The 3 Biggest Mistakes I Made When Leaving Corporate

(And What You Should Do Instead)

In one of my jobs early in my career, I shared with my manager at the time my career ambitions and goals. She told me that she used to be as ambitious as I was. She became a director at 32 and after some life transitions, she stopped chasing “girl boss” status and let go of her previous goal of becoming a VP.

And I remember saying to myself, “why would she lose ambition and stop pursuing her goals?”

Fast forward a few years and I completely understand what she meant and where she was coming from.

no longer ambitious

After a decade of major life and career transitions of my own, I focused on healing (which is a non-linear, ongoing journey). And the more I heal, the less ambitious I am for the things I was conditioned to want and work towards.

And that includes climbing the corporate ladder.

When I was still in corporate, I knew I would eventually work for myself in some capacity. I had no interest in working in a leadership role for someone else. A corporate job was simply a predictable paycheck, a means to an end.

I also thought that I would have more control over my exit.

For many entrepreneurs, their business became a lifeline. I always thought I would have been earning 6 figures or more in business consistently before pursuing it full-time. But that wasn’t my reality.

divine timing

As a woman of faith, I do believe that we’re sometimes removed from situations that aren’t good for us, and that removal usually happens when we’re not “ready” for it. 

I also believe that everything we experience can be used for our good. I don’t know if everything has a “reason”, but everything works together in the end.

By the time I left corporate, I was emotionally drained, physically unwell, and deeply disillusioned. I knew I was outgrowing my role, but I didn’t expect to be pushed out before I could leave on my own terms. I also didn’t realize how much support — emotional, financial, and strategic — I’d need to navigate the transition.

figuring it out as I go

I didn’t grow up around entrepreneurs. I grew up valuing formal education and was told that I needed to have a “title”. I even worked with a career advisor in the past who told me there was no reason why I shouldn't be working for a large, well-known company.

I knew how to play the corporate game and ultimately chose to stop playing. But I didn’t know much about owning and operating a business, especially solo.

Yes, skills from working in corporate absolutely transfer to business, but it’s not the same until you’re calling all, and I do mean all, of the shots.

There’s a big difference between knowing you need to leave and successfully planning for what comes next. And if you're like I was – high-achieving, self-reliant, and used to holding it all together – you might not realize you’re skipping over the most important pieces of the transition.

3 Mistakes I made When I chose not to return to corporate

These are the three mistakes that cost me the most time, energy, and momentum during my corporate exit — and what I wish I had done differently.

Mistake #1: I Didn’t Account for the Emotional Cost of the Exit

Before I separated from my last corporate role, I was in fight or flight mode. I had been in survival mode for years and was desperately trying to find safety within myself.

One of the things I do is focus on the things I can control. But sometimes, I focus too much on those things. Because it gives me the illusion of controlling things that aren’t in my control.

What I Did Wrong:

I had a financial plan. I had savings. I had even started preparing to leave on my own terms. But I wasn’t prepared for the emotional cost of being pushed out.

No one tells you how destabilizing it can be to leave before you’re ready to feel done, even when the role no longer fits. I was still processing the stress that sent me to the ER. Still trying to make sense of a performance improvement plan (PIP) I didn’t deserve. Still carrying the pressure to restore my finances as quickly as possible.

Even though I had prepared logistically, I hadn’t made space to feel my feelings. And the first thing I do is encourage everyone, but especially Black women, to feel your feelings. Name them. Process them.

The Real Cost:

• I delayed fully stepping into my next chapter because I still felt like I had something to prove

• I questioned whether I was building my business from intention or reaction

• I poured energy into executing, but I hadn’t made space to emotionally integrate the shift

What You Should Do Instead:

• Make room for grief, even when you know the role wasn’t right

• Know that identity shifts don’t follow a clean timeline — especially when your exit was sudden

• Let your body process before you force yourself to produce

This is one of the most overlooked parts of any transition, and one of the first things I walk clients through.

Mistake #2: I Tried to create While Still Burned Out

In my last several months at this company, I was drained. I wasn’t completely empty, but I was close. The questionable PIP is what put me over the edge.

Of course I knew that 80% of PIPs are predatory and usually have nothing to do with actual performance. It’s the company’s way of protecting themselves. I wasn’t trying to save my job – I was thinking about my future.

If I had quit, I wouldn’t have been eligible for unemployment, and I also wouldn’t have been able to exercise some other employee rights.

So even though I knew I was being pushed out (allegedly), I still fought so that I could show that I did everything in my power and with the information I had at the time.

I also told myself to take a month off from everything after I lost my job. But I didn’t listen to myself.

What I Did Wrong:

I thought if I just did more, I’d get clarity. I’d reclaim my power.

So, I started attending every free webinar and masterclass I could find: business strategy, mindset work, marketing tactics. I was consuming content like it was going to save me, but I wasn't digesting any of it. 

I established my business. I registered for conferences. I enrolled in a group coaching program. I pushed myself to show up and be “the ideal client.” But the truth? I was still grieving. My nervous system was still in survival mode. I still didn’t feel safe.

When I launched my first offer, I didn’t even have the energy to promote it. Not because I didn’t believe in the offer, but because I hadn’t given myself space to heal.

No one enrolled during the launch period. But honestly? I was grateful because I didn’t have the energy to deliver the program. Not to my standards and not for the investment my clients would have given.

I didn’t take a real break until 9 months after I lost my job.

The Real Cost:

• I said yes to things that looked good on paper but didn’t feel right

• I burned through creative energy without direction

• I second-guessed myself constantly, because I was trying to vision my future while still detoxing from my past

What You Should Do Instead:

• Separate exit planning from long-term visioning

• Give yourself space to recover — mentally and emotionally — before making big decisions

• Get clear on your values before jumping into what’s next

There’s a process I walk clients through to untangle burnout from desire. Most people skip this step, which is why they stay stuck or cycle back into misaligned situations.

Mistake #3: I Underestimated How Much Support I’d Need

Most of the jobs I’ve had I got without tapping into my professional network. And in transitioning from employee to entrepreneur, I underestimated the power of community, support, and a solid network.

And as I said previously, I was attending free courses. In one of those courses, the host said to us, “no one is coming to save you. You have to figure it out”. I think I took that statement to the extreme.

What I Did Wrong:

At first, I tried to do everything alone. I consumed content and tried DIY options. I told myself I could figure it out if I just “focused harder”. I just needed to lock in.

But the truth is that I wasn’t asking the right questions or searching for the best information. I didn’t know where to start, and there’s a lot of noise online.

What I needed was the kind of support I couldn’t DIY: someone who could hold space for my grief and guide me through strategic decisions.

The Real Cost:

• Isolation and overthinking

• Missed opportunities because I didn’t have the right sounding board

• Lost time trying to reinvent the wheel

What You Should Do Instead:

• Build your support system before you think you need it

• Be honest with yourself about the support you need

• Seek out support that integrates emotional clarity and strategic guidance

That’s exactly the space I hold for my clients — because you shouldn’t have to choose between venting and visioning. You need both.

pre-exit audit

These three mistakes drained my energy, shook my confidence, and cost me time.

I wish I had known how common they are — and how avoidable they can be with a strategy and support.

If you’re in that space now — tired, uncertain, maybe even a little resentful — I want you to know that clarity is possible. But it starts with honesty. Not just about your job, but about what you actually need in this season.

Start my 5-day Pre-Exit Audit to start making room for what’s next.