Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich

Sales engineer and podcast host KJ Fenton joins Thomas for a fun, honest conversation about balancing a thriving W-2 career with building a passion project, and how cutting ties with "safe" thinking can open bigger doors than you ever expected. From coding macros at EY to launching KJ's Corner, KJ shares how small risks turn into massive growth.

About KJ Fenton:

KJ Fenton is a principal solutions engineer at Salesforce specializing in Intelligent Automation. He's also the host of KJ's Corner, a podcast where he interviews professionals across sales, marketing, and tech to unpack the real inflection points behind their success stories. KJ brings a rare blend of technical skills, sales acumen, and authenticity to everything he does.

In this episode, Thomas and KJ discuss:

• Cutting the Tie to "Stay in Your Lane"
  KJ shares how questioning inefficient systems at EY led to backlash—and why speaking up was the first move that shifted his career trajectory.
• Launching a Podcast While Working Full-Time
  He breaks down how he started KJ's Corner not to "monetize fast," but to build a long-term platform for future opportunities.
• Family First, Always
  KJ reflects on how balancing entrepreneurship with being a husband and father grounds his decision-making—even when the hustle gets chaotic.
• Treating Your Side Hustle Like a Real Business
  Thomas challenges KJ (and listeners) to treat their side projects seriously today—because the job you think is secure may not last forever.

Key Takeaways:

• You Can Build Both
  You don't have to burn your W-2 bridges. Use them to fund your dreams—and take action now.
• Start Before You're Ready
  KJ didn't have the perfect "hook" or formula—he just started having meaningful conversations and learned as he went.
• Automation is Your Secret Weapon
  Use tools like Streamyard, Opus.pro, and automation platforms to save time and amplify your content.
• Listen to What Trusted People Say About You
  If everyone says you're great at something—pay attention. There’s truth in that feedback.

"The biggest thing you can build is confidence in your own story—even if you’re still writing it."
— KJ Fenton

CONNECT WITH KJ FENTON:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylejohnfenton

CONNECT WITH THOMAS:

X (Twitter): https://x.com/CutTheTieX
Facebook: http://facebook.com/groups/CutTheTie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cutthetiecommunity/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cutthetie
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cutthetie
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashelfrich/
CutTheTie.com

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