Deena Priest

Executive Coach | Accelerating Careers Without Burnout & Designing Smarter Exits | ex-PwC & Accenture Leader | Former Lawyer 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇦🇺

I help corporate leaders turn 15+ years of experience into a profitable solo coaching or consulting business – without undercharging or guessing your way through it.

If you’ve left (or are ready to leave) a senior role in a mid to large corporate business, you probably recognize this:

1. You’re brilliant at delivering complex projects… but talking about your own offer feels vague.
2. You want freedom, but you don’t want your income to fall off a cliff.
3. You keep hearing “charge your worth”, yet you have no idea what “premium” actually means.

You didn’t build a 15+ year career to become a $150/hr freelancer.
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A. WHAT WE DO TOGETHER

I work with corporate directors, VPs and senior leaders to:

1. Design a market-relevant, premium coaching/consulting offer that leverages your track record (not generic “life coaching”).

3. Build a de-risked, structured plan to replace – and then exceed – your corporate salary with a small number of well-fit clients.

3. Create a simple, repeatable client acquisition system (often LinkedIn-led) so you’re not relying on random referrals or hope.

4. Navigate the identity shift from employee to business owner, so selling starts to feel natural, not needy.
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B. WHO AM I

I spent two decades in high-pressure environments across law, top-tier consulting and commercial leadership, working with senior stakeholders who expected results, not fluff.

Now I’m the founder of the SAVVY™ advisory growth system, a step-by-step method to exit corporate and build a profitable, high-trust coaching or consulting business without chaos.

I’ve coached 150+ executives and senior leaders through big transitions – including turning “hidden expertise” into visible, premium offers that real clients pay for.
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C. WHAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE 

1. A sharp, confident vision of what’s next (not just “I’ll be a coach”).

2. A clearly defined, premium offer that you can explain in one or two sentences – and that clients will happily pay for.

3. Pricing, positioning and messaging that reflect your seniority, not junior contractor rates.

4. An authority-led personal brand and simple sales process that consistently creates opportunities and conversations.
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D. HOW TO WORK WITH ME

If you want your coaching/consulting practice to feel as solid as your corporate career – financially and professionally:

👉 Learn more / apply for the next Corporate Pivot Accelerator cohort here:
https://deenapriest.org/corporatepivotaccelerator

Or send me a DM with the word SAVVY and a line about where you’re at now.

Coach  - Mentor

When someone close to me passed away, 
their employer only cared about two things:

1️⃣ Proof it had really happened. 
2️⃣ Whether they were liable.

(Yes and no were the answers.)

A few weeks later, a new replacement sat at their desk.

That’s when it really became apparent: 

In the corporate world, you are always replaceable at work.

It isn’t personal. It’s just business. 

But it should change how we all live and work.

After that, I ran my decisions through a different filter:

1. Do I have freedom and autonomy?
2. If I leave on time, who will care/remember? 
3. Am I being present when I am with my kids?
4. What are the consequences of cancelling my vacation?
5. Does saying “yes” mean "no" to something important?
6. Will late-night emails really make me indispensable?
7. If I sacrifice weekends, will I progress or burnout? 

It was the driver for me to leave corporate and start my own business.

And the reason I am a strong advocate for having a fall-back business or income stream (without relying on a single source salary.)

Because as the current market is showing us - everyone is replaceable at work.

Does this mean you shouldn't work hard and do your best?
Of course not.

It means that you should never lose sight of your key priorities.

Your health, relationships and financial security.

Making different choices in the moment means you stop trading the irreplaceable for the replaceable.

Deena Priest

Talks about #sales, #careers, #coaching, #leadership, and #professionalservices

Senior corporate leaders (40s+) launching consulting & coaching → Exceed your old salary | Win premium clients | 150+ coached (SAVVY™ method) | ex-Big 4, Big Tech & lawyer

Frederick Talbott

It's a good time to start a solo consultancy.

Everyone asks:  “But how do I compete with the Big 4 or other big consultancies?”
 
You don’t.
 
You differentiate. 
 
