The Corporate Escapee
Stuck in corporate? You're not alone. Corporate is broken. Loyalty is dead. Layoffs are coming. And you know it. But here's the truth most won't tell you: Building your own thing is easier than finding your next corporate job. I'm Brett Trainor—corporate escapee after 25+ years—and I've helped 500+ professionals escape and build $10K-$50K/month solopreneur businesses using their corporate experience. No unicorn startups. No venture capital. Just you, your laptop, and the expertise you already have. Every week, I bring you real escape stories, practical strategies, and proven playbooks from people who've left corporate and are thriving as consultants, fractional executives, coaches, and advisors. You'll learn: How to monetize years of corporate experience in 60 days The exact steps to land your first $5K-$10K client Why finding your next job is harder than building your business How to replace your corporate salary (without the politics or layoffs) If you're done waiting for corporate to quit you, this show is your escape plan. Subscribe now. Your freedom starts here.
Show episodes
This episode is a live mini-workshop recorded with members of the Escapee Collective (and released here because it was too useful to keep inside the community). My guest Diane Kennedy (CPA) breaks down what most new escapees get wrong about taxes and business structure — and why the real first question isn’t “LLC or S-
If you know corporate is broken but jumping straight into solopreneur life feels like too big a leap, this episode is for you. Brett breaks down how to treat your “escape plan” like an insurance policy—not a dramatic leap off a cliff. You don’t have to quit your job tomorrow. But you do owe it to yourself to be prepare
If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting thinking, “Why didn’t that land?” Or if you’ve ever felt invisible in corporate… Or if you’re building a life outside of corporate and wondering why some conversations connect and others fall flat… This episode will hit you hard. Today, Brett welcomes back Jake Stahl — author of t
Corporate Quit on Her — She Built a Business Faster Than She Could Job Hunt w/ Clair Sullivan
What happens when corporate stress gets so bad you literally can’t swallow solid food? That’s where Claire Sullivan found herself. On December 1st, 2023, corporate quit on her — and she took what most people would call the riskiest step possible: She built a business… the same day.Filed an LLCRegistered everything need
He Left a Cushy CFO Job to Fix a Broken System (with Clym.io Founder Michael Williams)
Freebie from Michael: 20% off: https://www.clym.io/p/bretttrainor Most solo businesses are focused on getting clients—but ignore the compliance risks that can quietly wreck everything. Former tax attorney and CFO Michael Williams joins Brett to break down the ADA, privacy, and regulatory issues small businesses face—an
This episode is a little different. I was a guest on Catherine Jelinek’s podcast, Breaking Through the Noise — and she generously allowed me to share the full conversation with you. We talk about leaving corporate, taking action, finding traction on TikTok, and the honest story behind building the Corporate Escapee mov
