Are you Going to Finish Strong?

I just got an email forward from a close friend, Richa, who sent this video of a truly inspirational person – Nick Vujicic.  Nick was born without hands or legs (no limbs), and yet is an inspiration to many.  Here is his story (taken from Wikipedia) and the video:

The first-born child in his devout Serbian Christian family, Nick Vujicic was born in Melbourne, Australia with the rare Tetra-amelia disorder: limbless, missing both arms at shoulder level, and having one small foot with two toes protruding from his left thigh. Initially, his parents were devastated. Vujicic was otherwise healthy.

Growing up

His life was filled with difficulties and hardships. One was not being able to attend a mainstream school because of his physical disability, as the law of Australia required, even though he was not mentally impaired. During his schooling, the laws were changed, and Nick was one of the first disabled students to be migrated to a mainstream school. He learned to write using the two toes on his left “foot,” and a special device that slid onto his big toe to grip. He also learned to use a computer and type using the “heel and toe” method (as demonstrated in his speeches). He can also throw tennis balls and answer the phone (also demonstrated in speeches).

Epiphany

Being bullied at his school, Nick grew extremely depressed, and by the age of eight, started contemplating suicide. After begging God to grow arms and legs, Nick eventually began to realize that his accomplishments were inspirational to many, and began to thank God he was alive. A key turning point was a newspaper article about a man dealing with severe disability that his mother showed him when he was 12, that led him to realize he wasn’t the only one with major struggles. When he was seventeen, he started to give talks at his prayer group, and eventually started his non-profit organization, Life Without Limbs.

Career

Nick graduated from college at the age of 21 with a double major in Accounting and Financial Planning. He began his travels as a motivational speaker, focusing on the topics that today’s teenagers face. Motivational speaking is a great way to encourage other people to get themselves out there and do something amazing! It’s also a great way to make money (check out David Goggins net worth if you want to learn more about this), which is why many people choose to do it. If you have an interesting story to tell, people will pay to hear it! Since Nick had plenty of stories, he decided that becoming a motivational speaker might be a great career choice for him. He also speaks in the corporate sector, although his aim is to become an international inspirational speaker, in both Christian and non-Christian venues. He regularly travels internationally to speak to Christian congregations, schools, and corporate meetings. He has spoken to over two million people so far, in twelve countries on four continents (Africa, Asia, Australia, and North America).[7]

By the age of 25, Nick hopes to become financially independent. He wishes to promote his words through television shows such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, as well as by writing books. His first book, planned for completion by the end of 2009, in which he’s hoping to get it passed around to various literary agents, it is to be called No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!

His motivational DVD, Life’s Greater Purpose, is available on the Life Without Limbs website.[8] Most of the DVD was filmed in 2005, featuring a brief documentary about his home life, and how he does regular things without limbs. The second part of the DVD was filmed at his local church in Brisbane, and was one of his first professional motivational speeches. His motivational speeches can be seen on the Premiere Speakers Bureau Website.

His secular DVD “No Arms, No Legs, No Worries” is available online through his corporate motivational speaking company “Attitude Is Altitude.”

Nick’s first worldwide television interview, featured on 20/20 (ABC) with Bob Cummings was aired on March 28, 2008.

Life Without Limbs

The Life Without Limbs organization, which Vujicic founded in 2005, is aimed at giving people living with no limbs motivation and inspiration for their lives. This is done by giving speeches worldwide about Christian faith and the impact that faith in God can have to help the world.

He deals with topics like fear and rejection, depression, suffering, and even unanswered prayers. The speeches take place in both Christian and non-Christian environments including churches, schools, and other venues.

He appeared in a BodyShock documentary about his life. The documentary is entitled ‘Born without Limbs,’ and was broadcast on May 5, 2008.