This is the story of a young man’s journey of surviving a life changing tragedy, overcoming adversity and thriving with creative success. 21-year-old Tanner Gers (2004) had big dreams! He was getting ready to go into the military to serve his country but this dream crashed as he was impaled by a tree through the head in an auto accident which rendered him legally blind.
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The next phase of Tanner’s life was filled with multiple brain surgeries, reconstructive surgeries and psych evaluations.
But the biggest tragedy in Tanner’s life, wasn’t losing his sight – it was NOT living life, and NOT taking every day by the horns.
As you can imagine, he was in a lot of pain, angry and severely depressed.
”I felt like my life was pretty much over” – Tanner Gers
The big shift – Wise words from dad ‘it could always be worse’ shifted his perspective gave him a positive outlook on his life and planted the seeds of appreciation and gratitude.
Discovering baseball for the blind brought joy back in his life and enabled him to express himself physically on a level plain field. This super motivated him and sparked a desire to be as fit as possible and sent him on the path to more competitive sports and Paralympics.
Since that fateful accident in 2004 Tanner has reinvented himself into a pro-athlete and an all-round high performer. He has graduated from college and has won several sporting laurels including 2011 Para Pan American gold, 2012 US Paralympic trials gold medal and National Beep Baseball Association World Series Offensive MVP.
He has also ignited his entrepreneurial passions and founded a sports performance membership site called The Athlete Summit.
I know this man outside of this interview and I can vouch that he is an all-round high performer and an unstoppable force for good. When he is not training, he is lifting others (metaphorically speaking) with his motivational speaking and free podcast – ”The Creative Success Show”.
Key lessons from Tanner’s story:
- Learn how self-pity and complaining is the recipe for hitting rock bottom
- Learn the power of perspective and positive outlook to create success
- Learn to use of mindset to break through obstacles
Click here for part 2 of this interview, when Tanner shares his daily habits that keep him progressing towards his goals and shares the lessons from his experience of overcoming adversity and thriving from it.
Resources:
S1E34: Restless to Joyful with Toks Adebiyi – Part 1
S1E9: Who are you? Part 2 (Strengths)
S1E6: Who are you? – Part 1 (Personality)
S1E0: The Start Anew Show – WHY, WHAT and WHO
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