What Brad Did

This week, I’m walking and talking about something that caught me off guard.

That moment I mentioned briefly last week toward the end of Episode 010 when the fire just went out.

You know that feeling?…when the drive, the energy, the passion that carried you for months or years on a project or job suddenly vanishes.

And you’re left wondering…what now?  

For the last five months, I’ve been all-in on connecting Corporate Dropouts.

* hosting 22 weekly WaterCoolerCalls,

* releasing 10 episodes of the Corporate Dropout Stories Podcast,

* writing in detail, 11 WaterCoolerCall Recaps,

* sharing my own thoughts through 11 episodes of The Corporate Dropout audio newsletter,

* sending 19 private newsletters for email subscribers,

* exploring how to build a passion into a paycheck with the Wayfinders Alliance,

* leading a 7-day Breakthrough to Brilliance Challenge,

* and posting 75+ short form story and poetry Notes for social media.

And then, a couple of weeks ago, something shifted.

Like someone flipped a switch inside me, my motivation disappeared, and I was left feeling…stuck and confused.  

This didn’t feel like burnout. I’ve been there before. I know what that hole looks like.

This was something different. A pattern I’ve seen play out in my professional life over and over again.

The highs of creation, the deep engagement, the connection…and then, suddenly, a retreat. A step back. A feeling of being trapped by my own expectations.  

What’s fascinating (and frustrating) is that this time, there’s no external pressure.

No boss. No financial crisis. No looming deadline. No lack of support. Just me, standing in my own way.  

So I’m sitting with that. Looking at it from all angles. And trying to understand…if no one else is holding me back…what is?  

If you’ve ever felt this cycle → the build-up, the breakthrough, and then the sudden stall…I think you’ll want to listen to this one.  

Onward!

Brad 8-)

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010 | If I'm not my job, then who am I?

I found myself staring at an endless stretch of road. Not thinking. Not planning. Just listening...

Have you ever had a moment where you were forced to slow down, and suddenly, you didn’t know who you were anymore?

That moment hit me somewhere in the middle of the Arizona desert, pedaling across America, pretending I had a grand entrepreneurial plan…

…when really, I was just riding away from everything I’d known.

* Meetings

* Deadlines

* Promotions

The identity I had built around my job.

At first, it felt like freedom.

Then it started to feel like unraveling.

Because when the noise fades and the distractions are gone, the big question rises…

If I’m not my job, then who am I?

I wrestled with that question on empty highways, under a vast New Mexico sky, and later, on a trip for my 40th birthday in the Utah desert.

I used to think clarity came from figuring things out.

But really, it comes from learning to listen

* without an agenda

* without solving

* just… listening

This week, I hit that point again.

A flame inside me, the one that had been burning so bright for building a Corporate Dropout Community, sputtered and died.

And I panicked.

What do you do when the thing that once lit you up suddenly doesn’t?

What if you’ve built something you care about, only to find yourself questioning it?

What happens when the fire dies?

That’s what I’m exploring in episode 010 of The Corporate Dropout.

Not the resolution.

Not the perfect next step.

Just the honest truth of sitting with it, making space, and learning to trust myself in the quiet.

Onward!

Brad 8-)

P.S. If you’re in this same space, feeling untethered, wondering what’s next…I’d love for you to join us at our Wednesday WaterCoolerCall. No pressure, just real conversations with people who get it. It might be exactly what you need. Register here DropTheCorporate.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit braddid.substack.com/subscribe

009 | What Happens When No One’s Left to Watch...the hidden fear no one talks about with nowhere to be

The summer before I left my corporate job for good, a question was keeping me up at night:

What would I actually do if no one was telling me what to do?

Not in a weekend retreat kind of way.

I mean really…left to my own devices.

Outside the structure, the expectations, the built-in purpose of a career… what would happen?

I couldn’t answer that in between meetings and commutes.

So, I ran an experiment.

I took four weeks off, packed up my wife and kids, and drove 24 hours straight to my brother’s house. No work. No deadlines. No Housework. Just wide-open, unstructured time.

At first, it was freeing. But then… something strange started to happen.

* By the second week, boredom crept in.

* By the third, I found myself searching for something—anything—to latch onto.

* By the fourth, the answer I had been looking for hit me square in the face.

And that answer? It changed everything.

But it also led me straight into the next question. One I didn’t see coming.

I break it all down in this week’s audio, issue 009 of The Corporate Dropout.

If you’re navigating life after corporate like me, this one’s for you.

Onward!

Brad 8-)

P.S. Ever wonder what you’d do without a title, a team, or a corporate structure to define you? Yeah. Me too. Let’s talk about it. Pop in some earbuds and let’s go on a walk and talk together. Then join me live Wednesdays at DropTheCorporate.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit braddid.substack.com/subscribe

008 | I left the job… so why do I still feel trapped? Letting go of that job doesn’t mean breaking free from its grip...

If you’ve ever been hit with that “oh... so you don’t have a real job?” look from old friends, yeah, me too. And if you’ve ever asked yourself, why am I still measuring success by corporate standards even after leaving?…then you’re going to want to hear this one. Put your earbuds in. Click the play button and go for a walk with me.

Listen now and then come meet others like me, figuring it out together, every Wednesday at the WaterCoolerCall.

Onward!

Brad 8-)

DropTheCorporate.com

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Even though I left my corporate job on my own terms, the fear of being discarded never left me.

It followed me into entrepreneurship. Into consulting. Then one day, my worst fear came true - a client blindsided me by replacing me without warning.

That's when I realized: This isn't about job loss. It's about identity loss.

The corporate world trains us to tie our worth to our position. When that position vanishes - whether we choose to leave or not - we're left asking: Who am I now?

