Corporate Ladder vs. Entrepreneur Ladder (What They Don't Tell You)

The transition from corporate ladder to the entrepreneurial ladder is not easy. It's not a straight path, and there are a number of logistical and psychological layers at play which could hold you back.
In this video, I want to talk about the things you don't normally hear when it comes to this transition. I've been on both ladders, and I want to give you more insight to help you with the decisions that you'll have to make for yourself and your future.
From architect, to getting laid off and starting my own business in 2008, here's my story.
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[@ParmyBaddhan]

I got let go in December 2020 due to restructuring. To be honest my heart wasn't into my IT job anymore. I didn't want to do it anymore and if I got another IT job I would have been miserable. Currently I am working on self-publishing my first graphic novel, Tiger Dragon: The Rebirth. The story is done, I just need to sort out the page order and layout. My goal is to become the next marvel comics and to do what Stan Lee, Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby did. Creating these stories has rejuvenated me and given me a zest for life that was missing in my IT job. I'm grateful for the skills that I have learned in IT because they are useful. Currently I am making no money from my side hustle apart from KZbin which is about £150 per month, however I am having fun and this does not feel like work.

[@mikeglass]

Straight talk from Pat, always appreciated. I especially like the end; don't forget that just because you try entrepreneurship for a time, that doesn't mean you can't return to corporate. I've bounced back and forth for years as my career evolved and changed and it's given me an appreciation for the upsides of both.

[@AlexaMadison1]

I love the connections to actual ladders. It really describe businesses vs jobs so well!

[@dataecstasy]

I wonder how many people would just be wanting to talk to pat. Always helpful and wonderful. Thanks Pat.

[@thechristrostle]

I just want you to know, I'm always listening. I'm darned stubborn, and slow to get going... But always listening, Pat. Thank you!

[@alexanderlyon]

This was really helpful, Pat. I'm doing KZbin (5 years now) and various courses that people can take. But, I'm also a full-time college professor (sort of "climbed that ladder" for 20 years). I often feel pretty maxed out by doing them both. Thankfully, the vacations and summers help me keep up with the channel. I'm feeling the difficulty of juggling it all. But, I still love both.

[@mcglovin1628]

Im dealing with burnout too my guy. I have my full time job working frieght, doing ebay and facebook marketplace sales and im in the middle of dissolving my llc to work with a bigger multimedia company. What are you doing to help with the stress if i may ask? Everytging is so iverwhelming and im having trouble making time for myself and my girlfriend.

[@mcglovin1628]

I yave my degree in graphic design in photography. I just signed on a contract as lead photographic designer.

[@carlosivandegodoy]

You tube is not a real job

[@mcglovin1628]

@@carlosivandegodoy but it does require work that can pay pretty well. How can it not be considered a job?

[@MarcoLandin]

Thanks for the testimony Pat! As a serial entrepreneur and small business owner, I vibed with SO much of your insights in this video. Your youtube channel is one of my preferred tools to stay focused and to glean insight into a new venture which I hope will be me and my wife's 2nd successful collaboration. The ladder analogy is spot-on, you gotta let go of one to do the other successfully. Cheers and best wishes!

[@thehungryhussey]

This was pretty powerful Pat. I'm in a huge spot right now and is where you noted, my corporate job needs my attention way more and my KZbin channel suffers. I'm either way to tired at the end of the day to commit to KZbin hustle. Also, having young kids too, that I want to make sure I spend as much time with them as possible. There's weeks where I crush it, but then there's weeks where I'm in a rut. I'm looking for a lesser role currently so that I can possibly spend more time on the hustle. My side hustle isn't where I need it to be yet for me to take the foot off the the corporate ladder. It's tough.