One of my clients (a two-person business) just beat a global player to win a major operating model project.
 
Another launched a solo risk advisory consultancy from scratch.  She’s now leading global engagements.
 
Another Ex-CRO now earns double his corporate salary, running a sales strategy consultancy.
 
These aren’t anomalies.  
They are the new normal. 
 
Why?  
 
Because clients want trusted, specialized advisors who solve painful problems. Fast.
 
Here's how to get started:

1. Define your profitable niche and offer
2. Work out your market positioning and messaging
3. Use LinkedIn as a platform to build your authority
 
You don’t need to be a “big” consultancy.  

You need to be a right-fit one.

Anyways:

In all Ernst (and Young): 

If you want to know what's PwC (Possible Without Corporate),

I'd be Deloitted to speak to you. 

Let's KPMG (Kick-off Profitable, Meaningful Growth.)😉

Take the diagnostic to see if you're ready to build a profitable solo business: https://lnkd.in/eyJx78uv

Deena Priest

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Image credit: wallstreetoasis on IG

Turning senior corporate leaders into in-demand consultants + coaches | Exceed your old salary | Win premium clients | 150+ coached (SAVVY™ method) | ex-Accenture & PwC

Are you overcomplicating your goal of starting a business?
 
If your 2025 goal was to launch your consulting or coaching business…
 
Let me save you from the “analysis paralysis” phase.
 
But first, here's what's not needed:

❌ A website  
❌ An MBA 
❌ A 38-page business plan 
 
And here's what is.
 
𝟱 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗹𝗲 (and will help you replace your corporate salary):
 
𝟭. 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿.  
→ Choose ONE urgent problem you solve for ONE decision-maker.  
→ Package it as a high-value outcome.
 
𝟮. 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝟭𝟬 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀.  
→ Use your network, warm intros, or alumni groups.  
→ Ask: “Is this a real pain point?”
🚫 No pitching. 
 
𝟯. 𝗥𝘂𝗻 𝗮 ‘𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆’ 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝟭–𝟯 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.  
→ Offer part of your service in exchange for feedback.  
→ Focus on delivering a fast, tangible win.  
 
𝟰. 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳.  
Turn that one win into a before/after story, a testimonial, a content post.
 
𝟱. 𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵.
Develop a real go-to-market-plan. 

Voila.
 
Your 2026 goals sorted. 

Action > Analysis.
 
👇 Which of the above are you stuck on?

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➕ 𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲  "𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗼 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿" 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘇 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: https://lnkd.in/eAMqzJ-Q

Follow Deena Priest for more.

I attended the funeral of a dear friend last week.
 
She was 45. Cancer. Two kids.  

And she lived more in 45 years than most do in 90.
 
Raised a family.
Built businesses.  
Travelled the world.    
Kept friendships alive.
 
Her energy was contagious.  
Any time I hesitated, she’d say:  “Come on. Just do it.”
 
And it reminds me that life’s biggest regrets don’t come from what you do.

They come from what you don't do.
 
The conversation you never had.
The business you never started. 
The change you kept deferring.  
The dream you kept on hold.

You tell yourself there’s time.  

After the next bonus.  
After the kids are older.  
After the mortgage is paid off.
 
But the truth is, you’re never fully ready.  

And sometimes "after" never comes.
 
So take the risk.  
Start the thing.  
Make the move.
Just do it.
 
Back yourself fully.  
(If not now, then when?)
 
Because the fear of trying fades.  

But the regret of not lingers.

Make your next chapter count.
 
Warmly,
Deena Priest

"I’ll build my business when I have more time.”

This is the biggest blocker to exiting corporate. 

Most people think a salary is the most important thing.

It’s not. It’s your time

The one currency you’ll never get back.

If you’ve spent 20+ years building:
✔️ Deep expertise
✔️ A strong reputation
✔️ Financial stability

You may have built money
But not time or financial freedom.

When I worked 80 rigid hours in corporate, I missed:

> My son’s football matches
> My own health check-ups
> Most of my vacation allowance

“Flexibility” was just a corporate buzzword.

