AJ Garboski: “It’s Not What You Achieve, It’s What You Overcome”

AJ Garboski built his identity the way a lot of high performers do—through effort, achievement, and the quiet pressure to feel “normal.” From a young age, a reading disability made him feel different, and instead of confronting that feeling, he outran it. Sports, accolades, and leadership roles became his proof that he belonged. But beneath it all was anxiety, and a growing equation that said success equals normalcy.That equation broke in college. A manic episode unraveled everything he had built, leading to hospitalization and a complete loss of identity. The structure he relied on—sports, school, performance—was gone. What followed wasn’t a single comeback story, but multiple collapses and rebuilds. AJ had to confront something far harder than failure: the realization that brute force effort couldn’t solve everything, and that strength might look very different than he thought.This conversation explores that shift. AJ reframes “normal” not as a destination, but as the climb itself—the ups, the setbacks, the uncertainty. He shares how vulnerability became a form of strength, how accountability starts with the person in the mirror, and why community isn’t optional when you’re navigating something bigger than yourself. His story moves beyond awareness of mental health into something more practical: preparedness, ownership, and the willingness to accept reality as it is.At a time when more people are openly struggling but still unsure how to move forward, this conversation offers something grounded. Not answers, but a way to think about the climb you’re already on.What You’ll Learn• Why chasing “normal” can quietly shape—and limit—your identity• The difference between mental health awareness and mental health preparedness• How vulnerability can become a form of strength, not weakness• A reframing of success: from achievement to overcoming• The role of community when you can’t solve things on your own• A simple but powerful mental model: the mirror as your greatest asset or liabilityAbout AJ GarboskiAJ Garboski is an author, speaker, and founder of Team Garbo, a nonprofit focused on mental health support and preparedness. Through his book The Climb and his personal story, he helps others navigate adversity with accountability, resilience, and community.About Extraordinary StoriesExtraordinary Stories explores the ideas, people, and experiences that shape extraordinary lives.Hosts Forbes Shannon, Christine Butler, and Aaron Bare sit down with entrepreneurs, thinkers, creators, and leaders to uncover the moments that changed how they see the world.