“Cultivating a Last Bad Day Mindset” with Michael O'Brien | Ep. 095
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About this Episode:
In this episode of the Transformative Leader Podcast, I’m happy to bring you a conversation with author, speaker, and executive coach, Michael O’Brien, about mindset shifts we can all make to take charge of our own stories, create better tomorrows, and ensure that our “last bad day” is behind us for good. Michael O’Brien is founder of Peloton Coaching & Consulting, a platform he uses to help his clients “create better tomorrows” for themselves. In his best-selling book, My Last Bad Day Shift, Michael writes about how a life-altering accident helped him shift his mentality to ensure he never again has a bad day, and guides others in doing the same. As a corporate coach, Michael elevates successful leaders by helping them learn to also shift their mentality and prevent bad moments from turning into bad days.
Michael O’Brien is on a quest to help 1 million people have their Last Bad Day. Before launching into his coaching career, Michael experienced a life-altering event that shattered his worldview. On July 11th, 2001, he was struck head-on by a speeding SUV while out on a training bike ride. Now, Michael considers this his Last Bad Day, and one of his best because it helped him shift his perspective in almost every aspect of his life and career.
Suffice it to say, Michael has an incredible story of survival, resilience, and antifragility. What’s even more incredible is how he was able to transform such a negative experience into a positive one, creating personal and professional growth for both himself and many others in the process. As I like to say, nothing bad has ever happened to me, because anything that seemed bad at the time only let to greater things down the road, and I believe that’s what Michael’s experience shows. We can’t always choose what happens to us, but we can choose how we respond, and it is ultimately our response that shapes our destiny. Do we treat our obstacles are excuses and roadblocks, or challenges to overcome and strengthen us? Do we blame others for our circumstances, or do we take charge and change them?
Often we come out of near-death experiences with a new, holistic appreciation of life, and Michael’s story seems to fit into that pattern as well. Along with that often also comes a more realistic perspective on the complaints and excuses we have had thus far in life, which seem trivial and almost humorous in comparison to actual pain and suffering. I’ve had my share of moments similar to those, bad moments that could have become bad weeks, months, or years, so I can personally attest to the power of a crisis or near-death experience to transform one’s mindset on the double. However, something on which both Michael and I also agree, is that one need not and should not wait, for some life-altering crisis to begin shifting their mindset.
So, it goes without saying, but Michael is definitely a kindred spirit, and his message is a timely and powerful one that everyone should heed. I really enjoyed our conversation, can’t wait to talk to Michael again, and I can’t recommend his work and his message highly enough. So, be sure not to miss this episode!
Some topics discussed in this episode include:
A recounting of Michael’s Last Bad Day and how it transformed his life going forward.
The importance of how we choose to label our experiences, relative to both our attitude and our behavior.
How most of us how the relationship between our attitude, behavior, and circumstances backward, and how that hinders us from being as successful or fulfilled as we could be.
How we can prevent bad moments from cascading into bad days, weeks, months, and years.
And much, much more…
Michael O’Brien is the author of two books: his inspiring memoir, Shift: Creating Better Tomorrows: Winning at Work and in Life and the companion work, My Last Bad Day Shift: How to Prevent Bad Moments from Turning into Bad Days, a practical and powerful guide to lead a life free of bad days. As a certified executive coach, Michael has advised, motivated, and inspired Fortune 500 executives, entrepreneurs, and other difference-makers at organizations like Brother International and Johnson and Johnson. He also serves as a mentor and volunteer with organizations that promote professional growth, such as the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association and James Madison University's College of Business. Before starting Peloton Coaching and Consulting, he was a healthcare sales and marketing executive and received his marketing degree from James Madison University.
Guest Links:
To learn more about Michael and his work, you can visit his website, where you can also purchase his books. You can also view his TedX talk. You can connect with Michael on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
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