Reflect on the inspirational speech

Dean Furness is a data and analytics professional. An accident in 2011 left him as a paraplegic without the use of his legs, but after several years of rehabilitation, hard work and encouragement from his physical therapist, he competed as a wheelchair athlete in both the Chicago and Boston Marathons. He now speaks about his experience and what it takes to face difficult challenges.

Furness continues to train for marathons and aims to inspire others through a positive approach to owning each day. He is a husband, a father of three and a basketball coach.

Dean Furness is a data and analytics professional. He is a husband, a father of three and a basketball coach.

In a recent TED talk, Wheelchair Athlete Dean Furness shared his real-life story of the accident that left him in a wheelchair. He explains what that experience taught him about “personal averages“. Dean Furness shared his best advice for overcoming challenges and also the importance of not letting other people impact how we think about ourselves.

Wheelchair athlete Dean Furness says, “when you stop comparing yourself to others, you can accomplish great things.” After losing the use of his legs in an accident, he discovered a powerful new mindset focused on redefining his “personal average” that helped him get better little by little.