Lessons learned transitioning from my corporate career into entrepreneurship

People often ask me HOW I’ve transitioned from a high level corporate job into entrepreneurship without risking my family or giving up the lifestyle we were accustomed to. 

Well, this week marked two years since I left my corporate career behind...

What I’ve learned & experienced since then has completely changed my perspective in life. 

Entrepreneurship is a personal journey that is just as much about the tactical steps you take as it is the lessons you learn as you begin to uncover the best version of yourself. 

Here are just a few of the lessons I’ve learned that are key to not just successfully starting and running your own business, but, in my opinion, to a FULFILLING LIFE:

1. One of the biggest thieves in life is fear. It holds most people hostage & tells them lies. Until you learn to feel fear, uncover where the feelings are coming from & challenge whether it is real or not, you will be a slave to it. 

2. Most people are capable of having everything they want in life if they would be willing to step into the unknown, challenge their fears & decide to learn and grow. 

3. I used to believe that the traditional path was the best or only path - then I came to realize that the best path is what is right for the individual. Too many of us have been chasing after “success” only to find out that money and things don’t equal happiness. 

4. None of us fully understand our talents & unique value. We need others to help us see the blind spots that are holding us back from creating the best versions of ourselves. 

5. You can always make more money, but you can’t ever get back the time you lost. The years with those we love go by way too fast & being physically present but not emotionally present is just not enough. 

6. Ignoring or pushing aside how you really feel & continuing on the wrong path doesn’t make you responsible nor admirable. It just makes you miserable and unable to fully enjoy your life. 

7. Success in business is simple. Solve a problem where the value of what you provide is greater than what you charge...and care more about your client’s success than you do your own. 

8. Perhaps the greatest gift in life is to uncover & appreciate why you’ve been given the talents and gifts you have so that you can spend your days making the type of impact that you want in this world. 

9. You can make really good money in so many ways - including through sharing your knowledge & skills with the world. Times have changed - there really is no reason anymore to sacrifice for a job that doesn’t align with your values or the life you want to live. 

10. The only thing holding us back from success is ourselves. Truly the sky is the limit on your potential...but you must first be willing to believe in yourself in order to create the life you want. 

11. My beliefs and fears about money controlled my life for many years...causing me to stay in a career that I knew wasn’t the right fit anymore. I believed I made too much money to do anything else — I was so wrong. 

12. When you know in your gut you should do something, do it. Have faith and trust that all will work out. 

13. Perfectionism isn’t a badge of honor. It is just a prison that stops you from creating the life you want. Perfectionism is just fear disguised as due diligence.

14. If you want something more for your life, it isn’t selfish or irresponsible. That little voice that is telling you there is something “more” is right. The new path you’ll create is greater than you can even imagine. 

15. Most of what I believed about entrepreneurship was wrong. If I knew then what I know now, I would have followed my ?? years ago. 

16. Don’t spend your life working to please or avoid judgement from others. People will have opinions no matter what you do, but when you live life on your terms, you will find peace you can't find anywhere else.

17. Whatever your dream, whatever you value, it is worth pursuing. 

18. Every time things turn out differently than we expect, it’s an opportunity to learn a better way.

Failure doesn’t happen TO you. The only way to fail in life is to give up on yourself.

This I know to be true, whatever your circumstance, you can truly create a fulfilling career AND a fulfilling life on your terms.

Want to learn more?

You can get a weekly dose of inspiration & information through my podcast, The Bridge To Fulfillment and by joining my free facebook group, Creating Life On Your Terms.

Want to see how Blake can help you to create a more fulfilling career & life on your terms through 1:1 coaching? You can set up a free 15 minute discovery call here.