Derrick McManus - Inspirational Speaker, Facilitator and MC

27/05/2026

"Iron mindset is an understatement.
Elite level mind is what Derrick has.
Yes, trained but also developed - through suffering, stress and difficulty. Like a diamond formed deep within the Earth' when subjected to extreme heat and pressure. We need to embrace stressors more and let them form us into stronger, more resilient beings. True honour to spend time with Derrick and learn from him."

I met Aleksandra King while I was in the UK when I was opening the Spy Q executive conference being run by Gavin Stone - retired British Intelligence Officer - and James Foster.

All Aleksandra's podcast interviews are next level and compared to The Diary Of A CEO for depth, intensity and value.

Please listen to this one and please like it and make comment for feedback and broader sharing stats.

https://lnkd.in/gg4yaB7V

03/05/2026

Melbourne — I'm coming to you.

Are you ready to close the gap between what your team believes it's capable of — and how it actually performs when the pressure is real?

Because that gap is exactly where most people come undone. And it's exactly where the real work begins.

I work in Human Durability and Mind Mastery — helping leaders, teams and organisations sustain high performance physically, mentally and emotionally when the stakes are high and the margin for error is small.

Human Durability — beyond resilience. Sustained high performance under sustained pressure. Mind Mastery — the ability to think clearly, decide well and execute with precision when everything is telling you not to.

This isn't theory that sounds great in a workshop and evaporates by Monday.

This is a system forged in extreme conditions — built across years as a sniper, diver and counter-terrorism operative, where rock-solid mindset wasn't a nice-to-have, it was survival. And when I was shot 14 times in less than 5 seconds and faced three hours alone, bleeding and conscious — 30 seconds from death — Mind Management wasn't a concept. It was the only thing standing between me and not making it.

That experience didn't break me. It became the foundation of everything I now teach.

I'll be in Melbourne from 10 - 15 May, and I'm opening up time to connect with leaders, teams and organisations who are ready to move beyond potential — and into real, repeatable performance.

Coffee. Conversation. A genuine challenge.

If that sparks something — send me a message or tag someone who needs to hear this.

Fair warning: I love a good laugh and I'm happy with small talk — but I go deep fast. Come ready.

28/04/2026

Should you be in or out of your comfort zone?

This is not theory. It sits at the core of Human Durability. It is how I survived being shot and returned to full duties as a sniper, diver and counter-terrorist operative two years later.

Everyone loves to say, “Get out of your comfort zone. That’s where growth happens.”

Sure, that's true ...
But no one talks about staying there too long.
What happens to your mental, physical and relationship health?

Outside your comfort zone is also where stress lives.
It is uncertain.
It is complex.
It is hard.
It is uncomfortable.
It stretches you.

And not just your capacity and capability.
It tests your mental wellbeing too.

Now don’t get me wrong. I spend a lot of time outside the comfort zone.
That pressure can be exciting. I enjoy it.
That was my life in STAR Force.

But I only stay outside the comfort zone for a chosen amount of time.
And then I switch.

Stay there too long and your performance drops.
Just a little, then a bit more. Then it can collapse.

You get overwhelmed by everything and it doesn't abate.
Decisions are harder.
Solutions are rarer.
Creativity disappears.
Your team still needs you.
Your family wonder if you’re ever happy.

This is when most people double down.
"I just need to be more resilient and keep on going."

Wrong move.
That thinking is exactly what leads to burnout.

This is where I tell people to 'get back into your comfort zone'.

Not to hide. Not forever. Not for too long.
And definitely not because there is anything wrong with you.

Get back in with intent.

Inside your comfort zone:
Your mind settles.
Your nervous system downshifts.
Where clarity returns.
Energy is restored.
Perspective stabilises.
You reconnect with yourself and your people.

This is not weakness. This is strength. And this is recovery.
This is how you protect your mental wellbeing and sustain optimal performance under pressure.

Go back into your comfort zone:
For 10 minutes, 24 hours, two weeks or whatever YOU need.
Allow yourself little time out and then ...

Go again.

Human Durability is not about choosing one zone over the other.
It is built by deliberately using both.

I redefined them for resilience and Human Durability as:
Functional Resilience - inside your comfort zone.
Aspirational Resilience - outside your comfort zone.

