The Middle is where human beings are truly made. It's easy to show up at the start line, energised by the excitement of new beginnings, and we all love the thrill of celebrating a finish. But it's the Middle where our stories unfold, where challenges are overcome, and where endurance is built.In this presentation you will discover transformative insights designed to encourage and equip you for life's most challenging stretches. Whether in life or leadership, The Middle is the terrain that demands resilience and grit. The Middle Insights will encourage you to:Keep going when your motivation fades and quitting seems easier. Refuel from your own story, tapping into the power of your personal experiences. Protect your perspective to cultivate the right emotions in difficult times. Navigate your context with intention, moving forward strategically rather than letting circumstances dictate your path. Embrace detours with agility and openness, turning unexpected challenges into opportunities for growth. Collaborate with your tribe, knowing that no great journey is made alone. Leverage failures, transforming them into stepping stones that propel you toward success rather than holding you back.Drawing from his experience in ultra-endurance races, Travis connects the mental and emotional endurance required in these extreme challenges with the day-to-day choices we face. This talk will inspire you to not only survive The Middle but to thrive in it, ensuring that you run your race with purpose and finish well. Travis was born and raised in Durban. During 1999, the year after he finished school, he rode a bicycle 17000km across four continents, raising R1.7 million for children living with and affected by HIV / AIDS. On that tour he wrote a vision for an organisation called Appletree, a brand which would enable human potential. In 2004, after studying HR at UKZN, he lived and worked as an underwater videographer and dive professional on Koh Phi Phi Island in Thailand. After experiencing the devastating Tsunami, he returned home with a renewed fervour to activate his vision. For the past 20 years he has been developing the Appletree brand, partnering with many organisations to shape and sustain a healthy culture. In 2020 he published The Middle, a book which was written to encourage individuals and teams to navigate tough terrain and achieve ambitious goals. Through The Middle brand, he expresses his current passion; learning about and sharing on the topic of grit and resilience, drawing from 20 years of entrepreneurship, 4 decades of living in KZN, 15 years of marriage, 10 years of parenting two daughters, and his current goal of running ten 100 mile trail races of which he has completed six. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx