How do you achieve a goal that people tell you is impossible? How do you harness the power of hope to defy all odds? At TEDx, Doug Lindsay received a rousing standing ovation when he shared his incredible story of faith, perseverance, innovative thinking over adversity, and saving his own life. His saga later went on to become CNN Health’s story of the year. Asserting that you must face obstacles with the conviction that they can be overcome, Doug shares how to “think like a scientist” to solve any problem. His highly motivational insights leave audiences inspired to take on challenges. After all, as Doug’s remarkable story demonstrates, almost no challenge is impossible — it’s all a matter of whether you let it control you or you choose to control it.

In our rapidly changing world, most people see innovation within the context of disruption — there are winners, losers, those that fall behind and those who leap ahead. Doug Lindsay sees innovation in a totally different light: through the lens of hope. Hope, as he sees it, means being open to change, believing that any problem is solvable and that any challenge can be overcome. It is this hopeful mindset that drives creative vision and breakthrough innovation. Using his own odds-beating story as a dramatic example of achieving the seemingly impossible, Doug examines your organization’s specific challenges or goals. Then, he lays out solutions and strategies that bet on hope as the key driver of success.

During his 14 years as a patient leading groundbreaking research that eventually cured his extremely rare medical condition, Doug Lindsay collaborated with 35 senior faculty at 28 institutions. He also developed new uses for five prescription drugs and won a national court case protecting patients’ rights. Now an inspiring advocate for patients, including those with rare conditions, he shares the invaluable skills and strategies to productively and collaboratively engage your healthcare team in care and treatment. Telling the story of how he saved his own life by inventing a surgery for “Lindsay Syndrome,” Doug emphasizes the importance of collaborative healthcare partnerships.

From solving the opioid crisis to breaking the cycle of poverty, organizations helping others face insurmountable challenges. According to Doug Lindsay, there is a powerful strategy for overcoming any challenge:  perseverance, powered by hope. In this inspiring speech for social services, healthcare and community organizations, Doug tells his amazing story of inventing the surgery that saved his life — a story with lessons for anyone determined to make things happen because lives are on the line. Sharing how to cultivate a mindset that sees any problem as solvable, Doug celebrates the power of hope and perseverance in overcoming seemingly impossible odds.