He Showed Me How to Rise
I was in San Diego, attending Tony Robbins’ Leadership Academy, in a room filled with energy, intention, and people ready to grow. It was day one. We were choosing partners for the week when I saw someone who immediately drew me in.
He had the most brilliant green eyes. A face that radiated grace. And a presence that was impossible to ignore. He was seated in a wheelchair, with part of one arm and no legs.
His name was Nick Santonastasso, and he would be my partner for the whole week.
The week before the event, I tore my meniscus playing pickleball. I was limping, frustrated, and, if I’m being honest, feeling a little sorry for myself.
Nick was showing up fully every day, participating in every session, 8 hours each day. His mindset wasn’t just positive, it was powerful. He was taking notes with two fingers fully engaged and positive every day.
Needless to say, my injury soon faded as I was inspired and in awe of Nick.
At one point, he turned to me with a smile and said,
“Wanna see something cool?”
He showed me a video where he had just introduced Tony Robbins on stage at Unleash the Power Within. Commanding the room. Owning the moment. Radiating confidence and joy.
He Wasn’t Supposed to Be Here…
Nick was born with Hanhart Syndrome, a rare condition that meant no legs and only one arm. Doctors urged his mother to terminate the pregnancy. She refused.
At three years old, he was dancing to MTV.on top of his parents television set. Today, he’s a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and bodybuilder. He’s trained over a million people in business and life psychology, and has spoken on more than 600 stages around the world.
His presence didn’t just inspire me.
It challenged me.
It reminded me that our limitations often exist only in our minds. And that leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about how we show up in the face of adversity and how we adapt and grow.
What Nick Taught Me
That week, I came expecting to learn about leadership. What I didn’t expect was to meet someone who would completely reframe how I see it.
Nick didn’t just rise, he invited everyone around him to rise, too. He inspired us every day with his passion and grace.
And in the process, he helped me remember that our purpose lives beyond our pain, and that every obstacle we face is an opportunity to show up with more heart, more courage, and more presence.
Final Thought
Whether you’re leading a team, running a business, or just trying to heal your own knee, you have a choice in every moment:
To shrink…
Or to rise.
Thank you, Nick, for choosing to rise, and for showing the rest of how to rise with you.
