How do individuals turn their lives around after addiction? Episode 419 of The One Day At A Time Recovery Podcast offers a captivating conversation with Tim Westbrook, a high-achieving entrepreneur who transformed his life from being a blackout drinker to a recovery leader. Tim shares his personal journey, highlighting how sobriety reshaped his ambition, identity, and purpose. His story isn't just about the 'before and after' but about learning to live differently.

Tim, the host of the I Love Being Sober podcast and CEO of Camelback Recovery, discusses the link between addiction and achievement. He shares daily practices that keep him grounded today, including a gratitude list he texts to friends, intentional exercise routines, and reading influential books like 'The Four Agreements.' His journey underscores the importance of self-care and setting boundaries, which he maintains through meditation, prayer, and regular exercise.

Listeners will be intrigued by Tim's candid recounting of his entrepreneurial highs and lows, from managing a successful house painting business to facing the consequences of a severe car accident due to drinking. His tale is both a cautionary one about the dangers of unchecked ambition and an inspiring example of recovery's transformative power.

This episode is not just for those in recovery but also for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of addiction and the resilience required to overcome it. Tim's story is a testament to the power of change and the potential for success beyond addiction. So, what drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? And how do they maintain that balance? Dive into this episode to find out.

Discover how Tim Westbrook transformed from a blackout drinker to a successful entrepreneur in recovery on The One Day At A Time Podcast.

Sobriety & Success: Tim Westbrook's Journey

<h2 dir="ltr">The Best Worst Thing That Ever Happened</h2> A conversation on sobriety, entrepreneurship, and rebuilding a life that actually works There's a certain kind of person who can build something from nothing. They're driven. Intense. Creative. Restless. They work hard. They push. They win. And sometimes… they self-destruct. In this conversation, Tim shares what it looked like to be both a high-achieving entrepreneur and a blackout drinker—and how recovery didn't just save his life, it reshaped his ambition, identity, and purpose. This isn't a story about "before and after." It's a story about learning how to live differently.   <hr />   <h2 dir="ltr">The drive started early</h2> Tim began drinking in middle school after his parents divorced and he moved to a new town. Trying to fit in quickly became the gateway to alcohol and drugs. At the same time, he was already wired for achievement. In college, he launched a painting business, hired teams, ran sales and marketing, and made real money—while partying just as hard. That "work hard, play hard" rhythm followed him into adulthood. Success grew. So did the consequences. A devastating drunk-driving crash left him with a traumatic brain injury and months of recovery. Even then, he didn't stop drinking—he just learned how to drink harder and longer. If anything, achievement became another way to avoid looking at what was really happening.   <hr />   <h2 dir="ltr">High performance can hide a lot</h2> Tim went on to build businesses, lead teams, and outperform expectations. But behind the scenes: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> drugs escalated </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> relationships deteriorated </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> burnout intensified </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> drinking became non-negotiable </li> </ul> He describes always being "the most messed up person at every event," even while breaking performance records. That's the part people don't talk about. Addiction doesn't always look like collapse. Sometimes it looks like productivity.   <hr />   <h2 dir="ltr">The moment everything broke</h2> The turning point came after a blackout weekend that ended his marriage. It wasn't just one mistake—it was the undeniable accumulation of years of denial. Within days, he attended his first AA meeting. He hadn't planned a recovery journey. He just knew his life couldn't keep going like that. He started going to meetings every day. Sometimes two a day. He got a sponsor, worked the steps, and immersed himself in service. That structure became his lifeline.   <hr />   <h2 dir="ltr">Recovery didn't shrink his life—it expanded it</h2> One of the biggest myths about sobriety is that it takes things away. For Tim, it gave him: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> community </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> purpose </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> emotional connection </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> clarity </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> direction </li> </ul> He learned to build intimacy with other people without substances. He learned to cry, share honestly, and ask for help. He learned that vulnerability wasn't weakness—it was relief. And slowly, ambition changed shape. Instead of chasing validation, he started building a life rooted in service and meaning. Today, he works in recovery, supports others, and still channels his drive—but with balance and intention.   <hr />   <h2 dir="ltr">The routines that keep him grounded</h2> Recovery isn't a single decision. It's a daily structure. Tim's core practices include: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> morning prayer and meditation </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> gratitude lists </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> exercise and physical health </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> journaling and learning </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> service and community </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> time with people who support his growth </li> </ul> He describes gratitude as essential: "If I'm grateful, then I'm not a victim."  Exercise, too, became foundational—not just for fitness, but for mental and emotional stability. He calls it part of his "solution," not just a habit.   <hr />   <h2 dir="ltr">The entrepreneurial paradox</h2> There's a pattern many high performers recognize: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> intense focus </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> extreme discipline </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> relentless drive </li> </ul> These traits build companies. But without awareness, they also: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> fuel burnout </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> mask emotional pain </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> replace one addiction with another </li> </ul> Recovery didn't remove Tim's intensity. It taught him how to channel it without destroying himself. Balance became the new metric—not output.   <hr />   <h2 dir="ltr">Action Steps: What you can take from this conversation</h2> You don't need to be in addiction to benefit from recovery principles. These are life principles. <h3 dir="ltr">1) Build a grounding morning routine</h3> Start simple: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> gratitude </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> stillness </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> reflection </li> </ul> Consistency matters more than complexity. <h3 dir="ltr">2) Replace extremes with consistency</h3> You don't need heroic bursts of effort. You need steady, repeatable actions. <h3 dir="ltr">3) Notice where achievement becomes avoidance</h3> Ask yourself: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Am I building… or escaping? </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Am I creating… or distracting? </li> </ul> <h3 dir="ltr">4) Find your people</h3> Recovery happens in connection. Whether it's: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 12-step meetings </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> coaching groups </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> fitness communities </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> spiritual spaces </li> </ul> Isolation keeps people stuck. <h3 dir="ltr">5) Anchor your life in service</h3> Helping others stabilizes your own growth. It creates meaning that performance alone never will.   <hr />   <h2 dir="ltr">Resources Mentioned</h2> Books <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> The Four Agreements — Don Miguel Ruiz </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Living Untethered — Michael Singer </li> </ul> Practices <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> AA / 12-step community </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> meditation + gratitude routines </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> exercise for mental regulation </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> yoga and breathwork </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> cold exposure / recovery practices </li> </ul> Recovery & Treatment Work <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Camelback Recovery </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) as a non-invasive mental health support approach </li> </ul> Guest Contact Info: https://www.camelbackrecovery.com/ 👊🏼Need help applying this information to your own life? Here are 3 ways to get started: 🎁Free Guide: 30 Tips for Your First 30 Days - With a printable PDF checklist Grab your copy here: <a href= "https://www.soberlifeschool.com">https://www.soberlifeschool.com</a> ☎️Private Coaching: Make Sobriety Stick <a href= "https://www.makesobrietystick.com">https://www.makesobrietystick.com</a> Subscribe So You Don't Miss New Episodes!   Listen to the episode on <a href= "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast/id1212504521"> Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href= "https://open.spotify.com/show/4I23r7DBTpT8XwUUwHRNpB">Spotify</a>, or Amazon Music, or you can stream it from my website <a href= "https://www.odaatchat.com">HERE</a>. You can also watch the interview on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@theonedayatatimepodcast?sub_confirmation=1 <a href= "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast/id1212504521"> <img src= "" width="198" height="81" /></a> <a href= "https://odaatchat.libsyn.com/spotify"><img src= "" width="191" height="76" /></a><a href= "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a8eb438c-5af1-493b-99c1-f218e5553aff/episodes/64fe74c8-246c-4c89-96bf-257b676d7489/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast-transform-your-career-using-sobriety-principles"> </a> <a href= "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a8eb438c-5af1-493b-99c1-f218e5553aff/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast"> <img src= "" width="198" height="68" /></a> <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/@theonedayatatimepodcast"><img src= "" width="179" height="60" /></a>  Apple: <a href= "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast/id1212504521"> https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast/id1212504521</a> Spotify: <a href= "https://open.spotify.com/show/4I23r7DBTpT8XwUUwHRNpB">https://open.spotify.com/show/4I23r7DBTpT8XwUUwHRNpB</a> Amazon Music: <a href= "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a8eb438c-5af1-493b-99c1-f218e5553aff/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast"> https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a8eb438c-5af1-493b-99c1-f218e5553aff/the-one-day-at-a-time-recovery-podcast</a>

