In 2017, I lost everything.
Not metaphorically. I mean I sat in a dark apartment with $847 in my bank account, a 4-year-old daughter asleep in the next room, and absolutely no idea what I was going to do next.
I had built a business. I had built a life. And in the span of about 90 days, I destroyed it through a combination of bad decisions, bad relationships, and one really stupid choice involving alcohol and a karaoke machine at 2am.
Rock bottom is a place you have to visit before you can really climb.
What Rock Bottom Actually Looks Like
When you're at the bottom, it doesn't feel like a beginning. It feels like an ending.
It feels like everyone can see through you. It feels like your past mistakes are written on your face. It feels like no one will ever take you seriously again.
And the worst part? You're mostly right.
People will judge you. Doors will close. You'll have to rebuild trust that took years to earn and seconds to destroy.
But here's what I learned: rock bottom is also the moment you stop pretending.
When you have nothing left to protect, you also have nothing left to lose. And that is a strange, terrifying kind of freedom.
The Turning Point Is Internal
My comeback didn't start with a business strategy. It started with a decision.
I decided I was done being the person who made excuses. Done being the person who blamed circumstances. Done being the person who drank to escape and woke up with nothing.
I didn't have a plan. I didn't have funding. I didn't have a network or a safety net.
What I had was a decision, made repeatedly, every single morning.
This is what most people miss about transformation. They think it starts with an opportunity, a strategy, a lucky break. It doesn't. It starts with an internal decision to stop being the person who created the problem.
I wrote about the hidden fears that keep people stuck. Hitting bottom gave me the one gift I needed: no more illusions about who I was.
Building Back Better
Here's what I did differently the second time:
I stopped chasing recognition and started chasing results.
I'd spent years building a personal brand. Polishing an image. Curating how people saw me. When I lost all of that, I had to start from scratch—and this time I started with what actually worked, not what looked good.
I reached out to people I respected. Not to sell them anything. Just to ask for their time, their advice, their honesty. I asked for help without a pitch prepared.
Within 6 months, I'd rebuilt a network of real relationships. Within 12 months, I'd rebuilt a business that was actually more sustainable than the one I'd lost. Within 24 months, I was back above six figures.
Not because I was smarter the second time. Because I was more honest.
The Creativity Comeback
Here's something nobody tells you: you don't need substances to be creative.
I thought I did. I thought my best ideas came from late nights and induced states. I thought I needed to be a little bit on edge to produce good work.
Turns out I was just addicted to distraction and using "creativity" as an excuse.
When I got clean—when I actually addressed the root of why I was running—I discovered something unexpected: my creativity didn't disappear. It multiplied.
Clear-headed ideas are better ideas. Sustained output beats dramatic bursts. Building something that lasts beats burning bright and crashing.
I've helped dozens of coaching clients address the mental and emotional foundations of their business. You can't out-strategy your way to success if the foundation is broken. Fix the foundation first.
What I Would Tell My Past Self
If I could sit next to the version of me at the bottom, here's what I'd say:
This is not the end of your story. It's the first chapter of the real one.
The people who matter will forgive you. The people who don't were never your people anyway. The business you build from here will be stronger because it was built on honesty, not image.
You are not your worst moment. You are not your biggest mistake. You are what you choose to build from this point forward.
And brother: you are going to build something extraordinary.
If you've hit bottom and you think no one can help you, you're wrong. The fact that you're reading this means you're still in the game. That counts for everything.
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Join Wealthy Coach Academy — my $197/month coaching program where I help you build a business that actually works. Or start with a $4.95 starter class and see what happens.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I've actually hit bottom or just hit a rough patch?
A rough patch has hope in it. Hitting bottom feels like the hope is gone. When you stop making excuses and start taking radical responsibility—that's when you know the climb is starting.
What if I've burned bridges with the people I need to rebuild with?
Some bridges can't be rebuilt. That's okay. Focus on the bridges you haven't burned yet—and build new ones. Reputation rebuilds faster than most people think when your actions match your words.
How do I rebuild confidence after losing everything?
Confidence comes from demonstrated competence, not positive thinking. Start with tiny wins. Make one good decision today. Then another tomorrow. The evidence accumulates and so does your confidence.
Should I talk about my rock bottom in my business?
That depends on your audience and your comfort level. Authenticity builds trust, but you don't owe anyone your trauma. Share what's true and what's helpful. Not everything true is helpful.
What if I keep making the same mistakes?
Then you haven't addressed the root cause. Most people treat symptoms. Get to the underlying pattern—usually fear, avoidance, or a false belief about yourself—and change that. Everything else follows.
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About Jeremiah Krakowski
Jeremiah Krakowski is a coaching business mentor who helps coaches, course creators, and consultants scale from $3k/mo to $40k+/mo using direct response marketing, AI systems, and proven frameworks. He runs Wealthy Coach Academy and has 23+ years of experience in digital marketing. Learn more →