<UPDATED>Breaking the Golden Handcuffs: A Journey to True Happiness with Nic Jones

12/19/24 • 52 min

In this episode of The Corporate Escapee Podcast, Brett Trainor speaks with Nic Jones, a former corporate executive turned bus driver who shares his journey of redefining success and happiness. Nic reflects on his 40-year career in media and music, during which he held leadership roles at major companies like Yahoo, Murdoch’s digital businesses, and Vevo. After a failed entrepreneurial venture and personal loss, Nic reevaluated his priorities, choosing to pursue a fulfilling yet unconventional path as a bus driver.

The discussion explores themes like:

Breaking free from societal and corporate expectations.
The evolving definition of success as happiness and fulfillment rather than money or titles.
The challenges of overcoming financial fears and golden handcuffs.
The importance of taking small, intentional steps toward a new life.
The value of rediscovering purpose and the mental process of transitioning to a new identity.

Nic’s insights highlight the importance of designing life around personal values and happiness rather than fitting life around work. His story serves as an inspiring example of how even high-achieving corporate professionals can make dramatic changes to reclaim their well-being and joy.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nic99jones/

The Post That Started It All: https://bit.ly/3BmHKwA

Sound Bites

"I'm a thoroughly fulfilled and happy bus driver."
"Success is the happiest person, not the richest."
"I wanted to be a bus driver as a five-year-old."
"The world was changing, and I was unaware of it."
"You have to start writing things down about what are our outgoings."
"There's nothing richer than feeling happy."
"You need to realign your values if money is your only focus."
"Life's too damn short to be unhappy."
"I never told anyone for the first two years after I left corporate."

• • "If we can help one or two people find happiness, we're doing our job."

The discussion explores themes like:

Breaking free from societal and corporate expectations.
The evolving definition of success as happiness and fulfillment rather than money or titles.
The challenges of overcoming financial fears and golden handcuffs.
The importance of taking small, intentional steps toward a new life.
The value of rediscovering purpose and the mental process of transitioning to a new identity.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nic99jones/

The Post That Started It All: https://bit.ly/3BmHKwA

Sound Bites

"I'm a thoroughly fulfilled and happy bus driver."
"Success is the happiest person, not the richest."
"I wanted to be a bus driver as a five-year-old."
"The world was changing, and I was unaware of it."
"You have to start writing things down about what are our outgoings."
"There's nothing richer than feeling happy."
"You need to realign your values if money is your only focus."
"Life's too damn short to be unhappy."
"I never told anyone for the first two years after I left corporate."

• • "If we can help one or two people find happiness, we're doing our job."

Previous Episode

LinkedIn in 2025: The Know, Like, & Trust Strategy Escapees Need with Deanna Russo

Welcome to The Corporate Escapee Podcast, where we explore the journeys of GenXers breaking free from corporate life to build something on their own terms. I’m your host, Brett Trainor, and today we dive into a conversation that’s critical for every corporate escapee: mastering LinkedIn.

Joining me is LinkedIn strategist and fellow escapee, Deanna Russo. Deanna’s expertise has helped thousands rethink their approach to LinkedIn—not as a sales tool or online resume, but as a powerful platform for networking, relationship-building, and earning trust. In this episode, Deanna shares her journey from corporate sales to launching her own business, her game-changing “Know, Like, and Trust” triangle strategy, and practical tips to optimize your LinkedIn presence heading into 2025.

If you’re ready to shift your mindset and make LinkedIn work for you, you’re in the right place. Let’s get started!

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannarusso1/

https://leverageupllc.com/

Takeaways

Change your mindset about LinkedIn; it's a networking event.
Focus on building know, like, and trust with your audience.
Your LinkedIn profile should reflect your authentic self.
Visibility on LinkedIn is crucial for standing out.
Engagement is key; participate in conversations relevant to your niche.
Your headline should communicate the problem you solve.
Differentiate yourself from others in your field.
Content should resonate with your audience's needs.
Flexibility in your business strategy is essential for growth.
You don't need to have everything figured out before starting. Engagement is more effective than self-promotion.
Visibility leads to inbound conversations.
Consistency in posting builds trust over time.
Storytelling is key to relatability and trust.
Commenting on posts can generate content ideas.
People remember how you make them feel.
You don't need to post every day to be effective.
Focus on adding value in conversations.
The algorithm favors engagement over likes.
Building relationships is crucial for success.

Sound Bites

"It's all about changing your mindset."
"It's really about know, like, and trust."
"I did not have it all figured out."
"Different is better than better."
"Your profile becomes your billboard."
"You need to have conversations with people."
"You're only shouting from the rooftop."
"It's about adding value and listening."

