Wayne Forrest is a TEDx speaker and life coach. He informs and empowers people from around the world through his podcast, online workshops, digital courses and live events.
At the age of twenty five during a local rugby match, Wayne made a fleeting ego-driven decision. In less than 2 seconds, during an intense rugby ruck, he became a c4-5 tetraplegic and his life changed forever.
Seeking expert guidance and building himself back up, Wayne learned the skills required in life to get through anything and find joy in every moment that life brings us.
He now dedicates his time and expertise to helping others discover their Inner Warrior so they too can achieve their goals and lead a successful life, full of joy and fulfillment.
My Story
I grew up in Pōranhahau, a small farming community in coastal Hawke’s Bay. I lived and breathed farming. I knew from a young age that I wanted to work on the farm, so it was no surprise when I went on to become an expert shearer. I could shear 300-350 sheep in a day.
I was also a keen rugby player. I was in my high school’s First XV rugby team, and once I’d finished school, I immersed myself in my local rugby club. I lived a lifestyle of working hard and playing hard. But one Saturday in 1995, I was getting ready for a game of club rugby, my team was low on numbers and the regular captain was away, so I was asked to lead the team. It was a great honour and opportunity. A friend of mine was also in town, so the ego in me wanted to impress my mate. It was a tough game, and I wanted to win, so I took the ball into a ruck (a phase of play where one or more players from each team, who are on their feet, in physical contact, close around the ball on the ground, and it can get pretty rough).
My mentality was always that no one was going to beat me. I put myself in danger for a mere moment and ended up dislocating my neck…it was like a hot poker straight in the neck. I couldn’t breathe. In that brief moment I became a C4-5 tetraplegic. I was taken to hospital where I floated in and out of consciousness, feeling helpless. When I woke up, I wasn’t able to move. I felt shameful.
The shift from strong farmer boy to someone who had to rely on everybody else for support, made me go through some dark moments. Eventually, I came out on the other side, coming to terms with my injury and seeing a future before me.
I started creating goals like getting strong enough to drive and I was really lucky I had a physiotherapy therapist who was totally onto it. We would work for hours at a time. It's incredible what you can achieve when you've got a clear vision.
I eventually started running the farm again, a huge feat for me. I also got back involved in my community, building an incredible family whilst surrounding myself with wonderful friends and peers who supported and loved me. Life was good and I was grateful; the work had been worth it.
As good as life was, something had shifted in me during my transformation, I looked at life differently. I had come across something that others needed to know about too, so I turned my focus to life coaching. I studied with some of the best in the industry before going out on my own, sharing my experience, and empowering those who were wanting to change their own life.
It’s now my mission to help others improve their life, one connection at a time. If I can do it, anyone can.
“Wayne Forrest came and spoke as an inspirational speaker at the 2024 Lead Conference this year and was absolutely engaging. [He] is…a powerful speaker when sharing his message”
— Mark Armstrong, 2024