I never planned to be a speaker. I didn’t grow up thinking I’d be on stages or behind microphones. It started the way most powerful things do – through pain, truth, and a desire to help others.
After I was injured in Afghanistan and began the process of recovery, people started asking me to share my story. At first, it was uncomfortable. I didn’t want sympathy, and I wasn’t sure anyone would understand. But something happened every time I shared: people leaned in. They listened. And more importantly, they connected.
That’s when I realised the power of storytelling. Not just for others, but for me too.
Speaking Became My Therapy
In the beginning, I was still processing everything. The blast. The hospital. The rehab. The new reality of being a triple amputee. Sharing my story helped me make sense of it all. It gave my pain a purpose. It gave my struggle meaning.
And over time, I started noticing something else. Every time I finished speaking, people would come up and say things like:
“I’ve never been through what you have, but now I feel like I can get through my own stuff.”
That’s when it clicked. This wasn’t about me anymore. It was about them.
The Power of Connection
When you speak from the heart, people feel it. You cut through the noise. You bypass the surface-level small talk and go straight to what matters: truth, vulnerability, strength.
People don’t want polished perfection. They want something real. Something raw. And the moment you’re willing to be honest about your struggle is the moment you give others permission to face their own.
Speaking helped me realise that courage isn’t just in the battlefield, it’s in being vulnerable. It’s in showing up, scars and all, and saying, “Here’s what happened. Here’s how I’m still standing.”
From Recovery Rooms to Boardrooms
As my speaking journey evolved, the audiences got bigger. Schools. Military units. Corporates. Conferences. But the message never changed.
Whether I was talking to a group of teenagers or a boardroom full of executives, the themes hit home: resilience, mindset, leadership, purpose.
Because it doesn’t matter what your background is, everyone faces setbacks. Everyone has doubts. Everyone hits that wall.
And if hearing my story helps one person find a little more strength, a little more clarity, or a reason to keep going, then it’s worth it.
Turning a Message Into a Mission
Today, speaking is part of my mission. It’s how I lead. It’s how I serve. And it’s one of the most powerful tools I have for impact.
But I didn’t become a great speaker overnight. I practised. I bombed. I refined. I learned to read rooms. I learned how to simplify powerful lessons into memorable soundbites.
Most of all, I stayed true to the message.
I’m not there to entertain. I’m there to empower.
Why You Should Share Your Story Too
You don’t need a traumatic injury to have a story worth sharing. Your life experience, your wins, losses, lessons, could be exactly what someone else needs to hear.
Maybe it’s your team. Maybe it’s your kids. Maybe it’s a room full of strangers. Either way, your voice matters.
And when you choose to speak from the heart, people listen.
Because your story isn’t just yours, it’s a bridge. It’s a beacon. It’s a blueprint for someone else’s breakthrough.
Final Thoughts
Speaking didn’t just change my life. It gave me a new one.
It helped me heal. It helped me serve. And it helped me turn pain into purpose.
So if you’ve got a message burning inside you, don’t wait. Don’t overthink it. Start sharing it.
The world needs more truth. More leadership. More resilience.
The world needs your story.
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Want to bring me in to speak to your team or organisation?
Get in touch at info@markormrod.com or drop me a message on socials. Let’s make an impact together.