From Corporate to Freedom: The Story That Will Change How You Think About Work

How He Escaped Corporate and Built Freedom on His Own Terms

In this episode of Quit the Quota, Darryl Miedico and Marya Ryan sit down with Kyle Welch to unpack his journey from high-performing corporate sales leader to full-time entrepreneur. After spending 20 years in telecom, tech, and cybersecurity sales, Kyle found himself facing a major turning point when layoffs forced him to reconsider what security, freedom, and success really meant. What started as curiosity around short-term rentals quickly turned into a complete mindset shift. Kyle shares how he went all in on building his own business after years of relying on the “security” of corporate America, despite the fear, uncertainty, and pressure that came with it. The conversation dives into the emotional side of entrepreneurship, including the stress on relationships, the doubt that creeps in during the early stages, and why mindset work became the key factor that helped him push through difficult moments when nothing seemed to be working. Throughout the episode, Kyle breaks down how meditation, visualization, and studying mindset principles completely changed the trajectory of his life. He shares the story of landing his first client with zero experience, how referrals eventually snowballed into rapid growth, and the unbelievable opportunity that recently “fell into his lap” after building trust and relationships the right way. Darryl and Marya also explore the illusion of corporate security, why sales skills translate directly into entrepreneurship, and how taking ownership of your future creates a completely different level of freedom. Tune in now to hear how Kyle transformed a layoff into the beginning of a completely new life—and why betting on yourself may be less risky than staying where you are. Timestamps: 02:07 – Introducing guest Kyle Welch 05:01 – Kyle’s 20-year career in telecom, tech, and cybersecurity sales 06:48 – The layoff that changed everything 07:54 – Reaching out to Darryl after selling an investment property 09:39 – Going all in and walking away from corporate for good 11:01 – Why most people “tiptoe” into entrepreneurship 11:49 – The brutal reality of finding your first client 12:57 – The mindset work that changed everything 16:45 – The meditation habit that helped him push through uncertainty 22:40 – Why meditation used to sound “weird” to Kyle 24:25 – Revisiting old meditations and seeing personal growth 27:26 – Building a “coaching tree” that impacts other people’s lives 30:16 – Why getting laid off was actually a blessing in disguise 31:36 – “Security” in corporate America isn’t actually secure 33:39 – The reality of never truly feeling safe in sales roles 35:35 – The biggest risk: ending up exactly where you started 38:05 – Why sales skills directly translate into entrepreneurship 39:48 – Kyle’s first entrepreneurial business before corporate 41:48 – Realizing entrepreneurship was always “in his blood” 42:49 – The story of a $50K/year Airbnb opportunity falling into his lap 47:17 – The Big Bear property opportunity that changed everything 49:55 – Why “luck” is actually preparation, persistence, and mindset 51:24 – Overcoming the fear of having “no credibility” in the beginning 58:02 – Visualizing successful outcomes before every call 59:05 – Why mindset became the true “secret sauce” 59:31 – “I’d probably be a CEO somewhere right now” 01:04:28 – Why people should change before an emotional event forces them to 01:05:18 – Kyle’s final advice: “Don’t quit.” Connect with the Host and Guest Darryl Miedico Email: quitthequota@gmail.com Website: www.quitthequota.com Instagram: @quitthequota Facebook: Quit the Quota Marya Ryan Email: quitthequota@gmail.com Website: www.quitthequota.com Instagram:@quitthequota Facebook: Quit the Quota Kyle Welch Website: www.freedombnb.net #QuitTheQuota #EntrepreneurMindset #CorporateLife #W2ToFreedom #MindsetShift #ShortTermRental #AirbnbBusiness #SalesLeadership #PersonalGrowth

You Will Have to Start Over Someday — Why Not On Your Terms?

