Mindset Shifts to Leave the Employee Identity Behind

CEO Mindset Monday

Have you ever realized just how deeply your job shaped the way you see yourself?

That’s the employee mindset at work, and it runs deep. We’re trained to follow direction, seek approval, and measure success by someone else’s standards. But building a business requires something different. It takes mindset shifts—the kind that quietly, but powerfully, rewrite how you see yourself and what you believe you’re capable of.

When I first started Backbone America, I didn’t realize how much of my thinking was still tied to being someone else’s employee. Even after getting laid off, even after making the leap—I still found myself toggling between two instincts: holding back for approval versus trusting my own direction without needing external validation. I knew how to take initiative, but in my day job, fresh ideas often needed the okay before implementation. Learning to move without that check-in? That was new.

I had the skills. I had the drive. But what I didn’t have—yet—was the mindset.

This post is for the person who knows they’re meant for more, but keeps slipping back into old patterns. You don’t need a bigger to-do list. You need a shift in how you think, choose, and lead. Let’s talk about the mindset shifts that make that possible.

My First Wake-Up Call: Getting Laid Off Changed Everything

Truth be told, I never planned to be a business owner. I liked solving problems inside someone else’s system. I liked being the person who could fix things, follow through, and get stuff done. But most of all—I liked not having to worry about where the money was coming from to keep a business thriving. That wasn’t my responsibility… until one day, it was.

Getting laid off shook everything. I went from confident and competent to anxious and uncertain almost overnight. Suddenly, I wasn’t just looking for my next role—I was questioning the whole setup. How could I work so hard and still end up this vulnerable? That’s when I realized: skills aren’t enough if you don’t have agency.

The layoff wasn’t the end of my career. But it was the beginning of a shift in mindset that I couldn’t ignore. It taught me that the security I’d trusted wasn’t as secure as I thought. And if I wanted a life I could actually depend on, I’d have to build it myself—from the inside out.

That’s what this journey has been about. Not just learning how to run a business, but unlearning the mindset that kept me waiting, doubting, and playing small.

Mindset Shift #1: From Execution to Ownership

One of the most important mindset shifts in early entrepreneurship is learning to move from execution to ownership. In traditional jobs, you’re often rewarded for carrying out someone else’s plan—doing good work, hitting deadlines, staying within the lines. It’s comfortable. There’s a sense of predictability in knowing what’s expected.

But once you start building a business, the rules change. You’re no longer just completing tasks—you’re setting the direction. And that’s where things can feel uncertain. There’s no built-in roadmap that tells you which goals to prioritize or what to spend money on. You’re the one making those calls now.

That shift doesn’t mean you’re on your own. In fact, one of the most empowering mindset shifts is realizing that help is available—but it’s up to you to seek it out. There are mentors, guides, checklists, and tools that can offer clarity along the way. But you still choose the direction. You decide which advice to take, what systems to build, and who to trust with your vision.

For me, that realization was a turning point. If I didn’t make the decisions—about pricing, offers, marketing—no one else would. Ownership wasn’t about having all the answers. It was about being willing to take responsibility for finding them.

If you’ve felt the tension between wanting clarity and craving direction, you’re not alone. Let that be a signal. This isn’t about perfection—it’s about practice. These mindset shifts don’t demand certainty. They simply invite you to lead, one decision at a time.

Mindset Shift #2: From Approval-Seeking to Decision-Making

Another one of the essential mindset shifts in business is letting go of the need for external approval before you act. In most jobs, we’re trained to run decisions through a chain of command. There’s structure, oversight, and built-in feedback. That system can feel comforting—but it can also make it hard to trust yourself once you’re outside of it.

When you’re building a business, the feedback loop is different. You won’t always have someone to tell you, “That’s the right move.” And that’s where this mindset shift comes in: you’re allowed to make the call—and to believe in it.

I’ll admit, I’m an overthinker. I like to explore the what-ifs and weigh the possibilities. But I’ve learned that overthinking doesn’t have to mean getting stuck. Sometimes all I need is a quiet moment, a hot shower, or a little time laying down with no distractions—and the direction becomes clear. That’s still thoughtfulness. It’s just grounded in intuition, not permission.

And here’s the thing: the real feedback comes after the decision. You’ll see it in your lead flow, customer engagement, audience response, and sales. If the results aren’t what you hoped for, that’s not failure—it’s data. You pivot, adjust, and make new decisions that move you closer to where you want to go.

If you’re used to waiting for green lights from others, try this instead: pause, reflect, and then decide. Whether you use a pros and cons list, a cost-benefit breakdown, or just trust your gut—what matters is that the decision comes from you.

You don’t need constant reassurance to move forward. These mindset shifts remind us that clarity often follows action—not the other way around.

Mindset Shift #3: From Security to Sovereignty

Some of the hardest mindset shifts aren’t about business skills at all—they’re about redefining what security really means. If you’ve spent most of your career in a steady role with predictable paychecks, benefits, and a set routine, it’s normal to feel anchored to that safety net. But here’s the truth that caught me off guard: security without sovereignty doesn’t feel like freedom—it feels like being stuck.

