Corporate Executive to Small Business Owner: Marcus's Journey

At 52, Marcus had spent two decades climbing the corporate ladder in finance. He had the title, the corner office, and the golden handcuffs. What he didn't have was passion for the work.

Then his company merged, and his position was eliminated.

The Career He'd Built

"I was good at my job," Marcus says. "I got promotions, bonuses, respect. But I'd been on autopilot for years. Every Sunday night, I'd feel this dread about Monday morning."

Marcus had a secret hobby he rarely talked about at work: homebrewing beer. For 15 years, he'd spent weekends perfecting recipes, entering competitions, and dreaming about someday opening his own brewery.

"Someday" never seemed to come. There was always a promotion to work toward, a mortgage to pay, kids' college to save for.

When the Decision Was Made for Him

The layoff package was generous—a year of salary plus extended benefits. Marcus's wife had a stable job. Their kids were out of college. For the first time in his adult life, Marcus had a financial cushion and no obligations.

"My first instinct was to update my resume and start networking for another corporate job," he admits. "That's what responsible people do, right?"

But his wife asked him a question that changed everything: "What if you used this time to actually try the brewery thing? You'll always wonder if you don't."

Taking the Leap

Marcus spent the first three months after his layoff doing research. He took small business courses, met with brewery owners, analyzed the market, and created a business plan.

"My finance background actually became my biggest asset," he says. "I could build financial models, understand cash flow, negotiate with banks. All those corporate skills translated."

He found a small space in a developing neighborhood, secured an SBA loan, and invested some of his savings. At 53, Marcus opened his brewery.

The Hard Parts

"Anyone who tells you starting a business is glamorous is lying," Marcus laughs. "The first year, I was working harder than I ever had in corporate. I was brewing, cleaning, doing bookkeeping, working the taproom, and handling marketing—all myself."

There were moments of doubt. A bad batch of beer. Slow nights when no one came in. Cash flow anxiety at 3 AM.

But there was also something Marcus hadn't felt in years: genuine excitement about going to work.

Finding His Place

Three years in, the brewery is profitable—though Marcus makes significantly less than his corporate salary. He's hired three employees. The taproom has become a neighborhood gathering spot.

"I'm not rich," Marcus says. "But I'm happy. I get to create something, connect with my community, and do work that actually means something to me."

His corporate skills came in handy in unexpected ways. He runs a tight operation, understands his numbers, and negotiates favorable terms with suppliers.

What He'd Tell Others

1. Do the math honestly "Know your financial situation. I could take this risk because I had savings and a severance cushion. Don't leap without understanding the numbers."

2. Your corporate skills transfer "Leadership, financial management, negotiation, project management—all of it applies. You're not starting from zero."

3. Start planning before you leap "Use your severance period to do research, take classes, and validate your idea. Don't quit planning when you get laid off."

4. It's okay to be scared "I was terrified. But I was more terrified of spending another 15 years doing work I didn't care about and never trying."

5. Define success for yourself "Success isn't just about money. I make less now, but I have more control over my time, lower stress, and genuine fulfillment."

The Bigger Picture

Marcus often thinks about what would have happened if he hadn't been laid off.

"I'd probably still be in that corner office, counting down to retirement, regretting that I never tried," he says. "The layoff was the push I needed to do something I should have done years earlier."

"If you're reading this after a layoff, especially if you're older: it's not too late. Your experience is valuable. Your dreams are still valid. Sometimes the universe forces us to make changes we should have made ourselves."

Names and some details have been changed to protect privacy.

Related Resources:

• Starting a Business After Layoff →
• Career Pivot Guide →
• First Month After Layoff →