Beyond the Balance: Starting a Business Without Quitting Your Day Job with Shannon Thomas

In this episode of Beyond the Balance, host Mike Manganillo talks with Shannon Thomas, co-founder of Fratelli's Delicatessen in Apex, North Carolina, about what it really takes to start a business while maintaining a full-time corporate career.Shannon shares her journey from international finance and Wall Street to IT tech sales at Red Hat and Pure Storage—all while launching a family-owned deli rooted in community, tradition, and great food. We explore the realities of small business financing, overcoming COVID-era setbacks, adapting quickly after opening day, and why listening to your customers is one of the most important skills an entrepreneur can develop.This conversation is honest, relatable, and packed with insight for anyone considering entrepreneurship, building a side business, or trying to balance work, family, and personal ambition.Because true wealth isn’t just about dollars—it’s about decisions, resilience, and the community you build along the way.