Latest news with #WizardHomeLoans
Sky News AU
15-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
'It was a wake up call': Mark Bouris, 68, opens up about his secret health scare and the costly mistake he made by ignoring the warning signs
Australian entrepreneur and media personality Mark Bouris has opened up for the first time about a serious health scare he faced in 2009. The 68-year-old shared the personal revelation in a candid new blog post, reflecting on the experience and what it taught him about valuing his health. "I didn't slow down. I thought I didn't have a choice," Bouris wrote. "I worked myself into the ground, and it landed me in hospital with a serious illness." The experience, he said, "was a wake-up call". "I'm sure you've also heard stories of people suffering serious physical and mental consequences from burnout. I became one of them." Born and raised in Punchbowl, Sydney, to a Greek father and Irish-Australian mother, Bouris credits his father- a factory worker- for instilling in him a strong work ethic. In 1996, he founded Wizard Home Loans, which became one of the country's largest non-bank lenders. Three years later, he launched Yellow Brick Road, a financial services company aimed at supporting suburban Australians. Just two years into building his second company, Bouris found himself seriously ill in hospital, worn out from overwork. "I often tell business owners that prioritising your health is non-negotiable," he reflected, now nearly two decades later. "We're so worried about charging our phones but forget to recharge ourselves. "Rest doesn't mean heading to the pub or replying to emails after hours. It means giving your body and mind real time to unwind." In September, the father-of-two launched Project 100, a podcast dedicated to exploring the science and secrets behind living a longer, healthier life. He also hosts Straight Talk and The Mentor, interviewing leading entrepreneurs, business figures, and politicians. Despite advocating for balance, Bouris remains a prolific figure in the business and media worlds. He's authored two books, fronted The Apprentice Australia and The Celebrity Apprentice Australia, and regularly weighs in on key financial issues. Recently, he urged Australians to rethink their retirement expectations amid the rising cost of living and increasing life expectancy. "If you're 20 now, you won't be retiring until you're 80, maybe 90," he said on his Mentored podcast. "If you think you're going to retire at 65 or if you think you're going to have enough money to retire at 65, you've got another thing coming." As of 2025, Bouris' net worth is estimated to exceed $200 million.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Australian millionaire Mark Bouris reveals his secret health battle - and the three things he did to stop burnout and change his life forever
Australian millionaire and entrepreneur Mark Bouris has recalled the moment he hit rock bottom after he pushed himself so hard it landed him in hospital. The high-profile businessman and media personality, 67, is the founder of Wizard Home Loans and the chairman of mortgage-broking business Yellow Brick Road. He also hosts two podcasts, Straight Talk and The Mentor, where he interviews leading entrepreneurs, business figures, and politicians. In a candid blog post this week, Bouris wrote that he had learnt the value of hard work from his father, but that same drive had almost destroyed him in 2009. He reflected on the dangers of burnout, admitting that despite his success, he had paid the price of ignoring the warning signs. 'I didn't slow down. I thought I didn't have a choice,' he wrote. 'I worked myself into the ground, and it landed me in hospital with a serious illness.' That experience, he said, changed his view point forever. 'That was a wake-up call,' he wrote. 'I'm sure you've also heard stories of people suffering serious physical and mental consequences from burnout. I became one of them.' Now, Bouris advocates for sustainable performance and health in his industry by urging entrepreneurs to treat themselves as their most valuable asset. In his article, Bouris stressed that success isn't about working 24/7, it's about working smart, maintaining discipline, and knowing when to stop. 'I often tell business owners that prioritising your health is non-negotiable,' he said. Adding that the secret isn't in fads or extreme routines, but in nailing the basics, sleep, exercise and recovery. He also warns against blurring the lines between work and rest, something he believes many business owners get wrong. 'We're so worried about charging our phones but forget to recharge ourselves. Rest doesn't mean heading to the pub or replying to emails after hours. It means giving your body and mind real time to unwind,' he said. Bouris said it was vital for business owners to know their purpose and their 'why'. He said that when life in business gets chaotic, what gets you through is knowing why you're doing it in the first place. 'There'll be times when your routine goes out the window. Late nights, early starts, and everything in between,' he said. 'When that happens, purpose gives you that extra gear, like a boxing world champion digging deep in the final round.' Bouris's message is clear, burnout is real, and no one is immune to it. 'Stop ignoring the basics,' he wrote. 'When it's time to work, get it done. When it's time to rest, actually rest.'
