Candour Communication Podcast

Greg Van Borssum on Happy Feet, Mad Max and the road to fulfilment (#11)

Episode Summary

Today we talk to Greg Van Borssum. Greg is an award winning Hollywood filmmaker, known for his work on the Oscar winning movies, Happy Feet and Mad Max: Fury Road. He is also a national body building champion, pistol shooting world champion and an internationally accredited speaker. We talk about leadership, mental health, overcoming adversity and pursuing goals.

Episode Notes

2:30 - how Greg got into martial arts.

3:30 - how Bob Paris inspired Greg to become the National Body Building champion.

5:04 - we don't have to be limited by what people say about us.

6:14 - the example we set can change lives.

6:30 - Greg's grandfather won the Military Medal in WWI.

7:08 - the remarkable example Greg's grandmother set.

8:48 - the importance of believing in someone's potential.

9:08 - we need to start going towards what we're scared of.

9:57 - your fear is your greatest strength in waiting.

11:16 - kids need to be taught their family history.

12:32 - reaching your goals.

13:28 - two greatest assets: naivity and stupidity.

14:07 - said yes to Happy Feet with zero prior experience.

14:55 - Leadership is easy: leadership is care.

16:20 - turning around a toxic culture.

16:44 - there is an "I" in "TEAM".

17:55 - lack of communication kills a team.

18:20 - Greg banned emails!

19:24 - if I find you blaming someone you're off the film

19:35 - literally breaking down the barriers to communication.

20:10 - team bonded by playing together.

21:52 - ego makes you an ineffective leader.

23:46 - focus is the key to achieving goals.

26:18 - be a spiky person.

26:52 - the employment world needs to be turned on its head.

28:00 - you need to take time to understand people to get the best out of them.

29:23 - training people and building confidence.

31:22 - the cost of success.

32:03 - how a near death experience changed Greg's life mission.

34:18 - Greg became an accredited speaker to help others.

37:07 - how Greg became an advocate for mental health.

40:39 - protecting his family from his struggles was Greg's stupid moment.

41:42 - you feel like you're not a man if you talk about this stuff.

42:12 - I did not know if I was coming home.

43:35 - Greg started learning public speaking after he started giving keynotes.

44:15 - Greg's aim is now to go global to change lives.

44:33 - how do we help people when they are struggling?

45:10 - do something!

46:05 - clinically proven: a hug can change someone's entire day.

46:10 - 30 minutes of excercise gives 12 hours of better brain health.

46:19 - don't put off seeing someone who is struggling.

46:26 - us, we, together.

46:55 - don't just give them a number and move on.

47:21 - everyone's been through stuff.

47:51 - life doesn't always fire a warning shot.

48:56 - the signs that someone is struggling.

49:32 - suicide survivors want to live.

50:12 - help yourself before trying to help others.

51:12 - what is strength really?

52:12 - chase fulfillment, not success.

52:35 - strength doesn't focus on what you can't do. Focus on what you can do.

53:01 - everyone has the internal battle, but we've got to get up and move on anyway.

53:28 - keep a journal.

54:24 - training to overcome the fear of public speaking.

55:13 - use your time to invest in people.

55:40 - redirecting bad forces for good.

56:30 - importance of being able to detach.

58:18 - it's our responsibility to reach in to help them out.

59:18 - don't worry about saying the right things. Have the right heart.

01:00:34 - the signs are in the body language.

01:01:58 - R U OK is not good enough.

01:02:34 - being a good person.

01:02:55 - we need to unify to fight against mental health.

01:03:36 - the human factor is always needed.

01:04:34 - chasing success leaves no space to help others.

01:05:42 - the small things are the big things.

01:06:34 - going back to old high school.

01:07:58 - people in our life shape us.

01:08:44 - get in touch with Greg.

01:09:33 - final thanks.

You can find more detailed show notes with links to references at 
https://candourpodcast.com/greg-van-borssum/