I was born missing my right leg above the knee, and growing up people told me that I would not be able to achieve my dreams of becoming a stellar athlete. I could have let my limitations define me and used my disability as an excuse not to try. However, I don’t believe in excuses. I learned how to change my way of thinking. I did not give up and instead kept striving, eventually becoming a Paralympian and world record-holding triathlete. It was not enough to simply work hard. I had to change my whole mindset and learn how to set goals and overcome the obstacles that got in the way of achieving them. I had to learn how to stop accepting excuses from myself and those around me. Through my talks and keynote speeches, I have inspired countless others to use my strategies and face their own challenges with grit and determination. I have delivered talks around the world to corporate clients, youth groups and fellow athletes. My talks are enthusiastically received, and I have been rated as the top motivational speaker at the majority of events where I’ve presented. Listeners have found my talks to be engaging, relatable and inspiring. I share both my successes and failures with a mix of openness, humility and humour. My life story and tools for success connect with audiences and leave them feeling that they too can take control of their lives. I show them that the difficulties life throws at you can be conquered, all it takes is resilience and the right attitude.