July 1st: My Five-Year Anniversary of Leaving Corporate Life
On July 1st, I celebrated five years since I left a six-figure corporate job — a job I had spent 18 years building. At 40 years old, I walked away from that familiar world, cutting our household income by 60% to pursue something different. Something uncertain.
Now, at 45, I want to share what I’ve learned, what’s surprised me, what I’d do differently — and why, even with a few regrets, I would make the decision again.
Why I Left My Job — And What Changed in Me
I once loved my career. I genuinely enjoyed the tech management role I held — the energy of downtown Minneapolis, the light rail commute, the laptop bag, the people, the pace. I wanted to be that company woman.
But something changed when my mom passed away — just one month before I gave birth to my first child.
The grief was overwhelming. I was holding my beautiful baby girl in one hand and navigating deep emotional pain in the other. And when maternity leave ended and I had to hand her to a daycare provider, something broke in me. I couldn’t be the “company girl” anymore — even though I still wanted to be. I had changed.
It took a couple years for me to accept that I’d changed, so at 35, we made a bold decision. We carefully planned a financial approach to position our family for me to leave. We walked out that plan, and at age 40, we were financially positioned and I left. I’m 45 now and I want to share what I’ve realized since making that decision.
Five Years Later: How We’re Doing Financially
Here’s something I never expected to say: we are richer now than when I left my job.
Yes, you read that right.
In 2020, our net worth was about $1.4 million. Today, it’s $2.2 million — and that’s despite the fact that I never replaced my corporate salary.
Here’s what contributed to the increase:
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Real estate value — Our property appreciated significantly post-2020. We also acquired our second investment property.
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Retirement account growth — One account alone grew from $450K to $770K — with zero additional contributions, thanks to dividend reinvestment. We also made contributions to my husbands 401k and a Roth IRA.
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Index fund investments — While we paused it for the first three years, we resumed brokerage account investments in year four leaning heavily on Vanguard index funds.
This financial growth didn’t come from hustle culture or replicating my old salary — it came from strategy, patience, and a strong foundation.
Building a Business: What I Got Wrong (and Eventually Got Right)
When I left, I thought my business would take off right away. I gave a two-month notice, and dozens of colleagues told me they couldn’t wait to work with me.
But here’s the truth:
Not one of them became a client.
Instead of a flood of new business, I got two clients in those early months — both from social media, not my network.
Looking back, I now know my biggest mistake:
👉 I didn’t nurture my network.
I didn’t follow up. I didn’t keep in touch. And honestly, I was afraid.
Afraid people would think I had failed. Afraid to admit my business wasn’t booming.
That fear kept me quiet when I should have been connecting.
If you’re leaving corporate to start your own business, please hear this:
Your network is your biggest asset — nurture it. Check in. Share what you’re doing. Invite connection without always selling.
It took me years to figure that out. But now, five years later, I have momentum.
I’m clear on my offers. I know my audience. I’ve overcome that fear.
The Real Gift: Living Life in Alignment with My Priorities
The greatest gift of this journey isn’t financial growth or business clarity.
It’s that I now live a life aligned with my values.
Every day, I:
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Start with quiet devotional time
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Get my kids up and ready, staying present with them through until drop-off
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Exercise outdoors whenever possible
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Work intentionally during a limited dedicated work time
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End my workday when my kids come home — unless I have a meeting or pressing task
It’s not extravagant, and I’ve sacrificed some things in exchange for it. We no longer take big annual vacations and I’ve let me luxury handbag collection grow stale.
But what I’ve gained — peace, time, alignment, presence — is worth more than anything I left behind.
My Honest Regrets
I’m not one to romanticize. So yes, I do have a few regrets:
1. Not Setting Boundaries in My Corporate Job
I sometimes wonder if I could have stayed in corporate at a different capacity — if I had known how to set better boundaries and communicate my priorities clearly. Maybe I could have humbled myself to step out of leadership and better express what I needed for a more aligned life. Instead, I kept chugging along, collecting secret grievances, and letting overwhelm speak for me.
2. Over-Investing in Traditional 401(k)
If I could go back, I would prioritize Roth contributions and cash-flowing assets over locking away so much money until retirement. Roth contributions are after-tax dollars so they can be retracted (although none of the growth) if needs arise. Further, our monthly rental income can cover our basic living expenses.
Cash flow brings peace of mind — especially during seasons like the one we’re in now with my husband getting laid off.
If this resonates, I highly recommend The Lifestyle Investor — it opened my eyes to a new path forward.
3. Not Hiring a Coach Sooner
I spent money on all the wrong things — branded t-shirts, business cards, a fancy website. What I needed was a coach — someone to help me make strategic decisions faster. That would’ve saved me time, energy, and money.
Final Thoughts: Five Years In, No Looking Back
So here I am — five years post-corporate.
I haven’t replaced my salary.
I’ve made mistakes.
I’ve learned a lot.
But I’m living the life I chose — with clarity, peace, and purpose.
And that makes it all worth it.
If you’re in the early stages of your own transition, I’d love to connect.
Whether you’re a former colleague, a professional peer, or someone silently watching and wondering — reach out. I’d be honored to encourage you on your journey.
Let’s Stay Connected
If you’re curious about how to build your own financial clarity or explore career transition coaching, here’s how we can connect:
✅ Download My Free Big Picture Workbook
✅ Book a Clarity Call
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