“I Automated Myself Out of a Job”—KJ Fenton on Taking the Risk That Paid Off

Send us Fan MailCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichSales engineer and podcast host KJ Fenton joins Thomas for a fun, honest conversation about balancing a thriving W-2 career with building a passion project, and how cutting ties with "safe" thinking can open bigger doors than you ever expected. From coding macros at EY to launching KJ's Corner, KJ shares how small risks turn into massive growth.About KJ Fenton:KJ Fenton is a principal solutions engineer at Salesforce specializing in Intelligent Automation. He's also the host of KJ's Corner, a podcast where he interviews professionals across sales, marketing, and tech to unpack the real inflection points behind their success stories. KJ brings a rare blend of technical skills, sales acumen, and authenticity to everything he does.In this episode, Thomas and KJ discuss:Cutting the Tie to "Stay in Your Lane"KJ shares how questioning inefficient systems at EY led to backlash—and why speaking up was the first move that shifted his career trajectory.Launching a Podcast While Working Full-TimeHe breaks down how he started KJ's Corner not to "monetize fast," but to build a long-term platform for future opportunities.Family First, AlwaysKJ reflects on how balancing entrepreneurship with being a husband and father grounds his decision-making—even when the hustle gets chaotic.Treating Your Side Hustle Like a Real BusinessThomas challenges KJ (and listeners) to treat their side projects seriously today—because the job you think is secure may not last forever.Key Takeaways:You Can Build BothYou don't have to burn your W-2 bridges. Use them to fund your dreams—and take action now.Start Before You're ReadyKJ didn't have the perfect "hook" or formula—he just started having meaningful conversations and learned as he went.Automation is Your Secret WeaponUse tools like Streamyard, Opus.pro, and automation platforms to save time and amplify your content.Listen to What Trusted People Say About YouIf everyone says you're great at something—pay attention. There’s truth in that feedback."The biggest thing you can build is confidence in your own story—even if you’re still writing it."— KJ FentonCONNECT WITH KJ FENTON:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylejohnfentonCONNECT WITH THOMAS:X (Twitter): https://x.com/CutTheTieXFacebook: http://facebook.com/groups/CutTheTieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cutthetiecommunity/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cutthetieYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cutthetieLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashelfrich/CutTheTie.comSupport the showhttps://www.youtube.com/@cutthetie