Sober 17 years since 1/21/1976, this was his first time speaking at a convention and what a great start.
He grew up in Patterson, NJ where you had to join a gang to survive, so he joined the toughest one.
That was great except he was scared to death until he had alcohol in him.
"I did it past the point where it stopped working."
From gang to teacher to assistant principal to real estate sales to broker to owner to pitiful, incomprehensible demoralization.
He did not know it was, "Don't drink AND go to meetings AT THE SAME TIME!"