[@pushstartpodcastwithandile6997]

Love the self awareness and kindness @The Hungry Hussey

[@consciousboost]

Totally understand that. It's very hard to give your all to both consistently. I'm also looking for a role with less responsibilities, but I wonder if taking the big leap would better so we could dedicate the time needed to really see the results 🤔

[@TheMentalHealthToolbox]

I started my podcast a couple years ago because of you, after starting my blog. Now it is a video podcast. I am etching away at creating online courses and hope to be able to scale. I am still working upwards 60 hours a week in the corporate side and can’t shake this dream of more autonomy for my family. I will keep pressing forward 🙏

[@workhardplayharder2645]

Thanks again Pat! I did the “self-employed but kinda still looking for a job” thing for about a year after getting laid off. I had success in my self employment but when it was slow or I got nervous I would start sending out my resume and looking at jobs again. I saw you talk about this in another video a while back and it really helped me get over the hump. My entrepreneurial gains and path in general have become much more successful since I flipped the switch and turned off the corporate ladder in my brain and went fully onto the entrepreneurial ladder. I completely agree, you cannot fully succeed on one while still sorta hanging on the other. Thanks for everything you do and for being a major inspiration and motivator!

[@shinokami2277]

As always, you motivate us to keep pushing forward. Thanks Pat for sharing ✨

[@int963]

Dear person, who reads it. Yes, I mean exactly you! Maybe we don't know each other. Still, I want to say, that I believe in you! You will certainly achieve your dreams and your happiness! Just don't give up and be honest with yourself! Now you have at least one person who constantly believes in you, which means you are fated to realize your dreams! No doubts here ^) *Best wishes for you ❤️ from a friendly KZbinr.*

[@julia.no.X]

The best spamming message ever! ❤🧡💛

[@WordsPictures997]

Definitely needed this video. One I need to keep listening to. I've definitely struggled with mourning the past, letting go and being all in with my current path. Thank you Pat!

[@Thebitcoinconsultant]

Great use of props, excellent talk Pat and very powerful message. Trying that transition myself, so hard to let go from the corporate ladder. A lot of that comes from fear of falling behind.

[@SpencerJan]

I've watched you since you started your smart passive income blog. Really cool to see how you've grown into all these channels. You've inspired me to start my own channel. Thanks Pat!

[@AbdallahBotan]

Thanks Pat. Your story is more compelling than so many I used to listen.

[@nma2354]

Amazing story. Truly inspiring. I think some of us in our young twenties (the Gen Z/Millennials) would love to be in this position. However, I've read the book 'Be so great that they can't ignore you' and it talks about the concept of leveraging your capital, whether that's your social or monetary capital. And I think its improtant to mention that although moving full-time in the entrepreneurial world, you need that plan that you mentioned with an integrated safety net that will keep you going for that six to eighteen months that you give yourself to make it work. Its all about calculated risks.

[@ThePir869]

Right now I’m on the way off the corporate ladder since I was handed the best opportunity from an entrepreneur across the country. I think a flying squirrel leap is my current trajectory and there is no room for failure but there is also no turning back to being tied down anymore. Thank you for the insight and nuggets of wisdom sir, cheers.

[@AhmetKaan]

*“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending...”* *―C. S. Lewis* I may not know you personally, but I believe in you my friend! 🙏

[@BaretSports]

Such a timely video for me. Thank you Pat!

[@ContempoCoding]

Thanks for all you've done, Pat! I successfully "Let go" of my full time job earlier this year and am now making five figures a month with my online business and have way more flexibility with my time. I have enough money to book a trip out to Orlando with my kiddo and boyfriend over the Fall to go to Disney and Universal. No need for millions -- I'm content right where I'm at. :)

[@peasantuprising9399]

Congratulations on your success so far! 💪🏼

[@KevinCrowe]

You're such an amazing storyteller, Pat!

[@careerconstellation6070]

Pat, thank you for the insight and inspiration! This is a great video

[@williamreamer7630]

More amazing content Pat! Appreciate your motivation and continued education for us all!

[@3500149578x]

Love this talk so much!! Very timely for my life!

[@jaggersbrewingco]

Thank you so much for all these videos! I have been applying your tips to my channel and I feel like your hints for sure have helped me gain faster!

[@runningwithstelvio]

Great story, the transition probably is the most difficult part, because a business requires usually some time before to start generating enough profits to survive. So if you don't have many obligations it's going to be easier. I see your path much more safer than to stay in the corporate world. Today there is no respect at all and in some countries you can get laid off so easily, and your only one client is gone... Congrats for your success!

