Episode 299: From Corporate Layoffs to Creative Freedom – How Trinette Faint Built Her Multi-Hyphenate Career
From Corporate Layoffs to Creative Freedom: How Trinette Faint Built Her Multi-Hyphenate Career
Lost your job? Maybe it's time to build the career you actually want. That's exactly what Trinette Faint did when she got laid off from her tech job last November. Instead of panic-applying to every open position, she made a bold choice: take a gap year to pursue her creative dreams full-time.
Seven months later, she launched a networking business, completed screenwriting projects, and produced her first short film. More importantly, she's never been happier. In this week's Game On Girlfriend® episode, Trinette shares how she turned job loss into a creative opportunity and why authentic connections matter more than LinkedIn messages.
The Multi-Hyphenate Journey: From France to Hollywood to Tech
Trinette has lived what she calls "10 different lives." Her career started with modeling in France as a teenager, then she moved to working behind the scenes with Matt Damon and Will Smith's production company. After that came a stint at Google, plus published novels and screenwriting successes along the way.
"I think more like it's chosen me. I don't want to be too corny here. You know, I started my life as a teenager modeling and stuff. And that was like kind of my first foray into storytelling through fashion and fashion editorial spreads."
Each seemingly random experience built skills for what she's creating now. That modeling background taught her about visual storytelling. Entertainment industry work gave her production knowledge. Tech experience provided business acumen. Now she's combining everything into Chez Faint, her authentic networking business.
Why Traditional Networking Feels Broken
You know that feeling when someone slides into your LinkedIn DMs with a generic pitch? Trinette gets it. She believes networking has become impersonal and transactional. Conference hotel lobbies with business cards and elevator pitches aren't building real relationships.
Instead, she creates intimate gatherings where interesting people can have genuine conversations. The focus shifts from "what do you do" to "who are you as a person." Small groups, authentic connections, and no business cards required.
"What I want to do with Chez Faint, or what I'm doing with it rather, is I'm bringing really interesting people together that are, you know, risk takers and creatives and thinkers and, you know, just really cool people and bringing them together for conversations."
The Reality of Taking a Gap Year as an Adult
Let's talk about the scary part. Trinette lost her tech job, her dog passed away, and she needed knee surgery - all within a short timeframe. When life hits you like that, you have two choices: rebuild the same thing or create something entirely new.
She chose reinvention. However, this isn't a fairy tale story about following your passion. There's real financial stress involved. Benefits disappear. Steady paychecks stop. Society questions your choices.
- Lost financial stability and health benefits
- Faced societal pressure about traditional success markers
- Dealt with daily uncertainty about the future
- Had to unlearn expectations about what a career "should" look like
But here's what she gained: complete control over her time. No more pointless meetings or corporate calendars. Every morning, she wakes up with a list of things that matter to her creative and business goals.
"Having the privilege to sort of create my life on my own terms going forward and really control my time, because that's what it's about, it's about like controlling your time, has been like an immeasurable blessing."
Building Confidence Through Unexpected Channels
At 40, Trinette decided she wanted to sing in public. She reached out to a musician friend, practiced, and performed at a Boston bar. The experience taught her something crucial: the things that scare us most often build the confidence we need for bigger leaps.
She also recommends acting classes - not for performance skills, but for confidence building. In one class exercise, students had to introduce themselves with energy, pretending they had a hype song playing in their heads. By the end of the course, shy participants were confidently presenting themselves.
These small acts of courage create a foundation for major career moves. That confidence transfers to asking for raises, starting businesses, or making bold life changes.
Learning from Hollywood Heavyweights
Working as Matt Damon's assistant gave Trinette unique insights into how successful people operate. She describes both Matt and Will Smith as surprisingly normal, approachable people despite their massive success.
The biggest lesson? Energy management matters more than you think. How you walk into a room, pick up the phone, or interact with people significantly impacts what happens next. Presence and authenticity beat performance and pretense every time.
