Welcome back to the Launch Key 🚀

I bet you’re tired of me banging the same “AI is speeding up like I’ve never seen before” message, so this week I start a 2 part series on your escape plan.

You've spent 20+ years climbing the corporate ladder. Built expertise. Earned your stripes. But if you’re thinking about a ‘someday’ exit, AI has shortened your takeoff ramp. 2026 will be pivotal.

As a result, we need a different playbook.

Let's get into it.

Half of all business exits are unexpected — whether its bots, mergers, downsizing, death, disability, burnout or divorce. Most people aren't planning for change.

And reactive answers create expensive mistakes.

But 2026 just feels different. If you’ve been dreaming about your next thing, you might not have the luxury of waiting.

Microsoft expects 1.3 billion AI agents by 2028. Entry-level positions are disappearing. Middle management is being compressed. Analyst jobs? Gone. Tech may shed another 300k high paying jobs this year.

Your advantages: Decades of relationships AI can't replicate. Pattern recognition from thousands of situations. Credibility that opens doors. Financial reserves for strategic risks. Experience knowing what actually works.

The expiration date: The longer you wait, the more your network forgets your name. Your expertise gets commoditized by AI. Your cushion gets eaten by lifestyle creep.

Your corporate off-ramp is open. But not forever.

In 2023, I'd have said build an 18-month runway. That was stable-world advice.

We're not in that world. You don't have 18 months while AI eats your industry.

82% of small businesses fail due to poor cash flow.

So, a compressed timeline to launch looks more like:

Months 1-2: Deploy immediately. Land 2-3 clients before your business card stops opening doors.

Months 3-4: Rapid iteration. Test, pivot, build systems that do more with less.

Months 5-6: Stabilization. You've found what works. Repeatable revenue. Using AI to 10x output.

Six months is tight. But it's what you've got.

J.P. Morgan says build an emergency fund before you leap. Here's the tactical version:

Track for 30 days. Use an app. Get brutal. Real numbers, fast.

Slash immediately. Car wash subscription? Gone. Forgotten streaming services? Cancelled. Gym you actually use? Keep it.

Build 4-6 months survival expenses. Lights on, food, healthcare. That's your number. Times six. That's your runway.

Generate revenue before you quit. Non-negotiable. 1-2 clients lined up. Actual commitments. Actual revenue.

Old advice: Save 18 months then leap.

New advice: Save what you can in 3-6 months while building revenue, then leap with both safety net AND momentum.

Healthcare will be harder to figure out.

Most people don't consider healthcare costs until after they quit. COBRA costs 2-3x your employee rate. For families: $2,000-3,000/month.

COBRA - Full price, exact coverage. 18 months max.

Healthcare Marketplace - Cheaper than COBRA. Income drops = potential subsidies.

Spouse's Plan - Best option if available. Time exit to open enrollment.

Healthcare Cost Sharing - CrowdHealth and Medi-Share: 50-70% cheaper. Community shares costs. No networks, no pre-approvals. Trade-off: not insurance, pre-existing condition waits, faith requirements for some.

Concierge + Catastrophic - Direct primary care ($100-200/month) + high-deductible plan.

Pick before you resign. Factor real cost into your runway.

Next week we’ll detail a 6 month timeline. But here’s your homework for this week:

The window is open. Just not forever.

Now go launch something 🚀

Next Week: Part 2 - The exact 6-month timeline. Week-by-week action steps. How to use AI to compress what used to take months into weeks. The psychological preparation nobody talks about.

Make sure you're ready for takeoff.

~ Rob

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One of the biggest sticking points for would-be entrepreneurs is health care. Small businesses have traditionally not had great benefits.

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After years of paying premiums for health care that I never used - plus a very high deductible - I left for CrowdHealth. Your mileage may vary, but it’s worth your research.

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