The reality:

99 percent of my time was eaten up by admin, egos,politics etc.

Maybe 1% of my week was focused on real impact.

Use your money and knowledge to map your exit and build your high-impact business. 

Here’s how I did it:

1. Buy clarity before you build
> Invest in someone who’s walked the path.
> Shortcut months of second-guessing with a clear map and mirror.

2. Extract the value from your career
> You don’t need reinvention. Just repositioning.
> Package what already works and make it profitable.

3. Buy back hours with expert thinking
> Ditch the PDFs and random LinkedIn posts.
> Use frameworks that actually move you forward.

4. Build a premium offer that respects your time
> No low-ticket time traps.
> High-trust work with high-calibre clients on your terms.

5. Learn while you earn
> Start now, while still employed.
> Gain clients and confidence before you ever hand in your notice.

Your knowledge built your salary.
Now it can build your exit.

But only if you start treating your time
like your most valuable asset.

P.S - Time is not the issue. Clarity is. Once you're clear on what your business does and how to build it, you find the time to drive things forward.

Deena Priest

No alternative text description for this image

Many ex-corporate leaders turned coaches underprice.  

Not because they’re new.  
Because they’re still thinking like employees.
 
One client came to me after 20+ years leading multimillion-dollar teams.  

He was coaching for free.  

I asked him why.
 
“I wanted to prove I could help.”
 
Here’s the problem:  
When you undercharge, you don’t prove your value.  

You prove you don’t believe in it.
 
And I see this every week:
 
• Free = devalued
• Cheap = not trusted
• Underpriced = underchosen
 
Your pricing isn’t about greed.  

It’s about energy, equity, and transformation.
 
You don’t need to charge like a hedge fund.  

But you do need to:
 
𝟭/ 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻  
A CRO I coached dropped “leadership coaching” and positioned her offer around a $10M sales leak.  

She landed a retainer within weeks at 4x her original rate.
 
𝟮/ 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲  
One ex-COO came in charging $300/hr.  
We repackaged her expertise into a 90-day delivery ops engagement.  

First deal. $25K. 
 
 𝟯/ 𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁
A public sector leader told me, “I don’t want to be seen as greedy.”  

After working through that belief, she doubled her rates and signed two clients in a month.
 
 𝟰/ 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁  
One ex-MD was still asking, “Am I allowed to charge that much?”  

That question vanished the moment she got a “yes” on a $150K proposal.
 
Because you’re not here to play “pretty woman.”
 
You’re here to build a business that respects your decades of work.  
 
Price accordingly.

KR,
Deena Priest

Coaches and consultants often underprice their services.

You didn’t leave your 20-year corporate career to price like a junior freelancer.

And yet, I see it all the time.

Brilliant, seasoned leaders giving away hours of value… for free. 

Discounting their expertise to “get started.” 

Hoping their kindness will convert.

But price is never just a number.

It’s a filter.

For fit, for seriousness, and for client commitment.

And when you undercharge:

❌ You attract the wrong clients 
❌ They get worse results 
❌ You resent the work

And worst of all -> You start questioning your own value.

Here’s what I’ve seen with 150+ corporate escapees:

⚠️ Low pricing leads to low traction.

Remember the saying? "People who pay, pay attention."

Don’t devalue your services.

Do this instead:

✅ Benchmark your price against others 
✅ Manage your money mindset 
✅ Position yourself powerfully
✅ Sell to the right people 

And most of all:

✅ Price for the transformation
✅ Price for sustainability, not survival
✅ Price for your experience and expertise

Your future clients are already paying someone more. 

Might as well be you.

P.S - What beliefs around pricing are holding you back?

♻️ Repost for confident pricing.
➕ Follow Deena Priest for more.

FREE WORKSHOP 18 DEC: Exceed your salary with a premium consulting/coaching business | For corporate pros (40s+) → Win premium clients | Join via link under my name

When Sarah left her executive role to become a growth consultant, she didn't earn.

She had decades of experience. 
A solid network. 
A desire to be her own boss.

But three months into her business, she was signing low-value contracts. 

