It was a health scare that pushed Jeff out of his comfort zone. He was diagnosed with a fatty liver at 29.

Now he’s reversed fatty liver disease and gained an amazing and active personal life.

Welcome to the Next Round, when things that scare you have the potential to improve your life in ways you never imagined. Your next round can be more than getting better physically, it can help you create a new point of difference.

Meet Jeff Smith, he works in finance by day, a notoriously boozy industry, but in his spare time he now performs improv on stage, jumps into icy fjords, learnt his mother tongue Tagalog, and has even launched a podcast. Most importantly he has reversed a health condition that could have killed him.

When Jeff changed his drinking habits, he didn’t just remove something from his life- he unlocked a more exciting life and imporved his health to boot!

A health scare in his late twenties pushed him to re-evaluate how alcohol fit into his lifestyle. What followed wasn’t just abstinence – it was expansion. From improv stages to ecstatic dance and even launching his own podcast, Jeff’s life now pulses with more energy, creativity, and meaning than ever before.

“It’s just such a lazy option to go down the route of the pub when there’s so many other things.”

The catalyst was a diagnosis: fatty liver. At just 29, Jeff found himself dealing with elevated liver enzymes, fatigue, and unpleasant stomach issues. His drinking wasn’t daily, but it was intense – classic binge behavior.

“I reached a point where I didn’t feel booze was doing anything anymore… I just didn’t like that hangover slash low-energy feeling.”

The health wake-up call forced him to stop. Cold. But instead of spiraling, he got curious.

“You end up having much more free time because I wasn’t low energy and didn’t feel hungover… and that just made me think, gosh, push yourself out your comfort zone.”

His first discovery? A run club that served matcha instead of beer. That led to Club Soda events, then the Social Wellness Club, and eventually a plunge into activities he never imagined himself doing. Like ecstatic dance.

“What an amazing way to just be free… you could be any sort of background. And I just thought, this is so damn cool.”

Even more surprising for an introvert in the corporate finance world? Improv.

“Try improv. That would have scared the living daylights out of me a year and a bit ago… but I’ve pushed myself out the comfort zone.”

Jeff also co-created a podcast with a university friend, “The English Footy Podcast.” With his evenings no longer lost to wine or recovery, he had time and clarity for passion projects. He even began learning Tagalog – his mother’s language – fulfilling a long-held desire to connect more deeply with his heritage.

But perhaps the most meaningful change came from social confidence.

“I just feel more confident in socialising alcohol free and not feeling embarrassed. Just feeling positive about that choice.”

Navigating the finance world – a bastion of long-standing drinking culture – hasn’t been easy. Jeff still finds pressure in client meetings and among old university friends who knew him as a drinker. But with confidence and a kombucha in hand, he’s learned to draw his own line.

“It’s been a bit of a re-education for some colleagues… but actually the benefits way outweigh the consequences.”

He’s also started to notice a ripple effect. Friends have followed his lead, exploring their own relationship with alcohol and finding joy in new, sober ways

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