Sober Mind, New Mission
What happens when you wake up… and your career doesn’t?
May 13th, 2020—the day I got sober. I thought that was the finish line. Turns out, it was just the starting gate.
I had no idea how much my interests, values, and even my identity would shift once the fog cleared. I thought I loved my career—but now I realize, I just loved the freedom it gave me to be a drunk with no real accountability.
And here I am, five years later, seeing it all differently.
The Career I Chose—or Inherited?
I’ve been in the same industry since 1989. It’s what my grandpa did. What my dad did. And naturally, what I did. Back then, it was easier. The job was hands-on, dirty, blue-collar work that you could coast through with grit and a bit of charm.
But times have changed.
Companies don’t value workers like they used to.
Education is weighed more than experience.
And to be honest… my job doesn’t require a mindset. It’s not respected. It’s not fulfilling.
It’s just a paycheck.
The Sobriety Shift
Getting sober didn’t just remove alcohol from my life—it removed my blinders.
I don’t find joy in what I used to.
I don’t chase the same distractions.
And now that I don’t play in bands anymore, I have time—real time—to think and grow.
But with that clarity comes conflict:
What do I really want to do?
The Money Trap
I make decent money. Enough to survive well.
But I’m only there for the money…
And that feels wrong.
Because deep down, I know that purpose matters more than paychecks.
And I know this truth: “Decent” money is not worth a life unlived.
So What’s Next?
Here’s the honest part—I don’t fully know yet.
I’m drawn to psychology.
To business.
To writing.
To storytelling.
To building something meaningful.
But none of that pays the bills yet. And making a leap without a net is terrifying.
So here’s where I’m at:
📌 Staying employed.
📌 Studying every day.
📌 Blogging my truth.
📌 Stacking skills for a future I’m designing—on purpose this time.
Maybe You’re Here Too
If you’re sober, or just awake enough to realize the life you built doesn’t feel like you anymore…
You’re not broken.
You’re just changing.
And that’s a sacred place to be.
📧 Contact: michaelking@kingofhabits.com
