I built a freelance career by saying yes. Now, I'm learning when not to.

The author is learning to say 'no' more at this stage in her career.

Courtesy of Hannah Howard After getting laid off at 27, I took the jump and went freelance.

Over the years, I've said 'yes' to almost all work that came my way.

I'm now 39, and the loss of a big client has me rethinking my strategy.

I don't think I would have had the courage to become a freelancer if I hadn't been laid off .

The year was 2014.

I was 27, living in a tiny studio on the Upper West Side, conveniently located next to not one, not two, but three frozen yogurt shops.

I had just lost my job , and my ego was crushed.

Once the initial humiliation wore off, the layoff started to feel like a nudge toward something I'd wanted to try for a long time: Could I actually make it as a freelance writer? I gave myself six months.

My definition of "making it" was modest.

I needed to earn enough money to pay the rent on that tiny apartment and support myself without going completely broke.

Somehow, I did — though just barely.

There was, for instance, the afternoon I had a meltdown in Westside Market after discovering that the money I had diligently set aside for estimated quarterly taxes — look at me, being responsible! — was not even close to enough.

Still, I kept going.