9 Lessons Construction Taught Me About Life in Recovery

My name is Jules Spencer, and I’ve spent the last decade building a career in construction. But behind the job titles and jobsites, I’ve been building something just as important — my life in recovery from alcohol and substance abuse.

For years, I struggled in silence while working in one of the most demanding industries. I’m sharing my story, honestly and without filters, because it’s time we start talking about what’s really going on in our workforce when it comes to substance abuse.

My career in construction and my path to recovery have both taught me invaluable lessons. In fact, these lessons are a lot more similar than they may appear at first.

Construction's Perfect Storm

Construction has one of the highest rates of substance use disordersof any industry. The long hours, physical strain and high stress can create a perfect storm. Add in an unspoken expectation to “tough it out,” and you have a culture that can be deadly for anyone silently battling addiction.

For me, substances were a coping mechanism. They numbed childhood trauma, eased chronic pain and blurred the pressures of the job. I started using at a young age and quickly became dependent. I wasn’t living — I was surviving.

I didn’t ask for help because I didn’t believe I had a problem. Chaos felt normal. It took hitting rock bottom more than once for me to see the truth. Recovery taught me there’s a better way, not just for me, but for this industry.

Changing the Conversation

Many still see addiction as a weakness or a lack of willpower. In reality, it’s a progressive, potentially fatal disease. But it doesn’t have to be fatal. There is hope, and there is life in recovery.

With a younger generation entering the trades, we have a chance to change how we approach substance use, mental health and recovery. That starts with awareness, but it must go further. We need leadership willing to address these topics, jobsites that support rather than shame those who are struggling and a new view of recovery — not as a liability, but as a strength.

What Construction Taught Me About Recovery

Over time, I’ve seen how the principles that make a good builder also support a strong recovery. Here are nine lessons I’ve learned on the job -- and in sobriety.

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  1. Structure and routine matter.

  Construction requires schedules and drawings: Without a plan, projects would never get off the ground. Buildings can't be constructed on guesswork.
  
  Recovery depends on a clear plan with set structure to withstand the elements of life. A scheduled routine --waking up, working, meetings, rest -- gave me the structure I needed.
  
  

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  2. Progress happens one step at a time.

  You don’t build an office tower in a day. The master schedule is broken down into segments -- phases, weeks, days -- to stay focused.
  
  Happens incrementally: One day, one choice at a time. I used to feel overwhelmed by how far I had to go, but I realized if I just focus on one step -- today -- I can keep building something better, piece by piece.

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  3. Everything depends on a strong foundation.

  The foundation is the first major structural element in construction. If it isn’t level and solid, the whole project is compromised.
  
  Recovery programs use foundational steps like detox and therapy as groundwork for lasting change. The foundation -- sobriety, honesty, support -- is what holds everything else together.

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  4. Success requires teamwork.

  Construction requires open communication and close coordination between all trades. No one builds alone.
  
  Recovery relies on support from sponsors, mentors, peers and family. I wouldn't have been able to stay clean without my community. The disease of addiction is isolating; the opposite of addiction is connection.

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  5. Rain or shine, you have to keep showing up.

  You can't phone in a construction project. Office and field teams need to show up day after day to stay on track.
  
  Recovery requires consistency with meetings, check-ins and daily reflection. Some days I’m tired, but every day I show up is a day I’m moving forward. That commitment adds up.

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  6. Mistakes are learning opportunities.

  Rework is inevitable, but it's one of the best ways to learn. You correct it, learn from it, and document it so you can avoid the situation that led you to that mistake.
  
  In recovery, a slip or setback is not the end of the road, but a lesson in resilience. A mistake will never define me — but how I react to that mistake will.

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  7. Grit and hard work count.

  Construction is uncomfortable. It's a demanding industry that requires physical effort, discipline and mental focus.
  
  Recovery is just as demanding in its own way. It takes emotional grit to face your past and rebuild your life. But just like on the jobsite, the hard work pays off. Nothing worth building is ever easy.

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  8. Safety is paramount.

  On the jobsite, we protect ourselves and others with PPE, fall protection and other non-negotiables. We document "near-misses" to prevent potential accidents in the future.
  
  In recovery, I have to protect my sobriety and mental health the same way, and take steps to avoid triggers. My "recovery PPE" includes 12-step meetings, gratitude and being honest with myself.

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  9. You're building a legacy.

  The projects we build will hopefully be standing long after we're gone. They are a legacy for the communities we live in.
  
  In recovery, I’m building something lasting, too. I’m breaking cycles and showing others that it’s possible to rebuild yourself. Today, I have the opportunity to be an example of hope. That’s a legacy I can be proud of.

The Blueprint For Success

In construction, a blueprint gives you a vision of what you’re building. Recovery is my blueprint for life — a design for living that keeps me grounded, focused and hopeful.

We can’t change the fact that this industry is demanding. But we can change how we talk about mental health and addiction. We can also build jobsites where people feel safe to ask for help, where recovery is supported and where strength is measured not just by muscle, but by resilience.

Because at the end of the day, the most important thing we’ll ever build is ourselves.

Go further: See how Get Construction Talking is working to reduce the stigma around mental health in the construction industry.

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