From Burnout to Balance: Building Habits for Success
Nick Jonsson recently captivated a global audience of over 250 participants in a transformative keynote for Apar Technologies as part of their APAR Webinar Series. The session, titled "From Burnout to Balance: Building Habits for Success," showcased Nick's unique ability to connect deeply with his audience, blending personal storytelling with practical, actionable advice.
Keynote Highlights:
A Transformative Journey:
Nick began by sharing his compelling life story, starting as a construction painter, navigating through a career-ending accident, and overcoming depression and burnout. His journey from these challenges to becoming a top 2% World Age Group Ironman Athlete and a leading keynote speaker is a testament to resilience and determination.
Holistic Health Framework:
Nick introduced the concept of holistic health, emphasizing its four main components:
- Physical Health: Wellness and fitness as crucial for managing stress and daily activities.
- Mental Health: Emotional, psychological, and social well-being essential for productivity and community contribution.
- Social Health: The importance of relationships and social support.
- Resilience: The ability to adapt positively to adversity.
Engaging Interactive Session:
The session was highly interactive, encouraging participants to reflect on their understanding of health and engage in discussions. Nick's approach ensured that every attendee felt involved and connected.
The Five Steps to Building Habits for Success:
Step 1: Surrender
Nick recounted a pivotal moment in 2018 when he hit rock bottom and planned his own funeral. In this darkest hour, he did something that changed his life forever—he completely surrendered.
"I had just met a woman, who today is my wife. I sat her down on the sofa and, for the first time in my life, spoke about my inner feelings and secrets. She listened with empathy, was shocked, and offered support. She took me to a doctor who also listened and offered to help. Then to a common friend who had experienced mental health issues before. Suddenly, I started to feel sympathy, and my recovery began. I have not had a drink since that day, and I feel better every day."
With this surrender, Nick also surrendered in all parts of his life. He stopped arguing with his fitness coach, nutritionist, doctor, sponsor, mentor, and coaches. He also let a higher power into his life, embracing the Serenity Prayer as a daily practice. This surrender allowed Nick to let go of what he couldn't control, paving the way for a transformative journey.
Step 2: Purpose
Just as Nick learned to let go, a significant event changed his life forever. About a year into his recovery, Nick was organizing an HR seminar in Singapore. One of the speakers, Simon, who was set to speak on the Future of Work, didn't show up for rehearsal. Nick later found out that Simon had taken his own life. This tragic event deeply affected Nick and moved him closer to finding his purpose in life.
"I didn't want this to happen to anyone else, so I decided to share my story. I became a volunteer and fundraiser for SOS Samaritans—a suicide prevention agency. I made a video and posted it on LinkedIn, which went viral. People from all over the world started writing to me, thanking me for my efforts. I began giving talks about breaking the stigma around mental health, helping others. The media wanted to interview me on radio, TV, and in newspapers. I interviewed hundreds of executives and wrote a book about it. I felt that I was now doing what I really loved—giving back and helping others, which gave me a true purpose and a sense of happiness I had never felt before."
Step 3: Connection
Nick emphasized the importance of first finding a connection with oneself. He shared how he used to live a double life, wearing a mask to fit societal expectations. Taking off this mask and being authentic was the first step toward deeper connections.
"For those who follow me on LinkedIn, you can see that I share with complete honesty and openness. As I found myself, I started to have deeper, authentic connections with others. I got married again, joined recovery communities, cycling groups, running groups, and a swim academy. Being part of these communities made me feel connected and amazing for the first time in my life. The most important factor to happiness is not money or health, but human connection. Broken relationships can be as damaging as smoking 14 cigarettes a day. Part of connection was also making amends in my relationships and helping others."
Nick shared how he built a support network and how his peer to peer coaching company, EGN, now has 900 members making each other better in a confidential setting. He also spoke about reconnecting with his son through virtual online games, demonstrating the importance of investing time in relationships.
Step 4: Goals
Nick highlighted the importance of setting goals, not just in work but in personal life too.
"Why do we have a roadmap for our work but not for our personal lives? It seems like we just let life happen randomly to us. I started to question this and began to study goal setting. I have achieved major goals and keep setting bigger ones. If you want to achieve your wildest dreams, you need to set goals. Goals are important, but remember to score as a team rather than alone. I worked with sponsors, coaches, and mentors to make it happen. Scoring a goal alone has no meaning—scoring a goal for your team is beautiful. You can’t celebrate in an empty stadium."
Nick encouraged participants to think about one goal that would benefit both themselves and others.
Step 5: Discipline
Many people fail to achieve their goals due to a lack of discipline. Nick shared practical advice on maintaining discipline and forming healthy habits.
"How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Don’t do it alone—build a support system with accountability partners. Discipline comes from action and is non-negotiable. It’s about surrendering to your own will and trusting the universe. Discipline means sticking to your goals and forming healthy habits. I block my calendar with 'me time' first, including exercise, prayer, meditation, and social service. I have prepaid my coach for two years to ensure I remain focused and cement my healthy habits.
Nick emphasized the importance of making commitments and sticking to them, such as exercising daily, fasting, and engaging in community service. He showed his calendar packed until two years into the future, demonstrating his dedication to discipline and goal achievement.
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Client Testimonials:
The feedback from the session was overwhelmingly positive. 100% of respondents felt their expectations were met, praising Nick's authenticity, practical advice, and the interactive nature of his presentation.
Why Book This Keynote?
Nick Jonsson’s keynote "From Burnout to Balance: Building Habits for Success" is more than just a speech; it is a transformative experience. Through authentic storytelling and actionable insights, Nick addresses complex issues like burnout, resilience, and holistic health, making a lasting impact on attendees. This keynote is ideal for organizations looking to foster well-being and success among their teams.
For booking inquiries or more information on how Nick can bring this impactful keynote to your organization, please contact us today.