My Wake-Up Call

I spent years convincing myself I had everything under control. Until the moment I didn’t.

It’s a Saturday afternoon, and I’ve got Everybody Wants to Rule the World on repeat. The lyrics hit harder than ever.

"Most of freedom and of pleasure. Nothing ever lasts forever. Everybody wants to rule the world."

In 2022, after selling my company, what should have been a victory lap became one of my darkest seasons. Isolating, burning through relationships, lashing out, taking reckless risks in the stock market. I hit bottom.

For a long time, I refused to admit something was wrong. I chased control, held myself to impossible standards, and drowned stress in alcohol and weed. I wanted to be better but had no idea where to start.

I found a 12-step program. It opened my eyes to what true peace could look like. At first, I felt relief. Then I started going through the motions, telling myself, maybe you don’t really have a problem.

October 2023. Dinner with friends. A couple of glasses of wine. Nothing crazy. I had big meetings the next day. When I woke up, I felt like hell. Bags under my eyes. Scraping myself out of bed. I put on a face and pushed through the hangover, like always.

That same month, I joined Ship 30 for 30 with Dickie Bush and Nicolas Cole. Thirty days of writing online. A perfect reason to take a break from drinking. If I was going to put my thoughts into the world every day, I needed to be clearheaded.

I stuck to Twitter at first. It felt safer. Writing about startups, sales, and the search for serenity felt like too much for my professional network. After a few weeks, I realized fear was running my life. It never let up. I numbed it however I could.

As I got sober, I started seeing something. Many of the founders and sales leaders I admired were fighting the same battles.

The numbers don’t lie. A 2018 study found that 12% of entrepreneurs struggle with substance use, far higher than the 8.3% national average. Sales professionals aren’t far behind, with rates as high as 10.5%. The same traits that make us excel: risk-taking, intensity, relationship building, also make us vulnerable.

That Tears for Fears song captures it perfectly. It’s a warning. The pursuit of success can be intoxicating, but when ambition runs unchecked, it can consume everything in its path.

That’s why I’m launching The Startup Sales Addict in June.

By sharing our stories, we create space for others to recognize their own patterns before they hit rock bottom. Strengths don’t have to become weaknesses. Recovery isn’t just for addicts. The principles apply to anyone who wants to build sustainable success, lead authentically, and live a meaningful life beyond their professional identity.

I don’t have all the answers, but I have my story and I know I’m not alone.

If you’ve ever felt the weight of ambition crushing you, or wondered whether there’s a way to succeed without burning yourself out, I want to connect.

This isn’t just another sales or startup content series. It’s about reclaiming our humanity in high-pressure environments.

If this hit home, share it. If you’ve been here, DM me. I want to hear your story.

Sometimes, the greatest strength is acknowledging our weaknesses.