The Five Year Plan

How does a corporate lawyer become a famous person? Today, Jules Romano sits down with Anna to unpack the real story behind the transition—from billable hours to building a personal brand on the internet. What started as sarcastic, off-the-cuff videos quickly turned into a loyal following, a public identity, and a completely different career path.In this episode, Jules reveals the parts of her life and story that haven't been visible to the public. Join them as they talk about: burnout, internet scrutiny, and what it's actually like to live the "Hannah Montana" double-life as a lawyer and content creator. Also watch this episode if you want to know how she actually finds her best thrift gems (and how you can too).Follow Jules here:https://www.instagram.com/julesthelawyer/https://www.tiktok.com/@julesthelawyerhttps://www.youtube.com/@julesthelawyer

You’re not stuck. You’re just scared of picking wrong.In this episode, we're talking about the perfection paralysis problem—the reason you hate your job but haven’t applied anywhere, the reason you’ve been “thinking about” starting something for years… and the reason doing nothing somehow feels safer than doing the wrong thing.From overthinking Netflix choices to comparing a $100 mic to a top podcast in the world (yes, I did that), this is a brutally honest breakdown of how perfectionism quietly keeps you exactly where you are.If you’ve been waiting for the right moment, the right plan, or the right version of yourself—then you gotta listen to (and watch!!!!) this episode.Sources:The Jam StudyPsychology Today: Three types of Perfectionism Three Types of Perfectionism Paper (Hewitt & Flett)Share Your Story: ⁠The Confessions Vault ⁠Tik Tok | Instagram | Substack Email: annashuyizhang@gmail.com

Burnout is not a character flaw. So why does it feel like one? In this episode, Anna talks about the part of burnout that we often don't address —the quiet, creeping fear that you’re the problem. That you’re not resilient enough. That you're not cut out for the life you worked so hard to build. Join Anna as she reflects on: Why burnout feels like a personal failure (even when it’s not)The unspoken pressure to “handle it” in high-achieving careersHow your childhood quietly set you up for thisThe difference between being overwhelmed and being fundamentally misalignedAnd how to start letting go of the shame of burnout without blowing up your entire lifeIf you’ve ever felt like a failure for "not being able to handle" the life you chose, this episode is for you. "The Boiling Frog Syndrome: A Metaphor for Burnout" Article: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/lessons-from-a-burnt-out-psychologist/202406/the-boiling-frog-syndrome-a-metaphor-for-burnout Share Your Story: The Confessions Vault TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefiveyearplanpodcastIG: https://www.instagram.com/thefiveyearplanpodcastSubstack: https://substack.com/@thefiveyearplanpodcastEmail: annashuyizhang@gmail.com

This piece of advice is one that I guarantee we've all heard before. But when I tried following it, here's what happened: I developed a romanticized view of what my career should be I had unrealistic expectations of what work is supposed to feel like that normal frustrations started to feel like a sign that I was on the wrong path I lost my sense of self-identity Can you guess what this piece of advice is? Share Your Story: The Confessions Vault TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefiveyearplanpodcastIG: https://www.instagram.com/thefiveyearplanpodcastSubstack: https://substack.com/@thefiveyearplanpodcastEmail: annashuyizhang@gmail.com

Anna thought she did everything right. Built the resume. Followed a path. Checked all the boxes. And yet, two years ago, she felt completely lost and confused with big question marks about her career. Did she pick the wrong path? Is it too late to start over? What happens when the life you worked so hard to build doesn't feel like yours anymore? In this first episode of The Five Year Plan, Anna shares the story behind starting this show, what it's all about, and what you can expect. From interviewing guests who have had crazy career pivots, to normalizing the uncertainty that so many people feel in their 20s and 30s, she aims to debunk the myth of having a perfect "five year plan." Because maybe the best "five year plans"... are the ones that don't go according to plan at all. Share Your Story: The Confessions Vault TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefiveyearplanpodcastIG: https://www.instagram.com/thefiveyearplanpodcastSubstack: https://substack.com/@thefiveyearplanpodcastEmail: annashuyizhang@gmail.com