Mark Agnew

But sparks collide with reality. And reality can be brutal.

Mark’s first Atlantic attempt?
A disaster. Ten people crammed on a flimsy catamaran. Water pouring through hatches sealed with pool noodles. Within 48 hours, the boat was gone, and the dream was over.
The tabloids laughed. The headlines mocked. Imagine it: you set out to achieve something extraordinary — and instead, you become a national joke.

But the second attempt cut even deeper. This time, it was just two men. No chaos, no circus. Just raw endurance. Until fatigue and storms and broken equipment forced Mark to make a call. He stepped off the boat. Rational. Sensible. Logical.

But in his heart, it felt like quitting.

And that decision ate at him. For years.
Every time he saw a headline about another Atlantic crossing, the wound reopened.
Every story whispered: You failed. You’re not enough. You don’t belong.

This is what failure does. It doesn’t just stop you. It defines you — if you let it.

👉 And now I want you to try. Complete this sentence:

“I am afraid that…”

Here’s an example: I am afraid that if I quit my job to start my business, I will fail and let my family down.

Say it aloud. Because struggles grow when they’re buried — but they begin to shrink the moment they’re spoken.

Mark’s breakthrough didn’t come from success. It came from failure.

Through reflection — and with the help of psychologists — he began to see that he had been chasing the wrong things. Titles. Records. Validation.

And he realised something profound: resilience isn’t about being the toughest.
If you’re too tough to adapt…
Too tough to laugh at yourself…
Too tough to lean on others…
You’re not resilient at all.

True resilience is about carrying your fear with you. About finding joy in uncertainty. About redefining failure as part of the story, not the end of it.

History shows the same truth. Shackleton’s men didn’t survive the ice because they were the toughest. They survived because they adapted, because they kept laughing, because they held each other up. Nelson Mandela didn’t endure 27 years in prison by proving he was unbreakable. He endured because he found meaning in the suffering.

Mark rediscovered adventure in Hong Kong’s stormy seas, kayaking into uncertainty and learning to delight in it. So when the chance came — last-minute — to attempt the Northwest Passage, he was ready.

Over 103 days, he and his team battled storms, hunger, ice, and polar bears. They became the first to kayak the Passage. Two world records.

But the real breakthrough wasn’t the record. It was the realisation that failure had always been his greatest teacher.

👉 Now it’s your turn. Complete this sentence:

“Even though I am afraid of…”

“I will… anyway.”

Here’s an example: Even though I am afraid of speaking in front of a crowd, I will share my story at next month’s event anyway.

That’s the meaning hidden inside failure. It doesn’t erase fear. It gives you a reason to act anyway.

Mark Agnew’s story isn’t just one to listen to — it’s one to live out.
This week, we followed his journey through Spark → Struggle → Breakthrough → Interview.
Now it’s your turn to close the loop with Action.

Use these prompts to guide your own reflection:

1. Reframe Failure
Write down one setback you’ve faced. Don’t label it as failure — call it Act Two of your story. Ask yourself: What could this moment be preparing me for?

2. Redefine Resilience
Identify one area where you’ve been trying to be “too tough.” Instead, practice bending: ask for help, share the load, or try a new approach.

3. Take a Small Act of Courage
Complete this sentence:
“Even though I am afraid of ____, I will ____ anyway.”

4. Make It Personal
Now, bring it all together with this commitment:

👉 “One thing I will do to make a difference…”

It doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be yours.