12. MARK BERRIDGE

TODAYS INTERVIEW IS WITH MARK BERRIDGE- AUTHOR OF A FRACTION STRONGER THE INSPIRING STORY OF ONE MANS SURVIVAL AFTER A LIFE CHANGING ACCIDENT, AND FINDING POSSIBILITY IN LIFES DARKEST MOMENTS IN A SPLIT SECOND, MARK BERRIDGE'S LIFE CAME CRASHING DOWN. HIS BICYCLE UNDERSTEERED THROUGH A CORNER, CATAPULTING HIM HEADFIRST INTO A STORMWATER DRAIN. A LARGE PIECE OF DISLODGE VERTEBRA COMPRESSED HIS SPINAL CORD, CAUSING DEVASTATING NERVE DAMAGE. ITS NOT ABOUT THE FALL -ITS ABOUT HOW YOU CHOOSE TO GET UP. MARK FOUND THE POWER WITHIN TO BECOME A FRACTION STRONGER EVERYDAY. YOU WILL FIND MARK BERRIDGE IS JUST A NICE GUY, THROWN INTO AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION. THIS INTERVIEW EXPLORES WHO IS MARK BERRIDGE AND HOW DID HE BECOME A FRACTION STRONGER EVERYDAY AT THE TIME OF HIS ACCIDENT MARK WAS AN INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATOR FOR RIO TINTO IN THE IRON ORE ARM OF THE BUSINESS. A MAJOR NEGOTIATION SKILL IS REDUCING THE GAP. MARK REDUCED THE GAPS IN HIS OWN HEAD, WHERE EVER HE COULD TO MAXIMISE HIS REHABILITATION. THERE IS A GREAT INSIGHT INTO LEADERSHIP IN THIS INTERVIEW. A FORMER BOSS OF MARK GAVE A REDUNDANT SENIOR PERSONAL ASSISTANT A BEAUTIFUL HEARTFELT FAREWELL. WHEN MARK COMPLIMENTED HIS BOSS ON THE DIGNITY OF THE FAREWELL HIS BOSS SHARED WITH MARK, THAT FAREWELLS ARE NOT ONLY FOR THE PERSON GOING, BUT EVERYONE WHO IS STILL WORKING FOR THE COMPANY, IT’S ABOUT CULTURE. THERE ARE REFERENCES TO SUPPORT AND WHERE THAT COMES FROM. IN ONE OF MARK’S DARKEST MOMENTS UNABLE TO MOVE AND IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN, AN ACQUAINTANCE CAME INTO HIS ROOM AND TOLD MARK ABOUT A STORY OF RECOVERY. THAT SUPPORT CAME AT A CRUCIAL MOMENT AND GAVE MARK THE WILL NOT GIVE UP. THERE ARE REFERENCES TO ANOTHER LAYER OF SUPPORT FROM A PHYSIOTHERAPIST WHO FRAMED THE WAY FORWARD IN SUCH A MANNER THAT MARK CHOSE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD. THERE ARE REFERENCES TO THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY AND HOW THE SUPPORT OF FAMILY CAN HELP GET THROUGH THE TOUGHEST OF TIMES. MARKS STORY AND INTERVIEW SHOWS ALL OF US THAT WE CAN BECOME A FRACTION STRONGER EVERYDAY. I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS INTERVIEW AS MUCH AS I DID. SHOW NOTES FOR THE INTERVIEW 6:34 THE ACCIDENT 14:14 MARK’S FORMER CAREER AS AN INTERNATIONAL SENIOR NEGOTIATOR FOR RIO TINTO 16:29 A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SENIOR NEGOTIATOR 29:44 A WONDERFUL LEADERSHIP STORY 36:16 HOW BAD IT CAN GET IN HOSPITAL DESPITE EVERYONE DOING THEIR BEST, THEN SUPPORT FROM SOMEONE WHO SHOWED THEIR KINDNESS 39:25 HOSPITAL CAN BE A LOST AND FOUND DEPARTMENT 42:00 BRIAN’S STORY 44:30 BRIAN’S GIFT - THE INSCRIPTION 49:30 AN UNLUCKY MOMENT LET MARK DO SOME AMAZING THINGS. HE IS NOW THE AMBASSADOR FOR DISABILITY AT GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY. 55:00 PHYSIO LEANNE - RECALIBRATED THE WAY I THINK 58:00 LETTING GO OF CERTAINTY - EVERY RECOVERY IS UNIQUE 1:01:00 EMBERS IN MY LIFE MADE ME WHOLE - MY FAMILY 1:06:00 READERS OF THE BOOK HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT THEY ARE STRONGER THAN THEY THINK THEY ARE - THEY ARE NOT ALONE - MARK LEARNED TO LOSE FORWARD. EVERY STEP WAS A STEP TOWARDS RECOVERY. CHECK OUT MARKBERRIDGE.COM.AU/SHOP TO ORDER A COPY OF A FRACTION STRONGER