How to Turn Your Struggles Into Success with Swiss Shark Tank Investor, Dr. Felix Bertram
Episode 138
What would you do if life served you an unimaginable curveball—waking up in a hospital bed to receive the news your leg needs to be amputated?
In this episode, we have the privilege of hearing the remarkable story of Felix Bertram, a man who faced an unimaginable curveball in life. After a devastating motorcycle accident at 19, Felix woke up in a hospital bed to receive the shocking news that his leg needed to be amputated. But this setback was just the beginning of a journey filled with resilience and remarkable achievements. Despite the challenges, Felix became a board-certified dermatologist, an entrepreneur with multiple successful ventures, including a skincare line and Michelin-star restaurants, and even appeared on Shark Tank.
In this deeply moving conversation, Felix shares his mindset shift, ability to put things into perspective, and unwavering gratitude for life's blessings
After this Episode, You Will Be Able to ...
Stepping into personal power with gratitude
Shift perspective to build resilience
Find solutions to move ahead
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About the guest:
Born and raised in Germany with dreams of gracing the silver screen, Felix Bertram life took a tragic detour at 19, after a devastating motorcycle accident left him in a coma. But that was merely a chapter, not the entire story. Felix defied the odds, not just waking up, but catapulting into a life marked by stunning achievements..
Today, he's not just a board-certified dermatologist with 5 clinics and over 100 employees, the mastermind behind a skincare line, and a Shark on Shark Tank Switzerland. His passion for fine dining has even led him to become the owner of not one but TWO Michelin-starred restaurants. And if you've ever doubted the power of resilience, his TEDx talk—with over 2.5 million views—will make you a believer.
TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/Y9UEpjk3TrE?si=dcqZojdUUvZ9hGEy
Connect with Felix Bertram:
LinkedIn Page Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felix-bertram-504580156/
Instagram Page Link: https://www.instagram.com/drfelixbertram/
About the host:
Danielle Cobo is an international female speaker for organizations, associations, and the public sector. She works with audiences to harness the grit and resilience to lead through change.
With over 15 years of corporate experience in the medical sales industry, she knows how to build high-performing teams that increase sales, productivity, and employee retention. Her expertise includes corporate resilience and burnout prevention.
Danielle is the author of “Unstoppable Grit: Breakthrough the 7 Roadblocks Standing Between You and Achieving Your Goals” and hosts the globally top-rated podcast "Unstoppable Grit Podcast with Danielle Cobo.”
As a former Fortune 500 Senior Sales Manager, she led her team through downsizing, restructuring, and acquisitions to become the #1 sales team in the nation. As a result, she was awarded Region Manager of the Year. Her resiliency motivated her to earn four consecutive national Sales Excellence Awards in a male-dominated industry.
While her husband, a Blackhawk pilot in the Army, deployed to Iraq for a year, Danielle learned to balance a demanding job while caring for their energetic 1.5-year-old twin boys, who possess more energy than a squirrel after a triple espresso.
Danielle’s resilience led her to start her own business, helping others develop the grit, resilience, and courage to thrive in life and business.
Her tenacious attitude stems from being raised by an ambitious mother and recovering from being taken from her father and cast out at 17 years of age.
She is a two-time 60-mile walker and a monster truck driver in Louboutin’s.
Danielle has a bachelor’s in communication with a minor in psychology from the California State University of Fullerton, Certification in Inclusive and Ethical Leadership from the University of South Florida Muma College of Business, and accreditation in Human Behavior from Personality Insights. Inc., and Leadership from Boston Breakthrough Academy.
She is a member of the National Speakers Association, the Central Florida National Speakers Association Chapter, Innovation Women, and a former member of Working Women of Tampa Bay. Danielle serves on the Military Advisory, Workforce Development, and Women of Influence Committees of the Tampa Chamber of Commerce. She is also a contributing writer for Women's Quarterly Magazine.
Her experience includes serving as a Training Pillar on the Military Spouse Economic Empowerment Zone Committee and Career Transition Advisor for Dallas Professional Women.
Through Danielle's captivating storytelling, content-rich and motivational style, she empowers individuals and organizations to cultivate unwavering resilience, igniting a transformative path towards increased sales, productivity, employee retention, and collaboration.
