#173 Solopreneurship After Burnout — Justin Welsh on burnout, taking ownership of his time, struggling with a results oriented mindset, non-monetary success, becoming a top LinkedIn influencer, income goals, The Creator MBA, dealing with fears around money
Apr 16, 2024
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Former startup executive Justin Welsh shares his journey from burnout to building a one-person knowledge business. Topics include struggles with a results-oriented mindset, non-monetary success, becoming a top LinkedIn influencer, setting income goals, The Creator MBA, and dealing with fears around money.
Justin Welsh faced burnout, regained control of time, shifted to less results-driven mindset.
Transition from corporate networking to 'solopreneurship' on LinkedIn led to global influence.
Overcoming financial fears, therapy, redefining success, achieving fulfillment in entrepreneurship.
Deep dives
Early Influences and Rebellious Paths
Growing up influenced by his father's strong work ethic and value for saving money, Justin initially rebelled by accumulating credit card debt and getting fired from multiple jobs. However, as he got older, his father's teachings on hard work and excellence resonated with him, leading Justin to embrace those values in his own entrepreneurial journey.
Reevaluating Work Ethic and Enjoyment
Reflecting on societal views on hard work and finding joy in mundane tasks, Justin and Paul discuss the shift from the past necessity of hard work to the modern focus on engaging and interesting work. Justin shares his preference for tasks that spark his curiosity, noting that mastering and becoming interested in something initially unappealing often leads to enjoyment.
Recognizing Burnout and Pursuing New Paths
Justin opens up about his experience with burnout, caused by a loss of control and overwhelming responsibilities at work. This pivotal moment led him to prioritize self-care, like daily exercise and healthier habits, eventually prompting him to leave his high-pressure job and transition to creating his own business. Despite the challenges, this shift offered Justin a fresh start and a clearer mindset in pursuing his entrepreneurial endeavors.
Building a Following on LinkedIn and Transitioning to Creator Content
The podcast episode explores how the speaker became the number one ranked global LinkedIn influencer by strategically building a following over several years. Starting with setting up email systems and testing them for fun in 2018, he transitioned from conventional corporate networking content to discussions on 'solopreneurship' by leveraging his early LinkedIn presence and less competitive environment. Despite initial uncertainties, the speaker's gradual shift in content over the years and differentiation in creator mindset on the platform led to significant engagement and resonance with his audience.
Chasing Entrepreneurial Ambitions and Overcoming Money Fears
The second main theme delves into the journey of setting ambitious financial goals and evolving perspectives on success. The podcast narrates the speaker's transition from initial consulting work post-employment to discovering a passion for self-employment and entrepreneurship. Through experiences of financial anxiety stemming from childhood background and career insecurity, the speaker details the process of overcoming fears through therapy and reevaluating personal definitions of success and work-life balance in achieving a newfound sense of financial security and personal fulfillment.
Justin is a former startup executive who helped build two startups past valuations of $1B, teams of 150+ people, and raise over $300M in venture capital. Now he’s building his one-person knowledge business toward $5M in annual profit.
