. But it didn’t change much about my day-to-day interactions with my family. I was *so good* at boundaries and time management by that time that I was able to fit my new responsibilities into my existing work routine. What my kids saw was a mom who juggled work and home life. Who had to make decisions? Who sometimes said, “*I have to work right now,*” and other times left work in the middle of the day to attend a work function. When my son was young and asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, I replied, “I want to work from home.” From me, he learned that work is *something you do*, not *someplace you go.* When my kids were older, I [quit my executive job](https://medium.com/swlh/free-yourself-from-a-toxic-work-environment-1d499f8aa631?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I’m now self-employed. So, my kids have seen another evolution and one that requires a whole new set of boundaries and masterful balancing between work and home life. [Giving Some of My Morning to My SonMaking changes to my morning routine to accommodate my early-bird third-grader.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*27rQ6iKOiI6AQi4RGu1nlg.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/giving-some-of-my-morning-to-my-son/) ## Rethinking the Workplace My career improved because I learned that parenting and work have to co-exist. My children helped me learn how to interact differently with people around me. Parents, especially women, suffer career setbacks because they’re seen as less dedicated. I’m not less dedicated. I may have put in fewer hours, but I made those hours more effective. The proof is in the successes I achieved, not the hours I put in. While other people may have seen parenting as a limitation in my career, I consider it a strength. I don’t do one job; I do two jobs. And I do them both well. Did my priorities change? Absolutely. Do working parents need flexibility? Absolutely. Companies that [don’t allow flexibility](https://www.workbetter.media/p/how-work-can-support-parents?ref=blog.annabyang.com) are short-sighted and, frankly, cruel. They’re prioritizing profits over people. And forgetting that parents are *literally* preparing the next generation for work. I hope that parents feel empowered to quit jobs like that. Because they deserve better. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*Manage Your Time + Content Across Multiple Platforms*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### Successful Freelancers Know: The “Secret Sauce” Is How You Spend Your Time URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/successful-freelancers-spend-time/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:41:44.000Z Some freelancers are constantly in “feast or famine” mode. They’ll have plenty of work one day and be desperately trying to find more work the next. It’s cyclical — and a stressful way to make a living. Other freelancers have no shortage of work. They may not be any more talented than their struggling counterparts but there’s a key differentiator: they spend time proactively working on their businesses. They don’t wait for that dip in work to think about the *next* client or the *next* project. I’ve been freelancing for years but became a full-time freelancer in late 2022\. Within two months, I had a full roster of clients. Since that time, I’ve never had a shortage of work. Is it 100% consistent? No. But dips are always very small dips and work inevitably comes in without a lot of effort on my part. And it’s because I value my time, protect my time, and invest my time in my business. Even when business is great. ## You say “no” to demands on your time. I give my clients exactly what they ask for. Exactly what the contract says, and nothing more. I’m a freelance writer and my work is usually based on a target word count. I stick to that word count (or if I go above that, it’s a small amount). If I feel like I can’t cover everything within the target, I’ll go back to the client and ask if they’ll pay me more. But anything additional is a “donation” to the client. I’ve had clients ask me to do additional tasks, like write summaries or meta descriptions for the article. That’s additional word count, so I charge for it. I’ve been asked to source images and pushed back, saying that’s not in the scope. I read an article recently that encouraged freelancers to find a low-lift way to add value to client projects, something outside the scope of the project. My response (in my head) was: absolutely not. One extra thing can turn into more extra things. Suddenly, the client is *expecting* you to do extra things, for free. Or maybe you get to the point where you want to charge the client for that work and now it’s an awkward conversation. Any time I spend doing any extra work is devaluing the price we agreed to for my work. It takes time away from me — time I could be spending on work for other clients. Or my own time. ## You know that time is money. Time is a limiting factor in my work. I only have so much time per week that I can dedicate to clients. When clients pay for a project, I (potentially) have to say no to other projects. That means I [don’t negotiate my rates](https://blog.annabyang.com/win-clients-without-pitching/). I may offer a discount for long-term relationships or “bundles” of projects, but I place a premium on my time. My contract explicitly states how many meetings I’ll do with the client per deliverable. Anything above that is billable. Because meetings are a demand on my time. [How to Set Your Freelance Business Up for SuccessDo these things early in your freelance journey.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-39.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelance-success.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-success/) ## You split your time between client work and admin tasks. All that tedious, administrative-type work for your business? It’s still essential work. And it’s not just the *completely* boring stuff like sending invoices and keeping your client work organized. But I’ll also include things like posting to social media and networking with potential clients. You *have* to preserve time for this work also. It’s how you’ll maintain a full pipeline of potential work. A to-do list isn’t enough. Author Nir Eyal recently appeared on Jay Clouse’s podcast [Creator Science](https://podcast.creatorscience.com/nir-eyal/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). In the episode, Nir says: > I hate to do lists because of the fact that they don’t have any constraints, as opposed to a timebox calendar is a much smarter way to go. I use time-blocking daily. I’m giving my to-do list space on my calendar to *actually get stuff done*. I have recurring (color-coded!) events set up on my calendar for work related to running my business. If you only prioritize client work and let everything else fall by the wayside, you’ll end up in that “famine” mode more often. Always be building. ## You maintain control over your time. It inevitably happens: a client needs something *right this minute.* Maybe it’s a revision to some previously delivered work. Maybe it’s due to disorganization on their part. It’s ok to drop what you’re working on and meet the client’s request: as long as it’s *your choice*. As long as it doesn’t impact your *other clients*. You say “yes” because you want to meet the client’s needs, not because you feel pressure to do so. I don’t like adding work to my day. My brain can only handle so much client work, so if I add more, it diminishes the quality. It’s better for me (and, frankly, the client) for me to push off last-minute requests until a time when I can better focus. Or, charge a rush fee. Because your time is worth something. And if [the deadline is important](https://blog.annabyang.com/tips-to-avoid-missing-client-deadlines/) to the client, they’ll pay for it. The one exception might be something outside of the *client’s* control — like a breaking news story or world event that impacts the work. Then, you might opt to be accommodating. But otherwise, make this your mantra: Failure to plan ahead on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part. ## You allocate time for strategic thinking. Spend your downtime well. Most of [my client work is ad hoc](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/), meaning I’ll occasionally have days with nothing due. Not gonna lie, sometimes I take a break and let my brain recharge. But I often look at those days as an opportunity to think about my business — and actually take action to make improvements. It might be updating website copy or exploring a new community. I also have some larger projects that I’m working on in the background. In the past, I’ve also been part of a mastermind collaborative group that met once a month to discuss business goals. I use Trello to keep track of my business projects. I have a running list of ideas, divided into different types of projects (like maintenance, creating something new, tools I want to try, etc.) Because I’m constantly working on my business, I don’t need to spend my downtime scrounging up new clients. I know they’ll come. So a brief interlude gives me space to be strategic about how I want to grow or what I want to work on next. ## You continue to show up. Here’s the thing about freelancing: it takes time to build a sustainable business. I took the route of freelancing alongside my 9–5 job for two years. My first client work was pretty terrible because I didn’t know what I was doing (and, very honestly, my pricing reflected that). But I learned. I [kept increasing my prices](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancers-journey-to-niche-expert/), incrementally. Clients kept paying because they saw value in my work. I networked like nobody’s business during that time. I knew that even if they weren’t potential clients *right now* they might remember me in the future. I update my portfolio constantly, so it’s a reflection of my best work. I share examples on my social profiles (though not in a gross, overly-promotional kind of way). I collect testimonials from clients. One of the best parts about being a freelance writer is that I can truly “show my work.” Clients can review my portfolio and know what to expect from me. Showing up is a strategic move, just like any other. You’re putting yourself out into the world, confidently. Potential clients will start to notice you. And it creates a flywheel for freelance success. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*Manage Your Time + Content Across Multiple Platforms*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### The Most Important Thing In Your Career Is Control Over Your Time URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/career-importance-control-over-time/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:48:13.000Z Money. Fancy title. Prestige. If you’re ambitious, these seem like the ultimate goals. That you’re *so good* at what you do that you’re paid well, promoted, and respected by your peers. Yet a lot of people reach the top, look around, and realize it wasn’t what they wanted. They’re not fulfilled. Why? Because they’ve lost something in the process: control over their time. They become boxed into long hours, leaving no time for anything else. I’ve done the hustle thing. I’ve been an executive and now I’m a solopreneur. I always put time at the forefront, and it has impacted my entire career, from the jobs I’ve taken to my pricing to clients. Instead, spend your time wisely and you’ll end up with the career you want *and* you’ll be the boss of your own time. ## You can hustle to get ahead. Full disclosure: I’m [not a fan of hustle culture](https://blog.annabyang.com/not-playing-by-hustle-culture-rules/). I think nonstop go-go-go is a recipe for burnout. But I *have* hustled throughout my career — strategically. The biggest hustles were when I pivoted from one career to another and when I struck out on my own. I was starting over. I had some catching up to do. (And there is *nothing* quite like starting your own business to drive a hustle mindset!) Truthfully, I hustled much earlier in my career also, earning myself several promotions at a tech company, eventually rising to a 3-person executive team. Looking back, I wouldn’t say it was a mistake, but I was definitely working **hard** and not sure if I was working **smart.** With my more recent hustles, the grind was temporary. I had specific goals in mind. As soon as I got what I wanted, I slowed down to a reasonable pace. My time was still mine. I decided when to start hustling and when to stop. If I’d wanted to keep going, I could have. And I probably will again in the future. But the [hustle was coming from within](https://blog.annabyang.com/time-for-rest-and-time-for-hustle/). Not from an employer forcing me to work long hours for the dangled carrot of a promotion. Not from clients demanding more of my time. It was all me, and my goals. ## You can invest in yourself. Continuous learning is critical for any career. If you don’t stay current and adapt, you’ll end up hitting a ceiling (or the subject of a “Kids these days…” meme). Most employers don’t offer enough learning opportunities. To them, time spent learning is not time making money — even if it has the potential for *more money* in the future. When I first pivoted from tech to content marketing, I worked at a marketing agency. The agency *knew* I didn’t have the same background as my teammates but assured me it would be no problem. They could teach me those skills. The problem? Absolutely no one had time to teach me. I would have floundered (maybe failed) if I hadn’t taken it upon myself to learn. Much earlier in my career, when I was still in tech, I took an online SQL course through the local community college. I knew I needed to learn SQL, if I wanted to get promoted. I was spending *my own time* — not my employer’s time — to learn. But by doing that, I maintained control. I wasn’t beholden to the employer’s timetable or the courses an employer deemed the best fit. I picked my own coursework and my own pace. I could choose to learn skills that would benefit *not only* that employer, but any work in the future. A short-term commitment for a long-term gain. You can set your own goals, such as taking one online course each quarter. There are plenty of free options out there, sometimes only taking up a few hours of your time. You can read resources. Or join a cohort. Don’t wait for an employer to invest in you because it won’t happen. [How to Manage Your Content Across Multiple PlatformsCreate a plan for consistency without becoming overwhelmed.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*ekDqFcHevOCnjR274j1pLg.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-your-content-across-multiple-platforms/) ## You can embrace flexibility. The ultimate career control is a flexible work environment. Truly, nothing beats it. Not everyone is productive between the hours of 9am and 5pm. If you can control your work schedule, you can work at a time of day that’s best *for you*. In 2010, my employer implemented a work model that focused on results, not time. Any employee could work any hours they chose, as long as work got done. I’ll admit, I’d been hustling the wrong way before that, putting in long hours to get ahead. Suddenly, my time was my own. If my work got done, I could spend my time doing other things (like hanging out with my infant son). I started working much smarter. I evaluated my days and cut out unnecessary work and unnecessary meetings. I started using tools to [automate redundant tasks](https://blog.annabyang.com/essential-apps-to-preserve-your-mental-energy/). Today, I can’t imagine anyone telling me how to spend my time. Or telling me that I need to “fill a bucket of time” like an 8-hour workday. If you work efficiently, you can spend your time on other things. A side hustle. An online course. Your family. Or just taking a break. ## You can gain a variety of experiences. My career now spans more than 17 years. I spent 15 of those years at *one* company. And then in the two years following, I had jobs at two different marketing agencies and then launched my own businesses. Time was on my side. And some of it was wasted. Perhaps “wasted” isn’t the right word. Climbing the ladder to an executive role certainly gave me some invaluable experiences. But it also stunted my professional growth. I became *way* too comfortable working for a single employer for that long. I only knew one way of doing things. And while I made some investments to learn on my own, there was an entire world of skills I could have gained if I’d simply gone elsewhere. You can’t stretch yourself if you stay at one company too long, no matter how much you like the company. Plus, *most* companies are unlikely to maintain a compensation structure that matches your tenure. And the onus shouldn’t be on the employee to have to ask for more money. The best way to get a raise is to leave. The longer your career, the more time is on your side. Think of an employer as a stepping stone instead of a destination. It’s one more course you can take, one more investment in yourself. Take what you can, stay long enough to soak up the additional skills that will help you get ahead, and then take those skills to the next employer. Or [strike out on your own](https://www.workbetter.media/p/in-the-wild?ref=blog.annabyang.com). If you have career goals, they should be tied to you and your expertise, not an employer. The only way to gain a variety of experiences — the type that will make you truly unique in the marketplace — is to leave. ### Startups: What to Know About Working With Freelancers URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/startups-working-with-freelancers/ Last updated: 2026-06-29T16:06:19.000Z Freelancers can be a great marketing resource for small and growing businesses. You may not need a full-time resource (yet!), so a freelancer can fill a specific need, whether it’s writing, design, or fractional strategy roles. Most of my clients are tech startups of varying sizes. Sometimes, I’m one of many freelance resources; sometimes, I’m the only freelancer. I can usually tell when clients *haven’t* worked with a freelancer before. They expect the relationship to be similar to that of a manager-employee, where they can issue directives that I’ll follow. Or they’re disorganized, don’t know what they want, and can’t figure out how I can best complement their business goals. If you’re an entrepreneur thinking about hiring a freelancer, congratulations! A good freelancer is often a [niche expert](https://blog.annabyang.com/hire-a-niche-freelance-writer/) and can be an amazing supplement to your team. But there are some things to remember as you start looking for the “right fit.” ## Freelance isn’t code for cheap or unemployed One of the biggest misconceptions about freelancing is that freelancers “can’t get real jobs,” and that they’re the leftovers, a lower caliber than hiring an employee. When I first began freelancing full-time, I could *feel* the concern from my parents. Did I have enough work? Was I going to be ok? It takes a lot of boldness to step out on your own. Many freelancers do it because they can earn *more* than they would as an employee. And they see freelancing as less risky since they’re not tied to a single source of income. A freelancer might cost less than a full-time employee, but that’s because they’re (usually) not full-time. They’re not necessarily a “cheap” resource. If you break it down to a per-hour basis, a freelancer is probably higher than a full-time employee. After all, freelancers are also responsible for their own taxes and other benefits (like health insurance and retirement). What you gain is flexibility: a resource for fewer hours, filling a specific need, or short-term help. ## Read the freelancer’s contract carefully Like many freelancers, I’ve been burned by clients. And guess what? Every time it happens, I update my contract to protect myself in the future better. My deliverables are clearly outlined, and I have standard language. I can tell when clients read it because they’ll ask questions. And I’m willing to modify the language — but it must be discussed before the agreement is signed. I once had a client who signed the agreement within minutes of receiving it. I was positive he didn’t read it. The client was a marketing agency, so I was writing for *their* client. My agreement clearly states that I only do one round of revisions per deliverable. However, this agency had no such limitations in their agreement with their client. Each of the client’s stakeholders would individually review my drafts, resulting in requests for multiple rounds of revisions. I pointed out to the agency that the language of my agreement didn’t allow for additional revisions. If the agency had realized this, they could have guided their client to consolidate feedback *or* negotiated more rounds of revisions with me before signing. But as it ended up — because the additional rounds of revisions were easily avoidable — I charged an additional fee for the extra rounds, eating into the client’s budget. ## Freelancers will work with the information they’re given As a freelance writer, I’ve seen every type of brief under the sun. I’ll get very detailed briefs that outline the exact topics to cover, along with persona information and how the content fits into the overall strategy. I’ll also get emails that say, “Can you write a blog post, about 1000 words, about X topic?” As an [expert in my industry](https://blog.annabyang.com/establish-freelancer-credibility-and-expertise/) (financial technology), I don’t *need* detailed briefs. I can take a topic and run with it. But if you want a specific outcome, you need to give your freelancer specific direction. Otherwise, your freelancer will write the content in the way they feel is most appropriate. Here’s the thing: freelancers don’t have insight into everything happening at the company. While creating a brief feels like extra work, it gives the freelancer the necessary context that could change the direction of the content. If you *want* the freelancer to craft content based on their expertise, that’s fine — but then don’t request a bunch of revisions because the output isn’t what you had in mind. ## Freelancers set their own schedules Most freelancers work with multiple clients, so they’re juggling a lot. Good freelancers are excellent at managing their workloads, but that means they’re rarely available on demand. A “quick phone call” on short notice? Unlikely. Same-day edits? Often not possible. My best clients have one of two cadences with me. Either the deliverables are due on the same day every week (and they get me briefs well in advance). Or they’ll say, “Let me know when you can have this done.” I’ll then [communicate my earliest availability](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/). Good freelancers can be booked out for weeks or longer. I’ve had to tell clients — good clients! — that I can’t deliver something on a quick turnaround. As much as I’d like to make them happy, I have other deadlines looming. ## Good freelancers are on the lookout for red flags Like good employees, good freelancers have a lot of options. They don’t *have* to work with difficult clients. They’re quick to drop clients who don’t respect their work or their boundaries. Sometimes, a job description alone can be a red flag. The company will describe a role that sounds *like* an employee but is listed as freelance work. The company wants to control when and how work gets done. (In the U.S., this is a big no-no and can get a company in trouble with the IRS for employee misclassification.) My best clients are collaborative. They respect my schedule. They give me constructive feedback. They view my work as valuable, even though I’m not a member of the team. On the flip side, my worst clients have had unclear expectations. Rather than respecting my work, they’ll treat me like a content vending machine — put money in, and content comes out. I’ve also been paid late, a sign that the client doesn’t value the freelancer as a professional. I *want* to build long-term relationships with clients. I love hearing how my work contributes to their overall business goals. But I’m also [quick to drop problem clients](https://blog.annabyang.com/reasons-to-break-up-with-clients/). ## Finding the right freelance talent Before the working relationship can begin, there's a sourcing process: finding freelancers who have the right skills and a proven track record. For startups without an HR function or an existing bench of contractors, that evaluation work falls entirely on the founder. [Upwork](https://www.upwork.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) connects businesses with independent professionals across more than 10,000 skills, from writing and design to finance and fractional strategy roles. Each professional's profile carries a Job Success Score reflecting their history across completed engagements and client satisfaction ratings, alongside Top Rated and Expert-Vetted badges for higher-stakes work. Fixed-price contracts with milestone-based payments and hourly contracts with built-in time tracking give founders a clear structure for the working relationship from day one —before the first brief is written. ## Respect the working relationship If you’re looking to hire a freelance writer, respect the person as a professional. Think of a lawyer you might hire. The person is doing work for your benefit but works independently. A law firm is an outside business you hire for its expertise. It’s much the same with freelancers. They’re a supplement — maybe even a replacement — for an internal team. But freelancers are running an entire business, and you’re not the only client. And if you wouldn’t pay your lawyer late, don’t pay your freelancers late. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/02/annabyang-cta-manage-time-content-2.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-manage-time?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Grab my free guide to managing your time and content* **across multiple platforms.* [Download ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-manage-time?ref=blog.annabyang.com) 🔗 **Note: This article was written in collaboration with Upwork, an online marketplace where startups can hire top talent.* ### The Savviest Career People Ask for What They Want URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/savviest-career-people-ask-for-what-they-want/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:51:05.000Z If you think an employer will look out for your career growth, you’re mistaken. That’s always been the case, but the pandemic and mass layoffs of the past few years have put this truth in the spotlight: you have to look out for yourself. I left the corporate world in 2022 and am now self-employed. Do I think this is the answer for everyone? No! You don’t have to run your own business to get what you want from your career. You just have to know how to navigate a job, keeping in mind that the company will always put its own interests above yours. It’s easy to be intimidated by the job market. Mass layoffs are enough to give anyone pause. It seems like [the balance of power has shifted](https://www.workbetter.media/p/the-acceleration-of-a-movement?ref=blog.annabyang.com) from employees (throughout The Great Resignation in 2021) back to employers. But it’s not the time to sit back and think you don’t have any control over your career. In fact, it’s the time to start gathering your cards… in case you need to play them. --- Savvy career people don’t wait for a promotion or a raise to be handed to them. They proactively work with their managers to [outline a career path](https://medium.com/illumination/design-the-career-path-you-want-and-deserve-b73c5631af47?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Does it feel like a risk to ask for a raise if your company is struggling? Not if you frame it right. You can make it clear to your employer that you’re invested in the company’s overall success — and you want to stay. An investment in you is an investment in employee retention. You can acknowledge the company’s financial struggles (if you’re aware of them) and say, “This doesn’t have to be now. But I want to work towards this goal for the future.” And if the answer is “No” then you’ve uncovered something else. Your employer won’t get you where you want to be. It’s [time to look elsewhere](https://medium.com/illumination/how-to-quit-your-job-as-a-high-performing-employee-49e42b6dcab7?ref=blog.annabyang.com). [Reflecting on the Reasons for Career RejectionLessons from hundreds of applications, a passed-over promotion, losing my job... and moving forward.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*I85zhdxLl4avbUUuepBDZg.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/career-rejection-entrepreneurial-life/) --- Meanwhile, it’s time to start [plugging into your network](https://medium.com/curious/create-a-system-to-maintain-your-relationships-75a50a4c55f8?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Ask for coffee chats or recommendations for your LinkedIn profile. Ask for intros, even if you’re not actively looking for a job yet. Any time you invest in networking is *always* worth the effort. Always be willing to reciprocate. If you only ask, ask, ask, you could end up alienating your network. You can end coffee chats with, “Is there anything I can do to help *you?”* --- Savvy career people exude confidence. They know if they keep asking for what they want, they’ll get it (even if they’re met with “no” along the way). Imposter syndrome is real and can drag people down. On the podcast [It’s Going to Be Ok](https://www.feelingsand.co/its-going-to-be-ok/i-doesnt-compare?ref=blog.annabyang.com), host Nora McInerny shares the following pep talk: > Stupid people, people with marginal talent, are out there just doing it and **not thinking twice**. > Nobody cares about your dreams the way you do. You have permission to go forth and do The Thing you want to do and not think twice about it. Approach your career with the confidence of people with marginal talent — people who end up getting what they want, simply because they asked for it. If you don’t ask, you won’t receive. Because no one will hand it to you. > *Key Message: No one knows what you want from your career, except you. You have to ask for what you want, from your employer and from your network and — especially — from yourself.* --- *You can read about the future of work and career pivots on my* [*Substack*](https://annabyang.substack.com/)*.* *Connect on* [*LinkedIn*](https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabyang/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *or* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### A Manager’s Role Is to Coach Employees, Not Supervise Tasks URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/managers-role-coach-employees/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:48:56.000Z I was a manager for many years and one of the worst mistakes I made was expecting others to be like me. I’d been a star employee before I became a manager. Responsive, organized, always going above and beyond. My boss once told me that the company would be *amazing* if she could have ten more of me. I could see the shortcomings in my peers, who eventually became my subordinates. No worries, I thought. I could help them learn to follow in my footsteps. Replicate myself. My mistake was thinking there was only one way to get work done: my way. That, because my way worked for me, it could surely work for other people. No surprise, it didn’t work. Because people’s brains, motivations, and experiences are unique. It’s not a “copy-and-paste” from a successful employee situation. ### Uncover an employee’s strengths One of my employees was disastrously disorganized. He managed multiple projects at any given time and could never figure out what to work on next, often prioritizing the wrong work. His approach (or lack thereof) had a cascading impact across the department. Everyone complained that projects were delayed. After I became a manager, I vented my frustrations to my boss. This employee had been with the company for a long time, but I was certain we could do better. Surely, we could find someone else who could do this job far more effectively? My boss pointed out that this employee had a very [specific skill set](https://index.medium.com/think-of-your-career-like-a-portfolio-not-a-resume-e1d1c51a3dba?ref=blog.annabyang.com). And, due to his tenure, a significant amount of industry expertise that would be hard to replace. She said, “He’s here for a reason.” Message received. The disorganization, while problematic, was more than offset by the employee’s other strengths. He was still valuable. When other employees would complain in the future, I repeated the phrase: “He’s here for a reason.” ### Become a coach While I could accept that this employee had some really unique skills, disorganization was still a huge problem. I didn’t even realize what a problem it was until I became the manager of the department. When I’d collaborated with this employee before, *my* projects had always been delivered on time. I [asked the employee](https://annabyang.medium.com/as-a-manager-i-always-ask-my-team-this-unique-question-adf959fb867?ref=blog.annabyang.com) why this was. He told me that I always set really clear expectations for due dates. I realized part of the disconnect. I had assumed the role of a project manager. This employee, due to a combination of the role and lack of organization, *wasn’t* a project manager. He would go to the next due date on his list, and if those due dates weren’t clear, they were overlooked. I began to coach other employees in the department to set more clear deadlines. They grumbled. “Isn’t that *his* job?” Technically, it wasn’t. The role of the project manager had been somewhat unclear. I thought everyone was operating in the same way, and they weren’t: the expectations had been interpreted differently. Because of this, I could step in and more clearly define the project manager role. ### Figure out why something isn’t working Even with the project manager role more clearly defined, there were still problems. Every project had multiple steps with a lot of dependencies. And since there were now multiple project managers, this employee still needed to make decisions about prioritizing work. That type of decision-making also seemed to be outside of this employee’s skillset. He’d get paralyzed when faced with competing priorities. But in reality, no two projects should ever have the *same* deadline. And that was an issue: he was allowing it to happen. When the other project managers gave him a deadline, he was trying to meet it — even if another project had the same deadline. We set up a new process: no two projects could have the same deadline. If the same date was requested, it was first come, first serve. Subsequent projects would be pushed to the next available “slot.” The other thing happening was that if a dependency was missed, this employee was still trying to meet the original project deadline. Often this was due to waiting on information from the customer. I empowered the employee to push back: if a dependency was missed, the overall project deadline had to be adjusted. This meant that a customer could lose their spot and have a project pushed back by weeks. Because the employee lacked organization, we [outlined specific steps](https://betterhumans.pub/how-to-tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking-ec623721d2ab?ref=blog.annabyang.com) before a deadline was reassigned, including informing the project manager and warning the customer. The communication had to be clear. ### Find the right tools to help One thing I realized about employees with different skillsets: they need the right tools to enable them to do their best work. Overall, the company lacked good project management tools. This was fine for me because I was highly organized. I created my own systems for keeping track of work. But for less-organized employees, the lack of a good tool was hindering work. It also meant less visibility across the department. I selected and [implemented a project management tool](https://annabyang.medium.com/how-basecamp-got-it-wrong-e0738e4accea?ref=blog.annabyang.com) within the company. Because I’m a systems-minded person, I did the configuration and then explained to the disorganized employee how this would help his work. I created templates for different types of projects. But I made one thing clear: the tool *had* to be used. Work would only get better if the tool was allowed to do its job. I touched base with the employee frequently, talking about what was working and what wasn’t working. I tweaked the templates. As a manager, I was able to clearly see all projects, which were on track, and which were falling behind (and why). Employees could tag each other with updates or issues. Was the employee still scattered? Yes, a lot. Tools didn’t magically turn him into a more organized person. He still struggled with prioritizing work, and I was often a sounding board for decision-making. But the tool was a prompt, a way to stay on track — far better than a “hope this project gets delivered on time” approach. ### Recognize your own limitations I fixed a lot of things in the department’s processes. Projects ran more smoothly and many of the frustrations were removed. But still, sometimes *I* was frustrated. I still wished the employees would act “more like me.” And that was my own shortcoming, as a manager. I couldn’t mold people into versions of myself. And while I could put processes and systems in place, I wasn’t equipped to help them be the best versions of *themselves*. That’s often the problem when individual contributors are promoted to management roles. Just because they did well on their own doesn’t mean they’re fit to lead a team. And the reasons for promotion are because *their* bosses think they can guide others to replicate success (which was certainly true in my case). Eventually, I left the company, for reasons unrelated to being a manager. I pivoted to an entirely new career, which landed me back in an IC role. And throughout that transition, I realized something: I don’t like managing people. I don’t think I’m particularly good at it. I can manage *work,* but being a manager shouldn’t be about managing work (if so, that’s a micromanager). But I still have a strong desire to make work better. To see what’s wrong and fix it. So, instead, I [branched out on my own](https://www.workbetter.media/p/in-the-wild?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I’m now a solopreneur. It’s the best fit for me, fueling my desire to control the outcomes of work. A manager has to be able to meet people where they are and bring out the best in them. To balance the employee’s needs against the company’s needs. It shouldn’t happen because an IC is bored in their current role and management is the only way to get a promotion or earn more money. But far too often, that’s the case. And, as a result, the world is *full* of bad managers, all making the same mistakes I once made. If only managers could truly recognize their roles as coaches, seeing the value each employee brings. Work could be a lot better. --- *You can read about the future of work and career pivots on my* [*Substack*](https://annabyang.substack.com/)*.* ### Design the Career Path You Want (and Deserve!) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/design-career-path-you-want/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:49:20.000Z Back in 2014, I became the product manager at a software company. Before I took on the role, it didn’t exist. I’d been with the company for several years by that point. And while I liked my job, I was (frankly) bored. Ready for something new? But not ready to go elsewhere. Many companies are very, very bad at creating defined career paths for employees — especially small companies. So people feel like they hit a ceiling. And many managers aren’t proactively thinking about employee growth. They may encourage their direct reports in other ways, but they don’t consider, “*What comes next?*” if there’s no clear path to a promotion. Instead of feeling held back, you can view this as an opportunity. Think of the role you want, and take the initiative to propose it to your manager. Provided you have a boss who supports you (and wants to retain you as an employee), you might get what you want. No one else will look out for your career. You [have to take control](https://index.medium.com/think-of-your-career-like-a-portfolio-not-a-resume-e1d1c51a3dba?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ### Identify a specific gap You first have to ask yourself what you want from your next role within the company. Are you looking for a more senior version of your existing role, or a new role altogether? If the senior role doesn’t exist, what will the role’s responsibilities include? If the role overall doesn’t exist, what is the business purpose of the role? In both cases, you need to answer the question: how will the company benefit? Companies aren’t likely to hand out new roles (especially since they involve more compensation), unless they understand “What’s in it for me?” A senior role might fill a strategic gap, for example. A new role may bridge multiple departments, creating better alignment. When I proposed a new role to my company — the product manager role — I saw a gap between the customer success team and the developer group. Working in customer success, I had a pulse on what customers needed and wanted from the product. But that information was often lost in translation, and as a result, new features would sometimes miss the mark. Fewer missteps would have measurable benefits for the company (on top of everything else I thought I could bring to the role). ### Outline a role When you’re crafting a new role, you need to clearly define what the role will do. It’s almost like writing a job description, though it should be more detailed since you have the benefits of internal knowledge about the company. I did a lot of research about product managers: typical responsibilities and how results are measured. I thought about how the role might fit into my company’s (small) structure. My proposal for the new role included the following: - Description of the role - Responsibilities of the role - How frequently the responsibilities would occur (like quarterly planning, bi-weekly touch-base meetings) - Who the role would report to and what people reporting to the role - How success would be measured - Prior results from the existing role, demonstrating the probability of success in the new role - Existing responsibilities that would need to be delegated elsewhere My proposal was long. I wanted to show my boss that I had thoroughly considered the role. And, as much as possible, I didn’t want to leave any unanswered questions about the role. If I’d been vague, it would have left room for additional responsibilities to land in my lap, or that I’d end up doing too much work from my prior role. ### Commit to a timeframe Part of your proposal should include “When will this change occur?” If there’s a raise (and there should be a raise!) the company may have to budget for the new role — especially if you’re leaving a gap in your *prior* role. It may mean that the company has to backfill your old role. In other cases, creating a path to a new role may include incremental changes, such as a quarterly review of your *existing* role and its results before you take on the new role. And once certain milestones are hit, then you will assume the new role. In either case, you want to have three pieces of information: - When will a decision about the new role be made? (yes/no) - What milestones need to be met first? (if any) - When will the new role/compensation be effective? At a minimum, you don’t want to be left hanging, especially if the company can’t afford a new role. Continue to follow up with your boss until you have a clear answer. ### Create a transition plan What will the transition between your old role and your new role look like? It’s a lot different than hiring from the outside. There will likely be a period of overlap when you are doing both jobs. This is often the hardest part because you’re doing a *lot* of work, like training someone else in the department to take over your responsibilities. Plus [adjusting to your new role](https://medium.com/the-orange-journal/give-yourself-time-to-adapt-to-a-new-routine-448961d22406?ref=blog.annabyang.com). A transition plan should be clearly outlined. If it isn’t, you might end up doing your old role for longer than anticipated, which makes it hard to be successful in your new role. For example, my old role on the customer success team included account management. My new role as a product manager would not have that responsibility. All of my accounts had to be transitioned to other account reps. This was *temporary*, as a new hire was planned. However, by transitioning the accounts, ensured that I wouldn’t be responsible for some of the customer interactions until a new person was hired. ### Don’t let a job hold you back You may go through all of the work only to hear “no.” Maybe the company can’t afford the additional compensation. Maybe they don’t see the value in the new role. Maybe they’re not open to an addition to the org structure. Maybe they say, “Not now, maybe later.” It’s always a mistake. Companies that [fail to nurture talented folks](https://medium.com/illumination/avoid-the-trap-of-a-bad-job-with-a-good-boss-53315053224?ref=blog.annabyang.com) will ultimately lose talented folks, which ends up costing more in the long run. If you hear “no” you know your next move: leave. You can’t let a company control your career trajectory, no matter how much you like the company. You also can’t wait for the company to change its mind someday. You’ve already done the legwork. You know what kind of role you’re looking for. You have a current list of your accomplishments to easily update your resume. Always create your own career path. Don’t rely on any company to create it for you. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### The Longer My Career, The More Clarity I Have URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/longer-career-more-clarity/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:51:15.000Z A few weeks ago, I had a milestone birthday. I turned 40. I had a virtual chat with someone a few days later. He’d just turned 30 and was contemplating his career direction. To me, he said, “40 is the new 30.” A *lot* of things are better now than when I was 30. When I was 30, I was a product manager at a software company. I worked hard, all the time, wanting to make the product better. Eventually, I rose to an executive role. I thought I could drive change from within. At 40, I’m a solopreneur. There are no more roadblocks in my work. If I want to make a change, I make a change. I think about work differently now than when I was 30 (and certainly my perspective has changed from the start of my career). With time comes wisdom, perhaps? Or maybe some people have figured these things out sooner. But I believe I went down a career path for a reason, and if it took until 40 to gain clarity, so be it. ## My time has to be fulfilling. Notice I said “time has to be fulfilling” and not “work has to be fulfilling.” We won’t all find fulfilling work. Either it’s a competitive field and *everyone* wants that job or it doesn’t pay well. But what I value more than work is my time. I’m a professional writer. I write for clients (blog posts, eBooks, etc). I’d love to get paid simply for my own ideas. But 90% of the work reflects the client’s ideas, not mine. And that’s OK. Because my [writing work pays well](https://medium.com/swlh/one-freelancers-journey-from-cheap-projects-to-niche-expert-27766255c648?ref=blog.annabyang.com). And I write fast, so I’m not spending a ton of time on client work each week. This frees me up to spend time on my own writing projects or spend time with my family. And flexibility is a necessity. When I was working for employers, I had to have the flexibility to choose when and how work got done. Sitting in a car on a long commute? Not a fulfilling use of my time. Ending my day at 3:00 pm to pick up my child from school? A fulfilling use of my time. ## I’ll avoid repetitive work at all costs. Falling into the bucket of “my time has to be fulfilling”: I hate boring and tedious work. It comes with nearly every job, right? You have a bunch of tools to use and spend time on repetitive tasks. It takes time away from *actual* work. I started toying around with automation back when I was a product manager. I had a specific problem: customers would submit tickets about software bugs. Then I had to move the bug information over to the project management tool that the development team used. It was necessary work. And also repetitive work. I found a tool to automate this: [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*. And I was *thrilled* with the results. I started [automating more work](https://medium.com/swlh/how-i-keep-track-of-my-freelance-work-pitches-wip-and-delivered-a93ec346aeba?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I went to new jobs and implemented automation again. My last corporate job was with an employer that didn’t want to spend *any* money on tools. It made my work so much harder. I was doing so much stuff manually. At one point, I even paid for a tool out of my own money, but then thought, “Why am I spending *my* money to save time? It’s not my fault that my employer is making me inefficient.” When employers don’t invest in tools to make work easier, it shows how little they value their employees’ time. And how they can’t do the math that “getting rid of repetitive work” means “more time for valuable work.” As a solopreneur, I’ll pay for all kinds of tools. Anything to save me time or improve my work. ## Terrible people steal my joy. As an Elder Millennial, I spent most of my career thinking that climbing the corporate ladder was the ultimate goal. That meant tolerating a lot. I had to get along with some truly [toxic colleagues](https://medium.com/swlh/free-yourself-from-a-toxic-work-environment-1d499f8aa631?ref=blog.annabyang.com) — the type that would scream during meetings and belittle others. But they were more tenured and the behavior was deemed acceptable by management. Then I became part of the management. I got an inside peek into *how much* was tolerated, and why. Incompetent people rose to the top because they were loyal. I could work hard, but it didn’t make things better. In fact, it made me feel worse to see terrible behavior rewarded. I joined a company that claimed to be “people-first.” The people were nice, but the company was a [complete dumpster fire](https://www.workbetter.media/p/reflecting-on-a-career?ref=blog.annabyang.com). It’s absolutely worth trying to find a company that cares about people and doesn’t tolerate BS. However, that can be hard to determine during the interview process. I was certainly fooled. Now that I’m a solopreneur, I don’t put up with terrible clients. If they don’t respect my work, pay me late, or are rude, I’ll drop them as a client. ## I like to control the outcome. If you’d asked me when I was younger about my ultimate career goals, I would have replied, “I want to be a CEO.” When I became part of the executive team, I thought it would maybe happen someday. The line of succession was pretty clear. But the closer I got, the more I realized I didn’t want it. What I *liked* was the idea of impacting a business. Strategic vision. Driving change. Eventually, I knew the change I wanted to see wasn’t going to happen at *that* company. I moved on. I changed careers. I thought I could rise to the top again. Except… that wasn’t what I wanted, after all. I’ve always had a lot of confidence in my abilities. What I wanted was to impact the outcome. But not necessarily *lead.* The corporate world is designed around managers, not individual contributors. That was the only path to influence decision-making (and money). And that wasn’t the right path for me. Solopreneurship is. I’m wholly responsible for my own success. In truth, this is the right time. The world was different when I was starting my career as a young 22-year-old. *I* was different. I had no desire to be self-employed. It’s the passage of time that really helped me refine what I want. [What Does Full-Time Mean as a Freelancer?Determine the maximum amount of work you can take on.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-mqtuwk0_wceeq6kvh5dpjq-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/full-time-freelancer/) ## It’s ok to change directions. At one point in my life, I hired several roles. I’d glance through resumes and if I saw too many jobs in a short period of time, I’d think, “Yikes, job-hopper.” I know better now. It’s okay to admit when a job isn’t what it was cracked up to be. It’s okay to take a job that isn’t the job you really want and keep looking for something else. It’s okay to admit that an industry you’ve worked in for (checks watch) 15 years isn’t where you want to be anymore. I pivoted. Left product management and executive role and started over. At one point in my life, I would have judged someone like myself. It was ingrained in me that I needed to “Climb the ladder!” Why on earth would I start over, at the bottom? Because some things aren’t worth the money and the prestige. They’re not worth your mental health. I found what I was looking for when I [bet on myself](https://annabyang.medium.com/the-year-i-bet-on-myself-2a0718b285ab?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and started my own business. I’m now 40\. But I don’t think this could have happened at any other point in my life. All of those past experiences? Led me to where I am today. --- *You can read about the future of work and career pivots on my* [*Substack*](https://annabyang.substack.com/)*.* ### 5 Tips to Avoid Missing Client Deadlines URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/tips-to-avoid-missing-client-deadlines/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:01:52.000Z When clients describe my work as a freelance writer, a word that comes up repeatedly is “reliable.” Apparently, the world is full of freelancers who turn in work late. And sure, life happens and sometimes missing a deadline is unavoidable. But knowing that the bar is low, you can easily make yourself stand out. If you struggle with project management or time management, there are some things you can do to better equip yourself to meet client deadlines, every time. ## 1) Give yourself a cutoff time When I’m writing for clients, I give myself a deadline of 11:59 pm on the due date. Do I *want* to be writing late into the night? Absolutely not. But if something happens during the day and I get off track, I know I have some evening time available and can still meet the deadline (even though I know the client won’t see it until the next morning). For example, if one of my kids is unexpectedly sick and is home from school, I know I won’t get as much done that day. Sure, I could ask the client for extra time. But if I get in the habit of asking for extra time, then it will start to happen more often. I’ll fall into the bucket of “unreliable” freelancers. I only want to ask for more time if it’s desperately needed (like [I’m sick](https://medium.com/swlh/how-to-manage-client-deliverables-when-youre-sick-a2d1f7b2a336?ref=blog.annabyang.com)). Plus, if I ask for more time, it has a cascading impact. It might push back the *next* deliverable or create a crunch for the rest of the week. As long as I hit “send” before 11:59 pm, I’ve met the deadline. I’ve even gone to sleep at 8:00 pm, slept for an hour, and set an alarm to finish. Does that sound absurd? Maybe. But it works with my brain: I’m not missing the deadline. ## 2) Block off time on your calendar I’m a huge fan of [time-blocking](https://betterhumans.pub/how-to-tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking-ec623721d2ab?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I know I only have a few hours of “good” writing time per day, so I need to use them effectively. I will add chunks of time to my calendar labeled “writing block.” I’ll have one writing block in the morning and one in the afternoon. I don’t allow clients to schedule meetings during those times. With the time blocked off and optimizing for your best work hours, you’re less likely to miss a deadline. You know that the block is *work time* — not scrolling social media time or having lunchtime. ## 3) Work ahead Admittedly, I struggle with this one. My brain operates around deadlines, so the idea of working *ahead* of a deadline is hard. But if you can, [work ahead for the week](https://blog.annabyang.com/risk-when-you-overpromise/). That way if something goes awry, you’ve got some built-in extra time. At worst, you’ll wrap up early and have some free time. If you work ahead, you should *not* provide the work to your clients ahead of time. This sets a bad precedent that you can get the work done in less time. Clients may come back to you in the future and ask for a shorter delivery window. Use “Schedule Send” in your email or create a reminder for yourself to deliver the work on the day it’s due. ## 4) Build in some “buffer” time Most of the time, I only work four days per week. The last day is spent grocery shopping, going to yoga class, and some administrative aspects of my business. I might send invoices or [schedule my social media content](https://medium.com/swlh/how-to-manage-your-content-across-multiple-platforms-baca8bafa451?ref=blog.annabyang.com). But not client work. But this also means that I have some extra time every week. *If* something happens and I get off track, I have an extra day. I could work on that fifth day, if I needed to. I also never allow meetings on that fifth day. I want it to be a quiet day, with as little work as possible. ## 5) Set some guidelines around requesting more time Make a list of the reasons you would ask for more time: an illness, a death in the family, etc. A few weeks ago, my son broke his arm. I spent *hours* at the doctor with him, getting a cast. Could I have done my 11:59pm trick and delivered the work later that evening? Of course. But I was emotionally drained from the day. I emailed my client, and he was very understanding. [Mental health](https://annabyang.medium.com/sometimes-quitting-is-the-best-thing-for-mental-health-a2e87106a908?ref=blog.annabyang.com) is certainly important, so if you need a day, take it. But also outline the reasons you *shouldn’t* ask for additional time. Poor planning or poor project management aren’t good reasons. In my work, sometimes a client will come back and ask for revisions on something I’d delivered previously. I can’t let that request interfere with my *current* deadlines. I have to bake in some time to address revisions, if needed. ## One missed deadline can lead to another Here’s the thing: if you allow yourself to ask for more time, and the client says yes, it becomes too easy to ask for more time in the future. And just because a client says “yes” doesn’t mean they’re ok with the missed deadline. Maybe they’re just polite, but in the backs of their minds, you’ve put yourself into that bucket of “unreliable” freelancers. Even if you have a good reason to ask for more time, you need to consider the [business impact](https://medium.com/swlh/from-corporate-to-freelance-5-mental-shifts-for-success-29fd3b94c72b?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Asking for more time from an *existing* client is far different than asking for more time from a *new* client. The existing client knows you and trusts your work. The new client will immediately become skeptical. After all, your clients have deadlines also. If you turn in something late, you might be creating problems on their end. Managing your time can be one of the hardest aspects of being a freelancer. But it’s critical. You won’t retain clients based on your deliverables alone. You also have to be known for your clear communication, transparency about your time, and respect for the deadlines you and your clients agree upon. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*Manage Your Time + Content Across Multiple Platforms*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### Don’t Apologize For Your Business Decisions URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/dont-apologize-for-your-business-decisions/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:34:57.000Z The startup world is *eager* to dispense advice. *“Do this, not that.”* *“Follow these metrics.”* *“Here’s the best strategy.”* As if one company’s success is easily transferrable to another company. Spoiler alert: it’s not. But one thing most founders have in common is that they’re unapologetic. I don’t mean arrogant, but they have a clear vision of what they want and aren’t afraid to go after it. I spent 15 years in the startup world as both an executive and product manager. Now, I run a [successful six-figure business](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancers-journey-to-niche-expert/) as a solopreneur. I don’t listen to most of the hustle culture advice. And I also don’t apologize for running my business in a way that makes sense *for me* and my clients. ## Ask for what you’re worth Pricing is fun, isn’t it? It’s so easy to compare yourself to other businesses, wondering if you should charge more or less. In some cases, the market will dictate your pricing, especially if you’re selling a product. But if you’re selling services, it’s much more nuanced. There’s nothing quite like having a prospective client tell me that I’m “too expensive.” I’m not too expensive. I’m outside **your** budget. You should be able to justify your fees (with expertise, a proven track record, etc.) and have confidence in your pricing. Don’t be tempted to back down just to win a client — it’s a slippery slope that will end in the client not respecting your work as much. ## Grow at a sustainable pace 2021, in particular, was a “growth at all costs” year. Venture capital money was free-flowing in the tech world, leading to massive spending and hiring. And we’ve all seen the fallout from that, with widespread layoffs, budget cuts, and even contributing to the [collapse of Silicon Valley Bank](https://blog.annabyang.com/whats-going-on-silicon-valley-bank-collapse/). The lesson, even for entrepreneurs outside the VC and tech worlds? The good times may not last forever. I work in content marketing and spent time at two different agencies throughout 2021 and 2022\. They were reaping the benefits of VC-backed tech. And now they’ve both all but collapsed. Why? They weren’t prepared for a market shift. It’s okay to rake in the cash while you can — but it can’t all be an investment in growth. If you do that, you’ll get to a point where you’re ill-equipped to handle a downturn. Grow sustainably, think about the “worst case scenario,” and plan for the day when your revenues are down and you still have expenses. [Steps to Create a Freelance Business RoadmapDon’t wander aimlessly through freelance life — start out with a plan.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-91gf43zaqzzbf45uvmtmjg-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/create-a-roadmap-for-your-freelance-business/) ## Learn from past experiences Founders are often intensely proud of being A Founder. I know people who have gone from one startup to the next, each time creating something new and successful. I also know people who started their entrepreneur or solopreneur journeys early in life, and have listened to [podcasts featuring women and entrepreneurship](https://www.magicpitch.com/blog/top-3-woman-entrepreneur-podcasts-to-inspire-and-empower-5142e?ref=blog.annabyang.com). They had that itch and dove right in. But if you worked for an employer before [striking out on your own](https://blog.annabyang.com/transition-from-corporate-to-freelance-life/), don’t feel like you wasted your time. Maybe you had big dreams, but it wasn’t the right time. You still learned *something* from the corporate world (even if the lesson was “I could do this better”). And age is just a number, as the adage goes. I had no designs to strike out on my own while working at a startup. I didn’t start my own business until I was 37. Do I look back on those years and wonder, “What if I had started sooner? Where would I be now?” Sometimes. But coulda woulda shoulda. I have to be thankful for my experiences and how they fueled my success as a solopreneur. ## Prioritize people over profits People should come first. Always. If you’re a founder and have employees, you are [responsible for their livelihoods](https://www.workbetter.media/p/owners-eat-last?ref=blog.annabyang.com). You’re responsible for a work environment that can help people thrive or drive them into the ground. Which one sounds better for business? Even if it’s *your* dream to hustle and make a business successful, it may not be *their* dream. *Their* dream is to continue to collect a salary so they can pay their bills. You have to make business decisions that keep that at the forefront, especially regarding risk. And whether you have employees or whether you’re a solopreneur like me, there’s no one looking over your shoulder telling *you* to take care of yourself. If you don’t keep your own workload in check, you won’t be able to make [smart business decisions](https://blog.annabyang.com/working-on-business-vs-working-in-business/), or you’ll burn out. ## Set boundaries Everyone has boundaries, and sometimes you’ll be pushed to your limits as an entrepreneur. This can range from the boundaries that answer the question, “What is the goal of our business?” to the boundaries that you’ve set around work itself. Such as: - Reaching outside your ICP before you’re ready to expand - Adding product features that may not make sense - Taking on the wrong business partners or investors - Working late nights or weekends Usually, these come in pursuit of profits, but they give you pause. You’re not *sure* it’s the right business decision because you’re compromising something you said you’d “never do.” It’s okay to listen to your gut. It’s okay to slow down and let things play out before you make a business decision. I had a client ask me to do some creative work that would have been *very* misleading to the audience. Maybe some people would have been comfortable dancing near the edges of “truth,” but it was an ethical boundary I didn’t want to cross. I turned down the work. When I was an executive at a startup, the company began to go down some *very* bad roads, chasing the competition rather than remaining true to its core. It led to complete flops (and that’s how I knew it was time to leave). You can [hold firm to your boundaries](https://blog.annabyang.com/reasons-to-break-up-with-clients/), and you don’t need to apologize for them. You have them for a reason. ## Pivot with the ups and downs Boundaries and pivots aren’t mutually exclusive. You can maintain your boundaries while still pursuing a new path. Maybe you’ve started out to serve a particular type of customer, and that customer’s needs change. That’s a pivot. You’re adapting to market demands. It’s *necessary* in business over the years — customers will always evolve. Your job is to stay ahead of the curve. Call it a founder’s intuition and the reason your business will succeed when others fail. I became a solopreneur at a time when my ideal clients (tech companies) were slashing their budgets. Yet I saw a way in by offering a [different business model](https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/) than most of my peers. As a result, I’ve had no shortage of work. I’ve thought about downturns and how I might shift if needed. It might mean working harder *now* (but still within my boundaries) so I can build something sustainable for the future. If you employ people, be clear about change, why it’s needed, how it will continue to serve the company’s purpose, and how you’ll support them along the way. You need to be clear and decisive. Make the right change at the right time. And trust yourself. --- *You can read about the future of work and career pivots on my* [*Substack*](https://www.workbetter.media/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### 6 Habits of Business-Minded Solopreneurs URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/business-minded-solopreneurs/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:37:39.000Z When you’re first starting out as a solopreneur, you have two goals: find work and get paid! And it can often feel like feast or famine. The work isn’t steady, which makes it hard to manage your cash flow and pay your bills. But eventually, you’ll get to a point where you’re earning more than you need. And you start to think about the next phase of your solopreneur journey: growth. The most successful solopreneurs think of themselves as small business owners. They’re not merely providing services to clients: they’re also sales, marketing, accounting, and executive strategy. Of course, it’s easier to work on the “business side” of your business when your work is more steady. But when you reach that point, or if you’re getting close, here are some tips to help your small-but-mighty business thrive. ## 1\. Always be networking I’m a freelance content marketer and journalist. Many freelancers I know are also writers. And typically, I run across one of two personalities. They either embrace the marketing side and are comfortable with self-promotion. Or the idea of writing a post on LinkedIn makes them want to curl up into a ball and hide. A few solopreneurs I know rely solely on referrals. And if that’s you, amazing! But most solopreneurs are continuously on the lookout for new clients or new work, even when they have a full roster. You never know what might hit (like an economic recession that slashes marketing budgets in my case). Therefore, you should put effort into building your network. These are people who will make introductions, mention you in conversations, or think of you when they need your services. My main platform is LinkedIn, but you could also rely on communities (like Slack channels) or other sites. Form genuine connections with your ideal clients by engaging in conversation. **Bonus Tip**: Track your networking efforts in a personal CRM. ## 2\. Refine your offer The services I offer today aren’t the same as the services I offer when I first started freelancing. Back then, I’d take any work — including work that was far outside of my wheelhouse. Now, I’m more clear about what I do (and what I don’t do). I can charge a premium for specialized services. When you’re running a small business, you're always thinking about what works and what doesn’t work. Honing in on your ideal customers. Answering the question, “Why should they pick me instead of another person offering similar services?” And as you update your offer and messaging, make sure your brand assets, such as your website and social profiles, match. ## 3\. Make investments in yourself If you were an employee, you’d have a lot of opportunities to upskill. Companies often pay for continuing education or provide a learning stipend. If nothing else, you can learn from the people around you. When you’re making decisions about how to spend your hard-earned solopreneur dollars, spending money to take a course or buy a book might feel like a luxury. But think of it as an [investment in yourself and your business](https://blog.annabyang.com/working-on-business-vs-working-in-business/). You’re staying current in your field or picking up new skills that make you more valuable to your clients (i.e. can charge more). I also know a lot of solopreneurs who pay for professional coaching. Coaching can help you think strategically or gain confidence to negotiate better with clients. Businesses invest in themselves all the time: you should do the same. I set aside a few hundred dollars per month for professional development. If I see a course I want to take, I have the money set aside. I also use these funds to attend one industry conference per year. ## 4\. Look for ways to improve efficiency I know many solopreneurs who are reluctant to spend money on tools. They think it’s a waste if they can do the same tasks for free. I think cost is the wrong way to look at tools. What you may spend on a tool, you earn in time saved. You can use that extra time on additional client work, networking, or simply taking a break! I’m eager to pay for tools that make my life easier. And many tools — like project management, calendar management, automation — aren’t that expensive. Then you have to take the time to learn to *use* the tool. Most have free trial periods, but sometimes that’s not enough time to evaluate, especially if you’re busy. If it’s a tool I’m really interested in, I’ll pay for a one-month subscription to give it a fair shot. [AI Tools for Solopreneurs (That Are Actually Useful)The best AI tools have a very specific purpose.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w1200/2024/08/annabyang-solopeneur-AI-tools.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-tools-for-solopreneurs/) ## 5\. Review your business financials The early days of solopreneurship are often cash-focused. You’re thinking about when clients will pay your invoices so you can pay your bills. As you grow as a business, cash flow won’t be as much of an issue. You’ll have enough cushion at any given time. Now’s the time to start examining other financial aspects of your business. Do you have an actual budget (like how much you want to spend on continuing education or tools)? Do you have a “rainy day” fund? Do you set aside money so you can [take vacation time](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-vacation-savings-plan/)? I also review my business profit and loss statement every month. This report is generated by my accounting system and is exactly as it sounds: my business income and my business expenses, every month. I can compare it to the prior month or even compare it to the same month in the prior year. ## 6\. Plan for the next phase As your business grows, you may reach a point where you feel like you’re at capacity. And that’s a wonderful place to be in, but then you should start to think: what comes next? You can certainly charge clients more, but most solopreneurs will hit a ceiling for what clients are willing to pay for services (same is true for any business). You can start offering different services. You could subcontract some of your work so you can take on more clients. Or you can even supplement your income with digital products, online courses, or other materials you create. Wherever you’re at, you should be [thinking strategically](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-hire-fractional-support/) about your goals and how to get there. Stretch yourself and try something new — otherwise, you might get bored. You already [bet on yourself](https://blog.annabyang.com/year-i-bet-on-myself/) once, when you made the leap to solopreneur. You can certainly do it again. --- *Check out my* [*free eBook*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*: 17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale.* ### Fellow Solopreneurs Are Not Your Competition URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/fellow-solopreneurs-are-not-your-competition/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:35:08.000Z Solopreneurship can be a lonely life. No coworkers to lean on. And, depending on the type of work you do, sometimes not a lot of client interaction. I’ll have entire days go by without any meetings. Solopreneur life can also be tough, especially when you’re trying to scrounge up new clients. I’m a freelance content marketer and whenever I see opportunities on LinkedIn, there will be dozens (if not hundreds) of responses. Because of this, it can feel tempting to view fellow solopreneurs as competition. All businesses have competitors, right? But that’s the wrong mindset. Solopreneurship is difficult to navigate and fellow travelers are an asset. ## You can learn from other solopreneurs. When you’re first getting started as a solopreneur, there is a *lot* to learn. You may have a specific offer you’ve crafted, but you’ll need to think about logistics and tools to use. You’ll also run into things you’ve never dreamed of. Clients will have crazy demands or ghost you when you’re trying to collect payment. It helps to have a network of other solopreneurs. Ideally, you can [find a community](https://writingcooperative.com/how-a-writing-community-gave-me-support-as-a-new-writer-b9c79bb028d0?ref=blog.annabyang.com) where you can post questions (like in a Slack channel) asking, “WWYD?” In my experience, other solopreneurs will readily share their knowledge and experiences. Many will also openly discuss pricing (another tricky thing for solopreneurs!) Even if they don’t talk about these things publicly, like on social platforms, they’ll gladly trade tips with peers. ## You can collaborate. Chances are, you’ll run into fellow solopreneurs and wish you had what they have. Maybe it’s a large social following. Maybe it’s a really well-established niche. Maybe it’s a popular newsletter. But everyone knows those things don’t happen overnight. And rather than be green with envy, you can see their successes as an opportunity. You can reach out to that solopreneur with an idea for collaboration. This works well with people who aren’t *so* huge that their inboxes are flooded with DMs. I’ve appeared on many podcasts, written guest posts for websites, and co-hosted webinars. All of these things give me exposure to the other person’s audience — raising my own visibility. ## You can create a referral network. You’ll inevitably be offered client work that’s not a good fit for you. And in the beginning, you might take it (because, money). But eventually, you’ll get to a point where you can turn down work. And in these moments, it’s best to refer another solopreneur. Why? You’re being helpful to the potential client — saving them time in their search. You never know, that client might be a [good fit for you](https://medium.com/swlh/win-clients-without-pitching-f73f581a8208?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *in the future* and then will remember you. Or the client might refer you to other people in their network that might be a better fit, once they understand your offer. Plus, if you refer to another solopreneur, there’s the opportunity for them to refer back to you. I regularly send opportunities to my freelance friends and vice versa. It maintains a healthy pipeline. ## You can protect each other. Potential employees have ways to learn about company culture before they accept a job. They could go on Glassdoor or DM current company employees on LinkedIn. Solopreneurs are at a disadvantage. You often have no idea that a client will be a nightmare until *after* you start working with them. (Though if there are red flags during the sales process, run away. The relationship is unlikely to improve.) But solopreneurs talk. In my world of content marketing, freelancers will warn each other that clients don’t pay. I even know a freelance writer who posted publicly in a large community that an agency hadn’t paid him for months: he was doing a service to other freelancers. Solopreneurs can also band together to advocate for legal protections. In my state of Illinois, the Freelance Workers Protection Act will go into effect in 2024, giving me recourse when a client doesn’t pay. This was the combined work of local advocates and the National Writers Union. ## You have to think about what sets you apart. Earlier this year, I met with a prospective client and was really excited about working with them. I interviewed with the content director and eagerly awaited my response. Eventually, the company told me that they were taking a pass — and instead were hiring a friend of mine. I was happy for her. Sure, we were competing for the same role, but clearly, she was a better fit than me. Solopreneur opportunities aren’t finite. We’re not splitting up pieces of one pie. Instead, more pies show up — and what we offer has to align with the client’s particular tastes. Instead, refine what [sets you apart](https://medium.com/swlh/5-ways-to-establish-credibility-and-expertise-and-a-freelancer-e89e83e01f26?ref=blog.annabyang.com) from other solopreneurs. You’re not narrowing the pool of opportunities: you’re actually widening it. Because you’ll find clients that need *you* specifically, and no other solopreneur can deliver the same. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### 5 Essential Apps to Preserve Your Mental Energy URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/essential-apps-to-preserve-your-mental-energy/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:17:06.000Z Can you squeeze more time from your day? You bet. Lots of apps claim to *increase your productivity!* But that’s not necessarily the right approach. Your goal shouldn’t be to *do more stuff.* Instead, you want to get rid of dull and tedious work so you can focus on more important work — anything that requires a human element. Might be creative work, might be business strategy, might be research. Your brain can only handle so much, so why take up space with tasks that can be handled by apps? These tools save you time and preserve your mental energy by handling the busy work. I’ve listed my favorites, but other apps have similar features. ## 1\. Todoist for Recurring Task Reminders The mental load of adulthood is real. You have a never-ending list of to-dos, everything from your next dental exam to having your gutters cleaned. Most people hold that information in their heads. It gets to be *that time of year* and they think about scheduling an appointment or completing the task in some other way. And if you don’t take care of it *immediately* when you think about it, you must remember it. You can make this easier by using a to-do app and adding all recurring items. I mean *everything*. Even if it only occurs once a year. I like *Todoist* for task management. Todoist makes it easy to add recurring tasks and organize them into different projects. ![Screenshot of a task in Todoist](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*oJYqkknMpyHD0V5-NVReBw.jpeg) Image Source: Todoist Website I have items like *Change the filter on the air conditioner* and *Take the cat to the vet*. I also have some subscriptions on the list and their renewal dates, so I can cancel if I don’t want the subscription to continue. If you don’t care about intermingling work and personal tasks in a single app, add your work-related tasks as well e.g. *File a monthly expense report*. I’m a big advocate of keeping everything in one place so you can get a full picture of everything that needs to get done. [The Best Tools for Capturing Your NotesFrom analog to digital notebooks, find the best note-taking tool for you.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-55.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-best-tools-capturing-notes.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/best-tools-for-capturing-notes/) ## 2\. Reclaim.ai for Calendar Management Scheduling tools like [Calendly](https://calendly.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) have been amazing at eliminating the back-and-forth with getting a meeting on the calendar. You hand over a link and people find a time that works for them. But let’s say you need a two-hour chunk of time to [focus on a project](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/). And then someone drops a meeting on your calendar. Then what? Calendly doesn’t necessarily know that you need some focus time. Sure, you can block it off on your calendar as *Busy* — but that doesn’t give you flexibility. Maybe you’re willing to take a morning meeting as long as you have some time available in the afternoon to finish your project. AI-powered calendar apps like [Reclaim.ai](https://reclaim.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) solve this problem. You add a block of time for a task in Reclaim, tell the app you need two hours, and indicate when it is due. Reclaim will show the time as *Free* on your calendar *until you’re in danger of missing the due date.* Then the event will change to *Busy*. ![Calendar image from Reclaim.ai](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*DdEMl68-KghEPrqBtCVtTw.png) Image source: Reclaim.ai’s Website If someone wants to schedule a meeting in the morning, Reclaim will move that task to the afternoon or the next day, as long as you have a block of time available. AI-powered calendar assistants are doing two things: keeping track of the work you need to get done as a to-do list and making calendar management easier. ## 3\. Alexa for Voice Assistance Sometimes I’m in my kitchen and think of something I need to do later. I’m nowhere near an app — or even a piece of paper to jot it down. I was a very early adopter of Amazon’s Alexa devices. I have one of the original Echo towers (it still works!). And one of the biggest ways I use it is to add to-dos and other things on the fly. With voice-controlled devices (Google, Siri, etc), you can say *Alexa, add \_\_\_\_ to my to-do list.* That way you don’t have to hold it in your memory until you can write it down. I even have an Alexa device in my car to add items on the go. [Alexa is linked to Todoist](https://blog.annabyang.com/connecting-amazon-echo-to-do-my-calendar/), so anything I add via voice command shows up in the app I use every day. I also use Alexa for a grocery list, a separate feature: *Alexa, add \_\_\_\_ to my shopping list*. Everyone in my family of five knows how to do this. Voice-controlled devices give you the convenience of capturing ideas and tasks hands-free. ## 4\. Shift for App Organization How many app notifications demand your attention on any given day? How many Gmail accounts do you have? How often do you switch between apps to see the different notifications? *How many tabs do you have open?* [Shift](https://tryshift.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) brings all of your apps and accounts into a single view, making it easy for you to navigate between them. ![A view of Shift’s connected apps](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*irHQhvt3xlU9TDDEYHmHvQ.png) Image Source: Shift’s website You can connect all of your email accounts, your Slack accounts, your social accounts, your calendars, and other apps you use regularly. My Shift has five Google accounts, about a dozen Slack communities, all of my calendars, Todoist, Trello, YouTube Music, LinkedIn, and more. Rather than having these apps open separately as Tabs, I only have Shift open. I don’t have to think about switching between Google profiles. And if I’m trying to [focus on productive work](https://blog.annabyang.com/daily-mix-of-productive-and-unproductive/) and don’t want to see any notifications, I simply close Shift. There are also options to mute notifications for a period of time or mute during meetings. I’d waste a lot of time every day if I had to flip through apps and profiles, not to mention *wondering* if I had a notification in another app. Shift brings everything front and center and allows me to choose when I see notifications. ## 5\. Zapier for Workflow Automation The tool that removes the most *thinking* from my day (by far) is [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*. Checking notifications between apps is one thing. Transferring information from one app to another is another — and something you can likely automate. Every time someone schedules a meeting through Calendly, you want a reminder on your to-do list to follow up a few days later? Zapier can do that. Every time you’re assigned a new project in your company’s project management tool, you want a Google Doc created to store your notes and ideas. Zapier can do that. Every time you publish an article on Medium, do you want to re-share the link on a social platform six weeks later? Zapier can do that. The possibilities are endless with the number of apps you can connect. And then you’re not *thinking* about those tasks, or taking the time to set them up. Everything is happening automatically in the background. ![A screen shot from a Zapier email showing 57 zaps auotmated 204 tasks.](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*ZYK5fPM9K8fxhQ5sZhcPww.jpeg) Image Source: My Own Screenshot Even if automation saves you only seconds per task, how much does that add up throughout the week? And it’s not only the time saved on the task itself, but the time saved switching between apps. The time you could spend on more important work. ### Let Apps Do the Thinking Even if it’s just a fleeting thought, every time you’re asking your brain to do something, you’re taking up space — space that might be better used elsewhere. And no matter how hard we try, no one can remember *everything. Getting it out of your head and into an app is better*. Then you can let the app do the heavy lifting of remembering, reorganizing, and prioritizing. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### Freelancing Without the Burnout: The Vacation Savings Plan URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-vacation-savings-plan/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:02:06.000Z “I work all the time.” I hear this all the time from freelancers. They can’t figure out how to step away from client work for a week or two per year. Yet, if you were an employee, you would take time off (hopefully!) Vacations, staycations, or just a brain break are necessary to recharge. Juggling the client work is one factor. Most of my work is ad hoc, so if I’m taking time off, I let my clients know a few weeks in advance. But that also means I’m not earning any income while [I’m on vacation](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-vacation-planning-easier-with-notion/). I use a simple formula to determine how much I need to set aside each month to “pay myself” (cover the lost income) while I’m not working. ## Step 1: Determine how much time off you want to take per year For most employees in the United States, two weeks of vacation per year is standard and, in my opinion, way too low. One of my former employers had unlimited PTO. An employer after that had four weeks per year. This year, as a freelancer, I’ll be taking about five weeks: one week in the spring, one week in October, one week at Thanksgiving. And two weeks toward the end of the year and into January next. At a minimum, I think you should take two weeks per year — at least a week every six months. And as you become [more successful as a freelancer](https://blog.annabyang.com/transition-from-corporate-to-freelance-life/), take additional time off. You deserve it. If necessary, depending on how you work, you’ll also want to factor in holidays when you may not be working. The U.S. recognizes twelve federal holidays. If those are additional days you won’t be working and would affect your income, plan for those as well. [Managing Your Finances as a SolopreneurWhat you need to know for your business finances.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/10/annabyang-logo-light-orange.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w1200/2024/10/annabyang-managing-solopreneur-finances.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/managing-solopreneur-finances/) ## Step 2: Calculate your weekly income Even if you’re not paid weekly, you’ll want to calculate your average weekly income. Don’t use monthly — the math won’t work out as well since each month is about 4.3 weeks long. You’re trying to calculate how much income you *won’t* earn if you take one week off. If you’re not sure, start with the amount you earned last year and divide by fifty-two. For example, if you earn $60,000 per year as a freelancer, your weekly income is about $1,154. ## Step 3: Calculate how much you need to save Next, you’ll take your weekly income and multiply it by the number of weeks of vacation you want to take. If your weekly income is $1,154 and you want to take two weeks off per year, you need to save $2,308 per year. If you plan to take two weeks off, you're only working 50 weeks out of the year. You have 50 weeks to save $2,308 or $46 per week ($2,308 / 50). Then you'll need to add that to your weekly income. To cover your vacation, you need to earn **$1,200 per week** ($1,154 + $46). That still earns you about $60,000 per year for your working weeks ($1,200 x 50 weeks of working), and gives you the cushion to set aside money for your vacation savings. During the months when you take a week off, you’ll earn less (or zero). You’ll draw money out of your savings account to cover those weeks. ## Step 4: Adjust your variables I made a simple GSheet to calculate the amount I need to save each month. The formulas look like this. ![Spreadsheet showing vacation savings formula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/07/annabyang-vacation-savings-math.png) I input my projected amount of annual income and the number of weeks I plan to not work each year. In the given example, it looks like this: ![Spreadsheet showing vacation savings earnings](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/07/annabyang-vacation-savings.png) Unlike an employee, your freelance income might be variable — which means you should adjust as conditions change. Maybe you’re earning less per year, so you lower your income or the amount of vacation you want to take. Or the opposite — you’re doing really well and want to take more time off. I have a [general savings account](https://blog.annabyang.com/choose-a-bank-for-your-freelance-business/) for my freelance income and that’s where I put my vacation money. In a pinch, it can always act as a rainy-day fund in a bad month. Just try to replenish your vacation money when you can so you don’t end a year without taking any time off. ## Paying for your vacation Of course, all of this assumes that you have extra money every month: that you’re earning more than your basic living expenses. If you’re not to that point yet, and the amount of money coming in and going out is the same, I encourage you to find a way to earn that little bit extra. If the amount that you need to save is $192 per month, that’s less than $7 per day. Can you charge a client slightly more? Can you earn money through digital products or coaching services? Because without time off, [you’ll burn out](https://blog.annabyang.com/avoid-career-burnout/), guaranteed. And as freelancers, we need to take care of ourselves. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### How to Quit Your Job as a High-Performing Employee URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/quit-your-job-high-performing-employee/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:49:30.000Z Quitting a job is rarely the satisfying experience one would hope. In fact, sometimes it’s downright unpleasant. If you’re the “get stuff done” person, a team lead, or even higher up the food chain, your absence is going to leave a hole in the company. And if the company has any ounce of self-awareness, they’ll realize what a pickle they’re in. When you give notice, [your boss might demand answers](https://blog.annabyang.com/trap-bad-job-good-boss/), ask you to take on extra work during your remaining time or provide a counteroffer. In any situation, you should be prepared with what you’re willing to do — and what you definitely *won’t* do. I quit an executive role in 2021\. My decision to leave surprised a *lot* of people, which made the final weeks awkward. But, in advance of the discussion, I planned out various scenarios in my head so that I could respond in a way that didn’t undermine my decision to leave. Quitting is often about taking control of your career and your exit strategy should allow you to maintain control. ## Plan your quit day Either you’ve experienced this yourself or heard stories: the mysterious calendar invite that shows up from a manager or employee with no context. As a manager, I’ve been on the receiving end and it has always resulted in the employee quitting. This approach to quitting can be a *really* risky tactic. It gives your boss time to plan. Which might be okay (like preparing a counteroffer, if that’s something you’re interested in). But it also might send the person into a tailspin of “what-ifs” or preparing to ambush you. Worst case: the company pre-emptively decides to fire you and [cut you off from everything](https://www.workbetter.media/p/the-risks-of-two-weeks-notice?ref=blog.annabyang.com). To maintain control, you should either quit during a regularly scheduled meeting with your manager or add a calendar invite under the guise of another topic. You can acknowledge that the news may come as a surprise and offer to work a longer notice period or continue to assist the company with some contract work to ease the transition (if you’re open to that). In my executive role, I made my boss aware that I would be available as a consultant for a few months, should the company choose to accept my help. But the actual quit day was during a normal 1:1 meeting with my boss. We only met bi-weekly, so I had to plan a bit in advance. This might not be an option if you’ve accepted an offer that has a specific start date, but you’ll still want to do whatever you can to [protect yourself](https://blog.annabyang.com/sometimes-quitting-is-the-best-thing-for-mental-health/) in advance of giving notice. ## Make your intentions clear When you utter the words, “I quit” you need to leave no room for ambiguity. Don’t chit-chat or slowly ease into the conversation. Say, “I want to get right to the purpose of this meeting. I’m leaving the company. My last day will be X.” Use as few words as possible. Then pause and give the other person a chance to respond. If you’re nervous, you can repeat what you hear. If your boss says, “I’m shocked” you can reply, “I understand that comes as a shock.” You can think about some statements like, “This wasn’t an easy decision” (even if it [was an easy decision](https://blog.annabyang.com/free-yourself-from-a-toxic-work-environment/)) to ease the tension. You should also make it clear if you’re open to a counteroffer or not. If you’re not, and your boss asks if they can counter, firmly say, “I appreciate that, but there’s no counteroffer I’m willing to accept. I ask that you respect my decision.” ## You do not owe the company any information Every company’s offboarding process is a little different. Your boss may ask you for an explanation immediately when you quit. Or the company may have a formal [exit interview process](https://www.workbetter.media/p/why-exit-interviews-dont-matter?ref=blog.annabyang.com). You should prepare to discuss the reason for quitting when you provide notice — but only share what you’re comfortable sharing. If revealing the name of your new employer puts you at risk, then don’t share that info. This is particularly true if you’re going to a competitor or work in an industry where “everybody knows everybody.” You can always tell a lie (or maybe it’s true!) that you’re quitting without anything else lined up. If you want to share your reasons for quitting during an exit interview, it’s definitely an avenue to share what you think is wrong with the company. As a high-performing employee, you may carry more weight. However, many, many companies are unable to recognize their own shortcomings. That’s why they lose good employees like you. In that case, make it easy on yourself and share as little as possible during an exit interview. No reason to rehash what will soon be in your rearview mirror. ## Protect and preserve your work You can’t predict how your employer will respond when you give notice. If you’re a high-performing employee with a lot of clients, the company may immediately move to protect itself and leave you out in the dust. *Before* you give notice, take anything you feel like you might need. I’m not advocating company theft, but you may have projects you’ve worked on or other documents that represent your work. You can export all of your contacts from Google, Outlook, or whatever mail service you use. [Prepare](https://blog.annabyang.com/prepare-for-freelance-life/) as if you’re going to be cut off immediately after you give notice because it might happen. If you end up serving out your notice period (such as two weeks), do not do anything above your work hours. The company should decide: you can either continue with your normal job responsibilities *or* prepare some documentation for the person who will be taking your place. Not both. You don’t owe the company any additional time. #### Remain firm and level-headed Never forget that you’re giving notice for a reason. Practice in advance: what you’ll say and how you’ll reply. How you’re willing to help with the transition or not. Take a walk or do something to calm your nerves before the meeting, if needed. Don’t get sucked into any company drama or guilt. You don’t [owe anything else](https://blog.annabyang.com/retire-the-phrase-gainfully-employed/). You’re going to take your talents elsewhere. You’re almost done. You’ve made it out. --- *You can read about the future of work and career pivots on my* [*Substack*](https://www.workbetter.media/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### Is There a “Right Time” to Start Freelancing? Here Are Some Signals URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/right-time-to-start-freelancing/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:02:19.000Z “When is the right time to begin freelancing?” is a lot like asking “When is the right time to buy a house?” or “When is the right time to have a baby?” There’s never a perfect time. Or if you *wait* for the perfect time, when you think you’ll have enough clients or have enough in savings, you’ll miss **so much** **opportunity.** I didn’t wait. As a matter of fact, I was [thrust into freelancing](https://www.workbetter.media/p/in-the-wild?ref=blog.annabyang.com) when I was laid off — like so many other people. It was a way to quickly earn money instead of looking for a full-time job. But honestly? If I hadn’t lost my job, I would have left it, probably within a few months. The signs were there. I just hadn’t worked up the courage to make the leap yet. If freelancing is on your mind, here are some things that might help you make a decision. ## You think it’s unlikely that you’ll find a dream employer. One reason people turn to freelancing is that they’re fed up with employers. Usually it’s not just a single employer, but they move from job to job and nothing is the right fit. Or they’re burned by multiple bad employers (which was my case), and the idea of looking for another employer is *exhausting*. A job hunt can be really long and often demoralizing. And that’s just to find *a* job, not necessarily the *perfect* job. You may start to think that a great employer is elusive. There are so few really great companies out there that really offer everything: great salary, great benefits, great managers, reasonable work-life balance, growth opportunities, etc. And for those unicorn employers? They have hundreds — if not thousands — of applicants. Landing a job there is like winning the lottery. So then you ask yourself what you’re willing to give up. And you find yourself saying that you don’t *want* to give up anything. You think you’ll be frustrated no matter where you go. You’re willing to give up some stability. Freelancing seems like a better alternative. ## You have tested the waters with clients. While there’s certainly no perfect time to jump into freelancing, it’s not a good idea if you’ve never worked with a client before. At a minimum, you need a portfolio that shows off your work. And ideally, you have some basic systems in place to send invoices, collect payments, and [manage your projects](https://medium.com/swlh/how-i-keep-track-of-my-freelance-work-pitches-wip-and-delivered-a93ec346aeba?