Hardwired for Growth 2.0: Stop Guessing, Start Growing!

In this episode of The Corporate Escapee Podcast, Brett Trainor speaks with Nic Jones, a former corporate executive turned bus driver who shares his journey of redefining success and happiness. Nic reflects on his 40-year career in media and music, during which he held leadership roles at major companies like Yahoo, Murdoch’s digital businesses, and Vevo. After a failed entrepreneurial venture and personal loss, Nic reevaluated his priorities, choosing to pursue a fulfilling yet unconventional path as a bus driver.

The discussion explores themes like:

• Breaking free from societal and corporate expectations.
• The evolving definition of success as happiness and fulfillment rather than money or titles.
• The challenges of overcoming financial fears and golden handcuffs.
• The importance of taking small, intentional steps toward a new life.
• The value of rediscovering purpose and the mental process of transitioning to a new identity.

Nic’s insights highlight the importance of designing life around personal values and happiness rather than fitting life around work. His story serves as an inspiring example of how even high-achieving corporate professionals can make dramatic changes to reclaim their well-being and joy.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nic99jones/ 

The Post That Started It All: https://bit.ly/3BmHKwA

Sound Bites

• "I'm a thoroughly fulfilled and happy bus driver."
• "Success is the happiest person, not the richest."
• "I wanted to be a bus driver as a five-year-old."
• "The world was changing, and I was unaware of it."
• "You have to start writing things down about what are our outgoings."
• "There's nothing richer than feeling happy."
• "You need to realign your values if money is your only focus."
• "Life's too damn short to be unhappy."
• "I never told anyone for the first two years after I left corporate."

• • "If we can help one or two people find happiness, we're doing our job."

Welcome to The Corporate Escapee Podcast, where we explore the journeys of GenXers breaking free from corporate life to build something on their own terms. I’m your host, Brett Trainor, and today we dive into a conversation that’s critical for every corporate escapee: mastering LinkedIn.

Joining me is LinkedIn strategist and fellow escapee, Deanna Russo. Deanna’s expertise has helped thousands rethink their approach to LinkedIn—not as a sales tool or online resume, but as a powerful platform for networking, relationship-building, and earning trust. In this episode, Deanna shares her journey from corporate sales to launching her own business, her game-changing “Know, Like, and Trust” triangle strategy, and practical tips to optimize your LinkedIn presence heading into 2025.

If you’re ready to shift your mindset and make LinkedIn work for you, you’re in the right place. Let’s get started!

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannarusso1/

https://leverageupllc.com/ 

Takeaways

• Change your mindset about LinkedIn; it's a networking event.
• Focus on building know, like, and trust with your audience.
• Your LinkedIn profile should reflect your authentic self.
• Visibility on LinkedIn is crucial for standing out.
• Engagement is key; participate in conversations relevant to your niche.
• Your headline should communicate the problem you solve.
• Differentiate yourself from others in your field.
• Content should resonate with your audience's needs.
• Flexibility in your business strategy is essential for growth.
• You don't need to have everything figured out before starting. Engagement is more effective than self-promotion.
• Visibility leads to inbound conversations.
• Consistency in posting builds trust over time.
• Storytelling is key to relatability and trust.
• Commenting on posts can generate content ideas.
• People remember how you make them feel.
• You don't need to post every day to be effective.
• Focus on adding value in conversations.
• The algorithm favors engagement over likes.
• Building relationships is crucial for success.

Sound Bites

• "It's all about changing your mindset."
• "It's really about know, like, and trust."
• "I did not have it all figured out."
• "Different is better than better."
• "Your profile becomes your billboard."
• "You need to have conversations with people."
• "You're only shouting from the rooftop."
• "It's about adding value and listening."

