Some advice needed on application style

Hey everyone!

I came back to Upwork after about 2 years of hiatus because of a fulltime job but now I am failing miserably.

I started Upwork on pandemic and somehow carved a profile about no-code/low code app building. I actually did okay back then. I found that retainer jobs are the best ones so I carried like that. My job came in an era where I wanted something more stable and it was on the same topic so I left Upwork.

During my employment from time to time I received invitations but I declined them.

Now that job is getting over. I have some runway and some money to spend on bids but this ecosystem changed so much in the last 2 years. I think I want to pivot into a new niche, app coaching or vibe code building or vibe code cleanup (I already teach that too) but I think these niches are so hard to find an entrypoint. The funny thing is even though I didn't build myself I architectured a lot of apps during my full time employment through my students but I can't put it in a portfolio, I can't convert that. What I find so hard:

1. Bidding wars: A good fit job can be taken in like 5 minutes. I don't want to bid a job I'm not going to take +100 connects.
2. Jobs are definitely there but Upwork classified me as an expert on something else so it doesn't let me pivot. It's like I'm starting from scratch.
3. I used to be Top Rated. I still have the %100 Job Success there but I need to make a bit more to earn the same status. Does that have a big effect or am I delusioning?

If you read this far, thank you so much. Ofc I am leaning on making a personal brand to sell my businesses out of Upwork but until I can take that off I still would like to work and got a hard lesson that never ever give up your traction. Take 1 job per month or whatever comes your way to keep your earned statuses.