Failing, Facing Fears & Finding ‘Superpowers’ With Torsten Gross
Gross, a marketing executive and competitive racecar driver who also happens to be a C6 quadriplegic, will be a keynote speaker at ASI Fort Worth in March.
When he was 15, Torsten Gross dove into the ocean in the Bahamas, broke his neck and drowned. He was clinically dead for more than two minutes.
Almost three decades later, Gross views that day as one of the most pivotal – and possibly best – moments of his life.
“In hindsight, it changed the trajectory of my life for the better,” he said. “I do really well when people doubt me. If you say no to me, I’ll find a way to do it – and then do it better than you.”
Today, Gross is a marketing executive, competitive racecar driver, rescue scuba diver, marathoner and more, who also happens to be a C6 quadriplegic after his accident.
In this week’s episode of Promo Insiders, Gross tells ASI Media’s Hannah Rosenberger about how viewing failure as one of his biggest superpowers pushed him toward success, both personally and in business – and how the racetrack can act as a great equalizer in the world of athletics.
It’s a preview of his keynote to come at the ASI Show Fort Worth, to be hosted in Fort Worth, TX, from March 29-31.
Key Takeaways
• A Moment for Change: Torsten Gross views the day he almost died at 15 as one of the most pivotal – and possibly best – moments of his life because it was a catalyst for change. His life now has reshaped how he approaches challenges and uses his competitive (or perhaps stubborn) personality to prove he can be better.
• Equality: As a competitive racecar driver, on the track, his disability becomes irrelevant, allowing him to compete on equal footing with others –one of the only sporting environments where this is the case. That feeling inspired him to create the Just Hands Foundation to share his love of racing with other disabled athletes.
• Confronting Fear: Despite his accomplishments and tendency toward thrill seeking, Gross admits that almost everything new scares him. Instead of letting that fear deter him from new challenges, he uses it as a motivator, pushing himself to overcome obstacles.
• Overdelivering in Business: Much like on the racetrack, everything in business is a brand, and is dependent on branding. It’s important, Gross says, to not try to be everything to everyone – but the key to building strong business relationships is overdelivering on your promises.
• Superpower of Failure: Gross believes that everyone has their own “wheelchair” – in his view, a personal challenge that can be turned into a strength, or a superpower. He views failure as one of his biggest superpowers, for example, because of what he’s learned from his biggest personal and professional struggles.