What if the brutal truth is that your corporate job is more likely to slowly kill you with stress than set you up for a dream retirement?
In this episode of Gen Mess with Tess, host Tess Brigham sits down with powerhouse business mentor, international speaker, and award-winning author Katrena Friel for a candid and eye-opening conversation about breaking free from the golden handcuffs—and finding your true value.
Katrena Friel pulls back the curtain on her own journey, from teenage jobs and personal heartbreak to a devastating $30,000 scam—a turning point that sparked her to build her own thriving training and mentoring practice. Together, she and Tess Brigham dissect why so many Gen Xers are “quietly quitting” or burning out, how younger generations are refusing to repeat the cycle of debt and overwork, and why we need to rethink the way we approach careers, money, and even family living.
Key highlights include:
- The shocking downside of “more with less” workplace culture—and Australia’s new laws holding employers accountable for worker burnout and stress
- Katrena Friel’s $30,000 lesson in self-belief (and how that “scam” became the best investment of her life)
- The three inner compasses—mind, heart, and gut—and how to use them to turn self-doubt into an ally
- Why so many “expert” coaches out there deliver nothing but an expensive lesson (and how to spot the real deal)
- Generational shifts: Why Gen Z is saying "no" to the boomer/American dream—and the case for embracing multi-generational homes and decluttering your life to gain headspace
- Building your own brand: What it means to be the product, and how Katrena Friel helps you discover the million-dollar model inside your life experience
- The truth about online programs: Why up to 95% are never completed—and why transformation requires actual mentorship, not just another “passive income” promise
Loaded with tangible advice, real talk, and a bit of industry myth-busting, this episode will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about career success, purpose, and what it takes to build a legacy—on your terms.
Episode Overview by Timestamp:
- [00:00:01] – Welcome and intro to Katrena Friel’s journey
- [00:02:11] – Early jobs and learning to be a self-starter
- [00:05:02] – Miscarriage, grief, and the life-changing $30,000 scam
- [00:08:17] – The unregulated coaching industry and lessons from mistakes
- [00:11:14] – The three inner compasses: Mind, gut, and heart
- [00:16:39] – Why it’s so hard to leave corporate: Golden handcuffs and generational differences
- [00:24:20] – Declutter your life: Practical steps for big change
- [00:27:28] – Rethinking the family home and intergenerational wealth
- [00:31:09] – The career marathon mindset and building your own expertise
- [00:34:09] – “Done for you” programs vs. the myth of the passive online business
- [00:42:59] – How to connect with Katrena Friel and next steps for listeners
Tune in for an episode packed with hard truths, practical strategies, and inspiration to reinvent work and life—no matter your generation!
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