Entrepreneurship: How to Build Confidence Before Leaving Your 9–5

You’re not alone if you’re a corporate mom feeling maxed out and unfulfilled.

Maybe you’re craving freedom, flexibility, and the chance to replace your paycheck with income that actually aligns with your life. But then the fear sets in: What if I fail? What if I’m not ready?

Here’s the truth: confidence doesn’t magically appear the day you hand in your resignation letter. It starts now—while you’re still in your corporate role—by shifting how you think about yourself, your work, and your future.

Here are three actionable steps you can take to start building the confidence to change your career and start a business on your own terms.

1. Protect Your Time Like a CEO

Confidence grows when you feel in control of your day. And that starts with treating your time as your most valuable resource. Just like CEOs, employees can protect their time by setting strong boundaries and proactively managing their schedules. While a CEO directs the entire organization, you can use the same principles within your role.

Here are a few ways to step into that CEO mindset now:

• Control your calendar. Don’t let your schedule be dictated by other people’s requests or constant interruptions. Take charge of how you spend your time. Block out time to work on your existing commitments, vacations, and personal time in advance. 

  
  

• Time block for deep work. Protect blocks of uninterrupted time for your most important, high-impact tasks. A full calendar doesn’t equal productivity—make sure it reflects your true priorities, not just endless meetings.

  
  

• Schedule intentional whitespace. CEOs carve out time to think, reset, and problem-solve. Do the same by building buffer time between tasks and meetings. It will prevent rushing and give you space to handle the unexpected.

  
  

• Audit your time. Track your time for a few days to uncover hidden drains—like excessive emails, unnecessary meetings, or mindless scrolling. Use this awareness to cut what doesn’t add value. 

• Rank your week. At the end of the week, reflect on what drained you, what gave you energy, and rank the week on a scale to 1-5. Lean into what worked, so you can make that happen again. 

  
  

When you practice protecting your time like a CEO, you build the confidence to step into bigger decisions, both at work and in your future business.

The Business of You Roundtable Speakers at the YGC Collective Conference

The moment you treat your time like your most valuable resource, you start operating like the leader of your life—not just an employee in someone else’s business. – Kirstin Brenders

2. Build Proof You Can Trust Yourself

Confidence isn’t about feeling 100% ready—it’s about creating evidence that you can handle what comes your way. Start where you are:

• Take on a freelance project while in corporate.

• Test your ability to network outside your usual circle.

• Practice sharing your thoughts, wins, and views on LinkedIn.

  
  

Each step builds proof. And that proof is what quiets the fear.

Fear doesn’t disappear—it just gets quieter when you start stacking small wins. Courage comes first, confidence follows. – Kirstin Brenders

3. Surround Yourself With Support

No one builds confidence in a vacuum. You’ll need community, mentors, and women who have walked this path before you. Hearing their stories will remind you that fear is normal—and courage is contagious.

Sharing this advice with women at the YGC Collective Conference

If you’ve been sitting in the “someday” zone, ask yourself:

Who can I connect with this month that will inspire me to move one step closer to my future?

That question alone encouraged me to attend a networking workshop, which in turn introduced me to incredible entrepreneurs a few steps ahead of me.

I was fortunate to find an offline community to help me as I built my online business. Those experiences helped shape the online community I am cultivating for the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Conclusion: Confidence Comes in Action

Confidence isn’t a prerequisite for leaving corporate—it’s a result of taking aligned action. When you start thinking like an entrepreneur, leaving behind the employee mindset, and stacking small wins, you’ll realize you’re capable of far more than you thought.

If you’re ready to explore what your next chapter could look like, now’s the time to start. Not when you feel “ready”—but when you’re willing.

Next Step: Download my Online Business Start-Up Kit and take your first step toward building the business you’ve been dreaming about.

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Hello! If we haven't met yet, I'm Kirstin, a former corporate professional who has successfully transitioned into a small business owner. I teach women how to launch a their businesses with a framework. Overwhelmed on how to get started? Don't do it by yourself! Discover how to start your online business with the right support!

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KB&Co Brand Photo | Credits: P3 Photography