#156 - Michael O'Brian -The Last Bad Day: How a Head-On Collision Sparked a Mindfulness Revolution

Built Not Born

🎙️ From Tragedy to Triumph: How Michael O'Brien Turned His "Last Bad Day" Into a Mindfulness Revolution

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Michael O'Brien, who shares his incredible journey from a devastating cycling accident to becoming an executive coach and mindfulness advocate. After being hit head-on by an SUV traveling 40 mph in 2001, Michael transformed his near-death experience into a philosophy that's helping executives and corporations embrace mindfulness.

⏱️ Time Stamps:

00:00 - Introduction and early career

05:30 - The life-changing accident on July 11th, 2001

15:45 - The path to forgiveness and mindset shift

25:30 - Development of Pause, Breathe, Reflect (PBR) methodology

35:15 - Bringing mindfulness to corporate culture

45:20 - Cycling across America with a total knee replacement

50:30 - Quick-fire questions and book recommendations

💫 Power Quote:

"Everything is neutral until you label it. One day, you might see that this happened for you and not to you."

Key Highlights:

• 🚴‍♂️ Surviving a near-fatal cycling accident that required 34 units of blood
• 🧘‍♂️ Creating the Pause, Breathe, Reflect (PBR) mindfulness practice
• 💪 Completing a cross-country bike ride on a total knee replacement
• 🏢 Bringing mindfulness practices to corporate environments
• 📱 Developing an accessible meditation app for busy professionals

Resources Mentioned:

• 📚 "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl
• 📱 Pause, Breathe, Reflect App (Available on App Store and Google Play)

Connect with Michael:

• 🌐 pausebreathereflect.com
• 💼 LinkedIn: Michael O'Brien
• 📱 Download the Pause, Breathe, Reflect app

#Mindfulness #ExecutiveCoaching #Resilience #PersonalDevelopment #MentalHealth #CorporateWellness #Meditation #LeadershipDevelopment #Wellness #MindfulnessAtWork #PersonalGrowth #PodcastEpisode #Inspiration #MindsetShift #MichaelObrian #JoeCiccarone #builtnotborn #podcast #philly #mindset #fyp #biking #enduranceathelete

This episode serves as a powerful reminder that our greatest challenges can become our greatest teachers, and how mindfulness can transform both our personal and professional lives. Michael's story demonstrates that with the right mindset and tools, we can turn our "last bad day" into a catalyst for positive change.

"Life is Built, Not Born."

Joe Ciccarone

#Episode156