Stranded in Antarctica for 537 Days – David Knoff’s Unbelievable Survival Story

23/05/2025 58 min
Stranded in Antarctica for 537 Days – David Knoff’s Unbelievable Survival Story

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Episode Synopsis

Get the Growth Weekly Newsletter sent straight to your inbox and join 1000’s of other high-performers on the road to self-mastery  - https://www.jjlaughlin.com/newsletterWhat do you do when you're cut off from the world… for over a year?David Knoff was meant to lead a 12-month Antarctic expedition.Then COVID hit.And what should’ve been one year turned into 537 days of complete isolation in one of the world’s most extreme environments.In this episode, David and I dive deep into:How he kept his team alive, united, and mission-focused under extreme uncertaintyWhat war zones and Antarctica taught him about burnout, control, and calmThe reality of leadership when every plan goes out the windowWhat happened when a team member snapped—and how David brought him backWhy vulnerability, storytelling, and weekly meetings saved the station's cultureHis darkest moment—and what helped him survive itThis is a masterclass in real-world leadership—far from the safety of boardrooms and business books.💡 Whether you’re a CEO, coach, athlete, or team leader, the lessons inside this conversation will change the way you lead.This episode was proudly sponsored by NZ Mortgages. You can contact them here - https://www.nzmortgages.co.nzLearn more about David here - https://davidknoff.comFollow David on IG here - https://www.instagram.com/537daysofwinter/Grab a copy of David’s book here - https://davidknoff.com/537-days-of-winterWebsite: https://www.jjlaughlin.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6GETJbxpgulYcYc6QAKLHA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesLaughlinOfficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jameslaughlinofficial/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/life-on-purpose-with-james-laughlin/id1547874035 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3WBElxcvhCHtJWBac3nOlF?si=hotcGzHVRACeAx4GvybVOQ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslaughlincoaching/James Laughlin is a High Performance Leadership Coach, Former 7-Time World Champion, Host of the Lead On Purpose Podcast and an Executive Coach to high performers and leaders. James is based in Christchurch, New Zealand.Send me a personal text message - If you're interested in booking me for a keynote or workshop, contact Caroline at [email protected] the show

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