...So I Learned to Run

“Success is a choice. Tell me ‘you can’t’, and I’ll show you YOU CAN!”
Mike McGauley

Michael McGauley is no stranger to adversity. At age eight, he was diagnosed with dyslexia, a condition that was not very well understood at that time. As a result, he was transferred to eight different schools in six years, and each time was faced with new kids and new bullies to stare down.

By grade eight, his public school principal told Michael's parents that he would never be able to become anything more than a tradesman. His advice for Michael was to not go beyond grade10 since he would have difficulties making it through high school, let alone college or university.

Michael took this as a challenge. Through tutoring and what he now refers to as the “Power of Persistence”, he not only completed high school, but achieved two college diplomas from Humber College and a degree in business from York University.

Michael has pioneered several entrepreneurial enterprises since the age of nine. One of his most successful ventures saw him take sales from $100,000 to $750,000 in annual revenue within its first three years of operation.

Tragedy struck Michael's personal and business life when a car driven by an intoxicated driver sped into the scene of an accident to which Michael was rendering assistance and crushed him between two cars.



Michael was severely injured. Doctors were initially certain he would not live because he had lost a significant amount of blood. After 72 hours, they revised their prognosis and determined that he would survive, but his legs were threatened for amputation due to vast internal injuries.

Michael would not hear of losing his legs or driving a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He determined that he would not only walk again, but that he would learn to run. He endured 23 operations and seven long years of recovery and rehabilitation. By June 2001, he completed his first mini-triathlon. Today, he enjoys playing hockey and downhill skiing!

Michael shares his compelling life story and his hard-won insights with his audiences. His stories and “life lessons” are applicable to both business and personal life.

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