Chapters

00:00 Reimagining LinkedIn: A Networking Mindset

03:03 Deanna's Escapee Journey: From Corporate to Entrepreneur

06:12 Navigating the Transition: Finding Your First Clients

09:02 Evolving Business Strategies: Flexibility in Offerings

12:02 Authenticity on LinkedIn: Being Yourself

15:11 Crafting Your Profile: The Importance of Headlines

17:58 Visibility and Engagement: Building Relationships on LinkedIn

23:55 Engaging Conversations Over Self-Promotion

28:01 The Importance of Consistency in Content Creation

31:57 Building Trust Through Storytelling

39:24 The Power of Commenting and Engagement

44:40 Conclusion and Future Conversations

Can experience and wisdom give us a unique edge in the age of AI? In this episode of The Corporate Escapee Podcast, I’m joined by Michael Himmelfarb, a seasoned consultant and one of the original escapees. Together, we explore how AI is reshaping solo businesses, why experience trumps prompts, and how escapees can use AI not just as a tool but as a competitive advantage. From intelligent interrogation to teaching AI to think like you, we uncover how combining AI with decades of expertise can create game-changing opportunities. Whether you’re curious about leveraging AI or just want to stay ahead in the solo business world, this episode is packed with actionable insights you won’t want to miss

Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhimmelfarb/

Takeaways

• AI is becoming an essential tool for business efficiency.
• Experience in a field enhances the use of AI.
• AI can help in making better decisions based on data.
• Small businesses can leverage AI for competitive advantage.
• Understanding customer data is crucial for effective AI use.
• AI can spark creativity and brainstorming.
• The integration of AI can lead to significant cost savings.
• AI can help identify customer needs and trends.
• Using AI requires a strategic approach to benefit customers.
• AI can be a co-pilot in decision-making processes.
• Experience in using AI provides a competitive edge.
• AI can enhance decision-making through intelligent interrogation.
• Empathy and intuition are crucial in AI interactions.
• AI can help identify customer needs and preferences.
• Leveraging data effectively can drive business growth.
• AI serves as a co-pilot for brainstorming and decision-making.
• Small businesses can benefit from AI to understand their customers better.
• The quality of input data significantly impacts AI outputs.
• AI can help in developing predictive models for pricing strategies.
• Strategic use of AI can differentiate businesses in competitive markets

Sound Bites

• "The value we bring is our experience."
• "AI can spark your own thinking."
• "AI is a tool in the toolkit."

Chapters

00:00 Exploring AI and Wisdom in Business

09:11 Leveraging AI for Competitive Advantage

18:32 The Future of AI in Small Businesses

In this episode of the Corporate Escapee Podcast, Joe Manganelli shares his journey from a corporate finance role to becoming an entrepreneur and the founder of Calculate, a financial services company. 

He discusses the challenges and triumphs of building a business, the importance of embracing discomfort, and the lessons learned along the way. Joe emphasizes the value of testing assumptions, the significance of enthusiasm in business, and the need for accountability in entrepreneurship. 

He also reflects on his recent transition to a new role as Chief Revenue Officer at Amalgam, a software company for accounting firms, and offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemanganelli/

Takeaways

• Embrace the discomfort of entrepreneurship.
• Don't wait for the perfect idea; start with what you have.
• Testing assumptions with clients is crucial for success.
• The early days of a business are often the most exciting.
• Perfection can hinder progress; focus on being good enough.
• Networking in small business is collaborative and supportive.
• Scaling a business requires understanding what is scalable.
• Accountability in entrepreneurship can be invigorating.
• Transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship can be a mindset shift.
• Always be open to new opportunities and networks.

Sound Bites

• "I realized I had it right in my hands."
• "Don't be afraid to test those assumptions."
• "The worst thing that happens is you fail."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Current Endeavors

04:21 The Journey from Corporate to Entrepreneurship

11:55 Building Calculate: The Early Days

18:04 Scaling and Diversifying Services

22:10 Transitioning and Selling the Business

24:59 Current Role and Future Aspirations

Keywords

entrepreneurship, corporate escape, startup journey, accounting software, business growth, scaling, revenue streams, personal development, risk-taking, networking

In this episode of the Corporate Escapee Podcast, Gabrielle shares her journey from a full-time marketing career to going solo, discussing the importance of understanding taxes and business structures like LLCs and S-Corps. 

