The first time I heard the term “sober entrepreneur,” I laughed. Back then, I was a founder who partied like it was part of the job description—until it nearly killed me. Now, I know better: The principles of recovery aren’t just for addicts; they’re the blueprint for sustainable success.
At The Krowne Company, we teach founders to adopt three recovery mindsets:
1. Progress over perfection.
In early sobriety, you learn to celebrate small wins (30 days clean) without fixating on the distant future (“forever”). Same in business: Obsessing over “overnight success” leads to burnout. One of our clients—a tech founder who felt stuck after a failed launch—used this framework to rebuild. She focused on hitting weekly metrics vs. quarterly goals. Within a year, her revenue grew 300%.
2. Your network is your net worth.
Recovery programs emphasize community because willpower alone fails. Yet most entrepreneurs isolate themselves. I learned this the hard way: My relapses always started when I stopped asking for help. Now, I host masterminds where founders share struggles openly—no LinkedIn bragging allowed.
3. Relapse isn’t failure; denial is.
In addiction, relapse is part of many people’s stories. The danger isn’t slipping up—it’s pretending you didn’t. I apply this to business failures. When a recent product flopped, we dissected it publicly in a company-wide “autopsy.” Result? Faster iteration and a team that trusts leadership.
You don’t need to be an addict to benefit from recovery principles. But if you’re exhausted from the hustle-and-grind lie, try this: For one week, replace “How much did I accomplish?” with “How aligned was my work with my values?” That’s the sobriety mindset—and it’s why my companies outlast competitors who burn out.
Michael Krowne 