This article was originally published in the Spring 2025 issue of ICON/REFINED. Grab your copy here. 

Written by Thomas Fay, owner of Gambit Recovery

Follow him: @gambitrecovery

Trigger Warning: This content discusses topics related to suicide. Please proceed with caution, and take care of yourself. If you or someone you know is struggling, please consider reaching out to a mental health professional or helpline.

I found myself at what I thought was the lowest point in my life. A serious suicide attempt left me confronting the brutal reality of my addiction and the wreckage it had created. I was 26 years old, a high school dropout, and completely lost. The shame was overwhelming. But in the midst of that despair, a few years later, I made a decision that would change everything. I got sober in 2010. At the time, I didn’t know it would lead me to becoming an entrepreneur or building a national recovery community. All I knew was that I needed to try something different.

Sobriety didn’t come easy, and neither did rebuilding my life. Early on, I faced an internal battle with self-doubt. I constantly questioned whether someone like me–someone who hadn’t even finished high school–could achieve anything meaningful. But as I worked through my recovery, I realized that the very things I saw as weaknesses could become my greatest strengths. My past didn’t have to define me; it could inspire me to create something better.

Recognizing the Flaws in Recovery

As I navigated my own journey, I couldn’t help but notice how deeply flawed the recovery industry was. Too many programs felt sterile, detached, and inaccessible to the very people who needed them most. The focus seemed to be on money and restrictions rather than building true community. I wanted to change that.

I envisioned a recovery space that wasn’t just a place to live but a launchpad for a better life. A place where people didn’t just survive but could thrive. I wanted to create something that felt accessible, appealing, and, most importantly, supportive. That vision would become Gambit Recovery, a network of sober living communities designed to help people rebuild their lives with dignity and purpose.

Gambit Recovery isn’t just about sobriety; it’s about empowerment. We’ve created spaces where people can build careers, grow relationships, and rediscover their potential. What sets us apart is our focus on community and opportunity. We don’t just offer housing; we offer hope and a path forward.

Overcoming Challenges

Starting my own business came with its fair share of challenges. In the beginning, I had no roadmap, no blueprint to follow. The recovery industry isn’t exactly designed for innovation, and trying to change the status quo felt like pushing a boulder uphill.

One of the toughest hurdles was overcoming my own self-judgment. I was stepping into a leadership role as a high school dropout and someone with a troubled past. The imposter syndrome was real. But I realized that my experience was what gave me credibility. I wasn’t just someone running a recovery program—I was someone who had lived it, someone who understood the struggle on a deeply personal level.

Another challenge was creating something that was truly accessible. Recovery is expensive, and many people can’t afford the traditional options. I knew I had to find ways to bridge that gap. Through creative problem-solving and understanding this wasn’t a “get rich” plan, I worked hard to make Gambit Recovery available and affordable to as many people as possible.

What Keeps Me Going

Over the past 14 years, I’ve watched something incredible continue to happen. I’ve helped people with absolutely nothing—no money, no confidence, no direction. And I’ve seen those same people go on to achieve things they never thought possible.

Some of the most inspiring moments of my journey have been watching individuals turn their lives around in ways that ripple far beyond recovery. I’ve seen people start successful businesses, go back to school and earn degrees, become leaders in their communities, and even enter professions like law and medicine. Others have built businesses, grown them, and sold them—something that would have seemed impossible when they first came to my houses.

These stories are what keeps me going, even on the hardest days. They’re a reminder that recovery is about more than just quitting drugs or alcohol—it’s about rediscovering your potential and rewriting your story.

Building Something Different

What makes Gambit Recovery unique is our focus on the whole person. Sobriety is just the starting point. From there, we help people rebuild every aspect of their lives. We provide structure and accountability, but we also help create growth and opportunity.

I didn’t want Gambit Recovery to feel like a facility; I wanted it to feel like a community. That’s why we emphasize connection, whether it’s through mentorship, employment opportunities, or simply creating a space where people can feel seen and supported. Our residents aren’t just participants; they’re part of a larger movement toward building better lives.

Looking Ahead

As proud as I am of what Gambit Recovery has accomplished, I know there’s still so much more to do. One of my biggest goals is to make recovery even more accessible. Too many people are still turned away because they can’t afford it, and I’m committed to finding more ways to bridge that gap.

Long-term, I want to take what we’ve built and expand it even further. We will have a minimum of two houses per state in the US. Addiction isn’t limited to the United States, and neither should recovery solutions be. I’m on my way to creating a global network of recovery communities that share the same values of accessibility, empowerment, and hope.

Turning Pain Into Purpose

If there’s one thing I’ve learned on this journey, it’s that the darkest moments in your life can lead to the brightest outcomes—if you let them. My suicide attempt could have been the end of my story. Instead, it became the beginning of a new chapter, one defined by purpose and a relentless drive to help others.

Entrepreneurship isn’t easy, especially in an industry as emotionally charged as recovery. But the impact we’ve made—helping people rebuild their lives, create businesses, and reconnect with their potential—makes every challenge worthwhile.

At Gambit Recovery, we’re not just helping people stay sober; we’re helping them dream again. And that, to me, is what makes this journey so meaningful.