She was trading time for money. 
Back on the same treadmill she’d tried to escape.

Why?

She followed conventional advice:

→ Launch a website 
→ Post on LinkedIn 
→ Create an offer

Her calendar was full of non-value-add tasks… not traction.

When we looked deeper, the problem wasn’t her capability. 

It was her sequence.

She’d started with visibility. 

But what she needed was value and proximity.

Here’s what we changed:

✔ Prioritized quality conversations over content 
✔ Reworked her value proposition from the ground up 
✔ Priced for outcomes not effort or retainer norms

Within 8 weeks, she signed a $50K client.

From activity → traction. 

From corporate expert → trusted advisor.

If you’re in motion but not gaining momentum,  it might be time to reassess your roadmap.

📌Join my free newsletter for strategies to go from Corporate →Entrepreneur: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7.

Follow Deena Priest for more.

I help senior corporate leaders launch coaching & consulting practices | Structured, de-risked path to replace income | 150+ execs coached | ex-Accenture & PwC

I left a 6-figure corporate career in my 40s and started a business.

The identity shift was real.  

But all my clients in their 40s and 50s have that pull toward 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵?
 
By now, many have:  

• Grown-up kids  
• Respected networks  
• Paid-down mortgages  
• 20+ years of wisdom, leadership
 
It 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 like the right time to make a change.

They don't want to climb the ladder anymore.
 
They want to use their expertise to gain more freedom, fulfillment, purpose, legacy.

But here’s what often stalls them:
 
• Clarity: “I’m not sure how to do it”  
• Fear: “What if I fail and have to go back?”
• Financials: “What if I can’t replace my salary?”    
 
👆 All of it? Just fear of the unknown.
 
Here’s what helped my clients and I all move forward:
 
1️⃣ Roadmap 
– A step-by-step plan to replace and exceed your salary

2️⃣ Structure 
– Clarity on what to offer, who to serve, how to get clients  

3️⃣ Community 
– Others walking the same path (so you're not doing this in isolation)
 
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗜 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿™
The system for corporate professionals to launch consultancy or coaching businesses that are credible, profitable, and purpose-led.
 
Turn your expertise into a profitable business without risking income or reputation.
 
👥 Join the waitlist now to get first access and details: https://lnkd.in/e8F7Z2BQ
 
Or send me a message and I will share more details.

Deena Priest

If you're at stage 3, it may be time to start your business.
 
The stats are brutal:  
• Executives spend ~23 hours a week in meetings.  
• Around half of them are totally unproductive.
 
That’s calendar captivity.
 
It’s stopping you from doing the high-impact work that actually gives you energy and fulfilment.
 
When you build your own consulting / coaching business:  

• You get paid for outcomes, not attendance.  
• You spend your time on high-ROI, high-impact work.
• You decide which meetings exist (and who’s in them).  

Here’s how to start shifting out of stage 3:
 
1️⃣ 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀   
→ Don't let others' priorities run your calendar.  
→ Ring-fence 2–4 hours a week for planning and doing.
 
2️⃣ 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿  
→ Start thinking in problems solved.  
→ Who do you help → what do you fix → what changes?  
→ That shift to “I solve this” is the bridge to becoming a business owner.
 
3️⃣ 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀  
→ Prioritize conversations with those who benefit from your expertise.
→Their challenges will literally point to where your future business fits.
 
Free up your time → Make an impact → Earn well. 

If every meeting leaves you thinking, 
"I could be doing something better with my time”… 

Your next chapter is probably not another promotion.  

It’s a business.
 
Deena Priest

📌Join for strategies to go from Corporate → Profitable consultant or coach: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7

How I knew at 40 it was time to exit corporate and start my coaching business.  

(Even though the money was good.)
 
First of all:  

I wasn’t burned out.  
There was no dramatic exit.
 
I simply couldn’t shake the feeling that I was no longer in control of my time or my life.
 
Meetings ruled my calendar.  Politics ate up any impact I hoped to make.
 
Frankly, I was bored of exchanging my time for money.
 