She emphasizes the advantages of S-Corps in reducing self-employment taxes and the necessity of managing payroll effectively. 

The conversation also highlights the role of technology in simplifying financial management for escapees and the future of solo businesses in a rapidly changing workforce. 

She provides practical advice on starting a business, including the necessity of separating personal and business finances, the significance of business insurance, and the considerations for forming an LLC or S-Corp. 

Links:

Lettuce Promotion: Lettuce landing page: https://hubs.ly/Q02SpnrJ0 Code is ESCAPEE500

Free Resources: https://lettuce.co/resources

Gabrielle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielletenaglia/ 

Takeaways

• Freelancing offers flexibility and control over one's career.
• Understanding tax structures is crucial for freelancers.
• S-Corps can significantly reduce self-employment taxes.
• Time is a valuable resource that should not be wasted on bookkeeping.
• Automating financial management can alleviate stress for freelancers.
• Choosing the right business structure can lead to substantial tax savings.
• Freelancers need to pay themselves a reasonable salary to comply with IRS regulations.
• Technology can simplify the complexities of managing a freelance business.
• Networking is essential for finding opportunities and support.
• The future of work is shifting towards more freelancers and solo businesses. Finding experts that understand your business is crucial.
• Separate your personal and business finances from the start.
• Business insurance is essential for liability protection.
• An LLC is not always necessary unless concerned about liability.
• S-Corps can provide tax benefits for committed business owners.
• Fractional teams can offer specialized knowledge and skills.
• Sharing your ideas can attract clients to your business.
• Celebrate your achievements as a solopreneur.
• Understanding tax implications is vital for financial success.
• Lettuce provides tailored solutions for solo entrepreneurs.

Sound Bites

• "My time is my most valuable resource."
• "You have to pay yourself a reasonable salary."
• "I didn't want to do any of it."
• "We are focused only on businesses like yours."
• "You need an LLC to have an S-Corp."
• "Get an S-Corp because every penny you make saves."
• "You are doing a great job."
• "Start with the idea before the product."
• "The government doesn't need any more from us."

Chapters

00:00 The Journey to Freelancing

02:56 Understanding Taxes and Business Structures

06:05 The S-Corp Advantage

09:01 Navigating Payroll and Tax Responsibilities

11:49 The Role of Technology in Managing Finances

15:07 Finding the Right Tools for Freelancers

18:00 The Future of Freelancing and Business Management

25:10 Understanding Business Needs and Solutions

28:19 Best Practices for Starting a Business

31:36 Navigating LLCs and S-Corps

35:22 The Value of Fractional Teams

41:41...

Ray McKenzie, founder and managing director of Red Beach Advisors, shares his journey from corporate to entrepreneurship. He started his consulting firm in 2015, focusing on go-to-market strategy and operational efficiency for Fortune 1000 companies in cybersecurity and cloud computing. Later, he founded Starting Point, a workflow management and automation platform for professional services companies. Ray emphasizes the importance of building and maintaining relationships, leveraging your corporate network, and utilizing referrals to acquire clients.

He also discusses the need for a centralized system to manage projects and communication, which led to the creation of Starting Point. Starting Point is a workflow management platform that allows teams, clients, and administrators to log in and see everything in one place. It offers features such as lead management, AI-powered proposal development, client onboarding, engagement management, file management, performance tracking, and invoicing.

The platform was initially built for internal use by Red Beach Advisors but gained traction when shared with professionals in the consulting industry. The development of Starting Point was driven by the need to solve the challenge of scattered information and lack of visibility in managing projects and client relationships.

Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raymondmckenzie/

Website: https://www.redbeachadvisors.com/

Website: www.startingpoint.ai

Takeaways

• Building and maintaining relationships is crucial for business success.
• Leverage your corporate network and referrals to acquire clients.
• A centralized system for project management and communication is essential.
• Starting a business while still working full-time can be a viable option, depending on individual circumstances. Starting Point is a comprehensive workflow management platform designed for professional services and shared services organizations.
• The platform allows teams, clients, and administrators to have visibility and access to all relevant information in one place.
• Starting Point offers features such as lead management, AI-powered proposal development, client onboarding, engagement management, file management, performance tracking, and invoicing.
• The platform was initially built for internal use by Red Beach Advisors but gained popularity when shared with professionals in the consulting industry.

Sound Bites

• "The people you're working with when you're 23, 25, 27, 29, fast forward 20 years, those are the people who are the VPs, the SVPs, the CEOs, the board directors of major companies."
• "These people are inherently receiving a community or a workforce bench of people and resources that they can use."
• "I just found myself not really having a great grasp as to everything that was going on."
• "It's a workflow management platform that allows your team to log in and see everything, your client able to log in and see everything."
• "I started showing it to people in professional services, consulting firms, people in my network. And as I started showing it to people in my network, they were like, hey, this is something we could use."
• "It's ideally meant to just be simple for people to be able to use."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Catching Up

02:35 Transitioning from Corporate to Consulting

06:37 Managing Clients and Starting Red Beach Advisors

09:55 Starting a Business While Working Full-Time

16:16 The Inspiration Behind Starting Point

20:00 Introduction to Starting Point

29:02 Features and Benefits of Starting...

In this episode of the Corporate Escapee Podcast, Nina Sossamon-Pogue shares her multifaceted journey from being a U.S. gymnast to a successful journalist, and then transitioning into the tech industry.

She discusses the challenges she faced, including injuries and career setbacks, and emphasizes the importance of resilience, storytelling, and mindset in navigating life's transitions. Nina provides valuable insights on identifying personal skills, the significance of positive language, and the necessity of building a supportive network. She also introduces her framework for resilience, TIPS, and encourages listeners to envision their ideal life and take proactive steps towards it.

Takeaways

• Nina emphasizes the importance of resilience in navigating life's challenges.
• She encourages listeners to identify their skills and how they can transfer to new opportunities.
• Storytelling is a crucial skill in business and personal branding.
• It's essential to visualize what you want your life to look like.
• Transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship requires a mindset shift.
• Understanding the phases of life can help in managing expectations and experiences.
• Creating a personal timeline can provide clarity on past experiences and future goals.
• Positive language can significantly impact your mindset and how others perceive you.
• Building a support network is vital for success and personal growth.
• Nina's TIPS framework offers a structured approach to overcoming challenges.

Sound Bites

• "It's okay to not be okay, but not to stay that way."
• "Your words become your reality."
• "You're either giving energy or taking energy."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Nina's Journey

03:08 Navigating Life's Challenges and Career Transitions

06:06 Finding Your Skills and Purpose

09:02 The Importance of Storytelling in Business

11:48 Identifying What You Want in Life

14:54 The Shift from Corporate to Entrepreneurship

18:14 Understanding Time and Life's Phases

20:56 Creating Your Own Life Timeline

23:45 The Power of Language and Mindset

27:04 Building a Support Network

29:59 Framework for Resilience: TIPS

33:00 Skill Stacking for Career Success

36:02 Mindset for Job Seekers

38:55 The Importance of Positive Language

41:56 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Projects

Hear from a recent corporate escapee and her journey so far.

Adrienne Farrell is a corporate wellness consultant and the founder of the InnovateHerLab, a community for women exploring their career paths. She focuses on women's health and well-being in the workplace, recognizing the need to elevate this issue. 

Adrienne's journey to becoming an escapee started when she experienced layoffs and a toxic work environment. She decided to take a leap of faith and prioritize her own voice and values. 

She is passionate about advocating for women's health and believes that the corporate world needs to change to better support women. 

Adrienne is currently balancing her corporate wellness consulting work with her side project, the InnovateHer Lab. 

