Life After W2

JonChanREI
  • 5.0 (1)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

What happens when you walk away from the 9-to-5 and bet on yourself? Life After W2 explores the real stories of people who left corporate life to build businesses, freedom, and financial stability on their own terms. Host Jon Chan, a CPA turned private lender, shares conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals who’ve made the leap. Together they unpack the messy middle, the lessons learned, and the wins along the way. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to move beyond a paycheck and create life on your terms, these stories will show you the way.

  1. JAN 24

    Life After W2: Episode 17 with Olivia Atkin

    From Corporate to Creative. Olivia Atkin’s Inspiring Journey.What you will learn:• How Olivia transitioned from professional sports to corporate life• Why she pursued an MBA for new challenges and opportunities• How networking became essential during the COVID job search• The corporate culture issues she experienced at Lockheed Martin• How gender bias shaped her understanding of workplace dynamics• Why she launched a podcast to share real stories and help others• How mass layoffs pushed her into full time entrepreneurship• Why sales skills matter for every entrepreneur• How to manage time and optimize work hours for greater productivity• How to define success on your own termsGuest: Olivia Atkin. Entrepreneur. Podcast host. Consultant helping professionals navigate career transitions and personal growth.Website: https://achieving-success.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olivia.atkin.3/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_achievingsuccess/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviaatkin/Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/achieving-success-llcBook a call: http://meetwitholivia.me/If you are building your next chapter and want a place where people actually get it, come join us inside the Self Directed Network. It is where W2 escapees, new entrepreneurs, and future lenders build clarity and confidence together.https://www.acesmanagementinc.com/skool🔗 Follow Jon:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchanrei/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonchanreiFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonchanrei#LifeAfterW2 #W2Exit #Entrepreneurship #LeavingCorporate #StartYourBusinessLife After W2 podcast features inspiring stories of professionals who left corporate America to build their own businesses. Learn about entrepreneurship, financial freedom, and making the transition from W-2 employee to business owner.Watch more Life After W2 episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWUtrL9jHWtAvRu_dJx5Q0xky-HVb38kMTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jonchanreiThis episode is for educational purposes only and not investment advice.

    42 min

  2. JAN 23

    Life After W2: Episode 16 with Jim McEleney

    From Misconceptions to Mastery. Jim McEleney’s Franchise Journey.What you will learn:• How Jim went from misconceptions about franchising to exploring real opportunities• Why franchise owners lived a lifestyle that caught his attention• How working with a consulting group helped him identify goals and transferable skills• What the research and due diligence process looks like in franchising• Why he ultimately chose the Supercuts hair system• How franchising can be a path to entrepreneurship for people who want structure and supportGuest: Jim McEleney. Franchise consultant. Entrepreneur. Helping people find the right franchise fit through clarity, research, and strategy.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmceleney/FranNet: https://frannet.com/franchise-consultant/jim-mceleney/If you are building your next chapter and want a place where people actually get it, come join us inside the Self Directed Network. It is where W2 escapees, new entrepreneurs, and future lenders build clarity and confidence together.https://www.acesmanagementinc.com/skool🔗 Follow Jon:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchanrei/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonchanreiFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonchanreiTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jonchanreiThis episode is for educational purposes only and not investment advice.#LifeAfterW2 #W2Exit #Entrepreneurship #LeavingCorporate #StartYourBusinessLife After W2 podcast features inspiring stories of professionals who left corporate America to build their own businesses. Learn about entrepreneurship, financial freedom, and making the transition from W-2 employee to business owner.Watch more Life After W2 episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWUtrL9jHWtAvRu_dJx5Q0xky-HVb38kM

    36 min

  3. 12/23/2025

    Life After W2: Episode 15 with Mark Robinson

    Breaking Free from the Past. Mark Robinson on the Illusion of Safety and the Path Forward.What you will learn:• Why the past feels like a magnet and how to break its pull• How negative energy disguises itself as comfort and familiarity• The difference between real experience and the mirage of safety• How to shift your mindset from retreating to advancing• Why paying attention to positive energy changes your direction• How to stay committed to growth when old patterns try to pull you backGuest: Mark Robinson. Writer. Thinker. Coach helping people move past the illusions that hold them back.Website: https://www.marksrobinson.comWriting: https://markrobinson-writing.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-robinson-8326a64/If you are building your next chapter and want a place where people actually get it, come join us inside the Self Directed Network. It is where W2 escapees, new entrepreneurs, and future lenders build clarity and confidence together.https://www.acesmanagementinc.com/skool🔗 Follow Jon:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchanrei/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonchanreiFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonchanreiTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jonchanreiThis episode is for educational purposes only and not investment advice.

