Chase Your Greatness

I just got into Bangkok last night for work, and it always makes me reflect deeply about life. Some of the best and worst days of my life were spent here. Many years ago, I left Thailand in poverty, sadness, and shame when my family went bankrupt. We lost our home and my parents were left penniless. My father eventually abandoned us. I never thought that I would ever return home again to Thailand.

As my career progressed in America, I always carried a deep-rooted insecurity that stemmed from my family background. When I was much younger, I would often compare my level of success with that of colleagues, friends, or even role models. I am embarrassed to admit it today, but it is the truth. I would compare how much money I was making, how much my net worth was, how prestigious my job was, how fast I was progressing, and everything else.

I will tell you that it brought me nothing, but misery. You see, I have learned that what others are doing in life has absolutely nothing to do with your happiness. We are all on different paths. We all have our unique gifts, talents, and opportunities. And we are all alone in the quest for our truths. Happiness stems from living an authentic life that truly ignites your soul. Everything else is meaningless.

Chase your greatness. Live your life.

Chatri Sityodtong is a self-made entrepreneur and lifelong martial artist from Thailand. His rags-to-riches life story has inspired millions around the world on BBC News, CNN, Financial Times, Bloomberg TV, CNBC, Channel NewsAsia, and other major media. He is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of ONE Championship, Asia’s largest global sports media property in history with a global broadcast to over 1.7 billion potential viewers across 136 countries around the world. Forbes most recently selected Sityodtong as one of Asia’s next generation tycoons. He was also named “Asia’s King of Martial Arts” by the Financial Times and the “3rd Most Powerful Person in Sports in Asia” by FOX Sports. He is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at INSEAD, Europe’s top business school. Sityodtong holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Tufts University.