From Disability to Desirability
An Inspiring Story of Dr Raman
The answers to overcome our adversities, crises, limitations, disabilities, or obstacles are mostly either inside or around the same thing, which has been limiting us in the first place. Just by adopting a simple shift in focus from “the walls to the windows” – from ‘limitations’ that restrict us to the ‘leverages’ that are available, could save us a lifetime of emotional trauma. The adversity of any kind could bring with it challenging limitations as ‘walls’ that seem to prevent us from doing or getting what we want. More often, people get too engrossed in trying to break those ‘walls’ that they forget to see beyond the walls. They fail to see the larger picture that there could already be several ‘windows’ of opportunities and leverages available right through those restrictive ‘walls’ which may have the power to transform our adversity into unparallel advantages. Is it TEDx-worthy idea? If Yes, find me today.
I contracted polio when I was merely 6 months old. I lost my ability to walk well before the age to learn to walk. And I have been permanently disabled since then.
I experienced extreme poverty in the remote areas of India. I was brought up amidst the uncertainty if I could ever be able to get any education. And then when finally I went to school. I was subjected to constant bullying, ignored, and rejected, and made to feel as unwanted.
For several years, I crawled on the floor with one leg. As time passed, I was given iron-clad calipers and I had to drag that weight on my body to take just one step. And then began my homosepien-type evolution, trying every possible walking aid painfully and painstakingly.
But I have made my limitations as my leverages. Deprive of speed, I made speed as my obsession. I soaked myself into the world of learning, trying to decode how I can walk fast with mind, by learning faster.
While I lost my ability to walk, now I have travelled around the world unassisted.
While I was rejected to be an engineer, I became a scientist.
While I could not walk, now I teach organizations and professionals how to walk fast in their business and professions.
While I could not buy a book, now I have authored over 20 books.
While I was brought up in poor conditions, I am now a senior corporate learning leader at $50bn corporation, managing a hall of fame training organization, named as one among the top 5 global training organizations, and making decent enough money.
While I had experienced the risks of not being able to go to school, I have been awarded 2 doctorates and have earned over 100+ international and educational credentials, including 3 masters degrees, several PGDs, diplomas, certifications. This includes highest certified designations such as Certified Project Director, Certified Quality Director, to name a few.
Delivered at the Idea and Inspiration platform, this personal talk is my first public appearance talking about my disability journey. I shared how no disability is worse than the mental ones we impose for ourselves in the form of limiting beliefs and excuses. I revealed how I transformed his limitations into advantages… and how you too can break free and move forward from self-imposed thought-limitations you may have set upon yourself.
Delivered at the International Conference of Impactology Australia, in this impact-making talk, I shared how your adversities themselves could be the best bet to make an impact and make a difference in his world. The true impact and difference-making start with us when we break-free from our inhibiting limitations and start changing our own life first.
Delivered at La Vida Talks, in this powerful talk, I shared four insightful lessons and a framework from my encounters with failures. I talked about how anyone struggling with failures can handle it with a different mindset and in fact, turn the failures around into shaping their success. I shared a model comprising LEAP. LEARN. LEVERAGE. LEEWAY to make the most of your failures.
An excerpt of my MONEY FM 89.3 radio interview with Glenn van Zutphen. in which I expressed that physical disabilities are nothing. The perceived, mental or psychological, or emotional limitations are far more concerning in fact. I explained how these limitations are effectively restricting our mental, emotional or physical movement in our life. I advised people to look deep and wide, look within or around the limitation. Perhaps your weakness itself is your advantage.
Delivered at Speakers Institute, in this talk I shared how I traveled my journey from disability to desirability using a concept of self-connectedness. This is an idea I developed that allows you to find your clearer self through a stronger bond with yourself and understanding yourself in relationship to your eco-system.
Delivered to esteemed, Mr Les Brown, inarguably world’s number one motivational speaker, this talk tells my tale of childhood when I had to carry heavy calipers on my leg. the talk conveys an idea that how today everyone around us also carries similar weight on their minds that limits them and stops them.
