Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Nick Bracks of Move Your Mind Is Helping To Change Our World
Build sustainable income: Relying just on an entertainment career for income is stressful and only translates it if takes off in a big way. Building other sustainable ways to make money helps us also build a long-term career in entertainment.
As a part of our series about stars who are making an important social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Nick Bracks.
Nick Bracks is a storyteller who has dedicated his adult life to creating positive conversations around mental health.
Nick’s early career in the fashion and entertainment industries ultimately led him to his ongoing work in mental health awareness. He earned international modelling contracts and made regular appearances on Australian television as a presenter as well as a personality. During his time on Dancing with the Stars, Nick publicly spoke about his experience with depression and anxiety for the first time.
Nick has advocated alongside some of Australia’s, and the world’s, largest mental health-focussed organisations by candidly recounting the mental health issues he has struggled with since age 11, including a particularly difficult period when injury forced an early end to his initial career as a competitive athlete. He has spoken to audiences of 1,000+, personally delivered over 1,000 seminars at schools and corporate events around the world, and presented two TED Talks, one covering how creative and entrepreneurial drive can help combat depression, and another on the growing suicide epidemic.
One of Nick’s creative outlets is acting. He has completed a full-time acting course at Film and Television Studio International, and has several film credits already to his name, including a two-year role on Australian soap, Neighbours, and other Australian productions, along with creating his own content. Acting, along with exercise and meditation, are Nick’s foundations for mental health.
In addition to advocacy and acting, Nick has successfully launched several companies including founding his eponymous men’s underwear label, underBRACKS; a successful restaurant venture; co-founding a nutritional supplements company and founding Move Your Mind. Nick now spends his time advocating for mental health, speaking and interviewing, creating content and acting. His professional life and personal development are perfectly intertwined.
Nick’s professional life and personal development are perfectly intertwined. He lives between Australia and the United States.
Thank you so much for joining us on this interview series. Can you share with us the backstory that led you to this career path?
I grew up in a well-known Australian family (my father was the premier of Victoria). I always had an active mind and was motivated to excel in sports, specifically middle distance running, in which I competed at a national level. I had a very unique upbringing and all I have known since the age of 12 is to be in the media, which is where my career as an adult also led.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that occurred to you in the course of your career? What was the lesson or takeaway you took out of that story?
I landed an English speaking role in a huge Indian film starring the late Irrfan Khan — it was an amazing experience however got cut short as he was sick and they kept halting production.
What would you advise a young person who wants to emulate your success?
My advice would be to take your time and try as many things as possible and to also not put a time limit on things. If you truely want it then it should be forever. Fall in love with the process.
Is there a person that made a profound impact on your life? Can you share a story?
There are so many but my uncle and aunty were huge to me. They both passed away during covid and it was devastating. They supported my dreams since I was a little kid and instilled the belief in me that I can achieve anything. They are everything to me. So much so that I tattooed their initials on my wrist to remind me to follow my heart as they wanted me to.
How are you using your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting causes you’re working on right now?
My life goal is to make change in mental health all over the world. I am doing this through my organisation, Move Your Mind (moveyourmind.me) and by simply using each and every opportunity I can to speak about mental health.
Can you share with us a story behind why you chose to take up this particular cause?
I suffered from anxiety and OCD quite severally as a kid and spiralled out of control in my early 20’s — I was lucky to survive. It was magnified due to growing up in a famous family. This drove me to use my experience and platform to help others.
Can you share with us a story about a person who was impacted by your cause?
There are so many but one example was a person who had planned to take their own life and decided not to after hearing one of my talks. That was a moving experience and spurred me to keep going.
Are there three things or are there things that individuals, society, or the government can do to support you in this effort?
- More conversations
- More funding
- Subscribe to the Move Your Mind podcast, buy the book and join the Move Your Mind community! All links here:
https://linktr.ee/moveyourmind
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started”
- That it would take time: I used to be so rushed and want everything right away. I could have avoided stress and pain if I acknowledged how long it would take.
- That the process never ends: You don’t just ‘make it’ and everything is then easy. It is a never-ending process which again is why we need to enjoy the ‘process’.
- To have other interests: If you only care about one part of your career you can become stale and stop enjoying what you used to love. Having other interests keeps us fresh.
- Build sustainable income: Relying just on an entertainment career for income is stressful and only translates it if takes off in a big way. Building other sustainable ways to make money helps us also build a long-term career in entertainment.
- Surround yourself with good people: I used to have toxic people around me and it derailed certain things. I now only have a small group of very supportive people around me and it makes all of the difference.
You’re a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
I have been advocating for mainstream mental health education for the past 12 years and will continue to do so. I would love to inspire as many people as possible to realise that vulnerability is the ultimate strength.
Can you please give us your favorite life lesson quote? And can you explain how that was relevant in your life?
Never give up. I believe the only way dreams don’t come true is if you give up. Everyone (even those closest to you) will try and convince you to give up so you need to trust yourself and push on.
We are blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.
Hugh Jackman. He is a fellow Australian and someone who I would love to emulate a career!
Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Nick Bracks of Move Your Mind Is Helping To Change Our… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.