Former Paralympian Mark Colbourne is now on a different track - an inspirational speaker who helps businesses with tales of overcoming adversity in sport...

It’s not every day that local businesses are treated to an inspiring speech from a Paralympian.

But since retiring from the cycling track, that is how Mark Colbourne MBE spends his time.

The Tredegar-born, who won a gold and two silver medals at the London 2012 Paralymics, inspires business owners and entrepreneurs with his story on how a positive mindset and ability to overcome adversity in sport can be transferred to the boardroom.

Mark, who retired from cycling in 2013 and who recently spoke at Zokit SpringConf, said: “It’s all about educating people to overcome the fear of change. I spoke with the businesses at the conference, which ranged in terms of size and industry, about mindset skills that empower confidence, overcomes fear and consistently impacts results on their bottom line.

“It’s all about taking that tough mental edge that is often developed in intense environments in sport and implementing it carefully into business.”

Mark is by no means your typical keynote speaker. Mark is famous for not just talking about his world record results, but also showing audiences how to inspire themselves to be the best they can be, and how to ensure they can deliver the marginal gains they control.

By teaching people to live with a new perception of understanding a lasting change, he couples this with an insatiable hunger to put these new skills into action.

“I speak about learning to embrace change. By having that ability to adapt to change, including challenges, obstacles and sometimes negative situations, you are in-essence future proofing your company and building a more robust business,” he said.

The Zokit SpringConf, which is an annual celebration of businesses across South Wales, looks to reward companies who demonstrate innovation and environmentally-friendly practices.

One business was particularly impressed with Mark’s speech and saw it as a watershed for businesses being able to heed the advice of elite sportspeople and transfer the positive mental attitude into everyday practices.

Jodie Read, managing director of Penarth Management, said: “Mark’s speech was the perfect example of why we have so much to learn from the sporting world.

“By investing in our mental attitude and transferring some of that grit and determination those such as Mark demonstrate at the Olympics and Paralympics, there is no reason businesses in Wales cannot succeed, regardless of the economic climate.

“There is so much those who run businesses can learn from elite athletes like Mark. From reacting to change to inspiring their team to set clear goals and ensuring they are met; there is a wealth of knowledge that would benefit businesses in Wales and as a result, the wider economy.”

Mark has certainly had a lot of change in his life and had to battle through adversity to get to where he is today.

After having an early volleyball career in the 1990s, Mark broke his back while paragliding in 2009.

Following his accident, Mark began cycling through Disability Sports Wales where he competed in the C1 category for those in an upright position but with the most severe of disabilities.

In 2011, only two years after his life-changing accident, Mark won his first world cup medal and began picking up silverware on a regular basis before clinching his first world title 12 months later. It was then that he was selected for Team GB at the 2012 Paralympic Games.

On August 30, 2012, Mark won a silver medal – Great Britain’s first medal of the games – in the men’s individual C1-2-3 1km time trial. He then went on to win a gold in the men’s individual C1 3km pursuit and another silver medal in the men’s individual C1 time trial.

Mark said: “There is a huge stigma attached to people’s attitude towards change in all areas of the working environment.

“It creates an unnatural fear deep down in our soul as our brains are developed to keep us safe. The reason for this is because traditionally the perception of fear, when faced with a sudden curveball, has been with us ever since that asteroid hit the Earth 65 million years ago and wiped out the dinosaurs!

“The truth is that in this age of the fast-moving global environment the only way to succeed against your competition is to create a lasting change with your staff and within your organisation.

“Overcoming adversity is a huge obstacle in life. However, if we can do it in our personal lives and through sport, there is no reason why we cannot achieve that in business.”

Having delivered more than 200 speeches across to world on his journey, these words are best heeded by someone who really does know a thing or two about the power of a positive mindset.

For more information on Mark Colbourne please visit markcolbourne.com.