Bill Schuffenhauer, a leadership, employee engagement, and personal development speaker and coach, shares how he shifted his mindset to become a 3-time Olympian and silver medalist despite an extremely challenging start. Bill now sees his journey in a positive light and explains how he shifted his mindset to push past his tragedies. Now, he helps leaders and corporate teams transform and succeed by finding their bigger “why” – and he’s never been happier. Listen in to learn why mentorship is so important and get inspired to write your story and finally live your dream.
Time Stamped Show Notes
[02:00] – Bill’s journey as a homeless child with drug-addicted parents
- 02:40 – He knew he was meant for bigger and better at a young age; he became passionate about track and field
- 03:30 – He surrounded himself with good athletes and coaches; he became a decathlete and was supposed to go to the Sydney Olympics when he blew an ankle
- 04:20 – Bill gave up on himself until someone suggested he try bobsledding; he didn’t know anything about it at first
- 05:30 – His original intention was to make the Olympics – the sport didn’t matter so much as long as he went, so he did since he had nothing to lose
- 06:40 – He took all his focus and turned it to bobsledding; 1 year and 3 months later he made the Olympic team and won a silver medal
[08:00] – On mentorship when he was young
- 08:10 – He had a combination of mentorship and self-drive; he looked to people that were inspiring and motivating, including a kid next-door who he thought had it made
- 09:15 – By changing his environment he changed his story; he is grateful for those who supported but proud of himself for taking the action
[10:25] – On handling the emotion when he hurt his ankle right before the Olympics
- 10:35 – He had already been on a roller coaster; he hadn’t changed himself so nothing else was really changing
- 11:10 – Once he changed himself, everything fell into place; so he was on a high cloud when the injury happened
- 12:35 – He decided he wasn’t going to let the tragedy define him; then he was introduced to bobsledding
[13:12] – On his mindset
- 13:20 – He uses his childhood story as a positive because it made him the person he is today
- 13:45 – He took his skillset and mindset and took it to bobsledding to succeed; he used his failures as opportunities to grow and succeed
[14:15] – On moving from track and field to bobsledding
- 14:30 – He wasn’t a winter person at first and wasn’t used to the team dynamic; he researched the sport and successful athletes and applied what he learned
[16:00] – His motivational speaking, mentorship and coaching business
- 16:15 – His platform launched globally; people resonate with his story but he realized that he needed that transformational piece
- 17:45 – He got mentors to learn how to help people transform and succeed; he had to distinguish what was “normal” for him that wasn’t for others
- 19:00 – He became a student of his own success
[19:05] – On transformation
- 19:30 – He helps people find their “why” and find what they already know to apply it in their life
- 20:10 – Ongoing education and execution is what will change the game, not one-off motivational speeches or moments
- 21:05 – Be consistent in reshaping your vision and sticking to your goals
[21:45] – On going from athlete to coach
- 21:45 – He finds coaching to be even more rewarding; he’s honored to help people achieve success in their own life and write their own story
[22:55] – Some takeaways
- 23:00 – His methodologies work across the board and in any situation or industry; he likes to simplify and clarify things as much as possible
- 24:05 – He uses modeling and surrounds himself with high-level coaches, speakers, and mentors
- 25:00 – He thinks he could’ve accomplished more had he been more connected to people who were models
[26:10] – On working with corporate teams
- 26:25 – He wanted to become an executive after the Olympics and he did, but he didn’t see these groups apply clear success principles with their team
- 27:10 – He appreciates his clients and learns a lot from them; he is continually growing and adding to his own story
3 Key Points
- Your tragedies or downfalls don’t define you.
- You can write your own story.
- Be consistent.
Contact/Resources
- Primed Mind – Elliot’s Mindset Coaching App
- Bill’s Twitter
- Bill’s Facebook
- Bill’s LinkedIn
- Bill’s Website
