320 - He Nearly Lost His Legs on a Zoom Call: Scott Hanis on Rebuilding After Rock Bottom

From Comfort To Courage · 45:04

Show by Jen Josey

320 - He Nearly Lost His Legs on a Zoom Call: Scott Hanis on Rebuilding After Rock Bottom What do you do when the body you've been ignoring finally forces the conversation? For Scott Hanis, it happened mid-Zoom call: his legs turned black and blue, swelled up like tree trunks, and within hours he was in the ICU fighting blood clots that ran from his toes all the way to his inferior vena cava. Doctors told him he was fortunate to keep his legs, let alone his life. That single afternoon became the line between the version of Scott who was quietly carrying years of abuse, depression, and a drinking habit behind a successful HR career, and the version who decided to finally do something about it. In this episode, Scott, co-founder of Fortitude HR Solutions, opens up about the long road that followed: the year it took before he actually started walking, the 105 pounds he lost, the relapse that came when his mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and the exact date, May 11th, 2024, he put alcohol down for good. He also gets honest about the courage it took to walk away from a secure corporate paycheck and large stock payout to build Fortitude with his wife Laura, and how a single conversation with mentor Tim Bratz changed the direction of his career. This isn't a polished success story. It's a real look at what rebuilding actually costs, and what it gives back. This episode is for anyone who has built a life that looks fine from the outside while something underneath keeps getting ignored: the health scare you're overdue for, the habit you keep promising to quit, the job that's safe but not yours. If you've ever needed proof that you can fall off the wagon and still get back on it for good, Scott's story is that proof. Press play before you find another reason to put yourself last. 00:00 Courage Is Contagious 01:18 Badassery Bestowment Boundaries 03:53 Meet Scott Hanis 06:53 Fortitude HR Solutions Explained 12:11 Mergers And Change Management 14:40 Life Before The Wake Up Call 21:30 Near Death Medical Crisis 24:00 Recovery Starts With Steps 25:22 Tracking And Discipline 25:54 Relapse And Mom's Cancer 26:40 Quitting Alcohol Reset 28:21 Turning Point With Wife 30:14 Leaving Corporate Impact 32:00 Wake Up Call Advice 33:19 Courage Challenge Action 35:29 Badass Framework Q And A 41:54 Success Legacy And Outro 5 Powerful Takeaways Why a near-death experience doesn't automatically change your habits, and what it actually took Scott a full year later to start walking to the mailbox and back The exact turning point that broke a cycle of relapse: one honest conversation with his wife that did more than the ICU stay ever did How to protect your mental health by auditing the five people you spend the most time with, and when to walk away without guilt The leadership advice from two different mentors that Scott still uses today to make faster, clearer decisions under pressure Why "helping one person a day" became Scott's daily practice for rebuilding purpose after losing his sense of why he was still here About the Guest Scott Hanis is co-founder of Fortitude HR Solutions, where he and his wife Laura have spent seven years helping small and mid-sized businesses build the people, culture, and leadership systems behind sustainable growth, including guiding one client from $4 million to $50 million in annual revenue. Before starting Fortitude, Scott spent his career in private equity, overseeing HR for more than 1,200 employees across multiple countries and leading complex mergers and acquisitions. He now leads weekly HR and leadership calls for the Legacy Family Mastermind and has volunteered in youth ministry for 21 years. In June 2021, a sudden medical crisis involving blood clots and double COVID pneumonia nearly cost him his legs and his life, setting off a multi-year health and sobriety journey that included a 105-pound weight loss, a public relapse, and sobriety since May 11th, 2024. Grounded in faith and shaped by his own history with abuse and depression, Scott now brings that same fortitude to the leaders and companies he coaches. Resources & Websites Mentioned Website: fortitudehrsolutions.com Facebook: Scott Hanis Instagram: @scottrHanis LinkedIn: Scott Hanis Connect With Jen Josey To learn more about Jen Josey, visit https://www.therealjenjosey.com/ If you enjoy Jen's Witty Shirts, shop the whole collection at https://www.shopwittygoods.com/ New episodes drop every Monday Morning at 6am EST. See you next time.

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