Everyone equals success with happiness, but that’s so wrong. It’s the other way round, begins Australian motivational speaker Sam Cawthorn. Sam was involved in a near-fatal accident in 2006 that left him with one arm less and a leg that did not work. Remarkably, he picked up the pieces of his life and now helps others figure out how to achieve their goals.
“I used to be a go-getter, but I took my life for granted. After the accident, minus an arm and a functioning leg, I reassessed my life. The death of my brother was a wake-up call. I decided to get back on my feet,” he says. Sam, author of Bounce Forward , decided to travel the world telling people it was possible to bounce back from any situation.
Among the beneficiaries of his talks is a lady who handed him a note after their session. “She’d written that she was all set to commit suicide that week. She was in a very low personal space — broken marriage, no job and unsupportive parents …she said, ‘thanks for saving my life’,” says a moved Sam.
But, why are motivational speakers so necessary in today’s world? Have we become less confident and more confused as a people? “Not really, but many of us are yet to tap into our inner strengths. It always helps to have a mentor, someone who can objectively guide you. Even an Olympian needs a coach, but you also need people who allow themselves to be mentored,” says Sam, who was in Coimbatore to take part in a face-to-face with students at GRD Institute of Management.
The past, he says, is important, but it must not dictate the future. “Be open to what life gives you. But, work towards you destiny. Most people spend more time planning a holiday than their future,” he laughs.
Sam recalls interacting with a student who said his dream was to make his parents happy. “But, is it not vital to live for oneself?” asks Sam. “This is because parents have pushed children way too much,” he says. “There is so much pressure on children to do what their parents want them to. In all this, their dreams and wishes are pushed to the background,” he adds.
Any conversation with Sam is incomplete without mention of his horrific accident and how his life changed dramatically. “I used to be a right-hander. I trained myself to write with my left hand. I was told I could not walk or swim. I do both now. There are certain things I cannot do. I can’t lift up my three children with both arms like I used to, I can’t run or jump… These things frustrate me, but in a positive way. My philosophy is to focus on what I can rather that what I can’t.”
This attitude saw him learn to play the guitar with one hand. Sam was an accomplished musician and used to serenade his wife Kate. And, he continues to do so.