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Plus, you need to know that clients are willing to pay for what you’re offering. I’m a freelance writer and there’s a lot of demand in my niche. But other freelancers struggle to get clients for work like freelance consulting or fractional roles. This is all compounded by the fact that there’s not a lot of transparency around freelance pricing. You might be really unclear about what you can charge. Find yourself a few clients and [freelance alongside your 9–5 job](https://medium.com/swlh/prepare-for-freelance-life-before-you-leave-your-9-5-4ca7f637fbee?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Work out some of the logistics and make sure you *really* like freelancing. It can seem like a glamorous, flexible lifestyle — but your days will often revolve around client deadlines, chasing unpaid invoices, and marketing yourself. I was a freelancer for more than two years before I started freelancing full-time. I had a small [roster of clients](https://medium.com/illumination/3-reasons-to-break-up-with-clients-other-than-money-28df9c0ba3df?ref=blog.annabyang.com) I maintained on the side, working in the evenings and on weekends. I learned a lot from those experiences and was building a portfolio along the way. And join a freelance community! You can learn a lot from other freelancers. [How to Start Freelancing: Day 1 and BeyondThe tools you need to launch your freelance business.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-36.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-how-to-start-freelancing-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-start-freelancing-day-1-and-beyond/) ## You have a financial plan. Is saving up six months of expenses realistic? Probably not, for most people. But you also shouldn’t jump into freelancing with *zero* plan. Business will probably be slow for a few months, so figure out the bare minimum you need to earn in order to survive. It’s ok to [take low-paying freelance jobs](https://medium.com/swlh/one-freelancers-journey-from-cheap-projects-to-niche-expert-27766255c648?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to pay the bills while you build up a better client base. But you should also have a plan if your freelance income falls short. Are there other ways you can earn money, even temporarily? In full transparency, when I became a full-time freelancer, my household had my spouse’s salary we could depend on. But it wasn’t like I could bring in *nothing*. The goal was to replace my former salary as an employee. I told my spouse that if I hadn’t built up enough clients within a few months, I would look for a full-time job again. Within a few months, I had more than replaced my previous salary. For that in-between period, we cut back on spending and had some savings. In 2021, I quit an executive role when I didn’t have another full-time job lined up yet. I was in the final stages of interviewing at two companies, but my backup plan was to freelance until I found a job. I [did the math](https://medium.com/swlh/predict-your-freelance-income-with-a-what-if-calculator-50ebedcf5fcb?ref=blog.annabyang.com) on the *absolute bare minimum* I needed to earn, writing blog articles for a content mill for pennies. But I had a Plan B. And you should also. Do the math, and figure out what you need to survive during your first few months freelancing. ## You can’t think of anything else. Once you start thinking about freelancing, you probably won’t stop. You’ll dream of being your own boss, working with clients you enjoy, setting your own hours. Ultimate freedom. Your 9–5 job will become intolerable. And maybe the job would be fine for most people. But you’re not most people. You’re an entrepreneur. And *that’s* what it takes to be a successful freelancer. You think of yourself [like a small business](https://medium.com/swlh/from-corporate-to-freelance-5-mental-shifts-for-success-29fd3b94c72b?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I had the nagging feeling that I wanted to go out on my own. I kept thinking about it. I started imagining days that were solely based on *my work*. No [bullshit meetings](https://www.workbetter.media/p/break-the-old-communication-habits?ref=blog.annabyang.com). No office politics. I considered a timeline. Maybe in two years? Maybe in a year? Maybe in six months? But before I could decide, the decision was made for me when my job ended. And if something similar has happened to you, I’m sorry. The decision to freelance is better when it happens by choice rather than by necessity. Yet I’ve never regretted the decision to give freelancing a go. Even though the timing wasn’t what I had in mind, I [made it work](https://annabyang.medium.com/the-year-i-bet-on-myself-2a0718b285ab?ref=blog.annabyang.com). It’s the path I was headed down anyway. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### One Freelancer’s Journey: From Cheap Projects to Niche Expert URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancers-journey-to-niche-expert/ Last updated: 2026-04-04T12:11:17.000Z When I first began freelancing, almost three years ago, I was paid $27 for 1,000 words. I didn’t know any better and thought that writing was simply a low-paid career path, a misconception I’d graduated from college with an English degree. Instead of pursuing writing, I went to work for a tech. Fast forward more than a decade, and I’ve come full circle. I’m a full-time freelance writer. I charge around $1/word and most of my work is inbound. A lot of people claim that freelancing earns them six figures per year, but don’t share the details of how they got there. You have no idea how well-connected they are, how many hours they worked, and how much they were earning when they started. It’s rare that there’s a “quick path” to a successful freelance business. I write this for transparency so that other freelancers can know the *exact* steps of one freelancer’s journey. ## Building a portfolio in the early days I first began freelancing for less than three cents per word because I wanted to pivot from working at a software company to content marketing. I wasn’t looking to freelance long-term: I wanted a full-time job. And I realized very quickly that no one would hire me without a portfolio. I found a content mill that was willing to hire me as a freelance writer and got to work (alongside my 9–5 tech job). I knew *nothing* about content marketing but the agency gave me a checklist of things to do for each article. There was a giant queue of work and I could select what I wanted to write about. I stuck to topics I knew well, based on my work experiences in tech. But I also ended up writing about dentistry, selling a home, and screen time for kids. It is extremely hard for a freelancer to [find work without a portfolio](https://medium.com/swlh/win-clients-without-pitching-f73f581a8208?ref=blog.annabyang.com). It showcases your expertise and the quality of your work to potential clients. So while I very much believe that companies should pay their writers well, I also look at this beginning period as necessary because I don’t know how else I would have established a portfolio. ## Agency life and finding my first clients After about three months of writing for the trash agency and tens of thousands of words written, I was able to land a full-time job as a content marketer. The salary was really low compared to what I’d been earning in tech, but I knew I was seen as an “inexperienced” writer. I made an announcement on LinkedIn that I was leaving tech. In that transition time, I landed two clients. Both came to me via my connections in the tech world. That’s something freelancers don’t talk about enough: a network is everything. It means referrals, introductions, and an easier time finding clients. I was offered an ongoing role at a magazine for 50 cents per word (I nearly fell out of my chair when this was offered to me) and began writing blog posts for tech companies at 25 cents per word. I did this freelance work while also working at my shiny, new full-time job. I needed the money, to make up part of the difference in salary. But also, the magazine work was bylined: another critical element for my portfolio. Because I now had my own clients, I [got serious about my freelance business](https://blog.annabyang.com/transition-from-corporate-to-freelance-life/). I began using an invoicing tool (Quickbooks Self-Employed) and a project management tool (Trello). I also overhauled my website so it looked more professional. [How to Set Your Freelance Business Up for SuccessDo these things early in your freelance journey.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Building SoloAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelancing-101-hero-image-21.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-success/) ## More experience and raising my rates I was *very* fortunate that my agency job was with a lot of high-end clients. As I learned more about content marketing and my work was published, I gained some blue-chip brands in my portfolio. I also found out that the agency was charging clients more than $2,200 per blog post (another “fall out of my chair” moment). And the agency had a waitlist of clients. I realized that certain companies were willing to pay a lot for high-quality writing. I also [joined a writing community](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/). The group encouraged me to charge more, to “charge what you’re worth.” They shared openly about what they were charging clients. I was shaking the first time I quoted a client 65 cents per word. The client said yes. Then I asked for 75 cents per word, and it was also accepted. This was about a year after I first began freelancing. I only had a few clients of my own, delivering one freelance blog post per week in addition to my agency work. ## Transition to a full-time freelancer Two years after I pivoted from tech to content marketing and journalism, I [began freelancing full-time](https://www.workbetter.media/p/in-the-wild%5C?ref=blog.annabyang.com). It was something I’d been contemplating for a while but the timing was *not* my decision. I had an acrimonious end to my full-time job. I needed money and figured I could ramp up freelancing more quickly than finding a new job. Ever since I made the transition from tech, I have focused on building my professional network on LinkedIn. When I decided to plunge into full-time freelancing, my network paid off. Within about two months, I had a full roster of clients, all paying around 75 cents per word. I meticulously maintain my portfolio, tracking when clients publish my work. I [positioned myself as a niche expert](https://blog.annabyang.com/hire-a-niche-freelance-writer/) based on my prior tech experience, something that set me apart from other freelancers. I also added more tools to my tech stack, like Calendly for scheduling, Airtable for client management, and Buffer for social media management. I was happy to pay for any tools that made my freelance life easier and made me appear more professional to clients. I continued to raise my rates because I was getting so many “yeses” whenever I sent a proposal to clients. Now, I charge anywhere from 75 cents per word to $1.25 per word, based on the scope of the project. These rates are entirely due to the strength of my portfolio. Potential clients know what they can expect from me. I also routinely ask clients for testimonials (added both to my LinkedIn profile and my website). ## A business of inbound work The current stage of my freelance work is that most of my business is inbound. While some of this work is via referral, a lot of it comes from LinkedIn. This isn’t [without effort on my part](https://blog.annabyang.com/market-your-freelance-business/). I maintain a social presence by publishing regularly on LinkedIn and connecting with marketers and journalists in my niche. I occasionally write about freelancing or topics related to my expertise. But mostly, I post about anything I find interesting. The goal is only to show up in the feed, and get potential clients to “see” me so they peek at my profile and portfolio. I let my LinkedIn headline do the work: I describe myself as a “Freelance Fintech Writer + Product-Led Content.” ![LinkedIn page for Anna Burgess Yang](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-31-at-2.49.23-PM.png) Source: my own screenshot I want clients to *want* to work with me. Part of my posting strategy is to show personality. I also have a LinkedIn Company Page. This is so my freelance business shows up in my experience: ![ABY Creative LLC LinkedIn Company Page Listing](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-31-at-2.49.45-PM.png) Source: My own screenshot And my Company Page shows up in LinkedIn searches every week, sometimes thousands of searches. I post to it very rarely, but enough to keep the page active. It’s one more avenue for clients to find me. ## What’s next in freelance life? For now, I’m fine with maintaining my business as-is. I take on new clients as I have availability and [part ways with clients](https://blog.annabyang.com/reasons-to-break-up-with-clients/) that aren’t a good fit. I’m in that six-figure freelancer category, with a mostly stable monthly income, even though most of my work for clients is ad hoc. I have plenty of time during the week for my own creative pursuits, such as writing on Medium and in my Substack. Even though I’ve pushed the envelope with pricing, I’m also cautious. The tech industry I write in has been ravaged by layoffs, and I’ve heard that some freelancers have struggled to find work. So I’m perfectly happy with the work I have, [even though I have plans](https://blog.annabyang.com/create-a-roadmap-for-your-freelance-business/) (someday) to narrow even further into work I care about. Portfolio. Niche. Network. Three critical ingredients for a successful freelance business. None of which will happen overnight. --- [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2026/04/annabyang-cta-ecourse-blueprint.png)](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-blueprint?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Set up your solo business the right way — get my free 3-day mini course.* [Sign Up ](https://links.annabyang.com/aby-blueprint?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### Create a System to Maintain Your Relationships URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/system-to-maintain-relationships/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:18:04.000Z If you’re like me, you have *hundreds* if not *thousands* of connections. If you look across the vast expanse of people, you’ll have friends, your kids’ teachers and coaches, your colleagues, and more. That doesn’t even touch any people you may have met only online through a social platform like LinkedIn. Reactive communication is fine (they reach out, you reply). Proactive communication can strengthen those relationships — especially if you rely on your network for your career. But planning thoughtful and timely communication is hard when your connections are spread between multiple email accounts, social networks, and your phone’s saved contacts. A contact management tool can pull all of your contacts into a unified view. You can easily track everyone in your network, add notes, and create a system of consistently reaching out. ## What is a personal CRM? For a long time, I relied on my brain to remember how I met someone, the last time I saw them in person, the type of work they do, etc. It was admittedly an imperfect system, especially as my professional network grew and my kids got older and were involved in more activities. Customer relationship management (CRM) systems have been used by businesses for years. Apps like Salesforce and Hubspot are used by sales reps and other people within companies to keep track of their relationships with prospective and current clients. A personal CRM is similar but designed for an individual rather than a team. Apps like [Clay](https://clay.earth/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and [Dex](https://getdex.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) will sync your contacts from all of your sources and then let you organize your contacts into groups, set a reconnect frequency, add reminders, and more. They’ll enrich your contacts with information from social media platforms and you’ll be able to see a history of emails and calendar events. [From a Career in Tech to Professional WriterCareer goals can change over time.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1--nnb4xg3o8m2igo1t4vm2w-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/tech-career-to-professional-writer-journey/) ## Tips for using a personal CRM Having a single view of all of your contacts is exciting by itself (birthday reminders! work and personal contacts in one place!), but the real power comes from *using* the CRM. **Notes:** I’ll add notes to my contacts all the time. While my CRM will sync email communications, a lot of my interactions occur in DMs or in person. I’ll add this context: what I talked about with the person and when. Calendar events will also sync, but I’ll add notes about what was discussed. I also add different tags to my contacts, depending on how I know them. That way, I can see all of my contacts in one group, such as a list of fellow freelance writers or everyone I know from a former job. **Linking:** You can also link related contacts, like spouses or colleagues. I’ll add notes to my CRM, like “so-and-so introduced me to so-and-so” using an @ mention, and then the contacts are tied to each other. It helps me remember how I know different people, and how they’re connected. **Touch Base Frequency:** You can also set a frequency for touching base with people. If it’s a distant friend, maybe you want a reminder to check in every few months. If it’s a prospective client, you might set a reminder for every few weeks. I’ll also add reminders for specific dates/times rather than a recurring frequency. I’m self-employed, so building connections is critical for my work, but even if you’re working for an employer, you benefit from maintaining your professional network. In a professional environment that has been ravaged by layoffs, you *want* those connections so you can ask for intros or professional references, if needed, and not have it come out of the blue. ## Getting started with a personal CRM When you first sync your contacts to a personal CRM, it can be overwhelming. Between my email, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, thousands of people were automatically added — and not all of them were relationships I needed to maintain. The automatic import is still better than adding contacts manually, but your CRM can feel like a chore if you focus too much on the cleanup. Instead, focus on cleaning up as you go. Merge duplicate contacts as you find them and interact with them. The best way to use a personal CRM is to make it [part of your daily routine](https://blog.annabyang.com/evaluate-solopreneur-tech-stack/). Open it up every morning and look at your list of people to reach out to and any reminders you have. Do your outreach, make your notes (including any interactions that may not be reflected, like DMs), and move on with your day. Over time, you’ll see the benefits when you’re reminded to reach out to someone every few months or can quickly jog your memory when talking with someone in real life. Totally worth putting in a little time each day. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### The Downfall of Twitter, the Rise of Threads URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/the-downfall-of-twitter-the-rise-of-threads/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T04:41:36.000Z My phone vibrated in the early evening of July 5th. A notification: Threads were now available for download. I’d heard that Meta was building a Twitter alternative a few months ago. At the time, the release date was unknown. Then I tripped across the news that Threads would be released on July 6th. I’ve never before requested notification of an app’s release, but I did with Threads. I immediately signed up with my Instagram account. And I wasn’t alone: Threads has now crossed 100 million signups in the first four days of its existence. Of course, signups and active users are two entirely different things, but the excitement is there. I’m sure many people, like me, have been eagerly awaiting a Twitter replacement. #### A viable alternative to Twitter? I left Twitter a few months ago. I didn’t deactivate my account, but I pinned a message to my profile that I’m no longer actively using the account — with a Canva image of links to my other online accounts. The straw that broke my back was when Elon Musk began suppressing links to Substack, retaliation against Substack’s release of Substack Notes (a potential Twitter alternative). Though Musk’s war against Substack was brief, I [saw the writing on the wall](https://writingcooperative.com/writers-should-prepare-for-the-downfall-of-twitter-2b2578340fce?ref=blog.annabyang.com): Twitter would always be subjected to Musk’s irrational whims. As a [Substack writer](https://www.workbetter.media/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), I tried Substack Notes, but it wasn’t the same. Bluesky temporarily halted signups to deal with performance issues. And Mastodon hasn’t gained steam, perhaps due to its confusing structure. Based on the barebones features of Threads, I suspect that Meta was capitalizing on users’ frustration with Twitter. Days before, Musk announced daily limits on Tweet views: 600 posts per day for accounts not paying for Twitter Blue and 6,000 for Twitter Blue subscribers. The limits were later raised to 1,000 and 10,000 respectively, but the aggressive limitations likely ticked off the many, many non-Twitter Blue subscribers. Was it an attempt to force more people to pay for Twitter Blue? Or maybe because Twitter hadn’t paid its Google Cloud bill? Musk’s stated reasoning — to deal with massive screen-scraping by outside companies — makes little sense for a platform that currently monetizes through ads and keeping people *on* the site. Musk has certainly given Twitter users plenty of reasons to leave since his takeover. Limiting actual usage of the platform? Just the push that many people needed to flock to Threads upon its release. #### People want community It’s clear that people want to [connect with like-minded folks](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/the-end-of-community/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) online. We don’t want exposure to The Entirety of Internet because it makes for an unpleasant experience. There’s a world of difference between civil discourse over opposing viewpoints and trolls, vitriol, and harassment. Twitter had devolved into a cesspool of hate. Finally, it felt like the company began to take content moderation seriously, kicking people off the platform if they violated community guidelines. Then Musk took over and that went out the window. [Hate speech surged](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/02/technology/twitter-hate-speech.html?ref=blog.annabyang.com), in part due to Musk’s firing of the content moderation and safety teams, and in part because Musk tolerated (and even invited?) such rhetoric. So people left. They visited the app less frequently. The quirky, witty conversations in my feed had been replaced by Twitter Blue subscribers whose “pay to play” mentality only meant that they weren’t that interesting in the first place. Twitter was no longer a fun place. I joined a bunch of Slack and Discord communities, but it wasn’t the same as chance encounters with interesting people online. Such closed groups lacked the “global town hall” feel that Twitter once had. I used to run to Twitter during breaking news events for real-time updates. All of that was gone as Twitter collapsed under Musk’s desperation and mismanagement. #### Have fun with early adoption on Threads Threads certainly have an edge as a viable alternative to Twitter due to its built-in user base. People with large numbers of Instagram followers can find themselves immediately popular on Threads. But for people like me who never used Instagram as a primary platform, the possibilities are exciting. There’s no chronological feed right now (though Threads promises this is coming soon), so it has a TikTok feel: you’re served up content that the algorithm thinks you’ll like. Outside of the numerous sports accounts I quickly have to mute, it’s pretty good. I’ve already found a bunch of my online friends from other social networks like LinkedIn. (If Meta could find a way to import my Twitter and LinkedIn contacts, I would be delighted.) Anyone who claims to have a “strategy” for Threads right now is lying or trying to sell you something. [There is no strategy](https://medium.com/swlh/even-creators-need-a-marketing-plan-412b5897fc4a?ref=blog.annabyang.com) right now. It’s a very fun “post things and see what happens” vibe — with many users commenting that they hope it stays this way forever. ![Screenshot from my Threads profile reading: I’m so glad that my Threads feed is currently devoid of people “crushing their goals every day.” I want to connect with real people doing real things — who also admit when things are hard or they experience setbacks.](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*qy93nrRhs5wHWIIXtKtkMQ.jpeg) Screenshot from my Threads profile Reality check: It probably won’t. Eventually, we’ll see ads. Individuals and companies will develop a Threads strategy that plays to the algorithm. But it’s nice to dream about a community — a large one! — that actively rejects hate and toxicity. #### Diversify your online presence As a writer, I’ve been waiting for another text-based social network to emerge. I’m a solopreneur and online creator. My income is dependent on finding clients and my audience — so my presence on social platforms is critical. I was *really* late to the Twitter party. I was a lurker for a long time and only became serious about the platform in late 2021\. By that point, it was really hard to [connect and grow](https://medium.com/swlh/what-is-a-minimum-viable-audience-and-why-should-you-care-e178fde713ef?ref=blog.annabyang.com). So I focused my energy on LinkedIn instead, with a lot more success. As Twitter circled the drain, I found myself nervous. All of my eggs were now in the LinkedIn basket, which I knew was a risky strategy. Musk’s takeover was a reminder that a platform can change at any time, without much warning. Is Threads the answer? Early signs point to “yes.” It’s at least worth the effort to explore. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*How to Manage Your Time and Content Across Multiple Platforms*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### Protect Your Writing Business in a World of AI URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/protect-writing-business-in-ai-world/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:29:22.000Z Among my writer friends, I’ve seen the reactions to AI writing tools range from disdain to “AI is going to replace us.” Some freelance writers have claimed that they’ve lost clients to AI and that job boards are drying up. Undoubtedly *some* clients will turn to AI as a cheaper alternative to a real writer. It depends on the type of client and the quality of output they’re looking for. I don’t have a crystal ball, but I predict that some of these clients will return to human writers within six to twelve months when they discover that no one wants to read AI-generated content. Nevertheless, AI is a conversation all writers should be prepared to have with clients. You can’t bury your head in the same and pretend that AI doesn’t exist — even if you have no plans to use AI. ## Prepare your response to clients A prospective client asked me about my use of AI in a discovery call. He was almost apologetic, saying, “I hate to ask this, but do you use any AI writing tools?” Another prospective client asked if I’d be willing to use AI to supplement my writing: the company was actively exploring a “hybrid” approach of human and AI-generated content. No matter the type of client you write for, discussions around AI are bound to come up. You need to be prepared with your response. - Explain how you use [AI writing tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-tools-for-solopreneurs/), if any - Take a stance on hybrid content, if asked - Consider the impacts on pricing, if any Some writers are asked to charge less for AI-generated or AI-assisted content. You may feel pressure to lower your pricing to compete. I’d argue that AI writing does not take less time because writers are still doing the heavy lifting. You’re assuming the role of an editor: improving the output, fact-checking, and ensuring that the content meets the client’s goals. If you don’t lower your pricing (and I’d argue that you shouldn’t), explain to clients what’s involved in hybrid AI content and why your contributions are still worth your fees to make the content relevant to the reader. In my case, I don’t use any generative AI to write for clients, but I do use AI for light brainstorming or improving sentences (like Grammarly). I let the prospective clients know that the content is unique and explained how AI tools simply [supplement my work](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-strategy-freelance-business/). And in the case where the client wanted me to experiment with hybrid AI, I said I’d be willing to give it a try, but it would have no impact on my pricing. ## Clients are paying for your expertise, not time Across the board, people have a hard time understanding work in increments other than “the [amount of time it takes](https://www.workbetter.media/p/separating-work-from-hours-worked?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to complete a task.” I firmly believe that freelancer writers should never bill hourly. It punishes fast writers and doesn’t accurately reflect your expertise. I charge either per word or per project. If a client believes AI will speed up the writing process, [without sacrificing quality](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-triangle-content-quality-time/) (questionable if that’s true, but stay with me), that’s still emphasizing time as the primary factor in pricing, rather than the output. Whether you’re planning to incorporate AI or not, you should frame your pricing around the value you provide, not the time you spend. Start that framing *now* so that you’re prepared for future discussions around AI — especially if more companies plan to generate AI content internally, and then hire human writers to do the editing. ## Include a disclosure in your contract or proposal Eventually, writers will reach a place where they need to formally disclose their use of AI, beyond an initial discovery call. Similar to non-disclosure agreements, non-compete, or other clauses that govern how work is done, an AI disclosure will outline how you *will* use AI and how you *won’t* use AI, so it’s clear to both parties. Below is a sample of language you could include (with the full caveat that I’m a writer, not a lawyer): > All work created for the Client will be unique, original work created by the Contractor. Contractor does not use AI tools to generate paragraphs or write entire articles for Clients. Contractor uses AI tools to generate headline ideas, finding potential article angles while outlining, and identifying sentences within a completed article that could be improved (such as rewritten for clarity). All editing is done by the Contractor. If you want the language to be less binding and send formal proposals to clients before you send a contract, you could include a less formal version of the above in your proposal. [5 Things to Include in Your Freelance Contracts to Protect YourselfYour contract can prevent some sticky situations.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-ehbmywcrgybjk5-2d1ruea-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-contract-protect-yourself/) ## Pivot your value proposition Whether you consider generative AI a threat or not, its presence will continue to rise. You may consider your work to be high quality (I certainly do!) but some clients may need you to be more specific. As you [market yourself as a writer](https://blog.annabyang.com/even-creators-need-a-marketing-plan/), emphasize what makes your work high quality and different from what AI can provide. - You interview subject-matter experts and incorporate quotes - You have relevant industry experience - You write content based on original data or research - You’re a ghostwriter for an executive Any of the above has a human element: the final product *can’t* be replicated by AI because it is based on knowledge from you or the company. This type of content also [benefits the client](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-proprietary-content-is-the-future/), because it’ll help them stand out in the sea of sameness that AI-generated content will create on the internet. Update your messaging on your website and proposals and emphasize the way you create unique, valuable content. If you are active on social media, you should pivot your posts to reflect the same. Talk about how the work you do is different from what AI can do. Clients who value high-quality content will appreciate you even more. ## AI is a tool, not a shortcut Right now, the world is being inundated with the idea that generative AI can produce cheap writing, fast. And that somehow, *readers* of this content won’t notice. I read a blog post recently that I’m 99% certain was written by AI (if not, how embarrassing for the writer). It sounded human but said nothing. It was filled with the most basic “insights” from the industry. Any reader would get a few paragraphs in and abandon the article as a waste of time — because there was nothing valuable shared. Can AI be a helpful tool? Of course. As a freelance writer, I’m often operating on my own. I don’t have colleagues or an editor to bounce ideas off of. I use AI when I’m “stuck” on a potential angle or need some ideas for a conclusion. Writers should [understand how to use AI tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-improve-writing-efficiency/) to their advantage. But generative AI doesn’t create anything that *people* want to read. And that’s ultimately my goal as a writer: to get eyeballs on my work, whether it’s for myself or for a client. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*who.* ### How to Create and Maintain a Client Email List URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/create-and-maintain-client-email-list/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:37:48.000Z We think of email lists as something companies use to reach out to their customers. Or something e-commerce brands use to entice us to buy products. Or something creators use to send newsletters. If you’re a solopreneur working with clients, you probably think you have no need for an email list. In all of the above examples, email lists may have thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of email addresses. So why do you need one? Even if you work with only a handful of clients, there are situations when you may want to reach out to all of them simultaneously. And an email list makes it easier than sending dozens of individual emails (or worse, throwing everyone on bcc). ## Why you should maintain an email list I hope the reason you want to send your clients an email en masse is that you’re taking a glorious two-week vacation and want to contact them all simultaneously to let them know. But in addition to time off, you may have an emergency and will be unavailable for a period of time. When you have an employer, you can simply let your boss know, and everything will be taken care of for you. When you work for yourself, you’re [responsible for the communication](https://www.workbetter.media/p/break-the-old-communication-habits?ref=blog.annabyang.com). An email list makes it easy to reach out — quickly — should the need arise. Or you may want to make clients aware of new services that you’re offering and it makes sense to send an email to all of them. Or you’re publishing a book and want to let your clients know because you think they’d be supportive. There are *many* reasons why a client email list makes sense. The last thing you want is to scramble to put one together when you need it. ## Choosing an email provider More than likely, you don’t need anything fancy to send emails to your clients. You just want something easy to use that allows clients to reply directly to you. In Gmail, you *can* create Groups, but if you send out an email to the entire group, your clients will be able to see the email addresses of your other clients. And an email sent with everyone on bcc could land you in the junk folder. Products like [Mailchimp](https://mailchimp.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and [MailerLite](https://www.mailerlite.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) have free plans. I use [ConvertKit](https://partners.convertkit.com/f9fp6buqnnz1?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (a paid plan) because I also have a newsletter. So when you’re thinking about an email solution, consider if you might have any future needs. Better to choose a product that can grow with you, rather than switch in the future. Customer relationship management (CRM) tools usually have robust tools for creating and sending emails. They can also help you [manage your sales pipeline](https://blog.annabyang.com/market-your-freelance-business/) as a freelancer. The benefit of using a CRM over an email management tool is that a CRM will send direct emails to a client (like a mail merge). An email list has the possibility that your client could hit the “unsubscribe” button and remove themselves from your list — preventing you from sending similar emails in the future. ## Maintain your client list Keeping your email list current will be the hardest part. I do a lot of ad hoc work, so clients come and go. I’ve also [broken up with clients](https://blog.annabyang.com/reasons-to-break-up-with-clients/) that were a bad fit for me. I only want my *current* clients on my email list. A CRM should have some type of flag or status that lets you indicate if your clients are active or not. I use [Streak for Gmail](https://www.streak.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) as a lightweight pipeline tool. It has a mail merge feature, but I have to upload a .csv of email addresses to use it. A mail merge feature would work if you use your Google Contacts, add a Label to the contacts, and then download the contacts with that Label as a .csv. After you’ve tried it a few times, it should be a pretty quick process and then you can stay within Google Contacts. Some CRMs will integrate directly with an email tool. For example, when I was working for an employer (a small business), we used a CRM called Copper. Copper had integration with MailChimp and contacts could be synced. I use [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to track contacts within the different companies I work with. I created an “Active” flag for each company. If a company is Inactive, the contacts within the company also become Inactive (through a filter I’ve set up). Then I use [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* to add/remove tags for “Active” and “Inactive.” My process is more elaborate, but highly customizable based on how I keep track of my client contacts. [Maintain Your Relationships With a Personal CRMA contact management tool can help.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*_sTvZzks6yWZElBj_zCMzQ.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/system-to-maintain-relationships/) ## Including past and prospective clients It makes sense to include past and prospective clients on your email list — if you can separate them from your active clients. When you’re sending an email in the “I’m out of office” category, you *don’t* want to include prospects and past clients. Those types of emails will be annoying and a quick way to get a lot of unsubscribes. But in other cases, you might want to send an email [announcing a new product or service](https://blog.annabyang.com/minimum-viable-audience/). In those cases, it helps to have past and prospective clients on your email list for the occasional self-promotional email. While you might need to think through your initial setup, once you have it in place, maintaining a client email list should be easy. And you’ll never regret having it ready when you need to quickly send a mass email. --- *Check out my free guide:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### How to Hire a Niche Freelance Writer for Your Business URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/hire-a-niche-freelance-writer/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:35:21.000Z The pressure is everywhere: produce more content. Businesses have to show up in multiple channels and individuals increasingly develop a personal brand to advance their careers. In any form, content relies heavily on quality writing to [stand out amidst the noise](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/stop-publishing-garbage-on-the-internet/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). For some industries, written content is *hard*. The audience is highly knowledgeable and not looking for a listicle like “10 Best Sales Tips This Year.” These industries are often regulated, filled with jargon, and nuanced. I have spent more than 15 years working with financial technology companies. I’ve read blog posts that are **so obviously** not written by someone with industry knowledge. They sound “off” at best (or are completely wrong at worst). There are a lot of talented freelance writers in the world, but not all of them can [handle niche industries](https://blog.annabyang.com/why-proprietary-content-is-the-future/). If you’re looking to hire a writer to produce expertly-written content, here’s how to go about it. ## Review the Writer’s Portfolio Any good freelancer will maintain an [online portfolio of work](https://blog.annabyang.com/market-your-freelance-business/), and update it regularly. (I [organize mine](https://portfolio.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) by types of content.) You’ll want to assess if the freelancer can write for your industry. Look at samples of work on topics that are relevant to your audience. Does the content sound natural for your audience? Does it *sound* like it was written by an expert? Examples from industry publications are a great signal since the threshold for acceptance is usually higher. Next, look for content that’s similar to what you’re trying to produce. Ebooks? Whitepapers? Thought leadership? Understand if the writer can produce work in these formats by reviewing samples. Finally, think about your brand voice and tone, if you have a specific point of view. Many freelance writers can adapt to any style, so if you don’t see something that *exactly* matches what you’re looking for, it doesn’t mean the writer can’t produce what you’re looking for. But it’s something you should bring up with the writer. Freelance writers can’t always display all samples in a public portfolio, especially if they’re under a non-disclosure agreement for ghostwritten work. If you are unsure based on the samples you’ve reviewed, contact the writer and ask to see additional examples. ## Interview the Writer After you’re satisfied that the freelance writer meets the bar for your industry, you should set up a time to meet. The portfolio isn’t *always* indicative of the writer’s expertise (though it’s a good starting point). The work could have been heavily edited by a subject-matter expert before it was published. If you talk to the writer, you’ll gain a better understanding of the writer’s industry knowledge. ### Ask about the writing process Every writer has a different process, so you’re not looking for the details. But a niche writer should be able to describe how they [stay current in the industry](https://blog.annabyang.com/establish-freelancer-credibility-and-expertise/) or how they approach writing about different topics. You could ask the writer about a specific example from their portfolio (as long as it wasn’t too long ago!) or ask them to describe an article they’ve written recently. Ask things like: - How did they do research? - How did they decide on an angle for the story? - How did the writer’s own industry knowledge contribute to the end result? Through this discussion, you might discover that the writer relies heavily on interviews with subject-matter experts, rather than their own industry knowledge. And that can work if the writer is a good interviewer and has enough experience to translate the interviews into written content. But it’s something you will need to plan for: making such experts available to the writer. ### Talk about a topic Strike up a conversation about something in the industry and see how much the writer can discuss on the fly. You can easily point to something recent from the writer’s portfolio. If the writer truly has industry knowledge, they’ll be able to talk about the topic easily. If they stumble or seem confused, it’s likely that an editor had a heavy hand in the portfolio examples. In calls with prospective clients, I’ve talked about new banking regulations and [current events or trends](https://annabyang.medium.com/whats-going-on-the-silicon-valley-bank-collapse-vs-the-2008-financial-crisis-8b5539995e63?ref=blog.annabyang.com). They’re not topics of everyday conversation: I can easily demonstrate my expertise. ### Understand how the writer collaborates A good way to discuss collaboration: ask the writer what they need from you before starting a new project. Some freelance writers will prefer you to give them a lot of direction. Niche writers are more likely to take a topic and run with it (though not always). If you and the writer are not on the same page with how much input you want and are able to give, the relationship won’t work. If I don’t agree with a content approach (mostly for blog articles), I’ll push back and ask the client if I can change the approach. Sometimes the client agrees; sometimes we arrive at something in the middle; sometimes the client insists that I stick to their original instructions. As a niche writer, if clients *never* want my input, it’s [not a good fit](https://blog.annabyang.com/reasons-to-break-up-with-clients/), since I’m being paid for my expertise. [Tips for a Successful Relationship With Freelance TalentNot sure where to start? Here are tips from a successful freelancer.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w1200/2024/06/annabyang-freelancer-relationship.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/effective-freelancer-relationship/) ## Where to Find Expert Writers You know you need to hire an expert writer in your industry. Where to start? Niche writers (myself included) don’t always list themselves on freelance marketplaces like Fiverr or Upwork. They don’t have to — they are often relying on inbound inquiries or referrals. You can ask peers in your industry (not competitors!) if they are using any freelance writers that they’d recommend. You can also review industry publications and do some digging. Some of the bylined writers may have ghostwriting businesses on the side. Content agencies sometimes specialize in particular industries, so those are always an option — especially if you need a volume of content that would be hard for one writer to handle. If you’re talking to an agency, ask how they vet their writers for [industry knowledge](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancers-journey-to-niche-expert/) and if they’re working with in-house writers or freelancers. Ask if you can speak to the writer(s) directly and then use the same interview questions that you would when hiring a freelancer directly. You can also do searches on LinkedIn or Google for “(your industry) writer” and see if any results pop up. You could also post on LinkedIn (either formally with a job listing or informally with a post) that *very explicitly* says you’re looking for a writer with industry experience. Be prepared for a large number of replies that you’ll need to sift through — not all of which will have the requisite experience. ## Niche writers come with a price tag to match You’re unlikely to find a cheap writer with industry expertise. If you do, they’re probably less experienced and still building a portfolio — and don’t yet know what their knowledge is worth. It’s like any expert: you get what you pay for. You might find a great writer that’s not as knowledgeable and that can work… but then you’ll need more internal resources to “polish” the writing and make it sound correct for your audience. If you find a writer and your budget doesn’t match the writer’s rate per piece, you might consider scaling back the amount of content you produce. Better to craft less, but well-written content, than publish work that doesn’t land well with your audience. --- *You can read about the future of work and career pivots on my* [*Substack*](https://www.workbetter.media/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### Use ChatGPT to Brainstorm Ideas. And Automation to Organize Results. URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/chatgpt-brainstorm-ideas-automation-organize/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:29:32.000Z I’ll start with a disclaimer: I think ChatGPT and other generative AI products have a lot of limitations. In fact, as a writer, I think the output is pretty terrible — generic, repetitive, and all-around blah. But as a person who writes a *lot,* both for clients and personally, I’m open to collecting ideas from anywhere, including ChatGPT. It’s been a handy tool for outlining and coming up with talking points within an article, especially as Google Search results are [bloated with low-quality content](https://annabyang.medium.com/stop-publishing-garbage-on-the-internet-c0760b63aa8c?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I realized recently that ChatGPT results are “stuck” within the app. Related topics aren’t tied together in any way, and they’re separated from my larger repository of notes. I’m constantly flipping back and forth between ChatGPT and other apps: it’s not efficient. But I found a quick and easy way to automatically add my ChatGPT results to my existing research library — as simple as a right-click in my browser. [Train ChatGPT With Your Social PostsAI works best with \*your content\* as a starting point.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/1-1.png)Tinkering With IdeasAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/tinkering-with-ideas-train-ChatGPT.png)](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/social-posts-train-chatgpt/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## How I Organize My Research and Notes Part of my writing process has always included organizing my research and notes from different sources. This includes articles I read online, stats I find, snippets from podcast transcripts, and other sources. I [maintain this library of knowledge](https://blog.annabyang.com/prep-for-a-week-of-writing/) so I can find the information again. I use hashtags and link related ideas together: my digital version of a card catalog. Years ago, I was using Evernote but have more recently moved to [Roam Research](https://roamresearch.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). (Though the app itself doesn’t matter as much as the process.) A lot of my client writing is on similar topics and I’ve used ChatGPT to brainstorm and then supplement the results with more specific research. ChatGPT stores previous responses, but they’re not organized and you can’t search. I needed a way to combine ChatGPT with the rest of my notes. ### 1\. Save highlights using Readwise I used to save entire online articles with Evernote’s web clipper. But over the years, I found that I rarely re-read entire articles. Instead, it was better to “snip” only the sections I found interesting and [might use again in my writing](https://blog.annabyang.com/best-tools-for-capturing-notes/). I use an app called [Readwise](https://readwise.io/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to save highlights from articles I read online. It’s a simple Chrome extension. Within the text, I highlight anything I find interesting, right-click, and select “Save to Readwise.” ![A screen shot showing the right-click function of Readwise](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*DNger8na3_GJ1URSFMvyYg.png) Source: author’s screenshot **Pro Tip**: If you trip across an article, but don’t have time to read it right that minute, you can use [Pocket](https://getpocket.com/en/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to save the link and read it later. ### 2\. Sync Readwise to a notebook app By itself, Readwise has *some* organizational features. You can search and add tags to your highlights. But the real power is syncing Readwise to an external note app. You can sync to Roam Research, Notion, Evernote, Obsidian, and many more. In addition to syncing your highlights from articles, it also syncs from your Kindle highlights, your Medium highlights, Goodreads, and even highlights from physical books you can capture with an app. The sync happens automatically within a few minutes of saving the highlight. The sync to Roam Research, for example, includes the full title of the article, the author, the URL of the article, and all of your highlights. ![Screen shot of synced notes in Roam Research](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*EJgTjwpYpaqzVvsXEtcndw.jpeg) Source: author’s screenshot Here’s how this can work with ChatGPT (or any generative AI that resides within its own app): You can use the same right-click, Save to Readwise process that you’d use for any website. Here’s an example of some ideas from ChatGPT about inclusive web content from an article I was writing: ![Screen shot of synced text from ChatGPT](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*fovTqSNzAPL5hckCOSrk0Q.jpeg) Source: author’s screenshot ChatGPT gave me seven different ideas on the topic. It was only a starting point: I picked my favorites and supplemented them with some stats and more concrete data I found from more reliable sources. But if I ever write on this topic again, I’d like to have access to these results. Now, they’re stored in Roam Research with the rest of my notes, thanks to the Readwise sync. ### 3\. Tag, categorize, and link your related notes One of the biggest mistakes most people make is trying to organize notes into folders. Think back to the early days of Windows, which popularized the idea of folders and subfolders for your computer documents. Even now, modern operating systems and Google Docs still rely on this concept (though the search is much improving, making it less likely that you’ll “lose” a document by saving it in the wrong folder). But research and [brainstorming notes](https://blog.annabyang.com/finding-inspiration-from-your-past/) are different in a lot of ways. They may not be tied to a specific or singular topic, making it hard to put them in one folder. Instead, I think of my notes as my personal Wikipedia. The app is merely an entry point to a giant pile of digital notes. I find them again by using hashtags to group notes in related categories and linking related notes by their URL within the app. To be clear: I don’t spend a ton of time doing this. I’ll take a few minutes to organize my notes in Roam Research with my hashtags and links (including a hashtag that identifies the client, if applicable). The Search in the app is powerful enough that I don’t have to worry about adding tons of categories. (My dream is that someday AI will automagically link my related notes but that technology is still emerging.) ## AI is a writing assistant, not an end result I use the term “research” loosely here when I’m talking about ChatGPT. It’s not real research since AI is well-known to “hallucinate” or make up ideas that *sound* true and accurate, when in fact they’re a complete fabrication. But, as I’ve learned over the years, Google search results aren’t reliable either. They’re skewed by companies playing the SEO game and sometimes written by someone with no direct knowledge of the topic. Instead, ChatGPT is [a starting point](https://blog.annabyang.com/maintain-authentic-writing-voice-with-generative-ai/): a place to generate a list of ideas to explore further. Therefore, it makes sense to store and organize the results in the same way you would any of your writing notes. [AI Will Not Replace Me as a WriterChatGPT is all the buzz. I’m not worried.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-cvklzz7rub8an3fbasvlya-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-will-not-replace-writers/) --- *Check out my free eCourse* [*The Endless Idea Collector*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/endless-idea-collector?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *and learn how to find inspiration for content in everyday life.* ### Why Ad Hoc Work Can Be Better Than Retainers URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/ad-hoc-work-versus-retainers/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:02:54.000Z You’ll hear this advice a lot as a freelancer: land a few big retainers and you’re set. You’ll only need to manage a few clients and your income will be more stable. While true, retainer arrangements have a lot of drawbacks unless you have an absolutely perfect client. Rather than chase the big retainer, freelancers should embrace the idea of ad hoc work. If you manage your clients well, you’ll actually have *more* freedom and stability than a retainer arrangement offers. ### Retainers aren’t all they’re cracked up to be As a freelance writer, 75% of my work is ad hoc: clients make requests on an as-needed basis and we negotiate a due date. And I always have plenty of work. This began out of necessity: I was a new freelancer and couldn’t afford to say no to work. So I said “yes” to everything. I quickly realized that I could have a full roster of clients built on a bunch of small arrangements, rather than a few big retainers. #### Retainers are a hard sell. Unless you’re a *very* well-established freelancer with a glittering portfolio, it can be hard to [convince a client](https://medium.com/swlh/6-ways-to-market-yourself-as-a-freelancer-without-the-hard-sell-b3f0e80a1f80?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to sign a retainer agreement. They don’t trust you yet. They may ask for a test assignment or want to work with you for a month before agreeing to a six-month arrangement. And meanwhile, you may be passing on other work on the possibility of taking on this retainer. #### Retainer deliverables can be tricky. Let’s say you promise a client four deliverables per month. And the client only approves three ideas. What happens to the fourth? Do you deliver five the following month? Retainers often have a rollover problem. Between client approvals and your own schedule (like taking a vacation), it’s hard to make sure your client is getting everything they’ve paid for. #### Losing a retainer is hard. As much as retainers *seem* like stable income, losing a retainer can be a huge blow. And it may have nothing to do with your work, but the client’s budget or needs change. You’ll find yourself scrambling to land a new retainer so you don’t have a gap in your income. And you may not have been focused on marketing yourself at all while your plate was full. #### You can’t break up with a retainer client. The client that seemed great when you initially signed an agreement might turn out to be a nightmare. And if you have a retainer, you’re stuck. You have to deal with that terrible client for the duration of the agreement. One of the great things about freelancing is control over your work. Ad hoc work allows you to [drop a client](https://medium.com/illumination/3-reasons-to-break-up-with-clients-other-than-money-28df9c0ba3df?ref=blog.annabyang.com) at any time. ### A few things to keep in mind with ad hoc work I usually have around 12–15 clients at any given time. Some send me work very regularly (even though the agreements are ad hoc) and some send me very occasional projects. Personally, I like the variety. When something new comes in, I let the client know the earliest date I can deliver and make sure that will meet their needs (it usually does). I’m typically booked out at least 1–2 weeks. #### You have to be really good at project management. Retainers require *some* project management, but retainers require more. You’ll be juggling more client communications, more due dates, and more project nuances. For example, as a writer, I have to pay attention to each client’s style guide. I use Trello to [manage deliverables](https://medium.com/swlh/how-i-keep-track-of-my-freelance-work-pitches-wip-and-delivered-a93ec346aeba?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and put a link to the client’s style guide when new work comes in. But if I were only managing two or three clients with retainers, it would be less to keep track of. #### You need to market yourself more. Because clients can come and go more freely, you need to constantly be thinking about bringing in new clients. The upside to this is that it becomes a [built-in part of your workweek](https://medium.com/swlh/win-clients-without-pitching-f73f581a8208?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Think of the freelancer who takes on big retainers, loses a client, and then shows up on LinkedIn once every six months to say, “Hey, I’m open to new work!” Whereas I’m always on the lookout for new opportunities. I’ll take meetings with anyone that reaches out (provided it’s the type of work I want to do). I stay active on LinkedIn since it’s my main source for potential clients. #### It can be more unpredictable. Yes, ad hoc deliverables *can* mean that [your income isn’t steady](https://medium.com/swlh/predict-your-freelance-income-with-a-what-if-calculator-50ebedcf5fcb?ref=blog.annabyang.com) from one month to the next. This was the case when I first started freelancing. My income was *wildly* unpredictable. But I learned to squirrel money away in the good months to offset the bad months. Now I’m in a position with enough clients that I sometimes have to turn work away. If a client needs a deliverable by a certain date, I might be booked. That’s the trade-off they have to understand when they’re signing an ad hoc agreement instead of a retainer. ### Ad hoc work has amazing benefits One of the biggest benefits to ad hoc is that you can sign new clients all the time (if they’re a good fit). Just make sure they understand that your availability depends on what other clients assign you. This becomes intrinsic motivation: if they want you to do the work, they need to get their requests in early. You’ll also be able to add a huge variety of work to your portfolio. Working on the same type of project month after month with a retainer client can be boring. Variety is the spice of life and with ad hoc assignments, you’ll always be working on something new. If the idea of ad hoc work makes you nervous, consider a combo. You can add some stability with one or two retainers and let the rest be ad hoc. But I consider my ad hoc work to be *less* risky than losing a big retainer because I always have enough clients to fill my days. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### 3 Reasons to Break Up With Clients (Other Than Money) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/reasons-to-break-up-with-clients/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:03:12.000Z Phase One of building a business is finding clients. That’s a given: you need a sustainable livelihood, whether you’re running a business with employees or working as a solopreneur. But Phase Two looks a little different. You have enough work and can afford to be choosy about clients. That might mean not taking on new clients if you get a bad vibe from them. And it might also mean saying goodbye to existing clients. Money is a no-brainer reason to break up with a client. Some old clients might be paying below your current rates or are slow to pay invoices. Logistics is another good reason — the client is difficult to work with from a project management standpoint (or a personality standpoint). But beyond that, there are other, totally valid reasons to break up with clients. ## 1\. Terrible work (or lack of respect for your work) We all want to do work we enjoy. True, that’s not always the case, but ultimately you should be able to see your work's value to clients. It may not be personally satisfying, but you understand how the client benefits from the end result. As a freelance writer, I do a lot of ghostwriting for client blogs. Even though my name isn’t attached, and it’s not something I would write about if I weren’t being paid for it, I’m still proud of the work (and include it in my portfolio). Then there are times when the client relationship… isn’t good. Even if you’re providing a product or service, the client doesn’t respect what you do. They treat your company or your work as a commodity, rather than something of value. Writers see this all the time with clients that want to produce “content for content’s sake” without thinking about the reader’s experience. In my words, it’s contributing to [garbage on the internet](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/stop-publishing-garbage-on-the-internet/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). When I first started working as a writer, I was at a content marketing agency. Part of the internal process was to answer the question *“Why should this content exist in the world?”* with every draft. I still ask myself that question as a freelancer. And if I can’t answer it, that’s a problem. One time, I was assigned work from a client that made absolutely no sense. I asked for clarification and received the answer I expected: the content was serving the Google algorithm (stuffed with keywords), rather than targeting actual readers. I declined the assignment. If a client respects your business, they’ll treat it as more than a vending machine (“put money in and work comes out”). If you’re an established business owner, you can break up with clients who don't respect your work. ## 2\. Lack of integrity Not all companies are on the up-and-up (shocking, I know). Indiscretions can range from how clients conduct their own business to taking shortcuts to manipulating information. Sometimes it’s a fine line. Pablo Picasso said, “Good artists copy; great artists steal.” In my world as a writer, copying would be outright plagiarism. Stealing might be a client asking me to look at a competitor and lift some ideas. Then I have should ask myself: is it just a starting point, and I’m making the [finished deliverable](https://blog.annabyang.com/keep-track-of-freelance-work/) unique? Or am I being asked to simply re-work the competitor’s ideas, without contributing anything new? If it’s the latter, that’s only a short distance from garbage on the internet. When working with clients, they should be asking you to formulate a new perspective, not simply copy. It should be obvious that the product or service your business offers is *yours*, and not a carbon copy of another company’s work. Or, a client may provide you misleading (or downright inaccurate) information, for their own gain. Maybe it impacts how you price the work or how a client works with your employees. Maybe it creates a false sense of urgency. Whatever the reason, the client isn’t being forthright during the relationship. It happens all the time when writers include quotes or stats that are taken out of context. There’s nothing wrong with making a client’s product or services look good — that’s part of the job. But it crosses the line when you know you’re writing something that isn’t true. A client asked me to include a statistic in a blog article that seemed bogus. I researched it myself and found that it was horribly misleading. I informed the client that anyone with access to Google could fact-check this statistic and figure out it was bad. The client’s response? “No one is going to fact-check this.” When a client isn’t being upfront or asking for something that feels shady or underhanded, it’s a reason to break up. That type of behavior harms you or your team. ## 3\. Goes against your belief system We all have issues that are important to us or causes we care about. And sometimes, a client’s values directly contradict what we believe in. It can make us feel *really* icky to work with that type of client. It might not be evident at the outset. Maybe you or your company were hired to do one type of work, and it wasn’t obvious that there was a values misalignment. Or you accepted the work initially because you *had* to, but now you’re in a place where you can say no to client work. Case in point: a fellow consultant was asked to do work for a weight loss company. The work made her feel squeamish from the get-go and as the relationship progressed, she was asked to do work that she felt would be detrimental to a woman’s self-image. Or I worked with an organization and edited a monthly newsletter. The newsletter included a message from the CEO, and his statements went against many of my beliefs. Every time I edited his submissions, I cringed. I was at a point as a solopreneur where I still could have used the money, but it wasn’t worth it to do work that made me feel angry and terrible. ## You get to make decisions One of the *best* things about owning a business or being a solopreneur is that you get to choose your clients. With an employer, you’re often stuck with your colleagues and have to find a way to maintain the peace (or find a new job — which is a huge undertaking). People always talk about breaking up with clients because they’re hard to work with or don’t pay well. Not enough talk about breaking up with clients simply because *you don’t like them.* But that’s the beauty of becoming an in-demand business owner or one with [niche expertise](https://blog.annabyang.com/establish-freelancer-credibility-and-expertise/). You get to choose. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### Why We Need Community Banks URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/why-we-need-community-banks/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:50:40.000Z My first job was as a bank teller at a small-town bank. The bank sat on the corner of one of the town’s main intersections, and when I say “main intersection” I mean one of two stoplights in the small community of 3,500 people. The bank opened in 1906 and the first loan made was to buy corn for spring planting. It was the only local bank to survive the Great Depression, when many banks failed. The bank has remained small over the years, with only three branches today. Even as many, many other banks have swelled to dozens of branches, and national banks boast thousands of locations. The busiest time of the week was Friday afternoons after 3:00 p.m. when two of the local businesses paid their employees — via check — and those employees came to the bank to cash their checks. I’m not *that* old, and direct deposit was common, but these two employers still used the old-school check method. I worked at the bank for almost six years, until I graduated from college. I knew many of the regular customers by name. Eventually, I became a loan processor and worked to approve home loan applications. The bank was also well-known for its small business lending. I felt like this work was important: the bank truly worked with customers to make their dreams come true. April is Community Banking Month in the United States, a celebration of the small banks that power their communities. I never really left the community banking world. After college, I worked for a software company that served community banks and credit unions for 15 years. And now, as a freelance writer, I’ve written for publications that target community banks and other tech companies that have community banks as clients. But banking is often opaque and, until people run into a problem with their bank, they don’t often consider the size of the bank when [opening an account](https://medium.com/swlh/how-to-choose-a-bank-for-your-freelance-business-18e058a3ce0c?ref=blog.annabyang.com) or taking out a loan. They don’t realize the outsized impact that community banks have on their local economies — and the level of service they provide to their customers. ### What is a community bank? For context, it’s helpful to understand what we mean by “community bank” — at least within the United States. A **community bank** operates within a small geographical area. It may have many branches within that area and may even have branches in a few neighboring states. Community banking is considered “relationship banking,” where customers (particularly businesses and loan customers) actively know and work with staff to meet their banking needs. The FDIC defines community banks as having less than $10 billion in assets. A **regional bank** covers a larger geographical area and typically has many branches. Due to their larger size, regional banks offer convenience and services to bigger businesses. Regional banks have between $10 billion and $100 billion in assets. A **national bank** serves the entire country. Think JP Morgan Chase or Wells Fargo. They handle complex financial transactions for the largest companies in the United States, but for individuals, they deal in volume. Silicon Valley Bank, making headlines for its [historic failure](https://annabyang.medium.com/whats-going-on-the-silicon-valley-bank-collapse-vs-the-2008-financial-crisis-8b5539995e63?ref=blog.annabyang.com), was a national bank. Even with only sixteen branches, the bank had assets of over $200 billion. The largest national banks have asset sizes in the *trillions* of dollars. A **neobank** is an online-only bank: a financial technology company that provides banking services, backed by an established community or regional bank. Chime is an example (and more on technology later in the article). If you have a question or a problem, you would speak to an employee of the neobank, not the traditional bank behind the scenes. Most neobanks are focused on checking or savings accounts. For transparency: My primary checking account is with a national bank, only because my community bank was acquired (multiple times) and I never switched. I am self-employed and my business checking account is with a regional bank with an asset size of $46 billion. And my home loan is through a community bank with an asset size of $9 billion. ### What‘s the difference between a bank and a credit union? Credit unions offer the same financial services as a bank and are often similar in size to a community bank or regional bank. Credit unions operate as not-for-profit institutions. Any profits are paid out to account holders (called “members”) as the owners of the bank. Banks are for-profit institutions, owned by shareholders, whether the bank is privately held or publicly traded. Banks and credit unions historically don’t like each other and it's rooted in the for-profit versus not-for-profit status. When credit unions first emerged, they were serving a specific population (like “teachers’ credit union” or “firefighters’ credit union.”) You had to fall into that specific population to gain membership. However, over the years, credit unions have expanded and often serve specific geographical areas, making them more direct competition with banks. Because banks are for-profit, they have to pay taxes on their profits. By contrast, since credit unions are non-profit, they do *not* pay taxes. Many bankers feel this is unfair: they’re operating in the same way, providing the same services, yet credit unions are at an advantage because they don’t have the same tax burden. I understand this argument and think it needs to be addressed. I’ve also worked with banks and credit unions over the years, and they have the same goal: serving their communities. The real enemies are the large, national banks—not the community financial institution down the street. ### Why community banking matters My passion for community banks runs deep, yet many people don’t understand their impact. In an era where consumers have more choices than ever—and many opt to support businesses and missions that they care about—I think many would choose community banks if they understood why they are better than their large-bank counterparts. #### **Small business loans** At a very basic level, when you make a deposit at a bank, the bank takes the money and turns it into a loan. Banks earn money from the interest paid on loans. They earn money from deposit accounts also (like fees) but also have to pay out interest on deposit accounts. Banks can only lend out a percentage of their deposits. If a community bank has $100 million in deposits, they might have $90 million in loans (the math is more complicated, but for simplicity’s sake, we’ll stick with these numbers). By contrast, if a megabank has $100 *billion* in deposits, it can do $90 *billion* in loans. If a large hotel chain needs a $100 million dollar loan to build a new building, a community bank couldn’t do that — but a large bank could. Large banks have many large corporations as businesses, both loans and deposits. That’s where the money is, and large banks will have analysts and other staff who understand their complexity. But a lot of the business with large corporations doesn’t directly benefit the local economy. A new hotel might generate new jobs, but that’s not the only type of loan that big companies take out. Even Elon Musk had to take out loans totaling $13 billion to buy Twitter. Community banks, on the other hand, originate many loans to small businesses. And they have an outsized impact: according to the FDIC, while community banks hold only 15% of the total loans in the industry, they hold **36%** of the small business loans. And small businesses have a direct impact on the local economy. They hire locally, and the money earned from patrons is reinvested in the business. And small businesses have their own outsized impact: [46.4% of all US employees](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/small-business-statistics/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) are employed by small businesses. #### **Personalized service** In part, the reason that so many small businesses end up at community banks (versus big banks) is the level of service that community banks provide. All banks have criteria to approve loans. They look at a number of factors, including how long the business has existed, how much money it’s earning, and the collateral offered for the loan. Many small business loans are riskier: a startup, for example, that doesn’t have any revenue yet. If a startup applies for a loan at a big bank, the big bank may simply say “nope” and that’s the end of the application. However, community banks are more likely to work with the business owner and figure out if there’s a way to do the loan. Community banks often partner with the [Small Business Administration](https://www.sba.gov/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (SBA), a government program designed to help entrepreneurs get loans. Beyond small businesses, community banks *as a whole* provide better service. Some of the larger banks are notorious for poor treatment of their consumers. Wells Fargo has been [fined repeatedly](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/cfpb-orders-wells-fargo-to-pay-37-billion-for-widespread-mismanagement-of-auto-loans-mortgages-and-deposit-accounts/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for illegally assessing fees and interest on its deposits and loans. Neobank Chime has had [over 900 consumer complaints](https://www.bankingdive.com/news/chime-customers-file-hundreds-of-cfpb-complaints-over-locked-accounts-repo/602947/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) from people locked out of their accounts. If you ever have a problem with your deposit account or loan, a community bank will be far more likely to resolve the issue. #### Giving back Big banks do things like donate money to football stadiums to have their name emblazoned on the side of the building. Community banks are [involved in their communities](https://bankbeat.biz/category/community-relations/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). It might include community service or sponsoring a 5k charity race. They donate money or offer scholarships. Many also offer financial education through in-person or online events. I interviewed a vice president at a community bank in my area, part of a feature I wrote for a magazine. The woman specialized in loans to non-profit organizations. While the loans were a source of revenue for the bank, she also attended many of the local non-profit functions, encouraging and supporting her clients. Community banks are proud of their involvement: they consider themselves *part* of the communities they serve. ### Why community banks are struggling The merger and acquisition activity between banks has skyrocketed over the past decade: two banks will join forces and become a single bank. Between 2012 and 2019, the number of community banks fell from 6,802 to 4,750, [according to a report](https://www.fdic.gov/news/press-releases/2020/pr20139.html?ref=blog.annabyang.com) by the FDIC. I saw this firsthand when I was at a financial technology company during this time period. A significant portion of my job was wrangling the complex projects that occurred when one of the company’s clients was acquired (or did the acquiring). The reason for the M&A activity? Community banks are struggling to stay in business. #### Regulations Banks are subject to many of the same regulations, regardless of size. *Some* banking laws apply only to larger banks, but many (especially consumer protection laws) are across the board. Regulations [keep banks in check](https://annabyang.medium.com/what-it-means-to-trust-the-system-bdaa196d1b69?ref=blog.annabyang.com). They prevent things like predatory lending, surprise fees, or discriminatory practices. And many of the regulations are also complex. Someone within the bank needs to be aware of the ever-evolving regulatory landscape *and* ensure that the bank is complying. Large banks would have entire teams dedicated to this effort. A very small, community bank might have one person. Banks also need to provide extensive reporting for many of the regulations. For example, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975 requires banks to report on home loan applications. This information is made public and gives officials insight into lending practices that could be discriminatory. Until 2018, HMDA reporting included a few dozen data points for each home loan. The bank would collect the data and transmit it. In 2018, new requirements went into effect, expanding the HMDA data points to 110 *and* expanding the criteria for loans that had to be reported. Community banks struggle with requirements like this. It might mean hiring more staff or forcing existing staff to spend more time on reporting (and less time on other bank activities). Increased regulatory pressures are one reason that a merger is so appealing: the bank immediately becomes a larger institution with more compliance staff available. #### Technology Community banks often lag in technology. For a long time, online account opening, online banking, and online loan applications were a “nice to have” rather than essential. Big banks rolled out this type of technology because they could: they had the resources and budget to do so. Many community banks said, “Not a priority” and focused their energy and money elsewhere. Now, many community banks are playing catch-up. They may have an outdated infrastructure that makes it hard to implement new technology. Or they have *so* many technology upgrades to make that it becomes a question of “Which critical project is the *most* critical?” Technology has a huge impact on customer acquisition because things like “good mobile banking” are now table stakes. Someone opening a new checking account doesn’t care about the potential impact of a small business loan that a community bank can do with that money: they think about the ease of online account opening. I opened an account with a community bank that had a specific mission I believed in. But after opening the account (which was a shockingly cumbersome process and included a phone call to the bank), I took one look at the online banking and closed my account. I couldn’t sacrifice ease of use, no matter how much I wanted to support the bank. And that’s unfortunate. As a journalist, I have written about financial technology—specifically for community banks—for the past few years. I implore them to make the investments now because customers' demands will only increase. Lack of technology isn’t true across the board. Some community banks are very forward-thinking and want to offer the latest technology to their customers. The others? They’ll likely end up being acquired by another bank because they can’t compete. ### What the future holds As the merger and acquisition activity shows, community banks are disappearing rapidly. This is unfortunate because these small but mighty banks still play a vital role in the communities they serve. If community banks continue to be gobbled up, leaving only large national banks or regional banks, *all* people will be impacted. Fewer banks mean fewer options, less competition, and less personalized service. What happens in a world where small businesses can’t find a bank that’s willing to give them a loan? Everyday people can’t do much about banking regulations. They can’t force a bank to upgrade its technology. But if there are two institutions that can meet your banking needs and one is a large bank and one is a community bank: choose the community bank. Understand that your banking relationship will have an outsized impact on your community. Community banks are so proud of the work they do, and you should be proud to bank with one. --- *If you want to support my work as a writer, you can* [*buy me a coffee*](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*. You can also subscribe to my* [*Substack*](https://www.workbetter.media/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for more thoughts on work culture and the future of work.* ### What It Means to Trust the Banking System URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/what-it-means-to-trust-the-system/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:50:51.000Z When you’re driving, you have a reasonable assumption that other drivers will follow the rules. There are laws (like the speed limit and obeying traffic lights) and guidance (maybe not the best idea to speed up to pass when traffic is heavy). Sometimes people break the laws. Sometimes people take risks. And sometimes there are innocent victims as a result. I’ve [been reflecting](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/where-is-the-empathy) on the Silicon Valley Bank collapse since it happened. (If you need a detailed explainer, you can [read this article](https://blog.annabyang.com/whats-going-on-silicon-valley-bank-collapse/)). There has been a lot of finger-pointing. There is no *one thing* that lead to SBV’s collapse. It was a combination of the bank’s unique clientele, a changing VC-backed tech landscape, rising interest rates, deregulation, and a bad press release. A perfect storm. But a core concern should be the financial system in the United States. Like driving, it is built on trust. A series of laws, guidance, and relying on the fact that *most people* are trying to do the right thing *most of the time*. If that trust shatters, the system will collapse. That’s been the biggest risk of the SVB failure. ## The philosophy of money German philosopher Georg Simmel is credited with codifying the idea of money as a sort of collective delusion. In 1900 he published the book *The Philosophy of Money* and in it, he wrote, “An object does not gain a new quality if we call it valuable; it is valued because of the qualities it has.” We accept that paper money has value because we collectively agree that it does. We accept that the balance displayed in our banking app is correct and available if we need to withdraw money. That’s one of the reasons that the crypto market has struggled. There’s no collective acceptance that cryptocurrency has value. The colossal fallout of FTX, the bankruptcy filings of multiple exchanges, the massive devaluation of Bitcoin, and large layoffs at Coinbase have done little to help the cause. The FDIC was created during the Great Depression, in part, to restore confidence in the U.S. banking system. Dozens of banks failed in “bank runs” where people collectively ran to withdraw cash. It doesn’t work that way… banks don’t keep money locked up in a safe. The U.S. hadn’t seen a [bank run](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%5Fof%5Fbank%5Fruns?ref=blog.annabyang.com) since 2008\. Wachovia lost about 1% of its deposits in a single day. Under pressure, Wachovia put itself up for sale. Earlier that same year, IndyMac lost 7.5% of its deposits over a few days and ultimately failed. By comparison, SVB lost **25% of its deposits** in under 48 hours. People were clearly scared. And because of the significant media attention, it made other people wonder: Is *my* money safe at *my* bank? ## The tricky balance of banking regulations My first job was as a bank teller at a community bank. Two branches, asset size of about $50 million (compared to SVB’s $200 billion). Eventually, I began underwriting loans and working in loan operations. Then went to work at a fintech for 15 years. The product was a loan risk management system for community banks and credit unions. I firmly believe in the mission of these small yet mighty banks: to serve their communities. Yet community banks are under enormous pressure. Technology demands are *high* and they don’t have the resources of their big bank counterparts. They don’t have the marketing budgets to promote themselves in the same way. And on top of that, they face the regulators. Many laws require all banks to comply, regardless of size. They exist to protect consumers. But other regulations only apply to banks of a certain size. Following the 2008 banking crisis, banks over $50 billion had to submit to additional regulatory requirements, as part of the Dodd-Frank act. Banks successfully lobbied Congress, and in 2018 it was raised to a threshold of $250 billion (for context: the CEO of SVB pushed hard for the change). Taking Dodd-Frank out of the picture, I see two sides to the issue of regulation. Small banks don’t have the staff of big banks. So regulations that require a lot of data collection and analysis are simply hard. The bank I worked for had one compliance officer and it wasn’t his full-time job (he was also a loan officer). Now, that little $50 million bank wasn’t ever subject to Dodd-Frank. But on the whole, regulatory pressures are *one of* the reasons that banks have consolidated over the years. If they merge with another bank, they get the benefit of more resources. In the United States, we’re down to fewer than 5,000 unique banks. Back in 1993, thirty years ago, there were more than 10,000\. In 1934 — the oldest date on record — there were more than 14,000\. The number has decreased *rapidly*. Some failed during the 2008 financial crisis, but that’s a fraction of the total banks that have disappeared. Most are mergers and acquisitions. All of this context is to set up the narrative that banking regulations are tricky. There’s a balance between “too much” — where a bank is literally crippled — and rolling back regulations to the point where bad things can happen. ## Trust that banks are sound The everyday person doesn’t really care about bank examiners (much as they make a bank sweat). We just trust that our banks are doing the right thing. Banking regulators are the stoplights. There’s a Stop and a Go. And we assume that if there’s a problem, someone is rushing to fix the problem behind the scenes so that no one gets hurt and traffic isn’t backed up. Banks will do whatever the regulators tell them. If the traffic light stops working, some banks will continue to follow the rules. And some will be that asshole that doesn’t wait their turn. During the 2008 banking crisis, I worked with a bank that ultimately failed. The bank was taking massive, massive risks with its loans. Eventually, borrowers couldn’t pay those loans back. I also know of another bank that failed. And — among many problems — one of the executives was committing wire fraud. In both cases, examiners caught the problems. With the first bank, the examiners noted the problems for a long time and kept telling the bank to shape up (“stop speeding, you’re going to get in trouble”). With the second bank, the fraudulent activity was uncovered. Both of the banks were bought by other banks, and buyers were lined up in advance. We trust that our banks make sound business decisions with the money they’re vested with safekeeping. And even though it isn’t something we actively think about, we trust that if there’s a problem, the regulators will find it and take care of it. ## Trust that not everyone is greedy SVB was home to many venture capitalists and many venture capital-backed companies. No question. The narrative around this specific group of clientele has been really ugly. I read a comment from someone who griped about the backstop of SVB’s depositors versus the (seemingly failed) student loan cancellation plan. She wrote: “I would certainly hope the venture capitalists and tech companies who were the bulk of SVB’s base have a little more financial savvy than 17-year-old me did.” The undertone is clear: that SVB was home to rich people and companies that didn’t *need* help. Have I been angry at venture capital over the past few years? Absolutely. The tech industry has been ravaged by layoffs. Companies took tens, if not hundreds, of billions in venture capital, hired like crazy, and then laid people off en masse to cut costs. But that’s not *every* venture capital-backed company. VC companies take risks. Banks take risks also, but not in the same way. So for many companies, venture capital is the only viable option. And it’s a hard argument to make that these companies shouldn’t exist. BioNTech received $270 million of venture capital in 2018 and three years later gave us the Covid-19 vaccine. There’s climate tech. There’s healthcare tech. There are a *lot* of companies out there trying to do good but are deemed “too risky” for other types of funding. And there’s another side to that world. I worked for a self-funded tech company that never spent more than it earned. That sounds great, in theory. But there reached a point where the company couldn’t compete because it couldn’t scale. So an otherwise good company started to flounder over time. Would a VC investment have changed the company’s trajectory? Sometimes I wonder. There’s a lot to be said for setting aside the stereotype that “all venture capital is greedy” and recognizing that VC plays a part in some really good companies coming to life. ## Trust that some people were victims More than 90% of SVB’s deposits were above the $250k threshold for FDIC insurance. Companies were parking a *lot* of money in their accounts. In reality, this is a common practice. I looked up my own bank (a regional bank, about one-eight of SVB’s size). More than one-third of my bank’s deposits are uninsured. There aren’t a lot of options for companies that need more than $250k to run their day-to-day operations. Banks have to disclose that anything over $250k is not insured. They post signs in the lobby. It’s in your account disclosure. But do they actively encourage you to take your money elsewhere? No. Because the bank needs deposits in order to make loans (that’s how banks work). In 2008, lots of people took out mortgages that they couldn’t afford. But the banks let them do this, telling them they were approved. Do you blame the borrower, if the bank said, “Hey, it’s not a problem — you got a loan!” And do you blame the depositor, if the bank said, “No problem — we’re happy to take your money!” The depositors were further victimized by some venture capitalists yelling, “FIRE!” in a crowded theater. And you can bet that those VC firms go their money out first, *before* advising their portfolio companies to do the same. Which makes it all the more likely that the depositors left behind included some small businesses. Yes, there were the Roku-like account holders of SVB with $500 million. But out of 40,000 depositors, how many were small and mid-sized companies? We don’t know, because a government backstop prevented the fallout. ## Trust that other people were spared Bank failures usually result in a buyer. Often the buyer makes depositors whole. When IndyMac failed in 2008, uninsured depositors lost $270 million. But SVB was unique in the sheer volume of uninsured deposits that were also concentrated in tech companies. Would the depositors have gotten their money bank? We don’t know. I’ve suspected that the sale is harder than most because the type of clientele isn’t as appealing to a traditional bank. Other banks turned these customers away in the first place; that’s how they ended up at SVB. So we can’t say “most of the time the customers get their money back,” because that might not have been the case here. And while the FDIC would have paid an advance dividend to cover some uninsured deposits, we don’t know how much that would have been. Companies were facing imminent payroll of their employees. One of my friends knew that her employer’s small business had *all* of its money at SVB. We have to trust that the fallout could have been massive. Companies were on the phone with the regulators all weekend, panicked about their survival. We’re not just talking about companies. We’re talking about *people* employed by those companies. Without knowing the potential for recovering deposits, we have to assume that some companies were spared from complete collapse and many, many people were spared from unemployment. ## Trust that the panic was contained Here’s the main reason that the systemic risk exception was invoked (protecting deposits over $250k): to prevent other bank failures. Signature Bank failed the same weekend, for the same reason: a run on deposits. Without the emergency provision, every business owner in the U.S. could have woken up on Monday morning, wondering if *their* deposits were safe. And that could have triggered additional bank runs and bank failures. Maybe you think that doesn’t impact you, especially if you keep less than $250k in your account. Your money is fine. But back to the number of banks in the United States: that number has been shrinking. Large businesses wouldn’t take their money to community or regional banks if they panicked. They’d turn to one of the Big 4 (JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citi, and Bank of America) — banks with assets in the trillions that have been deemed “too big to fail.” The banking industry would be further squeezed. First Republic Bank, a bank that caters to wealthy clients, is in trouble. Customers have been withdrawing en masse — the exact scenario that was predicted for banks across the country. The Big 4, plus Truist Bank, have infused First Republic Bank with $30 billion in cash, trying to help. Think about it: banks helping each other. That’s because they recognize that the financial system that we all participate in is on shaky ground if there are more bank failures due to bank runs. But, as of right now, it’s one bank and, hopefully, a bank that can be saved. The market stabilized and banks didn’t report mass withdrawals on the whole. However, First Republic Bank is an illustration of what could have easily happened across the country. ## Without trust, “the system” will break down One of my friends said, “I have a reasonable expectation that in 2023, the money in my bank account is mine.” We all believe that. The depositors at SVB believed that. You can think what you want about venture capital. And SVB’s management. And excess deposits. And banking regulations. Some of the narrative lacks understanding about the [nuances of this situation](https://blog.annabyang.com/whats-going-on-silicon-valley-bank-collapse/). People scream “bailout!” like the depositors have been placed on a hierarchy and weren't deserving enough. None of that helps this situation. We have have to continue to believe in the financial system — the “collective delusion” we’ve all ascribed to. Because, truly, the entire financial system is built on trust. That not all banks are engaging in risky activity. That most companies running businesses aren’t reckless. That most people can get a paycheck, no matter where their employer banks. That the government will provide proper checks and balances. And that your bank will be there for you tomorrow. --- *If you want to support my work as a writer, you can* [*buy me a coffee*](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*. You can also subscribe to my* [*Substack*](https://annabyang.substack.com/) *for more thoughts on work culture and the future of work. Connect with me on* [*LinkedIn*](https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabyang/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *or* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### What’s Going On? The Silicon Valley Bank Collapse vs. the 2008 Financial Crisis URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/whats-going-on-silicon-valley-bank-collapse/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:51:02.000Z Ever heard the phrase “Explain it like I’m 5”? It means taking a complex topic and breaking it down into terms that a 5-year-old can understand. Over the past few days, I’ve watched a lot of commentators explain the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. They’re talking about insured deposits, venture capital, ripple effects on the economy…. but what do those things even mean? I worked in banking during the 2008 financial crisis (at a tech company with banks as clients). Now I’m a freelance content marketer and most of my clients are venture capital-backed tech companies. So I’ve had a front-row seat for *both* crises. There’s plenty of information for founders and business owners right now, but what about regular people? Here’s some background about what happened and what it means. ## What happened in 2008? For several years leading up to the 2008 financial crisis, some banks were engaged in risky business. The real estate market was booming. So banks were making a lot of **loans** for commercial real estate (business) and consumer real estate (mortgages). The problem was that banks also relaxed their underwriting standards to do these loans. That means that maybe five years prior, the bank would have said “Nah, you can’t afford that loan.” And instead, said “Okie dokie — here’s your loan!” (**Subprime lending** was a big problem — banks were knowingly doing loans to borrowers with lower credit scores or other risk factors). There were several layers of risk for the borrowers. One is that some loans had an adjustable interest rate: meaning the rate can change over time. When the rate changes (up or down), the monthly payment amount also changes. And the other risk was that the value of the real estate was abnormally high. A few years earlier, a house may have only been worth $275,000, and now it was worth $450,000\. So banks were doing loans based on the house’s current value of $450,000. That real estate boom? Turns out it was a bubble. And like all bubbles, it eventually burst. The interest rates went UP and the real estate values went DOWN. Meaning lots of people and business owners could no longer afford their monthly payments. When borrowers can’t make their payments, it’s a problem for the bank. They’re relying on those loans being paid back. A few bad loans are normal, but this was an overwhelming number for banks that had done too many risky loans. And loan payments are income for the bank. Banks keep money in a “rainy day fund” (called reserves) to cover bad loans. But the number of bad loans far exceeded their reserves and the banks were in trouble. ## What is a bank failure? A bank failure happens when the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) steps in and says, “Enough. You don’t get to do business anymore.” Typically, bank failures are not a surprise. The bank will have been struggling for awhile. The FDIC will tell the bank, “Hey, you need to get your act together” or “Hey, you need to raise additional money (capital) to cover some of these losses you’re experiencing.” The FDIC will show up at the bank’s doorstep — at all branches — and shut the bank down. This part happens without warning, because if word leaked in advance, it could cause panic at the bank. The FDIC informs the bank that they no longer exist and spends **one weekend** taking over the bank. By Monday morning, the bank reopens, either under new ownership or the FDIC’s control. The FDIC will try to find a buyer for a troubled bank in advance, through a very secretive process. Finding a buyer ensures a really smooth transition for bank customers. Usually, the buyer is another (larger) bank. Why would one bank buy a troubled bank? Because the troubled bank is basically “on sale” — the buyer can get the bank’s assets and customers for a lot cheaper than a typical merger or growing its current bank. ## What are insured deposits? The FDIC was created in 1933 in response to the Great Depression. For some perspective, about 4,000 banks failed during that time period. Before the FDIC was created, depositors simply lost their money. The FDIC was a way to reassure depositors that their money was safe in a bank. FDIC insurance provides that when a bank fails, all deposits up to the insurance limit are protected. Banks pay for FDIC insurance. They send money to the FDIC and the FDIC sticks that money in a reserve, just in case it has to be paid out due to a bank failure. If you look at the bottom of a bank’s website, it will say “FDIC Insured” and that reassures depositors that it’s a “real” bank. Starting in 1933, the deposit insurance limit was $100,000\. In response to the 2008 financial crisis, that limit was raised to $250,000\. It’s important to note that the limit is per deposit **holder**, not per account. So if you have three accounts at one bank, your total among all accounts is $250k. Is $250k a lot? Probably — for most individuals. But businesses may routinely need more than $250k in their accounts, just as a normal course of doing business. Like a hotel that does more than $250k in room reservations per night. Or a consulting firm with 10,000 employees that pays out more than $250k with every pay period. Having more than $250k in an account isn’t a problem — unless the bank fails. At the height of the financial crisis, about [100 banks per](https://www.fdic.gov/resources/resolutions/bank-failures/in-brief/index?ref=blog.annabyang.com) year were failing. That seems like a small number compared to 1933, but there are also *far fewer* banks now than back then. We now have large regional banks and megabanks. There are fewer than 5,000 unique banks in the U.S. (and about another 5,000 credit unions). But over the past few years, there haven’t been many bank failures. There were four in 2020 and none in 2021\. Even amidst the pandemic, banks did ok (actually, some did more than ok but I’ll get to that in a bit). ## What made SVB unique? Every bank makes decisions about the types of customers it wants. Some want to work with farmers. Others focus on small businesses. Or have really good rates on car loans. That’s what sets them apart from other banks. Typically, banks will end up with a mix of customers. What caused a lot of banks to fail in 2008 was that they had *too many* real estate loans. Banks with a smaller number of real estate loans (or a more well-balanced portfolio) were ok: even if those loans went bad, it wasn’t enough to drag the entire bank down. SVB was a very unique bank. It catered specifically to tech and healthcare startups. Other banks might find these types of customers “too risky”: there is inherently more risk in a startup than in an established business. But, founded in 1983, SVB said, “Come to us for your banking needs — we’ll help you out!” At the time of the SVB failure, it was the 16th largest bank in the United States, with assets of more than $200 billion. $200b is very large, but the “Top 5” (the largest banks in the U.S.) have assets in the trillions. By comparison, a large regional bank might have assets of around $10 billion. The other unique thing about SVB was that it only had 17 branches (in California and Massachusetts). A similarly sized bank would typically have hundreds of branches. SVB also operated branches in the UK, Canada, China, India, and several other countries. ## What has been going on in banking lately? When the pandemic hit in 2020, a lot of banks were very fearful. They feared that their borrowers were going to go bankrupt or businesses would close and a *lot* of loans would go bad — across multiple industries. That would have been a lot different than the bad loans of 2008, which were mostly in real estate. But thanks to government assistance to individuals and businesses, that didn’t happen. Small businesses could get Paycheck Protection Program loans and individuals could have their mortgage payments paused for a few months. It was enough to weather the storm. Then the Federal Reserve (the Fed) dropped interest rates in an attempt to stimulate the economy. It worked, for mortgages in particular. Lots of borrowers flocked to their banks to refinance their mortgages to historically low rates. And at the same time, the value of homes kept rising (can we say 2008 real estate bubble flashbacks?) But banks faced another problem. Overall, customers were spending a lot less, which means they had more money in the bank. Banks **earn** money from the interest they charge on loans and **lose** money on the interest they have to pay on deposit accounts (the difference between the two is Net Interest Margin). With customers keeping more cash in the bank, banks had to think of other ways to earn money. The best way (for many banks) was to try and encourage more loans. Then the Fed said, “Ok, that’s enough — now we’re seeing inflation and that’s no good” and started [raising interest rates](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/fed-raises-interest-rates/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) again. In early 2022, interest rates were near 0%. Now they’re at 4.5% (and banks charge interest rates above the Fed rate so what customers see is a bit different). It’s been the fastest rate hike since the 1980s. ## What has been going on in tech, specifically? Tech companies saw a major increase in demand for their services during the pandemic. E-commerce companies saw a huge spike in interest for online shopping. Any company that enabled remote work was in high demand. And digital products and services overall just skyrocketed. Tech startups — specifically the types of customers that SVB worked with — needed more money to fuel their growth. Non-tech businesses would typically go to a bank and ask for a loan and use the loan to hire more staff, increase their inventory, open a new location, etc. But tech startups raise money through **venture capital*.