Sober Entrepreneurship

I’ve been sober for 6 years.

Each year, on my soberversary, I publish a reflection.

Here are the first 5:

1. Last Year I Drank Tequila

2. 794 Days of Water: A Sobriety Story

3. Sobriety Is My Superpower

4. After 4 Years of Sobriety, I Want A Damn Drink

5. Stress Testing Sobriety

During my sixth year of sobriety, I built Celi and found myself relearning lessons in entrepreneurship that I had originally learned from sobriety.

This year's soberversary piece, 'Sober Entrepreneurship', lists these lessons.

The format is borrowed from Sasha Chapin's 50 things I know, which was itself inspired by Mari Andrew's 100 things I know.

I hope you find something worth borrowing from this as well.

1. I know loneliness. In early sobriety and entrepreneurship, isolation is your constant companion. But remember, you’re not actually alone — you’re just hanging out with your future self.
   

2. I know clarity. Thoughts come into focus, crisp and coherent.
   

3. I know our minds are master illusionists. That voice telling you you’re further from your goal than ever? It’s lying.
   

4. I know fear is just excitement in disguise.
   

5. I know confidence is a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets.
   

6. I know true humility comes from realizing how little you know.
   

7. I know that I don’t know anything. “The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.” — Stephen Hawking
   

8. I know you have to ask for help, even if it feels vulnerable. As the African Proverb says “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
   

9. I know people will quit on you. In business, it might be for better opportunities. In sobriety, some may feel rejected or find you have less in common. Either way, departures are inevitable.
   

10. I know you’ll quit on people too.
    

11. I know both sobriety and entrepreneurship are full-time gigs.
    

12. I know sobriety saves money and entrepreneurship bleeds it.
    

13. I know sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Whether it’s total abstinence or taking on freelance work to keep your startup afloat.
    

14. I know going all-in is scary, but half-measures are the real killer. Embrace the leap.
    

15. I know a midday Tuesday walk can be the most revolutionary act of self-care. Take it.
    

16. I know that no one cares if you stay sober or if your company takes off. Your friends and family just want you to be happy, healthy, and fulfilled.
    

17. I know a handful of people do care deeply. Treasure them like the rare gems they are.
    

18. I know the power of community. Friends and family are your lifeline in both sobriety and entrepreneurship. Nurture these relationships.
    

19. I know there’s a special breed of naysayer. They expose themselves quickly, allowing you to cut ties. This experience will make you an incredible support for others. Still, there’s nothing worse than a non-believer.
    

20. I know how to filter good advice from bad. Consider the source, motive, and potential impact.
    

21. I know the importance of grace — for yourself and others. We’re all stumbling through this for the first time.
    

22. I know how to make friends as an adult. Hint: It involves putting yourself out there, repeatedly.
    

23. I know people are paying more attention than you think.
    

24. I know balance isn’t just a buzzword. Productivity means to make intentional choices toward a goal. The choice could be to pause.
    

25. I know self-respect comes from responsibility. As Joan Didion said, “The willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life is the source from which self-respect springs.”
    

26. I know you can let this world happen to you, or you can happen to it.
    

27. I know that if you just show up, something might happen.
    

28. I know words have power, especially the ones you tell yourself. Choose them carefully.
    

29. I know I can start over. Over and over again. That skill is mine forever.
    

30. I know one thing I don’t know: failure. To me, failure is not trying.
    

31. I know how to try.
    

32. I know the longer you wait for your future, the less time you have to live in it.
    

33. I know doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will. Go for it — nature loves courage.

Want to know how I learned all this?

Drop me your Celi username, and I'll send you a note with all the details.

If you or someone you know needs support with addiction or sobriety, please reach out to me, a vetted peer, or a professional service — you’re not alone, WE got you.