“You Don’t Grow in Comfort”—Why Patrick Coggins Said Goodbye to a High-Paying Career

Send us Fan MailCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichFrom Finance to Founder: Rebuilding with Purpose | Patrick CogginsPatrick Coggins, founder of CFO's Domain and co-founder of Gen9 Leaders, joins Thomas for an insightful conversation about legacy, leadership, and the hard decision to leave a successful career to build something better. Patrick shares how cutting ties with comfort and tradition allowed him to create a firm driven by purpose, experience, and impact.About Patrick Coggins:Patrick is the founder of CFO's Domain, a finance executive search and consulting firm. He’s also the co-founder of Gen9 Leaders, a leadership advisory practice that helps companies reshape culture and performance. With a background in public accounting and over 20 years in corporate finance, Patrick now builds values-driven teams and sustainable business systems.In this episode, Thomas and Patrick discuss:Cutting the Tie to a Comfortable CareerPatrick shares what it took to walk away from a thriving W-2 job and the emotional moment he knew he had to create something of his own.Why the Right People Change EverythingHe talks about how his firm prioritizes deeply experienced talent over volume hiring—and how that changes outcomes for clients.Lessons from Both Ends of CultureAfter working at one company that over-indexed on mission and another that had none, Patrick built a firm centered on practical, purpose-driven values.Building While Raising a FamilyPatrick opens up about launching a company while raising three kids—including the chaotic early days of balancing fatherhood and entrepreneurship.Key Takeaways:Excitement Beats PassionFind the work that excites you consistently—it’s more reliable than chasing fleeting passion.Don’t Underprice Your ValueJust because you can charge less doesn’t mean you should—know what your expertise is worth.Your Tools Are RelationshipsStart with mentors, hire better people, and never undervalue the human element.Safety and Honesty Build High-Performance TeamsPsychological safety and a clear framework for tough conversations drive better culture and outcomes."You don't need to memorize a mission statement to build a great company—you just need to live one."— Patrick CogginsCONNECT WITH PATRICK COGGINS:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickcogginsTwitter (X): https://twitter.com/patrickgen9CONNECT 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