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Every so often, you meet a person whose story just humbles you. Their story is so unconventional that it makes you wonder what you’ve done with your life. It makes you question if you have truly lived.
That is the impression we had when we sat down to talk to our latest guest on The Inner Edison Podcast.
Chris Thrall is best known as an author, speaker, mentor, YouTuber, and podcaster who was once a Royal Marine (the UK’s equivalent of the Green Berets); however, Chris’ life has been anything but a straight-line trajectory towards success.
In fact, it’s his most challenging times that have truly made his success all the more shocking. If you love inspirational stories, grab a coffee or tea, find a comfortable chair, and enjoy.
No Direction
Growing up in London, Chris had “a traumatic childhood” that caused him to become quite directionless as a young man. He recalls living out of his car when a friend came to him and said he passed the three-day test to become a Royal Marine Commando.
Impressed by his friend’s accomplishment, he remembers his friend saying, “Someone like you could never pass that kind of test.” That was all the motivation he needed to become a Royal Marine. That one bet with a friend changed the course of his life.
Life as a Royal Marine Commando
During his time as a UK Royal Marine Commander, he traveled the world extensively, performed in combat, and was involved in many missions. During his time as a Royal Marine Commander, he had the military’s structure to keep him busy.
It also helped him think about his future. During his time in the military, he started a business that became very successful. It became so successful that he requested to leave the military early. He started a network marketing business that became the first network marketing business in mainland China. That led to a move to Hong Kong, which would change his life forever.
Life In Hong Kong: Eating Smoke
By the time Chris was able to get out to Hong Kong after his 15-month notice with the Royal Marines, his company’s bubble had burst. He was left destitute in Hong Kong with no money, and led towards a downward spiral.
He became homeless and addicted to crystal meth. Out of work and down and out, he entered a night club to see if a friend could help him secure a job. While his friend wasn’t there, the manager was, and he gave him a job as a doorman for the club.
Little did he know then, but the club belonged to the dangerous gang known as the 14K Triads. Chris talks about this experience in-depth in his memoir entitled, Eating Smoke.
Rock Bottom: Forty Nights
During his stint of working in Hong Kong for the Triads, Chris was cycling the drain further and further into his addiction with crystal meth. Not only that, from the amount he was using every day, he was slowly descending towards madness into clinical psychosis.
In his memoir, Forty Nights: My Escape From Crystal Meth Hell, he describes his days of slowly going mad and hitting rock bottom. His epiphany came when he needed to go out of the house to eat. He hadn’t eaten in days and was using heavily. That as he opened the door, he became ashamed to go out looking the way he did. It was a moment of clarity that became a catalyst for change in his life.
Small Steps Toward Greatness
During the years the followed, he committed himself to being a better person. Since that time, he has committed himself to causes bigger than himself.
He has worked and traveled in 87 countries across all seven continents. He is a qualified pilot, sky diver, and advanced scuba diver. He has expedition in the Antarctic Polar Circle. He has backpacked across North, Central, and South America. He has taught children in post-war Mozambique. He has guided journalist in India to write about poverty. He’s written seven books, ran 200 miles non-stop for veterans and mental health awareness, and has ran 1,000 miles non-stop, the length of United Kingdom.
His Message
Chris Thrall doesn’t consider himself special. He refers to himself as a normal guy. His message is clear: if he can pull himself out of the depths of his own hell, so can you.
It’s a powerful message. To listen to the interview, head over to The Inner Edison Podcast, and check out Chris Thralls’ amazing books.