[@changeyourstory]

Thanks Pat, such a great insight, loved it!🙌

[@LevelUpKorean]

Thank you, Pat. This helps. I'm on the corporate ladder, gazing at the entrepreneurship ladder while ALSO on the school ladder, having no clue where it even leads, lol. As I age, making leaps is getting scarier, but... not happy where I am, so gotta do somethin, lol! Thanks for the book recommendation too. 👍🏿👍🏿

[@CamilleTylerbrand]

Are you doing my friend you got what it takes to keep on pressing hard

[@whatznext28]

Pat, you need to teach this as a high school course! I wish I had this information when I was younger (I'm finding it valuable now none the less) 💯

[@toddjal]

Super valuable and relatable discussion. Thank you Pat. I've recently made the leap to entrepreneurship, and I think I've been looking for validation like this for completely letting go and going where I think is right for me, in a smart and strategic way of course. Thanks for your perspective.

[@alicazam]

such a great video. this is what i'm struggling with right now, and the analogies used are so true. great insight

[@MMANJUNATH18]

Seeing my first video on this channel. Really helpful regarding on situation I'm in. Thank you

[@StephenBeale]

This was just what I needed. Thank you.

[@Crosslink3D]

Thanks Pat for making great content for us all the time. Just working through the Superfans book but have "Will it fly" on my list. I am still trying to figure out how to make both ladders work for a while. Not ready yet to make the jump but I am really eager to develop a plan that is sustainable. On that journey I am planning with a 5 year perspective and what steps I will take to be financially independent from a corporate job at the end of the 5 year period. The one thing I am really passionate about is teaching and breaking down technically challenging processes into small understandable and actionable steps. This is my main passion and probably will propel me into the online course business or online teaching in the end because that is what really drives me.

[@Sundayschoolmadeeasy]

Helpful content about being an entrepreneur and climbing the ladder to success !! YES "Will it fly," is an amazing book that's well worth checking out.

[@CLFurlong]

Love it Pat! You are the man! Always giving us the best!

[@TheMentalHealthToolbox]

Appreciate you Pat! Love your humanistic approach with us 🙏

[@poke_ash]

your videos are next level. deep pocket monster is amazing and your main channel has the content im really looking for. keep it up!

[@patflynn]

Thanks so much!!

[@Kozette88]

Pat really loves us, he borrowed his son’s toy ladders to make sure we GET IT. We love you back. Gratitude to the Flynn Family.

[@CoreysCave]

Hey Pat, thank you for making this video. It really resonates with me a lot right now. I have a foot on each ladder, though I am not 100% sure what step my foot is on of the entrepreneur ladder as I have so much going on and directions I could go. Meanwhile on my corporate ladder I have kind of peaked at my current company, it’s a fantastic company I have been at for 17 years. The issue is I have reached to top of the ladder for my paperwork, degrees are everything to this company even if you do the job that requires a degree for years…

[@PaladinGlobalMarket]

Great video. Thank you Pat! You have a great voice and pacing in your videos.

[@patflynn]

Thank you! That means a lot!

[@oscarcharliezulu]

geezus. great information and insights.

[@BadassBusinessOwners]

Fantastic Analogy! - Tammy

[@p.i.vanblerk3043]

"Will it fly" is such a good book!

[@PokemonRadar]

Wow I needed this

[@AlexaMadison1]

I’ve never been part of the corporate ladder before. I’ve been running my business since I was 14. But I’m so glad I started climbing younger. 😉

[@AparnaJain1]

Wow, you put in so my thought into the thumbnail!

[@earlbuzzaldrin4778]

I like you t-shirt "Own your outcome"

[@johnthejudoka]

I feel the corporate ladder has been knocked out from under me. Good thing there's another ladder.

[@theTeslaFalcon]

My boss confirmed shortly after I got hired that I was in a dead-end job. "What could I achieve in 5, 10, or 20 years?" "There are no skills in your position that apply to anything else we do. I could put you in a different position, but there is no path up, only horizontal. If u were my best employee for 20 years, you'd still be where you're at."

[@elmerbeltshire7599]

To young entrepreneurs: Its never too early to start on your idea! If you are living at home with your parents, even better, lower life costs so you can afford to take the risk. Go for it!

[@DarioVillirilli]

"JEFFREY BEZOOOS! YOU DID IT!" Cool reference to INSIDE 🙃 And great video.

