Recently, I spoke on a panel during a tech conference about making the leap from product manager to full-time founder. If you’re thinking about making a similar jump—or thinking about a major career shift—here’s what I’m genuinely glad I did before I quit my job and became a full-time founder.
1. I Saved—Aggressively and Intentionally
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I can’t overstate this: save more than you think you’ll need. Early in my career, a reorg caught me off guard. I thought, “I’ll just pivot and focus on my business”. I learned the hard way that ambition alone is no substitute for being financially prepared.
When you’re self-employed, your runway is everything—business expenses, health expenses, household needs, and unplanned events depend on it. Years before taking the leap, I made a habit of increasing my savings each time I was promoted. Most of the extra income went straight into a savings account, earning a little interest. The rest was split between a health savings account and a family savings account.
In the final stretch, I cranked up the savings even more. Did it feel a little obsessive? Maybe. But the peace of mind I had when life threw curveballs later on made it worthwhile.
2. I Sought Honest Advice
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Big leaps of any kind require clarity, not just courage. I had real conversations with people who knew me, would pray with me, and weren’t afraid to challenge my timing or motives.
Inflated self-awareness is real. That’s why it’s so important to have people in your circle who don’t just hype you up, but help you slow down, think clearly, and see what you might be missing.
You might feel ready because you’ve mapped it all out and even ran it through Chat GPT, but nothing beats having someone who can objectively poke holes in your plan or offer perspective you hadn’t considered.
There was a moment when someone in my circle talked me down from taking the leap too soon. They reminded me of a few details I overlooked in my eagerness to get started—and I’m glad they did. Had I moved forward too quickly, I wouldn’t have been prepared for the unfortunate surprises that followed.
3. I Did My Homework
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Take as much time as you need on this step while you still have the cushion of a steady paycheck. If you skip the homework, it will show.
If you only read one book before leaving your day job, make it Before You Quit Your Job by Robert Kiyosaki (of Rich Dad, Poor Dad). It reads like a checklist for building or evaluating a business that can actually thrive. This book humbled me, revealed my gaps, and helped me get the right systems in place so I wouldn’t sabotage the business I was building.
I also ran the numbers on how much it would cost to run my small business and pursue the new opportunities I had lined up. That gave me a clearer picture of what I needed to save before leaving, and what I needed to make each month afterward.
4. I Found and Built Community
Entrepreneurship can be lonely, especially when everyone around you has a 9-to-5. I joined a virtual founder accelerator (on scholarship, thankfully), and it made all the difference in the first few months. Beyond having access to workshops, it was about having people to brainstorm with, get feedback from, and find resources I might not have discovered on my own.
Also, don’t overlook your family network. Sometimes the help or insight you need is closer than you think.
5. I Quit Gracefully
It matters how you leave—future you will thank you.
Not only did I appreciate the salary and benefits of my corporate job, I genuinely respected the people I’d be leaving behind. For me, that meant wrapping up projects, preparing the team, and creating a clean slate for both me and my employer. It also meant giving a month’s notice. Not everyone will agree with this, but it felt necessary for my role and the work I was carrying. As a result, I left on good terms and avoided the regret of burning bridges.
I also took care of myself. I used my vacation, caught up on my appointments, and started building better routines. The founder's life brings enough unpredictability—the last thing I wanted was to start a new chapter already stretched thin.
So, why are these my top 5? Because they made the transition from employee to entrepreneur smoother and helped sustain me when life got messy. From a cross-country move and unexpected loss in our family, to the highs and lows of growing a business, these 5 things— financial grounding, an honest circle, solid information, a strong community, and the right timing—are what kept things moving forward.