Warren Macdonald - A Test of Will
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Professional Keynote Speaker Warren Macdonald has always had a taste for adventure. Family camping trips led to weekend hikes, than weeklong ventures into the Australian bush. His affinity with wild places, and bearing witness to their disappearance (through clear-cut logging), led him to become a committed environmentalist. What does committed mean? He was once arrested after having to be cut by an angle grinder from beneath a D9 bulldozer. The charge was dropped, by the way, but that’s another story.
The same sense of adventure led to Warren becoming disillusioned with his career as a technical officer with the states (Victoria) natural gas company, leading him to do what most young Australians do at some point; go walkabout.
Travelling at first with a group of friends, then solo as they returned home, his travels took him across North America, throughout Europe (he once hitchhiked from London to Istanbul) then on to Africa. He’d initially told friends and family he’d be home in six months to a year. Two and a half years later he returned.
A back injury put the brakes on completing his accreditation as a wilderness guide and he found himself working as a painter at a five star resort in the Whitsunday Islands; part of the Great Barrier Reef. On the completion of one stage of a multi stage contract, Warren decided that what he really needed to do was “go bush”. To throw a backpack over his shoulder and disappear for a week. He chose Hinchinbrook Island, a five hour drive north, as his destination.
Warren’s life would never be the same again as a result of that decision. Climbing to the summit of the islands tallest peak, he became trapped beneath a one-ton boulder in a freak rock fall. His companion, Geert van Keulen, a Dutch traveller he’d met the day before, his only hope for survival. As Warren lay crushed, Geert raced down the mountain to get help. Warren’s test of will lasted two days before a helicopter arrived, and he was rescued. The accident would cost him the loss of both legs, amputated at mid thigh.
Obviously, he survived, but Warren’s story doesn’t end there; far from it. Prior to the accident, being in the outdoors defined him; it was who he was, and he was very reluctant to give that up.
Just ten months later, Warren climbed Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain using a modified wheelchair and the seat of his pants. A year later, in an epic 28 day journey through some of the most inhospitable terrain in Australia, he climbed Federation Peak.In February 2003, he became the first double above-knee amputee to reach the summit of Africa’s tallest peak, Mt Kilimanjaro (19,222ft), and more recently, in a spectacular effort requiring more than 2800 pull-ups over 4 days, made an ascent of America’s tallest cliff face, El Capitan. He is the only known above knee amputee to make an ascent of Canada’s landmark frozen waterfall, the 600 ft “Weeping Wall“ in Alberta.
In short, Warren didn’t just reclaim his old life; he took the basic model of it and made it bigger, better and brighter than it was before. What he wants you to know now, is you can do that too. To do so, we need to change the way we see the world. At the time of Warren’s accident, guys without legs were not supposed to be out climbing mountains. By being able to see that it might be possible, and then being willing to take action to make it so, Warren created that reality. You can too.
If you can change the way you see the world, you can literally, change the world; beginning with your own.
Warren currently lives in British Columbia, Canada with his partner Margo Talbot; and travels world-wide as a professional speaker delivering powerful, inspirational and motivational keynote engagements for corporations, health care organizations and associations.
What people are saying...
"It was a pleasure having Warren at our meeting. He is one of the most effective speakers that I have listened to. He has a unique ability to deliver his powerful message in an authentic and down-to-earth style. The attendees felt privileged that Warren made the effort above and beyond his speaking commitment to be a part of the event. I have and will keep recommending Warren."
–The Canada Life Assurance Company
“Warren’s true to life story, told in a humorous and thought provoking style, went well beyond theories and concepts to provide a fresh perspective about the challenge of change. He truly inspired our attendees to think differently, to view change not as “the end of the world”, but as an opportunity for personal and professional growth.
“As an organization that promotes learning as one its key goals we want our audience to learn from experiences outside the industry; to acknowledge that there is more to life than what we do for a living. Having Warren share lessons that apply to all aspects of our members lives added an authentic “take home” value that fosters continued growth long after the conference has ended.
