What do you do when you’ve had a $28 million business exit — and then watch nearly all of it disappear?
If you’re Diane Prince, you eventually find Al-Anon, do the work, and rebuild a life and business that’s more fulfilling than anything you had before.
In this episode, Arlina sits down with Diane — entrepreneur, business strategist, and Al-Anon member of 17 years — for one of the most honest conversations about recovery, money, and entrepreneurship we’ve had on this show.
The Exploding Doormat
Diane didn’t grow up with alcohol in her home. But she grew up with rage — a mother who saved her pleasant face for the outside world and unleashed her anger at home. That environment created what Diane calls the “exploding doormat” cycle: swallowing feelings, avoiding conflict, staying in denial — until everything finally blows.
This pattern followed her into her marriage, her business partnerships, and her parenting. It took two specific moments — firing a family member who had been terrorizing her, and yelling at a boyfriend that he was “worse than her ex-husband” — to finally make her ask: what’s the common denominator here? The answer was her. And that realization was the beginning of everything.
From Atheist to Step 3
Diane resisted Al-Anon for years. She didn’t believe in God. She thought the people in the rooms were the ones who were confused. It wasn’t until her life felt truly unmanageable that she was willing to try.
Working Step 3 at 2am — anxious, exhausted, worrying about college funds and the future — she asked herself: what if I just try this? What followed was a wave of peace she had never felt before. A spiritual experience she still can’t fully explain, but one that changed everything.
The $20 Moment and What Came After
After the exit, after the divorce, after the financial unraveling — Diane found herself raising three kids with sometimes $20 or $50 to her name for an entire week. What she learned in that season: forcing solutions doesn’t work. Letting things emerge does.
When her Malibu rental situation collapsed, she didn’t white-knuckle her way to a solution. She got still, turned it over, and within 24 hours had a lease on Malibu Road she never thought she could afford.
Recovery Principles as Business Strategy
Today, Diane runs a virtual assistant agency that helps entrepreneurs build scalable businesses. She attributes her success directly to what program has taught her: let go of control, trust the people around you, make amends quickly when you micromanage, and stay open to what wants to emerge.
Action Items from This Episode:
• Notice where the “exploding doormat” cycle shows up in your own life or business
• Ask yourself: where are you forcing a solution right now? What would it feel like to let go?
• If you’re building a business and feel like you have to do it all yourself, consider: who could you bring in to help you scale?
Books & Resources Mentioned:
• Courage to Change — Al-Anon daily reader
• Codependent No More by Melody Beattie
Guest Website: https://dianeprince.co/
👊🏼Need help applying this information to your own life?
Here are 3 ways to get started:
🎁Free Guide: 30 Tips for Your First 30 Days – With a printable PDF checklist
Grab your copy here: https://www.soberlifeschool.com
☎️Private Coaching: Make Sobriety Stick
https://www.makesobrietystick.com
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Listen to the episode onApple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music, or you can stream it from my website HERE. You can also watch the interview on YouTube.
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