244: The Mindset Shift That Turned One Man's Accident Into a Gift | Matt Drinkhahn
Matt Drinkhahn, bestselling author, entrepreneur, business coach, and host of the Eternal Optimist podcast, joins Damon Lembi for an inspiring conversation on radical ownership, resilience, and leadership through adversity. After a life-altering zipline accident shattered his identity and forced him to rebuild from the ground up, Matt developed a powerful mindset that now guides the high performers he coaches. In this episode, he shares how slowing down, embracing gratitude, and letting go of ego can transform any setback—from layoffs to personal crises—into a launching pad for growth and reinvention.
Read the full breakdown of Matt Drinkhahn’s episode on Learnit.
Key Leadership Lessons from Matt Drinkhahn’s Journey:
Radical ownership changes everything: Taking full responsibility—without blame—accelerates recovery and growth.
Your mindset is your comeback plan: Habits like daily gratitude, reflection, and slowing down build resilience from the inside out.
Setbacks create clarity: Identity loss, layoffs, and failure reveal hidden strengths that fuel stronger reinventions.
Let go to lead: Leaders thrive when they release control, ditch ego, and shift from managing to coaching.
Invest in your growth: Coaching, learning, and honest feedback create the highest long-term ROI for leaders.
Connect with Matt Drinkhahn:
LinkedIn: Matt Drinkhahn
Podcast: Eternal Optimist
Matt is an entrepreneur, business coach, and host of the Eternal Optimist podcast. With over $130M in lifetime sales and decades coaching high performers, he’s known for his radical approach to ownership, resilience, and gratitude. His personal comeback—from a devastating spinal injury to marathon running and executive coaching—fuels his mission to help leaders transform adversity into opportunity.
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