The conversation explores the opportunities and challenges of transitioning from corporate life to entrepreneurship. They discuss the benefits of being your authentic self, the rise of fractional work, and the importance of networking and finding a supportive community. They also touch on time management and prioritization as key factors in the success of solo entrepreneurs. The conversation ends with advice for those considering the entrepreneurial journey.

Adrienne’s Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriennel-farrell/

Website: adriennefarrell.com/ 

Takeaways

• Adrienne's transition from corporate to escapee was motivated by her desire for work-life balance, flexibility, and the ability to advocate for her own values.
• She is passionate about addressing the gap in women's health and well-being in the workplace and believes that organizations have a social responsibility to prioritize this issue.
• Adrienne's experience in setting up wellness programs in corporate roles has informed her current work as a corporate wellness consultant.
• She emphasizes the importance of having a support network and community when navigating the transition from corporate to escapee. Being your authentic self brings the most value and happiness.
• Fractional work offers flexibility and cost-effectiveness for companies.
• Building a supportive network and community is crucial for success.
• Time management and prioritization are key skills for solo entrepreneurs.
• Give yourself grace and embrace the learning process.

Sound Bites

• "There's a real need to elevate women's health within the workplace."
• "Finding your community allows for authentic, transparent conversations without jeopardizing your current career."
• "Having the freedom of voice and advocating for what's important to me is incredibly rewarding and empowering."
• "The opportunity, I guess more than anything"
• "There are opportunities to create the work that you want"
• "The future of work is heading this way"

Keywords

corporate wellness, women's health, career exploration, escapee, toxic work environment, work-life balance, flexibility, support network, entrepreneurship, corporate life, authenticity, fractional work, networking, community, time management, prioritization, advice

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

00:37 Adrienne's Work: Corporate Wellness and the Innovate Her Lab

05:07 Transitioning from Corporate to Escapee

08:29 Finding Your Voice and Advocating for What's Important

12:45 Addressing the Gap in Women's Health in the Workplace

15:30 Balancing Corporate Wellness Consulting and the Innovate Her Lab

20:00 Approaching Time and Focus as an Escapee

22:10 Transitioning from Corporate Life to Entrepreneurship

23:06 The Opportunity of...

In this episode, Laine Belcastro shares her journey from corporate marketing to becoming a solopreneur and email marketing consultant. 

Laine discusses the importance of networking, finding your niche, and the challenges of pricing strategies. Laine emphasizes the significance of email marketing for business growth and introduces her new venture, Accountability Arcade, aimed at helping entrepreneurs set and achieve short-term goals. 

The conversation highlights the balance of multiple revenue streams and the mindset shifts necessary for success in the solopreneur world.

Laine’s Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lainemb/

Website: https://lmbdigimarketing.com/ 

Takeaways

• Laine has her own email marketing automation consulting business.
• Networking is crucial for solopreneurs to find opportunities.
• It's important to focus on a niche to avoid burnout.
• Pricing should reflect the value provided, not just time spent.
• Email marketing is a powerful tool for brand recognition.
• Consistency in email outreach is key to staying top of mind.
• Accountability can help entrepreneurs achieve their goals more effectively.
• Starting with a simple nurture program can keep contacts engaged.
• You don't need to have everything figured out to start your business.
• Taking action is more important than waiting for the perfect plan.

Sound Bites

• "I'd rather be homeless than go back to corporate."
• "Networking is key for solopreneurs."
• "You don't need a website to get started."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:02 Accountability Arcade Service

03:43 Leaving Corporate America and Starting a Business

07:57 The Power of Networking

10:01 Finding Your Niche and Specializing

13:19 Pricing Models for Solopreneurs

17:39 Flexible Pricing and Meeting Customer Needs

19:32 Effective Email Marketing Strategies

27:35 Creating an Accountability Group

31:25 Balancing Multiple Revenue Streams

34:16 Taking Action and Diving into Entrepreneurship