Have you ever stood at the edge of a cliff, heart racing, contemplating whether to take that leap of faith? That's exactly how it feels to leave the comfort of a corporate job for the uncertain world of entrepreneurship.

It's exhilarating, terrifying, and life-changing all at once.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with my friend Alex Sanfilippo, Founder of Podmatch.com, who shared his inspiring journey from corporate executive to full-time entrepreneur.

His story is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the greatest rewards come from embracing our fears and stepping into the unknown.

The Courage to Make a Change

Alex's journey began with a realization many of us face: the nagging feeling that we're meant for something more.

Despite reaching the C-suite level in a multi-billion dollar organization, Alex felt a pull towards his side project, Podmatch. He noticed that his lack of full involvement was holding back the company's growth potential.

Defining Courage in Entrepreneurship

For Alex, the turning point came when he stumbled upon a powerful definition of courage:

"Courage means being afraid and then doing what you have to do anyway."

It's a reminder that fear isn't the absence of courage - it's the very thing that makes courage possible. As entrepreneurs, we're not fearless; we're fear-conquerors.

The reality of leaving the corporate life isn't just about following your passion. It's about facing some hard truths and making tough decisions.

Financial Realities and Planning

Alex didn't just quit his job on a whim. He took a strategic approach, carefully analyzing the numbers and creating a financial roadmap. This involved:

• Projecting Podmatch's growth potential

• Assessing personal savings

• Tightening the budget (including selling a car and canceling subscriptions)

• Planning for a two-year timeline to match his previous salary

Through dedicated application of this plan and taking a community-first approach, Alex was able to reach his goals of creating a sustainable business with PodMatch within his two-year timeline. 

Since then PodMatch has grown into a pillar of the podcasting industry helping more podcasters reach more people with their message, all of which would have been impossible without Alex's leap of faith.

Learn more about PodMatch here.