A LIFE LESSON: IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO SEE THE LIGHT

MY STORY begins after the Vietnam War, where I spent two tours of duty
as a member of the U.S. Air Force in Southeast Asia. After returning I
earned a two-year degree in electronics from a local college.

I pursued my career with various companies, including contractors to
NASA/Ames Research Center. I was associated with two airborne
astronomy programs; one was a Lear Jet and the other a C-141. I
performed technical and logistical services.

It was not uncommon for me to work with astronauts and Nobel Prize
winners on a daily basis. I also associated with astrophysics
astronomers who were making news with their discoveries. I received a
NASA group achievement award for my participation in the Apollo Soyuz
mission. During my 10 years with NASA, I received several letters of
commendation and worked on many different research programs. I also
traveled to Australia, Brazil, Peru, Greece and Bermuda.

I followed my urge to move into sales management as opportunities
arose. Positions ranged from regional to national sales manager and
then director of sales. On occasions I had not one but two
secretaries, and it was not uncommon to travel 100,000 air miles a
year. Besides a six-figure salary, I received bonuses, cars and other
benefits.

My climb up the corporate ladder, however, was accompanied by an
addiction to alcohol and drug abuse. Then, over a period of time, I
made a couple of bad career decisions that led to the point of my
being practically unemployable in the electronics industry. While
descending the corporate ladder the alcohol and drugs increased, along
with an addiction to prescription drugs.

With what income I had left, I opened a food distributorship. But
because of the alcoholism, I was spending all my time in the bars .
In just short of a year, I had to let my employees go and declare
bankruptcy. I was clearly heading for a life of nothing but drinking
and drugs. Then a friend suggested window cleaning as a way to
alleviate my financial problems.

In 1991 I began a window-cleaning business, going door-to-door to hang
my fliers. My initial investment for equipment and fliers was only
$26.93. But after running the business for 18 months, I was clearly
headed toward the bottom of alcoholism. Without funds to enter a
recovery treatment program, I was in and out of a 12-step program,
where I struggled to get past 30 days of sobriety.

On Dec. 5, 1991, I almost died from my alcoholism and cocaine
addiction. I had gone to a bar, had a glass of beer and consumed a
fifth of vodka. I obtained 3.5 grams of cocaine and then drove, while
seeing double, close to 10 miles during rush hour to get home. I
stopped off at a liquor store to pick up a bottle of 151 rum. At home,
I used all the cocaine instantly, drank the entire bottle of rum and
then passed out.

The amazing thing is I awoke the next day. I was a very sick man. I
had the DTs, and was in a fetal position with a pillow stuffed in my
mouth to keep my teeth from breaking as I was shaking and chattering
so hard. I screamed out, ``God, please help me.'' Next to my bed was a
book about the 12-step program and the Bible.

It took a couple of days to get back to the 12-step program and nine
more days to get clean of drugs (marijuana). My sobriety date is Dec.
14, 1991. Because of the debts I had acquired during my alcohol and
drug use, I filed another bankruptcy. My total debt was $180,000.
Today, both of those bankruptcies have been discharged and my debts
paid.

I was able to continue my window cleaning business and it is thriving
today. From my investment of $26.93, our income was more than $120,000
in 1996. Sales for 1997 were close to $200,000. I employ 10 people
full time during spring and summer. We service more than 1,500 homes a
year.

It continues to amaze me and others that despite two bankruptcies, no
cash and no investment from outsiders, I was able to start this
business and keep it running. My success has been an inspiration to
others. I have worked with other men, getting them on their own
journey of sobriety. I have developed a seminar called Equation for
Success that tells my story. It has been presented to men in prison,
church organizations and many non-profit groups.

My last name -- Light -- has become a true gift. I was able to find
the light during the course of my own disease when there was nothing
but darkness. My dream now is to bring light into people's lives,
today and every day. My message is: Don't give up before your dream
comes true because that dream will come true if you have the patience.

Wallace J. Light lives in Sunnyvale.

Checked-by: trikydik@inil.com (trikydik)