About the show:
The Unstoppable Grit Podcast with Danielle Cobo explores the journeys of people who have overcome adversity and harnessed the grit and resilience to thrive in all areas of their lives, Guests share how they overcame difficult times - the strategies, mindset shifts, lessons they learned along the way, and actions that propelled them forward. From navigating career setbacks to overcoming personal obstacles, each episode is a testament to grit and resilience.
You'll learn how to develop the grit and resilience to lead yourself and others through change.
Join host Danielle Cobo, keynote speaker and author of "Unstoppable Grit: Break Through the 7 Roadblocks Standing Between You and Your Goals." A new episode is released every Wednesday at 4:00 AM EST.
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What would you do if life served you an unimaginable curveball? Waking up in a hospital bed, realizing one of your legs has been amputated in this deeply moving episode of the Unstoppable Grit Podcast. We bring you the spirit and story of Felix Bertram born and raised in Germany with dreams of gracing the silver screen.
Waking Up to Devastating News
First of all, the problem with motorcycles is that there's no buffer zone, right? If I were in a car, it would probably have been damaged by the headlight or something like that. I remember when I woke up; my leg wasn't amputated yet, but I recall that my foot was very black. The head doctor stood in front of me and told me they had to do it, that they had to amputate the leg. Well, it was the only choice. My foot was clearly gone. I could see that. But then, they tried to do their best and initially only removed the foot.
The time in the hospital was so impactful that I decided to study medicine, even though I could barely walk. There were broken pieces of bone left, covered only by skin. I experienced so much pain, and I was on morphine. I weighed only about 60 kilos—very thin, almost like a drug addict.
New Leg Reborn
Two years later, I went for a second amputation. So, I had to go to many hospitals and consult with many doctors. Usually, it's not allowed to remove healthy tissue, a healthy leg, or an arm. But I had so much pain that I pleaded with some surgeons to do it, and one agreed. That was such a relief. Since then, I've had an artificial leg, which has been incredibly helpful, and the pain is much less than it used to be.
I once dreamed of becoming an actor, riding motorcycles with both legs. Now, I find myself in a situation where I'm not only shifting the physical aspects of my day-to-day life but also radically changing the trajectory of my professional career.
From today's perspective, I can't quite recall how I felt in those first few weeks. What I do remember is feeling down, exhausted, and devastated. My biggest fear was not finding a girlfriend at the age of 19 because I was somehow disabled. I used to be a sporty guy, and I knew this would be a challenge, but I quickly redirected my focus.
Whenever life threw a crisis my way, I honed in on new endeavors. I immersed myself in medical school, and it made a significant difference. Another key factor was my ability to put things into perspective. During a trip to Africa, I witnessed people without legs, crawling on the floor or using makeshift sticks for mobility. It made me realize how fortunate I was to live in Germany, where I could receive artificial legs and maintain my mobility. I wasn't in a wheelchair, nor did I lose my arm or my cognitive abilities.
3 Key Points to Overcoming life-altering Challenges
Perspective is everything: When faced with life-altering events, we emphasize the importance of shifting our mindset and focusing on the positive aspects of our situations. Let's put things into perspective and express gratitude for what we have.
Find solutions, not excuses: Instead of dwelling on setbacks, let's embrace them as opportunities for growth. Together, we can look for solutions and leverage available resources to overcome challenges, no matter their size.
Doors close, doors open: We firmly believe that every closed door leads to a new opportunity. Our collective resilience keeps us moving forward. Through our shared experiences, we've found that setbacks often pave the way for unexpected success.
Shift to Gratitude
I've always had a knack for putting things into perspective and seeing the positive side of situations. It's about choosing not to feel powerless but instead being grateful for what we do have.
Sometimes, we become myopic, focusing on our problems and lamenting our fate. However, it's crucial to recognize that many of the challenges we face are, in essence, first-world problems. At the end of the day, regardless of the challenges we encounter, most of us still have access to running water, a place to lay our heads at night, a warm home, and food on the table. We have much more than we realize. And a few dogs.
Face the Significant Trials
Since then, that's helped me. I mean, even today, I face a lot of problems and challenges on a totally different level, of course. As you said, they're first-world problems. At times, I might feel sad, angry, or frustrated, but then I quickly bounce back to work and find solutions. I think you're spot on. Don't fall into the role of a victim; instead, seek solutions, and move forward.
