📚 Should You Read This?
Toby's Rating: 8/10
If you’ve ever felt trapped in corporate life, Corporate Escapology by Adam Forbes is a must-read. It’s for leaders who want more autonomy, creativity, and fulfilment in their work—without necessarily quitting their jobs. Adam Forbes provides a playbook for designing your career with intention, escaping the rigid constraints of traditional corporate roles, and taking back control of your professional destiny. If you feel stuck in a cycle of endless meetings, bureaucracy, and stagnation, this book will help you redefine success on your terms.
✅ Toby's Top Takeaway From Corporate Escapology by Adam Forbes
Feeling trapped in a high-paying job? I found the escape route.
I walked away from a comfy, six-figure job at JP Morgan Chase.
Why?
✔️ I wanted to be at home for bath time.
✔️ I wanted to build an AI product from scratch.
✔️ I wanted more fulfilment than a big bank balance.
I shared my story with Adam Forbes
He teaches Corporate Escapology!
The podcast shares tactics that help you break free.
Because, let’s be honest, they might be gold, but they’re still handcuffs.
It’s been six months since I left.
And here’s the truth:
💰 I’m earning less.
⏳ I’m working harder.
🤯 I second-guess myself every day.
No sugarcoating. No overnight success story.
But those three things at the start of this post....
✅ Bath time
✅ Building
✅ Fulfilled
Is it time for you to escape?
💡 3 Big Ideas From Corporate Escapology by Adam Forbes
1. Redefining Work: Escape the Corporate Cage Without Quitting
Many professionals feel trapped in their jobs, but escaping doesn’t always mean leaving. Adam Forbes argues that the real escape is about mindset—creating autonomy within your current role by focusing on value creation over compliance. Instead of waiting for permission, leaders should carve out meaningful work, build influence, and operate with an entrepreneurial spirit. This means optimising your role to play to your strengths, setting boundaries against low-value tasks, and actively shaping your career rather than drifting through it.
2. Think Like an Entrepreneur (Even Inside a Company)
Traditional corporate structures encourage compliance and incremental progress, but real career growth comes from thinking like an entrepreneur. Adam Forbes encourages leaders to approach their work as if they were running a business within a business. This means identifying unmet needs, taking ownership of outcomes, and creating leverage through strategic relationships. By adopting an entrepreneurial mindset—experimenting, taking calculated risks, and delivering value beyond your job description—you gain greater control over your work and career trajectory.
3. Strategic Influence: The Key to Freedom in the Workplace
Corporate escapology isn’t just about avoiding bureaucracy but mastering influence. Leaders who can shape narratives, build alliances, and navigate office politics with integrity gain the freedom to work on what truly matters. Forbes highlights that real career success isn’t about working harder but working smarter—understanding power dynamics, knowing when to push back, and ensuring your efforts are recognised. You can create a role that gives you fulfilment and autonomy by strategically positioning yourself as indispensable and aligning your work with the organisation’s priorities.
💬 Best Quotes From Corporate Escapology by Adam Forbes
"You don’t need to quit your job to escape the corporate cage; you need to redesign how you work."
"The most successful professionals don’t wait for permission; they create opportunities within constraints."
"Influence, not effort, is the true currency of corporate freedom."
"Entrepreneurs don’t just start companies; they build opportunities—inside and outside organisations."
"Your career is a product. Design it with as much intention as you would a business."