The Temptation of Fractional Freedom
A growing number of CMOs are finding more money, meaning, and flexibility outside the corporate grind.
For most of us, the promise of “freedom” is one of the reasons we got into leadership in the first place.
Freedom to shape the vision.
Freedom to choose the team.
Freedom to decide how we spend our time and energy.
But somewhere along the climb, that freedom can get replaced by something else:
Endless meetings and politics
Pressure to justify every decision to a board
80-hour weeks to keep the machine running
The title might say “Chief,” but the calendar says otherwise.
For a growing number of CMOs, the answer isn’t chasing the next corporate rung — it’s stepping off the ladder entirely. Fractional freedom is the chance to reclaim control over your time, income, and impact by working with a handful of clients instead of serving one full-time employer.
It’s not for everyone. But my sense is it’s a felt temptation by many operators who are considering the future of their careers in the Intelligence Age.
I wanted to learn more, so I sat down with my friend Sangram Vajre (co-founder of Pardot & Terminus, now CEO of GTM Partners) to talk about why now is the perfect time to consider making the leap, how to position yourself to win, and the mindset that makes it possible.
Why Now Is the Perfect Time
Boards and CEOs are rethinking executive hiring in the AI era.
“Every organization is asking the same question,” Sangram told me. “Do I really need all the top executives in the company at the level they are? Do I really need to pay $500K to each one of them?”
The math works both ways:
For companies: High-caliber expertise for a fraction of the cost and time commitment.
For executives: As few as three clients at $7K–$10K/month can replace — or exceed — a corporate salary, without the corporate grind.
The shift opens a window for senior leaders to work with multiple companies instead of tying their fortunes to just one.
Sangram and I agreed that, in today’s climate, consulting can actually be a more future-proof career choice than taking a risk on another full-time role — especially in an early-stage or mid-stage company where market shifts, AI disruption, or an unproven business model could quickly derail your plans.
The Mindset Shift
The biggest hurdle isn’t learning how to sell yourself — it’s believing in yourself.
“Everything is risky,” Sangram said. “There’s risk in taking a job, and there’s risk in leaving one. The question is, if not now and if not you, then who?”
His advice:
Give yourself six months to try
Bet on the decades of experience you’ve already earned
Define what your version of freedom looks like
One thing that I’ve thought about in this context is asking what’s the worst that can happen? You can always go back and take a full time job.
Get Started With the End in Mind
Getting started building a consulting practice can feel overwhelming. The trap is thinking you need to market to everyone, everywhere. The reality? You need far less than you think.
“All you need is three to five clients,” Sangram said. “That’s it. Once you know that, everything you do — from outreach to pricing — gets simpler.”
When you start with the end in mind, you:
Avoid the burnout of chasing endless leads
Focus on relationships that actually fit
Build stability faster
When you realize you only need a small handful of the right conversations to reach your goal, the noise falls away. You’re no longer running the hamster wheel — you’re building a path to life-changing freedom.
The Power of Niching Down
Not all fractionals are created equal.
“Positioning yourself as a fractional CMO is generic,” Sangram said. “A fractional CMO for legal tech companies? That’s magnetic.”
When you own a niche, you:
Shorten your sales cycle (prospects already know you ‘get’ their world)
Reduce competition (you’re not compared to generalists)
Command higher rates (expertise is worth more than time)
Your expertise has value — the more precisely you define and position it, the easier it becomes to rise above the sea of fractional executives.
Building a Brand (Without Becoming an Influencer)
This isn’t about chasing vanity metrics.
“You don’t need 100,000 followers on LinkedIn,” Sangram said. “Most successful fractionals have 500-1000 followers, but the right people paying attention.”
What works:
Publish consistently in your niche (once or twice a week is enough)
Make it clear on your profile how to work with you
Give people a simple next step (an assessment, course, or resource)
Personally, I’ve lost interest in gaming the LinkedIn algorithm — which makes this advice especially refreshing.
My Take
I’ve found myself experimenting with this freedom (almost on accident) for the last 10 months. It’s not without uncertainty — but it’s allowed me to be more present at home, prioritize my physical health, pursue continuing education, and choose projects that align with my convictions.
If you’re finding yourself asking the bigger career questions lately, you’re certainly not alone. Whether or not launching a consulting practice is the right next career move for you, I hope this post demystified the process a bit and gave you something to think about.
Thanks again to Sangram for sharing his learnings so openly. I always learn something new and valuable when talking to him.
More soon.
—Anthony
🎥 Catch the full episode of my conversation with Sangram below — including the role that faith plays in how he defines meaning at work.