[@MakingitinHolland]

Fun fact: I also left the corporate ladder of architecture and started the entrepreneurship ladder part time in 2020 and have been going into it full time since January 2021. Im also so grateful to have left the world of architecture (which in many ways was toxic for me). I made a video about leaving architecture over at my channel too, in case anyone is interested in learning my take. Thank you. :)

[@max_rove]

Good video. I especially like the idea of making the first sale, then going for 1000 per month, then 5 figures, 6 figures, etc

[@che5music]

Total awesome sauce

[@Rampaigee]

Thank you I’m gripping the middle rung on the legal field ladder while my other hand on the bottom rung of a creative entrepreneurship ladder and I feel stuck between the two

[@togetheragency]

Love your t-shirt.

[@suuuperanime]

First of love the toy ladders. Very cute ☺️. Secondly. Great story. Heard it on SPI but love this visual spin with the ladders 🪜 Indeed climbing both is hard, letting go is harder though 😅 My take from this video is to get my first sale. Giving a lot of content and value for free. Will set up donations and see if I can get one person to donate. 😅 Thanks for the great content as always.

[@jeffdorris5321]

Nice work 🎆

[@oliscurra]

Great video Pat. 🙂 I appreciate your candid insight. Was the 1st sale, when you realised this could be something to pursue or is that more with hindsight?

[@YouWeiNeo]

sunk cost fallacy so true!

[@LaModeO]

Awesome great story

[@andrewtheking3188]

when i saw the thumbnail i thought the ladders were just painted in cool to see mini ladders

[@eightsprites]

Subscribed.. cause super mario in background.. and good video

[@patflynn]

Glad I put that there, lol. Thanks so much!

[@iagofraga]

Hi Pat :D ! I've left the corporate ladder a few years ago but I was really interested in listening to your input on the entrepreneurial one. I dont really see "the steps" in the entrepreneurial one (and I pretty much have the figures I need to live from it, though they are quite low, I imagine). I totally agree that: being realistic most of us just need quite small amounts to live from what we do. I really appreciated your say on the topic and thanks a lot for it. Though it made me think. Have you ever considered whether you want to follow an "entrepreneurial ladder" or, what I am thinking about more and more lately, an "entrepreneurial journey"? Because one thing I see too often when going from the corporate to the entrepreneurial world is that we try to build our business copying what we left behind. And perhaps we should totally forget ladders and think in "experiences" / "milestones" / "goals" but not assuming that the last one has to be "above the previous" (just different and more appealing to us right at that moment). Love to hear what you think about it! Greetings from Galicia :D !

[@colbybaker]

Awesome info! Just swapped ladders! Lol

[@starg47]

The problem with the corporate latter is that if you 're in a family business the ladder ends at step 4 because the best positions will be given to the owner's son/daughter.

[@EhsanShabahang]

Number one ☝️ as always 🤪🤪🥳🥳🥳

[@AhmedSayed-kx9dp]

From where you got this T-Shirt 😄 I like it

[@TheLordMyRock]

If nothing else, at least you’ve found that beard. And that’s a good thing.

[@fabiGBOtown]

Its really tough when everyone you know thinks what you're doing is a joke or a waste of time. I love my small business but I'm alone here... it's very lonely

[@patflynn]

You gotta surround yourself with people who will lift you up, not bring you down.

[@richardhutnik]

If I were to use a school metaphor for what I need to work on is finding side hustles into a business.

[@richardhutnik]

Finding side hustles I can turn into a business.

[@ericosborne4604]

I'm just a blue-collar worker, but I want to be an entrepreneur. Why does it seem like so many corporate types become entrepreneurs? What's the difference maker?

[@DNOJ]

Focus allows light to become a laser

[@FrancoisCarment]

I am at the bottom of both ladder and in both case not sure if it will go anywhere! 🤣🤣🤣 Very hard to make a decision and let it go...

[@ThisDesignLife]

The sunk cost can be on the Entrepreneur side as well. Some people are wrecking themselves running a business that’s taken over their lives.

[@patflynn]

So true.

[@liveworklive5715]

Do you have a T-shirt business? They are always great ;)

[@patflynn]

Haha, no. I have a t shirt obsession tho 🤣

[@laurynjoyce]

🌹❤️💫

[@Delta1nToo]

this ladder review is very confusing. i just wanted a ladder.

[@patflynn]

Review: don’t use these ladders, they are plastic toys.