In this candid conversation, Vivian Kvam sits down with Casey Putney to explore what it really feels like to step away from the stability of a 9–5 and into the unknown world of entrepreneurship. From leadership in the military and corporate life to the deeply personal reasons that sparked their transitions, Vivian and Casey open up about the fears, self-doubt, and internal conflict that come with leaving the safety net behind.
They reflect on the emotional toll of starting something new, the disconnect between passion and running a business, and how both their definitions of success have evolved over time—from chasing titles and income to valuing purpose, freedom, and flexibility.
Whether you’re thinking about a leap, in the middle of one, or just need to know you’re not alone, this episode is for you.
🔔 Subscribe & leave a review to support the show!
Go to RateThisPodcast.com/ridingtandem and follow the simple instructions.
Unpacking this episode min by min:
00:00 Exploring the Journey of Entrepreneurship
05:46 Identifying Leadership as a Passion
12:03 The Turning Point: Leaving Corporate America
18:01 The Reality of Entrepreneurship vs. Passion
31:50 Navigating the Entrepreneurial Journey
39:03 Facing Doubts and Fears
47:14 The Evolution of Purpose in Entrepreneurship
54:56 Defining Success Beyond Income
01:07:57 The Value of Freedom in Entrepreneurship
Related Episodes:
Vivian Kvam:
Casey Putney:
Tandem Works Team:
FREE RESOURCES
Shop Our Favorite Tools and Things here https://thetandemworks.com/our-favorite-things
Receive the latest news, encouragement and inspiration from Vivian to your inbox by signing up here https://thetandemworks.com/newsletter-sign-up
Riding Tandem with Vivian Kvam
A podcast from Tandem Works
Email the team: RidingTandem@thetandemworks.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.