Reclaiming Expression Beyond Corporate Life

The wheels on Corporate America go round and round...

The life on the corporate ladder is an endless climb. In the whirlwind, it’s easy to lose track of who you are beyond titles, targets, and “growth opportunities.” Tyler, the Creator just dropped his eighth album, and in true Tyler style, he’s once again reinvented himself—each album a new layer, a new angle, but always true to who he is. Every project he drops, he builds from a place of honesty: his emotions, his current headspace, his relationships with his work and his family—he gives it all a fresh look.

"You are the light, its not on you, it is in you" - Bonita Smith, St. Chroma

How many times do we take that privilege for ourselves in our everyday lives? To pause and honor where we are, to cement the chapter we’re stepping out of, and prepare for the next? When’s the last time you actually let yourself absorb and appreciate everything you’ve gone through before jumping into what’s next?

Inner dialogue prompt: “Do we honor and cement the chapter we’re stepping out of?”

That’s what comedy was for me—a chance to step outside the roles and expectations, to play, to rediscover that spark. After pushing hard to put on a show, I remember hitting the pause once it was over. I was exhausted, sure, but I was happy I’d given myself the chance to express without boundaries. So many things had built up over the past quarter(and the past 20 years), a lot of transition, and that energy found its way out on stage. I’d tucked away this “little Nate,” this part of me who’s explosive, who isn’t holding back. And it was time to let him loose. I put in almost 100 hours into writing and delivering this performance since August.

Inner dialogue prompt:  "Who are you without all of that? Who are you beyond the brand calls, the meetings, the titles?"

Comedy put me back in touch with who I am outside of work—the unfiltered version. And, honestly, it was just fun to be up there. All those years in advertising, sales, and marketing have given me a certain level of, yeah, confidence and energy. I could just be my whole self on stage. It wasn’t some polished brand version, and every once in a while, if the nerves came up, I’d shake it off, give myself a little pep talk, and dive right in. “I’m about to go have some fun.” That’s a reminder I carried into all my pitches this past year.

One thing this past year has taught me is how much I actually love my work—what my role lets me create, how it allows me express myself - almost fully. But I see those boundaries, too, more clearly than I ever have. And I realized I need space to be fully creative without the commercial boundaries. It’s not that I don’t love the strategy, the challenges of a pitch, but I needed a way to put myself fully out there, with zero constraints. So I can bring a stronger mind, pen and performance into my career.

"Every joke has emotion. Be the emotion while sharing the joke. I let that emotion inform your performance."

Practicing comedy taught me the power of letting go, of being in the moment. Of iterating on my writing after every performance; every practice reherasal leads to insights into what people are laughing at and NOT laughing at. I was mining for insights. I learned not to be too attached to any joke or bit—it wasn’t about what I thought was funny. It was about what the people in front of me connected with, and if it hit, I’d lean in. If it didn’t, I’d pivot. It was pure instinct, pure feeling. And I’d never had the opportunity to be that dynamic before, to let my truth show in real-time.

This process brought out a rhythm in me I hadn’t tuned into in years. There’s a tempo in stand-up where, every six to eight seconds, you’re aiming for laughter, building toward that reaction. It’s like a beat you ride, and once you’re in it, it feels like flow. That’s how comedy hit me—it had rhythm, timing, and I found myself in it. It was a kind of freedom I don’t know that I would’ve ever found had I not taken that step outside the usual grind.

"I knew there was a rhythm in me. I don’t think I ever made time to find the right one.”

For anyone navigating the demands of the corporate world, I’d say this: don’t wait to carve out that space for yourself. Whether it’s comedy, art, music, or something else entirely, find a way to ground yourself in something that’s purely for you. With a volatile market, it’s more important than ever to have an outlet that reminds you who you are. Forget about proving yourself to a company or industry—prove it to yourself.

Looking back, I’m proud I took this journey. The only way I got here was by doing the work, and it wasn’t about climbing a ladder this time—it was about digging deep. I put in the hours, and it paid off in ways that go way beyond a paycheck. I hope this inspires you to step out, to take the risks, to try something new, and let it guide you into the next chapter.

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Stay light,

p.s. I met a stand up comedian the week of my performance and he shared words of wisdom from the late Patrice O' Neal. "Comedy is just YOUR truth, made funny." that lives in me forever.