The Adversity Advantage with Doug Bopst From Homeless Heroin Addict to Millionaire: The Story of Khalil Rafati
Today's guest is Khalil Rafati, the founder of the renowned smoothie bar and juice chain Sunlife Organics. He possesses one of the most insane and inspiring recovery stories I have ever encountered. In Khalil's darkest moments, he found himself hopeless and homeless on Skid Row in LA. Miraculously, he managed to crawl his way out of that difficult situation, seek treatment, and ultimately find sobriety. Through the relentless pursuit of personal growth, finding purpose, and self-discovery, Khalil has attained nearly two decades of sobriety and is living the life of his dreams. However, his recovery journey has not always been easy, marked by numerous ups and downs that we delve into deeply today. We explore Khalil's gripping story, tracing his path from homelessness on Skid Row to achieving long-term sobriety. We also dive into the challenges of early sobriety and how Khalil's responsibility of caring for his dying mother provided the necessary focus for his recovery. Khalil shares why he believes being an addict is a superpower and credits it for his ability to build the empire of Sunlife Organics without any formal education or experience. Furthermore, we discuss his healing journey, including how he transformed his relationship with external validation and fame and much more!
Thanks to today’s sponsor:
Just Thrive:
Use Promo code "Doug" at checkout to receive 20% off your order
What to Listen For:
- 00:00 Intro
- 01:15 Becoming Khalil 3.0
- 06:36 Addiction is a superpower
- 12:55 Fame and external validation
- 17:17 Khalili gets humbled
- 23:33 Morning routine
- 27:32 Homeless on skid row
- 34:53 Early sobriety
- 39:09 How did success impact his recovery?
- 42:31 Becoming Khalil 4.0
- 47:55 Advice for addicts who are newly sober
Episode Resources:
⚠ WELLNESS DISCLAIMER ⚠
Please be advised; the topics related to mental health in my content are for informational, discussion, and entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your current condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard from your favorite creator, on social media, or shared within content you’ve consumed.
If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
If you do not have a health professional who is able to assist you, use these resources to find help:
Emergency Medical Services—911
If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
SAMHSA addiction and mental health treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727) and https://www.samhsa.gov
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