When Corporate Closed a Door, I Opened My Own
I remember the exact moment I realized corporate wasn’t going to give me the future I wanted.
I had proposed a new role—one that filled a clear gap in the market and could bring real value to the company. I put together a solid plan, backed it with research, and submitted it to my boss.
I understood how corporate worked. I knew that creating a new role wasn’t always simple. But when the idea was dismissed, I had a gut-wrenching realization: I had little control over what happened next.
I wasn’t just chasing a salary increase or a title change—I was searching for a way to have increased impact and purpose. Deep down, there was this undeniable feeling that I had something bigger to offer, not just to my company, but to the world. Then it hit me: if I wanted this impact and purpose, I couldn’t wait for someone else to create that space for me—I had to create it for myself. That was my wake-up call. This defining moment was when I knew it was time to leave corporate behind and step fully into entrepreneurship.
So now what? Where do you start? Most people are directed to begin their entrepreneurial journey with strategy—writing a business plan, researching the market, determining your business structure, and figuring out finances. But if I knew then what I know now, I would have started somewhere entirely different... my mindset. This is one thing you can start working on now—no capital, no inventory, no business plan, no licenses required. Rewiring your mindset isn’t just important— it’s the foundation that determines your success as an entrepreneur.
You can have the best strategy in the world, but if your mindset isn’t ready, you’ll struggle to execute it.
Think about it. In shifting from a company environment, we are coming from years—sometimes decades— of being trained to think like employees.
✔ We’re used to clear expectations and structured responsibilities.
✔ We’re used to a paycheck arriving every two weeks.
✔ We’re used to someone else telling us if we’re on the right track.
But once you step into entrepreneurship, this framework disappears.
❌ No one is assigning you tasks.
❌ No one is giving you a steady paycheck.
❌ No one is telling you if you’re making the “right” decisions.
Your business will only grow as much as your mindset allows it. If you approach entrepreneurship with an employee mindset, you’ll always feel stuck—waiting for direction, fearing risk, and second-guessing decisions. But when you shift into an entrepreneurial mindset, you stop seeing obstacles and start seeing opportunities. That’s where the real power is—and that’s why this shift has to happen first. As mentioned in the first post of this blog series, Prepare to Shift: The Workbook outlines a more detailed roadmap on shifting your hobby into growth mode, so if you have not purchased it, grab a copy today. But, in the meantime, here are 4 MindSHIFTS to get you started.
1. Reprogram Your Definition of Security
For most of our lives, many have been taught that security means a stable job with benefits—the traditional path to financial stability. From childhood, we’ve heard:
“Find a good job with benefits, and you’ll be set for life.”
“Stay with a company long enough, and you’ll move up."
“Work hard, and you’ll be rewarded with promotions and raises.”
But realistically—that version of security no longer exists. Layoffs happen. Companies restructure. Industries evolve. No paycheck is truly guaranteed, and no job is 100% secure.
The MindSHIFT
The biggest mental shift you must make is understanding that true security isn’t about a paycheck—it’s about ownership. Entrepreneurs don’t rely on one company to determine their financial future. Instead, we create multiple streams of income, ensuring that no single setback can take everything away.
An employee relies on a company to provide stability. An entrepreneur creates their own stability.
💭 Stop thinking, “I need a steady paycheck for security.”
💭 Start thinking, “I need to build something that generates income beyond just my time.”
The Challenge
Live off a fluctuating income for the next 60 days. Instead of relying on a full salary or income, set aside a portion and only allow yourself access to a variable amount each week—just like an entrepreneur.
This challenge will help you learn how to manage finances with uncertainty, budget smarter, stretch a dollar, be resourceful, and build financial discipline before stepping away from a steady paycheck. This mental shift is non-negotiable. If you hold onto an outdated definition of security, entrepreneurship will always feel risky—no matter how much money you make. But when you shift your thinking, you take back control of your financial future. That’s real security.
