by Case Lane

Many corporate management-level employees are often hired ‘at will,’ meaning the employee can be let go for any legal reason, and an employee can also leave for any reason – and neither side incurs legal liability.

Yet despite those facts, society insists on referring to those jobs as ‘secure.’ 

When aspiring entrepreneurs talk about leaving a company job to start a business, they are often admonished to stay in their ‘secure’ job.

Security has come to mean – a place to go every day, a regular paycheck, maybe benefits like subsidized health care, insurance, matching 401(k) funds, and if you work at a Hollywood studio – a free movie every week!

But for many, the ‘security’ comes with a nagging sensation that you are not as secure as you think.  When an aspiring entrepreneur walks away, the sensation does not disappear, it remains as a lingering tug determined to pull you back.

The Trappings of Corporate

Back at corporate some time ago, there was this executive, let’s say X, who was upset one day after lunch.  X had lunch with Y, and Y had paid with the platinum corporate American Express card.  A fact that moved X almost to tears.

Confused?

At this company, the platinum corporate card meant Y had been promoted. Regular management level people had the green corporate American Express card.  But the platinum card told X louder than a press release, that Y had been given the recognition demonstrated by the card.

X could not have an intelligent adult discussion about the vagaries of the promotion system, or what was on the lunch menu, because X’s self-esteem and worth were tied to the color of the corporate card.

When you make the decision to walk away, you are not only leaving a job, but also all the Trappings, with a capital ‘T’ that the corporate life provide. Whether you have them now, or can expect to be rewarded in a couple of years, those perks are enticing.

And the best way to get rid of the ideas from your head is to replace them.

Assess What You’re Losing

This may sound counter-intuitive if you are looking for encouragement to quit your 9-to-5, but you have to understand the perks you are giving up by analyzing everything you are about to lose.

Money

The number one benefit is a steady paycheck. Your first hint of panic will come when you realize the money is no longer going to come in from that reliable source.

If you started your business before leaving your job, and already have your second income, you can make this transition easier. You at least have an understanding about what you can expect.

But if you can’t stand your job, and just walked away, then the one thing you have to focus on is replacing your income.  Use the need to replace that income as the motivating factor when working on your business.

You may have other financial benefits to replace including health insurance or disability.  Over time, you will want to use your new income to cover these potential losses also.

And as for the corporate card, Amex has plenty of business cards you can apply for.

Workspace

Your workspace is about to change.  If you had a great office with a view, you may be missing that immediately.  In my new book Recast, I write about how setting up your new place to work is one of the foundational steps for getting started with an online business.

You become your own HR, and re-establish a comfortable workspace for yourself.  You might not get the view.  But you should get the advantage of being where you want to be.

Socializing

Outside of the office there will be no more idle conversations, water-cooler talk, and busy time.  As an entrepreneur with your own business, you will be continuously busy, especially in the beginning, and should have little time to miss the easy days of having an office job.

But the other side of office life – exchanging ideas, having meetings, meeting new interesting people – this might be difficult to adjust to.  You have to prepare yourself for a life of isolation, solitary decisions and meetings of one.

You can get around these feelings by seeking those who are like-minded to form masterminds, or other groups who may be interested in doing what you’re doing.  Try and find an accountability partner who can help you stay on track and focused on your Action Plan. 

The key in the entire process is you have to replace the parts of corporate life you like the most with similar support in the online business world.  Over time, as you focus more on your business, you will find the memories of your former life fade fast, and your new one becomes more omnipresent and relevant in your every day.

Summary: How to Get Rid of Your Corporate Mindset

You have to slowly replace the Trappings of corporate life with your solopreneur alternatives:

• Salary and other financial benefits come from continuously focusing on the work required to replace the money as soon as possible
• Your comfortable workspace can be established wherever you decide to work
• You can be happy to be rid of idle office time, but desperate to reconnect with people – do that by joining group masterminds or finding accountability partner

You get corporate out of your head by creating a new focus – the value you want to deliver – the product or service that your soon-to-be-discovered community wants or needs. 

And once you have changed your focus, you are well on your way to being a recast entrepreneur for the long-term

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