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 your permission slip.

• Katrina's path from actuary to world traveler to career break coach

• How burnout, betrayal, and blossoming reveal the need for a break

• What a "career break" actually looks like (hint: it's not a gap year)

• How to plan, fund, and protect your break

• Strategies for reentering the workforce confidently

⏳ Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:22 How Katrina and Diana connected
02:31 Katrina's journey from math major to career break expert
06:03 The misalignment that led to her 20-month break
08:30 Breaking down the "Three B's" model: Burnout, Betrayal, and Blossom
13:40 Understanding self-betrayal and its impact
17:04 Using a break for discovery, not just recovery
20:53 Preventing career jumping vs. intentional pivots
24:37 How the job market shift has changed break dynamics
26:35 Talking about your break without sabotaging your story
30:58 What reentry actually looks like — and how long it takes
36:00 Katrina's job search post-break (and 5 offers in 5 weeks)
40:55 Internal vs. external narratives during reentry
43:38 Common mistakes: rest guilt, reentry panic, and LinkedIn doomscrolling

💡 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 from your job? → https://www.isittimetowalk.com
💼 Work with me → https://www.dianaalt.com

📢 Connect with Katrina McGhee
🌐 Website → https://www.kmcgheecoaching.com
🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcghee-katrina/

📲 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

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 escape it

• How to select the right goals for your current season

• Turning vague intentions into measurable plans

• The importance of evaluating progress—and celebrating wins

⏳ Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:26 Why good intentions fall apart
03:24 Mistake #1: Trying to change everything at once
07:20 Focus vs. quitting – the mindset shift
09:26 Mistake #2: No concrete plan
12:54 Defining what success looks like
14:41 Mistake #3: Not assessing or celebrating progress
17:42 Simple ways to review and reward your efforts
19:56 Final thoughts and encouragement

💡 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

📲 Follow Me
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

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 ages, including how Gen Zers can stand out with more than just a degree.

If you're tired of applying online and getting nowhere, this episode will rewire how you approach the search.

⏳ Timestamps:
02:15 Why "qualified" doesn't mean "hired"
05:40 The Career Velocity™ model overview
10:20 How Gina's son leveraged UVP and UMAP as a Gen Z job seeker
16:30 Frameworks that transform informational interviews into strategy
20:15 Ditching the elevator pitch, what to say instead
24:45 Tell your story: The 3/3 method for "Tell me about yourself"
30:00 Using values and motivators to make better job decisions
36:10 Thought leadership beyond LinkedIn
42:00 Metrics that actually matter in a job search
49:00 Navigating the "AI Doom Loop" in 2025
53:00 Lightning round: worst advice, best habits, biggest mindset shifts

💡 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 Gina Riley
🌐 Gina Riley Consulting → https://ginarileyconsulting.com/
🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginariley/
🐦 X (formerly Twitter) → https://x.com/atginariley
📚 Buy Qualified Isn't Enough on Amazon → https://www.amazon.com/Qualified-Isnt-Enough-Develop-Interview/dp/B0F7WP4TXV

📲 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

#CareerGrowth #WorkShouldFeelGood #JobSearchTips #ExecutiveCareer #ThoughtLeadership #UMAP #UniqueValueProposition #ResumeTips