Leading speaker inspires at UTAR

Christiansen on his 1.5 metre-high scaffolding

Having organised talk series on life enrichment to bring positive change to the community over the years, UTAR Centre for Extension Education and the Malaysia Mental Literacy Movement organised another inspiring talk on 3 December 2015 at Kampar Campus.

Titled “Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude in Life”, the one-hour talk was presented by Tony Christiansen, a world-leading motivational and inspirational speaker who lost both his legs from a horrific train accident at the tender age of nine while collecting coal at a railway yard for a community project.

Christiansen said he felt a bit like Humpty Dumpty as he sat on a 1.5 metre-high scaffolding and spoke to more than 400 aspiring university students and their mentors.

The attentive audience at the talk

Christiansen, 57, was here to share his secrets to overcoming challenges and achieving success. He said, “People should not wait for something to go wrong to decide to make their life the best it could be. So many people are just sitting around waiting for something to go wrong. I am fortunate, I know so many people that are far worse off than I am; but then I know so many able-bodied people that are far more disabled than I’ll ever be, just because of their attitudes. Therefore, people need to find inspiration, create challenges, and be passionate.”

The upbeat speaker from New Zealand finds delight in every living moment and continues to share his passion and enthusiasm with audiences around the world. He shared that, “it’s not what happens to you, it’s what you do about it that makes the difference. It’s easy to blame others for the challenges we face. So stop dwelling on something in the past that you can never change and get on with life.”

He further added, “Everybody asks me, ‘don’t you have down days?’ My answer to that is, ‘I had a down day. It was in 1972 and it lasted 10 minutes’. I have a choice when I wake up in the morning where I can have a great day or I can have a crappy day. I choose to have a great day.”

“I think that for me, losing my legs has probably been an opportunity. Would I have achieved what I have today if I hadn’t had my accident? We all react to things in different ways. I actually think that if losing my legs is the worst thing that’s going to happen to me, the rest of my life is going to be great,” he said.

Christiansen has been a motivational speaker for nearly 17 years after selling his sign-writing business in 1998. He said he loves his job on the speaking circuit, which takes him around the world. Christiansen was initially not expected to live past the age of 20 as doctors did not believe he could deal with the pressures of life. Instead, he defied all odds with his ever positive attitude and continued to achieve remarkable feats. Among these achievements include being a best-selling author, a world-class athlete and medallist, a motor racing champion, a qualified pilot, a lifeguard, a successful businessman, and even earning a black belt in Taekwondo. He has also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro using his mountain-climbing wheelchair.

Among those present at the talk were UTAR Council Chairman Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, UTAR Planning and Development Committee Advisor Tan Sri Hew See Tong, staff, students, and members of the public.

The talk ended with an autograph signing with Christiansen, along with a sale of his Race You to the Top book.