    22 min

  4. 12/16/2025

    Life After W2: Episode 14 with Kyle Beltle

    From Employee to Firm Owner. Kyle Beltle Shares the Turning Point That Changed Everything.What you will learn:• How a single moment can ignite the decision to start a firm• How to build personal runway for your transition• What to expect when employment shifts faster than planned• How to navigate the emotional and financial rollercoaster of leaving stability• What early marketing and client acquisition looks like for a new firm ownerGuest: Kyle Beltle. Accountant. Entrepreneur. Firm founder sharing the real story behind his career transition.www.ProactiveCPA.coIf you are building your next chapter and want a place where people actually get it, come join us inside the Self Directed Network. It is where W2 escapees, new entrepreneurs, and future lenders build clarity and confidence together.https://www.acesmanagementinc.com/skool🔗 Follow Jon:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchanrei/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonchanreiFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonchanreiTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jonchanreiThis episode is for educational purposes only and not investment advice.

    32 min

  5. 12/09/2025

    Episode 13 - Mike Henzgen

    “Comfort is the biggest obstacle to growth.” In this episode, Mike Henzgen shares how he left a stable accounting W2 to build a business on his terms. He walks through the real tradeoffs behind leaving, from testing real estate to launching an offshore accounting team, and why the best time to take the leap might have been yesterday. You will hear the mindset shifts that made it possible. Owning your calendar. Turning coffee chats into mentors. Choosing work that creates energy. If you are on the fence, this conversation gives you a practical look at what the first six months really feel like. Join the Self-Directed Network on Skool to learn how others are using their retirement funds to build their own freedom. https://acesmanagementinc.com/skool

    30 min

  6. 12/02/2025

    Episode 12 - JP Ruiz

    “Invest in what you know, not what you are being sold.” In this episode, retirement expert JP Ruiz QKA CISP pulls back the curtain on solo 401k and self directed IRA plans. We get real about record keeping, compliance, and the simple steps to move from a traditional employer plan into a structure that supports tax advantaged alternative investing. JP shares the practical toolkit most people miss. Separate buckets. Audit trails. In plan Roth rollovers. Flat fees that do not eat your returns. If you want your capital working in real estate, private notes, or other alternatives without getting tripped up by paperwork, this one will save you time and money. Join the Self-Directed Network on Skool to learn how others are using their retirement funds to build their own freedom.”\ https://acesmanagementinc.com/skool

    48 min

  7. 11/25/2025

    Episode 11 - Kerry Komarov

    “I loved teaching—but I couldn’t keep giving from an empty tank.”After a decade in the classroom, Kerry Komarov hit a breaking point during COVID and extended maternity leave. Instead of returning, she mapped her transferable skills—storytelling, communication, digital creativity—into a content marketing business that fits family life. Kerry shares the mindset shift from the “safe paycheck” to self-direction, how she landed early clients, and the boundaries that let her build a sustainable, non-hustle business (no seven-figure chase required). Join the Self-Directed Network on Skool to learn how others are using their retirement funds to build their own freedom. https://acesmanagementinc.com/skool

    30 min

  8. 11/18/2025

    Episode 10 - Lindsey Tague

    “I thought I’d finally found the perfect job — until it swallowed me whole.”After 15 years in corporate recruiting and management, Lindsey Tague hit burnout. Getting laid off from a startup became her wake-up call to stop chasing titles and start building something of her own. In this episode, she shares how she turned that moment into a thriving career in social media and content marketing. Lindsey opens up about rebuilding her confidence, finding her first client, and shedding the illusion of a “safe paycheck.” She also explains how surrounding herself with other entrepreneurs transformed her mindset and helped her grow her business as a digital nomad. Join the Self-Directed Network on Skool to learn how others are using their retirement funds to build their own freedom. https://acesmanagementinc.com/skool

    26 min
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About

What happens when you walk away from the 9-to-5 and bet on yourself? Life After W2 explores the real stories of people who left corporate life to build businesses, freedom, and financial stability on their own terms. Host Jon Chan, a CPA turned private lender, shares conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals who’ve made the leap. Together they unpack the messy middle, the lessons learned, and the wins along the way. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to move beyond a paycheck and create life on your terms, these stories will show you the way.

Information

  • Creator
    JonChanREI
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    99
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © JonChanREI
  • Show Website
    Life After W2