I sat down with Michael Crossland, one of the world's most sought-after inspirational speakers, to explore what it means to transform trauma into purpose and find your true flow in life. Diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma at just 11 months old and given a 4% chance of survival, Michael became the sole survivor of a cancer drug trial where 24 other children passed away.
But his story of resilience doesn't end there - from having his baseball dreams crushed to chasing external validation through material wealth in banking, to nearly losing his premature son, Michael has faced more character-building moments than most could imagine. In this raw and powerful conversation, he reveals how he transformed from someone desperately seeking approval to a man who's found his flow zone through service to others.
We dive deep into his philosophy of living in the present, the balance between global impact and being present for family, and why he measures success not by what he accumulates, but by the lives he touches daily.
00:00 - Michael's incredible survival story and early struggles with identity
04:11 - The balance between global mission work and being present for family
08:33 - Learning to say no and the matrix for choosing which causes to support
12:10 - Why Michael doesn't know his speaking fees and keeps money at arm's length
16:03 - From seeking external validation to finding true purpose
20:06 - The power of identifying what you DON'T want to become
22:11 - Michael's darkest moments: baseball dreams crushed and health battles
28:13 - The transformation from materialism to meaning in the banking years
33:19 - Dealing with tall poppy syndrome and learning to value yourself
38:01 - The mission to reach people before they hit rock bottom
42:24 - "Meals with Mike" - feeding 250 school kids and finding opportunities to serve
48:17 - The ripple effect of small acts of service and anonymous giving
56:20 - Why Michael doesn't do long-term planning and lives in daily flow
58:24 - Finding your why: doing something your future self will be proud of
Follow Michael Crossland:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelcrossland
Follow Mark Kentwell:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1
Mark’s Businesses:
Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/
Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/