Functional Resilience is utilised when you see the signs of burnout. This is where you rest, relax, replenish and reset and get ready to go again.
Aspirational Resilience is where you enjoy pushing yourself, striving, achieving, and growing.

However, one without the other will break you.
Stay in Aspirational Resilience too long - Burnout.
Stay in Functional Resilience too long - Rustout.

Move between both, and you build Human Durability - the capacity to sustain optimal performance under pressure.

It's not about how long you can stay outside your comfort zone.

It's how well you move between Functional and Aspirational Resilience and keep showing up at your best.

14/04/2026

Memories .... from 2022

I once cycled 200 kilometers a day for four days, just to do it.

Just for fun.

And it was fun. I pushed my body, mind, and spirit and accomplished something challenging.

And it felt FANTASTIC.

When what you do has meaning to you, it’s easier to push yourself through what others perceive as pain.

Chase that feeling of personal or professional accomplishment that comes from really pushing yourself.

To me, there is no greater feeling in the world.

07/04/2026

Last week I had the privilege of speaking to a group of my peers at the Retired Police Association of South Australia.

We talked about the experience of being hit 14 times by bullets and shrapnel in the Nuriootpa siege. I shared what it felt like to lie bleeding on the ground for three hours, coming within 30 seconds of death from blood loss, and the realities of the recovery that followed.

More importantly, we explored my experience with moral injury and embitterment. Something that many other police have described about their own journeys and lives.
I didn't have the graphic (attached in first comment) at the time, but it helps explain what may be preventing some of our great police from fully enjoying their careers, their retirement, and their lives.

Moral injury is the distress that comes from violating core values, breaking deep trust, failing to provide promised support, or being treated unjustly.

Embitterment is a lasting sense of resentment or anger after perceived injustice, betrayal, or unfair treatment. It often leads to persistent rumination that deepens over time and becomes overwhelming. It can drive a focus on revenge or retribution, outcomes that rarely bring real relief. Over time, it can erode a person’s outlook, damage important relationships, and diminish enjoyment of life.

This doesn't just happen in our career. It can also happen as a result of a broken marriage, a failed business relationship, or similar matters.

To resolve embitterment is important. We need to acknowledge that the Moral Injury either happened or we perceived from our perspective that it happened (the other side may have different views), and that the injustice and emotions are real and valid. At the same time, we must recognise that full correction or justice is often unlikely, and holding onto that expectation can keep us stuck.

In conversation with Spoggy, we agreed that most of us have had run ins with people, we've been bumped around when we shouldn't have but we've also done some things that we maybe didn't get pulled up on or got away with.

Our shift comes when we choose not to let that experience define our future. This means redirecting our focus to what remains within our control, rebuilding meaning, and investing energy into growth, purpose, and relationships. It is not about excusing what happened, but about freeing ourselves from being governed by it and continuing to build the life we and our families enjoy.

I have been able to do this in my own life, but I also acknowledge that those emotions still surface from time to time. I think that is part of being human.

We finished the session with plenty of laughter alongside the serious conversations. The discussions over coffee afterwards were just as meaningful and just as relaxed.

I am always available to talk with any member, at any time, about anything.

24/03/2026

I had a sensational day with Australasian Hospitality & Gaming Expo at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.

We discussed the Human Durability - sustained optimal performance, Resilience ² ™ - Functional Resilience and Aspirational Resilience, and The 5 Drivers of Success.

Thanks Reyna Rebelo Mendes for remembering my presentation 4 years ago and booking me again, and thanks Marg Booth and Great Expectation Speakers Bureau

Great to see Craig Rispin CSP open the day with a fascinating and logical look at leveraging AI.
Professional Speakers Australia - PSA … remember this man?

22/12/2025

Let’s me be clear – I’m not a hero.

I’m a person who found his passion, I’m a person who prepared for the challenges that were coming, I’m a person who was prepared to fight when the going got tough AND I won.

Hero is a subjective term and it’s defined by your perception.

When people, young and old, call me a hero or tell me I'm different, I appreciate the sentiment, but honestly? It sits uncomfortably with me.
I get it, I understand their perspective.
The fact I survived being shot 14 times may seem like a superhuman feat – this makes me feel uncomfortable. The fact that I came through that massive ordeal without PTSD may seem superhuman – this makes me feel uncomfortable.

