The entrepreneurial world often glorifies the hustle culture—late nights, endless networking events, and the "work hard, play hard" mentality that many digital entrepreneurs embrace. For years, I lived this lifestyle as a successful dropshipper and digital nomad, building multiple income streams while traveling the world. But beneath the Instagram-worthy success stories lay a darker reality: alcohol dependency, burnout, and a cycle of unsustainable quick wins that eventually led to financial ruin and personal rock bottom.
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From Digital Success to Rock Bottom: My Wake-Up Call
My journey into entrepreneurship started like many others in the digital space—with big dreams and even bigger risks. As a dropshipper in the early boom years, I experienced the intoxicating rush of scaling from zero to six figures seemingly overnight. The freedom of being a digital nomad, managing e-commerce stores from Bali beaches and Bangkok co-working spaces, felt like I had cracked the code to the perfect lifestyle. I expanded into emerging markets like NFTs and OnlyFans management, always chasing the next big opportunity that promised exponential returns.
The early success was real, but so were the warning signs I chose to ignore. Account bans became routine setbacks, failed ventures piled up faster than successful ones, and the constant pressure to maintain my lifestyle led to increasingly poor decision-making. The entrepreneurial community I surrounded myself with normalized heavy drinking as part of networking and stress relief. What started as celebratory drinks after closing deals gradually became a daily coping mechanism for the anxiety and uncertainty that comes with high-risk ventures.
The party lifestyle that seemed so glamorous on social media was slowly destroying my ability to think clearly and make sound business decisions. Late nights turned into lost mornings, hangovers affected my client calls, and my ADHD symptoms became exponentially worse when combined with alcohol. I found myself making impulsive investments, ignoring red flags in business partnerships, and burning through profits as quickly as I made them. The very substance I thought was helping me network and unwind was actually sabotaging my entrepreneurial judgment.
The wake-up call came when I had to file for bankruptcy despite having generated millions in revenue across various ventures. Sitting in that lawyer’s office, hung over and financially devastated, I realized that all my "success" had been built on unsustainable foundations. The cycle of quick wins, excessive partying, and poor decision-making had finally caught up with me. That moment of clarity—painful as it was—became the catalyst for the most important pivot of my entrepreneurial career.
How Sobriety Transformed My Entrepreneurial Mindset
The decision to get sober wasn’t just about addressing my alcohol problem—it was about completely rewiring how I approached business and life. In my first month of sobriety, I experienced withdrawal symptoms that made me realize how much my cognitive function had been impaired. Simple tasks like reading contracts, analyzing metrics, and making strategic decisions became clearer and more focused. For the first time in years, I could sit through an entire business meeting without feeling anxious or distracted.
Sobriety forced me to confront the uncomfortable truth that I had been using quick wins and external validation to avoid dealing with deeper issues like ADHD management and emotional regulation. Without alcohol as a crutch, I had to develop genuine coping strategies for stress, rejection, and the inevitable ups and downs of entrepreneurship. I started implementing morning routines, meditation practices, and structured work schedules that actually supported my ADHD brain rather than fighting against it. The clarity that came from this lifestyle change was like upgrading from dial-up internet to fiber optic—everything just worked better.
The transformation in my business approach was dramatic. Instead of chasing every shiny object and get-rich-quick scheme, I began focusing on sustainable, value-driven opportunities. I realized that my previous ventures had failed not because of market conditions or bad luck, but because I was making decisions from a place of impaired judgment and instant gratification. Sobriety taught me patience, the ability to think long-term, and most importantly, how to build businesses that aligned with my values rather than just my bank account.
Perhaps the most profound change was rediscovering my sense of purpose. During my drinking years, I had lost touch with what truly motivated me beyond money and status. In sobriety, I remembered the fulfillment I once felt coaching youth soccer—the joy of helping others unlock their potential and achieve their goals. This realization led me to explore coaching as a business model, not just as another income stream, but as a way to combine my entrepreneurial experience with my desire to make a meaningful impact on other people’s lives.
Building a Coaching Practice That Changes Lives
The transition from chasing quick profits to building a purpose-driven coaching practice required me to completely rethink my approach to business development. Instead of looking for the fastest path to revenue, I focused on understanding the specific challenges that entrepreneurs face when dealing with addiction, ADHD, and social media dependency. Through my own recovery journey, I discovered that many successful business owners struggle with the same issues I had faced, but few resources existed that addressed these problems within an entrepreneurial context.
My coaching methodology combines practical business strategy with sobriety support and ADHD management techniques. I work with clients to identify how substance use or social media addiction might be sabotaging their decision-making, then help them develop systems and routines that support both their recovery and their business goals. The approach isn’t just about stopping drinking or reducing screen time—it’s about creating sustainable lifestyle changes that enhance cognitive function, improve focus, and lead to better business outcomes. Many of my clients report significant improvements in their ability to stick to long-term strategies rather than constantly pivoting to new opportunities.
Building credibility in the coaching space required me to be vulnerable about my own failures while demonstrating the tangible results of my transformation. I started by sharing my story authentically on platforms where entrepreneurs gather, focusing on the business benefits of sobriety rather than just the personal health aspects. The response was overwhelming—dozens of business owners reached out privately to share similar struggles and ask for guidance. This validated that there was a real market need for coaching that addressed the intersection of entrepreneurship, addiction, and mental health.
Currently, I’m generating approximately $1,000 per month through my coaching practice and related income streams, which may seem modest compared to my previous revenue peaks, but represents something far more valuable: sustainable, purpose-driven income. I’m preparing to invest in proper systems and advertising to scale the business before returning to Asia, where I plan to continue serving clients remotely while maintaining the lifestyle freedom that initially drew me to entrepreneurship. The difference now is that my business model is built on helping others succeed rather than just enriching myself, creating a foundation that can grow steadily without the boom-bust cycles that characterized my previous ventures.
The journey from partying entrepreneur to sober coach hasn’t been easy, but it’s been the most rewarding pivot of my career. Five months of sobriety has given me more clarity and purpose than years of chasing quick wins ever did. For entrepreneurs struggling with similar challenges—whether it’s alcohol dependency, ADHD management, or social media addiction—I want you to know that it’s possible to build a successful business without sacrificing your mental health or personal values. The skills that make us good entrepreneurs—resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving—are the same skills that can help us overcome addiction and build more sustainable, fulfilling businesses. Sometimes the best business decision you can make is investing in your own recovery and well-being first.
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