So even though I was "well-compensated"...  I didn’t have time freedom or financial freedom.
 
After my kids were born, I realized:
 
It’s not about getting rich.  
It’s about owning your time.
 
I didn’t need anyone’s validation. 
I wanted presence at home.
 
I didn’t want more responsibility.  
I wanted optionality.
 
If you're here too, wondering whether to start your own business...
 
Here are 12 signs you’re ready:
 
 1. You’re done trading time for salary bands
 2. You know your potential is being underutilized
 3. You’ve realized no job is actually secure
 4. You want to lead with purpose, not politics
 5. You want to own your calendar, not be owned by it
 6. You already have decades of experience and skills
 7. You value freedom more than titles
 8. You want to grow your brand, not someone else’s
 9. You want to make a meaningful impact
10. You’re highly self-disciplined
11. You’re not driven by external validation anymore
12. You’re ready to bet on yourself
 
What’s missing for 99 percent of corporate leaders ready to pivot?
 
A clear roadmap.  
A de-risked plan for turning your expertise into income.
 
𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗱 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗽 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 -> 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄.

(𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿. 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝟱 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲.)

https://lnkd.in/ekE3tHxP

I’ll show you exactly what to focus on to secure clients before Christmas.

Because in the end, money is the tool. 
Not the goal.
 
Freedom is the goal. Don’t forget that.
 
KR,  Deena Priest

7 years ago, I was afraid to leave my corporate job.

Today, I’m afraid of my 10-year-old daughter.

(She’s brutally honest. Zero filter. No mercy.) 😬

But seriously... we all need someone like that.

Because the more senior you are...  the less truth-tellers you have around you.. the more you ignore the voice in your head that says "do something purposeful."

Has anyone ever sat you down and asked:
“Why are you still grinding 80+ hours a week… for someone else’s dream?”

Nope. Didn't think so. 

But if deep down, you’ve felt:

The uneasy question: “Is this really it?”
The itch to start something of your own 
The frustration that you're capable of more 

Then maybe it’s time to stop ignoring it.

Ask yourself:

1. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸? 
→Is it time? Security? Identity? 
→Or is it fear disguised as “being realistic”?

2. 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? 
If so, from whom? And is it worth it?

3. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆, 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀, 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆? 
(Were you, like me, taught that promotions = prosperity?)

4. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿? 
Is there a market for that?

5. 𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲?
Smart people overthink everything.

One of my clients had 25 years in global leadership. 

Brilliant. Respected. Burnt out. 

He kept saying, “I’ll start something of my own when the timing is right.”

Then came the layoff.
Suddenly, someday became now.

Today, he runs a solo sales advisory business that brings in multiple 6 figures.

Most knowledge workers could turn their skills and knowledge into a business. 

But mindset eats strategy for breakfast.

You need to believe it's possible or nothing will happen.

Do you have an honest truth-teller in your life?

Follow Deena Priest for more.

📌Join my free newsletter "Purpose & Pay" for strategies and frameworks to go from Corporate → Entrepreneur: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7

I see 3 terrible pieces of advice for consultants and coaches on LinkedIn.  

Especially for those who've recently started their businesses. 
 
Here they are:
 
𝟭. “𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱.”
 
It sounds smart and feels productive.  

But here’s the reality:

A personal brand won’t save you if your offer and positioning are vague.
 
I know people with 100K followers…  who post daily…  who go viral…  and are still broke.
 
Because branding without a clear offer = attention without income.
 
Build your offer and positioning first.  
Speak to real humans second.  
Build your brand last.
 
 
𝟮. “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁.”
 
No. 
 
Niche is discovered not guessed.
 
You can’t “think” your way to clarity.  

You test and validate with discussions.

Conversations > assumptions.
 
 
𝟯. “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹.”
 
Not at the start.
 
Funnels don’t work without trust.  

Trust doesn’t come from ads or emails.  

It comes from conversations.
 
Momentum > funnels.
 
 
Most of the advice out there is recycled, misapplied, or shared by people who aren't actual consultants or coaches. 
 
You don’t need hacks.  

