Gary Forbes: Beyond the Game: How One NBA Player Transformed Adversity Into Impact
Gary Forbes: Beyond the Game: How One NBA Player Transformed Adversity Into Impact  
Podcast: Stay On Course: Ingredients for Success
Published On: Wed Jul 15 2026
Description: Beyond the Game: How One NBA Player Transformed Adversity Into Impact Guest: Gary Forbes, Former NBA Player, Published Author & Founder of Soul Survivors Host: Julie Riga   Overview In this inspiring episode of the Stay On Course podcast, host Julie Riga sits down with former NBA player Gary Forbes to explore what happens when life takes you beyond the game you thought would define you. Gary shares his powerful journey from professional basketball to purpose-driven entrepreneurship, revealing the three essential ingredients that transformed his challenges with Type 1 diabetes into a platform for empowering others. This conversation is a masterclass in authentic leadership, resilience, and creating meaningful impact through intentional living.   Beyond the Game: How One NBA Player Transformed Adversity Into Impact About Gary Forbes Gary Forbes is a former professional basketball player who spent time in the NBA and played for 13-15 different teams across various leagues worldwide. Since retiring six years ago, Gary has evolved into a purpose-driven entrepreneur, published author, and advocate for children with chronic health conditions. Through his platform Soul Survivors, he's created a children's multimedia platform that empowers kids through storytelling, health literacy, and inclusion. Fun Fact: Gary's favorite food is Asian cuisine—especially American Chinese sesame chicken and anything Korean his partner makes. The Three Ingredients for Success 1. Mindset: Building Your Foundation Establishing a strong foundational mindset shapes how you interpret every challenge Learning that one bad moment doesn't define you "How you do one thing is how you do everything" - Coach Travis Ford 2. Optimism: Finding the Silver Lining Believing there's always a silver lining in every situation Understanding adversity as preparation for your purpose The "aha moments" that reveal why you went through challenges 3. Consistency & Sticktoitiveness: The Power of Commitment Doing mundane, repetitive work consistently every single day The 10,000-hour rule: Gary became a professional twice (athlete and author) Getting 1% better every day creates an extraordinary life Memorable Quotes "Your present situation is not your final destination." "No testimony without a test." "Everything that we can touch, feel started with a thought. If your thoughts become reality, so think good things." "You have 100% chance to do anything you want in life." "All work is easy work—it's just work." Key Moments How a fourth-grader was inspired to try out for basketball despite Type 1 diabetes Gary's daily NBA routine: 7am workouts to late-night skill sessions The journey from dreaming of a 15-20 year NBA career to discovering true purpose Creating Soul Survivors to gamify health and wellness for children The mindset shift: Even Steph Curry only makes 4 out of 10 shots Soul Survivors Platform Gary's multimedia platform provides empowerment and encouragement for children with chronic health conditions, helping students, educators, and hospitals improve cultural competency through inclusion and health literacy. The Soul Survivors app launches next month, inspiring kids to see themselves as superheroes. Key Takeaways Establish a strong mindset foundation—it shapes everything There's always a silver lining; transformation is always possible Success comes from consistent daily action and dedication Your authentic journey inspires others by living your best life Let go of self-imposed limitations—your mind creates your reality Connect with Gary Forbes Soul Survivors Platform: thesolesurvivors.com Social Media: YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook Connect with Julie Riga Podcast: Stay On Course Podcast Programs: Before I Lead Website: julieriga.com/lead   Subscribe to Stay On Course wherever you listen to podcasts Perfect for anyone ready to transform adversity into opportunity   #Leadership #PurposeDriven #Transformation #Resilience #AuthenticGrowth   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.