Change begins at the end of your comfort zone

For most of us, change isn’t something that comes easily; but when your faced with life-or-death situations, it’s the key to survival. Chris’s story provides valuable insights into how change can be both positive and necessary to build the future you want.

Who is Chris Moon?

Chris started his life farming in a rural community in the UK, but when faced with health issues, he had to search for another career path. He saw this as a positive opportunity and decided to join the British army, where he spent 3 years in counter-terrorism. From there, he went on to work with a charity clearing landmines across Cambodia and Mozambique. It was here where he was taken prisoner by Khmer Rouge guerrillas (one of the most ruthless terror groups in history).
In 1995, Chris was caught in an explosion in a supposedly safe area of a minefield and ended up losing an arm and a leg. He survived initially because he treated himself: defying the odds, since doctors said they’d never seen anyone live with such a small amount of blood. He recovered four times faster than was expected and was out of hospital in less than two months.

Despite these challenges, Chris has achieved remarkable feats, including running marathons, climbing mountains, and becoming the first amputee to complete gruelling ultra marathons like the Badwater Death Valley Ultra 135-mile fun run, as well as successfully completed a full time Master’s Degree.

What can we learn from Chris? 

Whilst a career change isn’t a life-or-death decision, it has a big impact on how your story plays out. Chris’ experiences teach us 5 key lessons that we can apply to many aspects of our lives – but most importantly when we are facing significant change. 

The first step in making a change is to acknowledge the areas where change is needed. “When we face the difficult issues, they automatically stop being so difficult.” 

So, how can you apply the lessons below to help you on your career change journey?

Lesson 1: The journey of change can be an emotional one

No one enjoys the unknown, and change is just that. However, if we understand change from a psychological and emotional point of view, the thought of change quickly becomes more appealing. 

The change curve, originally proposed by Swiss psychiatrist Elizabeth Kubler Ross, outlines each stage of change: denial, shock, anger, acceptance, and aspiration. Whilst each stage is different for everyone, Chris suggests that if you recognise each stage exist but choose to only focus on acceptance and aspiration, you don’t need to pass through the prior stages. 
To do this Chris, gives these 3 tips:

• Accept and embrace it – when Chris lost his arm and leg, he had two choices: to accept and embrace his new way of life or to give up. 

• Keep a sense of humour and positive outlook – Your mindset can be your biggest supporter. “Humour is our greatest coping mechanism. People who smile and laugh through a big change live 7 to 10 years longer.”

• Find a new path – focus on what you can build or the future you want, rather than what you used to have or have lost. 

Lesson 2: Be realistically positive

Being taken hostage, held at gun point, and caught in a minefield explosion are all challenging situations, but remarkably, Chris managed to take something positive from each experience. 
”Out of every disadvantage or big change I’ve had to deal with, I’ve always found an opportunity to learn and grow.” 
To be realistically positive: 

• Practice gratitude to overcome adversity and find happiness. 
• Recognise that you have power over your thoughts. We all have negative thoughts, but you have the power to create positive thoughts to counter this. Instead of looking at change as a risk, approach it as an opportunity for growth. 
• Set yourself goals. Trying to conquer too much at once can set you back and reinforce negative behaviour. Setting realistic small goals will help you achieve your bigger goal and increase your chance of overall success. 

Lesson 3: See the bigger picture and rise above the things that drag us down

Despite losing his limbs, Chris refuses to let his disability define him. He became the world's first amputee ultra-distance runner, showcasing his determination to overcome physical limitations and achieve remarkable feats:

• Find joy in the journey. Finding happiness in the small moments makes the journey far more enjoyable. 
• Weigh up the pros and cons. Write a list of everything you can think of relating to your change. When you see it on paper, you will begin to visualise how to make the change happen. 
• Don’t succumb to the negativity around you. It’s easy to get sucked into a negative hole. After his accident, everyone around Chris thought his life as he knew it was over, but nothing could be further from the truth. 

Lesson 4: Avoid victim mentality 

In 1993, on his second day clearing landmines in Cambodia, Chris was ambushed by the Khmer Rouge guerrillas and was told he was now a prisoner of war.
Despite the high stake’s circumstances, Chris knew that if he acted like a victim, he would be treated like one. He decided in that moment he was going to embrace the one thing in his control: his mindset. Holding the belief that” failure is not an option”, he persuaded the Khem Rouge to let him go. 
Mindset is a powerful tool when used correctly:

• Have a plan. Create an in-depth plan on where you want your career to go. By having this to hand, it will ease the fear you have of change. Remember: “It’s not the hours your put in, it’s what you put into the hours.”
• Take ownership. By taking ownership of your decision to make a change, you will feel more empowered to take action. 
• Don’t focus on the midway targets. Focus on where you want to go. If you focus on where you want to go, you will soon find that you will get there a lot quicker than if you focus on the targets along the way.

Lesson 5: Develop and practice discipline in your habits

Having strong working habits will allow you to succeed in any career you choose, but working habits can look different to everyone. 
Chris’ working habits are focused on his mind and health. He believes, if his mental and physical health are good, it will reflect in his work. 
In 1997, Chris ran the Marathon De Sables. During the race, he collapsed due to heat stroke. When he looked at his watch and map, he realised he still had 14k to go. Luckily, Chris had built the habit to tackle his challenges one small task at a time. By applying this habit, he just focused on taking one step, and then another. And then one more. Before he knew it, he had crossed the finish line. 

• Focus on action. If you are focused on action, all your fear and negativity will disappear in relation to how to get there. 
• Recharge your psychological batteries. Everyone has their own way of recharging. Find what works for you and recharge. Being recharged will allow you to be more creative and positive. 
• Never underestimate the power of belief. If you believe you can, you will. Chris completed his marathon by breaking it down into manageable steps. After every step he would tell himself “I can do this, one step, one step”. By having full belief in his ability, he completed race.

Chris's journey is more than just a testament to human resilience; it's a call to action for all of us facing significant change. His life exemplifies that the path to transformation, while fraught with uncertainty, is also paved with growth, learning, and unparalleled opportunities. So, what's your next step? Will you step back into the comfort of the known, or will you embrace the lessons Chris has shared and step forward into the potential of what could be? Remember, your new chapter begins with a single step. Are you ready to take it?

If you’d like to attend an event just like this, please click here. If this has inspired you to take the next step in your career, talk to one of our recruitment team by clicking below.