Josh Komen built his identity around being able to outwork almost anything. Then leukaemia took away his health, athletic future and the identity he had built around them.

Josh is a former competitive New Zealand 800-metre runner, two-time acute myeloid leukaemia survivor, author, speaker, breathwork coach and father.

In this conversation, Josh and Chris explore what happens when relentless effort becomes the only response you have. Josh discusses losing an identity built around performance, learning to ask for help and discovering that real strength sometimes means adapting rather than pushing harder.

They also examine pressure, breathwork, resilience, fortitude, fatherhood and why our greatest strengths can become liabilities when they are used without flexibility.

Connect with Josh: https://www.joshkomen.com/

Learn more about Aegis Leadership: https://www.aegisleadership.co.nz/

Thanks to Dark Horse Coffee for powering the Fireside Leadership Podcast, you can check out their latest roasts here:

https://darkhorsecoffee.co.nz/

This episode includes discussion of cancer, depression and suicidal thoughts. In New Zealand, call or text 1737 at any time for free support. If there is an immediate risk to someone’s safety, call 111.

CHAPTERS

00:00 When hard work becomes a trap

00:30 Meet Josh Komen

01:19 What running taught Josh

02:27 Discipline when motivation disappears

03:43 Visualisation and mental repetitions

07:41 Learning to tolerate pain

09:02 When discipline becomes a trap

11:14 Cancer and the loss of identity

12:48 The strength required to ask for help

17:11 Finding meaning after survival

18:18 Pressure, breathing and better decisions

23:08 Resilience versus fortitude

28:27 Why discomfort matters

33:42 Controlling attitude and attention

37:40 Redefining success

40:58 Fatherhood and protecting attention

43:35 Slow is fast

45:46 Connecting with Josh