Even Coaches Need Coaches
June 6, 2026
"I think I'm in the 'Gray Area.'"
This week I attended the "Connect, Learn, Share" conference for CliftonStrengths coaches in San Diego, California.
More than 100 independent coaches gathered to connect, learn, and share ideas about helping people grow and reach their potential.
One conversation stood out among all the others.
During a break, a fellow coach approached me and said quietly:
"I've been drinking more than I want. I think I'm in the 'gray area.'"
I knew exactly what they meant.
Gray Area Drinking is the space between "occasional drinking" and "rock bottom."
It's where you haven't experienced major consequences from alcohol, but deep down, you know your drinking isn't aligned with the life you want to live.
Experts estimate that up to 25% to 50% of American adults who consume alcohol, and roughly 2 billion people globally, fall into this category.
You may find yourself:
• Drinking more often than you intended
• Breaking promises you've made to yourself about cutting back
• Waking up with regrets, anxiety, or brain fog
• Wondering why moderation feels harder than it "should"
• Questioning whether alcohol is helping or hurting your life
The challenge is that many Gray Area Drinkers don't see themselves reflected in traditional recovery stories.
👉 They're successful
👉 Responsible
👉 High-achieving
👉 They're managing careers, families, and responsibilities
👉 From the outside, everything looks fine
I know because I was one of them.
Before I stopped drinking more than four years ago, I spent years in that gray area. I wasn't at rock bottom, but I wasn't thriving either.
I woke up too many mornings feeling disappointed in myself after another night of drinking more than I intended.
At the time, I had already spent nearly a decade coaching leaders using CliftonStrengths.
I understood the power of self-awareness and personal growth.
Yet when it came to alcohol, I felt stuck.
Working with a Life Coach changed that. Together, we began experimenting.
💡 A few alcohol-free days each week
💡 New ways to manage stress
💡 Greater awareness of my habits and triggers
Eventually, I joined a 21-day alcohol-free challenge that changed everything. That experience planted a seed:
What if there were a supportive, strengths-based way for other gray area drinkers to experiment with life without alcohol?
Today, that's exactly why I've created my own 31-Day Alcohol-Free Challenge.
🔹 It's not about labels
🔹 It's not about judgment
🔹 And it's not about deciding you'll never drink again
It's simply an opportunity to step back, evaluate your relationship with alcohol, and discover what's possible when you give yourself a break from drinking. And, your Top 5 CliftonStrengths are included in the course!
Dry July is right around the corner.
If you're drinking more than you want, waking up with regrets, or wondering whether alcohol is holding you back from becoming the version of yourself you know you can be, I'd love to have you join us. Registration is open at: www.mageecoaching.com/31daycourse.
Sometimes all it takes is one conversation — or one experiment — to change the trajectory of your life.
Progress over perfection, always 💜