*** One reason is that traditional banks require **collateral:** some type of physical asset that supports the loan. If the loan goes bad, the bank takes possession of the asset. For a homeowner, the collateral is your home. If you can’t pay your mortgage, the bank will take possession of your house. For a business, collateral is the assets of the business. Let’s say the business is a pizza parlor. The assets would be the refrigerators, the ovens, the delivery trucks, the building (if the business owns the building) and anything else that the business owns. Many tech startups don’t have the same type of physical assets. If they operate something like “an online productivity app” — what is the asset? The code base? So instead, tech companies often raise money through venture capital (VC). VC firms will give tech companies tens of millions of dollars to fund their growth. And throughout 2021, VC was on fire. Tech companies were literally swimming in money. And they took their cash from VC funding and parked it at SVB until they needed it. ## What happened at SVB? SVB faced the same problem that many banks were facing: too much cash sitting in deposits. But while other banks turned around and tried to do more loans, SVB had another unique problem: its customers could get money from venture capitalists. They didn’t need loans. So SVB took the money and bought Treasury securities. A low-risk investment and a seemingly prudent thing to do with the extra cash… until the Fed began raising interest rates. Suddenly that investment was worth a *lot* less. Meanwhile, the tech industry had taken a beating. The growth of 2021? Was more like a blip. VC-backed tech companies [laid off](https://www.workbetter.media/p/layoffs-are-not-an-opportunity?ref=blog.annabyang.com) tens of thousands of employees, trying to preserve their cash. They weren’t able to raise new rounds of VC funding. And they started pulling cash out of their accounts at faster rates — which had a big impact on SVB. With an increased demand for cash from its account holders and sitting on this bad investment, SVB decided to cut its losses and sell the securities — at a loss of $1.8 billion. So then, SVB decided to raise capital itself (to the tune of $2 billion) to cover the loss. All fairly normal business decisions. ## What is a “run on the bank”? If you’ve ever seen the movie *It’s a Wonderful Life*, you might remember the run on the bank. Everyone lined up at the Bailey Building and Loan and demanded their money. And George Bailey [said](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPkJH6BT7dM&t=49s&ref=blog.annabyang.com): > You’re thinking of this place all wrong — as if I had the money back in a safe. The money’s not here. You’re money’s in Joe’s house, and the Kennedy house and Mrs. Macklin’s house, and a hundred others.” That’s the way banks work. They take deposits and turn them into loans. The system works fine, unless every depositor shows up at the bank’s door and wants to withdraw money at the same time. When SVB announced that it was trying to raise capital to cover the $2B loss, it made the announcement *without a lot of context*. It spooked some venture capitalists into thinking that the bank was in trouble. Those VCs, in turn, advised their tech companies to start pulling money out of the bank. Suddenly, within about a day’s time, SVB *was* in trouble. Everyone had shown up to take out their money. So instead of looking to raise capital, SVB began looking for a buyer. And that news made a bad situation worse. In an extraordinary move, the FDIC shut the bank down midday on Friday, March 10th. Usually, the FDIC will close a bank at 5:00 pm (when it is planned in advance). But the bank had become so rapidly insolvent that the FDIC said it couldn’t wait any longer. At the time of closure, about 25% of deposits had been withdrawn from the bank in a 48-hour timeframe. It was a classic run on the bank. ## What will happen to SVB deposits? After shutting down a bank, it ceases to exist. The FDIC formed a new bank called the Deposit Insurance National Bank of Santa Clara, and the bank will reopen for business on Monday, March 13th. Now the FDIC insurance limit comes into play. The customers of SVB will only be able to access $250k of their money on Monday morning, the maximum guaranteed by the FDIC. But due to the unique nature of SVB customers, that they were mostly tech companies, and venture capital-backed at that, over 90% of SVB customers had more than $250k in their accounts. Some had millions. Some (like Roku) had hundreds of millions. That money will be *gone*. According to the [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/03/11/silicon-valley-bank-startups-payroll/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), SVB required some of its customers to maintain an exclusive relationship with the bank. Meaning that instead of spreading its cash among multiple banks, the company had *all* of its money with SVB. Will it be permanently gone? It depends on what happens to the former SVB. The FDIC will try to quickly find a buyer. When Washington Mutual failed in 2008 (the largest bank failure in history, at $300 billion), JP Morgan Chase bought the bank and all depositors were made whole. No one lost any money. JP Morgan Chase bought WaMu because it was a good business deal — it was able to expand its bank presence into a new area of the country by acquiring all of the WaMu branches. And WaMu, other than being overly concentrated in real estate, wasn’t as unique as SVB. So finding a buyer for SVB might be trickier. And even if a buyer is found, there’s no way of knowing how quickly that transition will happen and if the buyer will assume *all* deposit accounts of SVB. If the FDIC can’t find a buyer, it will sell the assets of SVB and pay back depositors that had balances above $250k. There’s no way of knowing how long that process could take (could be years) and no way of knowing if the FDIC will be able to sell the assets for enough money to cover the uninsured deposit amounts. Meanwhile, many startups are facing very real cash flow problems. They have employees to pay and other expenses. Without access to any money above $250k, the future is very uncertain. ## What is the Dodd-Frank Act? After the 2008 financial crisis, Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Act. Among other things, the Dodd-Frank Act required banks to submit to “stress tests” — or what-if scenarios that could test their ability to respond in a crisis. Banks over $50 billion had to submit annual stress tests. The Act also outlined minimum capital requirements for banks. But in 2018, the threshold for Dodd-Frank requirements [changed](https://fortune.com/2023/03/11/silicon-valley-bank-svb-ceo-greg-becker-dodd-frank-trump-rollback-systemically-important-fdic/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) from $50 billion to $250 billion. The Act was intended to make sure that “too big to fail” banks remained in check. The argument was that a $50 billion bank wasn’t big enough to cause catastrophic problems on the financial industry. Former SVB CEO Greg Becker was an advocate for raising the threshold. At the time, SVB was $50 billion. By increasing the threshold, SVB was no longer subject to Dodd-Frank stress testing and capital requirements at the time of its failure. ## What are the biggest differences between 2008 and SVB? In some ways, the 2008 financial crisis and what happened at SBV were polar opposites. The 2008 financial crisis was the result of **loans** that went bad. SVB failed because of the run on **deposits.** The 2008 financial crisis was the result of some banks engaging in risky lending behavior (and some, very knowingly). SVB was a bit different. The biggest risk was being *so* concentrated in the tech industry. In 2008, there was a buildup over many, many months of loans slowly going bad. It wasn’t overnight. While you could argue that there was a tech bubble waiting to burst, and truly tech companies have been struggling for months, the demise of SVB happened in 48 hours. For a majority of failed banks in 2008–2010 timeframe, the FDIC had worked out a deal in advance for a buyer to take over the bank. With SVB, there was no buyer lined up. The other reason that SVB collapsed with stunning speed is because of the tech-savviness of its clientele. VC firms may have been paying more attention to SVB’s financial situation than an ordinary customer. When these firms saw that SVB was trying to raise money, they put out an alert to their tech clients. Social media, Slack, and the tightly-knit tech startup world caused the news to spread like wildfire — ultimately leading to the run on the bank. ## What are the potential ripple effects? There has been lot of backlash on social media, claiming that SVB was the home of rich tech companies and venture capitalists. True. But it was also a mecca for small startups. Those startups may have become larger startups over time, but their expenses (including payroll) would have also grown. And all of this is on the heels of a very rough patch in the tech world. Tech companies that were already squeezed have now been squeezed even more. Many may not survive. Certain states require companies to pay workers promptly, meaning if the company doesn’t immediately have access to cash for payroll, they’ll have to furlough or lay off employees. Even companies that didn’t keep money at SVB may have been *doing business* with companies that had money at SVB. The SVB account holders may no longer be able to pay their bills, causing an even greater impact. Some hedge funds have been [reportedly](https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/hedge-funds-offering-buy-startup-deposits-stuck-silicon-valley-bank-semafor-2023-03-11/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) reaching out to impacted deposit customers, offering 60 to 80 cents on the dollar for their accounts. And stressed company owners might be tempted, thinking that they might not otherwise see their money again. And the idea that any money over $250k is at risk might send shockwaves through the financial system overall. Companies — even outside of tech — with money at small and regional banks may decide that it’s less risky to keep their money with a “too big to fail” bank, like the big national banks. Could it trigger a run on these other banks? Possibly. Ultimately, when deposits leave community and regional banks, the communities suffer. Without the deposits, these banks can’t do as many loans — loans that often stay within the community. These banks have been slowly dwindling over time, gobbled up by the large national banks. If large banks become the only perceived safe haven for company deposits, it’ll further cripple the community banking world. ## What does all of this mean for you? Maybe you’re not employed by a tech company. Maybe you hate venture capital. Maybe you think that a government bailout — protecting depositors above $250k — is a bad idea. But there’s no denying that the failure of SVB could have a stunning impact on the economy. President and CEO of startup investor Y Combinator [said](https://www.npr.org/2023/03/11/1162805718/silicon-valley-bank-failure-startups?ref=blog.annabyang.com), “I think a whole generation of startups will be wiped off the planet” (without intervention). Think of the healthcare technology that your doctor’s office may use. Or your favorite app on your phone. Even people that don’t work in tech or tech-adjacent fields *use* the technology that these startups brought to the world. And maybe you’re not that interested in technology. But the failure of more banks could be devastating. This country continues to be powered by banks *outside of* the Big 4\. If businesses collectively consolidate their deposits into those banks, others will collapse. The banking industry, overall, has seen intense consolidation over the past few decades as smaller institutions aren’t able to compete. We need to collectively understand that SVB’s failure impacts *all* of us — and have a vested interest in mitigating the damage. ## How did the U.S. government step in? At 6:15 pm EST on Sunday, March 12th, the Treasury, the Fed, and the FDIC issued a [joint statement](https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20230312b.htm) that actions had been approved to **fully protect all depositors**. All accounts at SVB will have full access to all of their money on Monday morning. The regulators enacted a “systemic risk exception” to the $250k limit. This was used several times during the 2008 financial crisis to protect depositors. No taxpayer money is used. The bank management team is fired. And the investors of SVB are *not* protected. Only the depositors are protected. Because no account holder should be harmed when their bank fails. Most people and businesses don’t keep track of their bank’s overall financial health and no one should feel that their money is not safe at a bank. The FDIC will dig a little deeper into its reserves. And, if there is a shortfall, all FDIC-insured banks will pay a “special assessment” (which is required by law). Kind of like living in a condo association and there’s a leak in the roof and the association says, “Yeah, here’s the bill for all homeowners in the association to fix the roof of one unit because that’s what it means to be part of this community.” This was done to prevent a meltdown of the financial system — a system built on trust that your money is safe in the bank. The implications were broad not only for all depositors in the U.S., but the global markets that were also keeping an eye on the situation. And it was rightfully a sigh of relief for the tens of thousands of businesses that banked with SVB. The hundreds of thousands of employees of those businesses. People, like me, who spent the weekend wondering about the fallout. Wondering if their livelihoods were about to be upended. It was a brief moment of crisis, but — hopefully — over. There will be commentary, opinions, and questions of, “Could this have been prevented?” All of those are secondary to protecting the innocent bystanders of SVB’s collapse. --- *I tried my best to explain all of this! There’s a lot of information flying around, but few articles I’ve read give a full picture. I’ve also* [*written a follow-up*](https://blog.annabyang.com/what-it-means-to-trust-the-system/) *with some additional thoughts, rather than continue to edit this article.* *If you want to support my work as a writer, you can* [*buy me a coffee*](https://buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*. You can also subscribe to my* [*Substack*](https://www.workbetter.media/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for more thoughts on work culture and the future of work. Connect with me on* [*LinkedIn*](https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabyang/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### Prepare for Freelance Life Before You Leave Your 9–5 URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/prepare-for-freelance-life/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:05:08.000Z The internet is filled with stories of people who abruptly leave a 9–5 job and embrace a solopreneur life. Maybe they were fed up. Or were [laid off](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/layoffs-are-not-an-opportunity). But making a change like that can be scary — especially if you have a mortgage to pay and kids to feed. Even if you dream of a life that puts you in the driver’s seat, turning that [dream into a reality](https://blog.annabyang.com/transition-from-corporate-to-freelance-life/) can be daunting. I left a stressful corporate job in early 2021\. It was another 20 months before I truly went out on my own. But during that time, I was preparing to leave — sometimes without even realizing it! The result? By the time I went out on my own, I was able to quickly replace my salary with client work. Here are some of the steps I took. ## Network like crazy When I first quit my corporate job, I had no idea that I’d end up self-employed two years later. But *did* change careers, pivoting from fintech to content marketing and journalism. Networking has been the biggest reason that I’m successful as a freelance writer. The more you put yourself out there, the easier it is for people to find you. By the time you’re ready to leave your 9–5, you’re not an “unknown.” Potential clients will be ready and waiting to hire you. Networking looks different depending on your industry, but includes: - Being active on LinkedIn (commenting, and posting) - Participating in communities (Slack, Discord, etc) - Connecting with your target clients If the idea of cold pitching makes you nauseous, good news — you don’t have to do that. If you’re working a 9–5, you can connect with your ideal clients in a [non-sales-y way](https://blog.annabyang.com/market-your-freelance-business/). Send a connection request on LinkedIn with a note explaining what you have in common. By the time you’re ready to leave your 9–5, you’ll have a bunch of connections that might be ready for a pitch about your services (and then it will be a warm pitch instead of cold). The more you begin to interact with your ideal clients in a genuine way, the better your pipeline when you finally do make the leap. [Self-Promotion on LinkedIn Without the CringeCut through the noise with these simple tips.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-0id0aihub9kpsldjawg_qg-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/) ## Learn from others A solopreneur life is hard work — and much of it is behind the scenes. It’s more than creating work for clients. It’s invoicing, contracts, discovery calls, marketing, and more. Missteps are common, especially for new freelancers. You’ll run into scenarios like unhappy clients, overdue invoices, and being asked to do work beyond the scope of your agreement. You can try to navigate these issues on your own. Or you can find out how other freelancers have handled similar scenarios. As much as you network with potential clients, you should also connect with fellow freelancers. These people will understand what you’re going through and are usually eager to provide support. You can even look for a [community to join](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/) (either free or paid). ## Build scalable systems Sending an invoice that you create in a Google Sheet or writing down your deadlines on a simple to-do list might work when you have one client. But what happens when you’re juggling multiple clients, deadlines, and deliverables? When you land your first client, don’t build a system that works for one. [Build systems that will work](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-project-management-system/) for a full-scale operation. It’s far easier to build systems when managing only one or two clients than when you have a full workload. Once you’re at max capacity, everything will start to fall apart if you don’t have good systems. “Good systems” include: - Project management - Invoicing and accounting - Scheduling meetings (with a calendar app) - Organization (like on your GDrive) It can feel hard to pay for tools when you’re first starting out. The good news is that many tools have free plans and you can expand to paid versions as your needs increase. For example, I [use Trello to manage client work](https://blog.annabyang.com/use-both-trello-and-todoist/). I was on the free plan of Trello for a long time. I only moved to a paid version when I wanted access to some automation that would save me time. Good systems will also make you appear more professional to potential clients. You won’t come across as an inexperienced freelancer fumbling around, but a business owner who takes their work seriously. [How to Set Your Freelance Business Up for SuccessDo these things early in your freelance journey.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-41.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelance-success-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-success/) ## Understand your value proposition There are a lot of freelancers in the world. And many companies are more than willing to work with the right freelancer — but that means you need to [set yourself apart from the competition](https://blog.annabyang.com/establish-freelancer-credibility-and-expertise/). Before you leave your 9–5, you can spend some time exploring the question, “What makes me unique?” And you can clarify this as you network with potential clients and other freelancers. Figure out what potential clients need and what other freelancers may not be able to offer. That becomes your value proposition. When you finally leave your 9–5 and move to full-time freelancing, you’ll want to splash that message all over your website, your social profiles, and any sales decks you may create. In the beginning, your value proposition might be price. And that’s ok. Compared to experienced freelancers, you probably can’t charge as much. But in exchange, you’ll be able to build a portfolio of work (which is critical for almost all freelancers). As potential clients evaluate you, figuring out what you offer should be easy. Your messaging, social presence, and portfolio should all be aligned. ## Move at your own pace There are a lot of benefits to a slow transition from 9–5 life to a solopreneur life. You can test the waters and figure out what works and what doesn’t work. It might mean taking on one or two clients or small projects while still working your 9–5 job (that’s what I did). You’re building for the future. There’s probably no *exact right time* to make the switch. More than likely, the more you get a taste of controlling your own work and outcomes, the less likely you’ll be able to tolerate your 9–5. And when you finally reach that point when you’re [ready to break free](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/in-the-wild), you’ll be ready. --- *Check out my free* [*eBook: 17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### 6 Ways to Market Yourself as a Freelancer (Without the Hard Sell) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/market-your-freelance-business/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:17:31.000Z Making the leap to full-time freelance work can be scary. You may have a killer project management system, be comfortable with freelance finances, and know how to draft a contract for your services. But there is often a big unknown when you leave the 9–5 world: How will you land clients? *Especially* if you hate sending cold pitches? Long before I became a [full-time freelancer](https://blog.annabyang.com/full-time-freelancer/), I had been “marketing myself” — sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally. The result? A pipeline that never dries up. Here are some tactics you can use to help clients find *you* (and know they want to work with you before they even reach out). ## 1\. Be active on LinkedIn I know…. [LinkedIn can be cringe sometimes](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/). But as a business platform, there isn’t much better for finding high quality clients. Potential clients find me through LinkedIn because I actively comment on other people’s posts. My headline makes it clear what I do. I get a lot of inbound DMs on LinkedIn from people who see my name and title, look at my profile page on LinkedIn, and decide to send me a message. ![Screenshot of my LinkedIn profile](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/02/Screenshot-2025-02-10-at-10.41.44-AM.png) Long before LinkedIn became the social platform it is now, I would connect with anyone and everyone I’d met professionally. LinkedIn was my “digital Rolodex,” so to speak. I began posting once a week — whatever popped into my head — as a way to keep in touch with my connections. Once a week became twice a week. I began to gain followers (using Creator mode) and increased my posting even more. My posts are a combination of my expertise and my personality. LinkedIn is like telling every potential client what you’re like to work with — and you can do it in a way that feels authentic to you. Because if you show up as your true self, you’ll attract the clients that the right fit. To make the most out of LinkedIn: - Post consistently (at least 2x per week to start) - Comment on posts from people in your industry or potential clients - Have a clear headline and header image that describe what you do - Write an interesting “About” section - Include a link to your portfolio If people find your posts or comments interesting, their next step will be to click on your profile to learn more about you. And (hopefully) that will lead them to reach out. [How to Produce Content Consistently as a SolopreneurProcesses are key.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-54.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-content-production-solopreneurs-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/content-production-solopreneur/) ## 2\. Show up in communities I’m in (checks notes) thirteen Slack communities and six Discord communities. Sure, some are more active than others (and some are a complete ghost town). But you can participate a lot in the active channels. It’s an opportunity to talk to people in your industry (or fellow freelancers). The result? You become known for my expertise and willingness to share information. At a minimum, it gets your name out into the world and at best, potential clients see your comments and reach out to you. If you start talking with someone in a community, move that connection over to LinkedIn. Even if that person doesn’t need your services *today*, appearing in their feed with your consistent posts will remind them that you’re in their network, even if you don’t interact much in the community. ## 3\. Maintain your portfolio One of the best parts about being a freelancer is that, unlike the resume needed for a 9–5 job, you get to let your work speak for itself. But while a resume only needs the occasional update (like when you start hunting for a new job), your portfolio should get much more frequent attention. If you do any work for clients that will be published (writing, design, video, etc), keep track of the URLs once the work goes live. I use Airtable to keep track of every deliverable and every URL — even the work that doesn’t end up in my public portfolio might someday be useful. The easiest way to maintain an online portfolio is through a site specifically designed for that purpose. Then you can link to that site from your home page and LinkedIn profile. Sites like Contently, JournoPortfolio, and Dribbble make it easy to add new projects. You can also build a full-blown website using Wix or Squarespace, or create a public-facing Notion page. But you want it to be easy to update your portfolio and also look clean and professional. *Tip*: My freelance contract includes language that I’m allowed to use any finished work for my own sales and marketing purposes. Unless the prospective client specifically requests that I remove that language, I know that I have permission to share the final result in my portfolio. ## 4\. Create guest content While you can establish your presence on social platforms like LinkedIn, you can also borrow another person’s audience by creating guest content. Since this work is often unpaid, you should balance this effort against your paying clients — but the right guest content can open up a whole new world of opportunities. For example, I pitch various blogs and offer to create guest posts. When it goes live, I’m featured on that company’s website, LinkedIn page, Twitter account, etc. I also regularly appear as a [podcast guest](https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-be-a-podcast-guest/). These don’t take much of my time (usually an hour) and have the same impact: I’m tapping into someone else’s audience. Medium is another example of a “borrowed audience.” If you submit to publications with the right readers, you’re potentially landing in front of prospective clients. Or you can view Medium as an extension of your portfolio and your online presence — letting clients see who you are. ## 5\. Network like crazy Never. Stop. Networking. Communities and commenting on LinkedIn are a start. But the real magic happens in DMs and on calls. You might start with a comment but then hop into a DM for a follow-up chat. Not all conversations need to be with prospective clients. I regularly chat with other freelancers. In some cases, they have referred work to me if the project isn’t a good fit for their skillset (and vice versa). Networking with other freelancers also gives the opportunity to collaborate. For example, I featured a fellow freelancer in my newsletter, and she featured me in hers. It’s a variation of a guest post approach and “borrowing” that person’s audience. Network “up” as much as you can: connect with people who have larger audiences than you. Some of the big creators won’t have time to respond to every DM, but if you find mid-sized creators (or people growing quickly), you can hitch a ride by connecting with them. You should never view other creators as competitors. Find those that do similar or adjacent work to you. You offer something unique and you’ll be able to find clients that the other creator doesn’t serve. ## 6\. Stay within your niche If you try to sell services that you haven’t done before (or aren’t your [area of expertise](https://blog.annabyang.com/establish-freelancer-credibility-and-expertise/)), it’s going to be a hard sell. Period. You’re going to have to convince the client to take a chance on you when you *don’t* have the portfolio to prove your value. The more you can develop and strengthen an area of expertise, the more you’ll differentiate yourself from other freelancers. In the book Win Without Pitching, Blair Enns writes, *“What the world needs, what the better clients are willing to pay for, and what our people want to develop and deliver, is deep expertise.”* Set yourself apart with a niche, establish your presence online, and let the clients come to you. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### 5 Ways to Prepare For Life’s Worst-Case Scenarios URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/prepare-for-worst-case-scenarios/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:32:07.000Z My mom was an ultimate planner, and in all of her plans she’d say, “And in a worst-case scenario, here’s Plan B.” Of course, we were usually talking about things like, “What happens if it rains at this baseball game we’re planning to attend.” But still. I’ve carried many of those planning tendencies into my adult life. Life can be unpredictable, and if you’re not prepared for the worst-case scenarios, you can find yourself scrambling. But, unlike a rained-out ball game, major life events require a bit more planning. If you prepare, you can make some common worst-case scenarios a little less stressful. ## 1\. Back up your computer (and have dual backup) You’ve probably heard the message your entire life: back up your work. We can all picture a computer crash (I’ve been through several). But there are other risks, like a natural disasters, floods, or hackers. And in today’s world, a single backup isn’t good enough. You need dual backup: a local drive and a cloud backup. Fire or flood? You have your cloud storage. Hackers get into your cloud drive? You still have local copies. Cloud storage is cheap. You can get 2 TB with Google Drive for $100 / year. Or OneDrive, Apple, Dropbox — whatever your preference. Google lets you share the storage space between multiple accounts: great if you have a spouse/partner. I use a Windows computer and have an iPhone. I use Google Drive’s Backup and Sync to sync files between the cloud and my computer. It runs in the background and I don’t have to think about it. Photos on my iPhone also back up automatically to Google Photos. Then I also have a sync set up between my PC and an external hard drive. I’m using a built-in Windows file sync to do this. Once a day, files are copied from all folders on my computer (including my Google Drive folders) over to the hard drive. Even though you can take a “set it and forget it” approach with backups, you should *always* check to make sure they’re running properly. While not having a backup at all is worst-case scenario #1, finding that your backup hasn’t run in six months is a close second. Set a reminder to check, maybe once a month, and make sure that your new files are making it to your external storage and syncing from your computer to the cloud (and vice versa). ## 2\. Take photos for your insurance company While on the topic of natural disasters that could harm your computer, think about the other possessions in your home. Fire, flood, theft — during those really awful moments in your life, you don’t want to be fighting with your insurance company. I had a basement flood a few years ago. The only reason that I *didn’t* have to fight with my insurance company was that the damage far exceeded the amount of coverage I had. Make this easy on yourself: go through your home or apartment and take photos of the contents of your home. Take a LOT of photos. Focus on brands of your appliances, close-ups of anything valuable, and anything else that can help document the contents and condition of your possessions. Don’t forget the insides of closets, items you have in storage, your garage, etc. The good news it that this doesn’t take long. You can spend one afternoon, snap all the pics you need, put them in a single folder in your cloud storage, and call it a day. Then set it as a recurring reminder on your calendar to update your pictures once a year. And if you acquire a really expensive item mid-year, add it to your existing folder. [3 Reasons To Have a Google Voice NumberDeclutter your phone life with a virtual number.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-146.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-google-voice-number.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/reasons-to-have-a-google-voice-number/) ## 3\. Use a password manager and 2FA Passwords, ugh. We have a million of them, don’t we? And yes, we all know that we should use unique, complex passwords for everything but that’s hard. For a long time, I created unique passwords and put them in a Google Sheet. It was shared with my spouse and he added passwords that he created for shared accounts. This was an ok system, but what if our Google accounts were hacked? Plus, even though the passwords were unique, I wouldn’t say they were overly strong or secure. Now we use a password manager. LastPass and 1Password are both good options. LastPass is a browser extension and mobile app. It will prefill your saved password on a site *and* generate a strong, secure password when you create a new account. LastPass and 1Password both have “family” options so that you can share passwords. My partner and I each have individual logins with LastPass for passwords for our individual email accounts or work-related passwords. Then we have a shared login that we use for household accounts (like utilities). And for *extra* security, I use two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible. I cannot login to my Google accounts on a new computer without separately approving the login from a mobile app on my phone. Our bank accounts will request a verification code via SMS (and we use a Google Voice number so that my spouse and I both have access). You can’t be too safe. Just a few weeks ago, I got an email from one of my accounts that a mysterious login attempt was detected. 2FA had prevented the bad actor from accessing my account. But I immediately changed the password anyway. Hackers are incredibly sophisticated and losing access to one of your accounts can be disastrous. [Protect yourself](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-tech-support/). ## 4\. Create a list of your accounts How many bank accounts do you have? Credit cards? 401ks? Over time, we tend to accumulate a lot. And when we die, it can be a mess to sort through. I know, not your problem, right? You’re dead. But think about the people left behind, trying to access those accounts. Years after my grandma died, some stock certificates, issued in the 1980s, were found. That’s an extreme example, but shows that the heirs “don’t know what they don’t know.” My grandma’s family didn’t know those stock certificates existed, so didn’t know where to look for them. Create a list of [*all* of your accounts](https://blog.annabyang.com/child-checking-account/): bank, retirement, loans, credit cards, life insurance. Include the institution name and a contact name, if you have one. Mine is in a Google Sheet and shared with the people tasked with managing my accounts in the unfortunate event of my demise. I also include some important contact information: my attorney, my kids’ schools, the HR department at our jobs, Once a year, update your account information with any changes. ## 5\. Prepare a will, trust, and power of attorney This last task is arguably the hardest and certainly the most expensive. Hire an attorney to prepare a will, a trust, and your powers of attorney. Many years ago, personal finance expert Suze Orman made me aware that a will alone is not enough. People should also have a revocable living trust. While a **will** outlines where your assets go when you die, your family will go through a lengthy court process (probate) to follow your wishes. They’ll need to hire an attorney and it can be expensive. A **trust** avoids probate court. Think of a trust like a mini company that you set up, and that company “owns” all of your assets. When you, the CEO, die, the ownership of the company passes seamlessly to the person you’ve identified in your trust and that person becomes the new CEO. The new CEO does *not* need to be the beneficiary of your trust (the recipient of your assets). That person is only responsible for disbursing your assets according to what you have outlined in your trust. **Powers of attorney** separately grant decision-making rights to people in the event that you’re not able to make decisions for yourself. You should have a healthcare power of attorney and a power of attorney for property. Yes, there are some websites (like LegalZoom) that will help you prepare these docs. But an attorney can guide you through the decisions, and some of them are complex. While setting up these documents can be costly, they can also be a one-time task. Unless you need to make changes, you won’t need to touch them again. ## Review your information regularly Like getting the oil changed on your car or checking your smoke detectors, you need to do regular maintenance on your worst-case scenario plans. Set a reminder on your calendar to [review your information](https://blog.annabyang.com/reflections-freelancers-new-year/) and make any updates. Some reviews might be annual (like taking new photos for insurance), some might be more regular (like checking the backups on your computer). While all of these tasks fall into the “boring adult stuff” category, they’re critical for keeping your life running smoothly. When you find yourself in the middle of one of these scenarios, it’s better to be prepared. --- *This article is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered Financial or Legal Advice. Consult a financial or legal professional before making any major decisions.* --- *Check out my* [*newsletter*](https://newsletter.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*, written for people who are motivated to improve their workflows, enjoy getting in the weeds with new tools, or want some life hacks.* ### Predict Your Freelance Income With a What-If Calculator URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/freelance-income-calculator/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:05:20.000Z If you’re a freelancer that works on short-term or ad hoc projects, you know that predicting your income from month to month is *hard*. Not only are you faced with slow periods, but you may also have the opposite problem: requests for additional work or proposals that haven’t been accepted yet. The fluctuations can be stressful. I’m a freelance writer and work with clients on an as-needed basis. Sometimes a client might send me three assignments per month. Sometimes none. I like the variety, but I had trouble predicting my income and bandwidth. So I built a “what-if” calculator. I can plug in different scenarios with more/less work from different clients and see the impact on my income. It’s simple to create and can help with planning and budgeting. ## Calculate the minimum earnings you need Everyone has a minimum. It’s the amount of income you need to pay *all* of your expenses: your freelance expenses, rent/mortgage, food, taxes, etc. Whatever it takes to maintain the lifestyle you want. Your What-If Calculator will work best if you know your minimum. It empowers you to make choices, such as working fewer hours or dropping difficult clients. Add up all of your **mandatory** expenses (those that you have no control over, like rent) and your **discretionary** expenses (things you could spend less money on, if needed — like trips to a coffee shop). Your minimum income should cover both, but in a pinch, you know that you could reduce your discretionary expenses. If you currently earn more than your minimum, put money aside in a [separate bank account](https://blog.annabyang.com/choose-a-bank-for-your-freelance-business/) as a “rainy day fund.” If you have a slow month, you can draw from that account and maintain your minimum income. The more you can add to a separate account, the less you’ll need to worry. I’d argue that this should be a planned monthly expense. In the current economic environment, freelancers should be on alert that clients may drop them to save money and protect themselves. [A Vacation Savings Plan for FreelancersA simple calculator to help you take time off each year.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*KsFOD980v3BEQ7Zm-d4Pxw.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-vacation-savings-plan/) ## Predict your monthly earnings Now that you know the income you *need,* calculate what you are actually earning on a monthly basis. The easiest way to do this is to look at the invoices you send in a given month. List out all of your clients and the amount you expect to earn. If you have other sources of income (courses, eBooks, Medium, etc), include that also. I use Airtable to [keep track of my clients and deliverables](https://blog.annabyang.com/keep-track-of-freelance-work/), but you can easily build this in a GSheet or Notion. ![A GSheet showing clients and monthly income](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*9pkDa22l6fJ8C9_NaK3cbw.png) Source: My own screenshot If your income varies with your clients, an average will work for your What-If Calculator. ## Estimate your bandwidth Are you currently at capacity? Or can you take on more work? You need this information for your What-If Calculator. As a writer, I look at two different variables: total word count and number of articles requested. Sometimes I get requests for very short articles, and sometimes I get requests for eBooks. Looking at my income alone doesn’t tell me if I have the [bandwidth for more work](https://blog.annabyang.com/avoid-spending-too-much-time-on-client-work/). For each client, I add the **Total Number of Deliverables** and the **Total Word Count** to my What-If Calculator. I know that I don’t want to exceed three deliverables per week (\~13/month) *or* 3,500 words per week. ![GSheet showing clients, monthly income, number of deliverables, and word count](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*d8_3BRIJr9-sdNtJa_llyQ.png) Source: My own screenshot If you work hourly, you could add the total number of hours you commit to each client (keeping your eye on the total number of hours you want to work). For other types of work, you can assign “points” based on the complexity of the project and then identify the total number of “points” you would want to complete in a given week. For example, if you’re a graphic designer, an infographic might be two points, an eBook might be four points, and you know that you only want to complete six points per week (something like that). When you add in the number of deliverables / hours / points, you’ll be able to make changes with your What-If Calculator and see the impact on your workload *and* income. ## Scenarios to include in your calculator Now comes the interesting part: inputting different scenarios and seeing the results. Let’s say that you expect that a current client might drop you or reduce the amount of work you do. What impact will that have? Or maybe you have a “busy season” when you know your workload will be higher than normal. You’re going to add additional columns into your Calculator: - Percentage - Projected Income ![GSheet showing additional columns of Probability and Projected](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*1OYCmHVQGrQM9LCda-8TRw.png) Source: My own screenshot In your Projected Income column, you’ll add a simple calculation formula. > \= Current Income X Percentage > > The way you enter the formula will depend on the product you’re using. (A quick Google Search can help with this.) I have several scenarios built into mine so that I can play around with different percentages. ### Scenario 1: Current probability This scenario estimates *what my income will be if something changes with my current clients.* For example, what if a client decreases the amount of work by half? I’ll enter a percentage of 50% I have a client that *usually* sends me four assignments per month, but sometimes it’s three. So I’ll change the percentage to 75%. Other clients are on a contractual retainer, so they’ll stay at 100% if I’m projecting the current (or upcoming) month. Sometimes, I’ll just use 80% across the board, whether the client has a contract or not. I figure that at least 80% of my overall work will continue from month to month and then I get a sense of what to expect for income. ### Scenario 2: Low income The second scenario is a “worst-case scenario” calculation: *the lowest that I could expect my income to be.* In this scenario, I’ll put any iffy clients at 50% or lower. Some clients I’ll put at 0%. The only clients that I keep at high percentages are those with long-term, consistent relationships or retainers. You can compare the total income at the low end to the minimum earnings you need. If it’s too low, then you know that you’ll need to pull from your savings or start drumming up some new business. ### Scenario 3: New client Whenever I send out a proposal to a new client, I like tolook at *the impact on my bandwidth* (and income). Sometimes I have simultaneous proposals out and am unsure if either client will accept. If *both* accept, I might be stretched a bit too thin. You can add new rows to the bottom of your calculator for the potential new client, the number of deliverables, the total word count, and the total income. Then play around with the probability percentage. ### Scenario 4: What-if income Looking at what-if scenarios is the most fun (if playing with a calculator can be fun). Look at scenarios like dropping a problematic client: change the percentage to 0%. Or maybe you expect an existing client to send you more work in the future, so bump the percentage up to 150%. *Or* you expect to get more income from passive sources and that reduces your reliance on your freelance income. All kinds of ways you can play with these numbers. ## Review your calculations regularly [Giving up a 9–5 job](https://blog.annabyang.com/transition-from-corporate-to-freelance-life/) often feels like you’re giving up stability. But if you review your calculations, it can remove some of the stress from your freelance finances. Try to look at your calculator at least once a month for the upcoming month, and plan out two or three months (if that’s possible). You can also compare your actual invoices for the month compared to your what-if projections. If you find that you’re consistently over- or underestimating, then change your calculations going forward. Using a what-if calculator can help shift your mindset from one of unpredictability to one of control. You can make more informed decisions about savings, bandwidth, and the need to find more clients. --- *This article is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered Financial or Legal Advice. Consult a financial professional before making any major financial decisions.* --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### Why Writers Should Care About AI Image Generation URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/writers-should-care-about-ai-art/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:53:51.000Z I’m old enough to remember the days when articles were just *text*. You’d share a link to a blog post or a news story and the preview would only display the title of the article and maybe a short description. Then came the world of images. Suddenly my Facebook feed (at the time) was full of eye-catching photos. It became standard practice to inclue a “hero image” with every piece of writing published online. Brands that could afford it paid illustrators to create unique art. And the rest of us — with personal blogs or writing on Medium — would rely on stock photography. Now we’ve entered a new era: AI-generated images and artwork. You might think, “I’m a writer; why should I be concerned with AI art? I have enough to worry about with [AI writing tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-will-not-replace-writers/).” But it’s going to matter, more and more. And better to be prepared than to be left behind. ## Unique artwork will make your posts stand out Many readers browse sites like Medium, looking for interesting posts to read. It’s *always* been necessary to write a clear / catchy headline — not clickbait, but a enough intrigue that a reader will click. Yet the sea of articles has always been accompanied by a sea of semi-relevant generic Unsplash images. I’ve seen the same pictures of desks, mountains, and coffee shops used over and over. Very few people created any type of unique image. And who can blame them? It often wasn’t worth the effort. That has changed with the rise of tools like DALL-E 2, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion and others. Anyone can create unique artwork in seconds, using nothing more than a text prompt. Even Canva has added the ability to create AI images. As writers, we’re always fighting for [the attention of readers](https://blog.annabyang.com/minimum-viable-audience/). AI artwork will give your posts that little extra “oomph” that might catch their attention. ## Learn to prompt an AI tool AI-generated images are all about prompting, and there are some nuances to getting the output you’re looking for. Prompts are nothing more than a text description that the AI tool will use to generate images. The more descriptive you are, the better your results. ![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*ChZ4ssIIOZs1POestxkQEg.png) Screenshot from DALL-E 2 My first experiences with AI-generated images were unimaginative. I didn’t know what I was doing or how to guide the tool when I didn’t like the results. I’ve learned now to use adjectives (“a sad clock” “an exciting path”), colors (“a blue room” “black and white”) and other descriptors (“with lots of light”) to nudge the AI in the direction I want. If you write for clients, you *might* get to a point where you could offer AI-generated images as an add-on service. I’ve already had a client ask if I will submit images with blog posts I write — and the client meant stock photos. I declined for now because [I didn’t feel ready](https://writingcooperative.com/how-to-avoid-spending-too-much-time-on-client-work-7e99d921c8a5?ref=blog.annabyang.com), but it got my wheels spinning. As I continue to improve my prompting technique, I could create brand-specific AI artwork for clients. As an added bonus: the prompt you use can also guide the Alt Text for your image on a website. ## Choose a specific style When I first began creating AI images for Medium and [my Substack](https://www.workbetter.media/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), I didn’t think much about the style. The results? Some really cool images that also lacked a cohesive look. Some were very realistic, others were digital art, and others looked like a painting. With my blog, I began to prompt using the word “watercolor.” I loved the output. ![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*os8-ilayLCCuMbQ9LQ2UAg.png) Screenshot from musingsoutloud.com I decided that each of my publication platforms should have a specific style. For Medium, I chose “pop art.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-qd2rhaswsy4n8pzn2g5cka-2.png) Screenshot from my Medium profile I use Midjourney and someone has created an entire [style guide](https://github.com/willwulfken/MidJourney-Styles-and-Keywords-Reference/blob/main/Pages/MJ%5FV3/Style%5FPages/Just%5FThe%5FStyle/Drawing%5Fand%5FArt%5FMediums.md?ref=blog.annabyang.com) of keywords and examples. I played around with several different styles and prompts before settling on the look I wanted. Writers often pride themselves on their unique voice. The accompanying artwork can be part of that voice, further differentiating you from other writers on the internet. ### Update your old posts…? If you move forward with AI-generated images for your posts, an obvious question will arise: what should you do about old posts? I have 175 articles on Medium and more than 400 on [my blog](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). So it would be no small task to create AI-generated artwork and update every post. But I’ve decided that, for my brand, it’s something I’d like to undertake. Whenever I include an internal link in my posts, I make sure that the corresponding article has an updated image. Then, when I’m vegging out, watching Netflix in the evening, I’ll work on updating a few posts since the work is not too brain-intensive. I’m also [storing all of my images](https://blog.annabyang.com/organize-freelance-brand-assets/) in my Google drive. I never bothered doing this with my generic hero images because they weren’t worth saving. But, in this case, as something that I “own” (as much as AI-generated art can be owned), I feel like I should maintain a copy. If you do the same, you should use an app like [Squoosh](https://squoosh.app/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to compress the size of the image, so they don’t take up too much space. And if you’re hosting your own website, you’ll definitely want to compress so you don’t impact the website’s performance. ## AI artwork can unleash creativity I’ve always considered myself an artistic soul without any particular artistic talent. I tried [teaching myself to paint](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/finding-my-medium/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) a few years ago, but have lacked the time to really learn the technique and hone the craft. AI art has given me the creative voice I’ve longed for. I spend time thinking about the image that will best accompany my words — and then creating such an image only takes seconds. It has become an enjoyable end to publishing a new article, rather than the sigh and obligatory task of finding a generic photo. [Let AI Make the Boring Parts of Writing Production More EfficientHow to use AI tools to complement your writing process.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-xy_ybdcjnt6c1x3o6rsvia-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-improve-writing-efficiency/) --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### The Year I Bet on Myself URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/year-i-bet-on-myself/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:25:12.000Z It’s that time of year… when The Internet is rife with lists like “Here are 22 things I learned in 2022!” I hate long lists. And did anyone *really* learn twenty-two new things in one year? I usually write some type of [y](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/accomplishments-and-roadblocks/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)ear-end reflection. Could I top 2020, the year I decided that I would [quit a job](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/sometimes-it-takes-a-leap) I’d been at for 15 years? Or 2021, [two new jobs later](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/accomplishments-and-roadblocks/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), thinking (mistakenly) that I’d found a great company to work for? Turns out, something was stirring inside me. And this year, I made the leap [from corporate to freelance](https://blog.annabyang.com/transition-from-corporate-to-freelance-life/). Could I have anticipated this at the beginning of the year? No. Was it the right decision? Absolutely. I’m not going to list twenty-two learnings about the year. But here are four things that stood out to me about 2022. ## I can depend on myself. For most of my career, I worked at jobs that tried to make me feel small in some way. I was brushed aside by a self-important CEO. Overlooked by a dysfunctional company. Micromanaged and undervalued. No way to shine in a way that I knew I could. After repeated disappointment with employers, I was just… done. I’m sure there are wonderful employers in the world. But I didn’t have the energy to keep looking. And even the best employers have [seen layoffs](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/layoffs-are-not-an-opportunity) this year. But I knew that I could be successful on my own. I’m confident in my skills and expertise. I’ve been freelancing for a few years on the side and knew that I could scale up to full-time without a lot of logistical headaches. I can create the working conditions that make *me* happy. Pursue work that *I* want to do. ## A niche is valuable. There are a lot of writers in the world. I had to ask myself: what sets me apart? What writing do I like? What’s easy for me? What’s hard for me? Turns out, the work I enjoy the most and are easiest to do are closely related: they’re well within my areas of expertise (fintech, product-led content, tools + automation). When I was a child, I wanted to be a writer. I went into banking instead, then banking technology. Then content marketing and journalism, as the result of my career pivot. Somehow, I’ve always emphasized to my children that they should [follow their dreams](https://blog.annabyang.com/telling-my-son-to-follow-his-dreams/), but I didn’t follow that advice myself. But now I’ve come full circle. Not many writers have the experience I have with banking, product management, *and* content. I can position myself as a niche writer. ## A connected network pays off. I started using LinkedIn a 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 time ago, connecting with bankers I met while working in fintech. I continued this habit when I embarked on a career in marketing. When I changed careers in early 2021, I started posting on LinkedIn once a week — mostly as a way to stay connected to people from my “prior life.” That gradually increased to [daily posting](https://blog.annabyang.com/steps-to-create-linkedin-carousels/). I was able to transition to self-employment fairly smoothly in part because of my network. I know a lot of people in the industry. I was intro’d by my connections. And people *found* me through LinkedIn, thanks to my presence here. I’ve had to do little outreach; almost all of the interest in my work has been inbound. [Self-Promotion on LinkedIn Without the CringeCut through the noise with these simple tips.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-178.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-linkedin-less-cringe-3.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/) ## A community of support is the best. Could I have made the leap on my own? Yes. Does a [support network](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/) make that leap even better? 💯 I’m not completely alone. Friends, fellow writers, random people I’ve met on the internet, my family… they’ve been cheering for me every step of the way. They *want* me to succeed. And I always reciprocate that unwavering support for other people I know looking to make career transitions. 2023 is going to be great. I have plans and I’m so excited to see what comes next. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/12/ebook-smart-tools.png)](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com) **Check out my free guide for the tools you need* **at different stages of your business.* [Download ](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### 6 Reflections for a Freelancer’s New Year URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/reflections-freelancers-new-year/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:05:30.000Z The end of a freelancer’s year can feel like a combination of racing or limping to the finish line (or maybe both). Wrapping up client deliverables, sending out final invoices, taking time off for the holidays… it can feel overwhelming. Yet it’s important to [carve out time to reflect](https://blog.annabyang.com/what-i-learned-about-myself-this-year/). Reflect on your business, reflect on your goals, and think about potential changes for the upcoming year (Wow, that sounds like corny / generic advice, right?) Let’s do this instead: use these prompts as a launching pad. Sit down with a notebook and a warm holiday beverage and write out your responses. Then put your responses away, come back to them a week or so later, and think about how you can turn your reflections into action items. There’s no rule that says all of your planning needs to be done by January 1. Reflect now, plan later. ## 1\. Did I reach my income goals? Did you have an income goal this year? This year was *rough* for many industries, especially tech. [Layoffs were everywhere](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/no-one-is-indispensable) and the market was wild. I know many people (myself included) who left or were forced out of the 9–5 world and turned to freelancing as an alternative. The side effect of the current economic environment is a double-edged sword for freelancers. Companies may be slashing budgets and not hiring freelancers (less demand). Or they’re using freelancers to replace the work of full-time employees ( more demand). As you look at [your finances](https://blog.annabyang.com/managing-solopreneur-finances/) for next year and setting / meeting an income goal, think about unique ways to get there that don’t involve “more work” or “more clients.” - Can you create add-on services to increase your contract value? - Can you raise your prices with both existing clients and new clients? - Can you create a resource (like an eBook or a course) that you could sell online to supplement your income? I usually create two income goals for myself: an expected goal (a reasonable target for myself) and a “stretch goal” (where I’d like to be — but would take some changes to get there). ## 2\. How do clients find me? New clients always going to keep your freelance business alive and healthy. So look back over your year and ask yourself how you’re finding new clients. Referrals? Cold outreach? Social media? And then look at your biggest source for new work and how the sales cycle played out. If cold outreach leads to a lot of meetings, but ultimately doesn’t land many clients, that might not be a sustainable strategy — unless you think you can change up your tactics in your cold outreach. As you think about growing your client base, think about what sets you apart. Why do clients choose *you* instead of another freelancer? What makes you unique? The [more you can “show” in public](https://blog.annabyang.com/minimum-viable-audience/) (though your own social media platform, blog, or other forums), the more you can draw in clients. You’ll become familiar and clients will get a sense for the type of work you do. ## 3\. Is there work I don’t enjoy? One of the best parts about being a freelancer is that you can say “no.” That’s often why we became freelancers in the first place, right? [Control over our time](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/the-resurgence-of-personal-time) and control over our work. Work that you don’t enjoy can fall into three buckets: - Necessary work for your business - Services you offer - Clients you don’t like Being a freelancer is operating in every capacity of a business (sales, marketing, accounting, etc). It’s natural that **necessary work for your business** may have component that you find boring or difficult. Whatever the reason, even if you don’t enjoy it, it still has to get done. Consider hiring a VA if you can afford it, or automating redundant tasks with a tool like [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*. Hire a professional to help with your finances. Any necessary work that you can remove from your plate leaves you more time for client work. If there are **services you offer** that you don’t enjoy, ask yourself if they’re a *necessary* part of your value as a freelancer. If the answer is “no,” consider removing it from your offerings. You can start with new clients and gradually let your existing clients know that you’ll no longer be doing that work. If possible, refer your clients to other freelancers. It’s also a good time to look at expanding your service offerings. If there’s something you’ve wanted to try, pursue it. You can always do a “soft launch” by bringing up the service with existing clients before pitching it to new clients. And if you have **clients you don’t like**? Put in the effort to [replace them](https://blog.annabyang.com/reasons-to-break-up-with-clients/). Find new clients. Bad clients can bog down a freelancer’s work and make us less productive overall. ## 4\. What am I spending too much time on? You may have work that you *enjoy,* but it is [too time-consuming](https://blog.annabyang.com/avoid-spending-too-much-time-on-client-work/). Maybe the amount you charge doesn’t reflect the hours you put in. Maybe the time you spend promoting yourself on social media doesn’t yield new clients. This can be a hard question, especially if you’re not explicitly tracking your time. But it’s important to scrutinize your time. After all, there’s only one of you and your time is precious. If you’re spending too much time on client work, you have two options: raise your prices or cut back on the scope. Maybe you can put in 90% of the effort and your client won’t know the difference. After all, clients often don’t know what happens behind the scenes. The new year is often a good time to have a discussion with your clients about your rates. Or, if that feels too overwhelming, you can create reminders for yourself to talk with clients on the anniversary of them becoming your client — and do this every year, as part of an annual review. [How to Manage Your Holiday Workload as a FreelancerHow to manage your workload and stress.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-15.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-freelance-holiday-workload-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-holiday-workload/) ## 5\. How can I increase my skills and knowledge? Like any career, the more you know, the more you can earn and advance. For a freelancer, that doesn’t necessarily mean branching into new territory (could fall into *things you don’t enjoy* or *things that take up too much time*). But it does meaning [honing your expertise](https://blog.annabyang.com/establish-freelancer-credibility-and-expertise/) in your craft so that you’re more valuable to clients — and can charge more as time passes. It also means **at a minimum**, staying on top of current trends. In today’s world, for example, that might mean [exploring AI tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-will-not-replace-writers/). Now is the time to think about how you can stay ahead of the curve. For the new year, set some goals to: - Read books or listen to podcasts in your field - Attend conferences, either in person or virually - Subscribe to newsletters from experts - Take a course, either live or self-paced - Join a community These investments will position you for the long term. You have the skills to do better work, but you also have a track record of being a knowledgeable professional. Talk about your efforts in public, like on your social media accounts, as proof to current and potential clients that you are a continuous learner. ## 6\. What were my biggest successes and challenges? It’s probably easy to think back on the struggles as a freelancer. Tricky client, bad project, never enough time to get everything done. But you should reflect on your successes as well. Look back over praise from clients, or think about the big contract you landed. How did you feel in that moment? Revel in the success — you’ve earned it. Then bring the two together: what made your successes so delicious and what made your challenges so difficult? Ultimately, you want more of the good; less of the bad. These might be tied to your other reflections, such as work you don’t enjoy or meeting your income goals. But they also might be less tangible. You might have been proud of a project for reasons that you can’t quite put your finger on. Spend some time [thinking about the *why*](https://blog.annabyang.com/transition-from-corporate-to-freelance-life/). Grab a pen and paper and start with your successes — what you’re proudest of — then move on to your challenges. In the end, you should have a list of elements that can help you figure out how you can enjoy more success and have fewer challenges in the new year. ## **My Freelance Business Recaps:** - [2024 Year in Review](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-recap-2024/) --- *Need to review the health of your business? Check out my* [*quarterly planning checklist*](https://pages.annabyang.com/quarterly?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for solopreneurs.* ### How to Manage Client Deliverables When You’re Sick URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-client-deliverables-when-sick/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:05:40.000Z There are two things that freelancers always wrestle with: taking a vacation and being sick. As a sole resource, it’s not like you’ve got a colleague you can ping for help. Vacation can usually be finagled with some good planning, but being sick is harder since it’s unplanned. And if you’re doing creative work, it can feel nearly impossible to slog through if you’re ill. I once had a sinus infection that left me wiped out for days. I had a furious headache, was sleeping poorly, and felt like I was in a fog — all horrible for working as a freelance writer. Fortunately, it was a time when I had very few deadlines but that easily might not have been the case. As I lay burrowed under a pile of blankets, I wondered what I would have done if deliverables had been looming. That experience made me realize that I needed to better plan for potential future illnesses so that I wouldn’t face stress on top of being sick. ## Communicate as soon as possible This might seem obvious, but don’t wait to communicate with your clients. *Especially* if you’re unsure if you’re on the mend or getting worse. It might be tempting to hold off and see how your illness plays out, but you risk running even further behind. If you feel like you’re under the weather, give your clients a heads up and let them know that you’ll keep them updated. The tricky part about meetings and deadlines when you’re a freelancer is that they can have a cascading impact: you’ll need to “catch up” somewhere. When I was sick, I kept my client meetings. I use [Otter.ai](http://otter.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to record all meetings, so even with a foggy head, I had a transcript I could refer to later. You can also set an expectation with your clients that they shouldn’t expect an immediate response. If you’re feeling *slightly* ill, but not terrible, you can step back for the day and your clients may not notice. This can only happen if you’ve made clear to your clients that your response times are varied. If you always [provide instant communication](https://blog.annabyang.com/instant-communication-in-the-workplace/), it’s harder to lay low for a day. It’s helpful to maintain a client mailing list. If you’re facing a longer-term illness (or hospitalization), you could send a single email to all of your clients, making them aware of the situation. The mailing list can also come in handy in other emergencies that require a quick contact with all of your clients, rather than sending out the same email over and over. ## Prioritize your clients’ needs If you find that you need to juggle deliverables due to your illness, evaluate which client work takes the highest priority. This might be based on: - Your relationship with the client - How much the project is worth - Whether the client has any internal or external deadlines that will be impacted As much as you’re able to, think through the work that **must** get done versus the work that won’t suffer as much if you need to miss a deadline. You may need to please a new client by delivering as expected and a long-term client might be more understanding of a delay. If you’re able to deliver some low-lift work, do that so that you can [avoid a mountain of catch-up](https://blog.annabyang.com/avoid-spending-too-much-time-on-client-work/), do that. It might mean doing work for a *less important* client, but you’re preserving energy for the harder work when you’re feeling better. ## Delegate to other freelancers If you’re *really* sick and can’t move your deadlines, consider outsourcing the work to other freelancers. This is usually only possible if you have a [solid network of people](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/) you trust. You don’t want to risk sending the work to someone you don’t know and creating more work for yourself in fixing any problems or delivering something shoddy to your client. If you do outsource the work, keep a few things in mind: 1. Review your agreement with your client to ensure that nothing prohibits you from outsourcing the work. 2. Give the freelancer a due date that leaves you with enough time to review the work before you send it to the client 3. Provide the freelancer with some background info on your client and the project 4. Offer the freelancer enough money to make the work enticing, even if it means that the work is at-cost for you. You’re paying for a “rush job.” You’ll want to outline the terms to subcontract in writing. You could prep a subcontractor agreement to have on hand so that you’re not trying *also* to whip something up when you’re not feeling well. But it should include the scope of the work, the due date, any revisions that might be required (if you’ll handle them or if the other freelancer will), and when/how you’ll pay the subcontractor. [How to Tame Your Workload as a FreelancerKeep your clients happy while reducing your stress.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w1200/2024/07/annabyang-tame-freelance-chaos.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/tame-freelance-chaos/) ## Build in some buffer time One of the biggest challenges of being sick is back-to-back deliverables. Even one or two days of illness can throw you off for a period of time. The first time I faced illnesses as a freelancer, I cursed my Procrastinating Self for always running my deliverables right up until the deadline. If I’d started earlier, I wouldn’t have been faced with so much remaining work when I was under the weather. Now, I build in a lot more buffer time. But here’s the catch: even though I may finish work in advance, I **don’t deliver it to the client early**. Why? Because I don’t want clients to think that I have a faster turnaround time and can get work done more quickly. If I say that the turnaround is one week, then I deliver it in one week — even if I complete the work in a few days. It has become a natural part of how I [manage my time](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-your-content-across-multiple-platforms/): always work ahead of the deadline rather than right up until the deadline. That way, I have that buffer for days when I’m sick, my kids are sick, or I’m just feeling off and can’t get the work done. ## Clients should be understanding If you were an employee and you took a few days off because you were sick, work would *have* to be rearranged. Clients shouldn’t expect any different from freelancers. Yet it’s a sad reality that many do. If you ask for deadline extensions or other accommodations because you’re sick and the client gives you a hard time, consider dropping the client when you’re able to. The reality is that you’ll be sick again (or have other things come up) in the future and you don’t want to stress yourself out working with the client. Life’s too short to [work with difficult people](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/i-am-never-going-back-to). --- *Check out my* [*free eBook*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— a guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### AI Won’t Replace Me as a Writer. Here’s Why. URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-will-not-replace-writers/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:29:57.000Z I can’t count the number of times I’ve read about [ChatGPT](https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) this week, the new conversational tool from OpenAI. The references have spanned from an article in *The Atlantic* entitled [The End of High-School English](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2022/12/openai-chatgpt-writing-high-school-english-essay/672412/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to questions from worried freelancers, wondering how they’ll offer counterpoints to clients who think that ChatGPT is a viable alternative to human writers. I even got the question from a concerned aunt and my husband: Do AI writing tools put writers out of a job? I’m a freelance fintech writer and journalist. I spent 15 years as a [product manager](https://annabyang.medium.com/from-end-user-to-product-manager-e39863f803d7?ref=blog.annabyang.com) at a banking software company before pivoting to content. I also write on Medium about productivity and automation, and on Substack about remote work. I’ve been playing around with different AI writing tools for the past month, including [Jasper](https://www.jasper.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Copy AI](https://www.copy.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Writer](http://writer.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Frase](https://www.frase.io/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Lex](https://lex.page/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), and now ChatGPT. And I can say unequivocally: **I’m not worried**. The work I produce cannot be replicated by a machine. But the landscape of writing will change, dramatically and permanently. ## The difference between quality input and quality output My husband is a software engineer. He’s been dealing with AI and machine learning for years and is somewhat fascinated by the fact that our worlds are “colliding” — something I wouldn’t have expected as a creative. But as he and I engaged in a lively discussion about the impact on our livelihoods, I pointed out a crucial difference in our use of AI: input versus output. His contribution to a coding project is the **input**. He has to know *how* to solve complex problems and build solutions. The **output** is rather boring: lines of code that render the solution. He uses AI sometimes to facilitate (speed up) the output, but the **input** is what sets him apart from other (less talented) software engineers. To someone *using* the software, it doesn’t really matter which way it was coded if it achieves the same result. His value comes from solving problems faster, or his ability to solve more complex problems. My world is the opposite. The **input** is usually nothing more than a topic suggestion — either my own idea or direction from a client. But if you give identical **inputs** to five different writers, you’ll get five different results. And the quality of the output will be differentiated by ideas, style, how engaging the writing is, and so on. I chatted with a friend who is an artist, working mostly in oils. I wanted to know her opinion about AI-generated art, like DALL-E and Midjourney. I use Midjourney myself to create images for Medium, [Substack](https://annabyang.substack.com/), and my blog. She said that while the output is interesting and might seem astonishing to the undiscerning eye, it lacks nuance. She said that artists make “decisions” about the best way to render their vision in a way that AI doesn’t. The human element is the creative element. For software coding, that’s the input. For writing or art, it’s the output. AI is the assistant, but not the replacement. #### AI writing lacks knowledge and depth My first experiment with ChatGPT was feeding it a prompt related to an article I recently wrote for a client. ![a conversation with ChatGPT around “What is authorized positive settled negative for an overdraft.”](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-ar1k9r-rnpbui5c6qe-nlg-2.png) Image credit: my own screenshot Informative response. Constructed logically. And absolutely incorrect. I *know* this response is incorrect because I have subject matter expertise in banking. I knew the answer before I asked the question. This problem isn’t limited to ChatGPT. The internet is littered with garbage. Companies hire content marketers to write articles for their blogs, and the writers have absolutely no knowledge about the topic. They go to Google, do some research (likely written by *other content marketers)* and the cycle continues. By having niche expertise, I can rely on my knowledge, use it while doing research, and — this is key — *use that knowledge to form arguments while writing*. I’m not regurgitating information on the internet. I’m tying it back to an opinion on the topic: either my own or reflecting that of my clients. Bear in mind that ChatGPT is in its infancy. The CEO has made clear on Twitter that the results shouldn’t be trusted (yet): ![Screen shot of a tweet from Sam Altman](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1--gigxbftedt4zrql4sjmnq-2.png) Source: my own screenshot But that doesn’t change the fact that even as the product matures, a knowledgeable human will still be needed to verify, judge, massage, and interpret the results. #### Quality writing will become a larger divide Now let’s take a look at another example: ![A screenshot asking ChatGPT “what are 5 best practices of modern selling” and showing ChatGPT responses](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-bb11m3qpdbgiz_uez_q53w-2.png) Image credit: my own screenshot A question like “5 best practices” might yield some decent results. After all, it’s an opinion rather than fact. From there, an AI-writing tool could likely flesh out an entire article. Or an average writer could take these talking points and turn them into the internet equivalent of a 5-paragraph essay (with “paragraph” replaced by “h2s”). The results will likely be about the same. AI-writing tools are on par with a below-average writer, or even some average writers. And guess what? That type of work contributes to garbage on the internet. The more that sites, blogs, and publications become littered with it, the less time people will spend reading it. Companies have been playing the content game for a long time. When I first started writing, I worked for a content mill that paid me $27 to write 1,000 words. Clients knew they needed a blog for SEO purposes, but didn’t care *at all* about the quality. That type of work could likely be replaced by AI — if SEO is the end goal that we’re collectively determined to keep chasing. Or go back to my example of creating artwork for my Medium posts. My artist friend admitted that this use case makes sense: producing images for online writing, at volume, that is more unique that the generic Unsplash image alternative. I’m not replacing a human; I would never have used a human to create this artwork in the first place. The divide between quality writing online will become much larger. Companies that only saw writing as a necessary cost and had no intention of rewarding the reader will likely replace their writers with AI-generated content. And companies that [care about quality](https://writingcooperative.com/the-writing-triangle-content-quality-and-time-3b77fddcafe1?ref=blog.annabyang.com) will fight even harder for attention — making good writers even more valuable. This is especially true in light of Google’s August 2022 [Helpful Content](https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2022/08/helpful-content-update?ref=blog.annabyang.com) update, said to be *“part of a broader effort to ensure people see more original, helpful content written by people, for people, in search results.”* AI content is written for speed and volume. It’s not intended to reward the reader or provide a satisfying reading experience. [AI Strategy for Freelance Businesses: A GuideStart learning and planning.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-38.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-future-proof-business-ai-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/ai-strategy-freelance-business/) ## Make no mistake: The art of writing will change While I maintain that AI cannot replace my **output** as a writer, I am convinced that it will drastically [change my **input** process](https://start.annabyang.com/posts/tinkering-with-ideas-003-ai-in-real-life?ref=blog.annabyang.com). The first step in my process is always a rough outline. I’ll jot down a few bullet points, then turn to Google for some additional ideas. Sometimes I’m looking for stats or references. Sometimes I check the content that’s already out there, so I can think about how mine will be different. Then I move to a full draft. Most of the time, I write sequentially, but sometimes I’ll get stuck and skip a section and come back to it. Occasionally, I’ll get *so* stuck that I abandon the article for a while and come back later. AI writing tools have shortened the **input** process. AI can replace some of my Googling, giving me ideas more quickly. I can also prompt some AI tools *while* writing: if I get stuck, the AI keeps going in the direction of my paragraph. I almost never accept the output word-for-word, but it gets me over the bout of writer’s block. Even if I hate the output, I’ll think about *why* I hated the output and what an alternative might be. The amount of time I spend per article has been reduced. Even if it’s only a little bit, as someone who [writes professionally](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/in-the-wild), it adds up over time. It would be a mistake for writers to ignore AI tools altogether. After all, a huge factor in online writing continues to be speed. Which is why I’m sitting at home on a Sunday afternoon, typing out my thoughts on ChatGPT. The internet will soon be flooded with opinions, and I wanted to get mine out into the world. --- *Check out my* [*free eBook*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— a guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### 5 Ways to Establish Credibility and Expertise as a Freelancer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/establish-freelancer-credibility-and-expertise/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:05:51.000Z While working for yourself offers immense freedom, managing all aspects of a business can be challenging when no one is looking over your shoulder. Maybe you find it hard to stay motivated (especially with tasks that aren’t as interesting to you). Maybe you’re so overloaded with client work that you don’t have time for the “business” side of your business. But successful freelancers understand that their success is tied to their credibility and expertise. They work hard to maintain an online presence, and not just on social media. Clients seek them out because they trust that the freelancer will deliver exceptional value — and will pay more as a result. ## 1\. Stay up-to-date on your niche The advice is everywhere: niche down, become a specialist instead of a generalist. That’s very true for freelancers. If you niche down, you’ll be able to target a subset of clients that need *you* instead of another freelancer. You may not be able to do this when you’re first starting out, and that’s ok. Work to build a portfolio in the niche you’ve identified and take steps to develop your expertise. You can’t rely only on client work to carve out your niche. You need to truly *become* an expert. That means following other industry leaders, especially those with decades of practical experience in your field. Create a regular diet of industry information, including: - Industry publications - Podcasts - Books - Panels of experts Do *not* rely on reading the results of a Google search. Companies that play the SEO game don’t necessarily have the most authoritative information. Chances are, a blog article was written by a content marketer who did some research — and there is no guarantee that the writer knew what they were talking about. Seek out the experts, [make notes](https://blog.annabyang.com/best-tools-for-capturing-notes/), save articles, and build your knowledge. Start incorporating your learnings into your existing client work to establish your credibility. ## 2\. Network with other professionals It’s one thing to consume information from experts. It’s another to *interact* with the experts. It might feel intimidating at first, but many are willing to share their knowledge. And the more you dive into a particular niche, the more you’ll realize that the collection of experts is very small — everyone knows each other. [If you network](https://www.workbetter.media/p/building-a-professional-network-without?ref=blog.annabyang.com), you’ll become part of the inner circle. [Find an online community](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/) where the industry experts hang out, such as a Slack community. You can start by observing and learning how the experts interact with each other. Identify the other “newbies” in the community and engage with them. When you’re comfortable, ask the industry experts a question. If they share something in the community, reply with a simple question: > “That’s really interesting. Can you share more about X?” If you’re specific, the expert is more likely to reply. Not only will you gain additional knowledge, but your name will start to appear within the community. You can do the same thing on LinkedIn or Twitter. Follow the experts, and start commenting. Experts with a large following may not always reply, but some might. Or another expert may jump in and share their knowledge — and now you’re having a conversation with someone in the industry. ## 3\. Publish your own content While you’re learning about your niche, don’t neglect your own online presence. You may not be able to share niche knowledge yet, but you can share your generalist knowledge. And you can [establish a habit of publishing consistently](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-your-content-across-multiple-platforms/) on social channels in the meantime. Prospective clients will try to learn about a freelancer before hiring them. They’ll look at your portfolio, yes. But they’ll also look at your online presence to get a sense of who you are. Throw in an occasional [post about your hobbies](https://blog.annabyang.com/let-your-hobbies-enhance-your-career/) or other interests. Talk about your life as a freelancer and how you gain knowledge. For example, you can say: > “I listened to X industry podcast, and this was my main takeaway.” You can also lean on the interactions you have in the niche communities. You can say, “I asked X person a question about Y topic, and this is what I learned.” Be careful about tagging the person — some experts don’t like that. Once your knowledge starts to increase, take it a step further. “I was thinking about Y topic (from your convo with the industry expert), and this is my take on it.” ## 4\. Share your expertise While you can share your ideas on social platforms, your reach is limited. It can take time to [build up an audience](https://blog.annabyang.com/minimum-viable-audience/), and not everyone is a potential client. The best inquiries are inbound: people who find you and are interested enough to fill out the “Contact Me” form on your website. For this to happen, you need to appear in places where potential clients are likely to find you, not just on social channels. A good way to do this is to appear as a guest in blogs or on podcasts. You’ll probably need to start small, especially if you haven’t yet established your industry authority. But you can pitch a topic where you *do* have an opinion or some expertise. It helps if you have an established audience, even if the audience isn’t niche. Your audience is your currency: the blog or podcast will benefit from traffic when you share the content with your audience. You can also register as a source on [Help a B2B Writer](https://helpab2bwriter.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). You’ll receive requests from content marketers for quotes on specific topics. If you have something to share, submit your quote. If the writer includes your quote, they’ll link back to your social profile or your website. You’ll get your name out into the industry without needing to write an entire guest post or appear on a podcast. ## 5\. Identify your best channels It’s important to track your results. Does your engagement on social channels increase? Are you getting more inbound inquiries to your website or DMs on LinkedIn? If so, you’re doing something right. People are paying attention. And as your pipeline fills, track the source. You may need to add “**How did you hear about me?