419 Sobriety, Service & Success: Rebuilding Life After Addiction

Recovery

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This podcast is about recovery from alcoholism, drug addiction, sobriety and the journey of recovery, community and healing. The stories are inspiring, funny and touching. They will provide hope and help others to feel like they are not alone. Today is the day to start living the life of your dreams and be who you were meant to be! For more resources, visit odaatchat.com or visit us on Facebook, search ODAAT Chat Podcast

The One Day At A Time Recovery Podcast

How do individuals turn their lives around after addiction? Episode 419 of The One Day At A Time Recovery Podcast offers a captivating conversation with Tim Westbrook, a high-achieving entrepreneur who transformed his life from being a blackout drinker to a recovery leader. Tim shares his personal journey, highlighting how sobriety reshaped his ambition, identity, and purpose. His story isn't just about the 'before and after' but about learning to live differently.Tim, the host of the I Love Being Sober podcast and CEO of Camelback Recovery, discusses the link between addiction and achievement. He shares daily practices that keep him grounded today, including a gratitude list he texts to friends, intentional exercise routines, and reading influential books like 'The Four Agreements.' His journey underscores the importance of self-care and setting boundaries, which he maintains through meditation, prayer, and regular exercise.Listeners will be intrigued by Tim's candid recounting of his entrepreneurial highs and lows, from managing a successful house painting business to facing the consequences of a severe car accident due to drinking. His tale is both a cautionary one about the dangers of unchecked ambition and an inspiring example of recovery's transformative power.This episode is not just for those in recovery but also for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of addiction and the resilience required to overcome it. Tim's story is a testament to the power of change and the potential for success beyond addiction. So, what drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? And how do they maintain that balance? Dive into this episode to find out.

Arlina Allen

Arlina Allen

419 Sobriety, Service & Success: Rebuilding Life After Addiction

419 Sobriety, Service & Success: Rebuilding Life After Addiction

419 Sobriety, Service & Success: Rebuilding Life After Addiction

Thursday 26th February 2026

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The One Day At A Time Recovery Podcast

Sobriety & Success: Tim Westbrook's Journey

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