It couldn't have been a more pleasant mid-summer afternoon. At a time in my life when all finally seemed right with the world, those untimely, yet familiar words shattered that illusion. "Dan, can you come and see me in my office?" The ominous tone in her voice prepared me for what was coming next - my instincts were correct. Still shaking my head a day later and wondering when things started to go so horribly wrong, like a bolt of lightning it hit me - I'm less employable sober, than I ever was while I was drunk. It wasn't supposed to be this way. Sobriety, an education, various licenses and certifications; in my mind it wasn't a matter of whether or not I would ascend the ladder, rather how high I would go. As it turned out, I moved along much quicker than I had anticipated, I just didn't expect it to be in the wrong direction. Forty two years of drinking without ever losing a job, followed by being fired with regularity in my nine years of sobriety didn't make any sense - but I had to try and find a reason. What I stumbled upon was something far more valuable.