You need trust and proof.
 
How do you build that?
 
You guessed it:
 
Conversations.
 
What’s the worst piece of advice you had to unlearn?

------------
If you like posts that cut through the noise, you’ll enjoy my newsletter. It’s where I share the things about leaving corporate to start a business that I don’t post publicly. 

Join here: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7

I built my business in secret while still in corporate.  

Because one day, you're told you are "a key asset to the business."

The next day, you find yourself on a redundancy list.
 
Because employment is just a subscription model.
You can be cancelled anytime.
 
That’s why smart people build their own side businesses and diversify their income.

So they can support themselves and their families regardless of the circumstances.
 
And if you’ve already left corporate to start a business?

Then getting the business right matters so you never have to go back to LinkedIn job boards at 2am.
 
That’s why I built 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿.  

For people like you.  
People like me.  

VPs, Directors and senior leaders with decades of experience and the desire to do work that matters.

And who understand how fickle corporate life can be.
 
🎯 Join the waitlist for details: https://lnkd.in/e8F7Z2BQ

(One of my clients was let go after 20 years. 3 months later, she closed her first $25K consulting contract.)
 
In the meantime, here’s a 𝟱-𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 “𝗘𝘅𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲” 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱:
 
1. 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘂𝘀.  
   What feels easy to you but hard for others?
   
2. 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.  
   Solve an urgent need or problem.
   
3. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 ‘𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸-𝗶𝗻-𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿-𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽’ 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿.  
   Premium. Specific. Scalable.
   
4. 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿.  
   No needless DMs. 
   Just clear proof and clean authority.
   
5. 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲
   Not one that becomes your life.
 
Bottom line:

Corporate is not a forever home.
 
If you’ve built teams, led change, and held the weight of a $200K+ salary…
 
You can build something of your own.
Something profitable, purposeful, and powerful.
 
And if a layoff ever hits, 
 
You’ll already be the CEO of something better.
---
🎯Join the Corporate Pivot Accelerator waitlist here: https://lnkd.in/e8F7Z2BQ

KR,
Deena Priest

I realized there is life after corporate.

That reinvention in midlife could be your most profitable career chapter yet. 

Especially if you’re done building someone else’s dream and ready to build your own.

There are so many examples of this:

1. 𝗔𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗛𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻
→From burnout at 55.
→To co-founding The Huffington Post (sold for $315M)

2. 𝗥𝗮𝘆 𝗞𝗿𝗼𝗰 
→From struggling milkshake machine salesman at 52. 
→To building McDonald's.

3. 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱
→From a government clerk.
→To TV icon in her 50s.

4. 𝗕𝗼𝗯𝗯𝗶 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻
→From losing creative control. 
→To launching Jones Road Beauty at 59. 

5. 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝗴
→From overlooked editor-in-chief at Vogue.
→To launching a bridal empire in her 40s.

These aren’t anomalies. 

They’re examples of what becomes possible when you stop asking, “What’s next?” And start asking, “What do I want to build?”

I’ve worked with corporate professionals in their 40s and 50s who are starting businesses after burnout, redundancy, or simply a quiet knowing that there has to be more than this.

Here’s the 6-step reinvention roadmap:

𝟭. 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 
→Audit your time. Cut what drains you. 
→Start with 90 minutes a week of protected thinking time.

𝟮. 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 
→Not the next logical role. 
→What is the business, lifestyle and impact you want?

𝟯. 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 
→It’s rarely strategy. It’s fear of failure. Visibility. Identity.
→Write down every fear. Fact-check them. 

𝟰. 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 
→What do people already come to you for? 
→Where are your skills and interests?
→Package up your intellectual property.

𝟱. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲
→You don’t need branding. You need buyers. 
→Start with 1 person. 1 problem. 1 promise. 

𝟲. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 
→Clarity comes from action.
→Land one pilot client. Test your offer. 

And turn your professional experience into purpose and profit.

P.S - I’m seeing more corporate leaders than ever (especially in their 50s) choosing to start something of their own.

What do you think is driving this shift?

