WALL 22: "No Risk, No Reward" with Tongan Flag Bearer, Pita Taufatofua

All of us here have our own dreams that we want to pursue, but due to the fear that’s holding us back, most of the time, we don’t really put an effort into moving.

That’s why in today’s episode, I’ve invited someone who’s gone from being a nobody to becoming bigger and better. Join me as I interview the ‘shirtless’ flag bearer.

Watch our conversation on YouTube!

How do you live and succeed in a life that is centered on doing things that you truly love?

Most people start their goals so high that they immediately fall into darkness when things don’t turn out fine. There are people who are too afraid to take action because of the limiting belief they have inside. Some people tend to give up when things get ‘too’ hard. But remember, each day is a reset, and every day, you’re given the blessing to try again.

Your conviction is your armor. Wear it and fight your demons.

Pita Taufatofua is a Tongan athlete in taekwondo and cross-country skiing. He has represented these sports three times across summer and winter Olympics.

He is the founder of TongaStrong, and has a passion in helping provide opportunities for the youth of the Pacific. He is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for the Pacific, and is a Team Samsung Galaxy athlete who lives in Brisbane Australia.

Pita and I met back in high school. I love how he is a person who is just so funny and intelligent, but is also so giving and down-to-earth at the same time. It’s just amazing to see the level of growth and influence that he has had just since we’re leaving high school.

In this conversation, you’ll hear Pita discuss:

• What happened on that night of his first Rio Olympics that changed his life in an exponential way
• His approach to working out and creating discipline
• His ability to be fearless
• The process he goes by as he puts effort to achieve his goals
• A skill everyone needs to master
• The idea of failing happy in relation to his kayaking experience

Conversation moments: 

(00:00:04) Episode Snippet

(00:00:50) Introduction

(00:01:06) Talking about and welcoming today’s guest, Pita Taufatofua

(00:04:31) Backstory on why he became a trend back in his first Olympics

(00:15:59) On becoming an Olympian: Seeing disappointment differently

(00:22:59) “Other people won’t see it, but you’ve got the keep going anyway”

(00:23:53) “It’s all about conviction”

(00:28:33) Fight the dragon: The process Pita follows on achieving his goals

(00:38:43) A skill everyone needs to learn

(00:40:31) Helping people after a series of disasters

(00:48:31) What happens during off season; Power of consistency

(01:00:38) The idea of failing happy; Pita’s kayaking experience

(01:05:21) Rapid Round

Check this out:

• Pita Taufatofua on Kayak World Championships: Interview on BBC; Video from Twitter

Connect with Pita Taufatofua:

• Pita on Instagram
• Pita on Facebook
• Pita on Twitter
• Pita’s TongaStrong

Rapid Round Recommendations:

• Book: As A Man Thinketh
• Tool: “We should download less apps and use our telephones less.”
• Song: “It doesn’t matter what the song is. If it elicits some emotion, that’s energy.”
• Quote: “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

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