From the Ground Up

by John P. Coutis

John 'JC' Coutis is an exceptional person. Born with a severe disability that rendered him a double amputee, John defied medical opinion by refusing to die. Today he gets around on a skateboard and travels the world inspiring tens of thousands of adoring fans to block out the negatives and be the best that they can be. In 1994 John was the Australian Disabled Table Tennis champion, just missing selection for the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Team. He was also the first person with a major disability to play indoor cricket in Australia, and has played grade cricket for the famous Bankstown Club, home of Australian cricket legends the Waugh brothers. When John was a guest speaker at the 1997 World Masters of Business Seminar he shared the day with some of the world's foremost international speakers such as Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, Lee Iacocca, Stephen Covey and Brian Tracey. John was the only speaker to receive a standing ovation from the 12,000 strong audience. John has spoken to over a million people throughout corporate and community Australia and several million people overseas including on tours of Hawaii, USA, Mauritius, South Africa, New Zealand, England, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Singapore, Taiwan and Inner Mongolia. He's also spoken in more than 170 cities throughout China where audiences often number between 15,000 and 35,000 people. Corporate Australia draws on John regularly. For many corporations, creating a culture of creativity and positivity is an ongoing challenge. Assisting them to be leaders in their field and the community is one of John's key interests. Australia Post, Telstra, Channel 9, Westpac, NSW Rural Fire Service, McGrath Partners, Roche Group and AHG Automotive Group are just some of his corporate clients. John Coutis has inspired and motivated some of Australia's greatest sporting icons like Samantha Riley, Susie O'Neill, the Australian Cricket team, Balmain and Parramatta Rugby League teams, the Collingwood Magpies and the NSW State of Origin League team, to name just a very few. John was invited into the Sydney 2000 Olympic Team Village to support the Australian team and in 2001 the Australian Wallabies called on John to boost their attitudes for the final match of the series against the British Irish Lions, winning the deciding Test to secure the series for the first time in history between these two teams. Rod McQueen, John Eales and George Gregan publicly acknowledged John for getting the Wallabies over the line. In 1999 John was invited to be part of the Australia Day Ambassador Program and has been invited back every year since. This program has been represented by some of the greatest Australians of our time. The invitation into the program is recognition of John's place in the Australian community and the impact he has made and continues to make on each individual that crosses his path. John also plays a significant role in Australian schools and youth leadership programs and is a hit with children of all ages. He has been invited into more than 4,000 schools throughout Australia and around the world. John and his family have featured on a number of Australian and overseas radio programs and television shows including Sports Tonight, Sports World, Wide World of Sports, A Current Affair, The Today Show and many other national and local news broadcasts. While John Coutis considers himself most privileged to be able to impart his gifts and dynamic life experience to others, in turn he is widely acknowledged as one of the most inspirational speakers of his generation. His invaluable messages encompass respect for diversity, anti-bullying, inclusion, resilience, goal setting, tolerance, motivation, self-determination and courage. John Coutis talks Dealing with disability Overcoming challenges & getting the best out of life Anti-Bullying Treating People The Way You Wish To Be Treated Resilience, Goal Setting

Genres: Nonfiction

202 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Toni Umar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to be honest I picked up this book to read a little reluctantly. It had been lent to me by both my parents and I really am not that into autobiographies.
But Johns writing style draws the reader in immediately - I could not put the book down. This guy has an amazing sense of humour and there are many 'laugh out loud' descriptions. He also touches on negative things that have occurred to him and his family, but he describes them in a very inciteful and open manner. I was never once bored reading this book.
To say John Coutis is inspirational is an understatement - all I can say is read the book!