"Shout out to all the short guys…there’s hope for you"
When Nick Santonastasso was born, he was given a 30% chance of surviving birth. One of only 12 people in the world born with Hanhart Syndrome – an extremely rare genetic disorder that caused Nick to be born with no legs, only one arm, and one finger. Growing up was hard, and Nick found himself self-loathing and thinking about ending his life.
However, more than just surviving, Nick found his WHY when he became a high school wrestler and professional bodybuilder. Now, he is sharing his experience with people all over the world as a keynote speaker at schools, non-profits, as well as Fortune 500 companies.
This condition hasn’t kept Santonastasso from living life to the fullest. He says he owes his success to this simple motto that helped him overcome failure and doubt: “It’s not can’t, it’s how.”
“Most people start with ‘can’t.’ Instead, look at the situation, take a deep breath and say, ‘Okay, how am I going to conquer this? How am I going to break through this barrier?”
“My parents sat me down and said ‘Nick, the world’s not going to stop for you because you’re born like this. Mom and dad are not going to be here forever, you’re going to have to figure out how to do each and everything your way,’” he recalls.
Accepting life’s challenges helped Santonastasso build resilience.
“I’m capable of what everyone else is,”
“I just want people to look at the world differently,” Santonastasso says. “I could sit here in this chair and moan and complain about being born with no legs and one arm. Or I could go do something about it. I could go make something of it.”
Check out his book Victim to Victor: How to Overcome the Victim Mentality to Live the Life You Love
