Happy Moments And Firsts

I like to think about life in terms of happy moments and firsts. I don’t like to think about life in terms of numbers, dates, or achievements. In fact, I never look back at my achievements. The truth is that life is not made up of numbers, dates, or achievements. For me, life is made up of extraordinary moments that take our breath away, that ignite something in our souls, that leave a permanent mark on who we are. I am a big believer in “happy moments” and “firsts” because of how special they are. There is real magic in these precious moments. If you think about your first kiss, your first love, your first time in a country, your first time camping, or your first time doing something scary, they all leave memories indelibly etched in your soul. The same thing goes for ephemeral moments of happiness when you are truly lost in the now with your favorite people in the world. Often, the most meaningful moments of our lives are right here and now.

For me, life is a constant quest for more “happy moments” and more “firsts” with my loved ones, friends, and teammates. The next time you are invited to try something you’ve never done, you should just do it (as long as it is consistent with your values and it is not harming anyone, of course). When I look back at my life, I cherish most these rare moments when I experience something for the first time with loved ones and friends. I remember going to Disneyland for the first time. I remember going to Rwanda to trek for gorillas in the wild. I remember my first professional Muay Thai fight. I remember my first day at Harvard. I remember the first ONE event in Thailand. I remember the first day of The Apprentice. The joy of life is often about embracing these opportunities to experience something new and fresh to create everlasting magical memories with our favorite people in the world. Otherwise, life just becomes a monotonous blur of insignificant days without meaning. It sounds trite to say, but life truly begins outside of our comfort zone.

At the end of our time on Earth, we will treasure most the collection of happy moments and firsts with our loved ones, friends, and teammates. The journey is the destination.

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 Group ONE Holdings (ONE), Asia’s largest global sports media platform in history with a global broadcast to over 150+ countries around the world. He is also the star of the Asian edition of The Apprentice, the award-winning, global reality TV series. Sityodtong was named “Asia’s King of Martial Arts” by the Financial Times and was ranked the “2nd Most Powerful Person in Sports in Asia” by FOX Sports. Sityodtong was also selected as one of “Asia’s Top 100 Business Leaders” by Business Insider. He is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at INSEAD, Europe’s top business school. Inducted recently into the Black Belt Hall of Fame, Sityodtong is a Kru in Muay Thai under Yodtong Senanan and a Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Renzo Gracie. Sityodtong holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Tufts University.