Making The Leap From Corporate Leader To Entrepreneur

Are you thinking about making the leap from corporate leader to successful entrepreneur?

Women are leaving the corporate workforce in record numbers. Some are forced out over 50 when their role no longer fits or the company they work for is “downsizing.”  And still others are not content with the impact they are making as an employee and have a bigger vision and a purposeful mission to fulfill in the world.

Regardless of which camp you fall into, starting your own business after a successful corporate career is never easy. But it’s not as hard as you may think and making the leap holds a multitude of rewards for those with the resilience, vision and the sticktoitiveness to make it happen.

I recently posed three questions to colleagues who are successful entrepreneurs about what it was like when they made the leap from corporate leader to CEO of their own shop. I asked them:

• What were the biggest challenges you faced when you first started out as an entrepreneur?
• What three things do you know now that you wish you knew then?
• If you were to rewind and start over, what would you do differently?

If you are just making the leap or thinking about busting a move, their responses will be very timely for you. What surprised me most was not what they said, but what they didn’t say!

What do you think the biggest challenge in making the leap was for these now successful women entrepreneurs?

Was it..
Asking for money?
Hiring the right staff?
Clarity on what to offer?
The mechanics of the launch itself?

Those are all great questions.

While I expected the biggest challenges to center around money–financial stability is the number one concern I hear from those still in corporate jobs thinking about making the leap. The biggest early challenges from those who have made success a daily habit came from lack of confidence and feeling overwhelmed.

My biggest challenge was “showing up confident and strong without a big corporate name behind me.” Another said, “Confidence. Actually [taking the leap] instead of learning more information.”

Hiding behind another credential or taking yet another marketing course is a clear tell that there is a lack of confidence driving those decisions. One who reflected back on what she wished she knew then was, “I already knew enough when I started. Being confident is the most important thing and showing up confident.”

Without the corporate structure behind you, the sheer volume of work and possible directions to take is overwhelming. “Not having a structure, accountability and support in place to help [me] on [my] journey” was a huge challenge. “Trying to prioritize everything was a challenge since [starting a business] is very overwhelming!” “Not knowing where to begin, feeling overwhelmed, not knowing what to offer, how much to charge, do I need a logo or LLC or website, not knowing anything about running a business..”

Getting help early on was a consistent theme. No one succeeds in this business alone. “Ask for help sooner.” And get a community in place of like minded and focused female founders to support your success, “People are more happy to help you out than I thought, be patient and compassionate with yourself, find a tribe or tribes of people to support your journey.”

Looking back at what some of the biggest struggles and gaps were, these successful founders wish they had spent more time getting the customer profile right and testing out their ideas. “If I could rewind the clock, I would spend more time figuring out my perfect client/niche and concentrate on that.” Another reflected, “I would have tested the market and re-worded my consulting offerings. I would have asked for marketing help sooner.”

Don’t wait to hire support and get the right structures and systems in place right away. “Put systems (process & procedure) in place first, don’t give up–just know it’s going to be harder than you imagined, stick to your plan and if you fall off–get help.” Block your time and prioritize your tasks. If you are trading time for money, every minute of your day counts. Make it work for you.

Regarding money, most mentioned, “ask for more than you think you need.” And when is comets to pricing your services, “ask for more money than your head tells you.” Confidence plays a big role here. If you are not feeling your own value, it’s hard to ask others to invest in the results you provide. Playing small and letting low confidence or self esteem get in the way of how you price your offerings and ask for money can put you out of business pretty fast.

The #1 piece of advice that almost everyone I asked shared about what they would do differently if they were to start over?

“I would have taken the leap sooner!” All of that time procrastinating and taking courses and getting additional credentials just delayed the process of realizing the success and fulfillment they now enjoy. It’s time to make a bold move. Are you in? Or are you out?

I’ll be sharing more in an upcoming training, “How to make leap from corporate leader to successful entrepreneur in a new one hour training. You can learn more and save your seat here.

Take a moment to reflect now… What is holding you back from making the leap or getting the help you need to grow? Is it confidence? Clarity? Support? Hit reply now and share with me your biggest challenge that you are facing on this journey. I promise to respond personally right away 😉

To your success!

Deb Boulanger
CEO, The Great Do-Over
Founder, The Launch Lab for Women Entrepreneurs

PS: Whenever you are ready, there are four ways I can help you launch and grow your business with less stress.

1. Take The Launch Lab quiz and get instant clarity on where you are rocking it with your business idea and what gaps need filling. 
2. Join my free training on April 25 “How To Make The Leap From Corporate Leader To Successful Entrepreneur.” Hold your spot here.
3. Apply to The Launch Lab for Women Entrepreneurs – our 12-week accelerator for new coaches, consultants, trainers and other services professionals who want financial freedom doing what they love.