Season 1 Reflections
This is the tenth and final episode for Season 1 of the “Corporate Dropout Stories” Podcast.
A project I never intended to start when I launched the Corporate Dropouts Community at the end of September 2024.
There were so many people raising their hands as fellow Corporate Dropouts I felt compelled to record and share their stories.
At first, it was to validate my own dropout story as something worthy of sharing and then it quickly turned into a work of creative curiosity — each guest bringing something completely different to the table of what it means to “Drop The Corporate”.
After 120 hours of work to collect, produce, and distribute these 10 episodes it has become a labor of love.
Hearing fellow dropouts share what they’ve taken from the interviews
Surfacing valuable insights the guests didn’t know they had accumulated
Documenting stories that can be passed on to the next generation of dropouts
Things I could do without:
Late nights (I’m writing this at 11:48pm the night before this episode releases)
Technical glitches (I bought fancy software to drive up the production value and the learning curve on top of everything else drove me into the ground)
Constant worrying (Can I provide enough promotion of my guest’s projects for them to feel it was worth trusting me with their precious stories?)
Season 2 Musings
I currently don’t know how Season 2 will take shape or when it will release in 2025…
…If you find yourself itching to share your own Corporate Dropout Story and co-create season 2, email me directly at brad@dropthecorporate.com to tell me a little about what you’re feeling and let’s get you on the schedule.
Something profound struck me from last week’s episode (S1E9 | Can Creativity Save You From Burnout? | Tyson Kartchner).
Creativity isn’t always the answer to burnout, but it can be the flashlight in the dark, showing us what’s missing — and what really matters.
I was missing the beauty in my own corporate dropout story — and these conversations have really mattered to me personally to be able to hear it.
Thank you to everyone who generously shined their flashlight on this project to take it from an idea to a reality.
Onward!
Brad 8-)
P.S. You can now find all 10 episodes of season 1 of “Corporate Dropout Stories” on Substack, Apple Podcast, and Spotify
P.P.S. Our weekly LIVE check-in at the WaterCoolerCall resumes this week!!! Wednesday Jan. 8th at 2pm ET | 7pm GMT (note the time change to 3 hours later to better observe corporate f^$k-off hours)
Now! On to this season’s final episode!
S1E10 | How Can I Stop Relying on My Paycheck? | Leland Beaumont
An Intimate Interview with a "Self-Made Sage" Who Shares How He Stopped Living Someone Else’s Success Story and Built a Life That Reflects Who He is and Why He's Here.
For 28 years,
was a rising star at Bell Labs, AT&T, and Lucent, surrounded by some of the brightest minds, creating groundbreaking systems, and enjoying the security of a steady paycheck near the Jersey Shore.Yet, something felt off.
Then one day, an unexpected question was posed:
“Is this something you’d like to do?”
In that moment, Leland saw his crossroads.
Would he continue down the well-worn path of stability, or take the leap into the unknown to pursue work that felt deeply aligned with who he truly was?
With courage — and a healthy dose of fear — he chose the leap.
Does This Sound Familiar?
You’ve worked hard to climb the corporate ladder, but deep down, you feel a restless pull for more.
You want work that excites you, challenges you, and aligns with your core values.
Yet, the thought of walking away from your paycheck feels impossible.
This is where Leland’s story meets yours.
He faced the same doubts, fears, and financial hurdles — and came out the other side, not just surviving but with a sense of purpose and fulfillment from the second career he created.
Your Next Chapter Starts Here
It’s time to stop settling for “good enough” and start building a life that reflects the work only you can do.
Listen to Leland’s story and discover how to step boldly into work that feels right for you.
Then, join (for free!) the growing community of Corporate Dropouts LIVE every Wednesday to get support for your next steps.
Be Sure to Reach Out to Leland
Visit his website, LelandBeaumont.com, to:
Subscribe to his Substack and Podcast about Seeking Real Good.
Start a discussion with him about one of his 80+ courses provided for free on Wikiversity.
See what he’s developed in the Applied Wisdom Curriculum to prepare ourselves to solve the great universal problems that prevent us from realizing and enjoying all that is most important in life — our well-being.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction to Corporate Dropout Stories
00:30 Meet Leland Beaumont: From Engineer to Wisdom Researcher
02:32 Leland's Early Career at Bell Labs
03:31 Navigating Corporate Turmoil and Career Changes
04:53 The Turning Point: Leaving Lucent
07:31 Reflecting on Success and Management Challenges
25:18 Financial Realities and New Beginnings
31:41 Exploring Human Behavior and Emotions
33:59 The Importance of Emotions
34:30 Creating Emotional Competency
35:56 Consulting and Writing Journey
37:58 Understanding Emotions and Personal Growth
43:40 Advice for Emotional Competency
46:25 From Emotional Competency to Practical Wisdom
49:18 The Applied Wisdom Curriculum
52:43 Seeking Real Good and AI
57:10 Final Thoughts and Advice
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