In this deeply moving episode of the Get Shit Done Experience, host John Morris sits down with Adam Petraglia, a man whose life journey is a testament to resilience, purpose, and the power of perspective. Adam shares his harrowing and inspiring story of being diagnosed with leukemia on his 11th birthday, enduring a six-month hospital stay that included a five-week-long coma, and ultimately surviving against the odds. This profound experience became the foundation for his life's mission. Adam is the founder of Bricks of Hope, a nonprofit that donates new LEGO sets to children in hospitals, restoring a sense of control, joy, and normalcy in a frightening and choiceless environment. This conversation is a powerful exploration of turning life's greatest challenges into a calling to serve others. It’s a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration and a reminder that our deepest adversities can pave the way for our greatest impact.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Adversity Shapes Purpose: Adam's life-threatening battle with cancer at a young age wasn't just something that happened to him; it was something that happened for him, ultimately giving him a profound sense of purpose and a "second chance" at life.
• The Power of Perspective: A difficult diagnosis can be viewed as a "gift" that provides a unique and powerful perspective on life, valuing every moment and focusing on what truly matters.
• The Therapeutic Power of Play: For a child in a hospital, making choices is rare. A simple LEGO set provides a healthy distraction, a creative outlet, and restores a crucial sense of control and imagination, which is vital for mental well-being and coping during treatment.
• Family as a Foundation: A strong, hardworking, and supportive family system is critical in overcoming unimaginable challenges. These foundational values create the resilience needed to "run through a brick wall" together.
• Simplicity in Mission: The most effective missions are often the simplest. Bricks of Hope’s success lies in its clear, straightforward goal: to give a LEGO set to a sick kid to make them smile. This simplicity makes it easy for others to join and support.
• Significance Over Success: True fulfillment comes from creating significance, not just achieving success. Using one's personal story and skills to enrich the lives of others is a powerful way to give back.
• Ask for Help: Starting a movement or a nonprofit begins with the simple, yet powerful, act of sharing your story and asking for help. It’s a sign of strength, not weakness.
• Always Give More: Living by the principle of "always giving more" in any capacity can be the catalyst for changing someone else's life for the better.

QUOTES

• "Hearing the words, 'Adam, you have cancer,' was my gift on my 11th birthday."
• "Living and surviving was the option... there is no other option."
• "I think I survived for a reason... we now have a greater purpose to do something."
• "The mission is simple. It's not supposed to be hard... People donate Legos, we take 'em to kids. We get their reaction. We skip out of there with joy and then we go do it again."
• "It was restoring a sense of control in an often very choiceless environment when you're in a hospital."
• (On a child's reaction to receiving a LEGO set) "He eventually said, 'This is the best day of my life.'"
• "Treatment isn't seasonal, so we can't be either."
• "Always give more... Oftentimes [that] is the difference in changing the life of somebody else."

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Timecode

00:00 Introduction & Sponsor Shoutout
02:20 Introducing Adam Petraglia: A Purpose-Driven Human
04:30 The LinkedIn Post: A Picture of Rock Bottom and a Picture of Hope
05:45 The Diagnosis: Receiving a Cancer Diagnosis on His 11th Birthday
07:15 The Five-Week Drug-Induced Coma
09:30 The Power of Perspective and Overcoming Adversity
11:00 Family Principles: The Value of Being Hardworking
15:20 The Coma Experience: Being "Locked In" But Hearing Everything
19:15 Coming Out of the Coma and the Long Road to Recovery
22:20 Family Dynamics and Support System During a Crisis
26:45 Returning to School and Finding a "New Normal"
30:30 The Psychological Journey and Finding a Greater Purpose
35:40 From an "Empty" Job to a Purposeful Career in Fundraising
41:30 The "Aha" Moment: Combining Skillset and Story to Create Bricks of Hope
46:00 The Mission of LEGOs: Restoring Control, Joy, and Childhood
51:20 How to Help: The Simple Process Behind Bricks of Hope
54:15 Incredible Growth: From 70 Kits to 800 Kits a Month
56:30 A Story from the Hospital: "This is the best day of my life."
1:01:00 The Big Hairy Audacious Goal: Bricks of Hope USA
1:04:20 The Principle of Getting Shit Done: Mastering Simplicity
1:11:30 A Call to Action for Businesses: How to Get Involved and Why It Matters
1:14:30 Final Thoughts: "Always Give More" and Upcoming Events