Looking back, almost everything has worked out fine. The most valuable thing you have is your health, and I believe that's the only thing you really need to care about. So, gratitude for what we have is crucial. When setbacks, challenges, or trials occur, it's an opportunity to take a step back, evaluate available resources, and explore solutions to overcome the challenge.
Always consider whether the problem will still matter in a week, a few months, or a year from now. When I reflect on all the significant challenges I've faced in life, most of them eventually turned into successes.
Open Your Door to Opportunities
Let me give you an example: we were supposed to open our restaurant last year in January, but we faced construction delays and a budget that went 2 million over. We were nearly broke, and I found myself sitting in the kitchen, crying, with no idea of how to move forward. There was no silver lining in sight.
However, four months later, we were awarded two Michelin stars from scratch, which is a unique achievement worldwide. This caught the attention of the Shark Tank production company, leading to my appearance on the show. So, a very challenging situation led to tremendous success. I can give you many such examples. Life is full of open doors, even when one closes. That's been my experience.
How can we approach these situations, considering whether a door is closing or a new one is opening?
You were in a situation where you felt you had failed. I can imagine the emotional turmoil of losing a substantial amount of money and thinking you couldn't open your restaurant. But then, you not only received two Michelin stars but also discovered new opportunities that you likely hadn't anticipated. That often happens. Currently, we're facing a similar situation. To be honest, during COVID, the beauty treatments industry thrived. However, after COVID restrictions were lifted, inflation increased, and interest rates went up, we've been struggling to sell beauty treatments. We have a team of employees, and this challenge emerged.
Yet, a new opportunity arose as we started collaborating with a local hospital. They're renting our operation rooms, and they realized our billing system is more efficient. So, we reached a new agreement for them to handle all billing. You see, everything leads to new branches or opportunities. That's the fascinating aspect of life. If you stay curious and keep moving forward, doors will open for you.
Walking Through the Road Called Life
Life isn't linear, and neither are careers or businesses. Often, they take unexpected turns. We may zigzag or go in different directions, but when I look back at all the trials and tribulations I've faced, I realize that each challenge has shaped me into the person I am today. I wouldn't be where I am without those experiences. Can you relate to that?
Absolutely. All these experiences become powerful tools and skill sets. That's the exciting part of life. I began as an actor, then studied medicine, became a dermatologist, transitioned into entrepreneurship, opened a restaurant, and now I'm involved in investments.
My life is in constant flux, and that's what keeps it interesting, as you mentioned. All these diverse skills I've acquired help me understand startups, businesses, and life in general. They also taught me to remain calm when crises arise because they eventually fade if you take the right steps and wait for the right opportunities. So, I wholeheartedly agree with your perspective.
7 Ways You Should Start Doing to Strengthen Resilience
Shift Your Perspective: When faced with adversity, change your mindset. Focus on the positive aspects of your situation and avoid dwelling on the negative.
Express Gratitude: Be thankful for what you have, even in challenging times. Recognize that many of life's difficulties are minor compared to the blessings you enjoy.
Embrace Challenges as Opportunities: Instead of making excuses, see setbacks as chances for growth. Look for solutions and leverage available resources to overcome obstacles.
Find New Endeavors: In times of crisis, explore new endeavors and interests. Diversify your skills and experiences, which can lead to unexpected opportunities.
Don't Play the Victim: Avoid falling into the role of a victim when facing adversity. Instead, seek solutions and take proactive steps to overcome obstacles.
Stay Curious: Life isn't linear, and neither are careers or businesses. Embrace change and stay curious about new opportunities and paths that may arise.
Invest in Memories: Cherish life experiences and the richness they bring. Your journey is made more fulfilling by the memories you create along the way.
Turning Tragedy to Triumph
As they listen to your journey of turning challenges into triumphs in various aspects of life, what word of advice would you offer them?
“Invest in Memories”
I didn't like the phrase "work-life balance" because, for me, work and life are intertwined. I'm one of the fortunate ones who love spending time with my dogs while also enjoying my work. Despite facing numerous hard days, struggles, and moments of despair, I'm always back on my feet. In the end, life is all about investing in memories. When I reach the end of my life, I'll look back and cherish a rich tapestry of experiences, from giving talks and TED talks to being on stage, conducting masterclasses, running businesses, opening a restaurant, and traveling the world.
