Welcome to Progress by Design: From Corporate Chains to Entrepreneurial Freedom
Read if you’re looking for a way out. Opportunities favor the bold and courageous.
By Michael Tung – July 2025
From Corporate Chains to Entrepreneurial Freedom
For years, I thought I was doing everything “right.” I got the fancy degree. I wore the blazer. I sat in meetings I didn’t belong in, nodding at ideas that made little sense to me. I was playing the game, I didn’t want to be in. I felt… stuck.
My name is Michael. I started Progress by Design to document my entrepreneurial journey. I also want to help others escape the traditional path and build a life that actually makes sense to them. If you’re here, maybe you feel the same itch I did. Know that you’re capable of more. This blog is for you.
Why I Left Corporate (Even When It Seemed Like a “Dream Job”)
I studied Financial Economics in university — a path that should’ve opened doors in finance, insurance, tech, and consulting. It did. I had offers. I had stability. I had the box checked. I was actually trapped…I needed the pay cheques to fund my life, my dates, my bills, my fun.
But every time I opened a spreadsheet, got handed a task that felt more menial than useful, or sat through another looped meeting cycle, I felt this rising question:
Is this it? What’s next? This can’t be it!
I began to see behind the curtain. Many people were showing up physically, but mentally? They’d checked out years ago. What shocked me wasn’t just the inefficiency — it was the quiet acceptance. The resignation. As soon as I resigned, so did my colleagues – they just needed someone else to do it first.
That’s when I started quietly building and designing my exit.
Lessons from Every Job (Even the Ones I Wanted to Quit)
I’ve worked in:
Tech start-ups (fast-paced, chaotic, full of possibility)
Insurance (structured, conservative, process-heavy)
Consulting& Finance (high-performing, but often meaningless without action)
Sales (measurable, direct, and… surprisingly spiritual)
At first, I thought each of these jobs would be the one. They weren’t. But what I realized is:
No opportunity is beneath you. Every single experience gives you more perspective. Sometimes it’s a skill. Other times it’s a story or learnings you’ll carry into your own business.
The skills I picked up:
Strategic frameworks from consulting
Client empathy and patience from insurance
Analysis and experimentation from start-ups
Persuasion and objection handling from sales
All of it became keyingredients for what I’m building now. This includes the late-night deck edits. It also includes redundant financial reports.
The Inner Debate: Why Haven’t I Started Yet?
For years, I wrestled with the same question I know many of you are facing:
I want to start something… but am I ready?
The real problem wasn’t lack of skill. It was lack of belief. And maybe some fear. Fear of failure. Fear of judgment. Fear that maybe I wasn’t actually built for this.
But let me tell you this — that fear is lack of confidence in yourself. The real failure? Would’ve been staying in that office, watching the clock, spending my prime years pretending I didn’t want more.
So, I started. Slowly. Progressively. Quietly at first. Until it became something real.
8 Years Later: What I’ve Learned from Building My Own Business
This blog isn’t being written in the glow of a fresh idea. It’s coming 8 years after I made the leap.
Here’s what I now believe to my core:
Progress must be intentional. No one stumbles into a dream life. It’s designed.
You already have the skills. What you lack is conviction and maybe a system.
It will be hard. But hard doesn’t mean bad. It means you’re not sleepwalking anymore.
No one is coming to save you. But you don’t need saving — you need building.
I’ve built and scaled a business from the ground up. I’ve failed (a lot). But I’ve also learned how to:
Generate income through multiple streams
Attract high-quality clients through systems, not hustle
Structure my time around life — not the other way around
Why I Created This Blog
I built Progress by Design because I was tired of:
Seeing talented people trapped in corporate loops
Watching real estate agents and solopreneurs burn out chasing leads
Hearing “just work harder” as advice in a world begging for better systems
This blog is a hub for:
General public who want to learn more about Real Estate
Digital entrepreneurs building systems that scale
Growth-minded creators who want wealth and clarity
Here, we’ll talk:
How to track your wealth like a portfolio, not a paycheck
Systems that buy you time and margin
Mindset shifts that don’t just inspire — they create traction & results
If You’re Still Reading, This is For You
You’re not alone. The voice in your head whispering “There’s more for you”? It’s right.
You don’t have to wait until you feel 100% ready. You don’t need permission. You don’t need a perfect plan.
You need to start — and design the rest as you go.
Progress is not a product of time. It’s a product of intentional design.
Ready to Design Your Own Path?
If this resonated with you, leave a comment below. Tell me your story, or ask me a question you’re stuck on.
We’re not here to hustle harder. We’re here to build better — by design.
Welcome to the journey!
Follow my journey on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/michaeltung.homes/
Learn more about me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tungmichael/
Looking for Real Estate insights: https://www.gracewoodteam.com/
I also like to write about my travels here: https://progressbydesign.blog/2025/07/02/my-unforgettable-italian-vacation-a-family-adventure/
– Michael
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