"I just keep coming back to that energy, like the energy of a person. You can just joke around and have a conversation about shoes. Like that's an inviting, warm, beautiful energy to have."
Practical Steps for Career Reinvention
Ready to make your own bold move? Trinette offers straightforward advice that doesn't sugarcoat the challenges:
- Stop overthinking and just start
- Accept that the path from A to B includes the whole alphabet in between
- Stay focused and calm when things get uncertain
- Remember that every small step leads somewhere meaningful
- Be willing to make hard turns when necessary
She emphasizes that this doesn't require massive life overhauls. Maybe you're terrified of public speaking, but want to share your expertise. Start with voice lessons. Then invite people over for a small presentation. Build confidence gradually.
The key is permission-giving yourself permission to want something different and take steps toward it, even when the outcome isn't guaranteed.
Why Authentic Relationships Still Matter
In our digital-first world, genuine human connection has become rare. Trinette's networking events bring back that 1990s feeling when people actually showed up when they said they would. No flaking, no endless rescheduling, no hiding behind screens.
Those deep relationships she built throughout her career? They're still paying dividends. Former colleagues become mentors, collaborators, and cheerleaders for new ventures. That's the power of investing in people rather than just collecting contacts.
The Universe Steps In When You Take Action
Here's something Trinette learned during her gap year. When you're truly aligned with your path, support shows up in unexpected ways. Not magical thinking - practical support, opportunities, and resources that wouldn't have appeared if she'd stayed in her safe corporate job.
"One thing that I've really come to understand is that the universe will certainly step in and protect you and give you wings and stuff as you go."
This doesn't mean everything becomes easy. Rather, when you're moving in the right direction, you'll find the energy and resources to handle whatever challenges arise.
Your Turn: Three Questions to Consider
Whether you're a first-time Game On Girlfriend® listener or a long-time fan, Trinette's story raises important questions about your own career path:
- What experiences in your background could connect in unexpected ways?
- Where are you prioritizing security over fulfillment, and is that serving you?
- What would you attempt if you knew the universe had your back?
You don't need to quit your job tomorrow or take a gap year. But maybe it's time to stop ignoring that persistent voice suggesting there's something more for you.
Connect with Trinette and Continue the Conversation
- Websites: https://trinettefaint.com/ and https://www.chezfaint.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinette.faint/ and https://www.instagram.com/chez_faint/
Want to learn more about Trinette's work? You can follow her journey and learn about Chez Faint networking events through her social media channels.
About Trinette Faint
From launching her modeling career in France at 19 to working behind the scenes with Hollywood heavyweights like Matt Damon and Will Smith’s production company, Trinette has navigated the worlds of fashion, film, tech, and writing with remarkable agility and vision.
As a former Google employee, she blended creativity and strategy, all while nurturing her passion for storytelling. A published novelist and award-winning rising screenwriter, she has had two TV pilots place as semi-finalists in the 2025 ScreenCraft TV Pilot competition. Simultaneously, she continues to model and act, embodying resilience and representation in every space she occupies.
As always, we'd love to hear how this episode resonated with you. Share your thoughts on social media using #GameOnGirlfriend and tag @TheSarahWalton.
Ready to build a business that feels authentic and profitable? Explore Sarah's coaching programs, courses, and free resources at sarahwalton.com. Because this isn't your practice life - it's time to play the game on your terms.
About Sarah Walton
Sarah Walton is a business coach, podcast host, and mentor who helps women entrepreneurs build businesses they love. She's the creator of the Abundance Academy, Effortless Sales, and the Game On Girlfriend® podcast. Sarah's mission is to put more money in the hands of more women while teaching authentic, heart-centered business strategies.
GRAB MY FREE FREEDOM CALCULATOR SO YOU CAN:
Learn the exact number you need to feel FREE!
Know exactly what you need to do each day to make more money.
Make tracking your numbers easy with my revenue tracking tool (the same tool I use every day in my own business!)
Learn the TOP 2 mistakes most business owners make when it comes to tracking revenue
It's time to move from "fingers crossed" to clear and successful.