Welcome back to the "Perfect Pitch Show" where Brandon Burns, Head of Community - Runway Virtual, has interviews small business founders / entrepreneurs about secret sauce to their successful start-up journey.

Today we are privileged to introduce you to Janine Shepherd, a fantastic entrepreneur, author, keynote speaker and much more! She began a professional career as an athlete with dreams of reaching the Olympics before she had a tragic accident, but she has never let that stop her. We talk to her about her book, her movie and her experiences as an entrepreneur, even though it's still only dawning on her that she is one! Janine is a global motivational speaker and author who has an amazing story to tell and understands that life is tough for everyone and we all have our own challenges to face. Her goal is to help everyone achieve their dreams and to find the motivation to do so! She is the CEO of the School for Resilience, a 6-week course she designed to help businesses and individuals thrive in the face of adversity and hardship.

As an Australian herself, Janine's story is one of true inspiration and perseverance. We hope that our regional and remote entrepreneur readers will find her journey motivating and rousing enough to reach out.

Early Career and The Accident

Janine has always had a successful future ahead of her, though entrepreneurism isn't where she thought her path would lead. Holding a degree in Sports Science, Janine was training to become an Olympic level athlete in skiing, however during a training accident she was hit by a utility truck that left her unconscious for ten days. Janine had done a lot of damage to her body, but she wasn't broken by any means. When she woke, Janine was told she wouldn't walk again and while this news was devastating, she was dedicated at proving them wrong. After the accident, Janine knew she would need a new trajectory since she would no longer be able to reach her Olympic dreams and thus started her journey into entrepreneurship.

Re-learning to walk was a challenge, and it was one that Janine coupled with learning to fly. She went on to become not only a qualified commercial pilot, but an aerobatics flying instructor as well. Amongst this she obtained her university Degree, raised three children as a single Mum and was awarded the Order of Australia. Janine also wrote a number of books, is a best-selling author and even has a movie showcasing her brilliant triumphs. Now, Janine has a vast number of achievements on her belt including having her own TED talk and starting her own online course for resilience, but this barely scratches the surface on the many accomplishments she has.

Additional Hardships and the School For Resilience

The accident wasn't the only hardship Janine would face before things would start looking up for her. Life isn't easy, everyone has their own struggles, their own adversities and challenges. In 2012, thanks to the Global Financial Crisis, Janine lost her home. As a single mother of three children, this was a daunting and scary time for her, but she kept looking up. Janine decided she was going to move to the United States of America, despite not having a job, any speaking gigs or even a book deal ready to go over there. Still, despite the warnings from those around her she knew that was where she wanted to be. She was guided by kind words she had received from an Indian male who had seen her recent TED talk in America, telling her that he had had an ailment for over 19 years and was considering suicide, but her talk had changed his mind. This led her to believe that her purpose was to help others overcome their own challenges. Janine faces adversity with optimism, and she was positive that she would prosper once she made it abroad, and she was right! Trusting that she had a deeper purpose to fulfil,...