The Beauty Of Our Imperfections

If you are going through a tough time in life right now, always remember that the greatest stories in human history involve immense suffering and the triumphant overcoming of it. Nelson Mandela endured 27 years in prison for his belief that all races were created equal. He eventually became the 1st black President of South Africa. Muhammad Ali lost everything he had built in life for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War on religious grounds as a Muslim. Against all odds and well past his prime, he ended up coming back to win the heavyweight world title for a 3rd time, making history as the only heavyweight to do so. Nick Vujicic was born with no arms and no legs. At his lowest point as a child, he seriously contemplated suicide. Today, he is a world famous evangelist, author, and entrepreneur. Tony Robbins came from a poverty-stricken, abusive home. Today, he is arguably the world’s best motivational speaker and life coach. Steve Jobs got fired from Apple, the beloved company that he founded. He went to become one of the greatest entrepreneurs in history.

Kintsukuroi is the ancient Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer and gold so that it is even more beautiful than the original. The philosophy of this treasured art is to celebrate the history of a ceramic piece by honoring every crack and every flaw. Imperfections are displayed beautifully rather than hidden, making each unique piece a magnificent work of art.

The most beautiful people in the world are not those with a perfect life. No, the most beautiful people in the world are those who have shed tears for their dreams, who have tasted the bitterness of failure, who have known the solitude of suffering. And yet, they march forward undeterred, unwavering, and unchanged in their quest to rise above circumstances, odds, and despair. The most beautiful people in the world are those who have scars indelibly etched on their souls because they choose to live their dreams.

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.