2. Embrace Uncertainty
One of the hardest but most necessary mindSHIFT that needs to occur when transitioning from employee to entrepreneur is learning to embrace uncertainty. In corporate life, the risk is managed for you. Your paycheck arrives like clockwork, regardless of whether the company has a great month or a bad one. Your role is clearly defined, your days follow a structured routine, and major decisions are made by someone else. There’s comfort in knowing that your job and income stability aren’t entirely in your hands—someone else is responsible for steering the ship. But as an entrepreneur, that type of safety net disappears.
The MindSHIFT
Entrepreneurship puts you in control of your future—but that also means stepping into risk and uncertainty every single day. The predictability of corporate life is gone, and in its place, you must develop the confidence to navigate the unknown. Here’s what that looks like:
Your income fluctuates. Some months, you may earn far more than you did in corporate. Other months may be leaner, requiring financial discipline and adaptability.
Your role is fluid. One day, you’re the CEO focused on growth. The next, you’re handling customer service, managing finances, or troubleshooting unexpected challenges.
You make the decisions. There’s no boss to approve your choices, no department head to provide direction. You must trust yourself to figure things out.
Employees operate within boundaries—corporate policies, salary caps, and bureaucratic structures. There’s only so much they can earn, grow, and innovate. Entrepreneurs create their own parameters. Your income is no longer tied to a paycheck—it’s tied to your ideas, execution, and ability to adapt. Successful entrepreneurs don’t fear risk—they lean into it. They recognize that uncertainty isn’t a roadblock—it’s the very thing that creates financial freedom, flexibility, and unlimited growth.
💭 Stop thinking, “I need stability to feel secure.”
💭 Start thinking, “I need to build confidence in my ability to navigate uncertainty.”
The Challenge
You don’t have to wait until you become an entrepreneur to learn how to navigate the uncertainties of entrepreneurship. The best way to get comfortable with risk is to start training now. Each week, challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone. Here are a few ways to start:
Make a Financial Investment in Your Growth. Buy a business course, pay for a networking event, or hire a coach—even without a clear or guaranteed return. Get used to investing in yourself and your business before your business starts generating money. Building something meaningful requires investing upfront—before success is guaranteed.
Purchase Tools or Software to Support a Side Hustle. If you're testing an idea, buy a website domain, project management software, or marketing tools. This normalizes spending on business growth before it’s profitable.
The key to entrepreneurship isn’t avoiding uncertainty—it’s learning to embrace it, take risks, and trust your ability to adapt. Nothing in business is guaranteed, but success comes from moving forward despite the unknown. The more you practice making decisions without a perfect roadmap, trusting yourself in unpredictable situations, and taking action before everything feels "ready," the more equipped you'll be to handle the realities of business ownership. Because the truth is, certainty is an illusion—adaptability is real security.
3. From Specialist to Generalist
Another MindSHIFT necessary to transition from corporate life to entrepreneurship is realizing that your role is no longer neatly defined. In a company, every job has a title, a job description, and a clear set of responsibilities. You stay within your department, collaborate with teams, and rely on specialized colleagues to handle areas outside of your expertise. Need legal support? There’s a legal department. Need help with marketing? There’s a marketing team. Your job has boundaries. But as an entrepreneur? Those boundaries disappear.
The MindSHIFT
Entrepreneurship demands flexibility, adaptability, and a willingness to step into roles you’ve never done before. You’re no longer just one piece of the puzzle—you’re the entire puzzle. Here’s an example of what this can look like:
Instead of focusing on one specialty, you become a generalist—handling marketing, sales, customer service, operations, and finance.
Instead of depending on a team for support, you learn to figure things out, problem-solve, and make things work with limited resources.
Instead of executing tasks within a system, you are building the system from the ground up.
It can be overwhelming at first. Many new entrepreneurs struggle with feeling stretched too thin or second-guessing their ability to manage multiple business areas. But here’s the key: you don’t have to be perfect at everything—you just need to be resourceful.
💭 Stop thinking, “That’s not my job.”
💭 Start thinking, “I’ll figure it out—or find someone who can.”
The Challenge
Let's start practicing this level of adaptability before you fully dive into entrepreneurship. Here are a few ways to start:
Take on a Responsibility Outside of Your Job Description. Volunteer for a cross-functional project, lead a community initiative or learn a skill that’s outside your comfort zone. This builds the habit of stepping into unfamiliar roles with confidence.