**” to the contact form on your website. Knowing the source allows you to double down on your efforts in that channel. Don’t ignore the others, but if most people find you through the online community, spend more time there. ## Align your goals with your expertise Becoming an industry expert can take a long time. Not only do you have to learn, but you have to *show* potential clients that you’re the expert. But the payoff is huge: many clients need expertise from their freelancers, and they’re willing to pay for it. You can meet your income goals with fewer clients and increase your income over time. Niche freelancers are more confident in their rates: they won’t negotiate their pricing because they know their knowledge is worth more than a generalist. Continue to raise your rates as your expertise increases. You’re worth it. --- *Check out my* [*free guide*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### Content Distribution is Your Competitive Advantage URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/content-distribution-competitive-advantage/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:38:28.000Z You can write an amazing piece of content. Filled with insights, industry expertise, and original research. Any reader who trips across it will learn something. The problem? Readers *won’t* just trip across your content. Your hard work will go to waste without a plan to get that content in front of your target audience. Many solopreneurs view content as a competitive advantage. And it can be — but only if you have a distribution plan. It can’t be an afterthought: it should be a systemized process in your [overall marketing plan](https://blog.annabyang.com/even-creators-need-a-marketing-plan/). The right mix of distribution will vary depending on your audience, your goals, and your bandwidth. ## Effective content targeting To get the most out of your content, you need to think about two things: who you want to reach and where they spend their time. Content distribution should not be a “spray and pray” strategy where you blast all platforms with a link to your content. That’s an easy way to ensure that your content is ignored. **The wrong way:** “Check out my latest article!” ***The right way:*** A post or thread with a specific insight taken from the content. End the post with “Want to learn more? Link to article in the comments.” Your target audience could be a specific persona, like a “marketing manager at a small business.” But it could also be more general, like “people interested in data visualization.” Once you know who you want to reach, do the research. Does your audience: - Read certain publications? - Follow specific influencers? - Participate in online communities? Many solopreneurs make the mistake of thinking they need to be on every platform. In fact, the opposite is true: trying to be everywhere often results in being nowhere. Take note of what successful creators and freelancers are doing on those platforms and tweak their approach to match your own voice and tone. It’s better to focus on a few platforms that [make sense for your audience](https://blog.annabyang.com/minimum-viable-audience/) and do them well. Once you’ve built up a presence on those platforms, you can always expand to new ones. [Self-Promotion on LinkedIn Without the CringeCut through the noise with these simple tips.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-0id0aihub9kpsldjawg_qg-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/) ## Content distribution workflow People are often so eager to publish that they don’t set aside time to repurpose the content. They’ll draft an initial social post or include the content in an email and that’s the end. Instead, each type of content should follow a specific sequence to [prep for repurposing](https://blog.annabyang.com/repurpose-your-content/), both now and in the future. For example, your content distribution checklist for a blog post can look like this: 1. Share immediately on social platforms 2. Schedule to be re-shared in the future 3. Repurpose into 2–3 LinkedIn posts 4. Turn into one Twitter thread 5. Create two visuals in Canva using quotes or stats 6. Included as a link in your next newsletter 7. Add as a link to 2–3 older, high-performing posts 8. Find 2–3 instances where you can thoughtfully comment on an influencer’s content and share the link to the post Whenever you’re ready to publish something new, start with a distribution checklist specific to the type of content. Not only will it help you get more eyes on each piece, but it also makes distribution easier: you’re not “thinking” of a new plan on the fly; you’re operating from a specific workflow. ## Timing and execution Your content distribution should be a well-oiled machine. Your checklist will only work if you build a content calendar and strategically schedule your future posts (amid net new content, event announcements, etc.). Set aside a [block of time each week](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/) to work on this. Build dates into your checklist based on the type of content and the platform. If you want to share 3 LinkedIn posts over the next two months, add distribution dates of 2 weeks after publication, 4 weeks after publication, and 7 weeks after publication. You can plot out the dates for each platform so that your content calendar fills in somewhat automatically based on your distribution plan. That way, you never think too hard about what you want to share and when. You can take this a step further and reduce some of the manual work. I use Trello to [plan my content calendar](https://blog.annabyang.com/use-both-trello-and-todoist/), but any to-do list app would work. When I publish new content, [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* does the following: 1. Creates reminders for me in Trello (cards) 2. Adds dates to those cards based on a pre-determined frequency 3. Adds labels to the cards based on category and platform (social, newsletter, etc.) Each published issue of my Substack gets two LinkedIn posts, one week later and two weeks later. These reminders are added to Trello for me. When scheduling content, I look at everything “due” in Trello from my past published work. I’m executing a content distribution plan created by automation: I only needed to set it up once. ## Asset management When you start distributing and sharing content on different platforms, you need a way to [manage your assets](https://blog.annabyang.com/organize-freelance-brand-assets/). This can include things like: - Title - Date published - Link to live URL - Platform (blog, Medium, social, etc.) - Visuals like a hero image or infographic - Categories or tags Let’s say you want to include a link to the content in a future newsletter issue. *Which* issue? Or you want to go back and update old articles with a link to this new content. *Which* articles cover the same topics? The best way to manage this is with a content library. This could be as simple as a GSheet listing all your assets. Or an app like Airtable will give you more robust options for creating a content library. ![Image of a list of content in Airtable](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-s5ey6chaqw2qg5brvza_qg-2.png) My content library in Airtable If you take the time to add your published assets to your content library, it will become much easier to distribute in the future. You can track the linking, related content, and even content performance over time. Most people *don’t* take the time to track their work, and it’s a missed opportunity. If you only look at distribution “for the future” (like future repurposing into social posts), you’re not taking advantage of older content that could link to your newer work. Or an issue of your newsletter that you publish 8 months from now, but you forget to include the link. Take a few minutes with each post to manage your published assets and you’ll save time in the future and make distribution easier. ## The reward for distribution strategy is an audience As a busy solopreneur, it’s easy to get wrapped up in a project and forget about distribution. But if you want to build a sustainable business, you need a way to get your content in front of the right people. Creating a [content distribution](https://blog.annabyang.com/omnipresent-social-media-strategy/) strategy helps you systematize your approach and make it repeatable. By thinking through all the different ways you can share your content, you can put together a plan that gets more eyes on your published work. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ### Writers Should Prepare for the Downfall of Twitter URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/downfall-of-twitter-impact-on-writers/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T04:44:45.000Z Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter has been a wild ride, to say the least. From laying off 50% of Twitter’s workforce to the growing list of companies that have paused ad spending, it’s unclear what the future holds. And it could take months for the fallout to unravel fully. For years, writers have depended on Twitter for visibility. Unlike many other social platforms, it is still largely text-based. The #WritingCommunity is known to be a supportive, safe space for writers. We lift each other up, cheer the wins, and commiserate with rejections that are common in the industry. Yet writers would be remiss not to start thinking about their lives without Twitter. It’s hard, especially for people who have built a large following. It’s too early to jump ship from Twitter, but writers should prepare for a pivot. If you wait too long, you might find it harder to rebuild elsewhere. ## 1\. Monitor your Twitter engagement While fellow writers may not leave Twitter immediately, your audience might. And [audience is the core](https://blog.annabyang.com/minimum-viable-audience/) of any creator’s livelihood. Twitter has been flooded with talk of turning to Mastadon or Discord communities. People who are only on Twitter to consume content have less to lose: they’ll start exploring alternatives more quickly. If you’ve only used Followers as a metric on Twitter in the past, you should start digging into the analytics. Your Follower account may stay the same (since many people won’t bother to deactivate their accounts), but your Impressions and Profile Visits may go down. Musk has also said that the Twitter algorithm will favor paid Twitter Blue accounts. He’s also floated the idea of Twitter sitting behind a paywall. Like many things, this outcome is unknown, but it’s something to keep in mind. Start tracking these additional metrics over the next few months. If you see a big dip, it confirms that your reach has been impacted. ## 2\. Double down on other channels If you have other social channels, start there first. Increase your presence with additional posts and engagement. While LinkedIn has long been considered a professional/corporate platform, it is increasingly welcoming to creators. But the content is far different than Twitter: it’s more about sharing lessons than self-promotion. Writing posts like “I’ve learned to accept criticism while working with an editor” or “These are marketing takeaways from publishing a book” have a broader appeal. Instagram is tricky since it doesn’t support purely text posts and increasingly favors videos. Find other successful writers on Instagram and study what they do. A Facebook page gives you more text options, but the company has a similarly uncertain direction. TikTok and YouTube might be an introverted writer’s worst nightmare, but they’re worth looking into. Medium is still a great place for writers, but long-form and short-form content aren’t the same. Your audience may not read a 1,200-word Medium post (or may not pay for a membership). [Self-Promotion on LinkedIn Without the CringeCut through the noise with these simple tips.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-0id0aihub9kpsldjawg_qg-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/) ## 3\. Capture email addresses The biggest lesson from Musk’s acquisition of Twitter is that even behemoths [can change overnight](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/a-change-in-leadership-can-alter). You can’t depend on any platform that you don’t control. Blogs used to be the darling of the internet and a platform you “owned,” but they inherently have a distribution problem. The most valuable data you can collect? Email addresses. If you have email addresses, you are forever connected to an audience. If you build up an audience on TikTok and then some new social platform emerges, you can email your audience and say, “Hey, come find me over here!” If you select an email platform and in five years that platform feels out-of-date, you can export the email addresses to a new provider. And the best part? You can capture email addresses and *not do anything with them today.* You might feel pressure to start a newsletter or a Substack. Newsletters are a great way to stay in touch with your audience, but they’re a lot of work. (**Side Note**: Twitter has said it will shut down Revue, its own newsletter platform. So if you’re using Revue, start looking for an alternative.) I began collecting email addresses months before I did anything with them. I put together a few free products on Gumroad and sent the email addresses from Gumroad downloads to ConvertKit. ## 4\. Find a new community of support One of the biggest losses from Twitter, if it indeed fizzles into obscurity, will be the #WritingCommunity. I show up every morning with a #5amwritersclub post. I’m immediately greeted by fellow writers. I would miss that. A supportive community [can be everything to writers](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/), especially new writers. No writer should have to write alone. Be on the lookout for a Slack or Discord group. Or, if you’re motivated enough, start one and bring your Twitter friends with you. ## Stay alert and stay diversified The advice is everywhere: focus on one platform. Grow there before pursuing another channel. That made sense from a time management perspective. But writers who *only* focused on Twitter now find themselves in a tenuous position. In the end, you need to [look out for yourself](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/look-out-for-yourself) and protect your livelihood. Whether you write full-time or as a side to your 9–5 job, reaching your audience is everything. Don’t jump ship from Twitter just yet. But definitely be prepared for fundamental changes in your day-to-day interactions with your audience. --- *Check out my free guide:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### Getting Paid as a Freelancer: What You Need to Know URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/getting-paid-as-a-freelancer/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:06:00.000Z Some people begin freelance life with a lot of intention and some fall into it by accident. My first client approached me about writing a whitepaper. I said yes, without giving much thought to *how* I would collect payment once the work was delivered. That’s often the case with freelancers: you [seize an opportunity](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/in-the-wild), know you can do the job, and don’t think about the logistics until you’re scrambling. But getting paid is **the most important** thing when you’re getting started. If clients can’t pay you easily, you don’t have a freelance business. Here are things to consider and ways to set yourself up for success. ## PayPal isn’t good enough If you have a PayPal account, it might be tempting to ask clients to send you payments that way. However, I’ve heard enough horror stories from freelancers to steer clear of this option. PayPal is great for buyers and embedded payments on a website. But I’ve known more than one freelancer who has had PayPal place a mysterious “hold” on funds. I’ve also had it happen: PayPal told me that a payment was being held for “security reasons” and I couldn’t access the funds for ten days. PayPal also has very customer-focused refund policies. Clients can easily dispute charges if they’re not happy with your work for any reason. ## Choose a tool that has invoicing and payments The best option is to find a tool to handle invoicing *and* payments. You can avoid a lot of the headaches that come with getting paid by using an all-in-one tool. Invoices provide a clean paper trail of the charges and when the payment is due. Many invoicing platforms (like [Bonsai](https://www.hellobonsai.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) or [Stripe](https://stripe.com/invoicing?ref=blog.annabyang.com)) allow you to create an invoice and offer multiple payment options. You can collect payment via credit card or bank transfer, and the client pays from a link within the invoice. Fees from payment platforms are inevitable. You’re paying for the convenience of having the payments handled for you. But you can always raise your prices to cover the cost of the fees. Some platforms even allow you to pass the fee along to the client (“A 3% charge will be assessed for payments made via credit card.”) Some platforms like [Honeybook](https://www.honeybook.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) can even set up automatic payments. This is a great option if your client pays you for recurring work (like a monthly retainer). Automatic payments can also be used if the client pays you in installments (like 50% upfront and 50% a month later). No freelancer wants to be caught with a client that refuses to pay or is slow to pay. Automatic payments reduce that risk. ## Keep business and personal finances separate In the early days of freelancing, you’re probably not thinking about a business bank account — you’re just happy that clients are paying you! But you’ll realize as your business grows (especially when it comes time to pay your taxes) that it’s much easier to separate your business and personal finances. Take your expenses, for example. In the United States, you can write off business expenses on your tax return. If you charge everything to a single credit card, it’s a lot harder to distinguish between paying a subscription fee for a business app and your trip to the local coffee shop. Here’s what you need to do to set this up: 1. [Open a checking account](https://blog.annabyang.com/choose-a-bank-for-your-freelance-business/) dedicated solely to your business 2. Deposit all payments from your clients into this account 3. Open a credit card dedicated to business expenses 4. Charge everything business-related to that card 5. Open a savings account dedicated to your business 6. Set aside money each month to pay taxes on your freelance income Then, you’ll connect your business accounts to an accounting tool like [Quickbooks Self-Employed](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/self-employed/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) or [Xero](https://www.xero.com/us/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Staying [on top of your finances](https://blog.annabyang.com/managing-solopreneur-finances/) doesn’t have to be a huge headache. An accounting tool can show you your total income and expenses to help you understand your financial picture. Armed with that information, you can make informed decisions, such as “Can I afford to attend an industry conference?” or “Do I want to pay for a new app that might make my life easier?” **Bonus**: Once you’re comfortable with your freelance income and expenses, add a little extra to your savings account. You can use this money as a cushion for a rainy day or to pay for larger investments in your business, such as a new computer. ## **Pay yourself a freelancer salary** One of the hardest parts about freelance work is the fluctuating income. You may have one month where you earn a lot and the next month is much slower. This can put a lot of stress on your finances, plus makes it harder to budget. One way to ease this stress is to pay yourself a freelancer monthly salary. You’ll “pay yourself” by transferring the money from your business checking account to your personal checking account. You can do this once a month, or every other week — whatever cadence makes sense. Then, from your personal checking account, you’ll pay your rent or mortgage, buy groceries, and pay your utilities. The important part is that you pay yourself the *same amount*, regardless of how much you earn. You’ll build up a cushion in your business checking account in the busy months to cover the lean months. With regular transfers, you’ll also be able to pay yourself even if you take a vacation. Many freelancers feel like they can’t take time off because it would reduce their income. With a freelancer salary, you build up “paid time off.” [A Vacation Savings Plan for FreelancersA simple calculator to help you take time off each year.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*KsFOD980v3BEQ7Zm-d4Pxw.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancing-vacation-savings-plan/) ## **Automate your project management** While you may not have a project management tool in the beginning (and that’s totally fine!), eventually, you can use your payments as a “trigger” for workflow automation. I’m a freelance writer and use Trello to track my deliverables. When I indicate that a project is “done” in Trello, [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* adds an item to my to-do list so that I remember to invoice the client. If you can [automate any parts of your process](https://blog.annabyang.com/keep-track-of-freelance-work/), do it. Maybe you collect payments upfront and automation can set up a project for you. Or you can automate a welcome email when a client makes a payment. Anything you can do to save time on redundant tasks gives you more time to focus on the parts of your business that need your unique skills: relationships, creativity, knowledge, etc. ## **Collecting payments is an extension of your brand** When you ask for payment, you also give your client an impression of your brand. What’s better: an invoice with a brand logo or an email that says, “Here’s my PayPal account info”? By creating professional invoices and collecting payments via credit card and bank transfer, you signal to the client that you take your business seriously. Some clients may be hesitant to work with freelancers, especially if they’ve never worked with one before. How you handle payments can help alleviate these concerns. It’s an opportunity to remind them of the quality work they can expect to receive. More importantly, you can show the client that you have a process in place. And with an [established process and brand](https://blog.annabyang.com/organize-freelance-brand-assets/), you can attract higher-quality clients for better-paying work. --- *This article is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered Financial or Legal Advice. Consult a financial professional before making any major financial decisions.* --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### Break the Cycle of Instant Communication in the Workplace URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/instant-communication-in-the-workplace/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:49:49.000Z We’re hit from all sides during the workday. Emails, Slack messages, texts, and other forms of communication. Couple that with endless meetings and it can feel like the brink of insanity. While remote work may have curbed the office “drive-by” (someone stops by your desk *just to chat*), those interruptions now take place in virtual form. And they’re a productivity killer. Context switching is the process of switching between unrelated tasks — and it has a huge impact on your ability to focus. According to a [joint report](https://assets.qatalog.com/language.work/qatalog-2021-workgeist-report.pdf?ref=blog.annabyang.com) from Qatalog and Cornell University’s Idea Lab, it takes **9.5 minutes** to get back to a productive state after switching between digital apps. How many times do you look at Slack during the day? Yikes. Even if you work in a company that emphasizes instant communication, there are things you can do to protect your time and productivity. And if you’re a manager, you have additional opportunities to make communication less chaotic for your team. ## 1\. Determine the priority of a request An email or Slack message comes in with a request to complete a task. “Can you create this report?” “Can you look up some information about a client?” It’s tempting to respond to the request immediately. But odds are, you had other work planned. Even if the request is seemingly quick, it’s still a distraction. Start by asking the sender: *When does this need to be done?* That detail is often missing from most communication, especially for small tasks. We **assume** the task is urgent, but that may not be the case. Or, we’re so used to addressing emails as soon as they come in that it feels natural to switch gears. By asking for a timeframe, you can prioritize the task among other things on your plate. Maybe it *is* urgent, and then you’ll shift your work around. But maybe the sender doesn’t need the report for a few days — giving you the ability to set it aside for now and come back to it later. Not everything is urgent. If you’re expected to drop everything at the whims of other people, it’s a sign of [workplace toxicity](https://blog.annabyang.com/free-yourself-from-a-toxic-work-environment/). You’ll constantly feel the stress of being pulled in multiple directions and rarely have time to get your actual work done. If you [change your default response](https://blog.annabyang.com/risk-when-you-overpromise/) from “yes” to “I need more information” you’ll be able to protect your time better. You can also renegotiate delivery dates if you have multiple tasks with competing deadlines. Tell the sender that you can complete the task by X date, but then you’ll need to move another task to Y date. ## 2\. Preface your communication with “non-urgent” You’re probably guilty of sending similar communication to your team. “Hey, quick question….” But even the quickest of questions require context switching. You can help your colleagues out by letting them know that your request is *non-urgent*. Sending a Slack message? Start with the words NON-URGENT and then continue with the rest of the message. If someone is briefly glancing at missed messages, they’ll know that they can come back to yours later. This helps with communication that isn’t really a task or a demand on someone’s time, but a quick back-and-forth. The problem with the quick back-and-forth is that it requires synchronous communication. Both people need to be available to engage. And maybe the other person is caught up in other work. NON-URGENT sends a signal that the communication can happen asynchronously. You’ve moved on to other work and will check back later. Managers can de-emphasize the “tasks” of work during 1:1 meetings with direct reports. These check-ins should be about how the person is doing, not the list of work to be done. [Unique Questions Managers Should Ask Their TeamsI need a reliable pulse on how things are going.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-viy8kmkawzdmivoxdxyg0q-2.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/unique-questions-managers-should-ask/) ## 3\. If you need time to think through a response, say so Not everyone thinks fast on their feet. This is especially true for neurodivergent people: it’s not that they don’t have ideas, but they need more time and space to process thoughts before responding. Too often, the “winner” of a conversation goes not to the person with the best idea, but the person who is the loudest and replies the fastest. That is bad for organizations as a whole. If you need time to think, say so. Acknowledge the message by saying, “I have gotten your request. I’m going to think about it for X amount of time and circle back with you.” Unless the person is completely unreasonable, saying that you need time to respond thoughtfully shows that you care about the work. Sometimes, you won’t have the benefit of additional time (for whatever reason). In that case, it helps to have an [organized system of notes](https://blog.annabyang.com/best-tools-for-capturing-notes/) on different topics. At least you can sift through your notes, rather than frantically trying to compile information for an immediate reply. ## 4\. Guard your time for deep work If you constantly shift between activities, you won’t have time to *actually get your job done*. After all, emails, Slack messages, etc. — are only one part of most jobs. You need time to do your work without the constant interruption of communication. Cal Newport, the author of the book *Deep Work,* says: > “A 40 hour time-blocked work week, I estimate, produces the same amount of output as a 60+ hour work week pursued without structure.” Block off time in your day for your deep work. Set aside 60 or 90 minutes and refuse to check your messages. It will be hard at first, especially since we’re so wired to let notifications dictate our attention. But you’ll be far more productive because you won’t have any context-switching during that block of time. Then set aside another block of time to reply to communication. You *know* you’ll be bouncing between multiple apps or threads. But use the other techniques (determining priority, asking for more time) to get through as much communication as possible, saving some of the work for later. Plan your deep work for a [time of day when you’re most productive](https://blog.annabyang.com/daily-mix-of-productive-and-unproductive/). The rest of the communication is likely less brain-intensive, so you can reply *after* you’ve devoted your energy to your most important work. If it makes you anxious to let 60–90 minutes without replying, think of it this way: you couldn’t respond if you were in a meeting in an office conference room. You couldn’t reply if you were on a long call with a client. No one would question why you hadn’t answered within 5 minutes. Your deep work is a meeting with yourself. ## Break the old communication habits Context switching is *killing* our productivity. And the increased use of Slack, texts, and other forms of instant communication [has only made it worse](https://www.workbetter.media/p/break-the-old-communication-habits?ref=blog.annabyang.com). On top of that, remote work has inadvertently led to a rise in virtual presenteeism. Employees feel the need to be *always present* online — even if they would have otherwise drawn boundaries. In an office, it was easier to send signals that you didn’t want to be bothered, like closing an office door or putting on headphones. But it’s possible to reduce the reliance on instant communication using these tips. Work will feel less frantic and less all-consuming. Most importantly, you’ll regain your focus time. --- *Check out my* [*free guide*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for tips on using time-blocking to manage your day.* ### Getting Over Perfectionism: 4 Outside-the-Box Techniques URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/getting-over-perfectionism-techniques/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:32:17.000Z I used to be a perfectionist. I was the person who put in long hours at work, trying to do and be everything. I’d write and rewrite emails, poring over every word. And I’d obsess over every detail of a project, going far beyond client expectations and outshining my colleagues at every turn. I’m not that way anymore. Perfectionism got in the way of doing things I enjoy — because I was spending so much time on work that, frankly, didn’t matter in the end. Perfectionism can interfere with any career. Consider the consequences: any improvement in your work is based on feedback. Feedback comes from getting your work out into the wild. And in today’s world, if that feedback loop takes too long, other people will pass you by. The internet is eager to offer advice for overcoming perfectionism (“just change your mindset!”). I believe that practical tips are better and here are a few to help you move away from perfectionism in small doses. ## 1) Embrace the sh\*tty first draft I’m a writer and I’ll never forget the words a wise editor once said to me: “It’s a blog post. Not the next Nobel prize winner.” Lots of people obsess over their work. They’re so concerned with getting it right the first time that the work takes *forever*. In her book *Bird by Bird,* writer Anne Lamott talks about the “sh\*tty first draft.” > [](https://twitter.com/ANNELAMOTT/status/428594956572192768?s=20&t=XNzUwgiImUfWvZgyjMWzSg&ref=blog.annabyang.com) Nothing overcomes perfectionism quite like a sh\*tty first draft. You bang out the first version of your draft or project or email as quickly as possible. The first version will always be a mess. *Then* you go back and edit. Why does this help with perfectionism? You release the expectation that the first version will be good. It won’t be good. But revising the first version is much easier than getting the first version perfect the first time. A sh\*tty first draft can also [help with your hobbies](https://blog.annabyang.com/finding-a-new-hobby/), passions, and life outside of work. Don’t focus on the “perfect” time for running — just run. Don’t focus on “perfect” parenting — just parent. There are always ways to improve over time. ## 2) Put a time limit on your work It’s easy to expand your work to fit into the time allowed. If you have until 5:00 pm on Friday, you keep working on it until 5:00 pm on Friday. *Especially* if you’re aiming for perfection instead of a sh\*tty first draft. While you can’t control deadlines that other people give you, you *can* control how much time you spend on a project. I am a big fan of time-blocking. I [create blocks of time](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/)who to work on something (like this blog post). I also set a timer and only allow myself 90 minutes for a first draft. The goal is to get my ideas out as quickly as possible. Edits come later. At a minimum, a time limit gives me perspective. I rarely cut myself off when the timer goes off, but it’s a reminder that I might be taking too long on the first version. ## 3) Let “schedule send” be your friend A few weeks ago, I talked to a colleague who said she *could not* get over her fear of posting on LinkedIn. She would type up entire posts and then never hit “Publish” — because she never felt that the posts were perfect. It’s hard to get over the idea that we have to [give all ](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/working-as-expected-is-not-quiet)our energy to work or a task, which can become a barrier. A really easy way to overcome this hesitation is by scheduling your content. Type it up, schedule it for the future, and walk away. When the content is published, you’ll be walking your dog or working on something else… and not thinking at all about what other people think of the content. This technique also works well with emails, especially if you’re the kind of person who overworks your replies. Type your response, and “Schedule Send” for an hour later. Out of sight, out of mind. [Break the Cycle of Instant Communication in the WorkplaceStop the madness of notifications, noise, and the pressure to respond.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-rjwsxnwyuscq1pr5sat4jw-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/instant-communication-in-the-workplace/) ## 4) Keep a praise file for when doubt creeps in Criticism is hard, and it can be *especially* hard for perfectionists. You get feedback and immediately beat yourself up. A “praise file” is a collection of compliments you’ve received. Save copies of emails, comments, reviews, or any other kudos. Easy enough to add these to a folder on your computer or GDrive. I use a private Instagram account and upload screenshots. Praise and motivation can also come via a community. When I was a new writer, I joined a [group of other writers](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/) in a Slack channel. The group provides unwavering support for its members and celebrates each other’s wins. ## Focus on improvement rather than perfection If you’re like me and you’ve been a perfectionist for most of your life, it’s hard to let go. In her book “The Gifts of Imperfection” Brené Brown wrote: > Healthy striving is self-focused: “How can I improve?” > Perfectionism is other-focused: “What will they think?” You might not be able to fully give up your perfectionist tendencies right away. And that’s okay. Instead of trying to “fix” perfectionism in one fell swoop, [set a goal](https://blog.annabyang.com/life-goals-are-more-than-a-to-do-list/) to use one of these small techniques. Your productivity will thank you. --- *Check out my* [*free eBook*](https://pages.annabyang.com/smarttools?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*: 17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale.* ### 4 Reasons You Need to Organize Your Freelance Brand Assets URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/organize-freelance-brand-assets/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:32:27.000Z We all know the frustration of a broken link. And we’ve all seen inconsistent messaging, like an ad that says one thing and the website says another. Those types of mistakes happen with companies that have entire *teams* of people dedicated to managing the brand. Think of *all* the places where your brand information exists: your website, your social channels, your profile page here on Medium, etc. One small change can have a cascade effect — and potentially cost you business. Here are some tips to staying organized, depending on the reasons you need to make updates. Putting in some time now will prevent a huge headache later. ## 1) You update your branding / messaging I recently pivoted from freelancing as a side hustle to freelancing full-time. I needed to make a **bunch** of changes to reflect this. Fortunately, my brand information is well organized. So while it was time-consuming, I wasn’t hunting down everything I needed to update. I keep a list in Airtable (a GSheet would also work). In it, I list the location, the URL, whether or not a photo is included, and a few other details. ![Screenshot of an Airtable table showing a list of URLs](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-7fyiflr9ja0kn994jcv6eg-2.png) Image Soure: author’s screenshot In addition to leaving my 9–5 job, I also had professional photos taken recently. *Do you know how many places your profile picture exists on the internet?* For me, it was a LOT. I even found that I’d missed a few when I put together this Airtable list. But I’m committed to keeping this list updated so I don’t run trip across old, inaccurate information in the future. Branding and messaging should be part of your [marketing plan as a creator](https://blog.annabyang.com/even-creators-need-a-marketing-plan/). Colors, fonts, profile pics, copy… they’re all part of “selling yourself” to prospective clients. You want to make sure that you make changes as needed *and* that you update your brand information across all your platforms. ## 2) You offer new products / services You’re building something new (a podcast? an eBook? a new service for clients?). You’re ready to launch it into the world… and now you want to [promote it across your channels](https://blog.annabyang.com/time-for-rest-and-time-for-hustle/). Like many people, you may have a landing page such as Linktree (Mine is [built through ConvertKit](https://start.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)). You may also want to update your website or a portfolio page. By keeping a list of your brand pages, you can identify opportunities to showcase your new product or service. I recently finished writing an [eBook](https://products.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) about tools that solopreneurs need to start and grow their businesses. Creating a landing page was one part of the project, but I also added the eBook to my LinkedIn profile. ![Screen shot of featured content in a LinkedIn profile.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-au8ivbs1jrl0mh3eerhaaa-2.png) Image source: author’s screenshot Don’t forget your calls-to-action. In Airtable, I keep a list of my common CTAs for Medium articles, my Substack, and other articles I write. I added a new CTA for my eBook. I’ve also gone back and updated a few high-traffic articles with the new CTA so that I can drive more people to the eBook. ![Screenshot of Airtable showing CTA links](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-odopei9yxi1ljpzgsg4n-q-2.png) Image source: author’s screenshot Sure, you could include a new product or service only in new content you product. But if you really want to give your cool new thing a boost, consider updating old content with a new CTA to increase the reach. ## 3) Your links change We’ve all been there: broken links. Your domain changes, or you move courses you’ve created from Teachable to Kajabi, or some other change… and everything breaks. I met someone through Medium recently and we hopped on a call to chat. At the end of the call, he said “Oh by the way, one of the links on your profile page doesn’t work.” Embarrassing. And if he had been a prospective client, lost business. Links are probably the hardest to keep track of. Because depending on what changes, the impact can be huge. Website domain changes can be handled through URL redirects, but you don’t always have that option on some hosting platforms. At a minimum, you want your high-touch assets to stay up-to-date. If a link for your eBook changes, make sure the most prominent places where the eBook is featured are changed (like your website, your landing page, etc). In my Airtable list, I keep track of **Linked From** and **Linked To**. ![Screenshot of Airtable](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-ospaqeysxny5ss8clbfydq-2.png) Image source: author’s screenshot **Linked From** lists all the pages where the link exists. For example, my eBook is **linked from** my website. **Linked To** shows me all of the links to other assets from that page. My website **links to** my Gumroad page. ## 4) You refresh your brand Sometimes brands are in need of a “pick me up.” Maybe you change your colors, fonts, or the copy that describes your business. Same problem: you have a *lot* of updates to make. I keep a folder in Canva for anything related to my brand, such as header images and logo files. I’m on a paid version of Canva so I store my brand colors and fonts in Canva as well, but you could also keep this information in a Google Doc. That way, you have easy access to the info whenever you need to make updates. All of my files in Canva are named with their file location, like “Medium Header” or “LinkedIn Header.” When I make a change, I copy over the existing one, make the edits, and then move the old one to an archive folder. ## Don’t be left scrambling (or hesitating) Does it feel like the slightest change would be overwhelming? Are you worried that you *already* have inconsistent brand information because you didn’t “catch” all the places that needed an update? Start making a list today. Keep updating it over time. You’ll undoubtedly need to make a change at some point, and better to be prepared. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### The First Time I Went Viral, I Wasn’t Prepared. The Second Time, I Was. URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/prepare-to-go-viral/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:39:41.000Z It was an ordinary Thursday morning in August of 2021\. I sat down at my computer and wrote my weekly LinkedIn post. My husband had quit his job over his company’s return-to-office plans. Fully remote work is better for our family, I explained in the post. What happened next was *wild*. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-xdob2qjes1oumjhmi89d7q-jpeg-2.jpg) Sreenshot of my viral LinkedIn post. The post reached almost 4 million views. It was shared over and over, finally getting featured in LinkedIn’s [Talent Blog](https://www.linkedin.com/business/talent/blog/talent-engagement/viral-post-highlights-why-professionals-quit-to-find-flexible-work?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I couldn’t keep up with the comments, DMs, and connection requests. Honestly, it was overwhelming. And almost all-consuming for a few weeks due to the sheer volume. Writers, freelancers, solopreneurs… we all dream of a viral post. One that gains us recognition and a bunch of new followers. Or maybe even drives new business. Are you ready if that happens? Because I wasn’t. In hindsight, if I had a *few* things set up, I would have been better equipped to capitalize on my moment in the sun. ## Make sure your profile is in tip-top shape What’s the next logical step after someone sees your viral post? They head over to your profile. My [LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabyang/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) was fine. But not great. It took about 300 connection requests for me to realize that I should have been in **Creator Mode** so that people could Follow me without connecting with me. I’d also been putting off a website redesign. Because my website at the time was embarrassing, I didn’t include a link to it in my LinkedIn profile. Big mistake, since it was a missed opportunity when thousands of people were looking at my profile. (Shortly thereafter, I got my act together and [moved my website](https://webflow.com/blog/transfer-website?ref=blog.annabyang.com) from Wordpress to Webflow). Fortunately, I *was* prepared with a [Calendly](https://calendly.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) link. I ended up meeting with several people about freelancing work and speaking on podcasts. The link made it easy to schedule a time. Your profile should always be ready to let people know who you are, what you do, and how they can contact you. Keep it up-to-date, since you never know when people will be looking. ## Be ready to send invoices and accept payments At the time I went viral, I had a single freelance client. I was sending invoices via a Google Sheet and receiving checks as payments. Suddenly, I had an influx of people wanting to hire me as a writer. My homegrown system wasn’t going to cut it anymore. I quickly signed up for [Quickbooks Self-Employed](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/self-employed/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). It handled my accounting needs (like syncing bank and credit card transactions), sending invoices, and collecting payments. It wasn’t overly time-consuming to set up Quickbooks, but it was **one more thing** during those days when I was frantically trying to keep up with the attention I was receiving. I wish I had taken the steps to [establish the “business” side](https://blog.annabyang.com/create-a-roadmap-for-your-freelance-business/) of my writing with my very first prospect months before — even though it wasn’t a necessity at the time. ## Build a pipeline and keep in touch The volume of writing requests was *so* high that I knew I could never deliver. For that, I was smart: I didn’t take on more work than I could handle. Instead, I referred the business to other freelancers I know. In hindsight, I wish I would have taken the time to meet with the people who were interested in my work before passing them along. Yes, it would have been a lot of meetings. But it also would have built a pipeline for potential future work. For example, I started ghostwriting LinkedIn posts for a founder/CEO. After a few months, she didn’t want to continue the agreement. And the feeling was mutual: she wasn’t engaging with people enough on LinkedIn to make the posts worth the investment. But when we parted ways, it left a gap in my monthly freelance income. I should have continued to interact with the interested people on LinkedIn or reached back out. Instead, I felt weird about going back and saying “Well, I said no at the time, but now it’s a ‘maybe’ — can we chat?” And perhaps some people are comfortable with that approach, but it’s not my style. I should have kept the lead warmed up. ## Collect email addresses My post had over 1,800 comments. And I interacted with a *lot* of people, replying back as much as I could. I also gained a ton of followers. I quickly realized that I wanted people to follow me *on other platforms*. Within a few weeks, I [launched a Substack](https://www.workbetter.media/p/the-great-resignation?utm%5Fsource=publication-search) and posted a link in the comments on the original post. But by then it was too late: the interest had died down. This was the culmination of being unprepared. If I already had a newsletter (or digital product), I could have posted a link in the comments right away. If I had a better website, it would have been another chance to promote the newsletter/product. I had a captive audience and missed the chance to collect email addresses and keep in touch. Even if you’re not ready or have no plans to launch a newsletter, you could create a short digital product with [Canva](https://www.canva.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and list it for free on [Gumroad](https://products.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). At least you’ll have the email addresses so you can contact people in the future. ## You never know what will happen A few weeks ago, I had another post go semi-viral on LinkedIn. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-9350ruyz2_tu7mtmk1ouhq-jpeg-2.jpg) Screenshot of my second viral LinkedIn post Of course, this post was nothing like the first: 26,000 impressions is a far cry from 3.9 million. Still, this time I was ready. I had a link in the comments to my Substack, which garnered some new signups. Someone reached out about contributing to a panel, and I was ready with a website that highlighted my past speaking appearances. Anyone who provides advice on “writing viral posts” is blowing smoke. Virality is often based on **resonance** — and it’s nearly impossible to predict what will resonate with people. Maybe it’s a storytelling post. Maybe it’s an increasingly popular [carousel format](https://blog.annabyang.com/steps-to-create-linkedin-carousels/). Who knows what the mysterious algorithm will favor that day. But you *can* prepare for that stroke of luck when your content suddenly has an audience of thousands or millions. Engage, connect, and make sure they have a reason to continue following your work. --- *For tips on planning your time and content across multiple platforms, check out my*[ *free eBook*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### Want to Create LinkedIn Carousels? Follow These 5 Steps (including some Zapier automation) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/steps-to-create-linkedin-carousels/ Last updated: 2026-03-14T04:45:01.000Z I’ve hopped on the LinkedIn carousel bandwagon. Visual storytelling attracts a different audience than straight text posts. Carousels were once the darling of brands looking to create a more engaging ad. Now, creators and people invested in personal branding (myself included) have turned to carousels as another means of content creation. I post a variety on LinkedIn — longer text posts, screenshots from Twitter, one-liners, and carousels. I plan out my content in advance, so adding carousels brought a new challenge into the mix. But I’m always up for a challenge! With a little help from some of my favorite tools (like Canva and Trello), I created a good system for creating, publishing, and keeping track of my LinkedIn carousels. ## 1\. Design a carousel in Canva Full disclosure: I’m not a design person. And most LinkedIn carousels are visual (other than people who post screenshots of Twitter threads). Thankfully, I don’t need serious design chops to create a carousel. [Canva](https://www.canva.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) does this for me. If you haven’t used Canva before, it is an easy — and free — tool for any design needs. (I’ve also created banners, logos, and Instagram posts.) Canva even has templates for carousels. Find one you like and edit it to fit your needs, matching colors and fonts you’re using on your website or other platforms. Use the same template for future carousels so you have a consistent personal brand. Once you’re done, save the carousel **as a PDF**. This is important for how the carousel will appear on LinkedIn. Canva will suggest that you download as a multi-page png file, but *don’t do it*. If you download the png file, it will look like this when you add to LinkedIn. Each image will appear separately. ![LinkedIn Carousel displaying separate images.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-bqhnlka3hn8im1eq9ukqla-jpeg-2.jpg) See this post on LinkedIn [here](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/annabyang%5Fdo-you-think-about-your-linkedin-posts-in-activity-6960954318866841600-8C3P?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop). If you download it as a PDF, you’ll get a much better reader experience on LinkedIn. Your audience can scroll through the pages and a title will be displayed. ![LinkedIn Carousel displaying a PDF file.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-teucudkto39ch76zlhwmmw-jpeg-2.jpg) See this LinkedIn post [here](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/annabyang%5F3-ways-to-prep-for-a-week-of-writing-activity-6962027434992881664-xv8Y?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop). (And yes, I didn’t follow my own advice. I changed the design of my carousel. I was experimenting.) ## 2\. Save the carousel to Dropbox Here’s my constant struggle with writing online: remembering if I’ve already talked about a topic. Yes, the Creators of the World will tell you that it’s ok to resuse content. Heck, I’ve even talked about content repurposing in [one of my carousels](https://blog.annabyang.com/repurpose-your-content/). But repurposing should be intentional. Repurpose because you’re adding additional value. Not because you forgot that you’ve already talked about the topic. And while Canva is great for design, it’s not an organizing system. I need to do two things with my carousel once it’s completed. - Add it to my content calendar - Add it to my list of published work And to make both of those things happen, I use [Dropbox](https://www.dropbox.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Google Drive would also work. Dropbox is **only an intermediary** for the next few steps. You can save your carousel directly to Dropbox from Canva. I have a folder specifically for carousels. ![Screenshot showing save options in Canva](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-hohqrkq1tc2d3jzqqcr7hg-2.png) “Save” options in Canva Note: Canva has the ability to publish directly to LinkedIn, but this **does not work** for carousels right now. You can only share single-image files. ## 3\. Add the carousel to my Trello content calendar Next, I want to get my carousel onto my content calendar. My plan is to publish one carousel per week. And I’ve been creating several at a time, so I want to space them out. I use Trello to [plan my content](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-your-content-across-multiple-platforms/). A Trello card (basically a to-do) tells me when I should publish the LinkedIn carousel around everything else I have planned. *Here’s where the magic happens by saving the carousel to my Dropbox folder.* I use [Zapier](https://zapier.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to automate creating a card in Trello. - Zapier looks for a new file added to my “Carousels” folder in Dropbox - Zapier adds a new card in Trello - Zapier adds labels to the card (LinkedIn, Carousel) - Zapier adds a Due Date to the card for 1 week from the date added Voilà — the carousel is now part of my content calendar. Sometimes I end up tweaking the Due Date (the date I will publish), but by adding a default date, I can ensure it’s not overlooked. This process could be used for many to-do apps (like Todoist, Asana, or even a GSheet) using Zapier. [Self-Promotion on LinkedIn Without the CringeCut through the noise with these simple tips.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-0id0aihub9kpsldjawg_qg-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-linkedin-less-cringe/) ## 4\. Repurpose the carousel as a Twitter thread Zapier doesn’t create a single Trello card for me. It creates two. The second card is to repurpose the carousel as a Twitter thread in the future. I’m a big fan of content repurposing. If you’re an active writer and have a [social media presence](https://blog.annabyang.com/even-creators-need-a-marketing-plan/), why not re-use work across multiple platforms? When the second card is created via Zapier, the Due Date is kicked out by an additional four weeks. I like to give some space between posting the same content. I tweak the carousel so that it makes sense as a Twitter thread. But that effort is minimal compared to creating a new thread from scratch. I use [Typefully](https://typefully.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to create and schedule threads. Hint: I use this process in reverse as well, repurposing some of my Twitter threads as LinkedIn carousels. ## 5\. Log the carousel in Airtable I keep track of everything I write on the internet (Well, the long stuff anyway. Not every random tweet that comes into my head.) Part of this is so I can create links to my own content across multiple platforms. Everything I write is categorized, and I filter by category to find related pieces. > [](https://twitter.com/AnnaBYang/status/1545397543131045892?ref=blog.annabyang.com) I use [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]* to keep a log of what I’ve written and Zapier to add my LinkedIn carousels. Here’s what it looks like: ![An Airtable table showing data from a LinkedIn carousel](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-kh4gamrgdeyussakx-luea-2.png) My LinkedIn Carousels in Airtable When the file is added to Dropbox (back in step 2!), Zapier adds the file name, date, and attachment to Airtable. I only need to add the Topics. In some cases, my LinkedIn carousels could become longer articles on Medium. So in addition to my meticulous desire to track everything I’ve written, I also have a source of future inspiration. --- I’ve seen great engagement on LinkedIn from the carousels I’ve posted so far. Now that I have a process in place to handle the “details,” creating the posts themselves will be much easier. *For tips on planning your time and content across multiple platforms, check out my*[ *free eBook*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### 5 Steps to Create a Roadmap for Your Freelance Business URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/create-a-roadmap-for-your-freelance-business/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:06:11.000Z It’s really easy to forget the big picture when you’re a new freelancer. You’re eager to please your clients, you’re learning to send invoices, and you’re trying to stay organized. All of those things are really important, but you need to think beyond laying the groundwork. Even if your goals seem like they’re on the distant horizon, you should still have a plan to get there. Your best chance to get there? Create a roadmap. You should think of your freelance work as a product that you’re building. I was a product manager at a fintech before I [pivoted into freelance writing](https://www.workbetter.media/p/redefining-ambition?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Product managers always ask themselves: *“Where is this product going? Are we on the right track? Do these new features meet our goals?”* You can take the same product-minded approach when building a freelance business. ## 1) Define your overall vision You can’t create a map if you don’t know your overall destination. Think about what your dream freelancing life looks like. You can start by asking yourself these questions: - Who is your ideal client? - What services do you ultimately want to offer? - Why will clients choose you over other freelancers? Try to sum up your answers in a few simple sentences: your Freelancer Mission Statement. Keep your mission at the forefront of everything you do. Even tape it to the wall in your workspace, so you are reminded every time you think about your business. ## 2) Review ideas for your business Maps include turn-by-turn directions: how you get from Point A to Point B. In his book *The Art and Business of Writing Online,* Nicolas Cole says: > To get the most “return on investment” from your writing, it’s important to have a roadmap for success. Sure, you could take a less direct route. You might even enjoy the distraction. But then you’ll need more time to reach your final destination. You likely have no shortage of ideas. A fancier website, a newsletter, sending cold pitches to prospective clients — any of these might enhance your freelance business. But not every idea belongs on your roadmap. There will never be enough time to do *everything* you want to do. You need to invest your time and energy in activities that give you the highest return on investment. List out all of your ideas. Which ideas align best with your overall Mission Statement? Chances are, some won’t “fit” — set those aside in a “maybe someday” pile. Select the two or three ideas you’d like to tackle first. [Working On Your Business vs. Working In Your BusinessWhat does it mean to work \*in\* your business versus work \*on\* your business?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w1200/2024/09/annabyang-work-on-vs-work-in-business.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/working-on-business-vs-working-in-business/) ## 3) Define the scope of each idea It’s not enough to simply list out your ideas. You need to understand the effort involved. Back when I was a product manager, this was known as the “scope” of the project. For each idea, you want to know: - What is the bare minimum to launch the idea? - What resources do you need? - How much time will it take? Let’s say your website is your highest priority. Will it take you two weeks or two months to set up? What are the minimum pages you want your site to include? How much [time can you reasonably commit](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/) to the project? (Remember: you can always “add on” to a project later.) Make it clear what each idea includes and what it *doesn’t* include. It’s easy to let projects get bigger than you’d originally planned. It’s also easy to let new ideas derail your roadmap (known as “shiny new object syndrome”). Keep your eyes on your Freelancer Mission Statement. ## 4) Share your ideas with others Chances are, whatever you plan to do with your business, another freelancer has done it before. Your roadmap shouldn’t exist in a vacuum. While your priorities might be unique to your business, the projects themselves probably aren’t. If you have friends who are freelancers or are part of any freelance communities, share some details about your plans. Fellow freelancers can give you a gut check on the effort involved. They may also have tips or lessons learned. For example, if you want to launch a newsletter, other freelancers might have suggestions to help you self-promote. The more [feedback you get](https://blog.annabyang.com/minimum-viable-audience/), the more realistic your roadmap will be. ## 5) Put your ideas on a timeline Your last step is to take your highest priority ideas and put them on a calendar. This calendar will guide the business side of your freelance work for the next few months. Each idea should have a “Due Date” — when you’d like to have the project completed, based on how much time you think it will take. Be realistic. The [deliverables to your clients](https://blog.annabyang.com/avoid-spending-too-much-time-on-client-work/) will always come first. You may only have a few hours per week to dedicate to these projects. You also don’t want to plan *too* far into the future. You may take on a new client and have less time. Or, if you put ten ideas on a calendar, you may find yourself constantly adjusting. Your priorities today may not be your priorities in six months. It may be tempting to create a 12-month roadmap for your freelance business, but don’t do it. You may have 12-month *goals*, but goals are not the same as a roadmap. Your roadmap gives you specific steps, and those can change over time. ## Adjust your roadmap along the way When I [worked as a product manager](https://blog.annabyang.com/from-end-user-to-product-manager/), I’d often create the perfect product roadmap, and then things wouldn’t go as planned. There’d be a major bug in the software, and we’d have to drop everything to fix it. Or customer demands would change. Sometimes, even market conditions would force a new feature onto the roadmap. Your freelance business roadmap will face many of the same challenges. You’ll get feedback from your audience, trends on social platforms will change, or your own freelance business model may take a turn. Whatever the reason, you should always be willing to adjust based on what’s best for your business. As a product manager, I knew that the product couldn’t survive if there was no demand. As a freelancer, I know the same is true. --- *Check out my* [*free eBook*](https://pages.annabyang.com/smarttools?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*: 17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale.* ### Avoid Career Burnout: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/avoid-career-burnout/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:49:58.000Z Like many American kids, I grew up hearing the phrase “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” I’d seen the logo plastered everywhere, watched Sesame Street segments about conserving water, and had a general understanding that throwing things away was bad. The phrase’s exact origins are unknown, but it seems to have cropped up in the 1970s. The environmental movement gained momentum, and Americans became concerned about air pollution, waste, and water quality. So what does this phrase have to do with careers? I was listening to a podcast and heard the comment: “When you transition careers, you’re not starting from scratch; you’re recycling.” Immediately Jack Johnson’s “[The 3 R’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECmp7TBKU14&ref=blog.annabyang.com)” song came to mind (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!) came to mind, but it got me thinking about the phrase. I went through a complete career pivot in early 2021, leaving product management and diving headfirst into content marketing and journalism. Yes, I had to do a lot of recycling — taking pieces of my former work self and turning them into something new. But I think there are ways to apply all three parts of the catchy phrase to careers. Much like we have to take care of the planet by reducing, reusing, and recycling, we also have to [take care of ourselves](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/look-out-for-yourself) and our mental health. Otherwise, we’ll find ourselves damaged and struggling to survive. ## Reduce the amount of time spent working Hustle culture has dominated the narrative for decades. “Work hard, play hard” was embedded directly into job descriptions. People were expected to work long hours in their race to the top — and the top only promised *more work* (along with a shiny new title and hopefully some money). I played that game. I spent 15 years in fintech, pushing myself to be the best, outshine the rest, and advance my career. It took a global pandemic for me to realize that [hustle culture](https://blog.annabyang.com/not-playing-by-hustle-culture-rules/) is a path that leads directly to burnout. I’d missed a lot of warning signs along the way. But forced isolation gave me time to reflect on what I wanted from my career. Like millions of other people, I [joined The Great Resignation](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/redefining-ambition). And as I embarked on a career journey, I also sought people-first companies that rejected hustle culture — companies that were focused on true work-life balance. Reducing the workload takes many forms, but includes things like: - 4-day workweeks - Generous vacation policies - Unlimited mental health days The opposite? Any companies that talk about a fast-paced environment. Or jobs with such broad responsibilities that they require constant context-switching. If changing jobs isn’t an option, there are subtle ways to reduce your workload. Set limits on your workday (especially if you’re working from home and tempted to be “always on”). If your company asks you to take on new responsibilities — *especially* without a pay increase — push back. Inform your boss that you’ll need to have other responsibilities removed, so you have time to get everything done. You don’t need to commit to unlimited amounts of work. ## Reuse your skills (and develop new ones) Burnout isn’t limited to being overworked. It can also happen a job grinds you into the ground. You feel that you’re spinning your wheels, without purpose or a change in results. If you like your company but feel burned out by your role, you can reuse your experience. Think of yourself like a mason jar of spaghetti sauce that gets cleaned out and turned into a flower vase. The mason jar is still a mason jar but has an entirely new purpose. In a career context, repurposing can look like upskilling or cross-training. You’re still relying on your knowledge and experience, but turning that foundation into something new. Instead of throwing away your investment in a particular company, you [find ways to expand](https://blog.annabyang.com/treat-your-career-like-a-portfolio/). Benyamin Elias, a seasoned growth marketer, wrote the following career advice on his [Substack](https://diamondpencils.substack.com/p/controversial-career-advice-skills?s): > I tell people to invest in probabilities. I know that some skills are never going away — anything I can learn about data, finance, copywriting, customer research, and people management will be useful to me forever. Even if I don’t know exactly how I’ll use those skills now, I trust that having them will let me make new connections and flex into new areas of expertise. Still, not every company has a formal upskilling or cross-training program. If that’s the case, identify an opportunity within the organization to learn new skills. Then approach your manager with a plan — outlining how the new skills will benefit you *and* the company. Depending on your relationship with your boss, you can candidly say that you’re feeling burned out by your current role. Or, if that feels too risky, just say that you’re “looking for an additional challenge.” Very importantly, don’t let upskilling or cross-training lead to an excessive amount of new work (see previous section). The goal should be to replace parts of your current role with new responsibilities. ## Recycle your accomplishments We all know the recycling process: collecting old items and turning them into something new. It’s a process of reimagining: seeing the potential in what exists today and using it as the foundation for something entirely different tomorrow. For your career, this might be a new job *or* a career pivot. In either case, you can’t assume that other people will see the transformation. As you apply for roles, you’ll need to act as a translator — showing recruiters or hiring managers how the “old” will turn into the “new.” Make a list of your achievements and identify how the work has prepared you for the type of role you’re seeking. This type of prep can help in an interview process — especially if you’re trying to make a big leap (like changing industries). Hiring managers can’t always see the correlation between your past experience and the skills required. You need to help them make that connection. > “My experience doing X has prepared me to do Y because I learned Z.” If plastic water bottles had feelings, they probably never imagined that someday they could turn into t-shirts. Yet someone thought it was possible, and now some companies make apparel from recycled plastic. You may also go beyond your prior career accomplishments and [talk about hobbies](https://blog.annabyang.com/let-your-hobbies-enhance-your-career/) or side hustles. After all, these are still part of what you bring to the table. Recycling often takes many separate pieces and pulls them together to create something new and beautiful. ## Create your own cleanup campaign The “3 R’s” are conscious decisions. People can easily ignore the environmental benefits and throw away what they don’t need anymore. You also have the option to ignore your surroundings. You could work at a frantic pace, continue in a mundane role, or [stay in a toxic work environment](https://blog.annabyang.com/free-yourself-from-a-toxic-work-environment/). Any of those can lead to career burnout. Or you can reduce, reuse, recycle. Take what you have and create something new. --- *You can read about the future of work and career pivots on my* [*Substack*](https://annabyang.substack.com/)*.* ### I Took a Risk When I Overpromised URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/risk-when-you-overpromise/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:50:07.000Z One of the cardinal rules of customer support: never overpromise. I learned this very early in my career. If you overpromise, you break trust — something that can be very hard to earn back. Better to consistently keep expectations realistic and delight the customer by delivering on time and as promised. I knew that… and yet I made the mistake of overpromising. Not a little overpromise either…. a BIG overpromise. I was working at a fintech and the customer (a community bank) called to tell me about an upcoming project. The project was something my team regularly did, and it was complex. It was tied to a much larger initiative at the bank — one that cost millions of dollars and had a very precise delivery timeline. If things didn’t go as planned, the bank could lose access to my company’s product for a period of time. Usually, my company required a minimum 8-week turnaround for projects like that. I asked the customer for their planned launch date. **3 weeks**. ## I wanted to please the customer. My head began spinning because I knew that failure to deliver in 3 weeks would have a negative impact. Yet the customer had failed to plan ahead — most customers gave us *months’* notice of such an initiative. And this was a customer I had known for years. I had built up a rapport, and the customer trusted me. I didn’t want to upset them. Somehow, in my sheer panic, I said, “Sure, we can get that done for you. Send over the information we need.” The 8-week turnaround was usually needed not because the work itself took 8 weeks, but because it was juggled among other projects already in the queue. I knew that I’d need help from a data analyst, so I asked the development manager if we could squeeze in this project. I was told no. The development team had its own deadlines to meet, and there was no way to work this project onto the schedule. [From End-User to Product ManagerMy unexpected journey into tech.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*08aoVEUuiD7nAmmET3_wmA.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/from-end-user-to-product-manager/) ## I understood the requirements. My next step should have been to call the customer back. To explain that the project *could not* be completed within 3 weeks because there wasn’t a resource available. But I didn’t. I had seen these projects done many, many times before. I understood the specs and had documentation from past projects. I had the SQL skills to wrangle the data and [project management skills](https://blog.annabyang.com/project-manager-meets-parent-manager/) to keep everything on track. The only thing I lacked was direct experience executing the type of project. I prepped for the launch date. I tested the logic and my SQL queries. I ran into some issues, but Google searches told me how to modify my work. I double-checked and triple-checked my work, knowing that a seamless launch was critical. When I had questions, I asked the development team for feedback. I didn’t go completely rogue — I had support from my manager. I explained the situation and assured her that I could take on this project. I told her all of the steps I was taking to ensure success. She agreed to let me move forward. Did I make mistakes? Yes. One mistake was found about a week after launch. The mistake was minor and easily fixable. Someone with more experience wouldn’t have made that type of error, but I didn’t know how to avoid it. I filed the knowledge away for future projects. ## Sometimes you need to take a leap into the unknown. I ended up doing *many* such projects in the future. Once the development team realized that I was an additional “resource” most future projects fell into my lap. I got better and more efficient. I learned from each additional project and created repeatable processes. And I negotiated a raise for myself. Why did I take such a risk with that project? Because I knew I could do it. I had confidence in my skills and my dedication to the customer. Many years later, I [took another leap](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/sometimes-it-takes-a-leap). I left fintech — an industry I’d been in for 15 years — and pivoted into content marketing and journalism. I’m doing work that I have absolutely no prior experience doing, going toe-to-toe with people who have *years* of experience. I’m learning as I go. People often hold back when they don’t have the experience. Women, in particular, [don’t apply for jobs](https://www.fastcompany.com/90661349/dear-female-jobseeker-apply-for-the-job-ignore-the-qualifications?ref=blog.annabyang.com) unless they meet 100% of the requirements. The fear of failure is real: we stay within our comfort zones and don’t take risks. But there’s a first time for everything. I placed a bet on myself, believing that I could do anything if I set my mind to it. Turns out, I was right. --- *You can read about the future of work and career pivots on my* [*Substack*](https://annabyang.substack.com/)*.* ### How Medium Highlights Inspire My Social Media Posts (With a Little Help From Zapier) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/medium-highlights-inspire-social-media-posts/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:39:51.000Z As a creator, I know that I have to show up consistently on social platforms. I publish on LinkedIn almost every day and tweet several times per day. I use Buffer to schedule my content but the burden is still on me to *write interesting stuff.* Sure, I come up with a lot of net new content, but I am also always looking for ways to repurpose my own work. And I’ve found a great way to do this with passages that Medium readers highlight in my articles. I figure that if someone on Medium takes the time to highlight something I’ve written, it was interesting. That small snippet is worth resharing, either as a tweet or a post on LinkedIn (or both!) I’ve even streamlined this process by using [Zapier](https://try.zapier.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\]*. Zapier automates actions between different apps, using a simple “recipe” or “Zap”: If X happens in App #1, take Y action in App #2 (and maybe also take Z action in App #3 if you get into more complex Zaps). Medium is not an available Zapier app, but I’ve found a workaround using the email notifications I receive from Medium for highlighted passages. ## 1\. Automatically label Medium email notifications in Gmail This first step occurs entirely in Gmail. Medium email notifications come in from noreply@medium.com with the subject line “{Medium user name} highlighted your story.” In the body of the email, I can see the particular text that was highlighted. I have a filter set up to apply a label (“Highlights”) to any email that has the word “highlighted” in the subject line. I can’t use the sender as my filter because lots of Medium notifications come from the noreply email address. And I have to limit the subject to “highlighted” because the email subject line changes depending on how many people are included in the notification digest (“one reader highlighted your story” versus “several readers highlighted your stories”). “Highlighted” is the only consistent word. ## 2\. Labeled emails become my trigger step in Zapier Zapier’s first step is called the trigger step: the event that has to occur in order for the Zap to run. My trigger step is **New Labeled Email in Gmail** using my label “Highlights.” After Gmail handles Step 1 for me and applies the Label, it kicks off the Zap. ## 3\. Format the Email in Zapier My next few steps in Zapier are around formatting the text of the email. Zapier pulls in the entire body of the email, including things like the footer. I’m a longtime Zapier user so I know how to do cleanup using Zapier’s built-in Formatting actions. For example, the footer starts with the phrase “Sent by Medium.” I do a text formatted and split on this phrase, separating everything in the body of the email that occurs before the words “Sent by” and after the words “Sent by.” Then I remove everything after the phrase “Sent by.” This isn’t a necessary step, especially if you are new to Zapier. It just saves me a little time in my next step by removing text I don’t need. I’m on a paid plan for Zapier. The free plan is currently limited to five Zaps and I have far more than that. The free plan also only allows single-step Zaps, so I wouldn’t be able to do the formatting steps — which isn’t crucial for this Zap, but is necessary in some of my other Zaps. ## 4\. Add highlights to my content calendar My last step in Zapier is to add the highlights from Gmail to my content calendar. I use Trello to [manage my content](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-your-content-across-multiple-platforms/) across multiple platforms. I plan out my tweets and LinkedIn posts, as well as content I write on Medium, Substack, and in other places. This last step could work with any project management tool or checklist app, including Asana, Todoist, or even a GSheet. Trello happens to be my tool of choice. Each post/tweet/article is a separate “card” in Trello. Using Zapier, I create a new card with data from Gmail. I include the email body, so I can see the highlights from the Medium reader. I could automatically give the Trello card a due date (like X days from the date of the email). I did that for a while but eventually removed it from my Zap. I prefer to add the dates in Trello myself, planning the content out over several weeks and months. Because Medium will sometimes include multiple highlights in a single email digest, I’ll only get one Trello card per email. But once it’s in Trello, it’s easy to copy and create new cards (one per highlight). I have a list in Trello called “Incoming.” This list contains everything from my Medium highlights Zap. I work from this list in the next step. [Why I Use Both Trello and TodoistYes, I need two productivity tools. But I use them very differently.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*n9kJa-1_QggcGYkyU0IIVA.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/use-both-trello-and-todoist/) ## 5\. Turn the Medium highlight into a social post Once the card is created in Trello, I tweak the text of the highlight into a social post. Here’s an example from my Medium article “[What Is a Minimum Viable Audience? (And Why Should You Care?)](https://blog.annabyang.com/minimum-viable-audience/).” A reader on Medium highlighted the following text: > And remember that audience demands change over time. Just because something works today doesn’t mean it will keep working a year from now. New features may give you new ways to grow your audience. Stay up-to-date on trends within any platform and continue to adjust. This highlight is something I can easily turn into a social post. Something shorter and punchier would work well for Twitter. I could also expand this idea into something longer for LinkedIn. I rewrite the text of the highlight directly in Trello. Once I’ve rewritten it, I move it from my “Incoming” list to another list so that I know it’s ready to be scheduled as a post. ## 6\. Schedule the post Once a week, I schedule my social media content in Buffer. I’ll usually pick a few net new pieces of content, share links to some previously written work, and select a few content repurposing posts — like my Medium highlights. Here's the LinkedIn version: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-dov8sbl6sq-hrruohwui0a-2.png) You can see that I tailored the original text for each platform’s audience. Overall, turning my Medium highlights into social posts saves me a lot of time. The Medium highlights are feedback from my audience, telling me the snippets from my articles that resonated. I’m repurposing existing content, rather than coming up with something new. And by using Zapier, I save time moving the highlights from Medium to my content calendar. --- *Check out my* [*eBook*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— a guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### How I Split My Time Between Professional and Personal Writing URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/split-time-between-professional-and-personal-writing/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:54:01.000Z Many writers feel like they’re caught in a game of tug-of-war. You have professional writing commitments that pay the bills. Maybe you’re a journalist, content marketer, or freelancer. In any case, you have a paying client and deadlines to meet. And you have your passion projects — the writing that you love and enjoy but doesn’t pay (*yet!*) for the time you’re putting in. There’s no specific end date in sight, but you’re driven by the desire to get your story out into the world. Unfortunately, as writers, we know that there’s a limit to the number of words that come out of our brains in one day (at least, a limit to the number of *good* words). You may finish writing for a client or your job and find that you have nothing left to devote to your personal writing. So how can you make sure that you have enough creative juice for everything you *need* to write and everything you *want* to write? I’m in that boat. Professionally, I am a contributing editor at a magazine and have freelance clients. Personally, I have a novel that is still in the “research” phase. I also write on Medium and Substack. If my personal writing project always took a backseat to professional writing, my novel would never get done. I have to [make time for what’s important](https://blog.annabyang.com/making-time-for-what-is-important/). I’ve learned to split my time so that I can meet client needs and my own needs, without sacrificing writing quality. ## Plan out your writing calendar for the month To start, you need to zoom out and understand what your writing commitments look like — on a calendar, with their deadlines. I like to do this with a paper calendar to get a clear overview of the month. I’ll use a pencil so I can quickly make changes. I start with writing in client and magazine deadlines, then I’ll add Substack since I publish regularly. For this exercise, I’m *only adding deadlines* — I’m not yet detailing the amount of time it will take to write. I’ll also add any non-writing commitments that I think will reduce my writing time, such as a [family vacation](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-vacation-planning-easier-with-notion/). Once I’ve done that, I’ll add in my personal writing project and writing for Medium. Neither of these has fixed deadlines, but I pretend they are immovable to plan my month. I’ll set a personal writing goal or identify the number of articles I want to publish on Medium, and give them deadlines. At that point, changes to my calendar become a trade-off. I move everything into my [project management tool](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-your-content-across-multiple-platforms/) (I use Trello). If I take on a new freelance project that adds a deadline within a month, something has to give. And more than likely, I’ll need to reduce the personal writing goal I’ve set for myself… or give up sleep. ## Block off time for your writing Once you know your writing deadlines, it’s time to work backwards. You’ll need to estimate how much writing time you’ll need for each piece. Be realistic. You may know exactly how much time you need to write 1,500 words for a client, but maybe your personal writing goal is less tangible, like “outline Chapter 2.” But once you have your estimates, you’ll want to add these to your calendar. At this point, since I’ve moved my writing deadlines into Trello, I do my estimation work within the product, but you could also continue to use your paper calendar for this. You’ll want to add [blocks of writing time](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/) to your calendar to meet your deadline. For example, let’s say a client article will take you five hours to research and write, and you dedicate four hours per day to writing. You’ll need to plan that this will take at least two days (maybe in smaller writing blocks of two hours and three hours for that article). For example, I only write for 2 hours per day because I also have a non-writing 9–5 job. I have to “fit” my writing deadlines — including my personal projects — into my 2-hour writing blocks. Make sure to give yourself some breathing room in case things don’t go as planned. If a client piece takes longer than expected, you don’t want it to derail your entire writing calendar. Maybe you plan for 4 hours of writing per day, but you *could* go longer if needed. Or maybe you leave some chunks of writing time “unassigned” to allow for a catch-up. You’ll also want to leave some time for editing, either your own rewrites or at a client’s request. ## Structure your day around personal writing I know from experience that if I leave my personal writing as the lowest thing on my priority list (behind client work, my 9–5 job, and my family), I will **never have time**. If I don’t leave myself some catch-up time, inevitably, my personal writing will be the first thing to suffer when other projects don’t go as planned. And I’ve done marathon sessions before, spending an entire day writing. If my personal writing is saved for last, I have no energy left. One of the best tips I’ve ever seen for maintaining a personal writing habit is to do that writing *first.* A friend of mine is a novelist and also a full-time content marketer. He works on his novel first thing in the morning, before starting his day job. That way, the best part of his writing brain is dedicated to his personal work. That approach reminds me of any creative who has a day job (like actors in New York who are also waiters). The day job pays the bills, but their creativity is preserved for the work they’re passionate about. Or maybe you identify chunks of time in your day amid household tasks, like writing [while you’re doing laundry](https://writingcooperative.com/my-best-productivity-tool-laundry-79d51e960cb6?ref=blog.annabyang.com). You set aside that time, and make sure that every time a load of laundry goes in, you commit to personal writing. The goal is to find the [time of day when you write best](https://blog.annabyang.com/early-morning-writing/), and schedule your most important writing work in that block of time. [How I Make Time for My Own ProjectsFinding time between work and family for things that matter to me.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*A1mBgYgmwQ7M8LGkwWHDNQ.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-time-for-projects/) ## Guard your writing time Once you’ve planned out your writing calendar, you need to minimize your interruptions — including anything that threatens your writing time. I have clients depending on me and personal writing goals I want to meet. The only way to get it all done is to treat my professional and personal writing with the same level of commitment. That means vigorously protecting my writing time. It’s no different than a professional athlete who knows they cannot skip a workout. Every Sunday, I block off time to work on personal writing projects from 8:00–9:30 a.m. If something comes up, like a family activity, I hesitate. I know that if I give up that time, I don’t have a good way of giving it back. I usually start professional writing around 4:00 a.m. That means I’m careful about personal commitments that might keep me out late at night — because I know that it will impact my ability to wake up early the next day and write. Writing is not only about the final product — it’s about all of the time and [preparation required](https://blog.annabyang.com/prep-for-a-week-of-writing/) to get there. After all, writing is my work. It’s work that I love but it’s still work. --- *Check out my* [*eBook* ](https://airtable.com/appMzFzkazYNAZexl/tblS1neuI8sr2SnmV/viww2Lx0u0OhLINEh/recAnPgMWWENBZfcw?blocks=hide&ref=blog.annabyang.com)*— a guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### I’m Not Playing By Hustle Culture Rules Anymore URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/not-playing-by-hustle-culture-rules/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:50:16.000Z I grew up with some very traditional views of career success. Work hard, prove your value, and rise to the top. My dad began his career as a social worker and eventually became the CEO of a nonprofit. I spent my college years working at a bank, watching smart loan officers work long hours and enjoy the commission they’d earn. I was surrounded by examples of white-collar career acceleration… no matter the cost, it was worth the financial freedom and power it would bring. Like many women, I read Sheryl Sandberg’s 2013 book [Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16071764-lean-in?ref=blog.annabyang.com). At the time, it was a rallying cry. Sandberg wrote, “Don’t expect that you’ll get to the corner office by sitting on the sidelines.” Women needed to assert themselves and know their value. While Sandberg brought up some very real issues around gender disparities in the workplace, she was also reaffirming many concepts of hustle culture. Play by the rules, and you’ll climb the ladder. Her central argument was that women should demand that the rules be equally applied. But what if the rules of the game have been grinding us into the ground? Sandberg argued that women should demand a seat at the table. It perpetuates the existing structure of work. Instead, the argument should have been, “The table itself isn’t compatible with life.” ## Work is no longer about compliance After college, I took a job at a small software company. My mentor was a Gen X woman. She’d followed the exact path that I wanted for myself: her hard work was recognized and she held an executive role at the company. I expressed my desire to follow a similar path. I worked hard to outshine my colleagues and praise was heaped upon me. I worked long, long hours and volunteered to take on additional projects. I wanted to be indispensable. It worked. I was given promotions and eventually landed my “seat at the table.” Except the table wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. The other executives held dear the same traditional concepts of work. They demanded loyalty, compliance, and a “yes-man” mentality. My mentor coached me to pander to the CEO so that he’d like me more and taught me not to be too direct with my ideas, lest he immediately reject them. I played by all the rules. I am a Millennial who saw layoffs during the 2008/2009 recession. Like many in my cohort, I valued job stability. So I never questioned the requirements of climbing to the top. Until the pandemic hit. It was like a wake-up call for many people. Suddenly, we realized, “Wait, we *don’t* have to play by these rules. This way of working is broken.” Enter The Great Resignation. Many, many companies had moved beyond this brand of [toxic work culture](https://blog.annabyang.com/free-yourself-from-a-toxic-work-environment/) — and they were hiring. ## Passions can exist alongside work The past few decades of work have seen a rise in calls for work-life balance, but this was often code for “work life” and “family life.” You devoted your energy to work and family — leaving little in the tank for individual pursuits. It’s an extension of the hustle culture mentality. If you had something extra to give, you should give it to your job or your kids — because those were the things that mattered. But the pandemic upended many ideas about traditional work-life balance. Part of The Great Resignation’s mass exodus included people who pursued a solopreneur or freelancing life. Nearly [50 million people](https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/420714?ref=blog.annabyang.com#:~:text=Solopreneurs%20are%20on%20the%20rise,lumped%20into%20the%20same%20category.) in the U.S. identify as independent workers who don’t have any employees. And people are also turning their passions into work — whether part-time or full-time. A [report](https://linktr.ee/creator-report/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) by Linktree found that 66% of creators consider themselves part-time creators, and 43% spend less than 5 hours per week creating content. On the one hand, the rise in freelancers, solopreneurs, and creators is a rejection of the traditional work structure. Side hustles are also about diversifying and protecting yourself from being “stuck.” The more options you have, the less you’ll feel married to a specific job. That might include quitting a job before you have a new one lined up, taking some time off, or taking a lower salary/less stressful job because you have supplemental income. On the other hand, people are pursuing their passions simply because it makes them *happy*. They enjoy creating or [spending more time with hobbies](https://blog.annabyang.com/let-your-hobbies-enhance-your-career/). Free time has been reallocated from “putting more time into your carer” to “putting more time into yourself.” ## There is power in saying “no” Hustle culture pushes us to say “yes” to everything. It’s practically a requirement. In order to move ahead, you have to pour everything you have into a job. If you’re not saying yes, you’re falling short. But that constant push leaves no time to rest and recharge. It can impact physical and mental wellness, and lead to burnout. Hustle culture often forces people to put the work first, and put themselves last. In the article “[Have We Been Thinking About Burnout All Wrong](https://www.bustle.com/wellness/burnout-definition-what-we-get-wrong?ref=blog.annabyang.com)?” writer and educator Eve Ettinger says: > Sometimes the only way to fix a broken system, it seems — to move toward a restorative approach to sustaining ourselves and our labor — is to refuse to play by the old rules. Work is good, but I am not my job. This mental shift is at the core of saying “no” to hustle culture. It’s about putting boundaries between self and work. Good work can still be done, but it shouldn’t be all-consuming. Hustle culture also removes power from the individual, since you’re forced to play by the *go-go-go* rules to get ahead. Saying “no” is [taking power back](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/i-am-never-going-back-to). You can go to work, do the work to the best of your ability, and then disconnect. ## Career ladders aren’t the only path Hustle culture is built on chasing the “next move” — but the trajectory is always UP. The next promotion, the next salary bump, the next fancy title… it’s always about [climbing the ladder to success](https://blog.annabyang.com/treat-your-career-like-a-portfolio/). Leaving hustle culture behind means that you have to remove the link between leveling up and your sense of worth. By no means does it mean your work is mediocre, but you’re setting limits on what you’re willing to give. Leveling up often means new responsibilities — and that can be hard to give up, especially if you’re a person who enjoys a challenge. If you find that you want to take a step back and still be challenged, consider taking a class or getting involved in a community organization. When I hit the point of burnout, I did a complete career pivot. I left an executive-level job, and I didn’t chase a similar role. Instead, I found work was enjoyable and challenging, but also required less energy. I have more time for my creative pursuits. And I’m far happier as a result of this change. --- *You can read about the future of work and career pivots on my* [*Substack*](https://annabyang.substack.com/)*.* ### 5 Ways to Prepare for a Recession URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/prepare-for-a-recession/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:51:23.000Z Recession. Kind of a scary word and one that has entered the conversation. Along with economists and financial gurus, you’re probably wondering what will happen. Are we headed toward another recession, à la 2008-style? No one knows for sure. But soaring gas prices and high inflation have led to a gloomy consumer outlook. Rents and home prices continue to increase, while the Fed has raised interest rates. And a series of [high-profile tech layoffs](https://news.crunchbase.com/startups/tech-layoffs-2022/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) have made many people nervous about job security. It feels like a storm is brewing. I was a young professional in 2008\. I worked for a company that sold software to banks… and the banking industry was hit hard. My company had to lay off a third of its workforce. Those of us that were left behind saw other cuts, just to stay in business. It was a tumultuous time. While Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says a recession “isn’t[ inevitable](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/19/treasury-secretary-janet-yellen-says-recession-isnt-inevitable.html?ref=blog.annabyang.com)” it’s enough to make people nervous. 