Aug 21, 2026 · 18 min · 8 segments
Dan Kavanagh recently made the leap from employed to running his own business. In this conversation we get into the mindset shift that leap actually requires, why having a group of other business…
Daniel KavanaghGuest
Seamus FoxHost
So it was probably last year, Dan, wasn't it? Who was it you were working for again? What company were you working for again? Was it around a year ago?
And what were some of the things then, because you made a change out of that company, what were some of the things that you were looking for then, Dan, that you kind of got fed up with that and wanted to begin to shift and change and grow from APACs?
I still really like that company and, you know, I'm still connected with some of the people there.
I think the position I had put myself in was just one I had found I was good at, but I didn't necessarily enjoy.
And so I was headhunted for a position within a consultancy to help lead their European team.
And I've always had an aspiration to go out my own and to build my own business.
So I thought it would be a good move and a good apprenticeship, if you could call it that much.
And eventually kind of a springboard for me to make my own way into business.
So Dan has, you created your own company and your own business when? A few months back, three months back, four months back? A
a big leap, which is scary for sure, especially for someone that's been in a fantastic job, a fantastic role.
for such a long period of time making those some of those changes because there's a lot of people that are listening to this podcast and that are either doing the exact same thing or thinking about doing the exact same thing what were some of the the things that you were thinking about before you started to make that move and what were you feeling around actually making that move as well
yeah there's a lot of fear involved um and it certainly was terrifying at points you know you know as you said you have a salary you have some security there and you're going into the unknown where it's on you to to bring in work to pay your own bills and that can be be quite frightening but i think the as i said it had always been an aspiration of mine and you know i've just i've become incredibly aware over the last few years of just how short life is and you know i was getting to a point where i could continue to put my energy into building companies for other people or i could put my energy into building my own company while that's something I want to do and while I have a fire to do it.
So it was probably last year, Dan, wasn't it? Who was it you were working for again? What company were you working for again? Was it around a year ago?
And what were some of the things then, because you made a change out of that company, what were some of the things that you were looking for then, Dan, that you kind of got fed up with that and wanted to begin to shift and change and grow from APACs?
I still really like that company and, you know, I'm still connected with some of the people there.
I think the position I had put myself in was just one I had found I was good at, but I didn't necessarily enjoy.
And so I was headhunted for a position within a consultancy to help lead their European team.
And I've always had an aspiration to go out my own and to build my own business.
So I thought it would be a good move and a good apprenticeship, if you could call it that much.
And eventually kind of a springboard for me to make my own way into business.
So Dan has, you created your own company and your own business when? A few months back, three months back, four months back? A
a big leap, which is scary for sure, especially for someone that's been in a fantastic job, a fantastic role.
for such a long period of time making those some of those changes because there's a lot of people that are listening to this podcast and that are either doing the exact same thing or thinking about doing the exact same thing what were some of the the things that you were thinking about before you started to make that move and what were you feeling around actually making that move as well
yeah there's a lot of fear involved um and it certainly was terrifying at points you know you know as you said you have a salary you have some security there and you're going into the unknown where it's on you to to bring in work to pay your own bills and that can be be quite frightening but i think the as i said it had always been an aspiration of mine and you know i've just i've become incredibly aware over the last few years of just how short life is and you know i was getting to a point where i could continue to put my energy into building companies for other people or i could put my energy into building my own company while that's something I want to do and while I have a fire to do it.
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