In this episode of Quit the Quota, Darryl Miedico and Marya Ryan tackle one of the biggest lies people are taught about success: that playing it safe guarantees security. What starts as a conversation about career transitions quickly evolves into a deeper discussion around rebuilding your life, overcoming fear, and why most people wait until a major emotional event forces them to finally make a change. The episode explores the hidden conditioning behind corporate life and why so many people stay tethered to jobs they no longer love. Darryl and Marya unpack the fears that keep people stuck — fear of criticism, fear of failure, fear of poverty, and fear of disappointing others — while sharing their own experiences with layoffs, divorce, rebuilding identity, and learning how to trust themselves again. They also discuss why entrepreneurship is less about tactics and more about reprogramming the beliefs and paradigms that have been shaping your decisions for years. Through personal stories, mindset shifts, and practical exercises, they explain why starting over is something almost everyone will face at some point in life. From building a business after a layoff to writing and burning a letter to release fear, the conversation highlights the importance of intentional action, changing your environment, upgrading your network, and learning to create a future on your own terms before life forces the decision for you. They also challenge listeners to stop obsessing over the “how” and spend more time getting clear on what they actually want. Tune in now to learn why “safe” is often an illusion, how to rebuild from the ground up with purpose, and what it really takes to create a life designed around freedom instead of fear. Timestamps (Key Moments) 01:44 – Is playing it safe actually safe? 03:21 – The lie most people are taught about success 04:07 – Why nobody prepares you to start over in life 06:22 – The decision to build something from scratch 07:29 – Why W2 jobs feel safe and secure 09:44 – Breaking free from lifelong conditioning and paradigms 12:24 – Why corporate jobs are not always secure 14:05 – The danger of ignoring your inner voice 16:29 – “At some point, you will have to start from scratch” 19:32 – Trusting the voice that keeps pulling you toward something bigger 21:10 – The emotional hit that comes with career collapse 22:04 – The athlete mindset for rebuilding after setbacks 24:32 – Investing in mentorship after getting laid off 27:04 – “I could never do that” — the excuse that keeps people stuck 29:48 – Getting “a little crazy” and fully committing 30:07 – Building a business late at night after work 32:36 – The power of no longer needing the job 36:46 – The exercise: write down what you actually want 37:54 – Why wanting something different can feel “irresponsible” 41:26 – Why fears never fully disappear 43:39 – “Who not how” and learning from people ahead of you 45:17 – Stop obsessing over HOW and focus on WHAT 47:17 – You don’t have to wait for a crisis to change your life 48:27 – Stop scrolling and start thinking about your future  Connect with the Host and Guest Darryl Miedico Email: quitthequota@gmail.com Website: www.quitthequota.com Instagram: @quitthequota Facebook: Quit the Quota Marya Ryan  Email: quitthequota@gmail.com Website: www.quitthequota.com Instagram:@quitthequota Facebook: Quit the Quota #QuitTheQuota #EntrepreneurMindset #MindsetShift #CorporateLife #QuitYourJob #StartOver #PersonalDevelopment #FearOfFailure #GrowthMindset #EntrepreneurLife #CareerFreedom #SelfDevelopment #MindsetMatters #TakeControl #BuildYourFuture

Early Entrepreneurship Will Expose Your Employee Habits

In this episode of Quit the Quota, Darryl Miedico and Marya Ryan unpack one of the hardest parts of entrepreneurship that nobody talks about: the internal battle that happens when you stop thinking like an employee and start thinking like an owner. What starts as a conversation around a difficult client situation quickly turns into a deeper discussion about fear, criticism, emotional reactions, and the mindset shifts required to truly build a business on your own terms. The episode explores how years in corporate environments condition people to operate from fear, scarcity, and the need to “save” every client at all costs. Darryl and Marya break down the emotional toll of taking on other people’s stress, how criticism can trigger fear-based reactions, and why entrepreneurship forces you to confront parts of yourself that were hidden while working a W2 job. They also discuss the importance of boundaries, emotional control, and learning how to respond instead of react when challenges arise. Through real business examples, honest self-reflection, and practical mindset lessons, they show why entrepreneurship is less about business tactics and more about personal growth. From learning to walk away from the wrong partnerships to understanding how fear of criticism and fear of lack quietly control decisions, the conversation highlights the reality that becoming successful often requires becoming a completely different version of yourself. They also explain why learned behaviors, emotional patterns, and limiting beliefs can all be unlearned through intentional work, repetition, and accountability. Tune in now to learn how entrepreneurship tests your mindset, exposes hidden fears, and gives you the opportunity to take full control of your life, your business, and the person you’re becoming. Timestamps (Key Moments) 02:44 – The hidden power of running your own business 03:40 – Why entrepreneurship removes the “safety net” illusion 04:24 – The stressful client situation that sparked the conversation 05:09 – The biggest difference between W2 life and entrepreneurship 06:31 – How negative energy transferred after the client call 07:50 – Why Marya went into a fight-or-flight reaction 08:28 – The corporate mindset of “save the client at all costs” 09:27 – Daryl’s story about defending his team from criticism 10:48 – The beauty of building a life by your own design 12:29 – “I want the business, but I don’t need the business” 13:49 – The powerful opening line: “We may not be good partners” 15:00 – Why not every client is the right fit 16:25 – How corporate conditioning teaches people to apologize constantly 17:44 – Entrepreneurship will test if you really want it 18:46 – The importance of shifting from fear back into personal power 19:34 – Fear of criticism and fear of lack exposed 20:52 – Why passion and care can trigger emotional reactions 22:40 – The contractor story and the $600 lesson 24:08 – Turning painful moments into process improvements 25:07 – Why successful entrepreneurs learn to respond instead of react 25:39 – You will not be the same person you are today 26:14 – Everything about you is learned behavior 26:43 – Why behaviors and limiting beliefs can be unlearned 27:57 – The role accountability plays in changing your life 28:25 – The hidden power inside entrepreneurship and personal growth 29:08 – The ability to choose and create your own life  Connect with: Darryl Miedico Email: quitthequota@gmail.com Website: www.quitthequota.com Instagram: @quitthequota Facebook: Quit the Quota Marya Ryan  Email: quitthequota@gmail.com Website: www.quitthequota.com Instagram:@quitthequota Facebook: Quit the Quota #QuitTheQuota #EntrepreneurMindset #MindsetShift #CorporateLife #QuitYourJob #BusinessGrowth #PersonalDevelopment #FearOfFailure #SelfDevelopment #Leadership #EntrepreneurLife #MindsetMatters #CareerFreedom #TakeControl #GrowthMindset

