Share The Corporate Escapee: On a Mission to Help 10,000 GenXers Escape the 9-5 Grind!
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By Brett Trainor
4.8
3333 ratings
The podcast currently has 262 episodes available.
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
Sound Bites
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 Fractional Work
25:14 The Future of Work
27:36 The Power of Networking and Community
29:17 Challenges and Rewards of Going Solo
33:32 Time Management and Prioritization
37:23 Advice for Early-stage Entrepreneurs
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
Sound Bites
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
Jaidin McCann, owner of Jasper Consultancy, shares her journey of starting her own executive search firm and offering fractional work. She emphasizes the importance of personal branding and networking in the fractional space. McCann advises individuals to specialize in a specific area and build a strong referral network. She also highlights the need for market research and understanding the buyer's market. McCann encourages individuals to take the leap into fractional work and enjoy the journey.
Jaidin McCann Links
Takeaways
Sound Bites
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:00 Starting a Fractional Business: Personal Branding and Networking
08:03 Building a Strong Referral Network in the Fractional Space
14:05 Understanding the Buyer's Market: Market Research in Fractional Work
21:23 Advice for Individuals Pursuing Fractional Work
29:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
This is an audio recording of a recent Happy Hour and Learn Session for members of the Escapee Collective community. Jake Stahl shares his advice, perspective and best practices for thriving as a fractional leader.
Jake Stall discusses the concept of fractional work and shares his experience in the field. He emphasizes the importance of building relationships and networking in order to succeed as a fractional professional. Jake also provides insights on pricing strategies and how to ask for referrals. He promotes the upcoming Frac 2024 conference as a valuable opportunity for learning and networking in the fractional industry.
Guest Links:
Jake Stahl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakestahl/
Frak2024: https://fractionalconference.com/
Takeaways
Sound Bites
Debbie Schwake and Ashley Evenson discuss their escapee journeys and how they formed a collaborative partnership. They emphasize the importance of collaboration and transparency in their working relationship. They have their own independent businesses but also work together on projects, leveraging each other's strengths.
They highlight the flexibility and work-life balance that comes with being a solo entrepreneur. They see a growing need for fractional talent in the consulting industry, particularly among small to mid-tier companies. Their target audience is those who need an outside perspective and expertise to help with business issues and growth plans.
Ashley and Debbie discuss their unique position as consultants with both big brand and industry experience, providing expert-level consulting to small and medium-sized companies at a fraction of the cost. They emphasize the importance of being hands-on and implementing recommendations, rather than just providing advice. They also highlight the value of an outside-in perspective and the need for validation and direction, rather than relying solely on tools.
Networking is a key strategy for both of them, focusing on building relationships and offering support without asking for business. They stress the importance of belief in oneself and the power of humanizing your brand through video and personal connections.
Guest Links
Debbie Schwake: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dschwake/
Ashely Evenson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyevenson/
Website: https://andcoalition.com/
Takeaways
Titles
Sound Bites
Keywords
escapee journey, collaboration, transparency, independent businesses, partnership, flexibility, work-life balance, fractional talent, consulting industry, small to mid-tier companies, outside perspective, expertise, business issues, growth plans, consulting, small business, networking, outside-in perspective, validation, direction, belief, humanizing brand
Kate Kompelien, founder of The Insight, shares her journey as a customer experience consultant and qualitative researcher. She helps companies understand key moments that matter to their customers and identifies pain points that hinder a better customer experience. Kate started her own business after realizing she wanted to focus on smaller projects and provide a more personalized experience for her clients. She emphasizes the importance of networking and building relationships, both with people she knows and with new connections. Kate also highlights the value of face-to-face meetings and taking a genuine interest in others' businesses and lives. Kate Kompelien shares her journey of starting her own customer experience consulting business. She discusses her core offerings, the industries she works with, and the size of companies she targets. Kate also talks about her three-pronged approach to acquiring clients: direct, subcontracting, and referrals. She emphasizes the importance of diversifying revenue streams and being open to different opportunities. Kate encourages listeners to believe in themselves, take risks, and have fun in their entrepreneurial journey.
Kate’s Links
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katekompelien/
Website: https://www.theinsightshopllc.com/
Takeaways
Titles
Sound Bites
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Overview of Kate's Work
06:27 Building Relationships and Networking
10:24 The Importance of Following Up
12:52 Sales and Running Your Own Business
14:47 Finding Opportunities in a Competitive Market
17:48 Focusing on Your Sweet Spots
21:38 Building a Consulting Business: Finding Your Niche
22:39 Targeting Industries and Company Size
24:33 The Three-Pronged Approach to Acquiring Clients
This bonus episode is a recording of a panel discussion we had during one of the Escapee Collective educational sessions. I had 4 escapees share their strategies and tips for effective networking
The conversation focuses on the importance of networking and provides tips and strategies for effective networking. The speakers discuss the value of building relationships, finding the right networking opportunities, and targeting ideal clients. They emphasize the need to give before asking for anything in return and the importance of establishing trust and credibility. The conversation also touches on the distinction between referrals and introductions and the significance of engaging with content and demonstrating understanding. Overall, the conversation provides valuable insights and practical advice for successful networking.
