"You’re Not Stuck—You’re Just Scared"—Corinna Zennig on Starting Before You’re Ready

Cut The Tie | Entrepreneur Success Unleashed

Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich
Episode 266

Corrina Zennig is not your typical analyst—and she doesn’t want to be. In this episode of Cut the Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with the founder of The Lazy Analyst to talk about cutting ties with the pressure to overperform, overwork, and constantly prove your worth.

Corrina shares how she went from a burned-out scientist to a thriving entrepreneur by rejecting industry norms and trusting her own voice. They talk data (yes), but also autonomy, self-leadership, and how to build a business around your actual life—not a LinkedIn fantasy.

Whether you’re stuck in a job that’s all performance and no payoff or wondering if it’s possible to run a real business with real boundaries, this episode is your permission slip to make work... work for you.

In this episode, Thomas and Corrina discuss:

• Why data isn’t the problem—people are
  Corrina reveals how most organizations are swimming in dashboards, but starving for real insights—because they’re afraid to trust their own judgment.
• How she finally cut the tie to corporate perfectionism
  After years of expert theater, Corrina realized you don’t need to be “the best”—you just need to consistently show up and help.
• Why her business is built around afternoon gaming sessions
  Productivity is personal. Corrina shares how redefining her workday helped her run a six-figure consultancy without burnout.
• What most consultants get wrong about value
  Hint: it’s not about frameworks or jargon. It’s about doing what you say you’ll do—and building actual trust.
• The mindset shift that changed everything
  You don’t have to be unique to win. You simply need to be reliable, trustworthy, and composed under pressure.

Key Takeaways:

• You don’t need to be different—just reliable
  Too many entrepreneurs obsess over standing out. Corrina’s success came from doing what she promised, delivering consistently, and skipping the performance trap.
• Design work around your real life, not someone else’s ideal
  Whether it’s sleeping in, blocking creative hours, or taking time off, your schedule should reflect your rhythms, not the corporate 9-to-5 default.
• Self-trust creates momentum and results
  Corrina didn’t wait for credentials or applause. She trusted herself to figure things out, and clients responded to that quiet confidence.
• Value comes from simplicity and follow-through
  Great consulting isn’t about flash—it’s about clarity, directness, and getting the job done with as little chaos as possible.
• Data should serve people, not confuse them
  Stop drowning in dashboards. Corrina teaches businesses to use data for decisions, not decoration, so they can actually move forward.

Connect with Corrina Zennig:
🔗 Website: https://www.lazyanalyst.com/
💼 LinkedIn: Corrina Zennig

Connect with Thomas Helfrich:
🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelfrich
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cutthetie/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashelfrich/
🌐 Website: https://www.cutthetie.com/
📧 Email: [email protected]
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Chapters

1. Introducing Karina Zenig: The Lazy Analyst (00:00:00)

2. Unlocking Growth Through Data (00:02:45)

3. Breaking Free From Consulting (00:05:40)

4. The Freedom of Entrepreneurship (00:10:05)

5. Finding Your Internal Motivation (00:14:00)

6. Creating Your Own Success Path (00:19:00)

7. Final Thoughts and Contact Information (00:22:20)