“Warren taught our attendees that change or uncontrollable events may alter the status quo but do not prevent someone from growing, learning or moving ahead in life. In fact, Warren’s story clearly showed us that when change takes us beyond our comfort zones, it can be a powerful catalyst for growth and that regardless of the situation challenges can be overcome by positive thought, hard work and perseverance.
"For this we thank you."
–Central 1 Credit Union
“I want to take this opportunity to thank you once again for helping to make our event a huge success. You understood from our pre-event conversation exactly what it was we needed to convey and delivered that message in an engaging and thought provoking way.
“By skillfully blending your story with challenges currently facing our industry (obviously, you’d done your homework) you managed to convey to us not so much what we wanted to hear, but what we needed to hear.
“Your message “when we change the way we see the world, we change the world” resonated profoundly with our group, reinforcing for us how our perception, beginning with the way we see ourselves, effects others. Helping us to see this so clearly has proved invaluable in our dealing, not only with our clients, but amongst ourselves. For this we thank you."
–Shoppers Home Health Care
“Recognizing that the RCMP organization is undergoing significant change, the Pacific Region Training Center’s June 2009 POWPM theme was “A Vision for Change”. Warren MacDonald was our key speaker for the event. His story of challenge, perseverance, determination, tenacity, and courage was inspirational and moving. Months after our POWPM, PRTC personnel are still talking about him.
Warren MacDonald spent considerable effort to understand his audience with the result that his presentation was relevant for our organization. The presentation was delivered with humor and wit. Warren MacDonald is an extraordinary speaker with a powerful message of the positive nature of change. His message is thought provoking, informative, and inspirational.“
–OIC Support Services Pacific Region Training Center RCMP
“Your opening keynote was the perfect start to our annual conference! Your compelling story and remarkable accomplishments proved to be an enormous inspiration for our delegates, setting the tone for following sessions with your message referred to and discussed throughout the rest our conference.
“Your presentation was the highlight for many of our attendees and I wanted to share some of the comments we received when they were asked what they felt was the best aspect of the conference:
The opening keynote—I have quoted from or used Warren as an example with several clients since then and it has proved to be useful to them in their personal struggle.
“The keynote was a great inspiration, really helps to put the work we do with clients in perspective, and to focus on the positive influence we can have in their lives.
“The keynote speaker was amazing!!! When I’m coming up with excuses as to why I shouldn’t do something, I just think of him and all that he’s accomplished!
“Thanks for taking the time to talk to us and learn about our challenges and objectives. Clearly you listened, because your message felt like it was created just for us, making the valuable lesson you shared all the more accessible and applicable in both our professional and personal lives.“
–Career Management Association of BC
Programs
Warren's most requested topics are:
One Step Beyond: Setting & Reaching Impossible Goals
It’s all well and good to set seemingly impossible goals; the kind that has your team looking at you like you’re nuts. Like this time you’ve really lost it… You need them to see what you see. You need to convince them, to inspire your team to follow you. To show them what is possible when you’re prepared to go One Step Beyond…
This presentation is designed to provide you with three outcomes:
- Reinforced understanding of the power of purpose: when we have purpose, we have an edge…
- The ability to see obstacles as stepping stones towards our goals.
- A clear understanding of the importance of preparation as you near your goal.
A Test of Will: Finding Opportunity in Change
We’ve all heard it a million times; “change is constant”, “the only certainty in life is change”, “change or perish”. We all know it; what we need is for someone to show us how to deal with it. Warrens “Test of Will” presentation will help your group realize that challenges brought on by change hold endless opportunities for personal and professional growth. That it is possible to not just survive, but to thrive despite adversity.
This presentation is designed to provide you with three outcomes:
- A new perspective on how you view your challenges.
- The biggest incentive to step out of your comfort zone you could possibly imagine. Key strategies for moving from “thought” into “ACTION!”
