In this special crossover episode, I sit down with Kyle Knowles on Maker-Manager Money to share my journey from 30 years in corporate to building The Escapee Collective and The Collective Academy. We dive deep into why I walked away from corporate life, how I overcame the uncertainty of going solo, and the powerful mindset shifts that made all the difference.

We discuss:

✅ The moment I knew I was done with corporate for good

✅ Why finding your first client is easier than landing your next job

✅ How to structure your day as a solo entrepreneur (without guilt)

✅ The hidden inefficiencies of corporate—and how small businesses are leveraging fractional and consulting talent

✅ Why GenXers have all the skills they need to go solo (even if they don’t believe it yet)

If you enjoy this discussion, I highly recommend checking out Maker-Manager Money—Kyle has some great conversations with entrepreneurs and business owners.

🎧 Listen to Kyle’s podcast here: Maker-Manager Money

Chapters

00:00 The Journey from Corporate to Freedom

02:52 Finding Balance and Managing Time

05:54 Health and Wellness in Entrepreneurship

08:49 Redefining Success Beyond Money

12:07 The Shift to Small Business Opportunities

14:59 The Power of Networking and Finding Clients

18:02 Building the Corporate Escapee Community

21:12 Navigating the Entrepreneurial Landscape

23:56 Embracing Change and Experimentation

29:50 Surprising Insights from the Community

32:01 The Journey of Corporate Escapees

35:02 Building a Supportive Community

38:27 Networking and Collaboration in Business

40:08 The Corporate Escapee Podcast

41:07 Personal Reflections and Lessons Learned

49:14 The Freedom and Challenges of Entrepreneurship