> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://blog.annabyang.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Year I Bet on Myself - URL: https://blog.annabyang.com/year-i-bet-on-myself/ - Published: 2023-01-01T15:07:29.000Z - Updated: 2026-03-13T08:25:12.000Z - Description: A journey from corporate to freelance. - Author: Anna Burgess Yang - Tags: Personal Reflections, #30-days-writing 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)