Episode 10: Finding Purpose by Trading Corporate for Retail with Matt Griffin
Work Should Feel Good with Diana Alt
Release Date: 05/07/2025
Episode 39: Competence vs Confidence & Promotions with Sara Gallagher
Work Should Feel Good with Diana Alt
What’s more valuable at work, being good at your job, or looking like you are? Diana reconnects with longtime friend and guest Sarah Gallagher, President of The Persimmon Group and creator of the popular LinkedIn newsletter Big Dumb Questions. They dive into a lively, honest conversation about why confidence often outpaces competence in career advancement and why that might not be a bad thing. They also unpack Sarah’s career journey, her sobriety story, and how she's redefining leadership on her own terms. Where the idea for Big Dumb Questions came from Confidence vs. competence at...
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Episode 38: Fake Recruiters & Resume Scams with Diana Alt
Work Should Feel Good with Diana Alt
Fake recruiters. Phony resume “fixes.” Learn how to protect yourself from a rising scam that’s catching even the smartest job seekers off guard. Scams targeting job seekers are getting more sophisticated and more personal. In this solo episode, Diana Alt exposes the latest trend in fake recruiter scams designed to exploit your job search anxiety. From LinkedIn messages to fake ATS feedback, she walks through how the scam works, red flags to watch for, and what ethical resume support really looks like. Whether you've already been targeted or just want to protect yourself, this episode...
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Episode 37: Career Breaks for Dummies with Katrina McGhee
Work Should Feel Good with Diana Alt
Burned out or misaligned at work? Here’s how a break could change everything. What if taking a break from your career wasn’t a setback, but a strategic step forward? In this episode, Katrina McGhee, career break coach and author of Taking a Career Break for Dummies, joins Diana to explore how to plan, fund, and return from a career break with clarity and confidence. From burnout to intentional reinvention, Katrina shares powerful insights from her own 20-month break and the 200+ clients she’s helped since. If you're craving change but unsure how to make space for it, this episode is...
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Episode 36: Turning New Year’s Intentions into Real Action with Diana Alt
Work Should Feel Good with Diana Alt
Want to follow through on your New Year's goals instead of fizzling out by February? Diana breaks down exactly why most resolutions fail and how to turn your intentions into real progress. In this solo episode, she shares three common mistakes that sabotage follow-through and how to avoid them with a better approach to planning, prioritization, and progress tracking. Whether you're building healthier habits or launching something new in your business, this episode will help you set goals that actually stick. Why resolutions often fail by February The “boiling the ocean” trap and how to...
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Episode 35: Why Being Qualified Isn’t Enough with Gina Riley
Work Should Feel Good with Diana Alt
In this conversation, Gina and Diana dive deep into the Career Velocity™ system Gina developed after years of experience in executive search and career coaching. Together, they bust outdated job search myths and show why checking all the boxes on a job posting still won't guarantee an interview, let alone a job offer. You’ll learn the difference between being qualified and being compelling, why resumes are not the first step in a successful search, and how a strong unique value proposition (UVP) can change your entire career trajectory. Gina shares advice for leaders and job seekers of all...
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Episode 34: The Difference Between Rest and Avoidance with Diana Alt
Work Should Feel Good with Diana Alt
Are you actually resting… or just numbing out? As the year winds down and exhaustion sets in, it’s easy to blur the line between real rest and quiet avoidance. In this solo episode, Diana breaks down how to tell the difference and why noticing it matters as you move into the new year. Diana explores why so many of us feel depleted at the end of the year, even when we finally slow down. She explains how rest is intentional and capacity-building, while avoidance is often reactive and numbing even when it looks relaxing on the surface. You’ll hear practical examples of how everyday...
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Episode 33: Achieve More By Eliminating Time Confetti with Leslie Weaver
Work Should Feel Good with Diana Alt
What does it take to lead 500+ people, grow a thriving program, and still prioritize personal growth? Leslie Weaver has the answers and she’s sharing her powerful, practical insights with us today. In this inspiring conversation, Leslie Weaver, Program Manager of before and after school programs for one of Tennessee’s top school districts, shares how she leads with purpose, models growth from the top down, and creates a culture of care and excellence. We talk about her journey from coaching gymnastics and working in retail, to thriving in education leadership. Leslie reveals how she helps...