But here's what I've learned: You can reinvent yourself. And you don't have to do it alone.

→ Join our next WaterCoolerCall at DropTheCorporate.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit braddid.substack.com/subscribe

Stop Wasting Years on Someone Else's Path, Real Breakthroughs Demand Their Own Path...

In issue 006 of The Corporate Dropout, Brad Didericksen discusses the challenge of facing a 'blank page' in life and work. Drawing from personal stories, Brad explores the paralysis that comes with starting anew and the fear of making decisions without a set path. He relates this to his journey as a corporate dropout, where following others' steps has sometimes led him in circles. Brad encourages listeners to venture into uncharted territory despite fears, inviting them to join him in the 'Breakthrough to Brilliance' challenge. This episode is a call to embrace the journey, take risks, and pursue what truly matters.

DropTheCorporate.com/challenge

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:35 The Blank Page Problem

01:26 Overcoming Creative Blocks

03:04 The Corporate Dropout Journey

06:22 A Personal Story of Struggle

10:38 Facing New Challenges

14:27 The Call to Adventure

20:42 Invitation to Join the Challenge

22:22 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit braddid.substack.com/subscribe

In episode 005 of The Corporate Dropout, Brad Didericksen delves into the emotional and practical challenges faced by those who leave the corporate world to pursue their own passions. Brad shares his personal experiences and the internal struggles he's faced, including the conflict between chasing passion and ensuring financial stability. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity and self-discovery, urging listeners to define their own success and not just follow set formulas. Brad also highlights the significance of community support and invites listeners to join the Corporate Dropouts community for mutual inspiration and support.

00:00 Introduction and Weekly Reflection

01:41 The Corporate Dropout Journey

04:19 Balancing Passion and Financial Stability

06:44 The Ephemeral Nature of Happiness and Joy

08:02 Embracing Authenticity and Self-Discovery

15:42 The Power of Community and Support

18:15 Invitation to Join the Community

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit braddid.substack.com/subscribe

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The Community That Sparks Change, Three Types of Magic Between Serendipity and Synchronicity & Asking the Big Questions That Change Everything...

In episode 004 of “The Corporate Dropout,” Brad Didericksen reflects on the week’s rich discussions in the Corporate Dropouts Community, highlighting the transformative power of serendipity and synchronicity. He shares personal stories, including life-changing questions from his uncle, his cross-country bike ride, and climbing a mountain due to a chance encounter. Brad emphasizes the importance of embracing these magical moments in pursuing one's dreams. He invites listeners to join the growing community and participate in the newly forming Dream Builders Alliance effort to collaborate on building dreams together from the inside out.

DropTheCorporate.com

01:07 The Community That Sparks Change

03:06 Discovering the Magic Between Serendipity and Synchronicity

04:40 Asking the Big Questions That Change Everything

07:27 Serendipity, Synchronicity, and Transformation

08:25 #1 The Swirl: Risk and Chaos as Catalysts

10:53 #2 The Nexus: Dream Meets Opportunity

14:09 #3 The Portal: Stepping Into Expansive Potential

16:24 Building Dreams Together

17:25 Your Invitation to Join the Magic

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit braddid.substack.com

Feeling Down, Frustrated, and Flustered, Three Groundhog Day Reflections & One Small Intentional Shift to Find the Exit...

In episode 003 of “The Corporate Dropout,” Brad Didericksen reflects on feelings of frustration, isolation, and the challenges of discoverability, sharing personal stories about early client relationships and the importance of social connections as a Corporate Dropout.

Brad also explores his transition from pursuing work-life balance to finding a more fluid, stress-free approach to energy management.

Additionally, he explains how he reconciled his aversion to being put 'in a box' by viewing boxes as opportunities to pour his unique self into various roles and mediums.

The episode concludes with a motivational message inspired by the movie “City Slickers.”

DropTheCorporate.com

01:37 When Every Day Feels Like Groundhog Day

03:29 Groundhog Reflection #1: Discoverability

08:20 Groundhog Day Reflection #2: Energy Management

11:59 Groundhog Day Reflection #3: Working in a Box

17:38 One Small Intentional Shift to Find the Corporate Exit

19:33 Your Next Breakthrough Starts with a Conversation

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit braddid.substack.com

Going Deep at the WaterCoolerCall, Three Reoccurring Themes from Real Lived Experiences & Being Yourself Beyond Corporate in a Reflective Space with Fellow Dropouts...

In episode 002 of “The Corporate Dropout,” Brad Didericksen candidly shares his personal journey of leaving the corporate world, highlighting the anxiety and financial instability that often accompany such a significant change.

Brad recounts the initial reactions to issue 001 and insights from a recent WaterCoolerCall, emphasizing the importance of a financial cushion (six to 18 months recommended) and the emotional challenges of redefining identity outside corporate confines.

He elaborates on his own experiences of selling assets and restructuring his life to gain financial stability. Discussing the persistent fear of failure and the need for personal growth, Brad points out the value of community support and continuous self-improvement.

The episode concludes with an invitation to join the Corporate Dropouts Community for collaborative growth and support, aiming to help members transition to a self-sustained, purpose-driven professional life.

DropTheCorporate.com

TIMESTAMPS:

02:08 The Weekly WaterCoolerCall Check-in

03:18 Theme #1: Stuffing the Financial Cushion

10:19 Theme #2: Addressing Identity Beyond Corporate

13:40 Theme #3: Fear of Failure and Taking Risks

18:07 Corporate Dropouts and Future Plans

20:14 Personal Histories Hold Strength

23:57 Community Rhythm for Dropout Success