Chapters

00:00 Reimagining LinkedIn: A Networking Mindset

03:03 Deanna's Escapee Journey: From Corporate to Entrepreneur

06:12 Navigating the Transition: Finding Your First Clients

09:02 Evolving Business Strategies: Flexibility in Offerings

12:02 Authenticity on LinkedIn: Being Yourself

15:11 Crafting Your Profile: The Importance of Headlines

17:58 Visibility and Engagement: Building Relationships on LinkedIn

23:55 Engaging Conversations Over Self-Promotion

28:01 The Importance of Consistency in Content Creation

31:57 Building Trust Through Storytelling

39:24 The Power of Commenting and Engagement

44:40 Conclusion and Future Conversations

Next Episode

Couples, Tech, and Taking the Leap: Escapee Lessons from Heather McLean

Welcome back to The Corporate Escapee Podcast! In today’s episode, I’m thrilled to chat with Heather McLean, a recent escapee who left behind a high-powered corporate role leading a 400-person software development team to co-found her own tech-focused business alongside her husband.

Heather shares her journey from back-to-back corporate meetings and burnout to building a company that’s already making waves in AI and emerging technologies. We’ll talk about the leap of faith she took, how leveraging her network got her first clients, and what it’s like to run a business as a couple. Plus, we dive into why AI is the next big wave for escapees and how Gen Xers can get ahead of it.

Whether you’re dreaming of your own escape or looking for inspiration to take your business to the next level, this episode is packed with insights, lessons, and actionable advice. Let’s get into it!

Contact Information

Website: mcleanforrester.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-mclean1/

Takeaways

Heather transitioned from a corporate job to entrepreneurship just over a year ago.
She leveraged her extensive network to find her first customers.
The couple's shared passion for their business has strengthened their relationship.
They are focusing on AI and emerging technology in their business.
Heather's corporate experience prepared her for pricing and contract negotiations.
The couple plans to hire employees to grow their business further.
They initially pursued government contracts but found more success in the commercial space.
Heather's husband brings valuable expertise in data and IT strategy to the business.
They have a strong team dynamic due to their previous working relationships.
The couple enjoys discussing business during their personal time, enhancing both work and life. Passion is essential for building a successful business.
Seeking a coach can accelerate personal growth and development.
Investing in personal branding is crucial for attracting clients.
Starting a podcast can be a valuable way to share knowledge and connect with an audience.
AI is a transformative force that businesses need to embrace.
Understanding data management is key to leveraging AI effectively.
Continuous learning is vital in adapting to new technologies.
Modern business structures should prioritize customer experience over traditional silos.
Entrepreneurs should not be afraid to innovate and try new approaches.
Work-life balance improves significantly after leaving corporate jobs.

Sound Bites

"We just need to do this ourselves."
"Leverage your network."
"We have all the context."
"I wish I had done that sooner."
"This is going to be the wave."
"You can do this. You can do this."

Chapters

00:00 The Journey of Escape: Heather's Transition from Corporate to Entrepreneurship

03:02 Building a Business Together: The Power of Partnership

06:02 Leveraging Networks: The Key to Finding First Customers

09:09 Navigating Pricing and Business Structure

11:58 Combining Forces: Heather and Her Husband's Collaborative Efforts

14:59 Passion-Driven Success: The Importance of Love for the Work

16:37 The Importance of Passion in Business

17:18 Reflecting on the Transition from Corporate to Entrepreneurship

18:32 Building a Personal Brand and Seeking Guidance

19:27 Launching the Tech Tea Podcast

20:55 Embracing AI: A New Frontier

22:36 The Role of Data in AI Adoption

24:32 Encouraging Learning and Adaptation in AI

26:27 The Need for Modern Business Structures

28:57 Navigating the Future of AI in Business

31:53 Final Thoughts on Leaving Corporate Life

The Corporate Escapee - <UPDATED>Breaking the Golden Handcuffs: A Journey to True Happiness with Nic Jones

Transcript

Brett Trainor (00:02.126)

Hey Nick, welcome to the Corporate Escape-y Podcast.

Nic Jones (00:05.416)

Thanks very much, Brett. Great to be here.

Brett Trainor (00:07.754)

It's absolutely my pleasure and it's good we're going back down under even though you are originally from the UK, right? So we're hitting the globe on this one.

Nic Jones (00:15.902)

Yes, born in the UK, moved to Australia in 88, moved back to the UK in 2008 for work, then to Sa

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