10 Golden Rules for Thriving as a Corporate Escapee

Hey there! Thanks for stopping by. I am on a mission to help 10,000 GenX corporate professionals escape the box of the 9-5 grind. Each week I will share news, strategies and tactics to help you take control, find balance and NOT sacrifice your income. Links at the bottom for free resource

?? ALERT: We have launched a Free Slack community for recent escapee & those that are escapee curious: The Escapee Collective? We hope to see you there!

More Than A Career Change- It’s a Lifestyle!

When I left corporate my vision was to increase my income. What I have discovered is that it is so much more. The money is great but it is a fundamental change in lifestyle- you build your work into your life and not the other way around.?

I have developed over the past 4 years a number of Golden Rules that I try to live by and thought you might find them interesting and more importantly helpful during your escapee transition

Here are my 10 Golden Rules in no particular order

1. Keep it Simple

As you step out of the 9-to-5, resist the urge to overcomplicate things. Focus on what you can control and simplify your business model. A simple approach will make it easier to adapt and pivot as you learn what works best for you.

2. Build Around Your Expertise & Skills

Leverage what you already know. Your years in the corporate world have equipped you with valuable expertise and skills. Use these as your foundation. This familiarity will not only give you a competitive edge but also boost your confidence in an new environment.

3. 10X is Easier than 2X: Think Bigger

Aim high and think big. Incremental goals are important, but don't limit your vision. Striving for a tenfold increase in your goals can often be more achievable than doubling your efforts because it forces you to rethink your approach. You should also check out the book by the same name.

4. The Pareto Principle is Your Friend

Find the 20% of your efforts that will drive 80% of your revenue. Identify which aspects of your business yield the most results and focus your energy there. It also ties back to Keep it Simple!

5. Build Multiple Revenue Streams

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Diversifying your income sources can provide financial stability and reduce risk. Think of it as a portfolio approach. You do need to stay true to your core expertise but there are multiple avenues for cash.

6. High Cashflow = Low Stress

Maintaining a healthy cash flow is critical. Cash flow as a solo business is really important. You are not building off of equity or raising capital. The beauty of this model is that the margins are really high- 90% and higher in many cases.

7. Minimize Trading Time for Money

The traditional corporate model often equates time with money, but as an entrepreneur, strive to break free from this equation. Over time you will want to figure out how to move away from the 1:1 to the 1:many. This will allow you to scale.

8. Productize Your Services

Convert your services into standardized products. This strategy can make your offerings more scalable and less dependent on unique solutions for each client. It also makes it easier for customers to understand and purchase your services. You can also utilize lower price points.?

9. Leverage Channel Partners

Collaborating with channel partners can increase your reach and reduce the heavy sales lifting. Look for partners who complement your business and can help you access new prospects.

10. Prioritize Thinking Differently

Throw out everything you learned in corporate. The same rules do not apply. Focus on solving customer problems then figure out new and unique ways of solving them. This will open up a number of new revenue streams.

The Last Word

When in doubt, refer back to the Escapee Golden Rules. It helps to keep me on track and focused on what is important.

Thanks for reading!

Free Resources

The Escapee Collective: A free Slack community for folks the escapee curious as well as recent escapees

The Corporate Escapee Podcast: Helping GenXers find their “What’s Next”!

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