In episode 125, we're talking about how to translate your work experience into a business, no matter what industry you're in.

You have been the person everyone calls when something is on fire. When the system does not exist, you build it. When the team is not performing, you fix it. When there is no answer, your name is the first one that comes up. And every single one of those moments has been building something. Just not yet for you.

In this episode, I break down how to take the skills and experience you have built, whether you are in corporate, nonprofit, tech, retail, or anywhere else, and translate them into a business of your own.

In this episode, I cover:→ How to recognize that what people always come to you for is actually your business foundation→ The skills recon: how to take inventory of what you know and what it is actually worth→ Why your experience in any industry is more transferable than you think→ How to start with what you know and let the business evolve from there→ Why building a business is not selfish, even if you come from a mission-driven nonprofit background

Key Takeaways:– Every role you have ever had has been building skills and experience you can now leverage for yourself– The thing that feels like general knowledge to you is someone else's biggest blind spot– You do not have to burn it all down or quit your job to start building something– Start with what you know and let it evolve– If you cannot shake the idea of building something for yourself, that is your signal

Chapters:00:01 Introduction01:00 Today's Topic: Translating Your Work Experience Into a Business02:14 The Signal: You're Always the One Everyone Calls03:30 Your Experience Is Not Wasted — It's Your Foundation04:27 The Skills Recon: Taking Inventory of What You Know06:44 Nonprofit, Corporate, Tech, Retail — It All Translates08:54 How This Works in Private Coaching10:00 Client Stories: Health Tech, Creative Artistry, Nonprofit Web Design11:07 Your Why and Building for Yourself13:23 CTA and Closing

Learn more and stay connected:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.danitan.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/dani-tan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In episode 124, we're talking about why you don't have to quit your job to start your business.

If you have been thinking about building something of your own but the idea of leaving your paycheck, your benefits, and your security feels too scary to actually move, this episode is for you. You do not have to choose between your 9-5 and your business. Your 9-5 might be the smartest tool you have to launch it.

In this episode, I break down how to use your current income strategically to fund your business, build your exit plan, and start from a place of safety instead of desperation.

In this episode, I cover:→ How to create an exit strategy with two real target dates and a savings plan that actually makes sense→ Why your paycheck gives you an experimentation runway that full-time entrepreneurs don't have→ The number one reason businesses fail and why knowing your numbers changes everything→ Why you should invest in learning how to make money before anything else→ The mindset work nobody talks about and how your income can fund the support you need

Key Takeaways:– You do not have to go all in without a plan– Set two target exit dates and build real savings goals for both personal and business reserves– Save every dollar your business makes early on and let your salary fund your personal security– Your 9-5 gives you breathing room to experiment without every decision feeling like life or death– If time has passed and you have not hit your goal, it is not about time — something else is blocking you

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome and episode overview: funding your business with your nine to five
02:15 - Dani’s background and transition from corporate VP to coach
04:00 - Building business resilience while maintaining a steady income
06:45 - Creating effective exit strategies with targeted dates and reserves
09:30 - The importance of understanding and managing your financial numbers
11:55 - Strategies for balancing corporate responsibilities and business growth
15:20 - The role of mindset work and emotional support in entrepreneurial success
17:55 - How to use your current job to test and refine your business ideas
20:30 - Cultivating confidence through data, experimentation, and small wins
23:10 - The benefits of leveraging your skills, credibility, and connections
26:45 - Overcoming fears and mindset blocks around visibility and sales
29:20 - Practical tips for saving, investing, and funding your startup
32:05 - Final encouragement to start small, stay consistent, and pursue your greatness

Learn more and stay connected:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.danitan.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/dani-tan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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My focus today is empowering the total baddie who knows she’s overqualified and is ready to level up, even if her manager isn’t supporting her.

If you’re feeling unseen or unheard in your organization, this episode is your blueprint for building influence beyond one person’s support and creating your own success narrative with confidence and strategy.In this episode:

• Why working hard and doing great work doesn't automatically earn support for promotion
• The power of building skip level relationships to amplify your visibility and influence
• How to showcase your results beyond your direct team to make your impact undeniable
• Strategies for owning your narrative and talking about your work with clarity and pride
• Why you don’t need one supporter — you need a system of advocates inside the organization
• Real-life success stories of clients who climbed out of unsupportive environments
• The importance of creating a promotion plan with specific steps and key conversations
• How to leverage cross-functional relationships to fast-track your career goals
• Practical tips for collecting receipts, sharing updates, and building your case for promotion

Timestamps:
00:00 - How to promote yourself when your manager isn't in your corner
02:25 - Why your work alone isn't enough for promotion
03:23 - The myth of advocates and sponsors—what really moves the needle
05:14 - Building a skip level relationship as your secret weapon
06:39 - Making your results visible across teams and leadership
08:06 - Owning your narrative through executive updates and strategic talks
09:55 - Collecting receipts and case studies to prove your impact
10:22 - How to manage your story when your manager is unsupportive
11:44 - The power of speaking about your work with confidence and pride
13:10 - Success stories of clients who navigated non-supportive managers and moved up
14:39 - Developing a strategic promotion plan rooted in action, not just thought
15:59 - Balancing visibility as a first-generation Asian Latina in corporate America
16:28 - Recognizing that your one supporter isn’t the only factor in your success
17:23 - How to work with a coach to create your personalized promotion roadmap

Learn more and stay connected:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.danitan.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/in/dani-tan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join my weekly newsletter