Episode 206: From Stuck Employee to Business Owner: The Shift Starts Now

This podcast is now for professionals ready to build something of their own—without blowing up their life

In the US, over 70% say they want to own their own business. But only 6% actually do. Why? And after coaching hundreds of professionals, I think I’ve found the answer—and I’m shifting this podcast to help solve it.

1. The Shift (Past → Present)

• “If you’ve been around for a while, you know this isn’t episode one—it’s 206. But it is a restart.”
• “In the past, I helped people grow their careers, get promoted, increase income inside the job. I still believe in that. But I’ve noticed something.”
• “People say they want to grow at work. But they rarely do the work. The only ones who move are those who jump into my graduate program (https://www.uab.edu/engineering/iem/)—and even then, many come in because they want a degree, not transformation.”

University Role

· “Now, I’m still teaching at the university, running our professional graduate program in engineering management. And that’s given me a front-row seat to how high performers think about their next step—especially when they’re stuck.
But here’s what’s interesting: most people who join want a degree. What they really need is a direction. That’s what led me to start shifting my focus.”

AI Tools

· “Another thing that’s changed since I last recorded? AI.
Honestly, it’s now the tool I go to before I check email. It’s reshaped how I work, how I think, and how I coach. Whether it’s mapping out a business plan, prepping for a strategy session, or figuring out what’s next—it’s part of my everyday workflow.
And I’ll be sharing a lot of those tools and tactics here, because if you’re trying to start something, AI can remove a ton of the friction.”

2. The Reality (What Clients Actually Want)

• “Lately, nearly every client I talk to wants to start a side business—or leave the corporate world completely. They’re stuck, but they’re dreaming of more.”
• “And once we start working together, the truth hits fast: they don’t even know what kind of business they could start. They’re full of questions like:
  • What should I even be doing?
  • Where do I begin?
  • How do I do this while working full-time?
  • What if I pick the wrong thing?”
• “It’s not lack of motivation—it’s total overwhelm. There’s no roadmap. Just noise.”

3. The New Mission (Why This Podcast Exists Now)

• “So here’s the reboot. I’m here to help shift the 70% who want a business into the growing group of people who do it.”
• “This podcast is for professionals who feel like they’ve outgrown their job, but aren’t sure what’s next. People who want control of their time and income—but don’t want to blow it up and start over from scratch.”
• “We’ll talk about practical steps, clear frameworks, and the real conversations I’m having with clients every day. Some want to grow something on the side. Some want to go all in. All of them want more purpose, more ownership, and more peace.”

ACTION

““If you’ve been searching for a step-by-step way to launch a business while working full-time, subscribe now—I’ll walk you through it.

I’ll help you figure out what to do first, what matters most, and how to make progress without quitting your job tomorrow.

And if you’re still not sure what your business even is, that’s okay. Most people aren’t. We’ll solve that together.”

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