My Journey from Corporate Life to Independent Success

Like many in my generation, I started my career with a straightforward plan: invest in learning a profession, get hired by a great company, and then just stay the course—climb that corporate ladder, move between roles, get promoted, and eventually, coast toward retirement. It seemed like the career path was clear and predictable.

But then the rules changed. By the time I reached the point where I was a senior manager, the world had sped up. Knowledge was aging faster, industries were evolving, and career life cycles were shrinking. Suddenly, I realized the years ahead of me were likely as long as those behind me, and I’d probably have another career after the one I was on.

My journey to discover who I could become without my corporate business card took a while and mirrored the broader transformation happening in changing world of work. By the time I was ready to leave, I knew I didn’t want to jump into another full-time salaried position. I wanted to be independent. I craved control, flexibility, and alignment between my work and personal values. But stepping into the world of independent work was unfamiliar, and I quickly learned I wasn’t alone in feeling a bit lost.

From Full-Time Employment to Portfolio Careers

The lessons I’ve learned in my transition from a full-time salaried employee to an independent worker aren’t just about my personal experience—they reflect a larger trend in the future of work. The traditional model of full-time, salaried employment is giving way to more flexible, portfolio careers where people mix multiple roles, freelance gigs, and consulting work. The data backs this up: According to MBO Partners’ 2023 State of Independence Report, now in its 13th year, 72.1 million Americans—about 45% of the workforce—have chosen the independent route, even as the nation registers a record-breaking 156.3 million payroll jobs. But what’s really interesting is that more people are not just dabbling in independent work—they’re diving in full-time. Between 2020 and 2023, the number of full-time independent workers in the U.S. jumped by 91%, from 13.6 million to 26 million. That’s a huge leap, especially compared to the 2% annual growth rate we saw from 2011 to 2019. And 2023 marked the first year where the number of full-time independent workers grew faster than part-timers.

But here’s the thing: no one really teaches you how to make that leap from a salaried employee to an independent worker. Here are six lessons I’ve learned over the past six years:

1. Independence Doesn’t Mean Working Alone –

As a senior manager, I was used to leading teams and having people around to collaborate with. Suddenly, it was just me. One of the first things I learned is that independent work doesn’t mean you’re working in isolation. To thrive, you need to figure out where your true value lies and then find others to handle the rest. Building a network of other independents and treating them like your team can be a game-changer. This not only expands your capabilities but also creates a collaborative environment where you’re supported by professionals with complementary skills—each doing what they do best.

2. Understanding ‘How Much is Enough’

When you leave a salaried job, it’s easy to think you need to replace your full salary right away. But that’s not necessarily true. Transitioning to independence, especially in mid-life, means rethinking what you really need in terms of income and work. The question of “how much is enough” becomes crucial. It’s about figuring out the minimum income you need to maintain your lifestyle and then aligning your work commitments accordingly. This clarity lets you focus on projects that truly excite you, rather than taking on work just to pay the bills. It’s a shift from working because you have to, to working because you want to, which makes a big difference in both satisfaction and productivity.

3. Your Brand is Your Best Asset

As salaried employees, we often define ourselves by the title on our business card. But when you leave that card behind, you realize that’s not really who you are. This means you need to understand your personal brand—because you don’t create it, you uncover it. It’s about the value you bring, the people who need it, what they call it, and how they’ll know you exist. For many, the biggest hurdle in becoming independent is the fear of not knowing how to “sell.” But if you’ve built a strong, recognizable brand, you won’t need to “sell” yourself as much—your reputation will do most of the work. For me, this meant focusing on content creation, being active on social media, and consistently delivering high-quality work.

4. Continuous Learning is Non-Negotiable

In a world that’s constantly changing, continuous learning isn’t just important—it’s essential. As an independent worker, you’re solely responsible for your professional development. No one’s going to invite you to a conference, call you into a training session, or send you a report on the latest industry trends. If you want to stay competitive, you have to seek out these opportunities yourself. This means regularly investing time, money, and effort into learning new skills, staying updated on industry trends, and identifying gaps in your knowledge before they become a problem. It took me a while to figure out that I needed to actively sign up for conferences, find new information sources, set aside time to learn new tools, and stay on top of the fast-moving stream of information. If you don’t prioritize learning, you risk being left behind.

5. The Freedom to Choose is Priceless

One of the biggest perks of independent work is the freedom it gives you. Being able to choose your projects, clients, working hours, and even where you work from is invaluable. This freedom allows you to align your work with your life, rather than the other way around. For me, this flexibility has been life-changing, giving me the space to focus on what truly matters, both professionally and personally. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade this autonomy for the structured confines of a traditional job.

6. Do it all over again

As an independent, you quickly realize that you’ve never really “arrived.” Once you’ve figured out your brand, your services, your value—even your processes for staying updated—things change, and you have to unlearn, relearn, and adapt. This part of the independent journey moves faster—there’s no organizational buffer to shield you from the pace of change. If, as a salaried employee, you were paid for showing up to work, now you’re paid for delivering what someone needs. Staying on top of what that is and how it changes is up to you.

Looking Forward: Thriving in the Future of Work

The rise of digital platforms, remote work, and the gig economy has made it easier than ever for professionals to diversify their careers and embrace independence. For years, various statistics on the gig economy have shown that people have been supplementing full-time salaried positions with independent work. Now, we’re seeing more individuals fully shift from traditional employment to full-time independent work.

The future of work isn’t just about surviving in this changing landscape; it’s about thriving—taking control of your career, diversifying your income streams, and finding fulfillment through a mix of traditional and independent work. The rise of independent workers is more than a trend—it’s a sign of what’s to come, and those who adapt will be well-positioned to succeed.