♻️ Repost if you agree reinvention is possible.
➕ Follow Deena Priest  for more.

And if you are leaving corporate to start a business, 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7

YU HIMM FUNG MBA ACMA CGMA

Sales is 99% mindset. 1% skill. 
 
Many who leave corporate to start their own businesses really struggle with this.  
 
Some of you had previously sold 5M+ deals for a Fortune 500 with a straight face. 
 
But asked to sell your own offer… 
You'd rather eat a Brazilian spider. 🕷️
 
Your brain serves up: 
“I’m being pushy.” 
“They’ll think I’m desperate.” 
 
You hate used car salesman vibes.  
 
Here’s what you don't need to do: 
 
❌ Send mass automated messages 
❌ Start pitching people immediately  
❌ Behave like a hustle bro 
❌ Chase endlessly  
❌ Avoid people  

Reframe your internal dialogue: 
 
You’re not a “used car salesman.” 
You’re a specialist who stops expensive problems. 

Approach it like this:

1. Ensure you have a market-resonant offer
2. Work out your positioning
3. Reach out to a warm and cold network
4. Try to give them as much value as possible
5.  Manage your mindset from "hassling" to "helping."
 
Sales is: 
✅ Helping someone get clear on their real problem. 
✅ Saying honestly if you can solve it.
✅ Inviting them to work with you if there’s a fit. 
 
That’s it. 

It’s possible for anyone to go from Little Red Riding Hood to Wolf of Wall Street (minus the fraud.)
 
Fix the 99% (mindset) so you can hone the 1% (skills).
 
What’s the one sales belief you’d love to drop? 

Deena Priest

How to exit corporate, make an impact and make money.
 
It’s one of the most asked questions on claude, ChatGPT and at 3AM in your head.
 
Here’s what won't make it happen:
 
➡️ You won’t make money just because you’re smart.  
➡️ You won’t get clients just because you have experience.  
➡️ And you definitely won’t succeed trying to figure it all out alone.
 
If you want a profitable business that gives you control, purpose, and income...
 
Here’s what you actually need:
 
1. 𝗔𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺  
   (Not “helping people or businesses grow.” A real painkiller.)
   
2. 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗯𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀  
   (So you're seen as a premium solution, not a nice-to-have.)
   
3. 𝗔 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗱
   (No logo, website, or 3-month branding detour needed.)
   
4. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲
   (Clarity and courage, not confidence, creates action.)
 
It’s not about leaving corporate.  

It’s about building a business that’s future-proof, fulfilling, and financially resilient.  

This is the work I do with senior leaders every day—if you’re ready, send me a message.

📌 Until then, 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘇 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿 once leaving corporate: https://lnkd.in/eyJx78uv
 
Follow Deena Priest for more.

Image Credit: AI3E on instagram.

“I don’t have time to build my business.”

I used to say this when I was in corporate.

But what I really meant was:
“I don’t have enough clarity or a roadmap to justify the time spent.”

My calendar was wall-to-wall. 

I was exhausted. 

Everyone kept saying: "Just have lots of conversations with potential clients."

But I'd think: "Who? Where are they? What do I say to them?" 

So instead, I watched Netflix.

For months, I either did nothing or wasted time on low-value-add activities: 

☒ Logos 
☒ Websites 
☒ Content with no audience

Until I finally got clear on three things:

1. What I was building
2. Why I was building it
3. How best to build it
   
That clarity changed everything.

Suddenly:

• 15 mins between meetings 
  → became planning time
  
• 6am before the house woke 
  → became strategy hour
  
• 10pm once the house slept 
  → became execution time
  
Time wasn’t the problem. 

Clarity was.

The real work for corporate professionals doesn’t begin with just doing.

It begins with a vision. 
And a clear, structured roadmap.

When you have these in place, 
you will suddenly find the time, energy and motivation. 

What about you? What’s holding you back?

P.S. If you want to accelerate your exit from corporate...

📌Join my newsletter for strategies to build your coaching or consulting business: https://lnkd.in/e4c_nEp7

Follow Deena Priest for more.

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