What if the riskiest move isn’t going all in but walking away when something no longer fits? Kim Kerton didn’t leave her media career with a clear plan. She left because she knew something wasn’t right. What followed was a search for a business idea that took her through yoga, ceramics, and creative experiments in remote Tasmania, all of which eventually led to her podcast and business, Unemployed and Afraid. Host Andrea Marquez unpacks how Kim redefined risk not as betting it all on one big idea, but as giving herself permission to experiment, try, pivot and start again. You’ll hear how she used creative detours to find clarity, why walking away can be the smartest move and how she turned vulnerability into her growth strategy. If you’re stuck waiting for the perfect idea, this episode will show you how experimentation can be a powerful and intentional part of building something meaningful.
Got a bold leap of your own? Share it with us in an Apple Podcasts review, Spotify comment, or email us at thisissmallbusiness@amazon.com – you might hear it in a future episode.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
(02:06) How do you bounce back after a failed first venture? Kim shares her crash course in marketing, management and resilience.
(04:50) Burned out but unsure what’s next? Hear how Kim left a corporate career and gave herself time to experiment.
(08:12) What happens when your purpose doesn’t show up on time? Kim reflects on her early experiments and what they taught her about creativity and identity.
(12:30) What makes an idea stick? Kim breaks down how she came up with the idea of Unemployed and Afraid, knew podcasting was the right fit, and why she built it like a business from day one.
(18:15) Is working solo all it’s cracked up to be? Kim explains why she chose to diversify and go back to a company she once left.
(21:12) Struggling to tell the difference between a rough patch and a red flag? Kim shares how she makes the call to pivot.
(23:50) What does failure actually mean? Kim reframes it as momentum and explains how she got addicted to building, not just succeeding.
(26:48) Can a 10% hunch lead to your next big move? Kim’s advice for anyone waiting to feel “ready” to start.