Perspective; I know they’re not common, I totally get it.
But here's what I know: others have survived far greater physical trauma. Many have conquered even more significant psychological challenges.
I'm not superhuman – I'm simply someone who found his passion, prepared well, stayed in the fight, and won.

People often ask me: "Who are your heroes? Who inspires you?"

My answer surprises most people – my children. They've found work they love, built successful careers, and are genuinely happy. My daughter thrives as a Digital Marketing Specialist Manager at Telstra. My son excels as a computer programmer and 2IC at a tech company. Neither followed me into policing, and that's perfect.

Then there's Sandi, my accountant. She's a hero to me because she masters what I can't stand – numbers, spreadsheets, tax optimization. She dives deep into financial complexity while I reap the benefits. She does brilliantly what I'd rather avoid entirely.

So, here’s my question to you: What is that you do, that I other people can’t or won’t. What is it that you are exceptional at and makes you really happy?

Put those two into a Venn diagram and where they intersect is where you will become someone special, you will become a hero and people will be saying. “Thank goodness you were here because I couldn’t have done that without you.”

Life is not about aiming to become a hero, life is about finding what makes you happy and following your passions.

Being called a hero makes me feel uncomfortable.
Being told, ”You’re exceptional at what you do”, that makes me proud.”

That’s the foundation of Human Durability and Mind Mastery. I help people find their passion, find what they’re really good at, find what makes them happy and then give them the tools to excel and win so they will feel proud of themselves.

I’m not a hero. I’m simply a person who found his passion, prepared for the challenges that were coming, was prepared to fight when the going got tough AND I won.

Come and find out more about Human Durability and Mind Mastery and how you can win the fight against the challenges of your choices, career or industry.

16/12/2025

Yesterday, I had the honour to share some guidance on emotional management insights for those people affected by the Bondi shooting tragedy - survivors, family, friends, loved ones of the victims and bystanders.

During the interviewed on ABC News Breakfast, I simply shared the following, For those carrying the weight of the trauma or the vicarious trauma:
*It is important to simply get together with family, friends or simply people you trust and make you feel safe - emotionally as well as physically, and just be together, talk about it if you feel like it, never be forced to talk if you don't feel like it.
*When you've had enough of talking or you feel like a break from it all, immerse yourself in something completely different - walk in the park or in nature, watch the wildlife - birds, roos or the dogs of other walkers, immerse yourself in a hobby or something you love - cooking, garden, building, woodwork.
** Important - This isn't to say you're not affected, it's not to say that the incident isn't important. This is simply about allowing your brain some downtime and recovery.

There's another group that deserve some guidance too - those who will listen and hold space for others. You matter too and there's a chance you may experience vicarious trauma, and it's real and can affect you the same way - be aware.

Here's something powerful my dear friend John Mannion, CEO of Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation, taught me during our Kokoda Track during a Kokoda Centurions journey: Before you rush to fix or solve, pause and ask the person sharing a simple question:

"What do you need from me right now?"

Do you need Help?
Do you need to be Heard?
Do you need a Hug?
Or do you need Hope?

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is nothing but listen. Sometimes the deepest healing comes from a wordless embrace. You don't need to have all the answers - your presence is enough.
And please remember: if feelings of distress continue, there are compassionate professionals ready to support you. Reaching out for help is an act of courage, not weakness.
If you'd like to talk, I'm here. Please reach out - I promise I'll respond.

Above all: be extraordinarily kind to yourself.

06/11/2025

Juxtaposition Human Durability - Sustained Optimal Performance testimonials:

1st:
A private industry executive after my gig as opening keynote speaker in the UK with Spy Q (the retired MI-5 lead executive retreat)
Thank you Hussain

2nd & 3rd:
Queensland Surf Lifesaving after my 2-hour workshop for 18 - 26 yr old organisational new and potential leaders.

I really enjoy working with, connecting with and inspiring leaders of all ages to reach deep inside themselves, ask better questions, make better choices and step up to being the leaders they want to be.

If you too would like better leaders in your organisation, connect with me and let’s discuss your challenges.

Derrick McManus

30/10/2025

Spy Q - the 2-day seminar that has wowed the audience and having them commit to returning next year.

The VIP Q&A and personal drinks and nibbles in the evening was outstanding and we already have plans to make the next one even better.

We also have a HUGE announcement for Australia soon too.