427 The Recovery Principle That Saved Her Business with Diane Prince427 The Recovery Principle That Saved Her Business with Diane Prince
The One Day At A Time Recovery Podcast
Entrepreneur Diane Prince talks about losing almost all of a $28 million exit and how Al‑Anon, surrender, and spiritual openness helped her rebuild. The conversation links recovery tools to money, family, and creating a calmer, more sustainable business.
52:44•23 Apr 2026
From $28 Million Exit to $20: How Al‑Anon Principles Saved Diane Prince’s Business
Episode Overview
- Childhood rage and chaos can show up later as codependency and the "exploding doormat" cycle in both marriage and business.
- Al‑Anon literature and the 12 steps, especially Step Three, can ease constant fear and overthinking around money and family.
- You don’t have to perfectly define a higher power; being willing to "just try it" can open the door to unexpected peace.
- Letting go of tight control and forced solutions can create space for practical "miracles", like unexpected housing and work opportunities.
- Recovery principles such as boundaries, humility, and shared responsibility can make running a business calmer, fairer, and more sustainable.
“"What if it doesn't matter if God exists or not? What if I just try it?"”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation between host Arlina and guest Diane Prince shows how recovery principles can reshape money, work, and family life in surprising ways. Diane shares how she went from a $28 million business exit to having just $20 in her account, all while juggling divorce, three children, and a string of chaotic relationships.
Growing up with a raging mother, she slipped into classic codependent patterns, becoming what Al‑Anon calls an "exploding doormat" – staying quiet, then eventually blowing up when things became unbearable. Her turning point comes through Al‑Anon. Initially a self-described atheist, she talks about lying awake at 2am worrying about money and her kids, then remembering she was on Step Three. Her line, "What if it doesn't matter if God exists or not?
What if I just try it?" led to a sudden wave of peace and a spiritual awakening she never expected. You’ll hear how she slowly let go of control, stopped forcing solutions, and started trusting that answers would appear. One striking example is her housing story: after losing almost everything and having terrible credit, she relaxed her grip, leaned on programme tools, and within 24 hours had an unexpectedly affordable lease on Malibu Road.
Diane also talks about rebuilding as an entrepreneur: failed ventures, a stint in a traditional job, then creating a thriving virtual assistant agency with a business partner she met by following "one step at a time." She links Al‑Anon principles directly to business: releasing micromanagement, accepting mistakes, and leading with boundaries and honesty.
This episode is ideal for sober or recovery-minded entrepreneurs who feel stuck in fear, money shame, or control issues and want to see how 12‑step tools can apply to both healing and building a business. It might leave you asking where you could loosen your grip a little and let a better path show itself.
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.
Related Episodes
Similar episodes from other shows in the catalogue.