After being laid off, I took what I thought was a safe job: teaching. The paycheck was consistent. The schedule was stable. But the cost? Stress, micromanagement, and eventually, a trip to the ER with chest pains. I stayed in my teaching position for nearly four years, because I felt stuck… chained to the paycheck that paid my bills. But deep down, I knew—the situation wasn’t sustainable. I wasn’t okay with trading my health and peace for a paycheck.

So let me say this clearly:

You don’t have to quit your job tomorrow to become a business owner.

I actually encourage people to keep their jobs and treat them as financial springboards if that supports their vision. Sovereignty isn’t about abandoning structure—it’s about choosing what serves you.

That’s the path I took. Later, when I stepped into a tech role, I was genuinely happy to be back in work that challenged me and paid well. It wasn’t until later that I started to want more… self-determination. Just as I stayed in teaching until the financial timing was right—degree in hand and a couple of job offers lined up—it was important that the timing made sense again. That meant making sure my business could support my lifestyle. Setting myself up so that, if I ever wanted to leave my tech job (which I still enjoyed), I could do so without severe financial strain.

And I still believe that’s a responsible approach.

These mindset shifts aren’t about burning everything down. They’re about building with intention—so that freedom isn’t something you chase, but something you can choose.

So ask yourself gently: What am I holding onto because it feels safe—even if it’s slowly draining me? And if there’s something more you want, what mindset shifts would make it feel possible?

Security might keep you steady, but sovereignty is what helps you soar.

Mindset Shift #4: From Overworking to Systemizing

Early in entrepreneurship, it’s easy to slip into overworking without even realizing it. Especially if you’re used to being the high-performer, the go-to, the one who gets things done. But one of the most freeing mindset shifts is realizing that hustle is not the goal—sustainability is.

I’ll be honest: I never set out to be a workaholic. When I imagined running a business, I pictured 10-hour weeks, creative flow, and plenty of white space. But in the beginning, it didn’t look like that at all. I was squeezing business tasks into evenings and weekends, answering emails between meetings, and stretching myself way too thin. Not because I was disorganized—but because I was trying to do it all manually.

That’s when I started shifting the way I thought about work. Instead of trying to be everywhere at once, I started asking, How can I make this repeatable? That question changed everything.

Building systems didn’t just make my business more efficient—it made it more livable. I began automating follow-ups, streamlining onboarding, and using tools that saved me hours every week. And slowly, the business began to feel less like a second job and more like a freedom path I actually wanted to stay on.

If you’re deep in the weeds right now, ask yourself: What am I doing manually that doesn’t really need me? That question can open the door to some of the most impactful mindset shifts you’ll make as a business owner.

The goal isn’t to work nonstop—it’s to build something that works with you, not against you. If you’re looking for a starting point for early systems to automate, I encourage you to check out the Business Owner’s Guide to Automation

Final Thought: You Can’t Bring the Old Identity Into a New Role

The biggest shift of all might be this: you can’t carry an old identity into a new role and expect it to fit the same way. That doesn’t mean erasing who you’ve been. But it does mean recognizing what habits, expectations, or patterns no longer serve you.

One of the most overlooked mindset shifts is learning to lead from a place of full authority—not just initiative. In my day job, I’ve always been someone who moves fast. I see a gap, and I act. Lead, follow, or get out of my way. That’s just how I’m wired. And it’s that drive has helped me get results, but it’s also gotten me in trouble more than once—usually for making decisions without waiting for official approval. Those slaps on the hand? That’s what made me realize I wanted more from my work. More freedom. More self-determination.

That’s one of the things I love most about running my own business:

There’s no one to authorize your next move.

And honestly, that can feel oddly disorienting at first. When you’re used to charging ahead, suddenly realizing there’s no gatekeeper can bring its own kind of pause. Not because you’re unsure—but because it hits you: you really are the one in charge now.

That’s the mindset shift I didn’t see coming. Not just taking initiative, but owning the vision—and trusting myself to lead without anyone’s sign-off. That’s not rebellion. That’s responsibility.

So if you’ve ever felt friction between who you were at work and who you’re becoming in business, it’s not a flaw. It’s a sign of growth. These mindset shifts take time. They’re not always clean or linear. But every time you lean into your own leadership, the old identity loosens. And the new one starts to take hold.

If this transition feels uncomfortable—it should. That’s how you know you’re no longer playing small. That’s how you know you’re stepping into something bigger.

Mindset Shifts That Help You Lead Like a CEO

If you’re somewhere between your old role and your new vision—still figuring out how to think like the business owner you’re becoming—you’re not alone. These mindset shifts take time, and they deepen through practice, not pressure.

If you’re ready for a little more clarity, structure, or support on the mental side of building your business, I created the CEO Mindset Mini-Guide just for that. It’s a practical tool to help you identify where your thinking may still be tied to your past role—and how to start shifting toward the freedom and ownership you really want.

And if you’re the journaling type: Take five minutes today and ask yourself:

• What are three habits I’m still carrying from my employee mindset?
• And what would it look like to let just one of them go this week?

The shifts don’t have to be dramatic. They just have to be yours.