#96 Stephen Gallagher - Executive Director - EF Group

The Executive Edge: Why You Should Believe in Yourself with Stephen Gallagher

 When you're at the bottom, there's nowhere to go but up. But going upward from there isn't as easy as it sounds. Rising out of your darkest moments requires a lot more than just grit. It's all about being able to believe in yourself — believing that you can pull yourself up and learning to be vulnerable enough to allow other people to help you rise.

In this episode of The Mindset Mentor Meets, Angela Cox interviews Stephen Gallagher, Executive Director of EF Group. Stephen describes his journey from the lowest point in his life to create the success he enjoys today with his wife and daughter and how he tries to raise the bar on being a better person in both his life and those around him.

From overcoming a debilitating injury that threatened his mobility to achieving remarkable success in both personal and professional realms, Stephen's story is a testament to the power of self-belief and resilience. He shares invaluable insights into how embracing vulnerability and integrity has been pivotal in his journey, offering listeners practical advice on cultivating a mindset geared towards growth and success.

Where are you now? Is it a dark moment in your life, or do you think you’re at the heights of your success? There’s always something you can improve — whether in yourself, your organization, or someone around you. No matter where you are in your life right now, Stephen’s journey is something you can definitely learn from.

Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:

1. Understand why believing in yourself is the key to overcoming any odds.
2. Learn how having unshakable integrity empowers your self-belief and helps strip away self-doubt.
3. Understand how transparency and honesty help get everyone on the same page when it comes to striving for a goal.

Resources 

• Contact Stephen through LinkedIn
• Visit the EF Group Website
• Coaching with Angela Cox
• Listen to The Mindset Mentor Meets
• Read The Mother of All Jobs by Christine Armstrong

Episode Highlights 

[03:31] Stephen’s First Proudest Moment: Recovering from the Impossible

• In October 2019, Stephen fell and shattered his humerus, then contracted a rare condition that paralyzed his right arm.
• It was his first time feeling vulnerable — there was very little he could do on his own, and he was reliant on both medication and his wife.
• Although there was a surgery that could fix his arm, his surgeon told him that it was practically impossible that he would use his arm again. His surgeon said that Stephen had better odds of winning the lottery than regaining full mobility in his right arm.
• Stephen was undaunted; he devoted himself to doing his exercises and physical therapy until, against all odds, he could do something we take for granted: pick up a bottle.

[10:08] Journeying Out from the Pit of Despair

• Recovering from his paralysis was a massive journey. Stephen says he had PTSD and that his wife would wake him up when he had tremors.
• At this low point in life, he started questioning the meaning of life: what was his purpose? What could he offer?
• Seeing a therapist and taking medication were crucial in helping him on this journey.
• Stephen emphasizes the need for greater awareness and open discussions about mental health in his community.
• Instead of trying to return to who he was, Stephen aimed to move forward and change for the better.

[13:17] Stephen’s Second Proudest Moment: His Daughter

• Stephen’s daughter has moderate hearing loss and now has hearing aids — but she’s adapted to it well and has shown remarkable positivity.
• She embodies the values of generosity, thoughtfulness, and kindness, as instilled by Stephen and his wife.
• One moment that makes him proud is when his daughter comforted her classmate when they were having a bad day.
• Stephen and his wife were told that they wouldn’t be able to conceive naturally. But they defied the odds once again, being able to give birth to their beautiful daughter.

[18:13] Stephen’s Third Proudest Moment: Scaling Through Acquisition

• Over eight years at EF Group, Stephen played a pivotal role in growing the company from 27 to 120 million, showcasing his leadership and strategic acumen.
• Recognizing inflation's impact, Stephen and his team chose to scale through acquisition, aiming to secure the best future for their clients.
• They had to find a company that aligned with their values. At the time, that was Compass Group.
• The acquisition's success was significantly attributed to a commitment to total transparency and honesty, ensuring expectations were clear and aligned among all parties involved.

[23:09] Stephen Gallagher’s Secret to Success

• Stephen recommends this: believe in yourself. He has a lot of self-belief and knows he can do anything for any role if he is dedicated.
• He actively seeks and incorporates feedback from peers, colleagues, and superiors to foster continuous personal and professional growth.
• Stephen prioritizes maintaining his integrity, recognizing its critical role in his success and decision-making process, no matter the consequences of doing so.
• It’s vital to judge people by their actions to ensure alignment with core values — and that goes for clients as well.
• Building strong relationships is key to identifying and nurturing talent within his network.

5 Powerful Quotes

[08:12] ‘They were saying, you know, we don't use the miracle word. But this defies everything, defies all the tests, I remember doing a lot more physio and hand therapy. I remember sitting down with my wife and my daughter, and I had a steak, and I had confidence to cut the steak. And I remember, I remember just crying.’

[11:28] ‘It was about me being the best version of myself, rather than comparing myself to yesterday.’

[15:04] ‘There are challenges in life. But there are also a lot more people in the world that are in more challenging circumstances and so I’m thinking of those people and helping those people where we can.’

[18:52] ‘For us, it was very much about finding a company that was the right fit for our organization that shared the right the same values, the same beliefs, and the same vision for the future for our clients and our employees as well.’

[23:18] 'I believe the secret of success is this: believing in yourself; I have a lot of self-belief, as my wife always tells me, and, you know, I've always believed that you can do pretty much anything for any role you apply yourself. But equally, I always seek and always have sought feedback from peers.'

About Stephen Gallagher

Stephen Gallagher is the Executive Director of EF Group, a company dedicated to providing solutions for clients in various sectors: healthcare, education, and more. It aims to raise the bar on what it means to be of service — not just to its clients but also to the people who work in the company.

Connect with Stephen through LinkedIn, or read more about the EF Group on their website.

Enjoy this Podcast?

The world always has new life lessons for you to learn — and in this case, it’s something we all know yet don’t necessarily apply: to believe in yourself! If you learned something new from today's The Mindset Mentor Meets episode, hit subscribe and share it with your friends!

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To meeting inspiration,

Angela