70% of economists believe that a will [likely hit](https://fortune.com/2022/06/13/recession-economists-survey-2023-inflation-interest-rates/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) at some point in 2023 — which means you have some time to prepare. Here are five ways to situate your finances and your career before a recession hits. And if it never comes, no harm done — you’ll have built up some financial health in the process. ## 1) Cut back on spending Take a look at how you spend your money and figure out what you can cut. Everything is expensive right now anyway — prices on consumer goods have [risen 8%](https://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/gas-and-food-prices-likely-kept-us-inflation-rate-painfully-high-in-may-122061000776%5F1.html?ref=blog.annabyang.com) since this time last year. Consumer spending fell sharply in the early months of the pandemic. Some of this was due to layoffs, but many people stopped spending because stores and entertainment venues were closed. As a result, in 2020 people saved at [nearly double the rate](https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/economy/us-consumer-spending-after-covid.html?ref=blog.annabyang.com) that they did in 2019. Think of a potential recession as a time to hunker down again. By reducing your spending, you’ll have money to prepare for the recession in other ways. ## 2) Increase your cash on hand As you spend less, you can save more. Start socking away money in an emergency fund, at least for the next six months. And if you end up not needing it, you’ve got a nice nest egg that you could use in *any* emergency in the future. If you have a tight budget and saving seems hard, consider other ways that you could add to your emergency fund. Maybe it’s [a time to hustle](https://blog.annabyang.com/time-for-rest-and-time-for-hustle/) and do some freelance work in your field. The time to look for that type of work is **now** — before companies cut back on their own spending (and some already have). Homeowners have an additional option: a home equity line of credit. A HELOC works like a credit card: you are given a specific amount of credit and you can draw on it and pay it back. The amount of a HELOC depends on the amount of equity you have in your home. But as home values have risen, equity has increased. Talk to your local bank about a HELOC. The interest rates are much, much lower than a credit card. Your HELOC can sit with a balance of $0.00 and you only draw on it if you need it. But the best time to get a HELOC is when you *don’t* need it. If you have been laid off from your job, you may not qualify for this type of loan. If you’re a small business owner or a freelancer, you may qualify for a business line of credit — also something that can help weather the storm if your income goes down. [Talk to your bank](https://blog.annabyang.com/choose-a-bank-for-your-freelance-business/) or check out online lenders that specialize in business loans. ## 3) Pay down your credit card debt Another way to prepare for a recession is to pay down any credit card debt you have. If something were to happen to your job, you’ll feel less underwater if you owe less money overall. So should you prioritize saving or putting money toward your credit card? It’s a complicated answer. Some things (like your rent or mortgage) can’t be charged on a credit card. In the event of a layoff, you would want to have some savings available to pay those bills. But if you’ve got a savings amount that you’re comfortable with, the paying down credit card debt will help a lot. You’ll be reducing the amount of interest you’re paying. And once it’s paid off, you free up that monthly payment amount for other things. Also, by paying down your credit card, you’re freeing up credit. *Just in case* you run out of savings and don’t have a HELOC, you *could* charge expenses to your credit card again in an emergency. Charging to a credit card should be a last resort since the interest rate is so high, but sometimes it’s the only option. If you’ve paid down your credit card, you’ll owe less and have more credit available in the event you need to start charging. ## 4) Don’t look at your 401k statements Just don’t even open those monthly statements from your 401k investments. Delete the email or toss the statement directly in the recycling. The market is ridiculously volatile right now, but unless you’re *in* retirement or very close to it, you have time for your accounts to recover. It has happened many, many times before. The stock market takes a major dip and people start to panic, thinking they should protect their money. But it’ll bounce back. No need to stress. ## 5) Start thinking about your next job NOW No one likes to think that they’ll be part of a layoff. You may think that you’re totally secure in your job, but the truth is no one knows how hard the economy will be hit. And at the end of the day, companies will look out for their own survival. [So should you](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/look-out-for-yourself). You can start by asking your manager some questions. Has the company thought about a recession? Does the company have cash on hand? How has the company handled economic downturns in the past? If your manager doesn’t know or isn’t forthcoming, the company may not be prepared to weather the storm. Brush up your resume and your cover letter. If you do get laid off, those are the last things you want to think about — you want to start sending those off as quickly as possible. Finally, improve your presence on LinkedIn. Connect with everyone you know and try to post something at least once a week. More than ever, hiring managers are turning to LinkedIn to understand candidates as a person. You want to humanize yourself and “show” why you’d be a great fit. Interact with other people as well, especially your connections. If you were to get laid off, you can rely on your network to help you land your next role. By interacting, you’re staying on the minds of people you know. And if you do lose your job, make an announcement on LinkedIn and change your profile to “Open to Work.” As painful as it might be, it’s become a common occurrence. Many people in the professional community swoop in and offer help so that the people impacted by layoffs can find new jobs quickly. You could also create a one-page website that describes your accomplishments ([Carrd](https://carrd.co/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) is a great option for this). Think of your career as a [portfolio of experiences](https://blog.annabyang.com/treat-your-career-like-a-portfolio/), not just your resume. You want to give future employers every opportunity to know you — so that you really shine among a pile of applicants. --- *This article is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered financial or legal advice. Consult a financial professional before making any major financial decisions.* --- *You can read about the future of work and career pivots on my* [*Substack*](https://annabyang.substack.com/)*.* ### What Is a Minimum Viable Audience? (And Why Should You Care?) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/minimum-viable-audience/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:40:01.000Z The creator/solopreneur world sometimes feels crowded. There are a *lot* of “thought leaders” telling you how to grow your audience and make money online. And usually, they’ve already amassed tens of thousands of followers. At that point, the money is pouring in from various revenue streams. It’s interesting to reflect from a high perch. But what about people who are in the weeds, trying to figure out what works? ## Why a minimum viable audience matters I was a product manager at a fintech before I [pivoted into a creative life](https://www.workbetter.media/p/redefining-ambition?s=w&ref=blog.annabyang.com). I often apply principles of product management to the work I do now. And a key concept for introducing a new product — one that I think applies to creators and solopreneurs just starting out — is finding your **minimum viable audience**. In software, a minimum viable product is a product with *just enough* features to validate an idea. It’s given to a small group of users for feedback so that the development team can iterate and improve. Jay Clouse, founder of Creator Science, recently said on the [Startups for the Rest of Us podcast](https://www.startupsfortherestofus.com/episodes/episode-821-how-to-do-founder-led-marketing-with-jay-clouse?ref=blog.annabyang.com): > *It's never been easier to get attention for niche content, but it's also never been harder to sustain a relationship with that follower over time.* Unfortunately, many creators chase growing audience size rather than building loyalty. Instead, you should take a product approach and start with a small group that can confirm the value of your work. Success with a minimum might only be a few followers or a small number of sales. But it tells you that you’re on the right track. ## Define your core value as a creator Too often, creators adopt a *scarcity mindset.* They look at the total audience as a pie with a finite number of slices. If the large solopreneurs take too much of the pie, there won’t be much left for everyone else. But the reality is that there are **billions** of people on the internet… and they don’t all like the same type of pie. Yes, individual people still have limits. They will only spend a part of their day consuming content or a portion of their money on products. But they will shift their attention from one source to another if it better matches *their needs*. Or maybe your audience isn’t having their needs met at all because no one directly offers what you offer. Bring a new pie to the table. To understand how you’re different, look at other creators you admire. Don’t limit yourself to those with a huge following: find someone with mid-sized audiences and review their content journey. Ask yourself what sets you apart: - Do you have a unique point of view? - Do you create with a different style or tone? - What is your CTA versus other creators? Are you offering consulting services, an eBook, or a newsletter? Answering these questions will help you target your minimum viable audience. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-3grexsjpwj1erdxf-wckpa-2.png) Created by Anna Burgess Yang Presumably, you’re doing [work that you love](https://blog.annabyang.com/let-your-hobbies-enhance-your-career/). After all, that’s what drives many people to turn a hobby into a side hustle or a full-blown solopreneur path. But reaching an audience is different. You’re learning to tweak your passion so that it resonates with an audience. And your experience and your voice will be what sets you apart. ## Understand your minimum viable audience Now that you know the value that you bring to your minimum viable audience, *go get them!* Just kidding. It’s not that easy. Your minimum viable audience should represent: - A small group of people - Interested in what you offer - That you can reach in a cost- and time-effective way - And who can provide feedback This audience can exist in *so many* different places on the internet. Knowing what that audience is and drawing them in are two different things. Especially because every platform is unique in how creators interact with their audience. ## Measure your minimum viable audience Your minimum viable audience may be spread over multiple platforms. Maybe some sign up for your newsletter through an article on Medium. Maybe others arrive via Twitter. The cost- and time-effective part of this exercise is finding the audience *without* stretching yourself too thin. A minimum viable audience looks different for every creator, but it should represent something more than vanity metrics. Profile views and impressions aren’t enough because many people click without engaging. Comments, shares, purchases, and subscriptions show you that the audience likes your work enough to interact with it. Ask yourself: - How will I measure interactions? (comments, purchases, subscriptions?) - Over what period of time do I expect to see growth? - Can I interact with this audience directly? (comment back, send emails, ask for reviews?) There is a big caveat for solopreneurs that are dependent on their work for income. Your minimum viable audience needs to provide enough revenue to sustain your work. You need to ask, “How much do I need to earn to keep going?” You may not earn it right away — but build out the growth trajectory you need. Interacting with your audience will be critical. For example, if you have an email list, encourage your audience to reply directly to you. Ask them to share any ideas for topics. If you provide a service, ask your clients to fill out a brief survey when they’re done, giving you feedback on the value provided. Not only will your audience feel more connected with you, but you can use feedback to iterate and offer new products or pursue new channels. ## Don’t waste your time The worst thing you can do when you’re trying to identify your minimum viable audience is run toward the *wrong* audience. Maybe this audience interacts with you… but never converts to a paying customer. Or never shares your work with others to help you grow. These people are part of your audience, sure. But not part of a viable audience that can sustain your business as a creator. You’ll want to start testing the engagement with your minimum viable audience. What leads to more interactions and/or more growth? You don’t need to reinvent the wheel here. Check out what fellow creators have done. After all, successful people have already gone through a “testing” phase. Look back through some of their early iterations — like early posts — and see how they’ve evolved over time. You can even throw a website in [Wayback Machine](https://web.archive.org/) and see what changes creators have made over the years. Some of the tactics might make sense for you. ## Nurture your minimum viable audience Take some time cultivating the audience on one platform before moving to another. You’ll likely need to engage with your minimum viable audience through several channels. But if you try to do too much in the beginning, you’ll find yourself overwhelmed and burned out. Once you understand your minimum viable audience in one platform, it’s time to expand. You may not have *reached* your minimum yet, but you know what it will take to grow. And remember that audience demands change over time. Just because something works today doesn’t mean it will keep working a year from now. New features may give you new ways to grow your audience. Stay up-to-date on trends within any platform and continue to adjust. --- *You can read about the future of work and career pivots on my* [*Substack*](https://www.workbetter.media/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### Give Yourself Time to Adapt to a New Routine URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/adapt-to-a-new-routine/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:12:05.000Z I’m a very routine-driven person. My days run a predictable course of getting my kids off to school, work, and household responsibilities. My time is [divided into neat little blocks](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/) and I know what to expect most days. Benjamin Franklin famously [followed a daily routine](https://parade.com/35748/parade/what-was-benjamin-franklins-daily-routine/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) that was broken down into six blocks of time: - **5–7 a.m**. Rise, wash and address Powerful Goodness! Contrive days’ business, and take the resolution of the day; prosecute the present study, and breakfast. - **8–11 a.m.** Work. - **12–1 p.m.** Read, or overlook my accounts and dine. - **2–5 p.m.** Work. - **6–9 p.m**. Put things in their places. Supper. Music or diversion, or conversation. Examination of the day. - **10 p.m.-4 a.m.** Sleep. If Franklin was able to maintain that routine for years on end, I envy him. While I don’t have the mental fortitude to work in four-hour blocks of time, I would relish the predictability. In real life? My daily routine is constantly changing. At a minimum, my daily routine changes twice per year: at the start and stop of the school year. I’ve also changed jobs in the past year (helloooooo [Great Resignation](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/redefining-ambition?s=w)). My spouse also changed jobs. The pandemic was a huge shift in my daily routine when my kids were home due to remote learning and I had to work “around” their schedule. As someone who *likes* predictability, these changes are often hard on me. I get frustrated and feel like I’m always running behind. In reality, adjustment takes time. I’ve learned to give myself a few weeks as I settle into the changes. Sometimes I have to give myself a pep talk, saying, “The stress you’re feeling won’t last forever. You’ll get this new routine figured out.” Over the years and many, many changes in routine, I’ve discovered a few tricks to make the transition easier. ## Figure out the full impact of what has changed Often, our perception of a routine change has tunnel vision. Does a new job mean a new start time for the day? We see only the new start time. But in reality, the change can have a ripple effect. A new job might have a new wake-up time, but what else does that impact? Do you need to change your bedtime? Do you have more/less time for your morning routine? I try to assess how my time is spent when my routine changes. For example, let’s say you usually do a load of laundry in the morning, but because of your new start time, that’s no longer possible. How does your laundry now fit into your *overall* schedule? Where does it “go”? It’s those little, cascading changes that can really throw us off — sometimes without even knowing it. I’m always looking for ways to improve my routine. Sometimes it’s changing how/when I write. Sometimes it’s setting aside time to listen to a podcast. Sometimes it’s picking a different day of the week to do laundry. Whatever the change — whether small or big — I try to think through how everything will “fit” into my day: - If I set aside time to do X, do I need to give up Y? - If I can’t give up Y, where does Y go? - If Y goes to a different time, what happens to Z? Eventually, there has to be an endpoint. We all have the same number of hours in a day. Your endpoint might be “spend less time on Y” or “wake up 30 minutes earlier” — but it is an endpoint nevertheless. I find that I have to be realistic when I make changes to my routine. I have a [daily mix](https://blog.annabyang.com/daily-mix-of-productive-and-unproductive/) of productive and unproductive time. Setting aside time to listen to a podcast sounds great… but will I give up some of my downtime? Is that what I *really* want? Can I follow through? It can be trial and error — you can decide on a change, adapt your routine, and evaluate for a while. [3 Impactful Things to Do When Starting a New JobHint: Figure out how to align work with the \*way\* you work.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*dZuDErmiYXSz6T-bfasT9A.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/impactful-things-to-do-when-starting-a-new-job/) ## Track your routine and your progress Your evaluation period is a time for observation and reflection. You’re trying to settle into a groove and see how it works. It’s important to not give up too early. *Any* routine changes can take time. Sometimes you can make incremental changes. If your goal is to wake up 30 minutes earlier, start with 10 minutes. If your routine involves exercising 4x per week, start with 2x. You can use a habit tracker. I love apps, but for tracking changes in my routine, I like to use paper. It’s very satisfying to put an “X” on the days when I maintained a new routine. [This download](https://austinkleon.com/2017/11/01/30-day-challenge/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) from writer Austin Kleon is great. 30 days is a good benchmark to check in with yourself and see how things are going. If it’s important enough, I’ll keep tweaking my routine to make it work. I often try to make changes so I can meet my [short- and long-term goals](https://blog.annabyang.com/life-goals-are-more-than-a-to-do-list/). Incremental progress matters, so I’ll often break down large goals into small chunks and make little tweaks to my routine over time. Then there might be other times when you can feel comfortable abandoning the effort, and that’s ok too. [Prioritize Your Free Time Over Your JobFocus on what’s important to YOU.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*7FsQ24hX_-XhJVoUylYdQQ.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/importance-of-free-time/) ## The rocky part is the beginning — it gets easier It *should* get easier as time passes. After a month, I’ll evaluate my progress. Did I do better each week, or was it hard to adjust? If it was hard to adjust, I’ll try to figure out why. I’ll look back at the cascading impact. Maybe it’s still something I want to do (back to my podcast example) but I picked a time of day that just doesn’t work. The other scenario is when you are *forced* to change your routine, and this is sometimes the hardest. A new job, moving, or kids starting school can bring about huge changes in your daily life, and have requirements on your time that are outside of your control. And sometimes they’re not little changes — they can be hugely disruptive to your daily routine. When you *have* to make a change, give yourself some grace. Everyone involved — you, your significant other, your kids — might be cranky at first. It can make for a rough transition. During big changes, I have found myself saying, “Wow, this is really awful.” The cascade effect has impacted my mood, my interactions with others, and my sense of stability. If this happens to you, take a step back. It won’t always feel so unsettling. You’ll feel out of sorts, maybe even for months. But you’ll adjust. It’s important to give yourself some breathing room. Take a day off to catch up or refocus yourself if you really feel “off.” Acknowledge that change is hard and takes time. --- *You can read more about career pivots (and the resulting routine changes!) on my* [*Substack*](https://annabyang.substack.com/)*.* ### Make Vacation Planning Easier with Notion URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/make-vacation-planning-easier-with-notion/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:20:11.000Z Of all the parenting advice on the internet, no one warned me exactly *how much* my future travel plans would revolve around the school year. And it didn’t really hit me until my oldest son was in kindergarten. Our district — like many — has an entire week off for spring break, nearly two weeks off for Christmas, and closures for Parent-Teacher conferences and other holidays. As soon as the school calendar comes out, I immediately take note of all of the “No School” days so I can be prepared. When my kids were younger, I put them in camps offered by the local park district on their days off so that I could keep working. But I realized quickly that my kids hated those camps. They were usually nothing more than a large gym full of basketballs and a table with coloring books in a corner. Finally, I decided that we should take family trips during the longer breaks. I love to travel (and, frankly, didn’t do enough of it before having children). After all, my partner and I both had paid vacation time through our jobs. Studies have found that [55% of Americans](https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2019/08/28/what-does-america-have-against-vacation/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) don’t take all of their vacation time each year, and we fell into that category before we started planning family trips. In a way, it forcedus to take breaks from work. I read a quote once that parents never really get a *vacation —* they’re just taking care of their kids in another city. That’s certainly true. There’s food, lodging, travel logistics, entertainment… plus bringing “stuff” from home, like favorite blankets or toys. Yet we now take two or three major trips per year, and, I have the planning down to a science. I’m the “[family manager](https://blog.annabyang.com/project-manager-meets-parent-manager/)” so I use [Notion](https://www.notion.so/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to stay organized and keep track of the details. I’ve now planned so many trips that the process has become *almost* repeatable, even with a broad range of travel destinations. ## Step 1: Make a list of vacation destinations I have joked that I have planned trips until 2032… and it’s sort of true. My partner and I came up with a bucket list of places we’d like to visit, with more elaborate destinations planned as the kids get older. In Notion, I’ve set up a list of all the places we’d like to visit, along with tentative timeframes (like “2024 Winter Break”). Right now, my kids are 12, 10, and 4, so I have to think about their ages when planning. I’ve picked “easier” trips for the past few years since my youngest doesn’t have the same stamina as her older siblings. I also know that she won’t remember the trips very well, so I’m saving the major destinations until she’s older. I also plan based on climate. We live in the Midwest, so it makes sense to head somewhere warmer during our winter break. My Notion table looks like this: ![A grid of planned travel destinations in Notion](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-e1tf7qkwaxkl8vxpa8vupg-2.png) My Travel Plans in Notion I can easily change trip information or travel timeframe. The pandemic thwarted our travel plans for 2020 and 2021, so I had to rethink our destinations. But in addition to “needing something to do” during the school breaks, it is a family goal of ours to travel. By [making a list](https://blog.annabyang.com/life-goals-are-more-than-a-to-do-list/) of places we’d like to visit, we are taking a step toward turning that goal into reality. ## Step 2: Decide on a budget for your vacation I’m not extravagant when I plan our family trips but even so, traveling with five people isn’t cheap. I save year-round, adding money automatically to a savings account designated for travel expenses with every paycheck. By having my trips planned out in Notion, I start to think about how much each trip would cost. That factors into my planning as well. Usually, one trip per year is our Really Big Trip that I know will be more expensive. The other trips will be in less expensive parts of the country or have other factors (like staying with family members that live in the area) that I know will reduce the costs. I plan our budget in Google Sheets and link to the GSheet in my Notion table for the trip. The GSheet keeps track of anticipated costs for each part of the trip, so I can make sure it fits within our budget. ![A Google Sheet showing a travel budget](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-mqvzpreyeypd8fhkzo5fjq-2.png) My Travel Budget Template in GSheet I also have a column for “Actual Expenses” and after the trip is completed, I fill this out. I try not to be overly rigid during the trip itself, but rather be mindful of how much we had planned to spend on different activities. Lodging is usually the single largest expense, so it impacts how much money we have left to do other things. By keeping links to my past budgets in Notion, I can look back and see how much we ended up spending. Our budgeted amount for “Food,” for example, has continued to increase as the kids get older and eat more. ## Step 3: Start collecting ideas for your trip This is the fun part: the actual *planning* for the trip. Full disclosure: we are not spontaneous people. We always have specific activities in mind when we arrive at our destination. But at the same time, we don’t try to cram too much into a single day. If we did, we’d end up with cranky kids. My general rule of thumb is one “big” activity per day. The rest of the time might be spent lounging around our Airbnb or going to a park… something low-key. In Notion, I’ll start to collect ideas for the trip. These might come from Google searches, or recommendations from friends that live in the area. Each trip has its own page where I’ll add URLs and notes. ![A page of notes from Notion with travel plans](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-aknexqrmshyh_j1yk2ljwa-2.png) Travel ideas for a trip to Minneapolis I’ll throw a *lot* of ideas onto this list. Then my partner and I pick from the ideas depending on the length of our stay, our budget, and the activities that we think will give us the most variety on our trip. We do a mix of the well-known sights in the area with some hidden gems, and alternate between indoor and outdoor plans. I also keep a list of restaurants in the area — especially if they’re recommended. We try to keep our food costs down by buying groceries and eating some meals at our Airbnb, but we also like to make sure we hit the local food scene. Having a list of potential activities is also helpful when we’re forced to change our plans. Sometimes the weather gets in the way of an outdoor venue, or tickets end up being sold out. When that happens, we can quickly shift gears and find something else to do. Notion has worked so well for keeping track of our family vacations, but there are other [note-taking tools](https://blog.annabyang.com/best-tools-for-capturing-notes/), like Evernote, that would do the same thing. I like how easy it is in Notion to create tables and have linked notes. Evernote is similar but only has “one level” of nested notes: notes within notebooks. Notion is limitless: you can have embedded notes going multiple layers deep. ## Optional: Create a detailed itinerary It’s probably obvious at this point that I’m a planner. (😁) But, by doing a lot of prep work makes the actual vacation easier. By the time we hit the road, we know what to expect. The last thing I do before we head out on our family adventure is create a detailed itinerary. And I mean *detailed*. It will look something like this: - 8:30 am — 11:30 am: Drive from our house to Madison, WI - 11:30 am — 12:30 am: Lunch in Madison - 12:30 pm — 3:00 pm: Drive to Airbnb - 3:00 pm — 5:00 pm: Arrive at Airbnb, unpack and relax - 5:00 pm: Dinner at a local restaurant Then I print out the itinerary and give it to each of my kids, [on a clipboard](https://blog.annabyang.com/planning-for-vacation/). I create the itinerary in Google Docs and link to it in Notion. I could do this as an embedded page *in* Notion, but I’ve found that a GDoc is easier to share with other people who may not be familiar with Notion (particularly those who struggle with unfamiliar tools). This helps my kids know what to expect. After all, they’re away from home and away from their normal routine. They can look at the itinerary and see how long we’ll be in the car or when we’ll have a break in the day. If our plans change for some reason, my 10-year-old will update his printed itinerary with a pen. I’m certain that over the years, our trips have run more smoothly because of the planning I do. Traveling with kids can be exhausting, but by staying organized I can focus less on the logistics and more on the time I’m spending with my family. --- *Download my free resource —* [*Getting Started With Automation: A Guide for Solo Businesses*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/automation-guide?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— for more tips.* ### Let’s Retire the Phrase “Gainfully Employed” URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/retire-the-phrase-gainfully-employed/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:50:56.000Z In 2021, I joined The Great Resignation and quit my job. I’d been with the same fintech for 15 years and decided I’d had enough. Not only did I leave my job, but I also embarked on a new career, pivoting into content marketing and journalism. The huge shift has had some challenges. I spent eight months at a marketing agency before moving to a different agency. I (willfully) took an enormous pay cut when I left fintech, so I’ve maintained some freelance clients on the side. And I’m trying to build up my own portfolio of work — all while there’s a global pandemic going on. But overall, I’ve been [immensely satisfied](https://blog.annabyang.com/what-i-learned-about-myself-this-year/) with the change. I work with some amazingly talented people. I find the work both professionally and personally fulfilling. And I’ve climbed out of the rut that I was stuck in for years. ## Employers aren’t benefactors I was talking about everything I’ve gained with someone recently. His response was, “Sure, but your prior employer kept you gainfully employed for a long time.” At first, I didn’t know how to respond. Yes, I had a steady paycheck for many years. Yes, I received promotions and climbed through the ranks. But I also witnessed some pretty [toxic behaviors](https://www.workbetter.media/p/resilient-at-work?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I saw senior employees belittle their teammates. I saw mediocre employees routinely praised, even when their work (or lack thereof) had a detrimental effect on the organization. And I watched inept people in leadership roles make decision after decision that negatively impacted the lives of the employees working so hard and threatened the company’s future. It took a pandemic for me to realize the toll that it was taking on me. I was burned out and unhappy. It’s a mistake (and an outdated mindset) to think that a paycheck gives employers permission to run a company however they see fit. We’re not talking about widgets that turn on/off at the start and end of each workday. We’re talking about *people* whose health, relationships, and self-worth are impacted by their experiences at a job. [Free Yourself from a Toxic Work EnvironmentQuit the lousy job or the bad boss and steer your own career.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/1-dcrj1slia8gjr5onhmm9qw-2.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/free-yourself-from-a-toxic-work-environment/) ## What I gained from past work experience Looking back on my career, the paycheck and steady employment weren’t my rewards for showing up day after day. I could have gotten those things elsewhere — my prior employers were not the sole option. But like many elder Millennials groomed by Gen X, I thought [climbing the career ladder](https://blog.annabyang.com/treat-your-career-like-a-portfolio/) was the only path to success. I followed in the footsteps of generations of employees (and women in particular), thinking that “gainful employment” *was* a fair exchange for my loyalty and compliance. I was wrong. And I don’t owe gratitude in exchange for the “gainful employment” that I had for so many years. It was a two-way transaction: I contributed my time and expertise and received a paycheck in return. But from those experiences, I’ve learned what I *won’t* tolerate anymore. I’ve [put up better boundaries](https://www.workbetter.media/p/i-am-never-going-back-to?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for myself and encouraged others to do the same. And — by contrast — I can appreciate the kindness and support of the colleagues I have the pleasure of working with now. I’m more than the paycheck I receive; I feel that the work I contribute makes a difference. So let’s stop thinking that “gainful employment” is enough. It’s not. A paycheck is the bare minimum an employer can provide. A meaningful exchange for the employee’s time and talent includes emphasis on employee wellbeing, a supportive work environment, and opportunities for personal and professional growth. --- *You can read about the future of work and career pivots on my* [*Substack*](https://annabyang.substack.com/)*.* ### As a Manager, I Always Ask My Team This Unique Question URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/unique-questions-managers-should-ask/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:51:07.000Z Only a fraction of a manager’s job is managing *work.* The larger (perhaps most important) aspect is managing people. And by “manage” I don’t mean “micromanage” — I mean caring for the wellbeing of one’s team so that they can do their best work. I was the [product manager](https://blog.annabyang.com/from-end-user-to-product-manager/) and director of a customer success team at a fintech for many years. I managed seven people whose responsibilities ranged from customer onboarding to customer support. Like a good manager, I met with each team member 1:1 on a regular basis. But it can be tempting for managers and employees to go through a list of the work that got done. That is **not** the purpose of a 1:1\. Understanding the work and results can come through email, Slack updates, or tools dedicated to project/task management. During a 1:1, I was trying to assess the less objective parts of the job. What challenges are being faced? What clients were being problematic? And how could I help? I learned to ask, **“Has anything weird or unusual happened to you lately?”** It may seem like an odd question, but it ended up being the most telling and often the most constructive. ## Helped me understand challenges and roadblocks At a very basic level, asking if anything unusual had come up helped me understand how employees were spending their time. And I don’t mean that in an [overbearing time-tracking](https://www.workbetter.media/p/separating-work-from-hours-worked?s=w&ref=blog.annabyang.com) kind of way. I mean things out of the ordinary that might be pulling their focus from other responsibilities or causing a lot of distractions for the team. For example, as a fintech, it was common that new product releases would cause an influx of calls and emails to the customer support line. Some of these were quick to resolve. Others were difficult and time-consuming. The support team expected this with new releases, but if a *lot* of strange issues were arising, it was problematic. Some employees got stressed or frustrated when the customer support volume was high. Talking about things that detracted from day-to-day work allowed me to assure them that other responsibilities could take a backseat for a while, providing better workload balancing. Other employees talked about strange or unusual issues with pride. They would eagerly talk about how they worked through the problem and figured it out. It was an opportunity for *me* to learn from *them* — the people working directly with customers on a day-to-day basis. I’d praise their effort… and make sure that the resolution was passed along to the rest of the team. ## Gave me an opportunity to coach and mentor Sometimes, employees would bring up client issues that gave me an opportunity to shed some light or provide solutions from my past experience. Employees often get tunnel vision, even in the most open of organizations. They focus only on the problem at hand and don’t always think to ask, “Has anyone else dealt with this problem before?” When employees brought up weird issues that they were facing in their roles, I was sometimes able to say, “Actually, your colleague so-and-so dealt with something similar. You might want to ask them how the issue was solved.” As the manager, I had a clearer view of *all* issues that the team was facing. It was also a chance for me to help the employee find solutions. If the issue was truly unique, I would ask the employee how they would handle it. I’d also give some feedback and let them know that I might handle it differently or provide additional suggestions. I was empowering them to make decisions, but the solutions were something we discussed together. ## Opened the door to commiserate and escalate There were always instances where employees simply needed to let off steam about client-related problems. Asking about “weird things that have come up” occasionally turned into venting sessions. At these times, I started as a listening ear. I let the employee know that I understood that the client was being difficult. But I’d also remind the employee that as a “weird issue” this would eventually pass. Or it was an opportunity to talk through how we could handle similar issues better in the future. In other cases, the vent made me aware that the employee was completely stuck. Maybe the issue was [taking too long](https://blog.annabyang.com/avoid-spending-too-much-time-on-client-work/), maybe the client was furious, maybe the employee had no idea how to solve the problem. If I noticed that the issue had reached a boiling point, I would step in as the manager to get the employee additional help. I might ask a different employee with specific expertise to step in. Or I might tell the employee to send the client to me and I would deal with the client’s dissatisfaction. My team knew they could come to me with issues like these and often didn’t wait for our 1:1 meetings. However, there were times when employees were trying *so hard* to solve the problem on their own, and it just wasn’t working. By the time we got to the 1:1, if I felt like the issue had gone on too long, I’d gently let the employee know that it was time to get someone else involved. While I wanted my team to learn through problem-solving, I never wanted issues to reach a stage where everyone was frustrated. That didn’t serve the employees *or* the customers. ## Provided insights into how the employee was feeling From identifying “weird things that have come up” I got a sense, overall, about the employee’s current temperature. *How* the issue was described told me a lot. Some were excited by issues they had not seen before. The issues were like mini-puzzles that needed to be solved. Others were overwhelmed and needed help or guidance. When I was onboarding new employees, a *lot* of issues were new or strange. Talking through them gave me a chance to point out internal resources that were available. And there were also times when employees would bring up issues that they otherwise wouldn’t have mentioned. This sometimes indicated that something else was going on — sometimes outside of work. I noticed this in particular at the onset of the pandemic. Many of my employees had small children that were home due to school closures. Answering non-routine support-related questions became a strain: the employee tolerance for devoting a lot of time to a single issue plummeted. That was something I heard across the board and something I needed to address: how to ease that burden. --- As a manager, it was my job to have a pulse on the department. I needed to understand how each employee was doing, how well they were working as a team, and how the customers were being served. The generic question “How are things going?” doesn’t always elicit forthright responses. Some employees would gloss over their struggles or respond in the same generic fashion with “Things are fine.” Asking “Has anything weird come up?” gave me *so many* insights. After listening and assessing, I could put on one of my coach, cheerleader, or problem-solver hats. --- *Check out my free guide:* [*Manage Your Time + Content Across Multiple Platforms*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### Even Solo Creators Need a Marketing Plan URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/even-creators-need-a-marketing-plan/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:40:10.000Z As a creator, your “product” is what you produce. Whether you write or make videos or host a podcast, you’re putting something into the world that your intended audience will (hopefully) find entertaining or useful. In addition to your product, you are also your own small business. In most cases, your product alone is not enough to grow your business. You need to actively find ways to: - Reach a larger audience - Become discoverable on new platforms - Retain your existing audience’s attention In other words, you need a marketing plan. While it’s true that some creators find wild success by going viral, that isn’t the case for most. The ones that continue to build a following put a lot of energy into their [visibility on multiple platforms](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-your-content-across-multiple-platforms/). Try reframing your thinking around your creative product. Imagine that it is a physical product with inventory that you have to move. How would you go about making it more desirable? How would you bring in new customers? And what goals do you have for your business overall? ## Identify your niches and audience Startups often talk about *product-market fit*, or, having a product that meets a specific need and is in demand. There are a lot of failed products in the world, and it wasn’t necessarily that the product itself was inherently bad… it’s that no one saw the need for it. The same is true for creators. You have to outline the type of value that you bring to your audience: Why are they trading their time/attention or money in exchange for what you provide? To break it down further, start by identifying your target audience. *Who* likes your product? *Why* are you a good product-market fit for that audience? It may be that you have more than one audience. In that case, list out each segment. Then think about where that audience is likely to exist. Are they on any (or all) of the main social platforms, like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook? Do they join any specific forums? You can use a product like [SparkToro](https://sparktoro.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to do some basic audience research. Of course, the other reason that your product can fail is that your audience **never finds you**. Your creative product may be exactly what they need, but they don’t know you exist. This is why you need a marketing strategy to [reach your audience](https://blog.annabyang.com/creators-the-world-is-your-oyster/) on their platform of choice. ## Develop a strategy for each platform Identifying your audience and resonating with your audience are two entirely different things. Creating social posts or applying the same tactics across multiple platforms are exercises in futility. You need to think about what will apply to *that* audience on *that* platform. Ask yourself: - Why do people come to this platform versus others? - What do successful creators do on this platform? - How can I engage with my audience on this platform (comments, etc.)? - What would success look like for *me* on this platform? Odds are, constant self-promotion (buy my book! subscribe to my newsletter! hire me!) won’t work. Your success will come from building an audience of people who truly care about what you create, whether through behind-the-scenes peeks at your work, sharing valuable insights, or humor. What’s unique about creators is that your audience will deeply feel like they *know* you (even if your online persona is different than your real-life persona). Letting an audience get to know you is a strong marketing tactic for creators: you are creating demand for yourself and your “product.” The good news is that you don’t need to apply the same tactics to each platform — which leaves a lot of room for experimentation. The *bad* news is exactly the same: you may not be able to apply the same tactics because the audience interactions look so different. I put a lot of work into repurposing my content for different platforms. One Medium post will usually be reworked into one or two LinkedIn posts and a few tweets. Even though I’m tweaking, I’m not completely reinventing the wheel. I’m recycling the parts that make the most sense for that platform. I also have a [calendar for publishing](https://blog.annabyang.com/use-both-trello-and-todoist/) on each platform (how many tweets per week, when my newsletter goes out, etc.). I experiment here also; if I see a boost in engagement, I’ll change the type of content or the frequency on a particular platform. [How to Market Your Solo Business (Without the Cringe)Without a formal background in marketing.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-8.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-solopreneur-marketing.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/solopreneur-self-promotion/) ## Plan your objectives in the short-, mid-, and long-term Just like formal marketing departments at full-fledged businesses, you should have goals. If you’re not gaining traction, you may need to revisit your strategy on that platform. *Or* you may decide that the platform isn’t right for you as a creator: you’re not able to mesh with your audience. And that’s ok. As a creator/solopreneur, you only have so many hours in the day — don’t waste them on a platform that isn’t working. But your goals should be tangible. They should also be progressive. You can’t start by saying, “I want to build an audience of 10,000 Twitter Followers.” True, that might be a long-term goal, but you need to outline the steps to get there. Those small steps in the short term should lead to your long-term goal. For example: 1. **Short-term goal**: Engage consistently on your platform (post X times per week) 2. **Mid-term goal:** Grow your audience to 10,000 3. **Long-term goal**: Increase your freelance revenue by X per month based on new revenue from your audience. Keep your eyes on the prize. Start with your long-term goal (or goals!) and work backward. Remember that **marketing tactics take time**. They are *not* quick wins. They require time, attention, and experimentation. And while I, too, am constantly experimenting, I also know that I can’t iterate too quickly. If I’m not seeing results yet, it doesn’t mean that the tactic has failed; it simply may not have gained steam yet. You may reach your goals sooner if you [put in more time](https://blog.annabyang.com/time-for-rest-and-time-for-hustle/) up front but, again, there are only so many hours in the day. ## Create your plan and make time for it One of the hardest parts about being a creator is that it requires *so many* different skills. You might be thinking, “Wait, what? I have to create a marketing plan? I don’t know how to do that.” I elicited the help of a consultant who specializes in small businesses and solopreneurs. She helped me clarify my audience and messaging. I gave her my long-term goals, and she offered some suggestions for getting there. I plan to check back in with her in six months and in one year, to see if she has any suggestions for things I should do differently. You can also reach out to other creators, especially those that have seen a lot of success. Ask them for specifics, such as how much time they spend on a particular platform and if they tried anything that didn’t work. Solidifying a plan actually makes things easier, not harder. Your marketing plan becomes a [checklist of things](https://blog.annabyang.com/life-goals-are-more-than-a-to-do-list/) you need to work into your schedule and complete. But the worst thing would be to have *no* plan and just hope for the best. Think of the small neighborhood pizza place that hoped to grow based on word-of-mouth. Yes, it’s *possible* that tactic would work. But growth would happen much more slowly. Instead, if the pizza place really puts itself out there, finding customers who like pizza, the growth can be exponential. Be the local pizza place that did such an amazing job with marketing that there’s a line out the door. --- *Check out my* [*eBook*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— a guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### The Problem With Father-Daughter Dances URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/problem-with-father-daughter-dances/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:20:21.000Z A few weeks ago, a fellow parent in my elementary school Facebook group posted the following: > Seeing all these posts about father-daughter dances. Why don’t we do this anymore?! It’s so sad. Of course, the obvious answer is that most school activities were put on hold due to the pandemic. But the parent was correct in noting that such events have slowly reappeared on the school calendar. I usually lay low in the school Facebook group. I’m not interested in PTA politics or parents who complain incessantly. But on this post, I couldn’t stay silent. I commented back: > Given the increase in family diversity, the concept of “father-daughter dance” needs some re-thinking. Not only does it exclude mothers and sons, but also gay couples, single mothers, and non-binary children and parents. Some parents were quick to reply, saying, “Mothers would be welcome!” and “We could call it ‘male role model’ dance” or “We did mother-son roller skating one year.” Yes, and I attended mother-son roller skating. But all of those comments are missing the point. ## Father-daughter dances are exclusionary by nature Imagine being the kid who doesn’t have a father. No amount of saying “Mothers are welcome to the father-daughter dance!” will lessen the discomfort. That child will still be the “other” in the father-daughter dance world. Offsetting such an event with a mother-son equivalent doesn’t change the fact that these events are still designed to be binary. They serve a nuclear family and not the broad range of family structures today. There’s no need to single out a particular type of parent-child relationship (father-daughter, mother-son) — because the relationship between any type of parental figure and any type of child deserves recognition. It puts the onus on the family to “figure out” how to make themselves fit into the mold. Instead, the onus should be on the school and the planning committees to host more inclusive events. ## Father-daughter dances reinforce gender stereotypes We have a whole host of events designed to bring fathers and daughters together because, historically, fathers were more removed from an active role in their children’s lives. It’s easy to call out the indulgent side of the relationship, beginning with “Daddy’s girl” or “Daddy’s princess.” The role was perpetuated through these father-daughter dances and “Take Your Daughter To Work Day.” And ends with a father walking a daughter down the aisle. These public displays emphasized the father’s traditional role: provider, protector, and a special role on momentous occasions. But today, these feel like they’re remnants of a world that doesn’t exist anymore. Fathers take a more active role in parenting and don’t need a school-sponsored event to remind them to spend time with their children. And schools don’t need to perpetuate the stereotypes. There are a thousand different ways to host events that bring adults and children together. A father-daughter dance doesn’t need to be one of them. > Key Message: Parents and schools should create more inclusive family activities. Consider “Bring Your Favorite Adult To a Party” instead. --- *Want to read more about changing roles in society? You can read about the future of work, the creator economy, and work-life balance on my* [*Substack*](https://annabyang.substack.com/)*.* ### My Daily Mix of Productive and Unproductive URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/daily-mix-of-productive-and-unproductive/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:12:15.000Z The internet is overflowing with productivity advice. - “How I Squeeze Every Ounce of Productivity From My Day!” - “How I Hustle from Sunrise to Sunset to Achieve My Goals!” - “How I Effectively Multitask Ten Things At Once!” I’ll assume that the authors of these pieces are *trying* to be helpful. Heck, I’ve even fallen into that camp and [written about time blocking](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/). It’s tempting to find motivation in articles about productivity. Or they have the opposite effect and make us feel bad — like we’re not doing enough. But the reality is that we can’t be productive all. the. time. We’re not machines. At some point, the quality of our work will suffer. The only thing achieved is serious burnout. The idea that humans can be productive for 8 consecutive hours per day is a myth. We do other things: surf the internet, respond to emails, text with people, attend unproductive meetings. We’re not doing 8 hours of what Cal Newport refers to as “[deep work](https://www.calnewport.com/books/deep-work/?ref=blog.annabyang.com).” I’ve come to realize that I only have a few productive hours per day. That’s it. Sure, I can get additional work done… but not good, deep, meaningful work. Not only that, but I have to break up my day into smaller chunks: deep work, break, deep work, break. DONE. At that point, my brain has maxed out and I have to find less intensive work to do. Since this realization (about a year ago, when I [joined The Great Resignation](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/sometimes-it-takes-a-leap?s=w) and embarked on a new career), I’ve learned to think about my day differently and structure it in a way that makes the most sense for *my* productivity. ## Find the Best Time of Day for Your Deepest Work I’m an Extreme Morning Person, always have been. Way back in college, I was never the person who would stay up late the night writing a paper the night before it was due. Instead, I’d be up at the crack of dawn racing to finish. Most days, I’m awake by 4:00 a.m. and use that time for the deepest work of my day. There are no interruptions (other than my cats): my family is asleep, my colleagues aren’t sending me Slack messages, and there are no looming meetings. I usually end up with somewhere between 1.5–2 hours of time — after coffee and Wordle, of course. This works for me, because it fits with my natural body rhythm. My spouse is the opposite: as a software engineer, he stays up late to get his coding done. But the effect is the same. We’ve both identified a quiet time of day when we can do our deepest work. I work with some people who do their deep work during traditional working hours. The time is a dedicated block on their calendars for “focus time.” This *can* be successful but requires more discipline to ignore the constant pings for attention. [Getting Over Perfectionism: 4 Outside-the-Box TechniquesPerfectionism will hold you back. Do more by letting go.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/07/1-ivphrc0lvux4racc45syha-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/getting-over-perfectionism-techniques/) ## Knock Out the Hard Stuff Early in the Day After my morning deep work, I need a second block of time in my day to do other tasks that require concentration. For me, this usually ends up being sometime between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. I don’t need the *entire* amount of time, but I still have a lot of energy at that point. It’s time to eat the frog. Mark Twain once said: > If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first. The difference between my first block of productive time and the second, is that my first block is time for *something I enjoy doing*. I reserve my *most* productive time of day for that block — because I will, by far, get the most done. But my second block of time is for knocking out something hard, that needs my attention, that isn’t necessarily something I *want* to do, but something I *have* to do. Something that would be a lot harder if I hit the unproductive time of my day. It’s my Frog. Best to get it out of the way so that I can move on with my day. If you’re like my spouse and your most productive block of time is late in the day or the evening, you should still Eat Your Frog in the morning. That way, it’s not hanging over you when you get to your deep work. ## Glide Through the Middle of the Day, Taking Breaks When Needed The middle part of the day is often a mix of highs and lows. I eat and get energy, but depending on the number of meetings I have and the type of work I’m doing, I often feel sluggish by the afternoon. Sound familiar? “There seems to be a natural rhythm or set clock in our bodies, so many people tend to feel a little sleepy around 2:00 or 3:00 in the afternoon,” [says](https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/afternoon-energy-boosters?ref=blog.annabyang.com) Lona Sandon, RD, MEd, a professor of nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. For me, since I wake up at an uncommonly early hour, this happens even earlier in the day. So how do I push myself through that long stretch in the middle of the day? I don’t. I schedule little breaks throughout my day so that I don’t *have* a long stretch. I use an AI-powered calendar assistant called [Reclaim](https://reclaim.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) that blocks off 30 minutes of time twice per day: “Lunch” and “Brain Break.” What’s cool about Reclaim is that it’ll move this time around on my calendar each day, depending on when things are scheduled. But if meetings start to pile up, then the scheduled time will be “defended” and can no longer move. I’ve found that I *need* that downtime. It gives me a chance to step away from my computer and recharge. Sometimes I’ll go for walks or [take a nap](https://blog.annabyang.com/power-napping-is-a-superpower/). By taking regular breaks, I rarely feel overwhelmed or exhausted during the day. ## Evening is for education. And also Netflix. I have a long list of things to read, online classes to take, and podcasts to listen to. Because of how I’ve structured my day around productivity, this falls to the evening. I need a chunk of time when I’m not likely [to be interrupted](https://blog.annabyang.com/single-tasking-strategies/). But it also can’t be my *most* productive time of the day, because I need to preserve that time for my deep work. But I have to give myself grace. There are some evenings when I’m fantastically productive, plowing through several chapters of a book or taking notes while I watch a video about a topic I’m interested in. Other nights, I do next to nothing. Even with all of my careful preservation of my energy during the day, I’m just not in the mood. Between busy days of work and three kids, I don’t want to do anything else other than brainlessly watch something on Netflix. And that’s ok too. I like having a plan, but over-scheduling comes with [feelings of failure](https://blog.annabyang.com/week-of-failed-time-blocking/). In the evenings, I know that if I *don’t* get anything done, nothing will fall apart. That flexible time is perhaps the best time because I give myself permission to do nothing. No one is depending on me. I can just **be**. --- *Check out my* [*newsletter*](https://newsletter.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*, written for people who want improve their workflows, enjoy tinkering with new tools, or want some life hacks.* ### Power Napping Is a Superpower URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/power-napping-is-a-superpower/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:12:26.000Z I used to be jealous of napping people. I’ve watched family members fall asleep in the middle of movies. Seen people taking a snooze on a train. Heck, my kids have even fallen asleep on the floor in the middle of playing. Yet effective napping always seemed elusive for me. If I wanted to nap, I needed to dedicate an enormous chunk of time in my day to the activity… and that wasn’t always possible. I have worked from home for a long time, so napping was technically available to me. But as I looked at my calendar, I could rarely dedicate 2+ hours in the afternoon to napping. I would lie down, and it would usually take at least 30 minutes to fall asleep. Then I figured that I needed at least an hour of nap to feel refreshed. And at least a 30-minute buffer of “wake up” time before my next meeting. My problem lay in the misconception that I needed such a large amount of time for a nap. I’d heard the advice that the best naps are under 30 minutes (with an ideal nap being 10–20 minutes) but I didn’t believe it. Those types of naps seemed to apply to people who could nap anywhere — not someone like me who napped in a bed. I’m happy to admit I was wrong. I’ve learned the beautiful art of power napping and my days are improved as a result. ## Power napping started as a basic need My journey to power napping began as a result of the pandemic. Since I was already a remote employee, my work setup did not change. But what *did* change was having my kids home during the day. Our schools were closed and I suddenly found myself with three new “co-workers,” all under 4 feet tall. I was faced with constant interruptions during the day. My solution to this was waking up around 5:00 a.m. I [used the early morning](https://blog.annabyang.com/early-morning-writing/) quiet to knock out the tasks that required focus. This worked great, but I found that I was exhausted by midday. Going to bed earlier only partially solved the problem. I could have chugged caffeine, but instead I began to reconsider naps. A friend of mine shared that effective power napping came from practice. “Training” the body to power nap wasn’t something I had considered. I’d just assumed that power napping wasn’t in the cards for me since I couldn’t fall asleep quickly. But as an experiment, I developed the following power napping training regimen: - Find a 30-minute window for a power nap - Set a timer for the end of the 30 minutes - Repeat every day for 30 days [Give Yourself Time to Adapt to a New RoutineChange is unavoidable and an adjustment period is necessary.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-z8jcnikhfuc9nxkkzpjogg-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/adapt-to-a-new-routine/) ## Power napping became a welcomed break At first, not much happened. I would remain awake for the entire 30 minutes. But eventually, I began to fall asleep — even if it was around minute 25, with my timer startling me awake 5 minutes later. Gradually, I would fall asleep earlier and earlier within that 30-minute window. By the end of 30 days, my body had learned to take a power nap lasting anywhere from 10–20 minutes. I could fall asleep within minutes and often wake before my timer went off. I began to set my timer for 28 minutes so I could fit the nap into a 30-minute break in my day and still make it to a meeting after. Power napping drastically changed my afternoon productivity. Pandemic aside, afternoons have always been a challenge for me if I’ve expended a lot of mental energy in the morning. Power naps give me the boost I need to make my afternoons as productive as my mornings. People are discovering the power of power naps. A 2021 [survey by The Better Sleep Council](https://bettersleep.org/research/sleeping-on-the-job/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) found that 22% of working adults nap during the workday. The rise in remote work has certainly increased the [opportunity for rest](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/lets-talk-about-rest?s=w) and naps. Are there days when I’m not able to fall asleep in the 30-minute window? Absolutely. Sometimes I’ll find my brain is too “on” and I can’t sleep. But even on those days, I appreciate the break in my day. I think of it as a mental recharge. I’m not *doing* anything, so it is still a reprieve from meetings or other tasks. ### Don’t give up on power napping When I take a nap, I do everything that I would do for a longer sleep. I nap in my normal bed (instead of the couch), use a face mask to block out sunlight, and sleep under a weighted blanket. This signals to my body that it is time for sleep. I also make sure to nap at the right time. Because I wake up so early, my power nap needs to occur at *my* midday — which is earlier than most people would nap. By finding that napping sweet spot, I can maximize my afternoon energy. If I wait too long, I find myself dragging and *too* tired. I take a nap before I’ve hit the “exhaustion” point. I’m a [time-blocking fiend](https://blog.annabyang.com/tackle-your-to-do-list-with-time-blocking/), so I will block off the time on my calendar for a nap. I eat an early lunch, then spend some time working, then nap. I use an AI calendar assistant (called [Reclaim](https://reclaim.ai/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)) that will flex my naptime depending on other commitments on my calendar but still keeps the nap within the window I specify. If you’ve tried power napping in the past and found that you couldn’t fall asleep, try again. Use the approach of “training” so that your body learns to sleep in the 30-minute window. Your body and brain will thank you for the rest and refresh in your day. --- *Read more about the future of work, the creator economy, and work-life balance on my* [*Substack*](https://annabyang.substack.com/)*.* ### Life Goals Are More Than a To-Do List URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/life-goals-are-more-than-a-to-do-list/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:54:11.000Z Lots of people are obsessive with their to-do lists, myself included. There’s something immensely satisfying about crossing off an item when it’s finished or marking it “complete!” in an app. To-do lists are amazing… but they can also be misleading. You might feel accomplished when really you’ve done nothing more than required adulting activities (clean the garage, file your tax return, buy a gift). To-do lists can be incredibly effective if you *tie your to-dos to your goals*. In other words, you are identifying the incremental steps needed to reach a goal. Whether recurring tasks or one part of a longer sequence, if you incorporate your goals into your to-do list, you’ll mix the joy of progress with results you can track over time. ## I had lists and plans, but they were unrelated In 2021, I [became part of The Great Resignation](https://www.workbetter.media/p/redefining-ambition?s=w&ref=blog.annabyang.com) and left a 15-year career in fintech to pursue writing. I landed a job at a content marketing agency but also focused my attention on personal writing projects. I made a lot of lists. I [made a calendar](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-your-content-across-multiple-platforms/) to keep track of my writing, and what I wanted to get done each day. I dutifully checked them off, proud of myself for becoming a “real writer.” In hindsight, that first step was necessary. I had to learn the discipline of a daily writing habit. But overall, this work wasn’t going to achieve my writing goals. ## Make a plan, then work your way back to your to-do list I realized that to move the needle, I needed to first identify the milestones, and then get specific. I had to think big *before* I could think small; not the other way around. I sat down and wrote out my writing goals in a few categories: - Where do I want to be in a year? - Where do I want to be in three years? - Where do I want to be in five years? - What is my final destination? I then attached as many steps toward each goal as possible, knowing that the further out, the less concrete my plans could be. [Design the Career Path You DeserveLearn how to propose a new role to your existing employer![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*vpCjTajVER00AysqPM9fyg.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/design-career-path-you-want/) My *final* destination is to publish a book. To get there, I need time to research, time to write the draft, time to edit, and time to prepare a book for publication (self-publish, traditional publishing, who knows at this point). I also know that I want to build an audience of people who enjoy my work along the way; hence my writing efforts on various platforms. Once I had my goals written out, I added general milestones to each year. But at the one-year mark, I started to get really specific. I thought about the steps I would need to take this year. Each month, I set small (yet achievable) goals, such as “Increase my newsletter subscriptions by X.” If I hit that number, I increase the goal for the following month. From *there,* I craft my to-do list. I know that to increase newsletter subscriptions, I need to promote my newsletter more. I can include it as a CTA on Medium, share it on LinkedIn, comment back with a link on Twitter, etc. These to-dos become directly tied to my monthly goal, which is tied to my yearly goal, which is tied to my long-term goal. It can become easy to think only short-term or only-long term. After all, short-term thinking can give you immediate pride in what you’ve achieved while long-term thinking represents your dreams. It’s better to plan and then get *very* specific. You’ll feel better about crossing off that to-do item, knowing that it contributes to your vision for the future. > Key Message: Tie your to-do list to a short-term goal. Make sure you understand how that short-term goal is related to your long-term goal. --- *Want to help me reach my newsletter subscriber goal this month? You can read about the future of work, the creator economy, and work-life balance on my* [*Substack*](https://www.workbetter.media/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### 3 Reasons To Have a Google Voice Number URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/reasons-to-have-a-google-voice-number/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:37:28.000Z I gave up a landline in 2009\. The days of having a phone ring throughout the house were gone. So were the days of long-distance, not calling someone after 9:00 p.m., and listing a “home number” as the primary contact info on forms. For many years, I had a work phone. I traveled and carried a separate cell phone so clients could call me. This was back in the days when cell phone providers limited the number of talk minutes per month. Plus, I wanted a barrier so that clients could not call my personal cell phone whenever they felt like it. Eventually, I stopped traveling but still had a work phone line. I worked from home, so it was a VoIP phone connected to my home internet. It was a big, plastic office-style phone that sat on my desk. Clients could call the corporate number, dial my extension, and the phone would ring. When I left that job, the phone became a relic. Yet I still have multiple phone numbers: my regular cell and a Google Voice number. Google Voice is an app installed on my phone and can “ring” and receive text messages. Why would I still want multiple phone lines when my iPhone does everything I need it to do? I can control my notifications and accessibility just fine — why complicate things? Turns out, there are some very good reasons to have a Google Voice number. ## Use Google Voice for Two-Factor Authentication I’ve been with my spouse for more than 15 years. We have a house and three kids. That means shared bank accounts, shared utility accounts, etc., etc., etc. The past several years have seen a rise in two-factor authentication (2FA) for extra security. My spouse and I both have backgrounds in technology, so we have 2FA enabled whenever possible. We log into an account and get a text message to confirm our identities. However, this immediately created problems with any company that only allows one cell number to be used for text verifications (as many do). For example, he would try to log into our bank account, only to have the text message sent to my phone. And maybe I was not home at the time. We’d constantly find ourselves “stuck” — locked out of our own accounts (temporarily) while we waited for the other person to provide the 2FA code. We solved this problem by getting a [Google Voice](https://voice.google.com/about?ref=blog.annabyang.com) account. We have a shared email address for household purposes (which is also great for stuff like school communication) and tied the Google Voice number to that account. We both installed the Google Voice app on our cells. Then we changed all 2FA numbers to the Google Voice number. Text messages arrive in the app, so we both have access. 2FA problem solved. ## Provide a phone number when you don’t want to We’ve all been there. You’re filling out an online form, and phone number is a required field. Maybe you’re looking up interest rates for a car loan. Maybe you get the pop-up “Sign up for text messages and get 10% off!” — when you haven’t even decided to make a purchase yet. I work in marketing and read a lot of gated content. Sometimes, companies have the audacity to require a phone number to read a report or eBook. In any case, I inwardly groan and think, “I *really* don’t want to give up my phone number.” Because I know what comes next: Either a human will call when I don’t want to talk to anyone, or I’ll start getting a flood of texts. The Google Voice number solves this problem also. Because I don’t care what goes to that number. Other than 2FA, I mostly treat it as a throwaway phone number. One thing to note: **Some** companies have figured this out and won’t allow you to put in a Google Voice phone number on forms. I’ve run into this a few times, usually with very large companies. In those instances, I’m bummed and then begrudgingly provide my “real” cell number. But most of the time, it works. ## Keep work and personal separate Like many people, I am a fully remote employee. I also work for fully distributed teams, so almost everything occurs via Zoom or Google Meet. “Can we hop on a call?” means “Can we hop on a video call?” Then a few months ago, a client sent me an email that said, “Can you call me real quick?” and provided…a cell phone number. I called him from my cell and immediately regretted the decision. Why? I was back to the feelings I’ve always had that “work” and “personal” phone numbers should be separate. This might be specific to me, but here’s an example. At a prior job, a vendor I worked with had my personal cell phone number on file. After leaving the job, the vendor called me to discuss the account. The job had been toxic, and the circumstances of my departure were strained, so getting a phone call related to the former job made me tense up. Yet so many companies operate this way now, without dedicated work numbers or expecting employees to use personal phone numbers. Because Google Voice accounts are easy to create and are tied to email addresses, I have multiple numbers. As mentioned, I have one tied to our household, but I have a separate one that I use for work purposes. If your employer uses Google Apps, you may even be able to tie this to your work email address — even better. I also do freelance writing, so I have a Google Voice number that I provide to clients. ## Maintain separate Google accounts Overall, I have six Google accounts: personal, work (x2), household, freelance, and a “burner” email address for junk. I like the separation of different email addresses being used for different things. Google Voice gives me the option to do the same thing. It’s a way to filter the purpose of the calls or texts. I can ignore the call, knowing it’s tied to the throwaway number I use. I’ll answer if I know that it’s the number I provide to clients. All of this is easy to manage in the Google Voice app. I can let the calls ring to my phone — or not. If Google is going to make it so easy to have multiple numbers, then I’m going to use the Google Voice feature to my advantage. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ### Finding Inspiration From Your Past (When It’s Hard to Remember!) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/finding-inspiration-from-your-past/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:54:30.000Z I am one of those people who looks forward to opening [Timehop](https://www.timehop.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and my Facebook memories every day. I’ll see photos from two years ago, four years ago, and I’ll be transported back to the time, place, and my feelings at the time. (I’ll also see the “cryptic status updates” that used to be common once upon a time and try to figure out what I meant!) I’ve been active on social media platforms for more than fifteen years, so my memories are easily accessible. Often, they’ll trigger an idea for something that I want to write. But there’s also a treasure trove of memories that I have trouble accessing. Not only do I not have the “hints” from my social media activity, but I also have very few photos from that time. My family didn’t have a digital camera until 1998; any photos prior to that are taped into yellowing albums at my parents’ house. Not only that, but camera film was a precious resource. The surviving photos are mostly major life moments, like a birthday party or vacation. I have journals from my high school years, but they are mostly the ramblings of an angsty teenager. Since I know that my social media memories are such a valuable resource for writing ideas, I knew that I needed to develop a way to draw upon the memories that are only in my head. I am essentially recreating a timeline of the moments, both big and small, that can serve me as a writer. ## Log your memories — both past and present Whether you’re a fiction or nonfiction writer, *who you are* will always be infused into your writing. That’s why memories are so important: good or bad, they shape who you are and why you write. I have created a collection of memories that I like to call **The Idea Factory**. I use [Roam Research](https://roamresearch.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to jot down my thoughts, but any note-taking app like Evernote or Notion would also work. The Idea Factory is a dumping ground for my memories. While my social media memories are a fantastic resource for writing ideas, they only tell part of the story. We all know that social media only shows the shiny, glossy side of life. There are smiling pictures of my kids or quips about funny parenting mishaps, but not all of the gritty, raw moments of life. A few years ago, I started keeping a daily “logbook.” I don’t think of it as a journal because I don’t add any details. I am writing a bullet-point list of what I did that day, who I saw, and where I went. From my daily notes, I’ll pull out interesting moments that I think I could write about later. I’ll transfer these to the Roam app with a few sentences, so I don’t forget *why* I felt like that moment deserves some writing attention. That takes care of the present, but what about the past? This requires a little more effort. Whenever I remember something, I’ll jot it down. I use my iPhone notes for this, since it’s quick and almost always accessible. Later, I’ll transfer the memories to The Idea Factory note-taking page in Roam. Other times, I’ll sit down with the intention of trying to recall specific people or events. I’ll pick a topic like “third grade” and try to write down every memory I have about that topic. Friends, teachers, class trips… I’ll write down as much as I can, as quickly as I can. Sometimes it’s hard or I don’t trust the memory… but that’s ok. I’m not writing a memoir; I’m simply using my memories as a writing resource. [3 Ways to Prep for a Week of WritingSet yourself up for a week of productive work![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-iwoagwjbiwjzfxmlf8qxmq-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/prep-for-a-week-of-writing/) ## Organize your memories into categories My Idea Factory is nothing more than a jumbled list. While that’s helpful for capturing the memories, it’s not a good way to sift through and find useful nuggets. I try to put my memories in the Idea Factory into a rough timeline of my life, but nothing beyond that. The real power of these memories comes from the [organization I do](https://blog.annabyang.com/best-tools-for-capturing-notes/) *after* I have captured the memory overall. Note-taking apps vary, so this could be in the form of hashtags or folders. At this point, I’m identifying *how* that memory relates to my writing. I’m asking myself: What part of this memory might be useful in the future? I use different categories, such as: - **Characters:** Writing about personalities, appearance, or relationships - **Places**: Writing about a setting, focusing on the details of a room, architecture, nature, or travel - **Situation**: Writing about my reaction to an event, including context and dialogue By dividing my memories into different categories, I can go back in the future when I need a resource for “character development.” I can see a log of all people in my life, and use the memories to help me shape the character in my writing. ## Expand on your memories with some details Write, write, and write some more — the key to successful writing is writing a lot. The more you write, the better you’ll become and the easier it will be. The Idea Factory becomes an amazing resource to jumpstart any type of writing, especially when you feel stuck. At least once a week, sometimes more, I’ll go into my Idea Factory and fully flesh out one of my memories. I’ll recreate the scene or describe a person in great detail. I will usually limit myself to no more than 15 minutes (with a timer!), but the time will be spent with free-flowing thoughts, not trying to craft something that sounds perfect. This once-a-week habit is great practice. Writing professionally is [new for me](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/sometimes-it-takes-a-leap), the result of a career pivot during The Great Resignation. Like any skill, writing requires training, ongoing learning, and a desire for improvement. Every once in awhile, I’ll come across an idea that I want to turn into a finished piece — either here on Medium, on Substack, or LinkedIn. Maybe it’s even a fleeting thought that I want to add to Twitter. In this case, I’ll add the idea to my content planning calendar (I use Trello for this) with a link back to the note. I’ve also had times where I’ll be working on an article and think, “Oh wait! I have something related in my Idea Factory!” Because of my organization through hashtags and the amazing power of search, I can easily find what I’m looking for. --- Writers are often inspired by real life (remember the [Bad Art Friend](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/05/magazine/dorland-v-larson.html?ref=blog.annabyang.com) piece from *The New York Times*?). Knowing this, I feel strongly that capturing my memories will only strengthen my writing. It has become a ritual, and one I enjoy. Some days I focus more on the craft and other days feel more cathartic. Even on the days when the memories aren’t beautiful or smiling, they are part of who I am. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*How to Manage Your Time + Content Across Multiple Platforms*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### Sometimes Quitting Is the Best Thing for Mental Health URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/sometimes-quitting-is-the-best-thing-for-mental-health/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:16:44.000Z My pandemic story is not unique. Working from home, juggling remote learning with three kids during the day. It was isolating, frustrating, and exhausting. But I plowed through, like all the parents out there (and really, what choice did I have?). My anxiety level was at an all-time high. But by late December of 2020, I realized that the source of my stress was not only pandemic-related. My job was causing unhealthy levels of stress. So in January of 2021, I quit my job. And then eight months later, I quit my job again. Many things have been outside of my control during this pandemic. But I realized that one thing I *could* control was my career. I could say goodbye to feeling undervalued and spinning my wheels in a toxic environment. Even though looking for a new job is time-consuming and starting a new job brings its own challenges, it is 100% worth the effort to find work that satisfies you with a company that appreciates you. Or, strike out on your own — I did a little of both. I used to end many of my workdays ranting to my husband or spiraling with negative thoughts. I couldn’t turn my brain off and it impacted my life outside of work. I was left with little energy to do the things that I enjoy. In a way, it was an unexpected gift of the pandemic. I realized that with *so many* other things on my mind, my job was taking up an unwanted amount of space. I’d reached a limit. What I’d previously tolerated was no longer tolerable. ## The Great Resignation has turned the tables And so I became one of many, many people who voluntarily quit their job to find something better. The first time I quit, I didn’t have anything formally lined up yet (though I was in the final interviewing stage with a few companies). The second time I quit, I took a thoughtful, slow approach to make sure I would end up in a job where I could be happy for a long time. My first quit in February of 2021 was slightly ahead of the coined phrase “The Great Resignation,” which was first used in May of that year by Anthony Klotz, a professor of management at Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. The Great Resignation shows no signs of slowing down. The Labor Department [reported](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/jolts.nr0.htm?ref=blog.annabyang.com) another record 4.5 million workers who quit their jobs in November. According to a [survey](https://www.workvivo.com/newsroom/great-resignation-acceleration/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) by Workvivo, 60% of employees plan to leave their jobs in 2022. While many people have quit for the same reasons as me, the mass exodus has also raised the bar for workplaces. Hustle culture has been replaced by companies that prioritize employee wellbeing and flexible work environments. It’s put more pressure on wages, salaries, and other benefits for employers to remain competitive. All of these are extraordinarily good things. “Command and control” has been the mantra for many companies for far too long. Klotz told CNBC: > “It’s not just about getting another job, or leaving the workforce, it’s about taking control of your work and personal life, and making a big decision — resigning — to accomplish that.” > > Employees have learned that their employers are lucky to have them, not the other way around. ## Deciding what I needed from my career With my first quit, I just needed something different. Not only did I change jobs, but I also changed careers — pivoting from fintech into content marketing and journalism. I had been working remotely for a long time, so a fully remote company was an absolute must in my job search. But beyond that, I didn’t have a lot of other requirements. After all, changing careers meant that I was starting from ground zero in terms of experience. As the months passed as a writer at a marketing agency, I realized that my list of needs was actually longer. I wanted more autonomy over my work and the ability to shape my role, much like the experience that I’d had working for a small fintech for so long. I’d needed a change, but the job I took was not serving me. I’m a cautionary tale for jumping into something too quickly. Onboarding in a new role can be its own mental load. If I had to do it all again, I would have been more thoughtful in my first job search and really taken the time to think about what I wanted from my career — not just “anything that isn’t my current job.” [Avoid the Trap of a Bad Job With a Good BossA good boss can’t protect you.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*70dLuWGYJ28Esz6dN-IBXQ.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/trap-bad-job-good-boss/) ## Finding work that aligned with my values My second job search was far different from my first. Because The Great Resignation was still in full swing and because I wasn’t desperate to leave my job, I could take my time. I wanted to find a company that was not only remote-first but people-first. The rise of remote work meant that the doors were flung wide open for a job search. The rise of The Great Resignation meant that the job market was on fire, with many companies seeking talented employees. Even with doing more research on companies first and applying more selectively, I still found a new job quickly. But the other major change that gave me more control over my career was diving into the world of freelancing. I am a regular contributing editor at a magazine and have freelance clients. I keep this work minimal, since my “work less, be happy” philosophy means that I don’t want to work an insane amount of hours, but it gives me more options. The creator economy similarly exploded during the pandemic. A [study](https://www.cbinsights.com/research/report/what-is-the-creator-economy/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) by CB Insights published in June of 2021 found a record $1.3 *billion* in funding in the first half of the year. This shows that there has been an eschewing not only of crappy jobs but of traditional work altogether. Whether people pursue working for themselves because they can earn more or because they want more flexibility, the results are empowering. There are more resources available than ever to find clients, manage a small business, and share successes. My current job and my freelance writing both align with my values: I feel that my work is appreciated, and I have a lot of freedom and control over the results. And, perhaps best, I am in such a better headspace. I can be fully present for my work, and step away when I need to. While being a longtime remote employee has given me physical freedom for years, now I also enjoy mental freedom. --- *Check out my* [*newsletter*](https://newsletter.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*, written for people who want improve their workflows, enjoy tinkering with new tools, or want some life hacks.* ### A Time for Rest and a Time for Hustle URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/time-for-rest-and-time-for-hustle/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:51:16.000Z I’m not a fan of hustle culture. I lived that life for a long time, spending more than fifteen years in fintech. I was always gunning for the *next* move, the *next* promotion, the *next* product release. Then the pandemic hit and suddenly, I was tired of it all. It started with stress and anxiety over Covid but then continued to build until it reached a crescendo. I realized that I was tired of the day-to-day grind of my career. And so, [I quit](https://www.workbetter.media/p/redefining-ambition?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Like so many other people, I joined The Great Resignation and said goodbye to hustle culture. I found a job in content marketing with an agency that embraces a balance of work and life. I have also landed in the [creator economy](https://blog.annabyang.com/creators-the-world-is-your-oyster/), with some regular freelance work and focusing on my own projects. I rarely feel overworked now. But there *are* times when I think hustle is warranted, especially for freelancers and creators. It should be done in a thoughtful, temporary way, with a specific goal in mind. ## Hustle when you’re changing directions When I knew I wanted to quit my job, I hustled—a lot. I was not only looking for a new job, but I was also embarking on a complete career pivot. To break into content marketing, I realized that I would need a portfolio. I began freelancing on the side for an agency that was little more than a content mill. I would put in my time at my full-time job at the fintech, and then wake up early and stay up late writing blog posts for companies. (This was on top of having three kids at home for remote learning). The days were long and exhausting. But I also knew that this particular way of working wouldn’t last forever. I only needed to freelance long enough to build a portfolio. After about two months, I felt that I had a solid body of work. I turned my attention to applying for jobs — no small task in the creative field, with many applications needing specific writing samples. This was also a very time-consuming process. But it paid off. Within about six weeks of commencing my job search in earnest, I landed a job. I also landed a regular freelance client, writing about a subject matter that I enjoy. Sometimes freelancing full-time can have a longer hustle period in the beginning. You may be trying to earn enough and build up a client base. But then you reach a point of consistent work (and psstttt…. raise your rates regularly so you can hustle even less!). ## Hustle when you’re trying to promote something new A book launch. A podcast. An online course. There are scenarios when you need to hustle to give something you create the attention it deserves. To be clear: I am *not* suggesting that you hustle through the creative process itself. Unless there is a specific deadline, there’s no need to push yourself. You could end up with a resource that falls flat if you rush for the sole purpose of getting your creation “out the door.” But when you *are* ready, you should plan for the added effort to reach an audience: - Research the best ways to promote your specific creation - Plan your engagement across different channels - Line up people who can help you promote your product: friends, industry leaders, or fellow creatives The big effort will come when you launch. You may spend weeks or even months relentlessly promoting your creation. The more momentum you can build in the beginning, the more your hard work will pay off. And psychologically, there’s a lot to be said from initial satisfaction versus waiting months for your creation to build steam. My big launch was a new website. This is one project that is the opposite of what I described above: the hustle came in the behind-the-scenes work, with the end result not needing a lot of promotion. But let me explain. I knew that I needed a new website, something with more flair now that I was getting regular freelance work. My old website was embarrassing. I spent months tinkering with a new design without ever making real progress. Then I had a [LinkedIn post go viral](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/annabyang%5Fremotework-activity-6836619715851423744-Ix-P?ref=blog.annabyang.com). Suddenly my website was seeing a *lot* of activity. While the spike was temporary, it was the push I needed. For about a month, I pushed myself to build my new website, culminating in a [migration from WordPress to Webflow](https://webflow.com/blog/transfer-website?ref=blog.annabyang.com). In this case, it was worth the hustle to finish this project so that I could release my new website into the world — something that was going to benefit my work as a creator. ## Build consistently, so you don’t have to hustle “Slow and steady wins the race”? Maybe not slow, but definitely steady. A freelancer’s life is constantly in motion. Few have 100% guarantees with their income. You always want to be thinking of ways to attract new clients and build your portfolio. Consistent engagement is the way to build an audience and potential client pool that never wanes. If you suddenly find yourself in need of more clients and you *haven’t* been actively maintaining your online presence, you could find yourself struggling to “catch up” to others who have been putting themselves out there. [How to Manage Your Content Across Multiple PlatformsCreate a plan for consistency without becoming overwhelmed.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*ekDqFcHevOCnjR274j1pLg.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-your-content-across-multiple-platforms/) If you put time each week into your portfolio, your social media channels, and engaging with other people, you’ll have more consistency. You can find a volume and pace that works for you. Then just maintain the habits; they will become even easier the longer you do them. You’re the person who can put up guardrails as a freelancer. Whether it’s the number of clients or the number of hours, you need to decide how much is “too much.” Creatives and freelancers have a lot of control over their time and it doesn’t have to involve hustle. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://pages.annabyang.com/smarttools?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### From End-User to Product Manager URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/from-end-user-to-product-manager/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:25:22.000Z I recently saw a tweet from SaaS growth consultant [Asia Orangio](https://twitter.com/AsiaOrangio?ref=blog.annabyang.com) with a list of routes into tech. ![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*a-Q6Si4lgH3kuyVZ7_ly4Q.png) Screenshot from Twitter I replied and added one more: my journey began as the end-user of a product. This is probably the least common route, but it has a nugget of advice for anyone looking to break into a new field: start with what you know. By digging in and [translating your skills ](https://annabyang.medium.com/communicating-the-value-of-soft-skills-f627085693d6?ref=blog.annabyang.com)to new roles, you can take your career to unexpected places. ## From End-User to Customer Success Every company has a tech stack. From the simplest apps to enterprise solutions, products are needed to get a job done. And chances are, no product perfectly fits every use case. Much later in my career, when I was evaluating solutions on behalf of my company, my rule of thumb was generally, “Does this do 80% of what we need it to do?” If so, we could change our process or use an additional app for the remaining 20%. End-users have insights that even the most sophisticated product analytics can’t detect. Analytics may tell a company *how* their product is being used, but not *why*. I began my career in banking in 2000 (though at the time, I didn’t know it would turn into a career). I was in high school and working as a drive-thru teller at a local bank. A few years later, there was a home loan refinancing cray, and I began to help with loan processing and loan review. As I began to work with loans more and more, I realized that the bank had a loan management software that was hardly being used. I began to poke around and could see its potential to replace some spreadsheets and improve internal processes. I developed a plan to implement the software throughout the bank, and soon the product was relied on for several loan functions. By the time I graduated from college, I had begun to consider a career in banking. Yet I couldn’t see myself as a loan officer. The bank owner said, “Well, you’re pretty good at that software stuff — why don’t you see if they’re hiring?” So I applied to the company behind the loan management system that the bank had been using. I got a job as an implementation/training specialist, helping other banks with their implementation. ## From Customer Success to Product Manager I was able to translate my own experience to a variety of scenarios: large banks, small banks, people who resisted change, power users. By comparison, the bank I had worked for was a simple implementation. Within a few years, I was handling the most complex clients and projects at the company. Even though every implementation was unique, after a while, I was no longer challenged. I knew what questions to ask, how to persuade reluctant teams, and how to come up with “out-of-the-box” recommendations when the product didn’t do *exactly* what the bank needed. I began to envision a new role for myself, sitting at the intersection of the customers and the development group. Informally, I was already giving feedback on new product development, acting as the “voice” of the customer and interpreting enhancement requests. I thought I could make the case that this should be a dedicated role. As it turned out, most software companies have a formal role: a product manager. But, this small company frequently lacked anything that resembled “industry standard.” After doing some research, I proposed the role of product manager, emphasized the skills I had that could contribute to the role (like ninja-level organizational skills), outlined the responsibilities, and came up with a transition plan. I was the product manager for the remainder of my tenure with the company. I learned the software development lifecycle, how to plan and [scope projects](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-scope/), and enough about database structure and SQL to hold my own in conversations with analysts and developers. Even though time passed and I eventually became more removed from my days as an end-user, I still had a firm grasp of *how* users worked within banks. I could see their pain points and also understood what was occurring “outside” of the product that impacted their usage. And if there was something I couldn’t figure out? I asked a customer. But I often prefaced these conversations with, “I used to work at a bank. I know where you’re coming from.” ## From Product Manager to … well, anything After 15 years at the software company, I was ready for a change. And not simply finding another role as a product manager elsewhere: a complete career pivot (hello, [Great Resignation](https://www.workbetter.media/p/redefining-ambition?ref=blog.annabyang.com)). I went back to my roots as an English major and found myself in content marketing and journalism. I struggled at first to get interviews. I lacked the experience and many of the skills that employers were looking for. Then I realized that I was positioning myself wrong — *I* was too focused on what I “didn’t have.” Instead, I needed to focus on the [skills I’d gained as a product manager](https://blog.annabyang.com/value-of-soft-skills/) that would lend well to any career: the ability to distill complex topics, creative thinking, and decision making. Customizing the hell out of my cover letter with each application— translating my PM skills to the job description — had a huge impact on getting an initial interview. I made it easier for hiring managers to see what I brought to the table, landing me in jobs where I’ve been very happy. PS: Product management skills have also [served me well as a parent](https://blog.annabyang.com/project-manager-meets-parent-manager/). Wrangling a household requires some next-level organizational skills. --- *Check out my* [*free eBook*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *— a guide for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### What I Learned About Myself This Year URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/what-i-learned-about-myself-this-year/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:16:55.000Z 2021 was supposed to be better than 2020… right? That was my sentiment twelve months ago, with the announcement of Pfizer’s Covid vaccine. I had so much hope that we’d *finally* be able to emerge from the isolated lifestyle we’d been maintaining for over nine months. I always reflect at the end of the year and [what I wrote](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/hindsight-is-2020/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) at the end of 2020 mirrored my exhaustion. But 2021 kicked off with an insurrection. We got our vaccines in March, and our two older kids (ages 12 and 9) as soon as they were eligible. I [quit my job](https://www.workbetter.media/p/redefining-ambition?ref=blog.annabyang.com) in February, quit again in September, and my husband quit his job in August — so we were navigating a lot of changes. Toward the end of the year, it felt like things were going to be more normal in 2022… and then Omicron hit and now I’m back to anxiety and uncertainty. Yet as I look back on 2021, I learned a lot about myself. 