76: Vasu Sojitra on Finding Normality in our Differences
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It\'s hard enough being a kid trying to fit in. Imagine being a brown kid with one leg growing up an affluent and very white Connecticut town. Vasu Sojitra was diagnosed with septicemia at the age of nine months which resulted in the amputation of one of his legs.
He spent much of his youth finding his way in the world.\\xa0In fact, His TedX Bozeman Talk is titled \\u201cWhat is Your Normal?\\u201d
\\xa0Now, Vasu is the\\xa0Adaptive Sports Director for Eagle Mount Bozeman,\\xa0Coordinator for Earthtone Outside\\u1d39\\u1d40, the first adaptive Athlete for The North Face.\\xa0
\\xa0Vasu shared with me how he managed and what got him through those years. He shared with us how he started skiing, what skiing did for him and how he figured out how to engineer equipment to get him out in the backcountry. And now, now that skiing and the outdoors has restored his self-confidence and belief he can do anything, he\\u2019s advocating for all marginalized identities. He talks to us about how we can all be better, more empathetic and inclusive. All of us, no matter how we identify, can be ignorant of how our words, actions (and lack of both) affect others.\\xa0
For example, there is one word Vasu said people with disabilities absolutely hate. And you\\u2019ll have to listen in to find out what it is.\\xa0
With that, let\\u2019s listen in and gear up for what\\u2019s next.
Where to Find Vasu
Resources mentioned:
- TedX Talk What is Your Normal?\\xa0
- Earthtone Outside MT on Facebook
- Unlikely Hikers
- brothers of climbing
- Brown Girls Climb
- Paradox Sports
- Eagle Mount Bozeman
- Vermont Adaptive
- Catalyst Sports
BEFORE YOU LEAVE - If you are enjoying the shows, I hope you\\u2019ll subscribe, rate, review and share with your friends!\\xa0
About Lisa Gerber:
Lisa advises CEOs and senior level management on how to use the power of storytelling and effective communication to influence action and bring ideas to life.
She guides companies through the digital maze of constantly changing tools to build discovery, loyalty, and ultimately help them achieve their own big leaps.\\xa0
When she is not in her office, she might be out skiing or trail running. This is where she does her best creative problem-solving.\\xa0
To learn more about booking Lisa for consulting, speaking or workshops, visit www.bigleapcreative.com.
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