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The term "high-functioning alcoholic" is a convenient lie we tell ourselves. It's the story I told myself for years—that as long as I showed up, closed deals, and kept the lights on, my drinking was under control. But functioning isn't thriving. And eventually, even the functioning part falls apart.
This is the story of how I went from justifying every drink as "networking" to building a career and a life that actually works—without alcohol.
Real Estate Success Built on a Foundation of Excuses
When I got my real estate license, I thought I had it made. Freedom, flexibility, and a culture where drinking was practically part of the job description. Networking events, closing dinners, happy hours with clients—every occasion was an opportunity to drink, and I convinced myself it was all part of the hustle.
I even branded beer koozies and shot glasses with my real estate logo. Clever marketing, right? No. It was just another way to justify what was already a problem.
The truth is, my work ethic was compromised. I missed calls, ignored leads, and spent more time at the bar than building my business. From the outside, I looked successful. On the inside, I was losing ground every day.
The Pandemic: Isolation and a Downward Spiral
In February 2020, I took a job as a business development manager at a staffing agency, hoping for a fresh start. Then the pandemic hit a month later, and I found myself working from home with zero oversight and unlimited access to alcohol.
The isolation was the perfect storm. I used the excuse of working from home to drink throughout the day, and the chaos only accelerated. After a year of that, I knew something had to change.
That's when I started working for a construction company—initially just setting appointments. It was a pivot, but I didn't know yet that it would become the turning point.
The Wake-Up Call: Sobriety as a Choice, Not a Crisis
The owner of the construction company, Rick, was sober. Our conversations about sobriety weren't preachy or judgmental—they were just real. I started to see what a successful sober life looked like, and I realized I didn't want to jeopardize another career.
About 90 days into the job, I asked myself a hard question: How many more careers am I willing to lose to alcohol?
I didn't wait for rock bottom. I didn't wait for a DUI, a health scare, or a lost relationship. I just decided to quit—not cut back, not moderate, but quit entirely.
That decision changed everything.
Five Years Later: Thriving, Not Just Functioning
Sobriety has been the anchor of everything I've built since. It's given me clarity, energy, and the ability to show up fully—not just for work, but for my life. I'm now managing the construction company, running Sobervation, and pursuing projects I never would have had the bandwidth for while drinking.
The question I ask people now is this: Are you thriving in your career, or are you just functioning?
A lot of people justify their drinking by saying they still have a job, still pay the bills, still show up. But that's not the same as living up to your potential. That's not the same as building something sustainable.
What I've Learned
Sobriety is empowering. It's not about what you're giving up—it's about what you're making space for. Growth, opportunity, clarity, and presence.
You don't have to wait for a crisis. If you're using work as an excuse to hide your drinking, or if you're justifying your habits because you're still "functioning," that's a sign. You don't have to hit rock bottom to make a change.
Find support. Having a mentor like Rick made all the difference. Find someone who understands your struggles and can show you what's possible on the other side.
Final Thoughts
If my story resonates with you, I encourage you to reflect on your relationship with alcohol. Are you thriving, or are you just getting by? Are you building something sustainable, or are you one bad day away from losing it all?
Sobriety isn't the end of your career—it's the beginning of the one you actually want.