2020 felt like a year when I had no control over so many things: public health and safety, how my kids fared during remote learning, and how *other* people conducted themselves during the pandemic (i.e. defying the recommendations of science and health experts). Earlier this year, I told someone that I felt “trapped.” I held back tears as I said this, feeling all of the weight of 2020 on my shoulders. 2021 was the year I became “un-trapped.” I’m still worried about Omicron and there are still many things I can control. But I also made some huge changes in my life and couldn’t be happier with my decisions. ## I set a lot of boundaries Like many people across the scene of [The Great Resignation](https://www.workbetter.media/p/the-great-resignation?ref=blog.annabyang.com), I said, “Not anymore” to a job I’d been at for fifteen years that no longer fulfilled me. I started at a new job in February of 2021 but then left that job at the end of September. I *thought* I had work boundaries before. I have been a remote employee for most of my career and I knew how to separate work life and home life so I didn’t feel like I was “always working.” I worked reasonable hours and knew how to prioritize my family obligations. Yet the boundaries I developed in 2021 were around my well-being, extending far beyond the hours I worked. I realized that I [couldn’t be happy](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/i-am-never-going-back-to) in a job unless I felt valued for my work, regardless of compensation. Beyond that, I wanted to feel like the company prioritized the wellbeing of its employees overall: that work was about more than company goals or profits. ## I focused on work I enjoyed I started doing freelance writing work in October of 2020\. At the time, this was necessary: I needed to [build a writing portfolio](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-throughout-an-exhausting-pandemic/) to pivot my career from fintech to content marketing. Throughout 2021, I learned to set boundaries as a freelancer, guarding my time and efforts, and only taking projects where I felt like I had enough subject-matter expertise to produce outstanding work. I also got back to work on my own projects. Throughout 2020 I was so wrapped up in my kids and remote learning and trying to keep us sane throughout months of isolation. My mental health took a serious toll — an experience I know is shared by many. The days felt like survival mode. In 2021, I put a lot of effort into myself. In addition to a much-needed change in career direction, I fiercely [guarded time for my own projects](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-time-for-projects/). I began painting again — a hobby I started in early 2020 but had largely abandoned once the pandemic gripped the attention of my days. I worked on my writing, both professionally and personally, forming daily habits that will continue to benefit me in 2022 and beyond. ## I found new communities of support After 2020 took such a toll on me, I had to lean into people who could lift me up and make my life better. People who followed the guidance of science and medicine, versus those whose actions caused the pandemic to drag on. People who acknowledged the systemic issues in this country versus those who turned a blind eye or worked to dismantle progress. People who celebrated each other, always available in the low moments of rejection, anxiety, or disillusionment. When 2021 began, I never anticipated that I would make so many wonderful new people. This was one of the greatest gifts of my career pivot. I got to meet some amazingly talented people who were not only [supportive of my work](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/) but provided friendship as well. [Career pivots are hard](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/in-the-wild). I left a lot of “knowns” for a lot of “unknowns.” There were times when I felt very isolated and was filled with self-doubt. Yet the new people I met became a net, catching me in those faltering moments. Now I hope to be the same for others — offering encouragement, resources, or a listening ear for people who say, “Enough. Something needs to change.” [How a Writing Community Gave Me Support as a New WriterI didn’t realize how much other writers could help me![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*iE3ZGuLuGz44gUtcTRmfnw.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/) ## One final note Two years ago, I adopted a cat from an animal shelter. It was the anniversary of trauma in my life, and the cat I chose crawled into my lap and started purring. I think she knew [how much I was hurting](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/for-the-love-of-a-cat/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), and that has proven to be true throughout her life with me. Two weeks ago, I adopted another cat. During the meet and greet, I wasn’t sure if the cat would be a right fit for our family. The foster mom said that she was skittish and might not ever adjust to being around kids. But after about 30 minutes of petting the cat on my lap, I felt her entire body relax. She seemed to sink into my arms. Two of my kids were with me and I told them that I thought that this cat needed a family to love her, and I thought we could be that family. During her short time with us, she has completely transformed into a social, snuggly cat. It feels like a full circle. I adopted a cat two years ago because I needed her. I adopted a cat two weeks ago because she needed me. I recognized the journey of the past two years. Welcoming this new cat into our home felt like the perfect way to close out 2021. --- *Check out my* [*newsletter*](https://newsletter.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*, written for people who want improve their workflows, enjoy tinkering with new tools, or want some life hacks.* ### The Small Things That Improved the Year URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/small-things-that-improved-the-year/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:12:47.000Z Our family has always erred on the cautious side with Covid. We hunkered down until vaccines became available, having groceries, staples, and carry-out food delivered. My husband and I used to enjoy lunch dates in the Beforetimes so this became “order lunch for delivery” during the pandemic. Eventually, we began to order from separate restaurants and simply ate at the same time. Why not each enjoy our food of choice? I’m a sucker for breakfast food, so I would often order fancy pancakes, a skillet, or my favorite — eggs benedict (a vegetarian variety). Eventually, we got our vaccines and re-integrated ourselves with society. Expensive carry-out food became less frequent. I really missed my eggs benedict. *So much so* that in November of 2021, I bought a pan that would cook me perfectly poached eggs and found packets of seasoning to make hollandaise sauce at the grocery store. I’m a happy camper once again. I saw something on Twitter recently asking people to share the small purchases (under $100) that made them happy in 2021\. For me, it was this egg poacher pan that cost $16.95 and that I use multiple times per week. As I reflected on my quick answer to the “best purchase of 2021” question, I began to think about how each of my family members would likely respond — or what I perceived to be their best purchase. ## 1\. A subscription to a meditation app You would think that this would be an adult purchase, but actually, I renewed my subscription to [Headspace](https://www.headspace.com/meditation?ref=blog.annabyang.com) primarily for my 9-year-old son. He is still working on how he responds when he is angry. Usually, he blows up (not uncommon for his age). He’ll yell, bang his fists on a table, or slam a door. All of which is normal for his age, but often he’ll fester on his anger long after his initial reaction. I subscribed to Headspace in 2020 for myself but found that I didn’t use it as much as I would have thought. However, in 2021 I began to use it with my son. Headspace has kid meditations, including “cool down.” If he stormed off in a rage, I would give him a few minutes and then go into his room and ask him to do a meditation with me. We would go through the process of breathing deeply and most of the time it was enough to get him back to even keel. I’ll be continuing the subscription for years just to use it with my kids. I’ve even started using it with my 4-year-old when she’s having a meltdown. ## 2\. A Kindle Fire tablet case Both of my older kids have Kindle Fires, gifts from Santa years ago. They don’t use them much, preferring the Nintendo Switch. This year, we were given a Kindle Fire free with a washer and dryer purchase from Best Buy. It sat in the box for a *very long* time. My older kids obviously didn’t need it, my husband wasn’t interested in it, and I already have a Kindle Paperwhite. Finally, I decided that maybe the 4-year-old would like it. I changed all of the settings so she could only access books. I bought a [Kindle Fire tablet case](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078YC47T9/ref=ppx%5Fyo%5Fdt%5Fb%5Fsearch%5Fasin%5Ftitle?ie=UTF8&psc=1&ref=blog.annabyang.com) — complete with cat ears. She loved it. She often appears at my side around 5:30 a.m., long before anyone else is awake. She reads “cat books” while I work on writing. And at 4 years old, she is more than proficient at navigating the Kindle Fire and choosing books on her own. I have her Amazon profile set up so that only age-appropriate books are displayed. ## 3\. An air fryer I know people who have been singing the praises of air fryers for a long time. It wasn’t until I made some frozen egg rolls from Trader Joe’s a few months ago that I began to ponder one for our own house. I just *knew* that the egg rolls could have been crispier than our oven produced. My husband has an Instant Pot that he loves and uses daily. He uses it for a lot of meat and I’m a vegetarian so I barely know how to turn it on. When I brought up the idea of “air fryer” he told me that he thought we could get a *new* Instant Pot with an air fryer attachment. At first, he tried to convince me that we needed two Instant Pots. That was a hard pass from me — we have no space to store the extra Instant Pot for the two times per year when a second would be needed. I told him that he could get the new Instant Pot **if** he found a home for our existing kitchen appliance. We ended up giving it to some friends and he gave them a full run-down of all of Ida’s capabilities (yes, our old Instant Pot was named Ida). We ended up going with a [Ninja](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S85TPLG/ref=ppx%5Fyo%5Fdt%5Fb%5Fsearch%5Fasin%5Ftitle?ie=UTF8&psc=1&ref=blog.annabyang.com) instead of an Instant Pot. We made the purchase right around Thanksgiving when it was on sale which was nice for our wallet. The air fryer attachment has been appreciated. [The Breakfast ChaosWith three schools and different start times, mornings are hectic.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*3j-52xh2_Y_G50KR2bkZpg.png)](https://blog.annabyang.com/breakfast-chaos/) ## 4\. A giant stuffed sloth I usually plan Christmas gifts well in advance and am done purchasing around Thanksgiving. With all of the warnings this year around “supply chain issues!” I made extra certain that my shopping was done. Then in December, I found myself in World Market looking for a lamp for my office. I hadn’t been in World Market since before the pandemic (even got lost on the way to the store because apparently, my brain couldn’t remember where it was located). As I walked back toward the lighting section I passed a **giant stuffed sloth**. I mean massive — it had to be at least four feet tall. I thought that my oldest son would *love* to receive this for Christmas. I took a photo of it and texted it to my husband, asking if he thought I should get it. He replied back, “No.” So I left World Market but couldn’t stop thinking about the sloth. Since our son is in that pre-teen stage, I know that there are only a few years left that he would appreciate a silly gift like a 4-foot stuffed sloth. I returned to World Market the next day and got it for him. It was his favorite Christmas gift. ![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*G0_GnRkq4b768JCacMR9ww.jpeg) *Check out my* [*newsletter*](https://newsletter.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*, written for people who want to improve their workflows, enjoy tinkering with new tools, or want some life hacks.* ### Writing Throughout an Exhausting Pandemic URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-throughout-an-exhausting-pandemic/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:55:18.000Z I am no stranger to pouring out my feelings onto paper (or the computer screen, as it were). I have written through grief, working through the waves of emotions over many months and years. I’ve even managed to submit stories to publications, wanting my stories to reach an audience. There was something comforting in hearing from people who had similar experiences or having people say, “Thank you for sharing your story.” What’s so different in writing about a singular — albeit devastating — point in my life and this pandemic is the length and the unknowns. When I wrote about grief, I innately knew that *some day* it would not be as hard. Time would, as it were, heal — even if the precise length of time were fluid. For people who write, whether for a living or for themselves, the Covid-19 may have felt like it has stunted all creativity. It is hard to focus through exhaustion, anxiety, and stress. I’ve always had writing goals for myself, never wanting to have regrets about things left “unsaid.” I have daily journaling habits that have become less consistent. I write both professionally and personally, and there are days when no words flow because I am trying to decide between consuming the latest pandemic news and wanting to hide under a blanket. Yet as one year wraps up and the next one begins (and now two years into the pandemic), I’ve had to consider how I approach writing. I don’t want to feel like I’ve accomplished *nothing*, but I still have to recognize that writing is not something that can be forced. ## Give yourself extra space and grace I have been a writer for a long time, but it was only in 2021 that I began writing professionally. Some days it was easy; other days, it was exceptionally hard. I’m not talking about simple writer’s block — I’m talking about crushing anxiety induced by forces outside of my control that rendered me incapable of writing. There are many [tips to improve productivity](https://writingcooperative.com/your-writers-companion-is-the-secret-to-better-creative-productivity-9ee092639a5?ref=blog.annabyang.com), but I still felt like I was coming up short. Time has certainly felt non-linear throughout this pandemic, sometimes passing by at breakneck speed and other times feeling like the days were at a crawl. The same could be said for writing. Anything estimates I had about how long it would take me to write 1500 words were gone. I had to learn to plan that everything would take longer. If I happened to finish an assignment early, fabulous. Something that might have taken me two hours I would instead plan for eight: meandering through the day, writing only a few sentences in one sitting, and lots of time for edits. Professional writing has to come first: my livelihood depended on being paid for my work. This often means that *when* I need to take more time to finish an assignment, I do not have time for my own projects. In the back of my mind, I could see all of my untouched personal writing and felt like I was failing. I finally had to acknowledge that I am doing the best that I can. Some day, I’ll fall back into a good writing routine — but that time is not now. Adding pressure to myself when I’m already dealing with varying levels of stress isn’t good for my mental health. When I *do* sit down to write for myself, I can feel accomplished. ## Focus on what you \*can\* accomplish Writing isn’t like other professions. I worked in fintech for a long time (including all of 2020), and I could easily find tasks that did not require a lot of thinking to occupy my time. But anything creative, where something new is produced, requires a different kind of brainpower. Even though the actual writing was sometimes foreboding, I found other things I could do to help myself when the words did not flow. - **Research**: I could find stats or read other supporting materials to accompany my work (and take notes). - **Outline**: I could begin to draft the shape of my article, including as much or as little detail as I could muster at the time. - **Plan**: I could look ahead to my due dates and prepare for the blocks of time I would need to get a draft done, taking into account my research and outline. - **Administration**: This sounds fancy, but refers to other tasks related to my writing: client or editor communications, billing for freelance work, etc. Throughout all of this, I tried to maintain some writing habits — even if that habit varied a bit from day to day. There is a lot of benefit to consistent writing habits. For me, it keeps my writing muscles flexed and also keeps me grounded. I try to write in my journal for a minimum of one page per day, even if the writing is absolute garbage. ## Embrace the cathartic aspects of writing While hard times can sometimes make writing feel impossible, they can also open a floodgate for words. They don’t have to be good words or perfect words, but capturing feelings and giving them names is an essential part of the writing process. This type of writing can either be public or private. I do both, sharing some of my lowest moments and also keeping some of my reflections to myself. I’ve produced some beautiful and terrible poems, scribbled essays, and stream-of-consciousness rants. In these moments, writing feels like the only thing I can control when everything else feels outside of my control. I have also drawn on the support of a [community of fellow writers](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/). These people face the same struggles, balancing their professional and personal writing while also dealing with the pandemic’s impacts. I can turn to this group and say, “I’m having a *terrible* day,” and immediately be met with understanding and empathy. As writers, we have a powerful gift: the ability to express ourselves and make sense of the world. Writers have captured the trials of their worlds throughout history, and the Covid-19 pandemic will be no exception. While writing can feel heavy at times, it can also be a form of self-care as we navigate from one day to the next. --- *You can read about the future of work and career pivots on my* [*Substack*](https://annabyang.substack.com/)*.* ### Creators: The World Is Your Oyster URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/creators-the-world-is-your-oyster/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:40:21.000Z I graduated from college 15 years ago with a Bachelor’s degree in English and no intention of becoming a writer. I’d pursued the degree because I was passionate about writing. I thought that writing skills would lend well to any career — but didn’t see myself as a professional writer. Back in 2006, the only viable professions for writers seemed to be either a) writing a novel or b) journalism. I was interested in neither. Publishing a book seemed like a one-in-a-million chance, and journalism wasn’t my thing, especially with only a select few that reached the point where they wrote about things that truly mattered. I wanted a family, so some type of “stable” career seemed like a better route. I ended up working at a fintech. But in 2021, I found myself itching for a change. I began to consider *how* I could pursue writing as a career. I became part of The Great Resignation and quit my job — before I had firmed up an alternative. It wasn’t impulsive: I had spent months researching options for a writing career. What I discovered is that the world is desperate for good writers. There is a *lot* of garbage on the internet; carving out a space as a good writer could build a portfolio, an audience… nearly limitless opportunity. And, thanks to a large number of platforms, writers could successfully self-promote. I saw many writers that balanced paid client work with their own projects. As someone who’d never previously been paid for writing, I had a lot to learn. There were so many routes, some better than others. Over the past year, I’ve dipped my toes in freelance writing, content marketing, and journalism. Here are some things I learned. ## Research writing jobs I used job boards to see what was out there, not really knowing what I would find. Since working from home is my #1 priority, I started with [We Work Remotely](https://weworkremotely.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) (eventually branching out into others). Most jobs were in the marketing category. As I scoured the job descriptions, I quickly realized that I could not apply *anywhere* without a portfolio of work. Potential employers were not just going to take my word for it that I could write: I had to prove it. I found a marketing agency that was willing to pay me to churn out blog posts. Yes, it was in the “content factory” category — no expectation of high-quality work. But I could choose what I wrote about, and I stuck to topics I knew well. The key for me was that even though the pay was abysmal, I could republish the work on my own website as long as the content was de-indexed. I did this for a few months, long enough to build up a body of work that I could share when I submitted my resume. It worked. By putting in this effort, I landed a full-time job at a content marketing agency. Some areas of writing require specific experience, and all writers have to start somewhere. I learned that I could get that experience from a company that would hire almost anybody, put in the work to prove my skills, and use that experience to move on to something better. ## Find a community of writers Without the background in writing, there was *so* much I didn’t know. For example: I did not know it is common in writing to be paid per word. Also did not know what a good rate should be. I had no idea that transcription services were available for interviews I conducted. What helped immensely was [finding a group](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/) of experienced writers. Some had decades of professional writing under their belts and could advise a newbie like me. One person taught me how to write pitches. Another encouraged me to “charge what you’re worth” when I was looking to freelance for a publication. The group has a diverse range of skills, with everything from marketers to freelancers to writers working on novels. This writing community boosted my confidence immensely. Being surrounded by a group of talented people was motivating for me. We could share everything from ideas to feedback. I was no longer on a writing island, something I often felt when I first started writing professionally. ## Balance professional and personal writing Like many writers, I also have personal projects. Some have been swirling in my brain for years as constant works-in-progress. Others are more immediate, like writing here on Medium or in my blog. I have been writing personally for years, thinking it was the only option to feed my creative brain. When I began to write full-time as a content marketer, I quickly realized that professional writing drained a lot of my energy. I was exhausted and left with little time for my own writing. Even after months, I still found that writing all day, every day was hard. So I left my job as a content marketer and found another role where I could rely on that experience but not write. I maintain some freelance work, focusing only on writing that I enjoy and occasionally pitching to publications. In this way, I can keep building my portfolio and maintain a “presence” in the writing world and still have time for my long-term writing goals. Yet, I know other writers who do both. They can disconnect and think of some writing as a “day job” and protect time in their days for their own creative endeavors. Assuming that any writer who is not a bestselling author is balancing writing professionally against their own work, some balance is required. Those that can maintain boundaries will find that they can give what is needed to “writing for others” versus “writing for themselves.” --- *Check out my free eCourse* [*The Endless Idea Collector*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/endless-idea-collector?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *and learn how to find content inspiration for content in everyday life.* ### Writing About Real Life URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-about-real-life/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:55:27.000Z Back in October, the *New York Times* story “[Who Is the Bad Art Friend?](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/05/magazine/dorland-v-larson.html?ref=blog.annabyang.com)” was making the rounds on the internet. One woman donated a kidney in real life, another woman wrote a variation of the story and published it. The first woman, a writer herself, was infuriated that “her story” had been used by someone else. The second woman argued that artists often borrow from real-life events — whether those experiences are their own or not. I have a t-shirt that says “Steal Like an Artist” — from the shop of Austin Kleon, who wrote a [book by the same name](https://www.amazon.com/Steal-Like-Artist-Things-Creative/dp/0761169253/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?keywords=austin+kleon+steal&qid=1638269367&qsid=132-9683190-9963113&sr=8-1&sres=0761169253%2CB08P3QPSTM%2C0761185682%2C1523516321%2CB010TDJDIC%2C1644732920%2CB01K0Q7DJY%2CB09JBKVHNN%2CB09GS8WLF3%2CB08SBMKW55%2CB07B1228XZ%2CB01JXRDXIG%2CB0813RHXD2%2C9401404860%2C9401429855%2CB00E7PVN1O&ref=blog.annabyang.com). The crux of the book was that all artists “steal,” that is, are inspired by other artists. The differentiator between this “being inspired by” and “plagiarism” is the extent to which the material is transformed into something new. (That issue is central to the Bad Art Friend story.) When I first began blogging in 2009, I was a bored new parent on maternity leave. My three-week-old son was a dream… ate well, slept well, rarely cried. And infants don’t do much. I started writing about our days on Blogger.com and sharing my posts on Facebook. In the early days, it was an almost daily ritual, often talking about the most mundane experience of parenting. Only close friends and family read it. A few years later, I moved my blog from Blogger to WordPress, mostly because I wanted a better-looking blog. Through WordPress, a (small) amount of strangers found me and began following my blog. Then in 2015 and 2016, I had back-to-back, unexplained second-trimester pregnancy losses. Grief consumed my days. I wrote about the intense emotions I was feeling yet still wanted to capture the moments of everyday life that I had with my two older, living children. Eventually, it felt like these things could not coexist in the same blog, so I started a [new blog](https://musingsoutloud.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to talk about grief and loss. As the years continued to pass, I began to feel uneasy about posting in my “regular” blog. I would often write about funny or silly things that my kids did… but my oldest son was in mid-elementary school. I began to think about how he would feel when he was in high school and a classmate was to find and read the blog — particularly since many of my Facebook friends were fellow parents. The stories were mostly about me and my experiences, but I couldn’t help wonder how he would feel if he knew that I was writing about him. At the height of the Mommy Blog era, when I first began writing in 2009, I knew several bloggers who anonymized their blogs. But those days had really passed: most people created in public, in the open. I had made more choices about what I made public and what I kept private, with separate Instagram accounts and tightened controls on what I shared to Facebook. I wanted to keep writing and sharing… but also have clear boundaries. Eventually, I made my original blog private. I removed all followers. I still write in it, but then I share the writing only with family, via email. When I have a funny quip or story, I share it here, on Medium — but I’m careful not to dive too much into the details about my kids. I’m a believer in creating in public. I like writing and sharing. But I also look at some bloggers who have built their successes around parenting and mishaps who may have started when their kids were very young and are now much older, and sometimes wonder how those kids feel about the stories that were so widely shared. It’s a line that every writer has to make for themselves in drawing from real life and respecting boundaries. The “Bad Art Friend” story was a feud between two adults. My kids don’t have the voices yet to advocate for what they want — or don’t want — shared. ### The Breakfast Chaos URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/breakfast-chaos/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:11:43.000Z I remember breakfast time growing up. I was the oldest of three kids. We lived out in the country, a ten-minute drive from the nearest small village and a thirty-minute drive from a larger city. My mom stayed at home and my dad worked “in town.” We attended a Catholic grade school that didn’t have its own busing available. We could get on the public school’s bus and be taken to a drop point where a shuttle bus would collect us and transport us the rest of the way. It was a very long route since the public school bus needed to pick up every other kid along the winding country roads and houses that were sometimes miles apart. Most days, my dad would drop us off at school on his way to work and my mom would pick us up. Breakfast was at the same time every morning. I remember my alarm going off at 6:30 a.m. By 6:45, we were all gathered around the kitchen table. Even years later, when I was driving myself and my sister to school, this routine did not change. The only exceptions were early morning activities, like marching band in the Fall and Shakespeare Club that I attended throughout high school, meeting at 7:00 a.m. and the teacher always brought doughnuts. It was almost always cereal and toast. There was a tiny tv in the kitchen where my mom could watch the news, but never while we were eating. And I remember that the local newspaper was delivered, though don’t have a strong memory of anyone reading the paper around the breakfast table. Likely, because of our country location, the paper didn’t arrive until later in the day. Now, with my own family of five, our mornings are far less structured. I have a middle schooler, an elementary schooler, and a preschooler. It now boggles my mind that growing up, all of the schools always had near-identical start times of around 8:00 a.m. This year, I’m facing a middle school start time of 8:00 a.m., a preschool start time of 8:30, and an elementary school start time of 9:05. The middle schooler leaves on the bus at 7:30, so he is the first to rise. He listens to a snippet of news from NPR every morning by asking “Alexa, what’s new?” to the Echo device in our kitchen. I’m usually up by 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. and working in my office. Sometimes the 4-year-old appears at my side and I try to keep her occupied so I can finish whatever I’m doing. I wake my husband up by 6:15 a.m. so he can dress the 4-year-old. The 9-year-old has an alarm that goes off, but he frequently ignores it and rolls out of bed sometime after 7:00 a.m. By that time, his brother and sister are usually done eating. We have a high table with barstools in the kitchen and that’s where the kids eat breakfast. I drink my coffee and sometimes eat a bagel while standing at the kitchen counter, but I don’t eat with the kids. My husband doesn’t eat at all The 4-year-old frequently thinks that playing is more interesting than eating so she’ll ignore food altogether until much later. And since she doesn’t need to start getting ready to leave until 8:00 a.m., there’s no hurry. After the middle schooler catches the bus, we have to make lunch for the 4-year-old to take to school and load the dishwasher but otherwise there’s a good chunk of time with nothing in particular to do. The 9-year-old works on his homework. Before it got cold, I would often take walks with the 4-year-old. Sometimes I look at our mornings and wish that we were all able to sit and connect in the morning. But with the staggered school start times, it doesn’t make sense. On the other hand, the kids (at least the older two) are very self-sufficient: they get their own bagels or cereal. Saturdays are a bit different. My husband sleeps in on Saturday mornings (and Sundays are reserved for me). I always make blueberry muffins — boxed variety — for the kids. The 4-year-old can always be counted on to “help” and sometimes the 9-year-old will want to assist. While we aren’t *all* gathered around the finished muffins, at least the kids and I eat at the same time. The kids eagerly claim their muffins when they emerge from the oven and can barely wait until they cool. So while weekday mornings are crazy, I like our little Saturday morning muffin routine — when we’re not in a hurry and can start the day lazily. ### NaNoWriMo Plans This Year URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/nanowrimo-plans/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:55:36.000Z Like many writers, I have often thought about participating in National Novel Writing Month ([NaNoWriMo](https://nanowrimo.org/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)). Writers set ambitious goals of cranking out 50,000 words in the month of November. Not necessarily *good* words, but the point is to get everything down on paper; polish later. My last serious attempt was probably [Camp NaNo](https://annabyang.medium.com/gearing-up-for-camp-nanowrimo-9ad0038b2c39?ref=blog.annabyang.com) in 2018, a July version of its November counterpart. Less pressure, with the only goal being to stick to a writing goal. I doubt I met my goal that year. My youngest child would have been about 11 months old at the time, and somehow between all of the demands of work and parenting, writing seemed to fall by the wayside. That was then. This is 2021. My kids are older. I’ve changed careers, now spending my days in a creative world, surrounded by writers. I’ve taken to [waking up very early](https://annabyang.medium.com/reading-before-the-sun-rises-6be0b7c0ec0e?ref=blog.annabyang.com), savoring that quiet morning time. I have a [community of writers](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/) that I’ve come to rely upon for support. My thoughts turned again to NaNoWriMo. Last year — without meaning to — I wrote an insane number of words in the month of November. I was tired of a job I’d been at for 15 years and ready to try something new. I started freelance writing blog posts with a company that allowed me to republish the work into my own portfolio. I raced through writing assignments, desperate to build up a volume of work that I could use in applying for jobs as a content marketer. I was still working full time, had three kids at home due to the pandemic, and yet woke up early and stayed up late writing. I kept a log of every assignment I turned in. In November of 2020, I wrote 48,500 words — just a hair shy of the NaNoWriMo goal. No, it wasn’t a novel. But the practices I needed were the same: fitting the time into the day, getting words onto the screen without much regard for the final product. While that work was enough to land me a job at a marketing agency, I now look back at some of the posts and cringe. I know better *and* can do better. The portfolio isn’t reflective of the writer I am today — at least not for that style of writing. Recently I migrated [my website](https://www.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) from WordPress to Webflow. In that process, I had to move the blog posts in the portfolio. As I prepped them for publication on my new site, I hesitated. I was embarrassed by what I once thought to be “good enough” to include on my website. So I set a NaNoWriMo goal this year to go back and polish some of the posts. Some of them will not even make it onto my finished site. Some common writing advice is to “kill your darlings” — not being so attached to work that you can’t cut what isn’t good. While these posts are certainly not my darlings, I remember how hard I worked during November of last year. Instead of rushing through NaNoWriMo this year, I’m allowing myself to take it slow. Work through the past work. This makes even more sense since I learned this week that my 4-year-old was exposed to Covid at her preschool, so will be isolated at home for a period of time. I’ve identified a list of posts I’d like to clean up but also going to give myself some grace if that doesn’t fully happen. After all, 2021 has seen not one, but two new jobs for me, a new job for my husband, the return to school for my kids, and a basement flood that required a significant amount of work to repair. I’m fine with easing into the remainder of 2021 and continuing to focus on my writing habits rather than the writing results. --- *Check out my* [*Substack*](https://annabyang.substack.com/) *for writing about The Great Resignation, remote work life, and the Future of Work.* ### How a Writing Community Gave Me Support as a New Writer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:55:52.000Z Earlier this year, I embarked on a major career pivot. Call me part of “The Great Resignation” because I left a product manager role at a fintech and decided to pursue a career where I could focus on writing. I was an English major in college but had never pursued any kind of professional writing. However, with 2020 being The Year That Nobody Was Expecting, I decided that I was ready for a change. I created a portfolio of work, sent out my resume, and landed two jobs: as a content marketer working for an agency and as a contributing editor for a small magazine. I was elated but quickly found myself overwhelmed. There was *so much* I didn’t know about writing in both writing arenas. Editor feedback felt like a gut punch rather than a way to help me grow as a writer. I feared that asking questions would expose my inexperience. I was trying to figure out which [writing habits](https://blog.annabyang.com/reading-before-the-sun-rises/) would make me most productive. Fortunately, after a few months, I was invited into a private Slack channel for writers. The group has a wide range of writing experience, from marketers to journalists to freelancers. I didn’t realize how much I needed a group like that, but I have been so, so grateful for a number of reasons. ## 1\. We answer each others’ questions Questions are frequent in our little Slack community. And since the range of experience is extensive, there is almost always someone who can share tips. Freelancer writers talk about how much they are charging, how to handle clients that don’t pay, and how they keep themselves organized. Content marketers discuss article structure, taking a contrarian view, and SEO. One writer unpacked his “writing values” and what makes writing fun/fulfilling. I asked the group for guidance around pitching ideas to an online publication — because I’d never done it before. I was instantly given specific advice and examples from other writers, for which I was very grateful. ## 2\. We cheer for published content We can celebrate the wins within our writing community and even help to boost visibility. When someone shares a published article, we go on different social media channels to Like or Comment on the post (in addition to talking about the finished piece within our group). Being a writer can be hard, especially if you don’t get a lot of feedback on your work or don’t have access to any metrics around its performance. At least by sharing within our group, we know that *someone* has read our work (and found it fabulous). And it’s not only about successes… we share rejections as well. It’s part of any writer’s life. Unhappy clients, editors that force sections to be removed from work we care about, or publications that reply with “not a good fit.” The group acknowledges the work that the writer put in and how much it sometimes sucks when that work doesn’t make its way into the world. ## 3\. We identify new writing opportunities Whether full-time, freelance work, or specific contributions, we post any opportunities that might be a good fit for someone in the group. Some freelancers will even announce that they have interest from a potential client but can’t take on the project and see if any other writers are interested. When any of the writers make a career move, the entire group celebrates. We compliment the person’s individual talents and share in their joy that the quality of their work has landed them a new job/client/publication. ## 4\. We are a net of support Probably the most important is the continued support I get from this group. I was struggling with a 1,700-word article for a magazine recently. I’d interviewed three sources and realized that the line between their stories was thin, and I was worried about how I would tie them all together. One of the writers in my group said, “You’ve got this.” She had more confidence in me than I had in myself at that particular moment. I like to think of any community as a giant net, ready to catch anyone who may fall. Sure, we may have nets in family and friends — and these are also important — but a net of fellow writers means having support from people who really *get* it. They know what it’s like to face rejection, self-doubt, and a blank screen when no words seem to make sense. As I embarked on this new career path, I didn’t realize how much I would need a net of writers. Now, I can’t imagine navigating the writing world without them. All writers, and especially new writers, should find themselves a net. Whether they have genre or geography or just a shared love of writing in common, it helps to know that we are not alone in our love of the craft and our efforts to get our words in front of readers. --- *This has been a year of change for a lot of people. You can read my experience with The Great Resignation* [*here*](https://www.workbetter.media/p/the-great-resignation?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### How I Apply Project Management Skills to Parenting URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/project-manager-meets-parent-manager/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:20:30.000Z I have a middle schooler, an elementary schooler, and a preschooler. Each of the schools has a different start time and end time. Then Wednesdays are a “late start” day in the school district which throws everything off. The middle school sends a daily announcements email (which is overkill IMO). The elementary school principal sums up her announcements in a weekend newsletter… but she uses an external app, which means that I can’t easily search for a tidbit of information later. Plus I get emails from the district, the PTA (per school), and the preschool. My middle schooler has cross-country two days per week and student council one day per week. My elementary schooler has run club once per week. I didn’t realize that run club had a registration deadline for the Google Form so I had to email the teacher who organizes it and ask her to open the form back up for me (she did) and then send a check for the registration fee. My elementary schooler had picture day last week (I forgot) and my preschooler had a field trip that desperately needed chaperones (I volunteered). The middle school sent home a letter that they did not have proof of my son’s last well-child visit and vaccine record on file so I had to email a copy of the documentation to the school nurse. It’s a never-ending parade of forms to fill out, activities to keep track of, and calendars to juggle. I’ve done a lot of [project management](https://blog.annabyang.com/freelancer-project-management-skills/) throughout my career. I was talking to a fellow mom a few weeks ago. She has twins who just started kindergarten this year. I joked in the call that my project management skills have been fully put to the test as a parent. And while I’m the “brain” behind our organization system, it requires effort from both parents to keep things running smoothly. ## A Shared Google Account for Email and Calendar It took us a few years to realize that we needed a “household” calendar. Individual Google calendars weren’t cutting it — something would inevitably get missed. My husband and I set up a shared Google account. We each have our individual accounts also, but anything related to the household uses the shared account’s email address: school emails, utility bills, bank statements, etc. We have 2FA set up and use a [free Google Voice phone number](https://blog.annabyang.com/reasons-to-have-a-google-voice-number/) to receive text alerts as emails so that we don’t have to rely on each other’s cell numbers. If you set something like this up, you should also use a shared password manager like [1Password](https://1password.partnerlinks.io/byswh18qn62t?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *\[affiliate link\].* The other benefit of the shared Google account is the shared calendar. Anything related to the family goes there. Even more importantly, anything related to work that falls outside of “traditional working hours” (i.e. impacts the ability for the parent to help out with the house) also goes on the shared calendar. For example, my husband has a bi-weekly demo with his team that goes until 4:30 p.m. He usually picks up the preschooler at 4:00, so on those days, I know that I need to be the chauffeur. [Project Management vs Task Management: What’s the Difference?How to wrangle your to-do list.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-135.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-project-management-vs-task-management-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/project-management-vs-task-management-whats-the-difference/) ## The Weekly Touch Base On Sunday evenings, my husband and I take some time to look at the upcoming week. My husband is a software engineer, so we affectionately refer to the time as our “weekly SCRUM meeting.” Pediatrician appointment to schedule? Who is going to take care of that? We divvy up any tasks that need to be completed. And write it down — we have a shared [Notion](https://affiliate.notion.so/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) doc *\[affiliate link\]* with a template that we fill out each week. We each have our own system for keeping track of to-do items, but by writing them down when we talk, we can follow up the following week. It’s also a time to talk about anything else that might be going on with our kids, with our finances, with our jobs, etc. Sometimes it’s hard to do this on Sunday evenings because we’re both tired (and I’ll admit, sometimes we skip), but it’s the best time to prepare for the upcoming week. ## Schedule a Lot… And Allow Time to Adjust We try to have a lot of consistency. Like screen time is at 4:00 p.m. every day. Each person has a designated laundry day. There is a menu plan (helped by a meal delivery kit service). Everyone has a consistent bedtime, and we do “collective family quiet time” (i.e. [nap time](https://blog.annabyang.com/power-napping-is-a-superpower/)) on the weekends. Yet, much as we try to stick to a routine, things change. I’m not talking about the one day where something is off…. I’m talking about big changes to our schedule. [Going back to school](https://blog.annabyang.com/parental-independence-day/) after remote learning for a year was a big one. My husband and I have both started new jobs in recent months, which means adapting to changes. New school activities. What I have to remember is that any time we have a major shift, it takes some time to adjust. Everyone — kids and adults — may feel out of sorts for awhile. It doesn’t mean that the new routine isn’t working, but we need to give it some time to sink in. Recalling the days when I used to lead organizations through product implementation: change is hard. It takes some time before the “new” thing feels right. I always have to anticipate that when a new school year starts that it could take *weeks* before we really settle into the routine. In the meantime, it’s just… rough. My husband has joked and said, “Why can’t things just stay the way they are? Why does something always have to change?” And my response is “Because *we* change.” The kids are getting older. We’re getting older. We want different things as parents and from our careers and from our personal interests. We have to make space for such changes to occur. --- *Check out my* [*newsletter*](https://newsletter.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*, written for people who want to improve their workflows, enjoy tinkering with new tools, or want some life hacks.* ### Sleeping in Ice-Cold Temperatures URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/sleeping-in-ice-cold-temperatures/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:13:59.000Z Last week I found some rather large bugs around my bedroom window. Still not exactly sure what they were, but they reminded me of the boxelders that used to plague the farmhouse I grew up in. Wisconsin summers would yield a disgusting number of boxelders and no amount of vacuuming from my mom could keep them at bay. Needless, to say, I was disturbed by the two bugs I found. The next day, there were two more. The day after that, *six* more — and one of them flew at me. I began to wonder what portal of hell I had accidentally opened. Turns out it wasn’t hell: but the window to the bedroom was slightly opened, enough for the bugs to make their way inside. This is the result of a window air conditioning unit we added about a month ago so that I could force the bedroom to be colder than the rest of the house. I’ve always heard that [sleeping in a cold room is better](https://www.healthline.com/health/sleep/best-temperature-to-sleep?ref=blog.annabyang.com). It has to do with the body’s internal temperature and circadian rhythm, with an optimal temperature being between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit at night. I never bought it. I grew up in a house without any air conditioning, so I was used to being hot at night. The house also used woodstoves in the winter, plus my bedroom had a baseboard, so I was nothing short of dripping with sweat while sleeping in the cold months. However, in late June of this year, [our basement flooded](https://blog.annabyang.com/changed-workspace/). The necessary repair work forced my two older kids out of their basement bedrooms and into the master bedroom where they could share the large bed and bathroom. My husband and I slept on the daybeds in our respective offices. My office was part of an addition we put on our home a few years ago. Rather than hook it up to the existing ductwork, the office has its own heating and cooling system. By accident more than anything else — I think it may have been a very hot July day — I ended up with a frigidly cold room one night. Somehow one night became two nights and before I knew it, I was setting the temperature to 66 degrees every night. Without really realizing it, I had been struggling to sleep in the summer since I need a weighted blanket. The cooler temps meant that I could snuggle beneath my thick blanket and not overheat. When our basement repair work was done and I moved back into my bedroom, it didn’t take me long to realize how much I missed the ice-cold temperature of my office. No amount of lowering the overall temperature of the house would get me what I needed (plus it was really inefficient to try). I told my husband that I needed some type of window AC unit. That window AC unit has been working beautifully… until I realized that it was an Entrance for Bugs. And so… the window AC unit has been removed. The bug arrival seemed to coincide with the drop in outdoor temps, though it has not dropped enough for me to really be comfortable sleeping at night. I have found myself waking around midnight and relocating to my office, just to get a few hours of ice-cold slumber. The weather forecast shows that the overnight temps will drop about 20 degrees over the next few days, so I can only hope that I will have only a few more days of discomfort. ### How I Make Time for My Own Projects URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/make-time-for-projects/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:14:08.000Z Someone recently posed the following question on Twitter: > People with young families: > What’s your key to focusing on side projects when working at home? > I’m fine on work but after work, it’s family time in one way or another, so how do you balance? [Getting up early](https://blog.annabyang.com/daily-rituals/) is an integral part of my day, but most of that deep focus time is spent on work that I’m being paid to do — not my own personal projects. And the person who posed this question is absolutely right: kids are somewhat all-encompassing. They constantly demand attention, no matter what the age. Sure, my older kids are more self-sufficient than the 4-year-old but finding chunks of uninterrupted time to focus on myself is something that I have to be intentional about. Almost by accident, we started some habits when my oldest son was very little: fiercely guarding naptime and bedtime. To this day, all of the kids are “tucked in” by 7:00 p.m. The older kids retreat to their rooms to do their own thing, and the 4-year-old actually goes to sleep. Sometimes the older kids have homework, but they’ll work on their Chromebooks on their own. We have parental controls on the Chromebooks and their Alexa devices to turn off at 8:00 p.m. so that they don’t stay up all hours. Then, on weekends, we have “quiet time” from about 12:00–3:00 p.m. Both Saturday and Sunday. We eat lunch, and then everyone goes into their own spaces. The 4-year-old rarely naps anymore (much to my chagrin) but because this is our routine, she’s used to playing quietly in her room for the duration of this time. The older kids will sometimes nap but often listen to audiobooks, read, or go to our backyard and play. Because of these habits, I have some built-in time every day for myself. I can work on my own projects — whatever makes me happy — in the evenings or during quiet time. My kids like the downtime as well. A big caveat to this is that my kids are not involved in activities that require a lot of scheduled participation. They’ve done after-school clubs, usually only one or two days per week. Never anything that demands practices that go late into the day or have weekend commitments. And this works for us. The kids have learned to balance participating in things they enjoy along with time alone. Whenever something new comes up, the older kids think through what it means to give up some of their “free time.” I like working on personal writing projects. I like doing ancestry research. I like naps, and I like time to watch something brainless on Netflix. By having this routine, I know that there is always some downtime waiting for me. ### Planning for Vacation. Clipboard Included. URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/planning-for-vacation/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:12:02.000Z Every year, we take a family vacation right before the school year begins. It always works out — my kids attend a day camp for most of the summer and the camp shuts down a week before school starts so there is always a “gap” where we have no child care. Rather than wrangle the kids and their excitement right before school starts and juggle working, we take the week off and go somewhere new every year. My trips got more ambitious every year. It started with a short road trip to Door County, Wisconsin. Then a multi-state driving trip to St. Louis, Nashville, and Memphis. Then… pandemic. We still managed to take a short trip to Galena, Illinois because it was a trip we felt we could safely make, not far from our home in the Chicago suburbs. This year, we are headed to Minneapolis to visit my sister and brother-in-law, with some stops in Wisconsin along the way. My 9-year-old has been asking for about a week now, “Has the trip been planned out yet?” After one of our first trips (even before we started these more elaborate summer vacations), I got tired of answering the question, “What are we doing next?” My kids have structured days at home, including “quiet time” and specific screen time. Being thrown off of their routine caused meltdowns. And so, for the next trip, I printed out a schedule of the day’s activities. Hour by hour, including when breaks and screen time would occur. I kept the schedule on a clipboard. My two older kids asked to see the schedule so much that I got more clipboards and printed out multiple copies, so they could each have their own. My middle child would cross off activities as they were completed. It sounds like we’re not spontaneous. We’re kind of not… if things came up that changed our planned activities, I would inform the kids with as much advance notice as I could provide. But what we give up in spontaneity, we gain in happier kids on the trip. They don’t melt down or argue (like about when screen time will occur). They can see that our days are broken up by breaks, and know if we plan to eat lunch at a restaurant on any particular day or if we’re going back to the Airbnb to eat. It works for us. So with three days to go until we leave for our trip, I need to wrap up the daily agenda in my Google doc and get it printed. The clipboards await. [Make Vacation Planning Easier With NotionTraveling requires a lot of organization.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2024/06/1-gssw1yeetrl9dxlboiugrq-jpeg-2.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/make-vacation-planning-easier-with-notion/) ### A Story About a Note-Taking Fail URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/note-taking-fail/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:38:45.000Z I have been something of an insane note-taker *forever*. My combination of chicken-scratch handwriting and bizarre methodology means that my notes are meaningless to anyone other than me, but I could go back later, and the notes would be enough to jog my memory. Immediately after any meeting, I would add any follow-up items to my to-do list ([Todoist is my favorite](https://blog.annabyang.com/use-both-trello-and-todoist/)). - Decisions made would be documented in a project management tool or email - Information about customers would go into a CRM. - The notes mostly captured the spirit of the meeting, the order in which information was discussed - Sometimes a word or two that indicated my own feelings on the topic (like “great news!” or “headdesk”) When I was [moved into a management role](https://blog.annabyang.com/unique-questions-managers-should-ask/) years ago, it became more important to capture details about meetings — both with my co-executives and the team that reported to me. I hadn’t been in the habit of saving notebooks for long after they were filled, but my new responsibilities often came with scenarios where I had to go back and refer to my notes later. I tried to transcribe my notes into something more meaningful, so I could still toss my notebook, but it was far too time-consuming. Instead, I started using [Rocketbook](https://getrocketbook.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I would write my notes on the reusable pages, and scan the pages with the Rocketbook app on my phone. Save the pages to OneNote along with meeting details (date/time/attendees). Wipe the pages clean and start over. Then earlier this year, I decided to embark on a [new career path](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/redefining-ambition). I left the world of product management and entered the worlds of content marketing and journalism. I came well-equipped with the organizational skills to absorb a lot of new information, including my [note-taking habits](https://blog.annabyang.com/best-tools-for-capturing-notes/). However, through this career shift, I was exposed to something new, something that I didn’t even know existed: **transcripts.** Mind. Blown. I literally had no idea that I could take an audio recording and have a transcript automatically created. I saw the obvious benefits. I could ensure that any quotes were accurate. I could be more attentive during the meeting and less attentive to my note-taking. Then I was in a meeting with a marketing strategist, immediately prior to a client meeting. I agreed to do some research on three topics. I wrote them down. The meeting wasn’t recorded because it was just a quick sync. A few days later, I sat down to start my research…. and could NOT find my notes. They weren’t in my Rocketbook. They weren’t a little paper notebook I keep by my computer in case I need to jot down things I don’t intend to save. I even dug through my trash, wondering if somehow I had written down these three things on another piece of paper by mistake. Nothing. I had to admit to the strategist that I had misplaced my notes. It felt awful to say this since I have prided myself on my note-taking for so long. I tried to make a joke, offering up that maybe one of my kids stole my notes (kind of like “the dog ate my homework” excuse) because I was so perplexed. Yet, the lost notes were solely my problem. It ended up not being a big deal — we put our heads together and figured out my next steps in the research. But it made me think about how I have fallen away from my note-taking ever since I was introduced to transcripts. Now I use a transcript tool with *every* meeting (one that auto-joins all video calls). Even the smallest details are captured. And even if I end up needing nothing from the meeting — like a virtual chat? I can turn some of the conversations into my own social posts later. No reason to let that beautiful transcript go to waste. --- *Check out my free eBook:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### A Changed Workspace (again) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/changed-workspace/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:20:41.000Z About two weeks ago, our basement flooded. It has been like a monsoon, and our sump pump failed. Water pooled in two unfinished closets before finally seeping up through the floorboards. A water mitigation company determined that the floor was not salvageable and tore the entire thing out. Both of my older kids sleep in the basement. The 11-year-old has his own room, and the 9-year-old sleeps in the large playroom with room dividers to section off his own space. I knew instinctively that there would be no “quick fix.” I have heard that any company that does home improvement projects is booked out. Being stuck at home due to Covid… lots of people decided to do home updates. So the immediate question became: what do we do with the kids? The daybed in my office pulls out into a king-sized bed… juuuuuust barely fitting into the room with my desk. I thought that we could put both of the kids onto this bed together. Then immediately thought better of the idea. If I let the kids sleep in my office, there would be stuff *everywhere*. And no room to walk. I’d have to look at an unmade bed overrun with their stuffed animals every day. I decided that it would be better to let them move into the master bedroom. I would sleep in my office, and my husband would sleep in his office (which also has a daybed). The kids could bring all of their favorite things up from the basement and turn the master into their own dedicated space for what will likely be 4–6 weeks. This isn’t the first time that we’ve completely repurposed rooms in the past year. In fact, it is the third time. In the Fall, when my kids were home 100% of the time for remote learning, we turned our living room into a classroom. We quickly realized that when they did schoolwork from their rooms, not a lot got done. Even though I couldn’t look over their shoulders every minute, having them centrally located in the house made it much easier. We used room dividers to section off part of the living room and moved their desks into the space. It stayed that way until they returned to the classroom full-time in April. Then in February, when I was on the verge of a breakdown, [my parents came to help](https://musingsoutloud.com/2021/02/25/a-bit-of-relief/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). They came one at a time to stretch out the amount of help they could provide; first my mom, then my dad, for a total of nearly six weeks. Knowing that it was going to be long-term, I moved out of my office and set up my desk in the master bedroom. This way, our houseguest could have a dedicated space while with us. So we are no stranger to “making it work” — nor do we have any qualms about moving furniture around. I have people lined up to do the work needed in our basement, but it is going to take time. I’m not particularly fond of sleeping on the small daybed in my office, but it’s fine. My clothes are crammed into a tiny dresser so that I don’t have to keep retrieving them from my closet upstairs. I don’t like the feeling of “everything around me” while I work, but I try to block it out. We set up a tent in the backyard for what I thought was going to be a single night of “backyard camping” back around the fourth of July, but my older son has taken to sleeping out there almost every night. He says that he enjoys the peace and quiet away from his brother. Yet other than sleeping outside, the two kids have completely taken over the master bedroom. I have found apple cores on the nightstand. They brought up a bunch of books and are storing them under the bed as a “library.” They brought up one of their Alexa devices so that they can listen to audiobooks while playing games on the bed (and leave pieces strewn about the floor). I can’t wait to get settled back into our space (and really — it will be a “new” space by the time the basement is finished). But for now, I can take some comfort in knowing that it won’t be forever. ### Telling My Son to Follow His Dreams URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/telling-my-son-to-follow-his-dreams/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:20:55.000Z When I was young, if someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always responded, “a writer.” It’s a natural question that adults ask children. They fill out “getting to now you” questionnaires on the first day of school or write essays on the topic. My older son has always had an interest in science, and as he’s gotten older, this has morphed into an interest in coding. I foresee him as a programmer or some science-related field that can rely on his love of coding. My younger son never had a singular inclination for a profession when he was younger. If you asked him every six months, he would have a different answer each time. It was only recently that he, now nine years old, has had a consistent answer. > “I want to be a children’s author.” Be still my writer’s heart. He has been working hard on writing a chapter book. He carries a clipboard with loose pages of lined paper around. He won’t let me read it, but says he is up to chapter five. I told him that when he’s done if he wants my help turning it into a printed book, we can do that. Pragmatism didn’t hit me until college. At that point, I couldn’t see myself with a sustainable career in writing. I saw myself either as a starving artist or journalist — neither of which were appealing to someone who wanted a family. I was an English major, but let my dream die. Part of it was the world at the time. Book deals were still mostly through agencies. Blogs were relatively new (and then exploded, now have landed somewhere in the middle). Social media was in its infancy, so the idea that writers could reach an audience *on their own* was unheard of. If I were starting now, I might have chosen a different path. In fact, I *have* [chosen a different path](https://musingsoutloud.com/2021/02/13/a-new-chapter/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I quit my job at a software company and dove into content marketing and journalism. I have some of my own writing projects, feeling that I might push them out into the world through self-publication. My son and I were taking a walk the other morning and he again mentioned his book. I told him that he should never give up on his dream to be a children’s author. I told him that he should keep writing, keep practicing. I also told him that he should have a notebook to store any ideas that come to him before they turn into stories. Later that day, I went to a local shop and found a small spiral notebook for him. I told him that whenever anything comes to him — whether it’s a whole story idea or just a few words — he should write it down. This morning when I woke him up, I found his writer’s notebook in bed with him. --- *Originally published at* [*http://musingsoutloud.com*](https://musingsoutloud.com/2021/07/07/telling-my-son-to-follow-his-dreams/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *on July 7, 2021.* ### Getting “Unstuck” While Writing URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/getting-unstuck-while-writing/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:56:57.000Z A few weeks ago, I sent an outline to one of my editors. The feedback was “Need to shift gears on this one for a bit.” Gulp. I was all prepped and ready to sail through the final draft and deliver it to my client on time. Not only was the feedback to change the structure, but also my approach. After noodling on it for half a day, I thought “I can’t do this. I can’t deliver this piece with the quality that is expected in the timeframe I have left. I need more time to think.” And so… I gave myself more time. I had a list of approved ideas from the client. I selected another one — one that I felt sure I could turn around quickly. I set the first article aside (for more than a week!) and refocused on the second. Worked through the second article and delivered it on time. (Well, delayed by one day due to flooding in my basement but that’s another story.) I came back to the first article and found that I was *still* stuck. The break hadn’t given me the inspiration I needed. A colleague offered to take a peek and offered some suggestions. Breakthrough. Adam Grant recently posted the following on Twitter: > [](https://twitter.com/AdamMGrant/status/1409870339627270150?ref=blog.annabyang.com) I had a “mental shield” up (for whatever reason). I knew that I needed to continue to be productive, so it worked to set it aside — completely — and come back to it later. The combination of letting some time pass and bouncing ideas off of another person worked. It was a learning experience. I hadn’t hit a block *quite* so bad before. I figured out how to work around the block when the creativity hadn’t struck yet… by allowing myself a bit of space. ### When Walking Has Replaced Writing URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/walking-has-replaced-writing/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:12:11.000Z My morning routine is fairly predictable. I am often awake by 4:00 a.m. I write for two hours. The rest of my family wakes, and we begin breakfast. Until recently, by 7:30 or so, I would return to my computer, and that was my “personal writing time.” That earlier two-hour chunk was reserved for deep work, but at 7:30 for about 45 minutes, I would work on a [blog post](https://musingsoutloud.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) or write on Medium. That changed a few weeks ago. I started taking long walks in the morning. It began as a way to quell some anxiety. I had set a boundary with someone from my past, and that person forced his way back into my life (until I set a more firm boundary on communication). It unnerved me. And even though the interaction was brief and then over, I spent several days with my heart racing — reliving a lot of bad memories. It was hard to work (especially when my work depends on writing) when I felt so off-balance. So I turned to walking. I would write, walk. Write, walk. Repeat throughout the day, writing in smaller chunks and then getting out into the sunshine. I was walking several miles every day. It didn’t take long for the anxiety to quell, as I continued to reassure that overactive “fight or flight” response from my body “You’re fine. It’s over and done.” Yet, I found that I continued walking. By that time, I had formed a wonderful habit to break up my day, particularly when I felt “stuck” with writing. Except… my first walk of the day is now at 7:00 a.m. The time that I used to do my personal writing. As I type this out, I realize that I haven’t posted in Medium for three weeks, and I used to write at least once per week. So while I am enjoying my walks immensely, I am now trying to figure out how to recapture some time in my day for my own writing. I try to fit all of my writing into the morning — before noon. I don’t write as well in the afternoon. I have recognized that walking eats into my writing time, but I feel that I am benefitting in so many other ways that it is worth adjusting. Yet because of that limited chunk of productive writing time, I will see if I can do personal writing in the afternoon (gasp). The writing I do in my own blog and on Medium is usually not as brain-intensive, so perhaps that is the happy medium (haha). My kids are home by 4:00 p.m., and they usually occupy themselves until dinner, so there is a window of time there… if I can manage to take advantage of it. ### Daily Rituals: How I Work URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/daily-rituals/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:12:19.000Z Last week, I met with a colleague to discuss my daily writing process. He had noticed my very routine-based approach to writing and wanted to chat so we could bounce ideas off of each other. I really love the book [Daily Rituals: How Artists Work](https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Rituals-How-Artists-Work/dp/0307273601/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) by Mason Currey. In it, Currey examines the lives of hundreds of creatives throughout history, from artists to writers to composers to scientists. Through research from the creative’s own writing or what biographers have noted, each person featured has a few paragraphs dedicated to their daily rituals. Some were highly structured, like mine. Some would write only when they felt like it but still would have a ritual of “drinking four cups of coffee first” or “always using the same pencil.” After my discussion with my colleague last week, I wondered what my own entry would look like in a book such as Daily Rituals. I think it would go something like this. *Anna Burgess Yang woke every morning, without an alarm, before 4:00 a.m. She would drink one cup of regular coffee with heavy cream. She would set the mood in her office with either incense or candles plus music and sit down to write.* *The morning would begin by organizing her Google Calendar into blocks of time dedicated to each task that needed to get done. Then from about 4:30 until 6:00 am, she would do deep focus work with writing. At 6:00 am, her middle son would always wake up, so she would pause and have breakfast with him. During breakfast, she would write in her journal and read a few poems.* *Between 7:30 and 8:15, Yang would often write in her blog. At 8:15, she helped her children get ready for the school bus’s arrival. After the children had left, she would resume working/writing from about 8:30–10:30\. Weather permitting, she would take a walk at 10:30, then resume catching up on emails or messages that had arrived during the morning.* *Yang would take a break from work from 11:30–12:30\. During this time, she would eat lunch and take a nap. In the afternoon, she would rarely do any “heavy” writing, instead focusing on outlines, meetings, or responding to emails. She ended her workday by 3:00 pm when her children arrived home from school.* *In the evenings, Yang would rarely do any intensive work but sometimes did research related to writing projects. Her weekends had a very similar morning routine, with the only difference being that her writing work time would end by 9:30 am, and the rest of the day was dedicated to her family.* ### Creating the Right Atmosphere for Writing URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/creating-the-right-atmosphere-for-writing/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:57:07.000Z Getting into the writing mindset each time I sit down. I used to think that writing was something that would strike me at random times. And while it’s true that ideas will come [out of the blue](https://blog.annabyang.com/right-tools-when-creativity-strikes/), the actual act of writing is something that has become a daily ritual. A yoga instructor once said to me, “It’s not called yoga perfection; it’s called yoga practice.” The same is true for writing, and the ongoing practice has led me to be a better writer. Part of this practice involves setting aside buckets of time where I can tell my brain to go into “writing mode.” Because I sit at my computer for far more than just writing, I have tried very hard to create a distinction between “writing time” and “other work.” What I have found to be effective is to change the room *just enough* so that I know it is time to focus on writing. I do this through scents and music. I have a huge selection of candles and incense. I’ll select one and light it. Then I’ll use my Amazon Echo to play music. Favorites are Ravi Shankar for [#5amwritersclub](https://blog.annabyang.com/early-morning-writing/) focus work, d&b or Paul Oakenfold when I’m running up against a deadline or needing to power through a draft, and spirited instrumentals like 2Cellos, The Piano Guys, or Chopin when I’m outlining or not working on something too intensive. And when I’m feeling sluggish and can’t get through what I need to finish, I raise my desk to a standing position. Standing while writing forces me to keep going — mostly because I get tired and would very much like to sit down but promise myself that I won’t until I’m done. I have to be careful to reserve my scents and music selections *only* for writing. By doing this, I have found that it’s easier to get into the groove of writing when I need to work. Today, I need to work on a “shitty first draft” for a 4,000-word e-book. Knowing my pace, this will likely take me 4–5 hours. It won’t be pretty, but it will be words on the screen and give me the basis to go back and start crafting a better draft. After Ravi Shankar and white sage incense at 5:00 am this morning, I have 1,000 words done. Next up: d&b for the next 1,500, which I hope to finish by midday. And then will wrap up the remaining 1,500 this afternoon. Intermingled with meetings and other things throughout the day (like picking up my daughter from preschool). This particular project is *so* intensive that I’ll likely also need an extra dose of caffeine and some chocolate… but I’m determined that by 3:00 pm today, it will be done. ### Having the Right Tools When Creativity Strikes URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/right-tools-when-creativity-strikes/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:38:54.000Z I have long since learned that ideas will strike me out of the blue. Whether it is my next blog article, something for work, or an item for my never-ending to-do list, my brain will sometimes turn at the most inconvenient times. Over the years, I’ve learned that there isn’t a “single way” to keep track of everything. It depends on the type of idea and sometimes the location. I have gotten good at breaking down what tools to use and when so that I can collect my thoughts, keep them *somewhat* organized, and know where to turn when I need to retrieve that idea later. ## 1\. New Blog Post or Article Ideas I could be doing anything from reading an article online to cooking dinner when I am hit with a new idea for a blog post or article. Whether it be for my personal blog or for a client, I realize that I need to capture the idea before it disappears — otherwise there’s about zero percent chance that I’ll remember it later. I use [Trello](https://trello.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to quickly type out article ideas. I have different boards for different types of content or publication locations. I’ll capture my thoughts with a rough title and a brief description. (This post came from a Trello card that I added a few weeks ago!) ## 2\. Notes On-the-Go I’m something of an obsessive note-taker. I take notes during meetings in a notebook that permanently resides on my desk, but also capture lines write down lines of inspiration when I’m out in the world. Maybe I’m sitting in a webinar and the speaker says a line that is inspiring or I’m walking down the street and see a high-heeled shoe on the median and wonder how it got there (which happened to me the other day). When I’m out and about, I use a shoulder bag and in it, I carry a small notebook and pen. I’ll quickly jot down lines as they come to me. Most often, these aren’t notes that I revisit later, but I always think it’s important to write things down as they strike me. ## 3\. Finding the Right Words Sometimes I will be noodling on an intro or a conclusion and BAM — the right words will hit me. At a time when I am nowhere near my draft. For this, I use iPhone Notes. My phone is almost always within reach and I’ll quickly type out the words I have worked through in my head. I find that if I don’t do this immediately, I may remember the concept later, but not the exact words. And then I often feel that my attempts to recreate the inspiration never end up being quite as good as that moment of inspiration. ## 4\. Collecting Things We all come across intriguing quotes, articles, videos, and the like. I’m really good at using the Bookmarks feature in different apps to save things either because I really like them or because I don’t have time to look now but want to come back later. Problem is: *I don’t have a good collection for everything I’ve saved*. I know. It bugs me. I know people rave about [Evernote](https://evernote.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), but I’m not really a big fan. I use it to save things like copies of emails, but that’s about it (and I use filters in Gmail to send emails to Evernote automatically). I’m a big fan of OneNote and use it for other things. I have electronic copies of writing I’ve done — both my own and professionally. My husband and I have a touch base every few weeks (he’s a developer and we are dorks, so we call it our Scrum meeting) and we put notes in OneNote. I have also done online writing courses and save the course materials in OneNote. But for grabbing articles or videos and organizing them? Not the best tool. The closest I’ve come to finding a tool that works is [Google Keep](https://keep.google.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). It’s good for links to anything on the internet, or I can upload photos or type out quotes, etc. I’ve done things like take a photo of an underlined quote in a book I’m reading and upload it to Google Keep. Honestly, my biggest fear is that Google Keep doesn’t seem to be a main platform of Google and I fear that Google will just pull the rug out from under me, and Keep will have the same fate as [Google+](https://support.google.com/googlecurrents/answer/9217723?hl=en&ref=blog.annabyang.com). Google Keep does the job, but I don’t love it. I keep waiting to find a tool for organizing my collection of “stuff to save” that is a joy to use. [4 Tools to Capture Ideas as a WriterA writer’s tech stack.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-97.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-capture-ideas-1.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/tools-to-capture-ideas/) --- *Check out my* [*free guide*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/ebook-manage-time-content?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *for creators looking to better manage their time and content across multiple platforms.* ### Giving Some of My Morning to My Son URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/giving-some-of-my-morning-to-my-son/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:25:32.000Z Mornings are my [sacred time](https://blog.annabyang.com/early-morning-writing/). I am usually awake between 4:00 and 4:30 a.m. Coffee, journal, reading, then writing. At 6:45 I wake my husband and by 7:00 we make sure that the kids are moving so that they can be ready for school. But this means I usually have more than two hours of uninterrupted “me” time for focused writing. About two weeks ago, my 9-year-old son began appearing in my office around 6:00 a.m. After greeting me, he would perch on the nearby daybed. Sometimes he would lie down. He was quiet, but his presence was distracting. The minutes would go by and I had one eye on him, one eye on my writing. Finally, he would announce that he was hungry and ask me to help him get a bagel. I begrudgingly would go to the kitchen and retrieve a plate from the cupboard and bagels from the top shelf in the fridge. He’d want a glass of milk to go with his bagel so I would pour it for him. This entire process was short, but it was enough to disrupt my morning routine. Try as I might, I couldn’t settle back into writing after that. Day after day, I felt like 45 minutes had been stolen from me each morning. Then one day I had an epiphany. When he asked for a bagel, my response was “You’re nine years old. You can get your own breakfast.” I was pleased with my parenting prowess — teaching valuable life skills. My son didn’t see it that way. He pitched a fit about needing to use a stool to reach both the plate and the bagels. But I was insistent. Day after day, when he asked for breakfast, I told him to get it himself. He and I recently began reading together in the evenings. This was something we used to do regularly, but the pandemic and “too much togetherness” threw us out of whack. Now we have settled back into the habit and are reading *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*. He snuggles in so close to me as I read aloud, trying my best to do different character voices. It was in one of those snuggle moments that I realized what I was giving up in the morning by making him get breakfast himself. He was coming into my office to spend time with me. Since he is 9, I don’t know how much longer he’ll want to hang out with mom like that. So I shifted my morning routine. Rather than journal and read first, I began writing right away. When my son appears at 6:00 a.m., I bring my coffee, journal, and book into the kitchen. Today he wanted cereal, so he ate Cheerios. I sat across from him at the table, reading and writing. He wasn’t interested in talking to me — he only wanted to be near me. After finishing his cereal, he announced that he was going to start working on homework on his Chromebook and disappeared back to his room. I am using the remainder of the morning time to plan out my day, something I also used to do “first” and have shifted to “last.” Who knows how long this morning time together will last. But as long as he wants to have breakfast with me, I’ll be there. ### How Basecamp Got It Wrong URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/how-basecamp-got-it-wrong/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:25:42.000Z I have been a fan of the project management platform [Basecamp](https://basecamp.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) for years. I selected the product in 2014 to manage a team of analysts and developers at a software company. Easy to learn, easy to collaborate, it had everything we needed. I read both books written by co-founders [Jason Fried](https://twitter.com/jasonfried?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and [David Heinemeier Hansson](https://twitter.com/dhh?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I was so enamored with the company culture and their approach to work that when Basecamp HQ in Chicago hosted a forum led by Fried, I attended. I even went up to him after and chatted briefly about remote work. Therefore, to say I am shocked is an understatement when I read the company’s [new stance](https://world.hey.com/jason/changes-at-basecamp-7f32afc5?ref=blog.annabyang.com) on [discussing political issues at work](https://world.hey.com/dhh/basecamp-s-new-etiquette-regarding-societal-politics-at-work-b44bef69?ref=blog.annabyang.com). In a nutshell the new policy states: > Every discussion remotely related to politics, advocacy, or society at large quickly spins away from pleasant…It’s a major distraction. It saps our energy, and redirects our dialog towards dark places. It’s not healthy, it hasn’t served us well. And we’re done with it on our company Basecamp account where the work happens. My reaction? What a narrow way to view work. It further marginalizes people by telling them to “check your problems at the door.” Work becomes confined to a place we *go* rather than something we *do* as an integral part of our lives. There is a difference in “politics” when we discuss policies about how to spend our tax dollars versus policies that cause harm to a group of people. It can’t all be tossed under a single umbrella as “politics.” To be clear: the only people who benefit from this type of policy are those that face no discomfort in their lives. And likely were uncomfortable when their views were challenged. What baffles me about Basecamp’s open admission of their internal problems and misguided attempt to address the issue is that they have turned it into an employee problem, rather than a failure of management. Long gone are the days of unspoken (or in Basecamp’s case, spoken) rules about not talking politics at work. > Basecamp, as a company, is no longer going to weigh-in publicly on societal political affairs, outside those that directly connect to the business. Customers now are savvier. They pay attention. For many, the product is only half of the equation. The other half is looking at the company behind the product — and how they position themselves in the larger world. Open stances denouncing racism, misogyny, violence… *it matters*. If Basecamp thinks that ignoring social issues is going to be good for business, I hope that customers will prove them wrong. Not only does it matter to potential customers, but it also matters to employees. Instead of taking a stand, Basecamp is hiding behind an archaic position of keeping work and life separate. As if people could leave their race and gender at home. As if the problems will go away by not talking about them. As if those things *don’t* matter. Instead of forcing employees to remain silent, Basecamp should be leading the conversation. Instead, amidst backlash on Twitter, the co-founders have doubled down on their stance. And if Basecamp finds that their employees continue to be uncomfortable discussing social issues, then maybe that says something about the type of people that work there. “Heated discussions” can only mean that people sat on both sides of issues, including those that further marginalized their colleagues. The decision and public announcement certainly say something about the people running the company. ### The Week of Failed Time Blocking URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/week-of-failed-time-blocking/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:41:55.000Z I am a bit of a time-blocking fiend. I start with my to-do list and my Google calendar and “block off” chunks of time in my day. I sync up my personal calendar, work calendar, and shared family calendar to have an overlapping view of meetings and appointments and then fill in everything else on my list. The result is something like a color-coded game of Tetris and making everything fit. A few weeks ago, as I embarked on a new career that involves writing for a good chunk of the day, I started planning my blocks for the entire week. If I knew that I needed to write an article for Friday, I would block out time on Tuesday and Wednesday to work on it. I thought this careful planning was working well and giving me a good view of what my week would look like. > Until I got behind… with no good way to catch up. > > On Tuesday of last week, my 5th grader woke up with a cough. I have to “self-certify” him in the morning via a school app. One of the questions asks, “Does your child have any new symptoms of COVID-19 (including a cough)?” Answering “Yes” the app prompted me to keep him — and his brother — home for the day. I kept the three-year-old home from preschool also. Both the elementary school and the preschool required “proof” that the cough was not Covid in the form of a negative PCR test. The older two kids spent the morning on Zooms with their classes, but my husband and I had to juggle the 3yo while working. By early afternoon, I had found a nearby clinic that promised rapid Covid test results. I made an appointment and took my older son. The test was negative, and by the end of the day I had the “all clear” from both the school and preschool for the kids to return. But between not getting into the appointment immediately, waiting for the results, and travel time, about 90 minutes had disappeared from my afternoon. Then on Thursday of last week, I had my second Covid vaccine. I had planned for this and also planned that I might not feel well after… but getting behind earlier in the week meant that some things on my to-do list had trickled into Friday. And I woke up on Friday with the side effects that many feel after shot #2: achy, low fever, fatigue. I ended up taking two naps during the day and kept the Tylenol flowing. I realized over the weekend that planning out the blocks for my entire week led to a lot of stress on Friday — compounded by the fact that I was under the weather. I constantly needed to shift my blocks around. > I saw the cascading effect of a less-productive day on Tuesday and then struggled to catch up. Instead, I need to go back to my “old method” of blocking, which is planning only one day at a time… while still keeping an eye on the big picture for the week. If I stick to one day at a time, I can at least remove the feeling that I am “behind” day after day. I will also try really hard to keep Fridays light overall and treat this as my catch-up day. Planning in this way serves a dual purpose. If I *do* have some carry-over from prior days, I know that Friday is available. And if not — yippee! Great way to head into the weekend! ### 15 Minutes in the Morning URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/ritual-in-the-morning/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:12:26.000Z If there’s one thing that I’ve confirmed about myself during the pandemic, it is that I like routine. Of course, the pandemic was often the **opposite** of this, with constant changes to the remote school schedule and days that felt like a free-for-all. But as we’re emerging on the other side, I have found that I can recapture some of that routine I crave. My kids are back in school so there is more regularity to the days. I have long been a morning person but recently have tried to add a bit more to my [morning routine](https://blog.annabyang.com/reading-before-the-sun-rises/). I have set a goal to get better at yoga inversions. I have a [FeetUp trainer](https://feetup.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), but it has been sitting in my closet for some time. Along with that, I’m going to need to build some arm strength. I used the app [HabitList](https://habitlist.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to create a new morning routine of four things: - Listen to the podcast [The Writer’s Almanac](https://www.garrisonkeillor.com/radio-categories/twa-2018/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) - Practice my inversions with my FeetUp Trainer - Lift arm weights - Do two Spanish lessons in [Duolingo](https://www.duolingo.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) I listen to The Writer’s Almanac *while* practicing my inversions. The podcast is only five minutes long. I’d like to work my way up to keeping my balance for the entire duration, but so far I’m at only about three-and-a-half minutes. Then I lift 8-lb arm weights while listening to the song “My Shot” from *Hamilton*. It’s a great motivational song for the morning. Finally — tired from the inversions and the lifting — I sit and practice my Spanish. Then shower. The entire routine is under 15 minutes long and I feel like I’ve gotten a lot accomplished in that time. ### Perfecting the Power Nap URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/perfecting-the-power-nap/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:12:35.000Z I wake up earlier than most people think is reasonable. Pre-Daylight Savings Time change, it was around 3:30 a.m. No alarm. I would wake naturally, have my coffee, and do my [morning reading](https://blog.annabyang.com/reading-before-the-sun-rises/) and writing. The “spring forward” threw off my natural rhythm a bit, but I’m slowly working my way back to my normal. On the flip side, I am in bed by 8:30 p.m., at the absolute latest. I start to wind down much earlier than that. The other effect is that by midday, I’m exhausted. I try to get a lot of intensive writing/focus work done in the morning. That point that many people reach around 3:30–4:00 in the afternoon of a traditional 9:00–5:00 workday? I hit that wall around noon. But at noon, my day isn’t over. My days are a blend of work and home. The first half of the day includes chunks of time in geting my elementary school children out to the bus and picking up the 3-year-old from half-day preschool. So while I have been awake for quite some time, my day is far from over. I usually have some things to finish up in the afternoon. Enter the Power Nap. Power napping was something I tried for years, but never really got good at. I would lie down and end up sleeping for far too long. Or, I would have an afternoon meeting on my brain and fear that I would not wake up in time. I assumed that daytime napping was not for me. Yet, as waking before the sun rises became more and more routine, I found that by early afternoon I could barely keep my eyes open. Then I read an article that learning to power nap takes practice… like up to 30 days of practice. It’s about teaching the mind and body to fall asleep in a short time period and not sleep for too long. So I started practicing. I would lie down on the daybed in my office. Close the curtain, use a face mask to block light, and snuggle under a weighted blanket. I also set a timer for 30 minutes. At first, I got zero sleeping done in that timeframe. But the “brain break” was still nice. After a period of time, I found that I had drifted off to sleep for at least a few minutes by the time the alarm went off. Now, I don’t even need an alarm. After putting the 3-year-old down for her nap around 12:30, I can lie down, fall asleep, and easily be awake by 1:00\. My actual “sleeping” time is likely only 15–20 minutes. But it is the perfect amount: I wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the afternoon. --- ### Finding an Exercise Routine (again) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/finding-an-exercise-routine/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:12:44.000Z In pre-pandemic life, I loved hot yoga. There was a studio only a few miles from my house. The classes were 90 minutes in a room that was 105 degrees with 40% humidity, but I found the sweat to be very cleansing. My husband and I would also take walks, usually several times per week. We both work from home and around mid-morning, we would go for a walk around the neighborhood. There was a nearby park, and we could take a lap around the perimeter and make it back to the house in about 30 minutes. Pandemic life changed all of that. In the very early days — when information was unclear about how the virus spread — I would pace our backyard. Then I quickly [became overwhelmed](https://musingsoutloud.com/2020/05/08/motherhood-in-a-pandemic/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) with my kids being home full time and that fell by the wayside. Hot yoga was closed at first and then when it reopened I wasn’t comfortable being in a room next to other people with so much heavy breathing. Walks were not an option with three kids home all day and trying to juggle work. Just within the past month, I’ve started subscribing to [obé fitness](https://obefitness.