Stop Playing Life on Hard Mode: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Peak Performance with Clifford Stephan

Dec 2, 2025

Clifford Stephan, founder of Booze Vacation and a men's health advocate, shares his journey from Silicon Valley consultant to health coach, emphasizing the hidden costs of alcohol on performance. He discusses how a break from drinking can transform sleep, energy, and overall health. Clifford introduces his Booze Vacation framework, highlighting the importance of extended breaks for re-regulating hormones and brain chemistry. The conversation tackles why moderating alcohol rarely works for high performers and offers insights into optimizing wellness for entrepreneurs.

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ANECDOTE

Origin Story: From Silicon Valley To Booze Vacation

Clifford Stephan discovered Booze Vacation after taking a long break inspired by the audiobook Alcohol Lied to Me.
He shifted from Silicon Valley comp-plan consulting to coaching men on health and alcohol use after seeing dramatic personal results.

INSIGHT

You Don't Know You're At 60%

Operating at 60% becomes the new normal and hides major losses in health and performance.
Returning to 100% reveals large, quick gains in energy, sleep, and business performance.

ADVICE

Take A 3–12 Month 'Booze Vacation'

Take a planned 3–12 month booze vacation to re-regulate brain, sleep, hormones, and metabolism.
Use that time to play offense with diet, sleep, and fitness so gains compound quickly.

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In this eye-opening episode, Dustin sits down with Clifford Stephan, founder of Booze Vacation, to explore a topic most successful entrepreneurs avoid: how alcohol quietly erodes health and performance. Clifford shares his personal journey from Silicon Valley consultant to men's health advocate, revealing how a simple break from drinking transformed his sleep, energy, and business performance. This isn't about alcoholism or sobriety—it's about giving high-performing men the tools to objectively assess what alcohol is really costing them. From brain chemistry and testosterone levels to sleep quality and metabolic health, Clifford breaks down the science behind why taking a "booze vacation" can be the ultimate performance hack. Whether you're curious about optimizing your health or wondering why you're always operating at 60%, this conversation offers a roadmap to reclaim your energy, clarity, and edge as an entrepreneur.

Chapters:

(00:00:00) - Introduction: The Men's Health Movement Disguised as a Beer Commercial
(00:01:48) - Clifford's Silicon Valley Story: From Corporate Success to Health Crisis
(00:05:47) - The Breaking Point: When Success Doesn't Feel Successful
(00:08:42) - Why "Drinking Less" Doesn't Work for High Performers
(00:12:47) - Playing Life on Hard Mode: Operating at 60% vs 100%
(00:18:23) - Dustin's 75 Hard Journey: Three Attempts and a Breakthrough
(00:23:34) - The Booze Vacation Framework: 3-12 Months to Reset Your Life
(00:28:15) - The Science: Brain Chemistry, Testosterone, and Sleep Quality
(00:33:42) - How Booze Vacation Coaching Works: Education, Support, and Results
(00:38:25) - Take the Free Men's Health Assessment and Start Your Journey

Links and Resources:

Website: https://boozevacation.com/
Clifford Stephan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cliffordstephan/
Dustin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinriechmann/
7 Figure Leap: https://7figureleap.com/

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