The LinkedIn Escape Plan: How Joe McKay Left Government and Built a Life in France

Joe McKay left a government job in Australia to raise his family in rural France—and stumbled into the solopreneur life along the way. In this episode, Joe shares how one consulting gig turned into a thriving ghostwriting business and agency, all built on the back of his personal brand on LinkedIn.

We talk about:

• The “fork in the road” moment that launched his corporate escape

• Why solopreneurship gave him a taste of freedom he couldn’t un-taste

• The mindset shift from resume-building to brand-building

• How to optimize your LinkedIn profile for connection—not just credibility

• His “Lurker Strategy” that turns profile views into potential clients

• Why FOPO (Fear of Other People’s Opinions) is real—and how to beat it

• Why the 1:1:1 model (1 Problem, 1 Person, 1 Offer) works best when you’re starting

If you’re on the fence about escaping corporate—or building something on the side—this episode is packed with real talk and proven tactics.

Links Mentioned:

• Joe’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemckay/

• Solo Success School Playbook: joemckay.info

• Join the Escapee Collective: https://escapee-collective.circle.so