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), which offers both live and on-demand classes. I can cast from the app to my tv to watch on a big screen. I have found that I’ve liked the accountability of a “live” class: it prevents my brain from thinking I could put it off until later. Earlier this week, I did a HIIT dance class, and the next day my knee hurt. If that isn’t motivation to do more, I don’t know what is. When I started doing hot yoga years ago, I had sore knees, but the more I went to class, I eventually eased out the kinks of my out-of-shape body. And today — for the first time in 391 days — all three kids will be out of the house at the same time. The three-year-old started part-day preschool, and the older two kids have hybrid learning for half a day. My husband and I plan to take a walk later this morning. As with [so many other things](https://blog.annabyang.com/parental-independence-day/), it feels like we are reaching the end of the pandemic tunnel. Along with the movement toward whatever the new normal will look like in a vaccinated world, I’ll be able to find ways to incorporate movement into my days again. ### Parental Independence Day URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/parental-independence-day/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:25:52.000Z When I mentioned in a team meeting that my kids will be returning to school full-time in a few weeks, a colleague joked “It’s Parental Independence Day!” Yes. Very much so. We have been home with our three kids for 382 days. Our only break was a few weeks ago when my mom was visiting. My husband and I were able to sneak away to an Airbnb for one night and have dinner alone. It was brief, but it was a break. Now we are on the verge of what our life looked like Before the pandemic. Our older kids are returning to the classroom. Our three-year-old is headed to preschool. We will be back to hours of uninterrupted time in the day. Yesterday was a prelude for what is to come. It is spring break this week. My dad is staying with us and he took all three kids to the arboretum yesterday morning. Granted, we have had a bit of a reprieve over the past five weeks. After [hitting our breaking point](https://musingsoutloud.com/2021/02/19/the-person-i-can-no-longer-be/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) with isolation and remote learning, my parents agreed to come, in tandem, to help. My mom stayed for 2.5 weeks, and my dad will be with us for three. It is tying us over until the kids resume school in April. What did I do with my few hours of freedom? Headed to the Starbucks drive-thru and got myself a raspberry mocha. Picked up a prescription. Then went to Target to retrieve my pickup order, but ended up going into the store. The current candle I’m burning is almost out and I attempted to smell candles through my mask. Then came home and worked without interruption until they got home from the arboretum. Aside from it being much better for my kids to be in the classroom, I am one step closer to reclaiming my days. A friend reminded me yesterday that once the kids are back in school, I will likely be amazed at how much time I have because I’ve managed to do so much with them around all. the. time. And it’s true. I was always forced into working when I had the opportunity. My husband and I would alternate watching the three-year-old during the day, but usually the schoolwork and making sure the older kids connected to Zoom and did their homework fell to me. If someone was having a problem, he would appear at my side asking for help. I would step away from whatever I was working on as the Resident School Aide. My husband and I used to take walks during the day… we haven’t been able to do that because of remote learning. I’m looking forward to resuming that activity. Most of all, I’m looking forward to the silence. The mental relief of not needing to be “on” so much and having my brain constantly switching back and forth between Work Mode and Mom Mode, leaving very little room for Me Mode. Parental Independence Day is coming. I have it on the calendar. ### Finding a Hobby (Again) URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/finding-a-hobby/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:51:26.000Z In early 2020, I began watercolor painting. I have never considered myself artistic but [fell into the hobby](https://blog.annabyang.com/finding-a-new-hobby/) by accident when my 8-year-old son wanted to explore some painting videos on YouTube. Once I learned to wrangle the stubbornness that is watercolor paints, I found myself eager to learn. I elicited some help from an artistic friend, read books on technique, and followed several Instagrammers for inspiration. I would often listen to audiobooks and spend my morning time painting. Then the pandemic hit. What anxiety often does for me is stifle creativity. It was too hard to feel inspired when I feared for the health/safety of my family. Plus our school and daycare closed so I found myself strained throughout the day juggling kids and work. I couldn’t paint, and I couldn’t write. Yet I still needed a distraction. My grandmother turned 100 years old in early April, so I began doing some research on Ancestry.com. What began as a casual project quickly sucked me in. I made early mistakes but learned how to verify and review source documents to support my findings. It became exactly what I needed: something to occupy my time when I needed it, but did not require too much brainpower. I continued my ancestry research for months, delighted when I found a little nugget of interesting information or solved a “puzzle” that I’d been working on for a while. Then in late October, I began to contemplate changing careers. I found that I was immensely unhappy with my job as a product manager for a software company, but also wasn’t sure that another job in the same field would make me happy. I wanted to explore writing as a career but realized that I would need a portfolio of professional work to apply for any writing-related jobs. And so, I began freelancing. I woke up early and stayed up late, writing nearly 180,000 words in three months. I was able to showcase my work and [make the career shift](https://musingsoutloud.com/2021/02/13/a-new-chapter/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) I wanted. But all of that work came at a heavy cost of any free time. I had my eyes on the prize but didn’t realize how exhausted I was until I finally had a job offer in hand and could take a step back from freelancing. Then there was the whole “leaving one job, transitioning to a new job” process, which absorbs mental energy. It was just this past weekend that I reactivated my Ancestry.com account. I haven’t *quite* reached a place in my new job yet where I can refocus on my creative endeavors in my free time — I find myself tired at the end of the day. But I have also found a rhythm, and that rhythm allows some time to do other things. On top of that: my two older kids are headed back to the classroom full-time on April 12th. My three-year-old is headed to part-time preschool on April 6th. When part of my day is no longer occupied by making sure that kids are connected to Zooms for school or entertaining a very young child, I’ll have even more space. As I feel even more hopeful about being released from the isolation we’ve experienced over the past year due to Covid, I’m hoping that I’ll be able to further expand and get back into painting again. ### That Line for “Occupation” on Forms URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/how-to-describe-your-occupation/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:38:39.000Z After nearly a year with my kids at home, I am trying to re-enroll my 3-year-old in preschool. I worked on the application this morning and paused when I got to the line for “occupation.” I began a new job less than a month ago. Not only that, but I [completely changed careers](https://musingsoutloud.com/2021/02/13/a-new-chapter/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I had to take a moment to look at that line and think about what I would write. Honestly, I have always had trouble with that line. I never had a career with a straightforward answer like “teacher” or “dentist.” I worked for a software company for 15 years, but when most people think software, they think of programmers. I think I used to write “software implementation” and then later “product manager.” My final role involved a long title (of my own creation) trying to encompass the fact that I had taken on an executive role, managed the customer service department, and still operated as the product manager. It was a mouthful. That conversation starter of “what do you do for a living?” was always awkward for me. I’m a…. what? Depending on the situation, I would usually reply with a brief “I work for a banking software company” and leave it at that. Turns out, my new role in content marketing is even trickier. First, the form wanted a “work phone number” and I was tempted to write in “there is no phone number… we use email, Slack, and Zoom” but finally left the space blank. Then I finally settled on “marketing” for a job description even though what I do (write things) is far from what most people think of with marketing. Then yesterday I was prompted with a Covid survey to help with ongoing research and I thought “Sure, why not.” After answering that I’ve not been in contact with anyone who has Covid, not experienced any symptoms of Covid, and generally not left the house, I was given the following question: **Please select the occupational group that best fits the main kind of work you were doing in the last four weeks.** There was nothing like marketing or advertising, so I finally chose “arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media.” Then on the next screen, I was prompted to choose a subcategory from: art worker, design worker, entertainer or performer, sports and related worker, media and communications worker, media and communications equipment worker, or any other arts, design, entertainment, support, or media worker. At a glance, you’d think “media and communications worker” would fit, but in parentheses it listed announcer, analyst, reporter, editor, translator. So I checked the big ol’ “other” box. It has also been interesting to describe what I do to people who are curious. My dad wanted to know why any company would pay for someone to write blog posts for them. I said “Well, not everyone can write” which he acknowledged is very true. I interviewed with three different people for this role and said in each “there’s a lot of crap on the internet.” Creating meaningful content that people *actually want to read* takes skill. Yet “writer” sounds very lofty and nondescript. Like I am working on my own novel. I somehow need to settle into the words — and description — of what I do that can be succinctly stated when that question invariably comes up: What do you do? ### Reading Before the Sun Rises URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/reading-before-the-sun-rises/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:12:52.000Z ### Reading Poetry Before the Sun Rises For months now, I have been [firmly planted](https://blog.annabyang.com/early-morning-writing/) in the #5amwritersclub camp. Actually, I usually start to stir around 3:30\. By the time I’ve gotten dressed, washed my face, and found my way to the coffee pot, it is more like #4amwritersclub. I sit at the kitchen table with my brew, my journal, my daily planner, and a book of poetry. For a long time, I have struggled with finding time to read. I used to listen to audiobooks on the way to daycare, but then the pandemic hit, and that daily trek was no longer a thing. By evening, I am far too tired. Sometimes I read in the bathtub, but I have to be in the right frame of mind. However, I am often inspired by the words of others and wanted to make sure that I was reading every day. I found the time before the sun comes up, before I have started my own writing for the day. Poetry seemed like a natural fit for my early morning routine. I could embrace poetry in bite-sized portions, committing to reading 15 poems per day. I could read, set it aside, not have to worry that I was leaving off in the middle of a good chapter or exciting scene of a novel. I started with Lisel Mueller’s “Alive Together: New and Selected Poems.” I let the words flow over me in the morning. Sometimes, I would even read aloud to myself, though under my breath so that I didn’t risk waking other members of the household. After finishing “Alive Together” I have started Lucille Clifton’s “Blessing the Boats.” It has been an easy, joyous part of my morning routine. I write in my journal. I plan out my day. And I read 15 poems. ### The Yin and Yang of Morning vs. Night URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/morning-versus-night/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:21:03.000Z It has been said a million times, but this pandemic has been disastrous for parents. In addition to no support, facing decisions about mental health and education that are unprecedented, and juggling work pressures — it is unrelenting. In grappling with so many competing demands for attention, my husband and I have mere minutes where we can sit back together and just breathe. This happens at the end of the day, but not too late because I usually go to bed by 8:00 pm. The three-year-old is tucked in by 6:30 and we usually say goodnight to the two older kids by 7:00 (who then read or listen to audiobooks in their rooms). In that *brief* window of time, we talk about the day. We acknowledge [what we are thankful for](https://musingsoutloud.com/2018/08/16/practicing-gratitude-in-many-ways/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), a ritual we have had for a long time. Then I go to bed, waking naturally around 3:30 or 4:00 am. He stays awake for several more hours, working on his latest computer code. Last night, we talked about how we are the “yin and yang” when it comes to productivity with work. It has been our “inside joke” that we are yin and yang, since we often have opposite — yet complementary — personalities. We have had natural rhythms for a long time, but Covid has forced both of us to maximize our time. In college, I was the person who set my alarm and woke up before the sun rises to finish a paper. He would stay awake late to wrap up whatever he needed to get done. He told me last night that anxiety and pressure fuel him. The work builds all day long and then he feels like he has to finish at night in order to catch up — or he won’t be able to fall asleep. Whatever code he is working on or problem he is trying to solve, he has to get it out of his system. I am the opposite. When I feel anxious or pressure, I need to sleep. I’ll hit a block and be unable to work, particularly if I’m tired. I need to recharge and start fresh in the morning. And so, robbed of much of the “traditional” workday due to the pandemic, we have had to rely on our natural rhythms even more. Before everyone wakes up and after everyone goes to bed are the times when we can focus. However, this leaves us with very little time for each other. With no support, no break, and opposite schedules, we know that so many other things are forcing their way to the top of the priority lists. We are both exhausted by the time we hit the end of the day. And we continue to tell each other that we have to keep pushing through. That, as long as it has been, it won’t be forever. ### When Remote Work Is “Experience” URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/remote-work-experience/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:51:45.000Z For the first time in 15 years, I found myself [actively looking for a job](https://blog.annabyang.com/value-of-soft-skills/). My resume needed a definite upgrade (made easier with [Canva](https://www.canva.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)), I made some tweaks to my LinkedIn prifole, and made sure [my portfolio](https://annabyang.com/my-portfolio/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) was polished. At that point, it was applying, applying, applying. I knew that I would only consider jobs that were 100% remote. After all, I have been a remote employee for 15 years. I can’t imagine going into the office during the day when I have become quite comfortable working from home. I hit up sites like [WeWorkRemotely](https://weworkremotely.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Remote.co](http://remote.co/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Remote.io](https://remote.io/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), and [RemoteWoman](https://remotewoman.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) regularly, on the hunt for a job that might be the right fit. As I would peruse the “desired skills” from potential employers, I knew to take the requirements with a grain of salt. Some employers were clearly looking for a unicorn. Others had required hard skills that I did not possess (I applied anyway, and [here’s why](https://hbr.org/2014/08/why-women-dont-apply-for-jobs-unless-theyre-100-qualified?ref=blog.annabyang.com)). But I noticed one skill that came up repeatedly from some employers, one that I had never considered to be a “skill.” > Prior remote experience preferred. Some companies were clearly new to remote work as a result of the pandemic, while others noted that once the pandemic was over, they expected the employees to return to the office. But others — companies that clearly had always been remote or been remote for a long time — were aware that candidates with experience working remotely have a “leg-up” over others. I have hired and onboarded remote employees myself. Most came from a background of never having worked remotely before. It was challenging. It took extra effort to build rapport. Remote employees have to be self-motivated, sometimes in a way that they don’t even realize when they accept the job. They think that working from home sounds amazing and like a dream job, without actually understanding what it takes. It is about balance between the needs of your job and the needs of the employer — and figuring out how and when to attend to both. I’ve worked with newly-remote employees that ran the gamut. Some would tell me that they needed to “step away from their computer” to run and pick up a prescription at the pharmacy. Others seemed to disappear, and no work got done in that timeframe. Still others never seemed to have a handle on their workloads and would miss meetings and deadlines constantly. So when I saw “prior remote experience” listed as a skill, I knew exactly what the employer meant. It meant “you’re going to have enough to learn with this job — we don’t want the added task of teaching you how to work remotely also. We want to assume you know how to do that and need to only acclimate to our culture.” With every cover letter, I emphasized my remote experience. I expressed that I know that being a remote employee is about accountability, transparency, and results. And while I would like to think that my other skills made me stand out as a candidate, the “prior remote experience” certainly didn’t hurt. ### The Naptime Game URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/naptime-game/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:21:11.000Z In a pre-Covid world, I would occasionally pick up my children during naptime for an appointment or some other reason. The room would be dark, soft music playing, and the children would all be lying quietly on cots with their favorite stuffed animal and a blanket. So I have had this vision in my head that naptime is this orderly, routine-based part of the day. Now going on 10.5 months at home, my 3-year-old daughter has turned naptime into some kind of sporting event. Due to our work schedules, my husband and I “switch” at 11:30 in the morning. He is with the 3-year-old until that time, and I take over at lunch. She eats with her two school-aged brothers who are home for [remote learning](https://musingsoutloud.com/2021/01/28/working-at-the-kitchen-table/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), and then plays for a bit until noon. At noon, I announce that it is naptime. She can’t do *anything* without setting a timer for two minutes. So we ask the nearby Alexa to “set timer for two minutes” and then she is ready to go upstairs to her room for nap when the timer goes off. Except first, she has to say goodnight to both of her brothers. She will yell their names as loud as she can and demand elaborate kisses and hugs from both. Then she will sloooooowwwwly climb the stairs to her room. She refuses to nap in her clothes. I don’t know why this is a thing. She napped in clothes just fine when she was at day care. But no, at home, she insists on wearing pajamas for her nap. But first, she has to strip completely naked and use the potty. Again, I don’t know why this is a thing either. I told my sister about it once, and her response was “Yeah… I hear that some adults like to be naked when they use the bathroom also…” So she’ll use the potty and then come out saying “MOMMY! I TINKLE TINKLE!” And even though she has been potty trained for over a year, I have to praise her like it’s the first time she’s ever successfully used the potty and give her a high-five. Then — still naked — she will set about “closing up” the *master* bedroom. Which is completely unnecessary since I don’t nap during the day (at least, not in the master). She will close all of the curtains and make sure that the doors are closed to the bathroom and closet. She will end by closing the master bedroom door and head back to her own room. She won’t wear the same underwear she was wearing five minutes ago. Along with putting on pajamas, she needs new underwear. The process of picking out something to wear to nap is elaborate. She will sit and think and stare at her pajama options… yet always choose her Frozen pajamas. We then close her curtains and her closet door. She climbs into her bed and chooses a book. One book. By this time, I’ve run out of patience to read more than one book. At the end of the book, we have to sing a song, from one of my favorite children’s books, [Love You Forever](https://www.amazon.com/Love-You-Forever-Robert-Munsch/dp/0920668372/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). > I’ll love you forever > I’ll like you for always > As long as I’m living > My baby you’ll be. At the end of the song, she puts her hand under my chin and pulls my face toward hers. She plants a big kiss right on my lips. Then she throws her arms around me and squeezes me tight in a big hug. She always has to listen to the same music. I ask her Alexa device to play the playlist “Relax, Baby.” Then I have to tell Alexa to turn off in two minutes. Which seems ridiculous since two minutes is not nearly enough time to fall asleep — let alone get through the first song. But the 3-year-old insists. I say goodnight and turn out her light. Except on most days, she doesn’t nap. Instead, she’ll usually destroy her room by taking out every toy and flinging it around. Sometimes, she’ll even get into her laundry and play dress-up with her stuffed animals. One time she drew on the wall. I can hear her singing loudly to herself and banging on her toy piano when I walk by. But I don’t care. She’ll stay in her room for several hours, happy as a clam. So I don’t mind the elaborate process it takes to get her to go down for a nap — at least, not too much. ### Firmly in the #5amwritersclub Camp URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/early-morning-writing/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:13:01.000Z My FitBit likes to give me little “tips” in the app. For example, a banner will show up that says “Did you know that drinking x amount of water per day…” etc. Recently, the message was: “A person who goes to bed late and wakes up late is a night owl. A person who goes to bed early and wakes up early is a lark. Based on your sleep history, you are a lark.” I would concur with that assessment. My wake-up time today was 4:05 am. And I’ve grown to love it. ## Following my body’s natural rhythm I have always [been a morning person](https://blog.annabyang.com/a-club-for-early-morning-writers/), but over the past few weeks I have become an “extreme morning” person. I fall asleep sometime before 8:30 pm and wake up naturally around 4:00–4:30 am. I’m not even sure exactly how it happened. I think one night I was exhausted and fell asleep early, resulting in an early wake-up the next morning. Because of that, I was exhausted again that evening… it turned into a cycle. In the past, I would have continued to lie in bed, thinking 4:00 am was too early, and try to fall back asleep. But that one morning when I woke up really early, I was so wide awake that I sat down at my computer. Before I knew it, I had written 1000 words. My brain was intensely alert and the words flowed easily. ## Crafting a morning routine I’ve learned to cherish that morning time. No one else in this house wakes up until close to 7:00 am. During those hours of silence, I do the following: - Drink my coffee - Write in my journal - Read something (usually a poem or two) - Plan out my day - Check out #5amwritersclub on Twitter - Write at least 1000 words I love it. I love feeling productive. I don’t care that my bedtime now resembles that of an elementary-school child. My brain is mush by that point anyway. --- *You can read more about career pivots and the future of work on my* [*Substack*](https://www.workbetter.media/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### I Thought 2021 Would Be Better URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/this-year-should-have-been-better/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:26:42.000Z I had such high hopes for 2021 thinking it could not POSSIBLY be worse than 2020\. Oh wait. It could, with an attempted coup at the Capitol AMIDST a global pandemic. I have been watching this building for more than four years. I knew Trump’s rhetoric was dangerous from the beginning. I watched the assaults on immigrants, BLM protestors, women… the list goes on and on. Ironic that only when lawmakers felt that their lives were personally threatened was it “too far.” Don’t like hiding in a barricaded office hoping that you won’t be shot? Try telling that to elementary school children when you refuse to pass gun safety laws. I’m angry at every social media site that has allowed misinformation to spread and given a platform to hate. At least they are “trying” to correct that now. If they claim to be a public service, then they should be regulated by the FCC. If they claim to be a private entity, then every user is subject to their own Terms of Service. Period. They don’t get to have it both ways. I fear the remaining days until the inauguration, and even the time after that. If there is not some sort of dramatic repercussion for Trump, I fear that we have seen the end of safe elections in this country. We will see intimidation in voting lines, harassment of those counting ballots, and threats to those charged with certifying elections. Republicans have learned that the only way they can win is by voter suppression, lies, and bullying. They cannot be allowed to win by mounting insurrection with no consequences. ### The “Accomplishments” of 2020 URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/accomplishments-of-the-year/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:21:20.000Z Though it has been a while, I remember the days of having a newborn. Every minute of every day is spent doing *something.* Yet, at the end of the day, it felt like nothing got done. At the same time, if the baby was fed and slept, it was an accomplishment. 2020 has felt the same way. A lot of moving through the daily grind and feeling like nothing got done… a feeling I would have rather left behind when my babies got older. I always do some kind of [reflection on the year](https://musingsoutloud.com/2019/12/31/a-year-and-a-decade/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), so I’m trying very hard to think of what **actually** got done in 2020. 1. I took up watercolor painting… and then didn’t have time anymore when we went into lockdown in March. I was making good progress and learning some skills, so I need to figure out how to incorporate this into my day again. 2. I managed my anxiety through ancestry research. What started as trying to verify a comment that one of my grandmother’s aunts was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution turned into a massive family tree-building effort. I knew very little about my family’s roots before starting the project, so this was a good distraction during the early days of Covid lockdown. 3. My kids managed to maintain good grades. Remote learning is hard. Kids are not designed to sit and stare at a computer screen for hours at a time. It has been a constant struggle of “good enough” and feeling like I should be supporting them more. Yet, when first quarter grades were released, I breathed a sigh of relief. I don’t really care if they learn anything — but if they were meeting the basic expectations of their teachers, I called that a win. 4. I became a permanent member of the #[5amwritersclub](https://blog.annabyang.com/a-club-for-early-morning-writers/). Most days, I wake up even earlier. I drink my coffee, journal, and can do other writing in peace. No one else in the house usually stirs until closer to 7:00 a.m. It is glorious. 5. We have stayed safe and healthy. We are in the camp of people that do not gather with anyone outside of our household without masks or outdoors/distance. We only go into stores if absolutely necessary and have as much delivered as possible. It’s hard. We miss people. But luckily, as a family we mostly get along and don’t drive each other crazy. My parents and siblings live in different states, so we didn’t see them in person much pre-pandemic. Yet, we hopped on the Zoom craze and had Zoom gatherings for birthdays and other occasions. So in that sense, it brought us a new connection. I guess as an accomplishment, this falls into the category of “we can do hard things.” I’ve gained a new indoor exercise bike, an appreciation for strongly scented candles, and a new nephew. My sweatpants collection has grown. I’ve written more words than I have in any prior year — by a lot. I lost a lot this year also. My grandmother [passed away in December](https://musingsoutloud.com/2020/12/17/a-remarkable-100-years/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), at 100 years old. I have let my memberships to the Art Institute of Chicago, Field Museum, and zoo lapse — and also know that these organizations are hurting as a result. I haven’t had any routine appointments for health care, and my teeth feel gross from lack of professional cleaning. My hair is permanently damaged from lack of haircuts. 2020 has been the year of “accepting things I cannot change.” I cannot change the behavior of other people. I *can* control my family’s own level of risk and try to keep us safe. I *can* do my best to keep us from going insane within the four walls of this house. I am *trying* to accept that even my best isn’t enough some days, and this is an unprecedented, impossible situation in which I need to grant myself some grace. But I have a lot of hope for 2021 and the availability of a vaccine. Things won’t go back to “normal” but there will be a new version of “new normal.” > It’s been a long December and there’s reason to believe maybe this year will be better than the last. — The Counting Crows ### Why My Kids Are Paying for Netflix URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/kids-paying-for-netflix/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:21:28.000Z We cut the cord with cable more than 10 years ago. At the time, we were new parents looking to save money (babies are expensive!). Cable seemed like an obvious choice because we were not big tv watchers anyway. Netflix became our streaming service of choice. Over the years, streaming services have expanded — a lot. Our Amazon Prime membership began to include content. We would go in and out of subscriptions to Hulu and YouTube TV (so my husband could watch live sports). Then last November, Verizon offered us a free subscription to Disney+ for a year. When the pandemic hit in March, Disney+ became one of our most-watched services, especially for the three-year-old. When it came time for us to begin paying for Disney+, keeping it was not a question. We decided to bundle it with Hulu and ESPN, but now it felt like we had a *lot* of services. Especially for people that don’t watch a ton of tv. My husband suggested that we drop Netflix. It felt a bit like the end of an era. We have had a Netflix subscription since the days that DVDs were shipped to my college apartment. I was a little hesitant because my older kids liked some of the original shows. Then Netflix informed us that they would be [raising the price](https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/29/21540346/netflix-price-increase-united-states-standard-premium-content-product-features?ref=blog.annabyang.com) on our premium plan by $2 per month. I was mad. It had nothing to do with the cost, but we already considered Netflix to be our least-watched service. Upon a friend’s suggestion, I instead dropped us down to the standard plan: one device, standard definition, $8.99/month. I figured that was a decent compromise to keeping the service to watch occasionally and offsetting the increase we saw when we picked up the Hulu/Disney/ESPN bundle. I hurried up and finished watching The Queen’s Gambit. We watched The Great British Baking Show as a marathon the week of Thanksgiving. I knew that we would still have access to the service. Still, it felt like preparation for the change in our subscription and only accessing Netflix from one device. Last night, I informed my kids that our Netflix account was changing in a few days. They *howled.* We have designated screen time in our house, and apparently, they watch tv shows separately more than I realized. I told them that I didn’t want to pay for the increase in Netflix’s prices, and we would just need to deal. My 11-year-old asked: “Can we pay for it?” (We being the 11-year-old and 8-year-old) I gave them an offer: If they each contributed $1 per week from their allowance, I would change our subscription back. My kids have earned allowance since they were about 5 years old. They earn $1/week per year of their age. So the 11-year-old earns $11/week. They must put $1/week toward charity, and the rest goes into separate checking accounts for both of them. I can show them at any time how much they have in their accounts through the app. It is enough money that my response to almost everything is “use your allowance.” Even going through the Starbucks line, if we have not pre-determined that it is a family outing, I will make them pay for their own drinks. I’ll immediately do a transfer from their account back into my own checking account. They are forced to think about how much they want that particular item. Sometimes, they will even pool their money and buy a larger item like a video game. Last year, they separately decided that they wanted subscriptions to [Prodigy](https://www.prodigygame.com/Membership/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). An annual subscription is $60/year, so I told them they would each need to give up $1/week of allowance. They both agreed and also made me aware that they did not want to renew, because it didn’t bring them as much enjoyment as they thought. Back to Netflix. The 11-year-old considered my offer. He said, “Can we talk about it?” After putting their heads together, they informed me that they were both willing to give up $1/week to keep our Netflix membership at the premium level. I told them that Netflix is month-to-month, so they could change their minds at any time. Then I tried to change our membership back, and Netflix informed me that I could not make further changes until the next billing cycle. Pfftttt. I’ll have to see what happens on the actual day that the plan changes, but we may end up with one month of the lower plan. Of course, that coincides with when my kids will not have school for two weeks for Christmas break. If I can’t immediately change it back, the kids will likely flip out. I may be canceling and setting up a new account altogether… ### Where I Would Want to Live Forever URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/where-i-would-want-to-live-forever/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:26:51.000Z I have been attending a Tuesday “bring your own lunch” group via Zoom. With so many limitations on my social outlets, I decided to get over my discomfort with eating in front of people. The group varies in size, but it is usually around 10–15\. Topics also vary, with the conversation flowing easily. While the group is local to Chicago’s western suburbs, many people have roots in other places around the country. One Tuesday, we talked about regional foods. I mentioned “[lefse](https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-norwegian-potato-lefse-recipes-from-the-kitchn-175433?ref=blog.annabyang.com),” — which is a staple of my hometown in Wisconsin. Only one person on the Zoom had even heard of lefse. I tried to describe it as “kind of like a tortilla… sort of….” and quickly turned to Google to find a photo. I grew up in a small town outside of La Crosse, Wisconsin. Norwegians settled in the area (hence the lefse). But town itself got its name from the French description of a game played by the Native Americans who lived there. The very earliest European settlers were French fur traders. The city itself is nestled where three rivers meet: the Mississippi, Black, and La Crosse. La Crosse is part of the Driftless area in Wisconsin. During the ice age, moving glaciers missed this area entirely. While surrounding areas were flattened by the massive glaciers, the Driftless area is characterized by ridges, valleys, and bluffs. Within the Driftless area, La Crosse and the surrounding towns are known as the [Coulee Region](http://www.wisconsinhistoricalmarkers.com/2013/09/marker-209-coulee-region.html?ref=blog.annabyang.com). *Coulee* derives from the French word “couler” meaning “to flow.” Rivers and streams are bountiful. The dead-end road I called home growing up had “Coulee” in its name. I never realized how breathtakingly beautiful the area is until I left. I spent a brief amount of time living in Kansas. I came “home” often. There was this spot driving along the highway in Minnesota that crossed into the Coulee Region. I would round the bend and get a first glimpse of the hills and rivers, and think, “I’m home.” Of course, now I have lived in Illinois for more than 10 years. My visits back to the Coulee Region are less frequent. While living in the suburbs of Chicago brings its own kind of excitement, the lifestyle is very different than how I grew up. Back to Bring Your Own Lunch club. After the regional foods discussion and my education to the group on lefse, the following week, we talked about travel. More specifically, how much some of us missed traveling and seeing different parts of the world. The moderator asked: “If you could live in one place for the rest of your life, where would it be?” I love Chicago. I love access to the Art Institute and museums. I love finding things to do with my family and the diversity of its people. But when this question was asked, what immediately came to mind was “home.” I would want to spend the rest of my life nestled in the Coulee Region. I remembered a visit I had several years ago. I still had several relatives living in the Coulee at the time. I sat with my aunt out on the porch, early in the morning, drinking coffee. No one else was awake yet. We talked about places to live and what it would be like to wake up on a beach with warm sun and sand. But as I looked around, seeing sheep grazing, hearing the distant early chirping of birds, and watching the sun peek over the hills, I thought, “I don’t know… this seems pretty perfect to me.” ### Sleeping When Anxiety Is at an All-Time High URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/sleeping-with-anxiety/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:27:00.000Z Well. Nothing quite like a global pandemic and an era-defining election to kick anxiety into epic proportions, huh? Mental health experts and surveys are finding [more people are anxious](https://www.modernhealthcare.com/safety-quality/depression-anxiety-spike-amid-outbreak-and-turbulent-times?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and depressed than ever. People are facing challenges like never before while also experiencing unease, hopelessness, and fear. When coronavirus first ramped up back in March, I found myself unable to sleep. My heart was racing. I felt like everything was out of my control. The internet has become flooded with self-care tips. But what I have learned from years of managing anxiety is this: it is hard to get started. Once you form a routine of self-care and start to feel better, it becomes easier but finding what works can be tricky. Every person is different, and what works for one may not work for another. There are also *so many* suggestions out there that it can feel overwhelming. One thing I have learned is that, for me, sleep is #1\. If I don’t sleep well, it is nearly impossible to focus on anything else. And — when feeling anxious — sleep can become incredibly difficult. Fear of Covid-19 disrupted my sleep for weeks. Racing thoughts prevented me from falling asleep at bedtime. I had nightmares about what would happen to my family if I were to get sick. Lack of sleep compounded the problem. I had to make sleep my priority in order to survive the day. I finally found a combination of things that have been working. My FitBit has been giving me a sleep score of near 90/100 most nights, with usually around 7 hours of sleep. It has made a world of difference in handling the day. (In full disclosure, I also take medication for [generalized anxiety](https://grievingoutloud.com/2020/10/11/reflecting-on-mental-health/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). No denying that it helps keep me even-keel, but even the meds were not enough to combat the sleeplessness I was facing.) My nightly ritual now includes ALL of the following: ## **1\. Magnesium** After complaining to my prescribing provider that my anti-anxiety medication was not helping much with sleep, she suggested [adding magnesium](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/magnesium-and-sleep?ref=blog.annabyang.com). It has made a HUGE difference in sleep quality. ## 2\. Tea I drink a cup of tea to help me relax. My favorite is Trader Joe’s Well Rested, but because of the pandemic and having groceries delivered, this has not been as accessible. Now I’m drinking an organic peppermint tea. ## 3\. Herbal Blend In my tea, I put an herbal blend (powder) that helps with stress reduction. I use Apothékary’s “[Chill the F\* Out](https://apothekary.co/products/chill-the-f-out?ref=blog.annabyang.com).” ## 4\. Skincare Routine This has been part of my nightly routine for many years, but I find that taking a few minutes to indulge in the evening helps me to feel like I am doing something *for myself*. I wash my face and then apply a face oil, eye cream, body oil on my arms, lip balm, and an aromatherapy oil blend on my wrists and behind my ears. The products I use change with the seasons. I know it sounds like a lot, but I find that the ritual of applying each reminds of the importance of self-care. ## 5\. Meditation This is a recent addition but has made a considerable difference in focusing my thoughts at night. I use [Headspace](https://www.headspace.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and do the daily 10-minute meditation, but I have also used Calm and like it equally. Headspace has an Alexa skill, so I can say, “Alexa, ask Headspace for the daily meditation.” This is particularly helpful if I wake up during the night and would like a Headspace Sleep Story to help soothe me back to sleep. ## 6\. Weighted Blankets I discovered the joy of weighted blankets a few years ago, and now I can’t sleep without them. I even need to bring weighted blankets on trips when I am sleeping away from home. I think I am a restless sleeper, and the weight forces me to remain “in place.” It is like sleeping under a giant hug. It doesn’t matter if it is the hottest day of summer, I *have* to have the weight. --- While the election has reached a precipice, the pandemic will likely be a threat for some time, even under the best mitigation efforts. And even though anxiety still creeps in during the day, I can at least sleep easily. Even last night, the eve of the election and when my thoughts and stomach were in knots, I still fell asleep and slept (mostly) soundly. Tonight may be a different story, but I’ll take what I can get. ### Connecting My Alexa To-Do List with my Calendar URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/connecting-amazon-echo-to-do-my-calendar/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:32:46.000Z I have a really good system for keeping track of things I need to do at work, but it involves several tools that I have access to as part of my job. At home, I have needed to come up with a different system, and found that my brain isn’t what it used to be when I am trying to juggle a household of five people. Like “turn in this form by March 15th” or “have the oil changed on the SUV next week.” We have a shared Google calendar for our household, and while it really works for scheduled activities, not so much for “To Do” items. For example, if I meant to get the oil changed but ran out of time that week, I lose sight of it. I really need it to be a To Do item, where I can change the expected Due Date and check it off once completed. My family is awesome at using the Amazon Echo devices in our house (of which we have one in practically every room) to add things to my Shopping List. Even the 7-year-old will say “Alexa, add peanut butter to my Shopping List” and then I use the app while in the store. Alexa also has a To-Do list, but it is *very* limited, with no associated dates if the item is time-sensitive. Still, I figured that there had to be a way to make this work. I spent about two-and-a-half hours on this effort on Friday night (yes, I’m really cool like that) but finally got it to work the way I wanted. [Let Your Kids Add Events to Your Google CalendarSet up an email notification for new events.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/1-3.png)Tinkering With IdeasAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/tinkering-with-ideas-google-calendar-notifications.png)](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/google-calendar-notifications-events/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ## Step 1: Use the app Todoist and link it as a Skill with Alexa I was already using [Todoist](https://www.todoist.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) because I like it, and it has an Alexa Skill. Once you’ve linked your Todoist account to your Alexa in the Skill, when you say “Alexa, add oil change my car to my To-Do List” it will add it to your Todoist app under a project called **Alexa To-Do List.** You can get fancier and say, “Alexa, add oil change to my car next Monday to my To-Do List” and Todoist is able to interpret that and add the due date. Otherwise, the item will be added to the app without a date and you’ll need to go into the app and assign a date (if appropriate). --- ## **Step 2: Add Items from Gmail to Todoist** Todoist has a Gmail plugin. One of my other problems is getting emails that need some type of future attention. For example: I received an email from the elementary school that my son has an overdue library book. The time that I need to think about that is on Monday as we get ready for school. But between now and Monday, dozens of other emails will flood my Inbox and I may lose sight of it. With the Todoist plugin, I can click at the top of the email in Gmail on the Todoist icon and add the email as a To Do to any project, along with a date. In my case, I want it to specifically go to a project called “Household Tasks” but more about that later. ![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*ZGoCypqlRW3dvRjaqzg-Cw.png) --- > Build better voice apps. Get more articles & interviews from voice technology experts at voicetechpodcast.com --- ## Step 3: Sync Todoist with Gmail Calendar This one took a bit of thought. The sync between Todoist and a calendar is two-way: meaning that if I have something on my calendar like “Attend Birthday Party” it would sync backwards to Todoist as a To Do on that date. Definitely did not want that, since it’s somewhere I need to be, not something I needed to complete. I finally set up two separate integrations with Google Calendar. ![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*jFV2_meqlka1rVX2KS7Sfw.png) The first integration I set up was between my Todoist project “Household Tasks” and our family Gmail calendar. These are things like “my son has an overdue library book” that apply more to the entire family and not just me. When I set up this Todoist integration, I let it create a *separate calendar* to avoid the two-way sync between everything else (trust me, I did it wrong the first time, letting it hit my main calendar, and it was a disaster). I chose to only have Calendar items added from a *specific project* to avoid having some other items added that I use in Todoist that aren’t relevant to our family (like reading goals). ![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*STl0fcQ0EYMJoUaMXEBw_Q.png) The end result was a new Google Calendar as part of our family account. Next, I had to go into the Alexa app and add the Todoist calendar. It was all part of the same Google account, I just needed to select to add it under calendars: ![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*7W2T8gaDlyAhtd65Ac8HMQ.jpeg) Every morning, as we eat breakfast, we ask “Alexa, what’s on my calendar?” Looking ahead to Monday, we will see a reminder for my son’s overdue library book on the Echo Show in our kitchen: ![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*ofRoIJvcOfGZ-ivzo2cATQ.jpeg) If he happens to not take care of it that day, it will still be on my Todoist list until I check it off. --- ## Bonus: Sync Additional Lists to a Different Calendar I use Todoist for household tasks, but I also use it for things I want to keep track of that don’t pertain to my family. I wanted them on my own Gmail calendar (separate from my family calendar). I set up a second integration in Todoist, pointed at a different project. I let it create yet another new calendar, but it still had to be tied to our family calendar because that was the Google account through which I had authenticated. Then what I did was go into Google and the calendar settings for that second Todoist calendar. I shared it over to my personal Gmail address, allowing full managing permissions. From within my iPhone calendar or within my personal Google Calendar, I can see these To-Dos, identified by a different color, and separate from what the family can see through the Echo Show. --- I was immensely proud of myself for making all of this happen. I told a friend of mine this morning, and her response was, “I wrote up my entire to-do list for spring break on a pink post-it note.” I then attempted to impress my son by having him verbally add a to-do to Alexa, such as “Alexa, add Make Brownies tomorrow to my To Do List” and then showed him how we were nearly instantly able to see it on our family calendar for tomorrow. He was not impressed. I was amused by both. But I guess, for now, I will be the only one who is excited by this accomplishment. --- *Check out my free guide:* [*17 Smart Tools Solopreneurs Need to Start, Grow, and Scale*](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/smart-tools-solopreneurs-need?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* --- ### The 5am Writers’ Club URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/a-club-for-early-morning-writers/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:57:16.000Z I have always been an early riser, greeting the day somewhere between 5:00 and 5:30 a.m. No alarm necessary; I naturally find myself stirring around that time. Last year, I really began to savor this time before the house stirred. I would drink my coffee, write in my journal, read. Only about 6 weeks ago, I took up watercolor painting. I would use that precious early morning time to paint, usually while listening to an audiobook. My 7-year-old son will usually appear by my side somewhere between 6:15 and 6:30 a.m. Still in his pajamas and rubbing his eyes, he would murmur a “good morning.” I will give him a hug and a kiss and then gently shoo him out of my office and into the kitchen, where he will make himself a piece of toast, or wander into the living room. Everyone else stirs closer to 7:00 a.m. Or, I should clarify, the toddler is up early, but she plays quietly in her room until my husband wakes and gets her ready for the day. At 7:00 a.m., I use the network of Amazon Echo devices in our house to announce “Time to wake up!” (including a rooster crow). At that point, we need to begin moving to have everyone ready for the school day. I have liked my gentle morning routine for a long time. In most instances, it is quiet, and I am at my most alert for the day. When I added painting, I also felt like I was accomplishing something. A few days ago, I had an idea for a book. This is on top of an idea that I have had in the works for about two years (enough to have a “shitty first draft” — borrowing a phrase from Anne Lamott). I was excited about my idea. I told my husband, but told him that I could not figure out how to squeeze writing into my day, at least not in the way that I could turn out meaningful work. He is a computer programmer, so he understood: he likened it to when he is working on code, and really needs hours and hours of focus to flesh out an idea. He is lucky that he is paid to do what he enjoys…. mine, however, falls into the “hobby” category. I have barely touched the draft of my first book since my toddler was born. I bemoaned the lack of time to write to a fellow writer-plus-professor friend. She told me about a Twitter hashtag — #5amwritersclub — people who write for 1–2 hours in the morning and have productive novels. This seemed like something actually achievable. Since I use painting as a stress reliever, I could do that in the evenings instead of mornings, saving my brainpower for writing. I could probably capture at *least* an hour and a half in the mornings, and spend a bit of time each week planning how to use that time. ## Day 1 I let myself wake naturally, and the clock said exactly 5:00 a.m. I immediately looked at my phone, per routine. Checked email and deleted those I wouldn’t read from various mailing lists. A friend had sent me a late-night text of a TedTalk to watch, but upon realizing it was 16 minutes long, I decided to save it for later. Jumped in the shower, got dressed, dried hair. By the time I arrived at my Keurig machine, it was closer to 5:30. My 7-year-old had decided he wanted to “see what Mommy does in the morning” so he had camped out in the living room, on the floor. As soon as I turned on the light in the kitchen, he sat up. While the Keurig machine made my coffee, I glanced at the #5amwritersclub on Twitter. > [](https://twitter.com/PKBohan/status/1232254857932943360?ref=blog.annabyang.com) Twitter caught my eye that the founder of Trader Joe’s had died, so I had to read that article and share it with a comment. I went into my office and send a Facebook message to my writer-plus-professor friend, asking about her upcoming weekend. Just like that… it was 6:00 a.m. and all of that glorious time had slipped through my fingers. I realized that if I wanted to be serious about the morning writing, I was going to need to not only wake early, but also change some of my morning habits: - Set my alarm to wake up at 4:45 so that I can be done getting ready by 5:00 a.m. (still debating this one, as I like waking naturally) - No checking my phone. No emails, no messages, no looking at Timehop, no reading articles. These can happen at other times in the day. I may even put my phone into Downtime mode. - Move journal writing to the evening. I always recap my day as a bullet point list, and this could easily be done as my day winds down, rather than in the morning. With making the mental plan of what I needed to do, I looked at the clock and thought “6:00 a.m.? I have time to write something before the house stirs.” So I wrote this. It wasn’t the “work” that I had planned on, but it is something. Outside it has gone from dark to light. I can hear my son in the kitchen (and he has come in to talk to me twice). I need to hit publish, and help him pour a glass of milk. Tomorrow will be a different day. --- *Check out my publication,* [*Work. Better.*](https://www.workbetter.media/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*, about the future of work and career pivots.* ### Finding a New Hobby When I Wasn’t Looking URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/finding-a-new-hobby/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:27:09.000Z I have been writing since I could form letters. My first “book” was entitled *The Adventures of Cuddles the Cat*and was a slight variation of a book borrowed from the library, complete with pictures and a copyright date. I was five. As I grew older, I delved into journaling and churning out papers for school that would always impress my teachers. I wrote bad poetry and would type out the beginnings of stories on an old typewriter that my parents had, which later was replaced with a box-shaped word processor on which I could store my writings on a disk (and now forever lost). After graduating from college with an English degree, my writing was stunted for a long time when I entered the working world. I spent several years traveling for work, finding myself so exhausted at the end of the day that I could only collapse onto the bed in my hotel room in the evenings. I did some technical writing and product fliers for my employer and it was enough to satisfy my need to create something. It wasn’t until my son was born in 2009 that I really fell back into writing, starting a blog in which I wrote every few days about the adventures and misadventures of parenting. My second son was born in 2012, and I kept writing. I still [maintain a blog](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) to this day, albeit of a different theme than I had originally embarked upon. However, in all of the years of writing, my goal was to always write *for an audience*. Perhaps not so much my journals, but in writing essays for a class, technical documentation, or a blog — there was always the intent that someone would read this work. I would often spend time crafting the narrative around an incident with my toddler, hoping that the reader would smile or laugh. My current blog has a purpose to raise awareness and evoke emotion. In January of this year, I started painting. Watercolors. Originally, I was only looking to improve some basic skills so that I could help my son, who had taken an interest in watercolor tutorials on YouTube. A friend helped me with some techniques via Skype. The next day, I painted again. And the next day. Every day or two, I was producing a little 5x7 painting, trying something different, and sending messages to my friend asking for help when I got stuck. I bought more brushes — better brushes. Smaller brushes for more detail work. Better paper that could hold the weight of the water. Other little supplies that I could work with to create effects that I wanted to explore. I began perusing Instagram for inspiration and videos of other watercolor artists. I formed a file of pictures that I could refer to. My little writing desk became overtaken with my painting efforts. Nearly every morning, I would wake naturally at around 5:15 am, grab my coffee and sit at my desk and work on something until the rest of the house stirs sometime after 6:00 am. Since January 16th, I have created 19 paintings. My husband asked how many hours of effort I have put in so far. Guessing at maybe 1.5–2 hours per painting, I said “Maybe 30 hours?” He told me that I only have 9,970 more hours to become an expert, under the theory that it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill. At the rate that I am going, with maybe an hour per day. this will take me more than 27 years…. But the thing is, I don’t want to become an expert. I don’t have any desire to push my work out into the world, other than for fun. I post my paintings to Instagram ([@creativeyangout](https://www.instagram.com/creativeyangout/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)) but more for my own reflections on improvement. > Whereas writing has always been “for a purpose,” painting is truly for my own enjoyment and the satisfaction of creating. I derive so much pleasure from the time spent at my desk with my watercolors. Living in the Midwest in winter means that it is dark outside when I begin painting in the morning, silent and still. I listen to an audiobook while I work. Watercolors involve a lot of “waiting” for paint to dry before adding another layer or deciding if the look achieved what I wanted. Sometimes I will start on a painting in the morning and then — because I work from home — swivel back to the painting during the day to fix something that I do not like after it dries. I am learning more control over the outcome. It now seems bizarre to me that I only started this about three weeks ago. But it has truly become a hobby, in a way that I am not sure I have ever really embraced a hobby before. Painting relaxes me, but also gives me a strong sense of satisfaction when I have finished working on something. It has awakened a creativity that I always felt I had, but had never before figured out how to express. --- *You can read more about embracing hobbies and career pivots on my* [*Substack*](https://annabyang.substack.com/)*.* ### The Weekend of Notebooks URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/weekend-of-notebooks/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:57:26.000Z ## I have an obsession with writing in notebooks. Usually, my weekend errands involve two trips: Target and Trader Joe’s. I bring my toddler and my Amazon Alexa list (thanks to the brilliance of teaching everyone in the house to say “Alexa, add \_\_\_\_\_ to my shopping list.”) However, earlier this week I had made an out-of-routine stop at Target, as a result of its location directly across from the post office and needing to mail some Christmas packages. If I had glanced at my shopping list, I would have realized I had only one Target item remaining, and saved myself a trip for later in the week, such as the day after Christmas when I scour for deals on things like holiday decor. But by that point, I was already in Target, with my Starbucks and my toddler in the shopping cart so there was no point in leading. As I headed to the register with my one item, I paused to look at an aisle display. It had small notebooks, the type that would fit in my tote, with suede covers and lined pages. On sale for $8.99. I carry a notebook in my purse, with a spiral binding. Anytime I am out somewhere and I want to take notes, that is the notebook I use. Even in church, the Unitarian minister will sometimes say something profound or share a quote, and I will write it down. I consider note taking to be a form of active listening, with my mind always in tune to what is being said, poised to capture something that sparks my attention. On top of this type of note-taking, I also have a goal of being more observant in 2020 and beyond. I am reading a book right now called [The Art of Noticing](https://www.amazon.com/Art-Noticing-Creativity-Inspiration-Discover/dp/0525521240/ref=sxts%5Fsxwds-bia?keywords=the+art+of+noticing&pd%5Frd%5Fi=0525521240&pd%5Frd%5Fr=1b88b654-d07b-4749-9571-83d02c78d53a&pd%5Frd%5Fw=p9JXz&pd%5Frd%5Fwg=wXB2H&pf%5Frd%5Fp=1cb3f32a-ccfd-479b-8a13-b22f56c942c6&pf%5Frd%5Fr=E7997VHY4GXZ3X7629PJ&psc=1&qid=1577043864&ref=blog.annabyang.com) and it has filled me with ideas about being more aware of my surroundings, whether it be people, something odd, or something completely ordinary. Along with my desire to jot down everyday observations, I find myself thinking about how to catalog my findings. For me, the medium has always been a part of the process. Hence pausing to look at the suede notebooks in Target, because it was inconceivable that I use my note-taking notebook for the same purpose. Added to that, I have trouble adapting to something different once I find a medium I like. My note-taking notebook is from a company that has been around for a long time, and I would likely be able to find identical notebooks (with the only variation being different brightly colored covers) without changing the tactile sensation of the size, paper, and spiral. And so, I left Target with three of the suede notebooks. My thoughts were that with a goal of filling one per year, I would be set at least for the near future. I came home and my husband’s reaction was “[MORE NOTEBOOKS](https://blog.annabyang.com/all-of-the-notebooks/)?” But he doesn’t get it. This morning, I was going through my normal Sunday routine of reading and journaling, and added to that organizing my notebooks for the new year. I fill a Moleskine Daily Planner every year, with a bullet list of the day’s activities. Very little description, but I find that it is a habit of recalling, writing, and having a sense of how I spend my days. My 2020 Daily Planner has already arrived, along with the paper planner I use for certain activities (same brand as last year, big surprise). As I wrapped up the morning, I felt that I needed to write out our plans for when my parents come to visit right after Christmas, so I could go over it with my husband. I use a large horizontal pad of paper, lined, where I can rip off a used page. I love that it is horizontal, because I draw a line down the middle and write out my To-Dos on one side and my husband’s To-Dos on the other. We can each cross off our own lists, and still see big picture. Except I couldn’t find that pad of paper. I had *just* used it earlier this week when a friend visited from out of town, as we prepared for her arrival. I looked *everywhere*. Our house is not that big and I went through every room. Every drawer, where I might have shoved it in a hurry. Even the most improbable places like the bathroom and my husband’s office. No sign of the notepad. My husband thinks there are only two explanations: either I was throwing some things away and accidentally tossed out my notepad. Or my friend saw it in my office and decided to keep it for herself. The latter was a funny joke, since she knows how important my notebooks are to me and she has a similar affinity for the pens that she uses. My only other offering was that maybe our Elf on the Shelf took it. This particular notepad was a clearance purchase. I finally had to resign myself to the fact that since it was no longer made by the manufacturer, this only made the inevitable day arrive sooner, when I would have to move to a new type of notepad. Surprisingly, a horizontal, lined notepad is not very common. I finally settled on one from [Knock Knock](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SKF5LD4/ref=twister%5FB07R63YNQJ?%5Fencoding=UTF8&th=1&ref=blog.annabyang.com), that hopefully would continue to be made for years to come. So new notepad for family To-Dos is en route. It doesn’t solve the problem for today, since I couldn’t even bring myself to use a legal pad or a regular notebook as a substitute. --- ### A Day in the Life URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/a-day-in-the-life/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:21:39.000Z ## Remembering the details of a single day. Many years ago, I remember writing out the details of a single day. Somewhat for posterity, somewhat for myself so I could look back one day when I am older and have no young children and wonder how I survived. Every day, I write in my journal, but it is a brief, bullet-point list of the highlights. Early yesterday morning, I decided to make mental notes of the day, for the purpose of sitting down and writing it all out later. I went back and looked at my own writing, and the last time I did this was on January 11th, 2010 — when my oldest son was only four months old. Once every 10-ish years is likely going to show me a drastic difference in how the days unfold. > Woke up, fell out of bed > Dragged a comb across my head > Found my way downstairs and drank a cup > \-The Beatles, “A Day in the Life” I woke up at 5:12 a.m. (according to my FitBit). I wake of my own accord, no alarm. Get dressed, dry shampoo, wash face, eye cream. I go down to the kitchen and prepare my morning cup of coffee with heavy cream. I sit at the kitchen table with my journal and record the prior day, read a few pages of George Orwell’s *Why I Write* and read a few poems from Mary Oliver’s *American Primitive.* My parents had provided their Christmas plans for a visit the day prior so I checked train arrival times. Chatted with a friend via Messenger about the holidays. Checked Amazon, because I plan to make several Christmas purchases on Black Friday in hopes of deals. Cross-checked Target and found a LEGO item even cheaper at Target — by quite a bit — so I went ahead and placed the order. The 7-year-old appeared at my side close to 6:00 am. He had the beginnings of a bloody nose, which he is prone to in the dry months. It stopped quickly and he sat next to me at the table with a few blank pieces of paper. He has been working on a comic called “The Little Ice Cream” and drew out several more scenes before handing it to me to read. The kids have no school for this entire week before Thanksgiving, so the day was going to be juggling them and work. I wrote out a schedule for the entire day because my kids do a lot better when they know “the plan.” I paid the 7-year-old his allowance, which I had forgotten to do on Saturday. He is paying me back for some books he bought, so he only received $1 to put in his “Give” jar, which is designated either for charity or gifts. He asked if we were going to go out shopping on Small Business Saturday and I told him that we might. Started a load of laundry. Refilled a prescription online. Heard wailing from upstairs. Went up to find the 2-year-old lying sprawled out on the floor, face-down, and my husband sitting next to her. My husband said “She’s having a moment” so I shrugged and left the room. They came down a few minutes later, the toddler still with snot coming out of her nose, but fully dressed. My husband and I bustled about picking up the house. We have a cleaning crew that comes in bi-weekly and they were going to be arriving later that morning. We always tidy up before their arrival so they can focus on other thing. I sailed through the master bedroom, bathroom, and living room, quickly straightening up and putting things away. My husband picked up the kitchen and the toddler’s room, while also loading the dishwasher. I took out the garbage and dragged the cans to the side of the street for collection day. We both handled bagels and milk to the kids as they requested breakfast. The bleary-eyed 10-year-old appeared in the kitchen. Now close to 7:30 am. We listened to songs from *Frozen* on the Alexa. I told the two older kids that they needed to pick up their rooms and get dressed and there would be no tv until this was done. Husband left to drop the toddler off at day care. Settled in with the two older kids to watch the penultimate episode of the most current season of The Great British Baking Show at 8:00 a.m. After my single cup of coffee in the morning, I switch to tea. I also take my morning medication, fish oil, eat 5 almonds, and two slivers of dark chocolate. The episode ends and I have two work meetings at 9:00 and 10:00\. I tell the kids to “go play outside” since the cleaners have arrived and are now moving about the house. I tell my husband to feed the kids lunch at 11:00 so I can keep working. When I finally emerge from my office a little after 11:00, lunch is in full swing with sandwiches. I grab some pita chips and hummus for myself. The 7-year-old has written a letter that he wants to put in the mailbox so I help him address it. After lunch, we sit down to watch the finale episode of The Great British Baking Show, which they have been looking forward to. I try to confirm plans via Messenger with a friend for the next day (since it will be the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and no school), only to learn that her child is sick — so we reschedule for another day. I also email my aunt and ask her to send a bread recipe that my uncle uses, as the kids have been inspired to “bake things” after so many episodes of GBBS. The episode finishes and I send the kids to their rooms for “quiet time” — read, listen to an audiobook or Wow in the World, whatever. I desperately want a nap, but instead sit back down at my desk to work some more. My husband had an appointment so he left the house. Call my medical group’s office to schedule my annual mammogram, since I remember that the prior year’s appointment had been on Black Friday. I was told that the only options were either that night at 6:00 pm or CHRISTMAS EVE. I had to accept the evening’s appointment. My husband arrived back home and I had to leave shortly after for a an eye appointment that I had scheduled weeks ago. I joked with the scheduling person for my mammogram that clinics should offer a full day of services: eye appointments, mammograms, dentist, physical, colonoscopy — and top it all of with a spa day. Just get it all done at one time. Changed clothes (out of my sweatpants) and managed to remember my glasses to take to the eye doctor. From my eye appointment, that ended around 3:30 pm, I had to go directly to day care to pick up the toddler. Dropped her off at home, replied to a few quick work emails, switched the morning’s laundry to the dryer, then left again immediately to head to the mammogram. It was dark and raining, which caused heavy traffic on the way to the clinic. I made a quick stop at UPS to mail a package. I had planned to stop and grab myself some dinner, but with being told that I needed to arrive 15 minutes early, I only had time to stop at Whole Foods (which was on the way) and grab myself a protein juice and a piece of cherry pie. Didn’t even get to eat the pie because I dropped the fork somewhere in the depths of my car and couldn’t find it in the dark. I arrived at the clinic. Checking in took all of 30 seconds, so arriving 15 minutes early was a waste of time, since I then sat in the waiting room doing nothing. The mammogram itself was quick and I was headed home. By the time I arrived home, all of the kids were fed and tucked in for the night. I brought in the garbage cans and the mail. The older kids have been asking to “go to bed” early as we head into darkness and cold nights, but they usually stay awake in their rooms until about 8:00 pm. Doesn’t matter to me — at least we’re done with them for the night. I warmed up my pie, made a cup of tea, and went upstairs to talk to my husband. Sitting on the master bed, he keeps talking about how he wants to “teach me to code” (he is a programmer) as a way to spend time together. I remind him of a prior conversation in which I had told him that is interesting, but how will he reciprocate? What can he do that is of interest to me? He said that he would do some writing and I could provide him with prompts. So I go downstairs and retrieve a book called ***642 Things To Write About***. After determining that he would rather write fiction, I give him one of the first prompts: “You are an astronaut. Describe your perfect day.” I tell him that I want 800 words and he can work on that while I watch Schitt’s Creek. After 83 words, he was saying “This is soooo much writing” so I told him that 200 words would be fine. He padded his word count by adding lyrics from Elton John’s song “Rocket Man.” We each said three things that we were thankful for from the day, which is always how we end the evening. According to my FitBit, I fell asleep by 8:30 pm. Which then resulted in me being wiiiiide awake around 1:00 am….. --- ### The Unexpected Benefit of the Time Change URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/the-unexpected-benefit-of-the-time-change/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:13:10.000Z #### I made the most that I could with the extra hour in the morning. I dread the semi-annual changing of the clocks for the start and end of Daylight Savings Time. You wouldn’t think that a single hour change would be a big deal but *it is*. My kids are usually a disaster for at least a week, and I find that it takes awhile for my own body to adjust, resulting in odd sleep patterns and being exhausted as a result. However, this year was a bit different. I had found a routine that I loved where I would wake early each morning, sometimes at 5:30 am or earlier, and enjoy the peaceful quiet of the house. I would make my coffee, write in my journal, catch up on reading, and make a list of what I wanted to get done that day. My 7-year-old would usually appear around 6:00, but he was not much of a distraction — getting himself toast or a glass of milk — occasionally engaging in conversation, but not so much that I couldn’t continue to capture that time for myself. As the days drew further into the cold months, I found that I would no longer wake as early. I finally reached the point where that “time to myself” had nearly disappeared. I considered setting an alarm, but I loathe using an alarm clock. I have had the mentality that if I am still sleeping, then my body is telling me something and I need to follow that rhythm. But something about the changing season had moved my body into more of a “hibernation” mode. The end of Daylight Savings time at the beginning of November changed that. With the “fall back” of one hour, suddenly I was awake early in the morning again. During the first week or so, I was so exhausted in the evenings that I would fall asleep at 8:00 pm and wake around 4:30 am. Gradually this shifted until I am now at a comfortable 5:30 am wake-up time, as I had in the summer. I am back to my morning ritual of coffee/journal/reading. The cooler temperatures also mean a switch to a comforting hot tea after a single cup of coffee where I receive my jolt of caffeine. I have finished reading two books and been writing more. So perhaps as I examine the year, without wanting to “force” myself to wake at a particular time with an alarm, I need to have the mentality that “for the month of October, I need to assume that I am not going to have very productive mornings.” Then Daylight Savings Time will end and it will all self-correct. I used to jokingly be such an advocate for the end of the practice Daylight Savings Time altogether, but after being so aware of the effect that it had on me this year, I may have changed my tune. --- [Join Medium with my referral link - Anna Burgess YangAs a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story.![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/fit/c/160/160/0*81F9wFuxMAlZ1YF4)](https://annabyang.medium.com/membership?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### My 10-Year-Old Has a Checking Account URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/child-checking-account/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T07:51:58.000Z ## I want my kids to learn money management. My kiddos have been receiving an allowance for years, and it works well. I don’t have to deal with requests like “Can I have this silly thing in the checkout land?” or “Can I have a book from the school book order?” I can simply respond “Do you have enough money in your spend jar?” I pay out allowance in dollar bills for easy counting, which means that I have to occasionally go to the bank to take out cash. It is a bit of a revolving door, because an online purchase means that I am also “repaid” in same dollar bills. But at an allowance rate of one dollar per year of age per week, my oldest son is now up to $10/week and he is now has foresight to save his money for something bigger. I had opened up savings accounts for both of the kids when I first started the allowance, thinking that we would go to the bank to make deposits of their small amount of money each week. But it was far too much of a hassle and made more sense to just keep the money easily accessible at home, which became the “allowance jars.” My oldest son received an old iPhone for his 10th birthday a few months ago. He has no actual cell phone number, but can use it on the WiFi at home with a few apps. I have our family Google calendar synced up to the phone so that he can see upcoming events. He even marks books he has read on Goodreads. I decided that he could likely handle the concept of me transferring his allowance into his savings account, checking his account balance through the bank’s mobile app, and then transferring money back to me if he wanted to buy something. His age was such that money no longer needed to be a “tangible” possession in order to understand it. Simple enough? Unfortunately, no. The savings account had been set up in a way that he could not transfer money back to my account. And with a $25 minimum balance, he was going to need to “do math” every time to see how much he could actually spend. I wanted the experience to be as simple as possible. So I hauled him into the bank earlier this week. After talking with the personal banker for awhile, we decided that the best route would be to open a checking account for him. He would be able to make the transfers, no minimum balance. And I could set up the account in such a way that I could create his own login with online banking so that he could see ONLY his account, and not other accounts we have at the bank. The account is now set up and I have the automatic transfer in place for his allowance. Working on getting him access to online banking. And he wanted to make a purchase of three books on Amazon this week (all in the FunJungle series), so once I get the online banking enrollment done, he’ll be able to go into the app and transfer the exact purchase amount back to reimburse me. As we were leaving the bank, I told him “And you don’t want to find out what happens if you try to take out more money than you actually have…” The personal banker chuckled. --- ### The Allowance Jars and the Book Fair URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/allowance-jars/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:22:00.000Z ## My kids choose how to spend their money. I have been doing “allowance jars” with my kids (ages 10 and 7) for years. They each have three jars: Spend, Save, and Give. They earn one dollar per week for every year of their age, so on their birthdays, they get a raise. One dollar must go in Give, but the rest is up to them. I opened savings accounts for both, but taking the money to the bank was a hassle. When they were younger and didn’t earn as much (and had fewer “big goals” in mind for how to spend their money) it was constantly paying me back for wanting something in the check-out line or from the school store. But as they have gotten older, they have started to become strategic. And it is very satisfying for me to say “Oh, you want to buy that puzzle in the museum gift shop? Do you have enough money in your allowance jar?” They earn just enough that they can make those types of decisions and know that a purchase isn’t going to set them back for a month, as it did when they were only earning $4/week. Recently, they pooled their allowance for *months* to buy Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield — two new games for the Nintendo Switch. The games together cost $120, so were foregoing any other wants for a long time. This week was the school Book Fair, and they both wanted to go. I give them each $5 when the Scholastic Book Order comes home, but I told them that the Book Fair was extra. They had looked at books in advance, so I added up the total that they would need. Each was going to be slightly short by the amount of tax, so I told them that I would give them an advance on their allowance for that amount. We spent an inordinate amount of time at the Book Fair. Even with prepared lists of their wants, they both wandered the tables and ended up making different choices about their books. I picked up a copy of **Dragons Love Tacos** for my toddler, signed by the author, and also a young adult book called **Scythe** by Neil Shusterman that looked intriguing. I am usually eager to fork over my own allowance for books…. The 7-year-old really wanted a Harry Potter joke book, but it was per house, and there were no copies of Hufflepuff, so I told him that I would find it on Amazon for him. The 10-year-old made a last-minute decision for a book called **The Last Kids on Earth** by Max Brailler, because it had a sticker that indicated it was also a Netflix series he could watch. We made our way to the check-out line, and luckily had no one behind us. The school librarian smiled patiently as they counted out the money, mostly in $1 bills, since that’s how their allowance is received. The next day, I took a look at their bank accounts, held at a local bank, specifically for the 10-year-old. He received an old iPhone for his birthday that has no cell service, only WiFi. He only has a handful of apps, but one of them is Goodreads. I had usually helped him enter the books on the website, and was curious if he would do it by himself on the app. I figured Goodreads was a fairly “safe” introduction to social media. Nothing happened for several weeks, but then out of the blue a few books showed up in my feed that he had rated. He also told me that he saw another book that he might want to try, based on Goodreads recommendations. Giving him $10/week in allowance has become a bit of a chore, since I have to constantly make sure I have enough $1 bills. Conceptually, it made sense to pay him in cash when he was younger and still learning to count, but I decided he could understand the idea of “money deposited in a bank.” I thought I could set up an automatic transfer from my checking account to his savings account every week, and then put the app for the bank on his iPhone and let him check the balance. The only trick was wanting him to ONLY see his account and not other accounts. I set up a login for him for online banking, but it was not an automatic enrollment process, and I had a feeling that once I put in his date of birth, that the request for online banking would be rejected. It was. So, now I think I’ll be taking him with me into the branch down the street to see if there is another way to go about this — a separate login for myself that only shows his one account or something. However, I told him that I would be setting this up and he liked the idea. Certainly will make my life easier. ### Twenty-One Hours Alone URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/twenty-one-hours-alone/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:27:18.000Z For my birthday, I wanted solitude. My birthday was on Friday and I received my gift several weeks ago. I told my husband that I wanted a new bookshelf. When we moved into this house six years ago, he said “That’s it — no more bookshelves.” Meaning that I needed to make do with what I had, also implying that I would need to make decisions about what books to keep when new books come in. And I did fairly well. It may have also involved sneaking books into unexpected places and calling them “decor” but it never rose to the level of needing another shelf. Until a few months ago, when we finished putting an addition on our house. As a result, a lot of furniture moved around and I stopped using a desk that had two very nice shelves. Those books had no home. Coupled with the fact that I had been bursting at the seams for awhile and running out of places to shove books, it had become a problem. So I asked for a bookshelf for my birthday. I told him that I would swap out a very small shelf in our master bedroom — give it to the 10-year-old, whose own collection is growing — and put a larger shelf there. I found one on Wayfair and my husband even helped me assemble it as part of my “gift.” When my actual birthday rolled around, my husband asked “What do you want to do for your birthday?” Gift already received, he probably figured that I would choose a restaurant for us to go to as a family. I told him: “I want to check into a hotel. By myself. From check-in one day, to check-out the next day. Peace and quiet.” I was talking to a friend recently who is temporarily living in a different state than her husband, due to work. She was headed home to see him, and I commiserated. When my husband and I were first married, we lived in different states for six months, and only saw each other every other weekend. My friend asked when the last time I was apart from my husband. Well, every year I have a work conference that takes me away for about 3 days. Last time I was truly away, completely by myself? It had been far too long. When my 10-year-old was a toddler, I remember my mom coming to visit and she helped my husband while I went to a hotel for a night. That is probably the last time I had a whole day completely to myself. And unlike work travel, which is during the week and has the kids in school during the day, I was asking him to wrangle the kids on the weekend, at home. After agreeing, he said “Aren’t you going to miss us?” I replied “Why are you trying to ruin this? Just be happy for me.” I told him that I would reciprocate for his birthday. And so yesterday afternoon, I packed an overnight bag, my laptop, my iPad (so I could watch Netflix while doing something else on my laptop), a book, and a bottle of wine. I chose the same hotel that I stayed at all of those years ago, just a 15 minute drive from home. Proximity wasn’t the issue, as I could mentally take a break just with the change of scenery. The hotel shares a parking lot with a sandwich shop and a Starbucks, so that I was my dinner last night and breakfast this morning, walking to both. I arrived right at the check-in time of 3:00 PM and don’t intend to leave until check-out at noon. What did I do with all of this uninterrupted time? First I took a shower. I brought a face mask that had been given to me as a gift and that requires setting for 20 minutes on the skin, so I had never used it. Poured myself a glass of sauvignon blanc (and I had brought my own wine mug). But other than that, I was incredibly boring. I propped up my iPad and watched episodes of Grey’s Anatomy. Then I tackled my Gmail account. For work, I am pretty diligent about “Inbox Zero” (or close to it) where I keep only emails in my inbox that I still need to do something with, or am waiting for someone else to response (usually hovering around 50). Everything else goes somewhere. My personal Gmail inbox? Had close to 5,000 emails. Promotions, notifications of bank statements, emails from family members — you name it, and it was still in the inbox. I spent hours doing mass searches for things that I knew I could get rid of. It sounds like a silly way to spend my time, but it was one of those things where I felt like “If I just can get a handle on this, it’ll be so much better.” And then this morning, I went through my normal ritual of reading some newsletters I like and now I’m going to organize my work notes. I [take notes](https://medium.com/curious/the-best-tools-for-capturing-your-many-different-notes-b13d7fa2fe64?ref=blog.annabyang.com) in every meeting, and it helps me to remember things. But while handwritten notes are said to be better for understanding, I can’t search later. I usually take a bit of time each week to transcribe my notes from the previous week’s meetings, then ripping the page out of my notebook once I was done and tossing it, but I had fallen behind. Same type of thing: I knew that a few hours alone of focus would make me feel so much better. There you have it. I spend my alone time getting caught up on life. But it is amazing what I could get done without the kids around needing me to look at some picture they drew, or my work phone ringing, or even my cat hopping up into my lap wanting attention. I’m pretty sure that this will need to be an annual event. --- *You can support my work as a writer by* [*buying me a coffee*](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*!* ### Trusting The Moments When I Am Not Watching URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/trusting-the-moments-when-i-am-not-watching/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:22:16.000Z ## I want my children to know that I trust them. Last Sunday, we needed something to do. My husband took the toddler out for a bike ride using a hitched carrier we have, and I took the two older kids to run errands at the outlet mall. The bribe was that they could play the “Wizards Unite” game on my phone — an augmented reality by the makers of Pokémon Go if you’re not familiar. When we arrived, the two of them clustered together, head down in the game, taking turns every ten minutes or so. I had several errands to run in the various stores, and knew that if I took them with me, I’d have to contend with the fact that they would *not* be looking up at any point. This would cause them to be slow and likely bump into other people or displays. But that was the deal: a trip to the outlet mall with me, in exchange for playing the game. The outlet mall is an outdoor mall, and we arrived just as it was opening for the day. Shoppers were beginning to appear, mostly casually strolling on the early Sunday, versus the frantic bustle that I see as the day heads into afternoon and it becomes more crowded. My kids are 9 and 7\. Outside of each cluster of shops is a seating area. I hesitated. I could tell them to sit, while I ran into a store. The shop’s windows would mean that I could easily see them if I wanted to, but still I hesitated. I finally said “You two can continue to play the game while I run inside. Stay right here and don’t talk to strangers.” I had to talk myself into reality. Reality? Most of my stops were five to ten minutes in length. My kids were old enough to know not to talk to anyone who approached them. Someone attempting to forcibly take them would do so in front of other casual shoppers, and my kids would not go quietly. They were going to be *fine* sitting there, and I had to trust that to be true. Reality was also wondering if someone could see my kids and take it upon themselves that my children were “unattended” and call the police. It’s something I read over than over… rather than teaching children to be independent and be comfortable on their own, people are all too quick to contact law enforcement on grounds that children aren’t being supervised. I wonder when I will ever be able to let my kids ride their bikes to the park alone, without having to worry about a supposedly well-meaning passerby. Reality is that I want my children to know that I trust them. Stats show that there aren’t more kidnappings or anything of that nature in today’s world….we’re just more *aware* of the stories than ever because of the 24-hour news cycle and social media. It is re-wiring my own protective brain, as well as encouraging theirs to grow in a way that is not built on fear. The way that I grew up. Friends of ours recently told us that they want their 10-year-old to start biking to the library by himself. And, outside of worrying about “other people” I was impressed with how much they were encouraging their son’s independence. The first store that I went into, I could tell that I was tense. I kept repeating the realities over and over to myself: they will be fine. By the third store, I had calmed. When an understaffed checkout line kept me inside for a bit longer, my 7-year-old looked up from the game as I approached and said “What took you so long?” I explained, and he shrugged and went back to his turn on the game. Our total trip was only an hour, most of it walking the huge expanse of the outlet mall in-between stores. But by the end, I was proud of myself and proud of them. Though I didn’t mention anything to them — I didn’t want them to think that sitting outside of the store for a few minutes by themselves was anything other than “normal.” --- *You can support my work as a writer by* [*buying me a coffee*](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*!* ### Days of Everything and Nothing URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/days-of-everything-and-nothing/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:22:24.000Z I told my husband last night that I am so glad we don’t “do anything” with the kids. He kind of gave me a look like I was nuts and said “What are you talking about? WE DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS. We’re always busy.” Well… yes and no. My two elementary-aged children go to an all-day Montessori camp in the summer. The length of the day varies only slightly from their normal school day during the year. My toddler daughter continues her full-day daycare routine, with the only change being the introduction of “water days” twice a week in which we have to remember to send a change of swimming suit, towel, and water shoes. The days are longer, and the kids spend a lot of time running around in the backyard. Which makes for a quiet house in the evenings. I asked my 7-year-old yesterday what they *do* all day at Montessori camp. This is their third year enrolled, but I realized that I have never really prodded about what they do. He told me that when they arrive they write in their journals and then they can do math worksheets, cursive pages, or play Solitaire. Then they go outside for recess. Have lunch. Do an activity related to the theme of the week (this week is space so yesterday they came home with jars of cotton balls and sparkly things that represented stars). Free choice time in which they can read or play games. Followed by more recess. Sounds like an absolutely perfect way to spend the day. Mostly play, with a little bit of structure. We don’t have our kids in any organized activities, other than swimming lessons in the summer. Nothing that requires tournaments, lessons, practices, or performances. A few years ago, we did taekwondo, but at two lessons per week, it felt like a big commitment and the kids began to complain about not wanting to go. But, as my husband pointed out last night, we are far from “not busy.” Last weekend I spent about half a day working on the yard, including planting sunflowers — which I have wanted to do for several years. There was a visit to the zoo on a Friday when the last day of school was on a Thursday and camp didn’t start until the following week. We also had friends over for a BBQ. This upcoming weekend is Father’s Day, so we’ll go out to dinner at a place of Dad’s choosing. Our busy, though, is a lot different than the busy of other families. We control it and we choose the activities. We like our memberships to the museums or random family-style trips to Target, or walks to the park. I have an entire art cabinet filled with supplies for rainy days and saying “just grab a piece of paper and color.” We intersperse the days with designated screen time and educational apps. And every weekend we have collective family “quiet time” for about two hours in the middle of the day, for either napping or playing quietly. And I love it. I love watching the kids run around in the backyard, with only their imaginations to entertain them. Sometimes I sit back there with a glass of wine and a book or my journal, or only my sunglasses. I know it won’t last forever. They’ll probably hit middle school or high school and want to be involved in activities at school. But for now? Our form of busy — which often involves nothing structured at all — suits me just fine. --- *You can support my work as a writer by* [*buying me a coffee*](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*!* ### A Space of My Own URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/a-space-of-my-own/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:27:26.000Z #### I finally moved into my home office. For most of my working life, I haven’t had my own office. I work from home, but in the early days I traveled *a lot.* As newlyweds, with my husband still in college, it made more sense for him to occupy the second bedroom in our apartment as his office since he was home far more than I was. I had a desk in our master bedroom, with not much on it other than my laptop and maybe some drawers to file things. Flash forward to the condo we bought a few years later. I was no longer traveling and working from home after our first son was born. I bought this beautiful desk — small in its footprint, with the ability to fold up the desk part so that it looked like a bookshelf. It was in our living room, a complimentary piece of furniture in the space. My husband still occupied one of the bedrooms in the condo as his home office, even though he now had a regular 9-to-5 job that took him out of the house every day. We moved again…. and again… and again, finally settling into our current home. Each time, my work desk landed in the living room and my husband in an office to himself. I never really thought much of it — I was used to my living room desk. In the evenings when the kids were tucked in at night, I would often read or watch Netflix in our master bedroom, whereas he would play video games, so his nightly downtime made more sense to have his “own” space than mine. It has only been in the past year or two that I began to want a space of *my* own. I began spending a lot more time writing, and found I had no place to do that. I tried a tiny secretary desk in our master bedroom, but found myself too distracted in the space by thoughts of the “household.” I moved the desk out into our sunroom, but the temperature fluctuated a lot, and the kids could easily draw my attention — even with my husband’s stern instructions to them to “leave Mommy alone.” I would wake early and seize the time to myself, turning the kitchen table into my space. But I had to [transport everything with me](https://annabyang.medium.com/all-of-the-notebooks-9a477ff26fdb?ref=blog.annabyang.com) each time for my morning routine: journal, pen, the book I was currently reading, notebook, Surface and mouse. By the time the kids woke, I would clear everything off of the table, usually leaving it in a pile on the counter. When our third child was born, we began talking about an addition to the house and it included another bedroom. This was *not* going to be a room for one of the kids, but rather an office for me. Our bedroom situation was fine, but I needed that space, as the kids were growing older (therefore more invasive…) and as I wanted to focus on cultivating my own interest in writing. We began the expansion six months ago and just this week, I moved into my new office. I picked out the color of the room, the hardwood floor, the fancy light fixture, and the french doors. I have a large desk for work, with two huge monitors, and my small secretary desk for writing. I can close the doors and feel very removed from the rest of the house. This morning, I woke up early like I always do. I made my two beverages — one cup of coffee with heavy cream, and one cup of hot water with honey and lemon — like I always do. Except now instead of the kitchen table, I am at my little writing desk in my new office, with my journal, notebook, and Surface waiting for me. --- *Check out my free eCourse* [*The Endless Idea Collector*](https://products.annabyang.com/l/endless-idea-collector?