Takeaways
Sound Bites
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Importance of Networking
16:05 Building Relationships in Networking
23:27 Defining Ideal Clients and Referral Partners
27:46 Referrals vs. Introductions
31:12 Give Before You Ask: Providing Value
36:03 Engaging with Content and Demonstrating Understanding
39:13 Establishing Trust and Credibility
41:33 Quality Connections Over Quantity
43:01 Conclusion and Call to Action
Eileen Rochford and Rob Johnson share their stories of escaping the corporate world and starting their own businesses.
Eileen, the CEO of the Harbinger Group, left her job at a PR agency to start her own agency, driven by a desire for a different way of working and a lack of fulfillment in the corporate structure.
Rob, a former television professional, transitioned into consulting after his contract in the media industry was not renewed. Both Eileen and Rob emphasize the importance of building strong relationships with clients and prioritizing trust and partnership. They also discuss the challenges of pricing their services and the need to adapt and pivot in response to changing circumstances.
The conversation explores the concept of value pricing and the benefits of establishing long-term relationships with clients. The guests discuss their approach to pricing, which involves creating a program for clients with a clearly outlined strategy and detailed tactics. They also emphasize the importance of trust and flexibility in client relationships. The conversation touches on the topic of building a solo business and the advantages of hiring specialists on a project basis.
The guests share their insights on networking, highlighting the value of deep, meaningful connections over quantity. They stress the importance of authenticity and a long-term mindset in networking.
Guest Links:
Eileen Rochford:
Rob Johnson:
Takeaways
Sound Bites
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Multiple Guests
00:41 Escaping the Corporate World: Eileen's Story
04:04 Transitioning from Television to Consulting: Rob's Journey
07:08 Building Strong Client Relationships and Trust
09:35 Navigating Pricing Challenges
13:07 The Importance of Adaptability and Pivoting
26:10 Value Pricing and Constructing a Program
28:44 Building a Solo Business and Hiring Specialists
32:38 The Importance of Trust and Flexibility in Client Relationships
39:36 Networking: Quality Over Quantity
44:37 Authenticity and a Long-Term Mindset in Networking
In this episode of the Corporate Escapee Podcast, Brett Trainor interviews Marcus Sheridan, author of 'They Ask, You Answer.' They discuss the concept of 'They Ask, You Answer' and how it involves meeting the needs and answering the questions of customers. Marcus emphasizes the importance of understanding the buyer's journey and being obsessed with the questions, worries, fears, and concerns of buyers. He also highlights the power of being a rule breaker and disruptor in the market, especially for solopreneurs and small businesses. The conversation also covers the importance of video in marketing, the types of videos every business needs, and the value of networking and outreach.
Key Takeaways
Marcus Sheridan Links
Sound Bites
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Excitement for the Conversation
00:45 Defining 'They Ask, You Answer'
02:06 The Divide Between Sales Process and Buyer's Journey
03:58 Pushing Buyers Through Processes vs. Answering Questions
05:18 The Advantage of Being a Solopreneur
06:23 Being Your Own Media Company and Answering Core Questions
10:48 The Basics of Video Creation and Authenticity
11:39 The Six Videos Every Business Needs
16:24 Creating Different Types of Videos for Business Success
20:33 Lead Generation Tools: ScoreApp and PriceGuide.ai
23:07 Networking and Outreach Strategies
25:12 The Importance of Authenticity and Being Human in Marketing
28:31 Simplifying Video Creation with Outsourcing and Tools
30:08 Building a Personal Brand through Valuable Content
33:45 Conclusion and Contact Information
In this episode of the Corporate Escapee Podcast, host Brett Trainor interviews Paul Durelli, founder of Digital Kahuna, about his journey from the corporate world to entrepreneurship. They discuss the challenges of toxic work environments and the importance of personal development for solo business owners. They also explore the use of automation and AI tools to streamline workflows and improve efficiency. Paul shares insights on virtual assistants, documenting processes, and leveraging technology to scale a business. The conversation highlights the need for delegation, creativity, and effective communication in building a successful solo business.
Paul Durelli Links
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-durelli-86394343
Website: digitalkahuna.com
Takeaways
Sound Bites
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:52 Escaping Toxic Work Environments
09:10 The Power of Automation and AI
18:52 Delegating and Orchestrating with Virtual Assistants
24:02 Documenting Processes and Leveraging Tools
32:00 Fostering Creativity and Collaboration
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