Posted Under: Entrepreneurship, Our Heroes

Today in the “Our Heroes” series we speak with Seth Kahan, a former employee of World Bank for 13 years. Seth left his job in 2002 on good terms and founded Visionary Leadership, a consulting firm specializing in executive strategy.  Today, Seth continues to grow his brand with his book “Getting Change Right”. Let’s hear more about what Seth has to say… 

DD: Who you are and what kind of corporate job were you at?

SK: I am Seth Kahan, a consultant and writer specializing in executive strategy.

I worked for 13 years at the World Bank. I started as a trainer, then moved to IT project manager, then to Organizational Change. I worked on several large-scale change initiatives from 1996-2002 until I left; during my last two years I was supporting Internal Communications doing special event production and working with the president on gaining internal traction for strategy.

DD: What made you leave the job? When did you realize that you wanted to be an entrepreneur & why?

SK: I started trying to leave in 1996. I always knew I wasn’t cut out for 9-5.  I am a free spirit with little taste for bureaucracy.  I was given a very cool job in 1996; I was asked to help change the culture of the institution and given a major raise. I stayed and for the first time my work became my passion. I tried several times between 1996 and 2002 to leave but each time I was offered an even cooler job with more responsibility until finally I was working with the president. All along I knew it was just a matter of time. In 2002 my position was funded out of the president’s office and I was given a choice between turning it into a regular staff position or losing my job with 3-month’s pay. I picked the latter. I belonged out in the world. I left the Bank on good terms – I still work for them occasionally – but I needed to sow my wild oats and test my work in many other organizations.

DD: What did you do to break the corporate jail? How did you prepare yourself for the employee to entrepreneur transition?

SK: I hired a mentor in January – 9 months before I left in September. I took my apprenticeship very seriously. I had to hit the ground running with only 3 months savings to go on.  This was the #1 thing that cut my learning curve. For my first two years the World Bank was my primary client, which also eased the transition. After that my rates were more than they could afford for most assignments and my work with them went down considerably.  However, I will always be grateful the quality relationships I maintained that supported me through my transition.

I had significant ups and downs my first two years, and again in January of 2009 and with the economy, my work pipeline emptied out. I have learned how to market myself effectively and reinvent my offerings to maintain engagement with key clients during economic turmoil. Getting used to an up-and-down income stream took me many years. I preferred steady income to the sine wave I get as an independent contractor. For the past year I have been focusing on building my brand and my pipeline to minimize this kind of interruption.  Higher fees help a lot too, which I am mastering through increasing the value I offer my clients.

DD: What are your Top 5 tips for employees who want to be entrepreneurs but are hung up on something?

SK: 1) Get a mentor! Find someone who has done what you are trying to do and will teach you what you need to accelerate your learning.

2) Prepare yourself for a completely different relationship with the market.

3) Enlist the support of your closest family and friends. Having 100% support from your spouse is the best you can get. Enroll them in your transition.

4) Become a marketing expert. This is not old-fashioned, twist-your-arm sales, nor is it to bombard people with promotional activity. It is about publishing useful intellectual capital that demonstrates your expertise and pulls clients to you.

5) Recognize that your own attitude is your primary asset. People can work miracles when they are confident, engaged, and focused. Do whatever is required to raise your esteem and get yourself in the game: take classes from experts, join a positive-minded community, go for walks in nature, work out, spend time with your kids – whatever it takes. There is nothing more valuable than a great attitude.

DD: How are you now? Are you still in same business, and how do you feel?

SK: I left a job where I was earning over 100K. My worst year in the last five I earned three times that. I LOVE what I do. I love my clients – I genuinely enjoy their company and working together with them to see results that go to the bank.  My brand is growing – my book, “Getting Change Right”, is being published this spring (May 2010) by Jossey-Bass. I am mentoring other consultants to teach them what I know. I am in heaven.  Best of all, I have a real relationship with my wife and son, and we are adopting a baby from Nepal.  My health has never been better. I wouldn’t trade this for the world!

DD: Thank you so much Seth! It is such a pleasure to hear about your experiences. I wish you the best of luck in the future and am looking forward to read your book!

SK: Thank you, Devesh, for listening to my story and for being interested in people like me who moved up the corporate ladder but later decided it was time to jump back down and start something they are really passionate about. I appreciate your interest in my work.

DD: That is Seth Kahan everyone, a man whose previous employment with World Bank actually helped to shape his present career as a successful author and entrepreneur. His brand is growing and he is now on a mission to help other entrepreneurs and to teach them everything he knows. Thank you, Seth.

Success to all!!