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Episode 32: My First Layoff 25 Years Later with Diana Alt
Work Should Feel Good with Diana Alt
Laid off? You're not alone. Here’s what’s actually changed in 25 years and what hasn’t. In this solo episode, Diana shares the powerful story of her first layoff experience in 2000, which just so happened to fall on her 26th birthday, the very same day the Supreme Court ended the Bush v. Gore recount. With vulnerability and wisdom, she reflects on how layoffs felt then, what she sees now as a coach working with professionals every day, and what’s stayed consistent despite a changing job market. You’ll hear why layoffs still shake people’s sense of identity, how stigma around...
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Episode 31: Managing Perfectionism at Work with Greg Chasson
Work Should Feel Good with Diana Alt
Are your high standards helping or hurting you at work? Let's unpack the real cost of perfectionism. Dr. Greg Chasson joins Diana for an eye-opening conversation on how perfectionism shows up in the workplace and what leaders and individuals can do about it. A licensed clinical psychologist, professor, and expert in OCD and related disorders, Greg breaks down how perfectionism isn’t just about wanting things to be “right”it's often a barrier to progress, innovation, and well-being. Whether you're a leader, a team member, or just tired of beating yourself up for not being “perfect,”...
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Episode 30: Finding Clarity in the Chaos this Thanksgiving with Diana Alt
Work Should Feel Good with Diana Alt
Brain tumor, business challenges, and deep clarity. Diana gets real about the chaos that reshaped her 2025. This first-ever Thanksgiving episode isn’t a gratitude list. It’s a raw, personal story of what happens when life derails your plans. Diana shares how an unexpected brain tumor and subsequent recovery forced her to rethink support, vulnerability, and her own worth. From discovering who she could count on, to choosing joy and experiences (like Hamilton in NYC), this episode is a masterclass in reclaiming your voice, your energy, and your no white-knuckling required. If...
info_outlineFrom marketing director to hometown business owner, how one bold pivot created purpose, connection, and community.
After 13 years in digital marketing, Matt Griffin made a massive life change. In this episode, he shares how he left agency life behind to co-found Hometown Sports Gear, a locally owned sporting goods store in Gardner, Kansas, with his wife and father-in-law. Learn how he navigated burnout, found clarity during a Jeep ride in Colorado, and built a business rooted in community and passion. Matt opens up about the emotional turning point that sparked his career pivot, what it’s really like working with family, and why "small but mighty" is more than just a motto.
Whether you're facing your own crossroads or curious about entrepreneurship outside of the corporate mold, this episode offers inspiration and insights for taking meaningful action.
⏳ Timestamps:
01:03 Why sporting goods? The origin story of Hometown Sports Gear
02:33 The beer spa brainstorm and community need discovery
04:46 Realizing the need for a career pivot
05:23 When stress started spilling into home life
07:21 From agency burnout to family business inspiration
08:09 Why Matt took action quickly instead of waiting
09:18 Building the business with complementary family skills
10:39 Leveraging experience from Kmart, Kroger, and the library
11:29 Engaging their teenage sons in the business
12:42 Learning to “stay in your lane” with family partners
14:06 What Matt does (and doesn’t) miss about agency life
15:25 Delivering a personal touch (like hand-delivering a soccer ball!)
16:21 When “we’re like family” actually works in business
17:24 Team size, hiring dreams, and support from the community
18:53 Partnering with local creatives and contractors
20:35 Diana’s own branding story with a student designer
💡 Take action
🔥 Subscribe for future episodes → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt
📖 Grab my Resume Don’ts Guide → https://www.dianaalt.com/resumedonts
❌ Avoid these common job search mistakes → https://www.jobsearchmistakes.com
🚪 Wondering if it’s time to walk away? → https://www.isittimetowalk.com
💼 Work with me → https://www.dianaalt.com
📢 Connect with Matt Griffin
🌐 Hometown Sports Gear → https://www.hometownsportsgear.com/
🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcgriffin
📲 Follow Matt on Social Media:
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/hometownsportsgear
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/hometownsportsgear/
📲 Follow me on social media:
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianakalt
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@dianaalt
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/dianakalt
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thedianaalt
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thedianaalt