Why Writing Your Resignation Letter Changes Everything

In this episode of Quit the Quota, Darryl Miedico and Marya Ryan break down one of the most overlooked tools for changing your life: visualization. What starts as a conversation about writing a resignation letter quickly turns into a deeper discussion around subconscious programming, identity shifts, and why most people stay stuck in careers that no longer fulfill them. The episode explores how small actions can create massive momentum long before your external reality changes. Darryl shares why future-dating a resignation letter can emotionally prepare you for entrepreneurship, while Marya explains how visualization using all five senses can reprogram the way you think, act, and respond to opportunities. They also unpack how fear, routine, and the pressures of everyday life slowly disconnect people from imagination and bigger thinking. Through stories, mindset exercises, and practical examples, they show how visualization is more than positive thinking - it’s a tool for changing behavior. From test-driving a dream car to taking photos in front of a future home before owning it, they explain how mentally stepping into your future identity can shift your confidence, decisions, and willingness to take action. The conversation also highlights the importance of gratitude while still pushing for more, summed up in one powerful idea: “grateful but never satisfied.” Tune in now to learn how visualization, imagination, and small intentional actions can help you stop drifting through life and start creating a future on your terms. Timestamps (Key Moments) 07:31 – The mentor advice that changed everything: write your resignation letter 10:46 – Why future-dating your resignation creates emotional clarity 12:21 – How to actually write the resignation letter exercise 14:54 – “Inaction is still action” and what your subconscious hears 16:17 – Using all five senses to visualize your goals 17:58 – How repetition programs the subconscious mind 18:42 – Other ways to mentally prepare for leaving your W2 20:25 – Why your “burning desire” has to be strong enough to survive hard moments 21:12 – The “3 feet from gold” story from Think and Grow Rich 23:23 – How visualization helps you push through fear and setbacks 24:31 – Visualizing the person you need to become 25:52 – Setting reminders to practice visualization daily 26:44 – Marya’s dream home visualization challenge 27:57 – Why test-driving your dream car matters psychologically 29:03 – The mentor story about visualizing a mountain home for years 31:52 – Taking a Christmas photo in front of a house they didn’t own yet 33:24 – How visualization changes the actions you take subconsciously 35:21 – The challenge: take the photo before you have the result 36:13 – Why adults stop dreaming and imagining bigger futures 37:47 – The story of visualization leading to an engagement in 45 days 39:01 – Writing down what would make this your best year yet 40:43 – Gratitude vs dissatisfaction: how to balance both 42:11 – “Grateful but never satisfied” 43:03 – Reconnecting with your imagination and inner child 45:26 – The walking pad story: why “open the box” matters 47:35 – Working out your mind, not just your body 48:42 – Why ideas come faster when you create mental space 49:19 – The challenge: take one small action today 50:46 – Dream bigger and create momentum Connect with the Host and Guest Darryl Miedico Email: quitthequota@gmail.com Website: www.quitthequota.com Instagram: @quitthequota Facebook: Quit the Quota Marya Ryan  Email: quitthequota@gmail.com Website: www.quitthequota.com Instagram:@quitthequota Facebook: Quit the Quota #QuitTheQuota #Visualization #MindsetShift #EntrepreneurMindset #QuitYourJob #CareerFreedom #PersonalGrowth #AutoSuggestion #SuccessMindset #TakeTheLeap #CorporateLife #DreamBigger #SelfDevelopment #ThinkAndGrowRich #MindsetMatters

