8: What No One Tells You About Leaving the 9–5 With Shannon Russell

If you've been thinking about leaving your 9–5 for something that actually feels good to run or you've already started a business but you're still carrying that corporate butt-in-the-seat mindset, this episode is for you. This week, I’m joined by Shannon Russell, former MTV and E! television producer turned business coach, franchise owner, author of Start Your Second Act, and host of the Second Act Success podcast. Her story is so relatable for anyone who’s ever had that “Is this really it?” moment.We talk about:The catalyst that pushed Shannon out of her dream job and into entrepreneurshipWhy researching your business idea matters way more than you thinkHow to figure out if your idea actually has a market (before you build it)The wildly overlooked transferable skills you’re probably forgetting you haveThe biggest mindset shift women need when going from employee → entrepreneurWhy so many women undercharge and how to break the habitRunning a business without showing your face  What Shannon learned from running (and selling) her brick-and-mortar franchiseHow fear shows up in entrepreneurship… and why doing the scary thing anyway changes everythingPLUS: We share a behind-the-scenes peek at the Business Refresh Summit we’re hosting It's a free 4-day experience designed to help small business owners simplify their plans, feel confident going into Q1, and build momentum without the burnout.How to connect with Shannon: Shannon’s website: secondactsuccess.coShannon’s book: Start Your Second ActShannon's podcast: Second Act SuccessJoin the FREE Business Refresh Summit! This episode was mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio.