Could Your Social Drinking Habit Be Holding You Back In Your Career?

Hi, I’m Amanda. I’m a former social drinker/party girl. I’m not an alcoholic, but I’ve made a conscious choice to live an alcohol-free lifestyle. Why? Because I realized that — without question — alcohol was the one thing that was holding me back from achieving the success I wanted in my professional and personal life.

Let me take you back to where I was about five years ago when I started to get the itch to change my relationship with alcohol. I had just turned 30, accepted a great job, and moved to Austin, Texas. For all external appearances sake, I was kicking ass and taking names.

I was making more money than I’d ever made. I was thriving professionally and socially. It truly looked like I was living the life. But on the inside? That’s a different story. I felt incredibly off course and stuck in a story that someone else had written for me.

I felt disconnected from my work and couldn’t shake the feeling that I was supposed to be doing something else.

I tried to convince myself to be satisfied with where I was. After all, I had it pretty good. Yet, there was a subtle voice inside of me that I couldn’t ignore. For me, alcohol was keeping me small and deterring me from stepping into the career I knew I was meant for.

Maybe this sounds familiar? Or maybe you’re super lit up by your current career and wondering if alcohol is keeping you from rising to your highest heights. Spoiler: It is.

Take for example, my client Katie. Katie is an intelligent (like mega-intelligent) woman who was absolutely killing it in her corporate career when she came to work with me. Like me, Katie is a high-achiever who was already impressing everyone with her skills, intelligence and drive. However, Katie knew she had more to give and sensed deeply that her frequent wine habit was keeping her stuck.

It doesn’t matter if you’re like me (you sense you have something more to do than a traditional 9–5) or like Katie (you love your corporate job, but are ready for more), it’s quite likely that alcohol is holding you back.

Now, before I go any further, it’s important to note that what I’m sharing here applies specifically to “social drinkers” or individuals…