Learn to Be Resourceful Instead of Expecting Support. Before reaching out for help—whether it’s at work or in your personal life—challenge yourself to exhaust all other options first. Search for answers online, read tutorials, watch videos, or test different solutions. This helps you become resourceful. self-reliant and trust your ability to find solutions independently.
The more comfortable you become with wearing multiple hats now, the more manageable your transition into entrepreneurship will be. You don’t have to be great at everything—you just need to develop the mindset of figuring things out.
4. Reframe Failure as a Learning Tool
How did your company view failure? In corporate life, failure is often something to avoid at all costs. Mistakes can lead to negative performance reviews, missed promotions, or even job loss. Employees are conditioned to play it safe, follow protocols, and avoid risks that could damage their careers. But in entrepreneurship, failure isn’t a setback—it’s a necessary step forward.
The MindSHIFT
Successful entrepreneurs don’t see failure as the opposite of success—they see it as part of the process. Every mistake, misstep, or failed attempt provides valuable data, lessons, and experience that push them closer to success. Here’s what that shift looks like:
Instead of fearing mistakes, entrepreneurs analyze them, adjust, and try again.
Instead of aiming for perfection, they focus on progress, iteration, and continuous learning.
Instead of seeing failure as personal, they see it as business feedback—an opportunity to refine and improve.
The most successful business owners fail fast and fail forward—they take action, learn quickly, and use every challenge as fuel for growth.
💭 Stop thinking, “If I fail, it means I’m not cut out for this.”
💭 Start thinking, “Every failure brings me closer to success.”
The Challenge
Start looking at setbacks differently. Start shifting your perspective by intentionally stepping into challenges that push you outside your comfort zone. Here are some ways to start:
Pitch an Idea Where the Probability of Rejection May Be High. Whether it’s in a networking group, or to a potential client—practice putting yourself out there. The goal isn’t just to succeed but to get comfortable with hearing "no" and learning from it.
Document Your Failures and Lessons Learned. Start a "failure journal" where you track mistakes, missteps, and rejections—then write down what you learned from each one. Reflecting on the learnings is one of the more important parts of this challenge. Over time, you’ll start to see failure as a source of wisdom, not a reason to quit.
The more you embrace failure as a stepping stone instead of a dead end, the faster you’ll grow as an entrepreneur. In business, failure isn’t something to avoid—it’s something to leverage.
Your MindSHIFT Is the Foundation—Now, What’s Next?
Shifting your mindset from employee to entrepreneur isn’t just a step in the process—it’s the foundation that determines your success. The way you define security, handle uncertainty, take ownership, and embrace failure will directly impact how you navigate this journey. Without this shift, even the best strategy, funding, or business plan won’t get you far.
But here’s the good news: You don’t have to make this shift overnight. Just like any muscle, your entrepreneurial mindset strengthens over time—with each risk you take, each decision you make, and each challenge you overcome. Start practicing now, before you get deeper into entrepreneurship, and you’ll be ahead of the game. And this is just the beginning. Now that you’ve started thinking like an entrepreneur, it’s time to understand some of the other milestones on this journey from employee to entrepreneur. Stay tuned for the third post in this blog series. See you there!
Prepare To Shift: The Workbook
A few years ago, I wrote Prepare to Shift: The Workbook—a quick guide to turning your hobby or side hustle into a growing business. This workbook is built around 14 key principles: 7 MindSHIFT and 7 WorkSHIFT.
🔹 MindSHIFT focuses on the ways you need to think differently to transition into business growth.
🔹 WorkSHIFT highlights the actions you need to take to build a profitable and scalable business.
Each principle has an exercise to help you apply these shifts in real-time. Since this workbook is designed to help entrepreneurs move from stuck to scaling, you’ll see a few references to it throughout this blog series as it overlaps with key principles one needs to know before propelling a business into growth mode. It’s a quick but powerful read, so if you haven’t grabbed a copy yet, I highly recommend checking it out.
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