From Corporate to Freedom: The Story That Will Change How You Think About Work

In this episode of Quit the Quota, Darryl Miedico and Marya Ryan sit down with Mike Sjogren to unpack what it really takes to break out of the traditional career path and build a life on your own terms. Mike shares the defining moment that changed everything—when a personal crisis forced him to confront the reality of trading time for money and not being there for his family when it mattered most. That experience became the catalyst for a relentless pursuit of financial freedom and a complete shift in how he approached work, income, and life. What followed was not instant success, but years of rejection, uncertainty, and pushing through the hardest phases of entrepreneurship. From cold calling and door knocking to finally landing his first deal, Mike walks through the real journey most people never see—the struggle before momentum. This conversation goes deeper than tactics. It dives into identity, environment, and the psychology of change—why most people stay stuck, how your beliefs shape your results, and what it actually takes to move from “wanting” something to making it a non-negotiable. Mike also breaks down his CASPER framework for building and scaling a business, along with the importance of clarity, surrounding yourself with the right people, and creating leverage to accelerate growth. If you’ve ever felt like you’re capable of more but keep hesitating to take the leap, this episode will challenge your thinking, your excuses, and your standards. Tune in now to learn what it really takes to build freedom—and why most people never do. Timestamps (Key Moments) 04:01 – Introducing Mike Sjogren and his background 06:45 – Doing everything “right” and still feeling stuck 07:28 – The life-changing moment with his son 10:42 – The breaking point: leaving family to return to a job 11:04 – The decision to never trade time for money again 12:40 – Discovering short-term rentals and taking a risk 13:11 – First property cash flowing $1,500/month 14:56 – The lowest moment: ready to quit 15:28 – First breakthrough deal after 9 months 18:22 – Why strategy comes after mindset 19:33 – The “psychology of change” framework 20:19 – The valley of despair (where most people quit) 22:53 – Why most people never go all-in 25:37 – Identity shift: from CPA to entrepreneur 27:05 – Your income is capped by your self-image 31:32 – Balancing support vs people holding you back 32:57 – The importance of getting in the right rooms 37:28 – The CASPER framework for building a business 39:56 – Why being busy isn’t the same as being productive 42:19 – Changing beliefs around money and time 45:33 – Two ways to change your identity 47:02 – Visualization and repetition of thought 49:38 – “You don’t have 10 minutes?” (excuse breakdown) 50:18 – Living differently for 2 years to change your life 51:42 – Productivity vs comfort zones 52:48 – Using your kids as leverage to take action 54:47 – Fear never goes away—you just manage it better 56:25 – What fear actually is (perspective shift) 58:24 – The biggest fear: regret later in life 01:01:36 – Make a decision and take action 01:02:43 – Getting clear on what you actually want 01:03:16 – The 3 stages of financial freedom 01:04:30 – The real path: business income → passive income 01:05:27 – Where to connect with Mike Connect with the Host and Guest Darryl Miedico Email: quitthequota@gmail.com Website: www.quitthequota.com Instagram: @quitthequota Facebook: Quit the Quota Marya Ryan  Email: quitthequota@gmail.com Website: www.quitthequota.com Instagram:@quitthequota Facebook: Quit the Quota Mike Sjogren Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mike.sjogren/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-term-rental-secrets-podcast/id1517624469 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1291636050995868/?ref=profile_plus_visit_group #QuitTheQuota #RedefineSuccess #WorkOnYourTerms #EscapeThe9to5 #CareerFreedom #EntrepreneurMindset #BuildYourOwnBusiness #FinancialFreedom #TimeFreedomLifestyle