10, 000 TO 9, 000 THINGS

In 1971 San Francisco, on the corner of 26^th and South Van Ness, a handsome cable car gripman on a motorcycle plunges under a laundry truck, breaks his pelvis, and crushes an elbow as spilled gas ignites and chars 65% of his body. After months of healing and recovering from such an incident, former school dropout W. Mitchell moves to another town earns a Master’s Degree, becomes Mayor, turns into an environmentalist, and makes scores of wise investments that earn him millions.

Four years later in Colorado, after having struggled back into complete recovery, the same gentleman’s turbo charged Cessna takes a plunge that breaks his back and legs forever. Again, after years of therapy and treatments, W. Mitchell, hops onto wheelchair and takes to the road telling his story of It’s Not What Happens to You but What you Do About it, to the world.

In the decades that follow he travels to over 30 countries spreading his message of hope and inspiration. During this period he also gets invited to speak and present at the White House on five different occasions. On one occasion, President Clinton introduces him as the person who could do 10, 000 things before his injuries, can now do 9, 000 things, and feels good about doing them.

Today, as a powerful and inspiring international speaker, he has acquired a unique style of telling his story. He begins by describing the day in 1971 San Francisco and then turns to a male member in the audience and says, “You dressed as an Ambulance Driver, lifted me up in your arms and ran me to the hospital. You saved my life.” He then turns to a young  female member of the audience and says, “You, Beverly, taught me how to get off the wheelchair and onto the sofa and from the sofa back on the wheelchair.”

If once was able to do 10, 000 things before a serious debilitating accident, then by the power of his will, he can continue doing 9, 000 things even after such devastating losses.

By: Raja Mandhyan