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *and learn how to find content inspiration for content in everyday life.* ### The Creativity Cabinet URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/the-creativity-cabinet/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:22:42.000Z The addition to our house is soooo close to being done. It has been months in progress and literally down to a handful of finishing touches. But — those finishing touches are still enough that we cannot move any furniture into the new rooms yet. Several months ago, I bought a cabinet from World Market, anticipating that I would put it into my new office. However, once my husband and I drew out the specs of the room, size proportionate (using Visio) and placed all of the planned furniture into the room, I realized it wasn’t going to fit in the way that I had hoped. Last week, the doorway to the addition was cut into our existing kitchen. Painting and flooring are done, and I can really picture what the added space will do for our living situation. I am *itching* to move in, but instead have to admire it from an “almost there” distance. So while I wait for the final pieces to come together, I moved my beautiful cabinet into the kitchen. It wasn’t where I had planned, but it makes sense. And who knows? Maybe it will end up moving again when all of this is over and we are settled. But it satisfied my need to “do something.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/2025/01/annabyang-creativity-cabinet.jpg) I dubbed it “The Creativity Cabinet.” My kids love to do projects, and usually we end up sprawled over the kitchen table. I gathered up art supplies and art books from the scattered corners of the house: paints, crayons, markers, colored pencils, notebooks, construction paper. We have books on drawing, books about famous artists, and coloring books. For [additional inspiration](https://blog.annabyang.com/on-wanting-to-be-the-writer-who-draws/), I included issues of National Geographic — which I read, in paper form, every month, but then become the source for collages or school projects. I have a few toddler coloring books, and three-ring binders to hold completed treasures. I was so pleased with the end result, readily accessible in the center of our home. Before its completion, my older kids had been working in their basement playroom on an “art project” that involved construction paper, tape, and — to my dismay — glitter paint. At least I can hope to corral the glitter paint to a part of the house that would be easier to clean. --- *You can support my work as a writer by* [*buying me a coffee*](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*!* ### Books for Design, Books for Utility URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/books-for-design-books-for-utility/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:27:36.000Z The other day, I found *The Carnivorous Carnival* (Book 9 in A Series of Unfortunate Events) on the floor, sprawled open, upside down, spine strained. My 9-year-old had left it there. ![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*JVwQjuxmBDRfWjllDXU3PA.jpeg) This was after Book 1 in the series had received so much water damage from one of my kids that I had to replace it. My hardcover Harry Potter books have ripped book jackets, and even the beautiful illustrated copies of the first three books in that series are showing wear and tear. Same 9-year-old also lost the first book in the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series, and I made him buy me a new copy out of his allowance (but now the cover art has been redesigned and no longer matches the rest of my copies…) Even outside of my children, it is difficult for me to lend out my books. So often, they aren’t returned and I begin to hyperventilate that I’ll never see the book again. Finally, a few years ago, I adopted the policy that if someone asks to borrow a book I say “Keep it, it’s a gift.” If I love the book enough, I buy myself another copy. It saves me all of the stress of wondering if my collection will ever be complete again. Ironically, I was picking up the basement playroom when I found *The Carnivorous Carnival*, and listening to a playlist of classic rock on Amazon Prime. At that moment, The Who’s song “Baba O’Reilly” came on. “Teenage wasteland…. it’s only teenage wasteland…” That seemed appropriate as I surveyed the scene. I love books, but I not only love reading them — I love *collecting* them. I have a gorgeous set of Jane Austen’s six novels on display. I inherited some collector editions of Charles Dickens books from the 1960s. I’ve been known to buy a book just because the cover is beautiful. And for my birthday last year, I bought myself a copy of Ayn Rand’s *Atlas Shrugged* from [The Folio Society](https://www.foliosociety.com/usa?ref=blog.annabyang.com). My kids love to read and I love encouraging them to read. My 9-year-old will sometimes accept book recommendations from me, and reads the same paperback editions I had as a kid. I read out loud to them at bedtime, usually selecting a “classic” of some kind; a book that they might not otherwise read on their own (currently *Mary Poppins).* But I have had a hard time watching them be hard on my books. I wince at the damaged covers and tears in the pages. I watch both my 9-year-old and 7-year-old return to the Harry Potter books over and over, but every time the books are returned to the shelf a little worse for wear. Also, there is a gap on my shelf where *The Tales of Beedle the Bard* should be, and I dread asking what happened to it. Books should be loved. But could they be loved a little more gently?? I finally decided that I would need to have my own copy of the Harry Potter series. MINE only. Not for sharing. (Currently eyeing the special House editions that are being released for the 20th anniversary.) The current battered books will go to the kids to share. As for the rest of my books, I’ll have to take a deep breath and possibly learn to let go. It isn’t like I am going to be able to have two copies of all of my books — one for me, and one for the kids. I dream of the day when my teenage kids may venture over to some of my collection of literature and fall in love with something like Steinbeck’s *East of Eden* or F. Scott Fitzgerald’s *The Great Gatsby.* I’ll just have to hope that when that day comes when they borrow a book, they will return it when they are done so that I don’t have a hole on my shelf where the book used to be… --- *You can support my work as a writer by* [*buying me a coffee*](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*!* ### “What Do You Do?” URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/what-do-you-do/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:27:45.000Z #### After I have written it all out, it seems like a lot. I was talking with someone recently about growing as a person — both at work and outside of work. We can continue to expand our knowledge and skills in ways that benefit all aspects of our person. I was caught off guard with the question: “So, what do *you* do outside of work?” After thinking for only seconds, I responded with what first came into my head. #### I write. “Well, I write. A lot.” I write [in my blog](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), and have been blogging since 2009 (though I have since taken my original blog down). I write here on Medium occasionally with content that I don’t feel fits into my blog. I journal every day, recapping the minute details that no one cares about but me. And I try to grow and stretch in other ways — submitting to publications, or engaging in some type of self-prescribed creative practice. I preciously guard this time to myself: every morning from the time I wake up around 5:30 until everyone else stirs about an hour later. Time in the evening between when the kids are tucked in and 8:00, usually another half an hour. And Sunday mornings — my time, to myself, from the time I wake up until about 8:30 a.m. I use that time not only for writing, but for reading, planning out my day, or anything that I need to do for the entire family, like signing up for an event. #### I spend time with my family. “I am trying to cultivate my children. Raising small humans is hard.” Pause. “But not in a helicoptery-parent type of way.” Very intentionally, my kids are not involved in a lot of activities. They go to LEGO club one day per week after school for an hour. Sometimes in the Fall and Spring they opt for Run Club, which is a one-hour, once-a-week commitment, for only four weeks. In the summer I make them do swimming lessons. And that’s it. On the weekends, we usually sit down for some type of “creative time.” They can write, draw, paint. They could opt for puzzles. We have designated Quite Time on the weekends for two hours a day, where they can nap, read, or play quietly (and the adults can nap — see what I’m going for here?) They have specific start-and-stop times for screen time every day so there is no arguing. When there is no school in the summer, we add [Bitsbox](https://bitsbox.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), [Duolingo](https://www.duolingo.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), or [Zoombinis](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zoombinis/id961739806?mt=8&ref=blog.annabyang.com) to replace homework time, and they go to an all-day Montessori camp. If I could add *one* activity, it would be something related to music, but haven’t yet figured out how to work that into our days. Year-round, we make use of our memberships to the Art Institute of Chicago, Field Museum or Museum of Science and Industry (alternating every year), The Art Institute of Chicago, and Brookfield Zoo. I take them to a Unitarian Universalist church on Sundays so they can learn to be good people. I always carry a stack of notecards in my purse with colored pencils, and at any time, anywhere, they can ask for a notecard and write or draw something. Interesting pictures have come out of inspiration from the Art Institute and church. On weekends, we do Family Game Time, where a board game is selected from our large collection, and we play for about an hour. Twice a week in the evenings, we play Mario Kart on the Nintendo Switch as a family, affectionately referred to as “Showdown Sunday” and “Throwdown Thursday.” #### I engage with others. “And I am part of a support group for parents that have lost babies. That support group was there for me after my daughters died. Now, three years later, I can be there for other parents.” I still go to support group meetings, though usually mentally prepared that it is not “for me” but “for the other parents” in the room, to provide support. I can speak from the “other side” of the acute grief that is so intense immediately after losing a child. Does it get better? Yes. Will it ever be normal in the way that it was before loss? No. It is a new normal. I participate in many events with the group throughout the year. A private Facebook group provides additional support. And I speak on parent panels at the local hospital, sharing my story and the stories of my daughters, hoping to educate hospital medical staff in how to care for a patient like me. #### How do I fit in anything else? As much as I love the way that I spent my time, there is always *something else* that I wish I could be doing. Maybe I would brush up on my Spanish skills along with the kids, or teach myself to code. Exercise different parts of my brain. Physical exercise is always an aspect I struggle to make time for. Finding a consistent yoga routine has been an ongoing challenge. I could go in the evenings, but find that I am way too tired. I could carve out some time during “normal business hours” since my job allows that type of flexibility, but find that the amount of work never decreases and I will then need to perhaps work during time that I would rather be spending with my family. Weekends are an obvious, easy option, but then I am taking away from our time together as a family. So what do I do? After I have written it all out, it seems like a lot. And at the same time feels like there is always something more I want to do. If only I didn’t like sleep so much… --- *You can support my work as a writer by* [*buying me a coffee*](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*!* ### The Necessary Alone Time URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/necessary-alone-time/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:27:53.000Z #### I need space to decompress at the end of the day. My days are very regimented. I prefer it that way — it controls the chaos of a house with two adults that work from home and three young children. My kids know when to do homework, when to start and stop screen time, and what day of the week is designated for a fierce Mario Kart battle, parents included (affectionately referred to as “Throwdown Thursday”). For myself, the day includes making my bed before I’ve even had coffee, applying a carefully selected oil to my face that varies depending on whether it is a shower day or a dry shampoo day, and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc every evening while dinner is prepared — regardless if I am the one doing the preparing. Dinner is at the same time every night, followed by an early bedtime for the kids, and then I have the rest of the evening to myself. For years, my husband — who goes to bed much later — comes into the bedroom and says a “last goodnight” to me before I go to sleep, usually around 8:00 pm. He then heads back to his office and computer, but we rarely skip that time together. We each say three things that we are thankful for that day, and then the conversation varies between serious, pragmatic, or sometimes simply recapping the day. Last week, he started coming into the bedroom around 7:30, shortly after we say goodnight to our older kids. I would be sitting on the bed, usually with a notebook and pen, book, or my Surface (sometimes all three). He would begin talking and I found myself antsy, ready for the conversation to be over, and anxiously hurrying him along. He finally asked me: “Are you trying to get rid of me?” I found myself hurriedly responding “No, of course not.” But in my mind, I thought “YES.” A few more days passed and I finally realized what was happening. His previous “last goodnight” time was 8:00\. He had inched it back to 7:30. > I had lost the time to myself that I needed at the end of the day to decompress. From the moment the kids get up in the morning, it is one thing after the other. Getting ready for school and day care, followed by a workday where I am constantly responding to emails and phone calls. The kids arrive home on the bus and then it is dinner prep, eating, and bedtime. All of which has its routine, but *someone always needs something*. All day long, I am reacting to the people around me. That time between 7:30 and 8:00 (or earlier, if I happen to be tucking in the toddler for the evening instead of the older kids) was my time to recuperate. I could mindlessly scroll through social media, read the news, watch tv, or take a bath. Whatever I chose, it was *just me*. I brought this up with my husband. “Remember how you noticed that I was ‘trying to get rid of you’ in the evenings? Turns out, I was. I need you to give me space until 8:00\. Then you can come in and talk about the day.” He was surprised. He thought he had been helping — knowing how tired I am in the evening, he thought that by engaging in our conversation *earlier*, I could then be done and have the remainder of the day to myself. I told him I appreciated that, but — for me — it doesn’t work that way. By that point, I can’t stand to be “on” for another minute and need to give my brain some down time. *Then* I would be able to engage in conversation with him. So, back to 8:00 it is. Last night, I had to break out of my routine and run to Home Depot after dinner so that I wouldn’t miss the mulch sale (adulting is hard…) By the time I got home, I told him that I was ready to be “tucked in.” He glanced at the clock and said “7:45… are you sure?” Yes. I had been able to decompress during the drive to Home Depot, listening to music in the car and pretending to be a karaoke star. But I appreciated his attention to the clock and my “me time.” --- *You can support my work as a writer by* [*buying me a coffee*](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*!* ### Learning to Love Writing URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/learning-to-love-writing/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:22:51.000Z I am not the “involved” parent at school. I am not part of the PTA. I don’t volunteer in my kids’ classrooms. I don’t go on field trips. I love and appreciate their school dearly, and all of the dedicated staff. I make sure homework gets done, encourage reading, and show up when my kids want to attend some school-sponsored event. But the school never seems to lack for parental involvement, so I am happy to otherwise sit back. Except for one thing. Once a month, I go to the school for two hours for a Writer’s Workshop. Grade-school kids can sign up to bring a writing project and work with a parent volunteer on anything: brainstorming ideas, editing, adding more details, word choice, etc. Once the story is polished, they can submit the story for “publication” and it is bound and placed in the library. Then late in the year, there is an event where kids can read their published stories aloud. I am one of those parent volunteers. I don’t particularly love it. I don’t think I am great with kids (teachers — I love you). I am impatient and sometimes bored as kids painstakingly write out their sentences. But I continue to volunteer, because I know that it is a skill set that I have. Today was not particularly different. The kids traipsed in, with a new batch every 30 minutes, some with notebooks of stories, some with stories typed on Chromebooks, and some with only their ideas. What was different about today for me was that I tried to connect with each kid that sat down, about something *other* than their story. 1. A third-grade boy had a story about a trip he took to Wisconsin with his family. I told him that I am from Wisconsin. 2. A second-grade boy was writing a story about a bank robber. He talked about the security cameras the bank would have. I told him that I used to work at a bank and I also had a secret button I could push if a robber came in and it would call the police. 3. A fourth-grade boy was writing a story about a “cereal killer” and at the end of his story, the “cereal killer” went to Azakban. I told him that I was also a Harry Potter fan and showed him the lightning bolt tattoo on my wrist — which he thought was awesome. 4. Two fourth-grade girls were collaborating on a story, and immersed in finishing it up as a shared Google Doc on their Chromebooks. As they talked, they mentioned Charlotte Doyle. I asked if that was a book they were reading, and they said yes. I asked if the book was “The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle” (it was) and I told them that I had also read that book, many years ago. All of the kids I saw probably won’t remember me, even a few weeks from now. They were absorbed in their writing and paid little attention to me and the other volunteers in the room. But maybe — just maybe — I gave them a little something today about connecting with a reader. --- ### All of the Notebooks URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/all-of-the-notebooks/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:14:16.000Z My husband wanted to know why I have so many notebooks. I had been writing in several on Saturday morning and they were strewn around the kitchen. “They all have a purpose,” I said, indignantly. “Would you like to know what they are?” “Not really.” He shrugged and walked away. I admit to being a bit disappointed because I was fully prepared to offer explanations for ALL of my notebooks. I do a lot of things. I am an executive at a software company and have a million things to keep track of. Running a house with three kids is akin to being the CEO of a small business. Plus, I have my own things that I want to do. Much as I’m a firm believer in [automation](https://annabyang.medium.com/why-i-use-both-trello-and-todoist-dd137b96ef86?ref=blog.annabyang.com), streamlining, and making things as easy as possible, I have also learned not to “force” things into roles or tasks for which they are not intended. Notebooks are such a thing for me. I cannot have one giant notebook for all of my content because, for me, that doesn’t work. They [each have a unique function](https://medium.com/curious/the-best-tools-for-capturing-your-many-different-notes-b13d7fa2fe64?ref=blog.annabyang.com) in my world, and I need to dedicate them to their purpose. I have a Moleskine Daily Planner, and at the end of each day, I jot down what I did that day. Who I saw. What I did. No commentary, hardly more than a sentence of detail. This is as close to a daily journal as I get. I have a Simple Elephant weekly planner, with no prescribed weeks (the dates are blank — I fill them in as I go). This is my writing planner, where I put thought and commitment into what I am going to write. A blog post? Submit an article to an online publication? Some weeks just suck and the wheels fall off the wagon and I plan nothing, writing only as I am able to squeeze it in. And that’s fine. Having no prescribed dates in this planner makes me guilt-free if I miss a particular week. I have a small spiral notebook that I keep in my purse for when I am out and about. If I feel the need, I can write something down. I have a daily planner where I outline my “home time” and, more specifically, my goals for myself. First I write down all of the commitments for the week — like last week had the school science fair in the evening. Around that, I detail out the evenings, including exercise, laundry, watching an episode of Sherlock with my husband on Fridays (our “date night in”) and bath night. It gives me a realistic perspective of the time I have to myself and how I want to use it. I’m still *working on* using that time productively and not just flopping onto my bed with Netflix, but it has helped me at least recognize when I have pockets of time in the day that I can use. (Note to self: need to write in this notebook in PENCIL instead of PEN) A similar daily planner breaks my workday into 30-minute chunks. I have found that this has helped me tremendously, even down to 15-minute increments. If I know I need to spend an hour on a project, I block it off. Shut the email and focus, crossing off as I go. It has served me much better than a giant to-do list for the day. (I also use OneNote and Outlook Tasks for work.) A spiral decomposition notebook holds more long-form writing. Essays? I have prompts from various sources and try to write in this notebook once per week. There is a huge distinction between writing by hand and typing, as writing by hand is slowed by the physical limitations of my fingers. I am forced to slow down. Think more. Then there are days like today that did not go as planned. I had blocked off in my notebook that I would be taking my 9-year-old and 6-year-old ice skating from 3:15–5:45, including travel time. But the 6-year-old announced after [nap time](https://betterhumans.pub/power-napping-is-a-superpower-1b03cd29530f?ref=blog.annabyang.com) that he no longer wanted to go ice skating. “Maybe next weekend,” was what he said. I had suddenly found free time in the afternoon. Though it was only 21 degrees outside, I bundled the two kids up and sent them outside to run around. “Oh good,” said the 9-year-old, “I was looking for a way to get my energy out.” I called my husband down and informed him that he and I were both going to use this time to run on the new treadmill we just bought a few weeks ago. We both have joined a running challenge, hosted by a friend of ours, where we need to run 20 days in March. This could be one of the days. My husband went first and I followed, plugging along at a steady 12–minute mile. As I was wrapping up, the kids wanted to come back inside. The door from the sunroom to the backyard has issues and needs to be opened by an adult, so I motioned for my husband to come and let them in while I continued to run. He walked past me and opened the door and as he passed a small table in our sunroom, he said, “ANOTHER notebook???” Why, yes. This notebook was labeled “**Quotes**.” For when I am reading outside or in the sunroom and trip across a quote I like, I write it down. He shook his head. And I kept running. --- ***Like what you’re reading? Consider supporting writers by becoming a Medium member.*** [Join Medium with my referral link - Anna Burgess YangAs a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/fit/c/160/160/0*_Q45n5iM0cIKsssM)](https://annabyang.medium.com/membership?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### A Day Inside, Organizing Books URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/a-day-inside-organizing-books/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:28:13.000Z Not many people would write about the time spent organizing bookshelves. In fact, if I began to talk enthusiastically about an afternoon spent carrying books from one room of the house to another, people would likely not understand my excitement, be bored, or suggest that maybe I invite Marie Kondo over for a cup of coffee so that I could swap tips with the best in obsessive tidying (though Kondo would likely not approve of my expansive book collection). Far beyond only taking pleasure in reading, books and their presence in my home have become a true pastime for me. A selection of cookbooks chosen for their beauty more than their recipes graces the top of the buffet in my kitchen. Every year at Christmas, I purchase the latest Pulitzer, Printz, Newbery, and Caldecott winners in hardcover to add to my collection. I think about where to best display, and how to group books by genre, series, or author, or location in the house. The polar vortex blew into Chicagoland on Tuesday evening, bringing temperatures of -50F with windchill. I knew by Tuesday afternoon that the elementary school would be closed for the next *two* days, and that my daycare would also be closed. Even though weekends bring hours of everyone being in the house together, usually the days are broken up by *something*. Errands on Saturday, church on Sunday, or a kid birthday or playdate. The idea of being stuck inside for two entire days with no escape was enough to make me feel squirrelly. My husband and I both work from home, so on Day 1 we plotted passing the kids back and forth between meetings and other work responsibilities. I continued working late into the evening, after everyone was asleep, trying to catch up from the day. By the time I woke up on Day 2, I was exhausted. I am fortunate that a flexible work environment means that I don’t *have* to work, so while my husband attempted to put in a “normal” day, I took it easy. Purged the kids’ play area in the basement, removing an entire large black garbage bag of stuff that they later did not even notice was gone. Put laundry away. And while the toddler napped in the afternoon, I began rearranging some of my bookshelves. We are in the middle of a home addition project, and when done, I will have my own office. I already know that one of my bookshelves will be moving with me into the new space, so I was trying to plan ahead. Simultaneously, I was making updates to my Goodreads shelf, trying to ensure that everything was “in sync.” Books that I physically possess are given a special tag in Goodreads. Furthermore, that tag is specific to the *exact shelf in my house*. So I have a tag for my main shelf, a different tag for the living room shelf, and so on. Yes, I know. I am a complete dork that way. I was removing books in the nonfiction and memoir category from the main shelf in the master bedroom. The shelf had little space left and I decided to classify it as fiction only and take the other books elsewhere. This had a cascading effect on my organization and I was trying to sort it all out. The books that were to be relocated were strewn across the carpet when my husband came into the room. He eyeballed the floor and then proceeded to talk about something else. I wasn’t happy about being interrupted and tried to keep my answers short, but he wasn’t taking the hint. Finally, I pointed out to him that I was in the middle of something. I had wrangled the kids all morning, while he worked, and my way of unwinding while the toddler napped was to work on my books. He apologized and said “I’ll talk to you later about your book project. I know that it is important to you.” It was such a sweet sentiment. First that he knows how much I cherish my books, and second that he would take the time to listen to me babble on about why I had made certain decisions about how my books were organized. That’s a good partner — willing to listen to the passions of the other, even when they have no interest themselves. --- ***Like what you’re reading? Consider supporting writers by becoming a Medium member.*** [Join Medium with my referral link - Anna Burgess YangAs a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/fit/c/160/160/0*_Q45n5iM0cIKsssM)](https://annabyang.medium.com/membership?ref=blog.annabyang.com) ### The Winter of Our Content URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/the-winter-of-our-content/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:28:23.000Z Snow fell in Chicagoland about a month ago but then disappeared. There was no white Christmas. It rained on New Year’s Day, enough that the water pooled in some areas (including our basement…) But today, a light snow has been falling since this morning: crisp, pristine, and accumulating. My 9-year-old and 6-year-old have never been much for outdoor activities, so the idea of putting on winter gear and playing in the snow had zero appeal to them. They both thought it looked beautiful, but admired it from the distance inside the warmth of our house. I did play outside as a kid, but I lived in the country with a wide expanse of space and freedom. On a wintery day like this, I had surrounding hills that were perfect for sledding. And when out of energy, soaked through, and red-cheeked, I could return indoors and warm by the woodstove. Radiant heat is perfection. At the same time, I don’t remember spending entire *days* outside. For winter break, or long summers of no school, I recently found myself wondering what I *did* to pass the time. As a full-time working parent, I send my kids to full-day camps when possible, but this year the winter break back-to-school day was a Tuesday, leaving us to entertain ourselves on Monday. On days like this or weekends, our “screen time” is designated times of the day, which are well-known and strictly enforced, leaving a large amount of time to fill in the middle and children that have no affinity for being outside. A Christmas gift that I received this year reminded me of something I adored as a child. My brother and sister-in-law got me an adult paint-by-number set. Instantly, I remembered sitting in the kitchen of the farmhouse that I grew up in, with my sister. We would spend hot summers at that kitchen table, either with a paint-by-number or a puzzle, listening to a “book on cassette” from the library. I remember intently bending over my projects at the table, while simultaneously hooked on whatever book we were listening to. My kiddos love to create things. Their drawings are scattered about the house. And as I remembered how much I loved that time spent at my kitchen table growing up, I figured that I could create a similar environment at home. Well, the environment already exists, but make it a more dedicated space and allow time for me to be creative as well. Our “snow day” was a perfect opportunity. While my 17-month-old and husband napped (both recovering from a virus this week), it seemed like the perfect opportunity. I told my kids it was “creative time.” I pulled out a stack of magazines, including Highlights and National Geographic (both of which we subscribe) and Popular Science (somehow receiving for free?!) along with some composition notebooks and I told them that we were making collages. The 6-year-old asked if he could paint instead, and I told him, “Of course.” The result was that the 9-year-old drew Pokemon in his notebook. The 6-year-old painted the outside winter wonderland scene. And I created a collage of photos and words (poem?) from National Geographic. We have a fairly regimented “quiet time” in our house from roughly 1:00 pm — 3:00 pm on weekends, in which everyone retreats to his or her room for either napping, reading, or doing something else quietly. After that time, I channeled the other love of my youth: a puzzle and audiobook. I should preface with: my kids love Audiobooks. They both have Echo Dots in their rooms and access to our Audible account. Favorites have been all of the Harry Potter books, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Charlotte’s Web. So for the time between “quiet time” and “screen time” in our afternoon, it was Puzzle and Audiobook time. The older kids brought up two puzzles: 100 pieces and 150 pieces. They worked together on assembly while listening to *Danny the Champion of the World* by Roald Dahl. As an avid reader, this is a new book even for me. The 17-month-old sat in her booster seat with a simple puzzle on her tray. I sat at the kitchen table, watching my three kiddos work on their puzzles, with a glass of sauvignon blanc, writing this. An afternoon well spent. --- *Check out my* [*newsletter*](https://newsletter.annabyang.com/profile?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*, where I share stories, tips, and apps that make your day better and life easier.* ### The Life of a Non-Writer URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/the-life-of-a-non-writer/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:57:35.000Z ## The Challenges of Finding Time to Write A common “crowdsourcing” question in the writing world is: how do you find time to write? Responses usually fall into the following categories: 1. I wake up early/stay up late/forego sleep. 2. I ignore other adult responsibilities, like cleaning. 3. I give up any other hobbies. 4. I have a commute or breaks in my regular workday that allow me to write. 5. I have support from my spouse. There is typically an undertone of “if it is important to you, you will *make* it a priority. You will shove off any other demands on your time and you will WRITE.” ## Less writing lately The end of the year brought a lot of unease into my writing life, as I looked at how much I have slowed over the past few months. I had been writing every few days into a blog since my oldest son was 3 weeks old and he is now 9. But out of respect for his privacy as he began 3rd grade this year, I made the blog private, only sharing with family. Taking away at 360-view into my daily life also removed the obligation I felt to keep up for “readers” — however few. I write about grief [in my blog](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). This too, slowed. Not because I do not have anything to say, but household demands took priority. See #2 in the list above and that is something I simply cannot do. My husband was diagnosed with anxiety earlier this year and while he is managing it with medication and therapy, there are still ups and downs. A “down” time usually means increased reliance on me to handle the day-to-day logistics of our house. On top of that, our house was plagued with illness throughout the month of December. Sleep? I cannot give that up, nor do I want to. I learned long ago that I do not function well without sleep. I couldn’t write when tired even if I tried, at least not in a way that is productive. ## Fitting writing around work My job doesn’t lend itself well to writing breaks during the day. Or — it *could* — I have the flexibility in working from home that I could stop, and write, if I wanted. I would certainly be at my most alert. But the nature of my job means that if I stop to write, I will need to still finish my work later. An hour borrowed for writing means that an hour’s worth of work will likely be waiting for me later. I already work efficiently so that I can complete everything I need to do in the confines of a traditional “workday” (most of the time) leaving my evenings and weekends as protected time to be with my family. Our days are fairly regimented. Wake up, get kids ready for school. Work. Kids come home from school. Dinner, pick up the house, laundry, etc. Kids go to bed early. And by that time I have hit a wall of exhaustion. I may read a chapter of a book before watching an hour of tv and going to bed. The end. Sunday mornings are always “my time” to myself. From the time I wake up until about 9:30 or so. My husband does breakfast and keeps the kids occupied. It has been this way for a long time, though the holidays threw off this routine a bit. I was looking forward to the quiet today (“quiet” being a relative term, since I can still hear some yelling in the background as the kids play or something). Then my husband suggested that we go out to breakfast at our favorite restaurant as a family — something we haven’t done for months. I hesitated. Debated spending time with the family versus guarding the time that I knew was earmarked for myself. I finally said, almost apologetically: “I’m sorry, I don’t want to go. I was really looking forward to the time to write this morning….” I began to work this into the dialogue with my husband back in December, when I was having a lot of angst about seeing my writing time diminish. We both have passions. His is computers and programming. He is lucky that his job *pays* him to code and he has been working on a project that allowed him to create something entirely from scratch. He told me how much time he had spent researching and learning, and also done a few online courses to find new techniques. All in the name of his regular employment. While I shared in his excitement, I was also envious. I finally told him that: *You are lucky that your job allows you to pursue your passion in that way. I don’t have that. I have to find other ways to make room for my passion in my life.* The time that feels like it has to be stolen away from either sleep, family responsibilities, work, or asking for increased support from my spouse when I know that he also has his own struggles. ## Re-framing my thinking Then I tripped across some quip on Twitter that was a far different mentality than all of the “how do you find time to write” shaming above (because, let’s face it, implying that writing isn’t a priority if you don’t shirk other responsibilities or healthy lifestyle choices is a form of shaming). This comment was along the lines of: > Don’t feel that because you haven’t finished something by a certain date that it can never be done. There are many artists, writers, and other creatives who produce their best work later in their lives. And so perhaps I need to set a more realistic expectation for myself. What can I accomplish, in the time and energy that I have, in a way that will fulfill me, but also not make me feel like what I am doing is “not good enough?” There are other writers out there. Their lives are not my life. What works for them, and what they are able to produce, is not an exacting standard by which I should measure myself. It doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t try to carve out some more time for myself. I feel like I lack balance right now, devoting time to everyone else’s needs and not my own. But when I find that time and make it my own, I can be happy with that and guard it. Like choosing the time to write this, with a cup of cold coffee at my side, instead of choosing pancakes with blackberry and brie at my favorite breakfast spot. --- *Check out my* [*newsletter*](https://newsletter.annabyang.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*: bi-weekly tips to make your day better and your life easier.* ### The Online Versus “Real” Persona URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/online-versus-real-persona/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:17:39.000Z I was perusing Instagram the other day and scrolled past a post from a woman that I know personally. She is an instructor at my yoga studio and also has a blog and following. Her post was along the lines of “There are no bad days. We put a category on our days. It’s up to us to keep it within the moment and not turn it into a bad day.” I immediately thought “What utter nonsense.” I sent it to a friend of mine who is a fellow loss mama. My daughter, Nelle, was stillborn at 21 weeks of pregnancy and my daughter Iris was lost at 16 weeks of pregnancy. My friend’s son was stillborn on his due date, and she is also a licensed therapist. She was equally infuriated and we assumed that the poster had never gone through anything difficult in her life. The post reeked of ignorance. I have been through bad days, and I could not “happy think” my way out of that bad day. I have been through depression and anxiety, where the chemistry of my body had changed and there was nothing I could do to control the thoughts in my head. The implication of the post was that if we had bad days we were just not trying hard enough, and it was offensive. Still seething, I mentioned the post to my husband. He said, “Maybe that’s just her online persona.” He mentioned that he had seen an interview with the lead singer of Metallica recently. The singer said that while a lot of the songs were dark and angry, it was just an image. He was actually a really happy person 98% of the time. And Metallica has been around since long before social media made our private lives so glaringly public. I stopped and took a breath. Her post *had* been on her business profile, the one associated with her blog. She was targeting a specific audience and all of her posts about yoga are motivational and uplifting. I do the same. In [my own blog](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), I write about grief and loss. Those are not the only aspects of my life, but that is the target audience of my writing. I had to make room for the possibility, or perhaps probability, that the same was true for this yoga blog. It is hard to separate what we see on social media versus real life, even for non-business-related content. I see smiling photos plastered all over Facebook and if I went by that, then no one I know ever has problems or struggles. And for those that do air out their dirty laundry, I have found myself erroneous thinking “Why are you telling us this? Keep your problems to yourself.” Far from supportive, when the person is clearly trying to come to the community for help. I love social media. I love the involvement and interactions that it allows me to have with friends and family that are far away. But I have to keep in mind that it is a carefully curated selection of content, and doesn’t represent all aspects of a life being lived. --- ### When the Writing Distractions Are Funny Not Funny URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-distractions-funny-not-funny/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:57:44.000Z Sunday mornings. The day that I am supposed to have to myself. Husband gets up with the kids, gets them breakfast. I shower, grab my coffee, and head out to my writing desk in the sunroom. If I am lucky, I might have two or three hours to myself. Yet I cannot escape the house around me, and sometimes I just have to shrug my shoulders and laugh because, well, I tried. There is a sliding glass door between the living room and sunroom, so the baby can see me. She crawled over and pounded her hand on the glass, in an attempt to get my attention. I tried to ignore her. She hoisted herself up on her knees in a more fervent attempt, then fell over and clonked her head on the glass door. Began bawling. Even though I always tell everyone to “pretend I’m not here” I still commanded the two older kids to go downstairs and get dressed. The six-year-old appeared at my side wearing a white button-down shirt he calls his “lab coat” because I am apparently the only person in the house who knows how to button and he needs help. Minutes later, I hear someone screaming bloody murder from the basement playroom. Not murder. Just the same six-year-old wanting the lab coat to be REMOVED but won’t let his dad help him unbutton. Only wants me. I pretend I don’t hear anything and the screaming continues. Husband puts the baby down for her morning nap and proceeds to settle in for a nap himself. I’m like “But, but the kitchen hasn’t been cleaned…” (part of the morning tasks I’m supposed to be escaping) and heard a response of “I’ll do it later.” Well, now I’m mad. And oh crap, now realize it’s the end of the month and I have some household/bills type stuff that needs to be done and if I don’t do it now, I won’t have a chance on a workday. Somehow in all of this, I set my coffee cup down in an odd location and now I cannot find it. Spend a good five minutes searching high and low, only to find it on the corner of a bookshelf. Before I know it, over two hours have passed. But… I did get some time to plan out my writing for the upcoming week. That’s always a plus and makes the days feel less chaotic. I resolved the fight between my husband and the 6-year-old over the whole button-unbutton shirt situation. The baby napped for an hour and a half. And my husband came down and loaded the dishwasher. So we’ll call the “morning to myself” half a win. --- ### Giving Myself a Break URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/giving-myself-a-break/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:57:54.000Z I recall a quote I saw floating around Pinterest that was something to the effect of: > Instead of saying “I don’t have time” try saying “It’s not a priority. The idea was to re-frame why some things get pushed to the bottom of the list. Laundry not done? “It’s not a priority.” Probably true. Probably I prioritized many, many things above laundry. But what I’m facing now is truly a version of “I don’t have time.” I cannot replace anything in my day with “It’s not a priority” and find that I can push it to the back burner. Unfortunately, solving for x in this equation means that [writing is the sacrifice](https://blog.annabyang.com/making-time-for-what-is-important/) in the fight against time. Writing is my therapy, my outlet, my energy, and my goals — but it is not my livelihood, a requirement of parenting, or a viable tradeoff for sleep. This week, for example, what could I give up in exchange for writing? My paying job has substantial demands on my brainpower and skill set right now, the timing of which is outside of my control. I have three kids going in opposite directions during the day — camp and daycare — that involve lengthy drop-off and pickup routines (if only writing while driving were possible…) I am working out the details of some major home renovations and while the time and attention involved are stressful, we need to move forward in order to alleviate other burdens in our lives. My husband has been struggling with anxiety for the past few months and while he is receiving help in the form of therapy and medication, additional responsibilities are falling to me so that he can focus on his mental health. I have an evening meeting of my support group for bereaved parents and a meeting with my own individual therapist — both necessary for my own mental health. And I have a haircut scheduled for Friday afternoon, with the last one being far too long ago. Not to mention all of the recurring household tasks, like paying bills, aforementioned laundry, yard work, meals, etc. I sneak in writing, [usually in the morning](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-early-in-the-morning/) while I feed my baby daughter breakfast before anyone else in the house wakes. She munches on Cheerios and fruit while I collect my writing thoughts. Sometimes, bone-tired though I am, I will do some additional writing in the evening after all the kids are tucked in. This is considerably less productive, as my brain cells are usually fried by that point. Somehow, in the middle of all of this, I set a goal for myself for the month of July. I have wanted to [participate in Camp NaNoWriMo](https://blog.annabyang.com/gearing-up-for-camp-nanowrimo/) for a while, and I thought “I can do this.” I even set the bar low, with a goal of only writing a little bit each day toward a larger writing project I have. Just a tiny bit — I didn’t even commit to a word count or a number of hours, but rather only to forming the habit of fitting more writing into my day. Well, it is Day 11 in July, and I have done this “extra” writing for only two days. I was rolling those words around in my head: “It’s not a priority, it’s not a priority” as I tried to explain my shortcomings. However, that’s not true: writing is a priority. But it is amidst other responsibilities I have to work and my family that aren’t optional. I spent a bit of time every evening beating myself up for not writing. If I were to just stay awake later… (as if that would be productive writing) or if I had just worked faster (can’t predict when there are new fires to put out…) Finally today, on Day 11, I cut myself a break. I do write. I have a near-daily writing habit that has been ongoing for years, and I have maintained it throughout working, family, and other demands. That’s nothing to sneeze at. I was [feeling guilty over not making the time](https://www.workbetter.media/p/we-lack-good-systems-for-taking-time?ref=blog.annabyang.com), but I cannot add more hours to the day and there is not anything else I can cut out right now. Much as I would love to write instead of doing laundry… Perhaps trying to add another writing project at this point in my life is not realistic — because I cannot give it the attention it deserves among the other responsibilities and commitments I have. My life will not always be like this. There will come a time when the other outside demands are fewer. And at that time I can say “Yes. Now writing.” ### Camp NaNoWriMo: Day One URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/camp-nanowrimo-day-one/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:13:18.000Z It is probably a good thing that [my participation in Camp NaNoWriMo](https://blog.annabyang.com/gearing-up-for-camp-nanowrimo/) started on a Sunday. Sunday mornings are always “time to myself” in our house. Saturday mornings are for my husband, and he usually sleeps in. Sunday mornings are mine, and I usually grab my cup of coffee and sit in our sunroom at my writing desk. Even though today predicted temps in the 90s in Chicagoland, at 6:30 am it was comfortable in the three-season sunroom. I did my regular “work” first: blog writing, reading two newsletters from the week that I enjoy, and some social media scouring related to writing. Another cup of coffee. The 6-year-old informing me that the 10-month-old’s fingernails are too long and she scratched his eyelid (I don’t care — go tell Daddy). The 8-year-old passing through the sunroom but held up his hand saying “I’m pretending you’re not here, Mommy!” Talking to my husband about travel logistics associated with a play date later that afternoon. Somehow, it was suddenly 8:30. I had errands to run with a store that opened at 10:00, so knew that around 9:30 was my limit. My Camp NaNoWriMo goal is one hour per day. I closed my Surface and pulled out a book, a notebook, and a pen. The book was [Good Poems for Hard Times](https://www.amazon.com/Good-Poems-Times-Garrison-Keillor/dp/0143037676/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?ie=UTF8&qid=1530477204&sr=8-1&keywords=good+poems+for+hard+times&ref=blog.annabyang.com). I opened to a random page and read four poems, to get myself into the right frame of mind. I opened my notebook and dated the top. Day 1 of my 30-day commitment. I wanted to write something about my grandmother. She is 98 years old. The last few years have seen a decline in her health, including her memory and several falls. The most recent fall was recently and left her in a lot of pain. I wrote a short tribute to the magnificent life she’s led, nearly a century in the making. It was a good Day 1. --- *You can support my work as a writer by* [*buying me a coffee*](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*!* ### Gearing Up for Camp NaNoWriMo URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/gearing-up-for-camp-nanowrimo/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:58:03.000Z My house is in a constant state of flux. As my children get older, we constantly rearrange furniture, toys, school supplies, and sometimes entire rooms. I always want to make the best use of the space that we have. Earlier this year, for example, we rotated four entire rooms in the house. About half of the house ended up in a new space, and it involved two movers, a visit from my mom, and weeks to put back together. Part of this constant shifting is how my writing desk is now out in the three-season sunroom. It is tiny, with a writing area that perfectly fits my Surface, cup of coffee, and a few books and notebooks. I used to have a corner of the master bedroom, but while somewhat secluded from the rest of the house, it made the room feel too cramped. It actually isn’t a bad setup, in the sunroom. The floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows look out into my serene backyard with its pond and waterfall. The sound of the running water is so relaxing and even though it is a warm day, I grew up in a house without air conditioning so the sunroom at 7:00 am is perfect for me. However, my desk also faces into the kitchen and with more floor-to-ceiling glass, I can see all of its contents: box of cereal on the counter, a baby bib that needs to be wiped clean, shoes that need to be put away, and a floor that needs to be swept. That view leaves a lot to be desired while I am trying to write… But I digress. For years, I have been an admirer of the participants of [NaNoWriMo](https://nanowrimo.org/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I follow the hashtags on Twitter and cheer on the participants. On a much more limited level, I try to increase my own writing during November — but it is hard to find more time. I already write almost daily, stealing minutes between working full time, three kids. And the month of November is also a prelude to the holidays… Less pressure than writing a full novel in the month of November is [Camp NaNoWriMo](https://campnanowrimo.org/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) — the month of July dedicated to setting and accomplishing a goal, for any type of project, not just novels. I have had an unfinished writing project sitting on the back burner for a long time: a small collection of poetry. I’d like to add sketches, arrange it, and self-publish with the only goal of putting my name out into the published writer space, while I work editing the novel which will likely take years. I am proud of the poetry I have written so far, but think I likely need a few more to complete the collection. Enter Camp NaNoWriMo. I set a goal for myself of one poem per day, and we will see what comes of it. Hopefully, the 30 days of writing will produce three or four I can use, or at least cobble together into something worthwhile. I have been assigned a “cabin” of 20 fellow writers so that we can cheer each other on and by way of introduction, one of my cabinmates posted “WHY DO YOU WRITE LIKE YOUR RUNNING OUT OF TIME?” Someone else responded, “WRITE DAY AND NIGHT LIKE YOU’RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.” *Hamilton* fans. I’m definitely with the right group. Or the “write” group. I have six more days to prepare, to gather inspiration, and to figure out how to fit this writing into my day. As an already early riser, my best bet seems to be waking earlier (before the baby) and coming downstairs to my writing desk. The long summer days mean that there will be sunlight, and there should be no other sounds from the house at that hour. > Focus. Let the words flow. Write. > > ***“Look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now.” -from ‘Hamilton’*** --- *You can support my work as a writer by* [*buying me a coffee*](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*!* ### Recounting the Mundane Days URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/recounting-the-mundane-days/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:58:21.000Z I was a journal-writing fiend in high school. I transitioned from a small, Catholic grade school to a large, public high school and had to make all new friends. One girl I met intrigued me in many ways: she was involved in all of the same activities (theater, band, choir) and was so poised and self-assured. She carried her journal everywhere and was constantly scribbling. I had always loved to write, so found myself emulating her — filling journal after journal with the emotional ramblings of a teenager. If I was bored in class, I would write, cocky enough that no teacher would dare interrupt my musings by demanding my attention. My journaling was a self-important means of escape. In college, I wrote less. Gone were the hormones and drama of high school life and I needed it less. As an English major, I was buried in the reading and writing of my coursework and writing for pleasure took a backseat. Then a job after college. I had to travel to small towns across the United States, usually leaving on Monday and arriving home on Friday. I was so fatigued in the evenings after presentations all day long that I would usually crash in my hotel room and find HGTV or reruns of Friends. I wrote nothing during that time, which was tragic because some of my travel adventures would have made for excellent stories. Like eating at the tiny town in Nebraska where the only “restaurant” was filled with taxidermy and the idea of a vegetarian meal was a pile of iceberg lettuce. I began blogging in October of 2009, when my first child was three weeks old. He was a mellow baby and I was bored on maternity leave. Since that time, I have written 1,799 posts. In 2015, I started [another blog](https://grievingoutloud.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), writing about grief after two of my babies were stillborn. I am open about the ongoing effects of pregnancy loss, even years later, in the hopes of raising awareness or letting those with similar experiences know that they are not alone. 363 posts. And I write here — writing about writing. A friend of mine — ironically the same friend whose journal-writing fanaticism sparked my interest in high school — says that I am like the modern day Samuel Pepys. A future historian may have a field day with how much I document. In the blogsphere though, it is always tailored to an audience. I leave out some of the boring details of my day. I write privately sometimes, using OneNote, but it is rare, and usually when I have a rant about something that I figure no one wants to read. In the spirit of “journaling” about some of the more mundane details of my life, I picked up a Moleskine notebook at the beginning of the year. Each day has a single page, and I write, bullet-style, details that may not have been captured anywhere else. > We played Mario Kart with the kids after dinner. > Our lawn mower wasn’t working, so I hired a teenager to come and mow. She was very eager and chipper. > We tried to assemble the baby gate and ran into problems so now we have to return the gate to Amazon and the other gate never arrived… Fun stuff. But details of the day that mattered. A few weeks ago, I fell off the journal-writing wagon, after having been pretty good for the first five months of the year. A bit mad at myself, I am trying to fill in the days that I missed. I also learned of the [Five-Minute Journal](https://www.amazon.com/Five-Minute-Journal-Happier-Minutes/dp/0991846206?ref=blog.annabyang.com) through a Medium post and was curious. My bullet journaling did not require much thought, other than maybe trying to remember what happened twelve hours earlier. The Five-Minute Journal will have me focus on gratitude and affirmations. Perhaps that little bit of positivity will be a nice boost in the mornings and evenings. --- *You can support my work as a writer by* [*buying me a coffee*](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*!* ### Taking Deep Breaths URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/taking-deep-breaths/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:28:33.000Z It is the first official day of summer break, with school ending yesterday. Nothing much changes in our house in terms of routine: instead of going to school, my 8-year-old and 6-year-old go to all-day camp. But there is some relief from homework, endless communications from teachers, and the hustle involved in the school year. Plus the weather is most enjoyable. My husband and I were both sitting at the kitchen table with the 9-month-old baby (who always wakes up before the sun). I was playing with Magnetic Poetry, which I always keep on the kitchen table. Since the table has a galvanized zinc top, the poetry sticks well. After tossing words in and out of the bowl, I came up with: > delirious life we love > > “That doesn’t sound good,” my husband commented. “Delirious sounds like a negative.” “Not always,” I replied. “Like deliriously happy. Drunk on happiness.” At that point, the 8-year-old emerged from his basement bedroom, bleary-eyed and disheveled hair. Summer break means nothing to him in terms of sleeping in. “I think we should all do a breathing exercise,” he announced. “You need to take a breath in and push out the negative energy. You can even make a noise as you push the energy out. But **no laughing**.” He gave us a solemn face. I could tell that this must have been part of his school day, and important enough to him to keep it going. So we all took in deep breaths. On his exhale, my son gave a “Humph” sound as he pushed out the negative energy. My husband snorted with laughter a bit and I gave him the evil eye to be serious. “Now clear your mind,” my son continued, clasping his hands into a prayer position below his chin. My husband and I copied his movements. His eyes opened quickly. “Now we do a check-in, to see where we are at. I am at a 5, because this is the first day of summer.” His teacher had told me about this technique earlier this year: she does a check-in with the kids and asks them to rate how they feel, on a scale of 1 to 5\. It helps her to assess anything that might be going on, especially after several days of low check-ins. “I am at a 4,” I said. “I had some stress this week, but I am looking forward to the weekend.” “I am at a 3,” my husband said. “I wasn’t feeling well yesterday. But today will probably be better.” My son looked around the table, quite pleased, and then went to help himself to a toaster waffle. As we head into the long days of summer, the check-ins might be a simple way to keep connected. It can be easy to be moving too fast and have so many activities that we don’t pause to ensure that we are enjoying ourselves. I plan to do another check-in with my family tomorrow. --- *You can support my work by* [*buying me a coffee*](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com) *to fuel my writing habit!* ### On Wanting to be The Writer Who Draws URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/on-wanting-to-be-the-writer-who-draws/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:58:31.000Z I have never been an artist in the most traditional sense of the word. I don’t sketch, or sculpt. I have been to a few of those wine painting parties, but the results of those evenings can hardly be considered “art.” I never really tried to be an artist, because I thought I had no talent for it. Never took any art classes in high school or college. Was always a great *admirer* of art but never a *creator* of art. After two back-to-back pregnancy losses, writing became a necessity for me, a way to express the immense hurt I felt. I had loved to write since I was a child and during that hot, stagnated summer of 2016, I wanted to turn my writing into something more. Words on a page could only express a portion of what was inside of me. I bought *all* of the supplies: paint, canvas, colored pencils, sketchbooks, books for inspiration. I wanted to be prepared for whatever medium would strike me. I tried. But the pictures I saw in my head could not translate into my fingers. I abandoned the effort. Now it is nearly two years later. I still [write about grief](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) and the daughters I never got to meet. I have a Rainbow Baby, a baby born after the storm of loss, now 9 months old. I still wish I could create art. I follow writer [Austin Kleon](https://austinkleon.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)’s work, and he calls himself “a writer who draws.” He writes that “kids are naturally awesome at drawing.” My 8-year-old and 6-year-old draw constantly. They *create*. They make comics, and monsters, and blueprints for scientific machines they hope to invent. They are uninhibited and I encourage them, day in and day out. Malcolm Gladwell popularized the [“10,000-hours” ](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2013/08/malcolm-gladwell-defends-disputed-10000-hours-rule/311884/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)rule: that in order to become a master at anything, you need to practice for 10,000 hours. Sports, music, video games. Practice makes perfect. I didn’t practice even a minute fraction of 10,000 hours at art. I practiced for a few, could not create what I wanted, and gave up. My kids show me the evolution of drawing. My 6-year-old’s improvements from last year to this year are incredible: dimension, proportion, detail. He draws every day. I began to wonder what I could create if I dedicated some time to drawing. Since I don’t even have a handle on the basics, I picked up Ed Emberly’s drawing book for kids: [Make a World](https://www.amazon.com/Ed-Emberleys-Drawing-Book-World/dp/0316789720/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526760311&sr=8-1&keywords=ed+emberley+drawing+books+for+kids&ref=blog.annabyang.com). The basic concept is that if you can draw shapes, you can draw anything. After a few attempts at various cars, I tried to use the same technique on a square vase of flowers in my living room. It needs a lot of work. But it is a start. --- *To read the writing that I do about pregnancy loss and grief, you can head over to my blog,* [*Musings Out Loud*](https://musingsoutloud.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.* ### Writing Before 6:00 am URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-early-in-the-morning/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:58:40.000Z For the past week or so, I’ve been waking up between 5:00 and 5:30 and decided to just roll with it. I have always been a morning person. In college as an English major, I scheduled all of my classes before noon, usually starting with the earliest offering of a 7:45 am class. To make it even more interesting, my best writing was done under pressure, so I would wake up at 5:00 am on the morning that a paper was due and bang out the entire thing. Didn’t matter if it was 4 pages or 10 — I needed that “must get it done NOW” mentality to get my juices flowing. Our household “wakeup time” is 6:45 am. My school-aged children share a room and know that they are not allowed to come out before that time. My husband is a night owl and he will keep sleeping until the alarm goes off (and then some). I also have a 9-month old baby so for a long time it has been waking and feeding her during the night, causing me to guard what precious sleep I could. But in the past month or so, it has shifted. Baby sleeps through the night, though her natural rhythm seems to be to wake early. For awhile, it was 4:00 am. Broke her of *that* habit, and now she seems to wake around 5:30\. She doesn’t even wake with a bang: I will hear her cooing through the monitor or playing with a toy in her crib. Over the past week, I’ve been waking naturally even earlier than her. Today it was before 5:00\. And I have found that I’m not tired. I compensate by going to bed early, but the mornings in the house are peaceful. That time to myself, time for writing? I’ve found it. My evenings are always utter exhaustion, cleaning up from the day, and wanting nothing more than a nice Netflix binge. But mornings? Mornings are fresh. I woke up today probably around 4:45\. I took a shower and got dressed. I heard the baby around 5:15, but since she wasn’t crying I finished drying my hair and applying eye cream (because #gettingolder) before retrieving her from her crib. I went down to the kitchen with all of my writing “supplies”: my Surface, a notebook, and my current book inspirations: Garrison Keillor’s [Good Poems for Hard Times](https://www.amazon.com/Good-Poems-Times-Garrison-Keillor/dp/0143037676/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526469430&sr=8-1&keywords=good+poems+for+hard+times&ref=blog.annabyang.com) and Walt Whitman’s [Leaves of Grass](https://www.amazon.com/Leaves-Grass-Original-Walt-Whitman/dp/1449505716/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526469672&sr=8-1&keywords=leaves+of+grass&ref=blog.annabyang.com). I could spoon-feed the baby yogurt, drink my coffee, and *write*. Then my six-year-old appeared and told me that his blanket had fallen off of his bed. The baby finished her yogurt and began to howl so I put her on the floor with a bowl and a wooden spoon. The eight-year-old wandered through on his way to the bathroom. And my husband came down to the kitchen and began to tell me about how the UPS lady had yelled at him for packaging an Amazon return with duct tape. All of this before the prescribed wake-up time of 6:45. I said “EVERYONE. This is MY time to myself. If you want to be near me, fine, but you need to find something to do on your own. Like write or draw or read. It’s Creative Time. Not Talk to Mommy Time.” I picked up my Surface and headed into our sunroom where I have a small desk. The six-year-old followed me with a stamp set, ink, and some blank paper and is making patterns. My husband is streaming Hamilton from our Amazon Echo and is doing something at the kitchen table with the baby on the floor next to him. I don’t know where the eight-year-old went. The six-year-old came over to me and showed me what he had been working on with the stamps. “Like my pattern?” he whispered. “Yes,” I whispered back. He went back over to his spot to continue working. From in the sunroom, I can hear the waterfall from the pond in our backyard. I have moved on to my second cup of coffee. So maybe not time entirely to myself, but I’ll take it. --- *You can support my work as a writer by* [*buying me a coffee*](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*!* ### Reflections on the Nurse Who Held My Hand URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/reflections-on-the-nurse-who-held-my-hand/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:23:00.000Z I have the deepest admiration for the nursing profession. My awe began over two-and-a-half years ago. Prior to that, my encounters with nurses had been fairly routine: office visits for myself and my children, or the nurses who cared for me after my two c-sections. But on September 3rd, 2015, I was admitted to Labor and Delivery as the type of patient I had never imagined: to give birth to [my daughter who had died](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/loss/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), a little over halfway through my pregnancy. My husband and I were led to a part of the hospital that was a bit secluded from the rest of the delivery rooms. The nurse who greeted us had to go through all of The Information. Medically, I was going to be administered medication to induce labor every four hours. Logistically, we needed to contact a funeral home. Mentally, we would be visited by the social worker. Spiritually, we could be visited by the hospital chaplain if we chose. She also told us that a tear-shaped placard would be placed on the door of our hospital room, as an alert to any hospital staff entering that we had experienced a loss. The next 26 hours were a slow-motion parade of medical staff coming and going. The doctor's shift changed several times, as did the nursing shift. Social worker, chaplain, phlebotomist, anesthesiologist. Nothing could make that time pass in any way other than a tortured waiting game. Finally, the nurse told me that delivery was close. Her name was Nancy, and she was close to my mom’s age. She had blonde hair and a mature figure. She was more self-assured than some of the previous nurses had been. She told me that, due to gestational age, delivery could happen so quickly that neither she nor the doctor might be in her room. That idea terrified me. > I begged her not to leave me. > > None of her other patients, delivering living babies, mattered. She stayed. She knew that when I began to vomit uncontrollably to get the doctor so he could be present. She sat by my side and held my hand, while my husband held the other, when my daughter, Nelle, was born. For nearly an hour after delivery, we had to wait for my placenta to detach. Nancy continued to sit by my side. She told me stories about obtaining her nursing degree. She told me that her husband had died of cancer a few years before. That simple talk kept me distracted until the doctor returned and informed me that I needed a D&C to remove the placenta and I was prepped for surgery. The shift changed again and Nancy briefed the incoming nurse who would be accompanying me to surgery. She gave me a hug before she left. In the weeks and months that followed, I had nightmares about my hospital stay. I would wake in a cold sweat after, hearing the words over and over in my head: “I’m sorry, but your baby has no heartbeat.” In my waking moments, I often thought about the nurses that were with me during my stay, especially Nancy. Knowing that I was not the only patient she had ever seen who was delivering a stillborn baby, I marveled at her composure and her ability to comfort me. Did she go home after a shift like that, and feel the heaviness of the parents that had just lost their child? In honor of National Nurses Week, here’s to all of the Labor and Delivery nurses that sit by the sides of mothers experiencing the worst moments of their lives. For holding hands. For holding those precious babies, if only for a few moments until they are carried away, or helping the parents who want to see their children. From giving them baths, wrapping them in blankets, or taking photos. For holding it together in a way that I can’t even fathom. For gentleness and compassion and strength. > For the nurses watching over all of the patients like me, gratitude. > > To read the writing that I do about pregnancy loss and grief, you can head over to my blog, [Musings Out Loud](https://musingsoutloud.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ### Creating a Creative Space URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/creating-a-creative-space/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:59:07.000Z My backyard is a haven in the spring. There is a pond that stretches under the deck and a waterfall that provides a constant soothing rush of water. When the trees spread and fill in, I can barely see the neighbors in the cul-de-sac the yard faces so there is a sense of seclusion, even in the middle of the suburbs. Saturday was a perfect 80 degrees in Chicagoland. I wanted so much to have some time to myself, but with three kids at home that was an unlikely event. So I went with the adage “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” — or rather, have them join me. “Everybody, grab something creative and OUTSIDE!” I ordered. My oldest son chose to simply run around in the yard. It is his method of decompressing. And the eight-month-old was confined to an indoor-outdoor bouncy seat. My six-year-old brought a portable easel, canvas, stack of paintbrushes, and proceeded to paint the backyard waterfall. My husband brought the Surface and tried to see if he could draw the waterfall using the drawing tools of the tablet. Me? I brought my Kindle Paperwhite, Garrison Keillor’s *Good Poems for Hard Times* (whatever I may now think of Keillor as a person, the collection of poems he selected and the way he would read poems was always particularly striking), and a notebook. I read a few chapters on my Kindle before finding the constant discussion with the six-year-old artist distracting. Instead, I set about to read some poems. Whatever else may keep me from reading chapters and chunks of books in one sitting, I can always sneak in a few poems. I would hear the words in Keillor’s intonation, his inflections and rhythm. I jotted down words or phrases I liked. And I set to write a few lines of my own; nothing particularly resonating. But when I similarly cannot find chunks of time to write in the way that I would like, I could write a few lines. Seven days in a week, so I thought I would write seven lines. Call it #SevenLineSaturday, if you will. #### *Backyard* *a canopy of early spring buds* *provides enough shade for the artists* *to fine-tune their unexplored talents* *canvas, paint, notebook, tablet, hands* *a trio working silently on their crafts* *waterfall rushing with vigor equal to their morning ambitions* *ending in frustration and a stomping foot* Whatever I was able to dedicate to myself aside, perhaps the best part of that hour or so we spent in the backyard was the sharing of that time with my whole family, finding a way to spend some time just exerting energy and creating. --- *Support my work as a writer by* [*buying me a coffee*](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*!* ### Writing vs. Sleep, Part 2 URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-versus-sleep-part-two/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:01:25.000Z I wrote a few weeks ago about the ongoing battle between writing and sleep: juggling three kids (including a baby), a paying job — where I am also at the executive management level, I may add — husband, household, and writing. Somehow writing always manages to fall behind the other requirements on my time. Tonight. It’s 8:00 pm. I was unloading and reloading the dishwasher, and actually timing myself to see how long it took (twelve minutes, including handwashing two pans). I thought to myself “It’s early! I could easily squeeze in an hour of writing.” But then my brain said “No. No way.” I’ve been up since 5:45\. Usually for weekend breakfast we do pancakes on Saturday and eggs on Sunday but somehow the system broke down this morning and we ended up doing both, plus toast with peanut butter and jelly. I had a professional photography session scheduled, a Mother’s Day present, and had to get everyone gussied up and into nice outfits. Mine required ironing, which felt like a foreign concept since my regular day-to-day attire is athletic wear. Also required makeup, hair gel for my big kids so that they didn’t look like Alfalfa from The Little Rascals, and the promise of candy for good behavior. After the session, I had to print out a bunch of materials for a conference that my paying job is hosting next week. Lunch. Then I played with the baby while my husband and big kids attempted naps (only the husband managed to sleep…) I tried to read [It’s Ok That You’re Not Ok by Megan Devine](http://www.refugeingrief.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), but likely only managed a few pages before someone interrupted me. I started reading *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* to my 8-year-old son after explaining to him that Harry is a moody teenager and that this is my least favorite book in the series. Then I ran to Target to pick up a black sweater for aforementioned conference (shockingly, I do not own a plain black sweater), dropped off a Zappos return at UPS, and picked up some photos I had printed at Walgreens for my six-year-old’s Star of the Week poster. I stuffed over fifty folders with conference materials and assembled the same number of lanyards. Managed to rope the six-year-old into helping me with the lanyards and when we were all done he said “I think I accidentally put two name tags in one pouch.” A quick count showed that he was correct and then I had to dig back through to find the one with the doubled-up name tag. We ate dinner and my 8-year-old ate more than his share of fish tacos, so I left the meal hungry. Tucked the baby in. Put laundry away. Unloaded the dishwasher, which brings me back to the beginning of my story…. I could write for an hour, yes. The book I am working on has 90% of the content done, but only 2% of the editing needed. However, when I thought about it, my brain recoiled a bit. The lack of sleep… The baby usually wakes up every morning around 4:00 a.m. She manages to put herself back to sleep within a few minutes, but hearing her through the monitor wakes me up in a much more permanent way. Even if I do fall back asleep, which doesn’t always happen, it is usually at least an hour later. I cannot write productively on so little sleep. Pushing myself to do so would be a disservice to my writing. I have been maintaining writing in my blog a few times per week. I do [*some* form of writing every day](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-your-content-across-multiple-platforms/). For now, I have to be ok with that. The rest will come in time. > To read the writing that I do about pregnancy loss and grief, you can head over to my blog, [Musings Out Loud](https://musingsoutloud.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). ### Writing for the Sake of Writing is Not Worth Reading URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-for-the-sake-of-writing/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:01:35.000Z I have been in a weekly writing habit since 2009\. Two or three times per week, I will sit and compose something in my blog, even if it is the typed equivalent of a few scribbles of thoughts. Never a fixed habit, where I would commit to “Writing every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday!” But every few days, I have gathered enough thoughts in my head to form a few paragraphs. For some reason (a new challenge, perhaps?) I thought “I am going to write something *every single day* for 30 days! I even found a series of writing prompts to help with the days when I had not come up with a topic on my own. I put my first post in this challenge here on Medium, rather than in my own blog. On to Day 2. Day 2 came. I wrote. I hit publish. I waited about ten minutes. Then I deleted it. It was garbage. I had written something only for the sake of hitting “publish.” It wasn’t well thought out. It wasn’t well constructed. It wasn’t even very well written. **It wasn’t worth reading**. Austin Kleon is a writer I follow, and he is a big proponent of “Show Your Work” (even wrote [a whole book](https://www.amazon.com/Show-Your-Work-Austin-Kleon/dp/076117897X/ref=sr%5F1%5F2?ie=UTF8&qid=1524051018&sr=8-2&keywords=show+your+work&ref=blog.annabyang.com) about it). The concept is that writers, artists, musicians should become comfortable with sharing their works in progress: that finished, perfect masterpieces do not reflect the sweat, stumbling, and yes, the garbage that came before it. I believe in “show your work.” There is something brave about putting an unfinished product out there for the world to see. It [builds a community](https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-community-support-for-new-writers/) of those who are midway through their journeys to a goal of finished work. But putting work out there just so that I can say that I hit “publish” 30 days in a row? No. There is so much “noise” on the internet. So many people publish garbage for the game of collecting followers, building an audience, click-bait titles, or shameless promotion of writing with no substance. I wasn’t going to contribute to the noise. If I want to challenge myself to write for 30 days, fine. I can chicken-scratch in a journal or type something out in OneNote. I don’t need to clutter up the internet with hundreds of words not worth anyone’s time. I can be happy with the fact that when I *do* write, it is because I have something to say. That the topics came to me organically and I sat down with the intention of writing and sharing. --- *You can read about the future of work and career pivots on my* [*Substack*](https://annabyang.substack.com/)*.* ### When an Emotional Fever Hits URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/when-an-emotional-fever-hits/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T08:23:08.000Z The first sign of fever, for me, is always a stiff neck. Before my body even feels warm, the stiff neck will settle in and I can feel the impending weight of illness settle from my neck into my shoulders, and then it spreads to the rest of my body. Yesterday was different though. By mid-morning I felt the burn of a fever, but nothing else. Taking my temperature revealed a low-grade 100.2\. Enough to feel crummy. As the day progressed, no other symptoms appeared. By evening, I desperately needed to lie down. To make matters worse, my husband had the same fever, the 8-year-old wasn’t feeling well, and the baby had thrown up three times. Made me wonder about the 6-year-old’s ability to fend for himself… My husband said that he would put the baby to bed, and I tucked both of the big kids in at 6:00 pm, telling them “I don’t care if you play or read in your room; just don’t come out and leave me alone.” I took a Tylenol and within a few hours, the fever had burned off. Reflecting this morning, I don’t think it was any type of illness. This past week has been rough. I spent two years in therapy after [losing my babies](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/my-story/?ref=blog.annabyang.com), and now that my rainbow baby (a baby born after loss) is 7 months old, I find myself back in therapy again. New therapist, and the first few weeks are always rough. So much ground and history to cover. I also know from my own past writing that my husband and I were incredibly stressed when our now 6-year-old was around 7 months. There must be something about that age of baby that elevates the pressure. They still need a lot of care, but getting more mobile…. I don’t know. My husband complained to me this week “I don’t have time to do anything other than work and take care of the kids/house.” I gave him a pointed look and said “It’s the same for me.” Possible that the fever was a little mini-bug that circulated our house, but I also wonder if it was an “emotional fever.” A fever escalated by a response to the [happenings in my life](https://annabyang.substack.com/p/in-the-wild). Whatever the cause, it made me pause and reflect on self-care. I keep meaning to go [back to yoga](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/back-in-the-hot-room/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I was such a regular practitioner before I became pregnant in November of 2017\. Now I haven’t been back since the baby was born. Sometimes I can barely manage to wash my face for the day. Sometimes writing ideas float around in my head and I never manage to commit them to keyboard. It was a reminder to take a break, or find a break in my day, for myself. I managed to take an Epsom salt bath and finish a writing piece yesterday. Today I feel better. And if I can manage to go to yoga on Saturday, that would be the best. --- *You can support my work as a writer by* [*buying me a coffee*](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*!* ### Making Time for What’s Important URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/making-time-for-what-is-important/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:01:44.000Z A few years ago, I tripped across the line: > Replace the words “I don’t have time” with “It’s not important to me” and see how it feels. The idea was to recognize prioritizing certain things over other things. The things that are important *should* have room in your life. I ran across this line again the other day, or a variation thereof. A few years ago, I was all over that line, thinking “YES! I can feel so much better if I can only focus on the things that are IMPORTANT to me!” Now, I’m not so sure. --- A few years ago, I read Marie Kondo’s [The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up](https://www.amazon.com/Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering-Organizing/dp/1607747308/ref=sr%5F1%5F2?ie=UTF8&qid=1521717168&sr=8-2&keywords=the+life+changing+magic+of+tidying+up&ref=blog.annabyang.com), a book dedicated to fierce decluttering of the home, and only keeping items that “spark joy.” Quite literally, holding an item in your hands and saying “Do you bring me joy?” If not, get rid of it. While I appreciated the overall sentiment of the book, I found myself wondering if it could really apply to *everything.* A can opener doesn’t really bring me joy, but I need to keep it. Diapers certainly don’t bring me joy. Kondo clarified later to look at necessary household objects along these lines: “If I don’t have a can opener, I cannot open cans. Therefore, this item brings me joy. If I don’t have diapers, the baby poop will be everywhere. Therefore, diapers bring me joy.” When re-reading the line recently about saying *“it’s not important to me*” I found myself with similar misgivings that I had when I read Marie Kondo. We are not an overly-scheduled family. My kids (ages 8 and 6) do swimming lessons for part of the year because swimming is a necessary life skill, and for six weeks in the winter they participated in a one-hour afterschool art class, but that’s it. No soccer practice, no music lessons. We have done activities through the park district and taekwondo classes in the past, but found that the kids much preferred to just be at home. And that is completely fine — we enrich their lives in other ways, like trips to the museum, or playdates with friends. Just not recurring commitments. --- So then I look at the waking hours of the day and still wonder how I can fit it all in. Laundry is important, so that we have clean clothes. Helping my son practice his spelling words is important, so that he can do well on his test. Work is important, so that we can pay bills. Talking to my husband every night is important, so that we can keep our overall household running. > Writing is important. And finding time to fit in writing is important. > > I do write, daily, though not nearly as much as I would like. Often it is merely recapping the day, or a [blog post](https://musingsoutloud.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I often feel that I then have to move writing up and down the rungs on the ladder of priority. Running to Target because we are out of cereal might have to occupy my morning instead of sitting with a cup of coffee and writing, no matter how much I wish it were otherwise. --- Recently, a woman I know announced that she has the final proof of her book in her hands. I was so happy for her… and a bit jealous. She [blogged](https://viewsfromthepodium.com/2018/03/20/views-from-the-podium-the-life-times-of-a-hot-yogi-coming-soon/?ref=blog.annabyang.com) about how she spent several years working on it, and pushed other things aside to focus on her book, saying “there were times I have to put the book first.” I was jealous, because I *can’t* put writing first, no matter how much I want to. I have three young kids and putting writing first would mean (short of outright neglect) that I would miss out on these limited years I have with them. It would mean relying on my husband to take on a larger share of household duties so that I could lock myself in a room and right and that’s not what he signed up for: we work hard at being equal co-parents. I try to tell myself that it will not always be this way. In the distant future, the kids will all be out of the house (quite distant, since I have a 7-month-old). The demands on my day will be less. I console myself further that the small amount of writing that I am doing now will lend itself someday to a more dedicated practice. This morning, the baby woke up at 6:15\. After changing her diaper, I sat her beside me while I wrote. She played with a stuffed animal and gurgled while I was able to spend about thirty minutes before the rest of the household woke up. Literally hitting publish as my big kids came barging into the room. It is important. And for now, it is enough. --- *You can support my work as a writer by* [*buying me a coffee*](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*!* ### When Writing Big Things Isn’t Always Possible URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/writing-big-things/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:01:54.000Z I am constantly compiling writing ideas. I have a good system for capturing these fleeting ideas in OneNote to revisit later, but sitting down and spending an hour or two with my idea is time I need to find and then fiercely protect. I’m working on that. This past weekend for example, I had two different topics bubble to the surface. I write in my blog, I write about daily life with my kids (for posterity and the breadth of which future historians will probably cheer), I write here. Over the course of the weekend, my dad visited from out of state, we took my three kids bowling (including an infant), took my two school-aged children swimming, went out for pizza on Saturday for lunch, and went out to brunch on Sunday. We watched Star Wars with my kids for the first time on Friday evening, a rite of passage to be sure. I made lasagna on Saturday evening. And before dropping my dad off at the airport we played Yahtzee with my kids, which was interesting for about the first ten rolls and then dissolved into a meltdown when mistakes were made in keeping score. My baby has a double ear infection, I made a trek to a neighboring Chicagoland suburb to look at a stroller being sold through Facebook Marketplace, and I still need to finish and file my taxes. I woke up just early enough today to take a shower before everyone else arose. The days are busy, to say the least. I usually manage to dedicate time to writing in the way that I would like about two or three times a week and have to be satisfied with that accomplishment for now. What I *do* manage to complete every day is recapping the previous day’s events. I do this by hand (gasp!) in a [Moleskine notebook](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LLQVFBO/ref=oh%5Faui%5Fsearch%5Fdetailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1&ref=blog.annabyang.com). The notes are short, list-style and I limit myself to a single page but it is a commitment to writing *something* every day. Sometimes I even write the weather on the last line of the page. I write things here either too boring or too personal to be forever captured in a public space. I know that the furious pace of my days will not always be the case, and I have developed habits that work for me. When writing the Big Things isn’t always possible, recapping my day in my notebook is a good small step. [How to Manage Your Content Across Multiple PlatformsCreate a plan for consistency without becoming overwhelmed.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/06/annabyang-logo-dk-blue.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*ekDqFcHevOCnjR274j1pLg.jpeg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/manage-your-content-across-multiple-platforms/) ### What to Write When You’re Sick URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/what-to-write-when-sick/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:02:02.000Z These are the days that really get me down. My 8-year-old son came home from school on Friday with The Sick Face. Complaints about a sore throat prompted a trip to walk-in care. Rapid stress test was negative, “just a virus.” Two days later and he still had The Face and The Fever. Follow-up call from the clinic: turns out he has strep after all, as the culture turned positive. Any juggling of home life and work becomes tremendously harder with a sick child. On top of that, no school today for President’s Day, so the five-year-old was also home. By the time the clinic called in the evening and we had a prescription for antibiotics, I’m not feeling well. I know my own body well enough to know when a fever is imminent. I think about all of the writing time I’ve lost. Since I have to squeeze in an hour here or there around our busy lives, something like this sets me back for days. It is impossible to catch up. I haven’t written in my blog for six days, when I usually write 2–3 times per week. That blog is my grief therapy. Sure, I could dash out a post really fast and “get it out of the way” but it usually requires more reflection. I’m not yet organized enough to have posts planned in advance, and usually I fear that would take away from the rawness of writing in the moment. I also consider that by not capturing right away, delayed due to life, when I finally go to collect my thoughts I will have lost some of the intention behind sharing that experience. So here I am instead. Writing about writing, or non-writing as it were. Wishing I could spring up and find energy, but knowing that pushing myself does no good either. I need to rest and let the illness run its course. --- *You can support my work as a writer by* [*buying me a coffee*](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*!* ### Launching into the Writing Unknown URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/launching-into-the-writing-unknown/ Last updated: 2026-03-13T09:02:10.000Z My first “book” was called *The Adventures of Cuddles the Cat*. It was about a white kitten that became stuck in a tree, was afraid, then rescued. I was five years old and my finished product closely resembled a book that I owned, rewritten in my own words, with my own pictures, and maybe one small detail of the story changed from the original. I have been writing ever since. Stories floated around in my head for years, but I was never able to flesh out a cohesive compilation of plot, characters, and voice. My teenage years of angst brought about a considerable amount of questionable poetry. I scrubbed my way through dozens of journals. I graduated from college, [found a “real” job](https://www.workbetter.media/p/money-and-work?ref=blog.annabyang.com) in the fintech industry, and never gave a serious thought to writing as I entered adulthood. In 2009, my first son was born. Three weeks into maternity leave, I found myself bored. I had an abnormally well-behaved baby, who slept perfectly and hardly cried. I started a blog, documenting the details of being a young mother in my mid-20s. From the funny to the mundane, I captured it all. 2012 brought another baby boy and I kept blogging. Call me the modern Samuel Pepys, writing for posterity, or as a way to keep distant family and friends up-to-date on our happenings; I continued to maintain my blog, writing every few days. Writing changed forever when my daughter, Nelle, was stillborn in September of 2015\. I was broken, devastated, and writing became a necessity in a way that I had never before experienced. I wrote to capture, wrangle, and process my pain. Less than six months later, I lost another baby girl, Iris. This time I shattered. And I kept writing. Now more than two years have passed. I started a second blog, focusing only on grief after pregnancy loss and how it continues to affect everyday life, [Musings Out Loud](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/?ref=blog.annabyang.com). I have been trying to channel my writing into a book. The content is there: the organization is not. Editing the short pieces of a moment, captured in a blog post, into longer narratives and chapters is a challenge. But I am determined to work through it. This is somehow wedged into my days of a full-time job; a house full with a husband, three kids, and cat; continuing to write in my two existing blogs, with occasional guest posts submitted elsewhere; researching sources and resources to help me in my book project; along with reading and yoga. I write while cooking dinner. I write at night when I cannot sleep. I’ve typed out ideas on my iPhone while watching the kids at swimming lessons. Often it feels like there not enough hours in the day. Austin Kleon writes in his book [Show Your Work](https://www.amazon.com/Show-Your-Work-Austin-Kleon/dp/076117897X/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518835666&sr=8-1&keywords=show+your+work&ref=blog.annabyang.com) “If you want people to know about what you do and the things you care about, you have to share.” This means show the efforts, the drafts, look for feedback, make changes. Eight years of blogging about everyday life have hard-wired my brain to document, document, document. Process through the process. Write about writing. It is my own problem-solving, and accountability, mixed in with some therapeutic value and self-satisfaction. And just maybe there is another writer or artist out there, struggling to fit everything together in the same way, who can say: > “I get it. I was born to do this. I just need to figure out how.” Here I go. Documenting my efforts and launching into the writing unknown. [The Daily Routine of a WriterWhat I do every day.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/icon/annabyang-logo-light-orange-58.png)Anna Burgess YangAnna Burgess Yang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fe/e9/fee9a30d-4c70-4bd2-af95-fe6abc8afd29/content/images/thumbnail/annabyang-daily-routine-of-a-writer.jpg)](https://blog.annabyang.com/daily-routine-of-a-writer/) --- *You can support my work as a writer by* [*buying me a coffee*](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annabyang?ref=blog.annabyang.com)*.*