How do you come back from a 1% chance of survival? How do you fight back when life gives you every reason to give up? John O’Leary didn’t simply survive a devastating childhood fire—he found a way to transform his battle into something far greater. In this episode, John shares the approach that helped him overcome incredible odds and how you can apply it to your own challenges in life.

This conversation isn’t only about survival; it’s about refusing to be a victim, pushing through the hardest moments, and redefining what’s possible. If you're ready to challenge the way you view adversity, you won’t want to miss this.

KEY TOPICS

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life andBusiness 

00:44 The Most Meaningful Wedding Gift: Sanger’s Story

04:18 Introducing John O’Leary

08:45 John’s Life-Changing Moment: Playing with Fire

11:37 How John’s Family Survived Trauma

14:00 John’s Decision to Reject Victimhood

16:25 Stop Comparing Traumas

18:49 Overcoming Tragedy in Marriage

21:14 Putting God and Your Spouse First

26:05 John’s Mother’s Life-Altering Question

30:50 John’s Decision to Fight Against the Odds

33:17 Playing Piano Without Fingers

35:39 Working as a Farmhand

38:00 The Gift of Suffering

40:27 John’s Path to Living Vulnerably

42:51 How John Parents His Kids

45:09 Learning to Ski the Hard Way: Sanger’s Father-SonLesson

47:27 Sharing Your Personal Story

49:50 Saying Yes to Opportunities

52:13 On Fire: Feature Film of John’s Story

54:36 How Saying “Yes” Can Change Your Life

56:57 The World’s Greatest Salesman’s Advice

59:14 John’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners

1:01:09 Key Takeaways

CONNECT WITH US

⁠⁠www.decidedlypodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠Watch this episode on YouTube⁠

Subscribe on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠

Join us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠: @decidedlypodcast

Join us on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Shawn’s ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠: @shawn_d_smith

Sanger’s ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠: @sangersmith 

Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing and post-production of the Decidedly podcast.

SANGER’S BOOK: ⁠⁠A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact⁠⁠

SHAWN’S BOOK: ⁠⁠Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want⁠⁠

MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?

At ⁠⁠Decidedly Wealth Management⁠⁠, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy. 

LEARN MORE: ⁠⁠www.decidedlywealth.com⁠⁠

EXCLUSIVE STORIES IN THE NEWSLETTER:⁠⁠ https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001aeU_pPBHJPNJWJBdVbaci6bjGIuEJurH12xHBWDEVT_NxyCadMd7wLSZjcEZglkSjDjehuIbTHD8nABOIdV69ctfYpSzg24RCIytetBUrlIPPKgaGzjGZ8DkM0Wp1LMjbErcYUur7PbZGjeVo4gyXlz821AoJGZR⁠⁠   

CONNECT WITH JOHN O’LEARY

Website: ⁠https://johnolearyinspires.com/⁠ 

Live Inspired Podcast: ⁠https://johnolearyinspires.com/podcast/⁠ 

Blog: ⁠https://johnolearyinspires.com/blog/⁠ 

John O'Leary faced unimaginable challenges as a child after a devastating fire explosion left him with severe burns and a 1% chance of survival. Today, he inspires people who feel like they’re stuck going through the motions of life to confront their struggles and find strength in their stories, overcoming the temptation to continue coming up with excuses that hold them back. John is a two-time national bestselling author and host of the top-rated Live Inspired podcast.