Most of our featured entrepreneurs over the three years of publishing Building Bridges have endured difficult financial challenges and personal hardship during their struggle to achieve success.  We all know that life has its ups and downs.  But, can life itself ever begin so "down" while still developing in a mother's womb, yet rise up so high by the tender age of 28 years to become an inspiration to the entire world?

Life in Brisbane, Australia was happy and exciting in 1982 for a young Serbian couple, Boris Vujicic and his wife Dushka, as they were looking forward to their first bundle of joy.  But their dreams of a perfect family were smashed when their baby boy entered the world on December 4, 1982 with no arms and no legs, and two tiny feet attached to his torso, the left foot with only two small toes. Dushka, a nurse, and Boris, a Christian pastor, could not imagine why or how this could have happened as there were no early indications of this rare birth defect (known as Tetra-amelia). And what could the future hold for their beautiful little baby, whom they named Nicholas?  Dushka became so distraught that she could not bring herself to hold him until he was nearly four months old. By God's grace, and the support and prayers of their congregation, Nick's parents began to experience peace and understanding with the strength, courage and wisdom needed to raise him.

Nick and his family faced problems not only with his care, but when it was time for him to enter school at age 5, state law prohibited him from attending regular classes, and, even though he was very bright and not at all mentally impaired, school administrators attempted to force him into alternative education based only on his physical disability.  His mother fought hard and eventually succeeded in enrolling him in regular school with "normal" children.  Later, however, after being bullied, gawked at and teased by his classmates, Nick became extremely angry and depressed; by age 8 he started contemplating suicide. When he was 10 years old, he tried to drown himself in 4 inches of bathwater, but stopped because of his love for his parents.  Through the years, he continually begged God to grow his arms and legs.  When he was 15, his mother showed him a newspaper article about a man with a severe disability, and he began to realize that he was not the only one with major obstacles in life, and his accomplishments were actually an inspiration to other people. He began to thank God for being alive, and turned his life more towards embracing his situation and achieving greater things with the hand he was dealt.  In 7^th grade, Nick was elected captain of his school and worked with the student council on various fund-raising events for local charities and disability campaigns.

Over the years, through trial and error, Nick learned to basically get around and live on his own. He learned to write using the two toes on his left foot, and a special device that slid onto his big toe which he used to grip. He also learned to type 43 words per minute using his little toe (which he nicknamed his little "chicken drumstick"), and use the computer with a "heel-and-toe" method.  He learned to throw tennis balls, play drum pedals, comb his hair, brush his teeth, dress, answer the phone, shave and get himself a glass of water (as demonstrated in his speeches), golf, swim, surf, fish and play soccer.

At the young age of 17, he began his lifetime dual career as a motivational speaker and evangelist when he started sharing his life with his Christian prayer group. During college, he majored in both accounting and financial planning, and graduated at age 21. Soon afterward, he began traveling as a motivational speaker, sharing his life experiences and Christian faith with both Christian and non-Christian audiences and individuals, focusing most of his attention on teenage issues.  Although Nick was born with a severe disability, in his mind he is not disabled at all. Today, he has become an international inspirational speaker, speaking to businesses, schools and Christian congregations in over 24 countries in Africa, Asia, Australia, South America and North America - over three million people so far - speaking on subjects such as disability, hope and finding meaning in life.

Besides being president and CEO of his own non-profit company, Life Without Limbs in Agoura Hills, California, he produced a 2-part motivational DVD in 2005, starred in a short inspirational film, "The Butterfly Circus" (which won the 2010 Clint Eastwood Filmmaker Award, as well as winning him Best Actor in a short film at the Method Fest Film Festival) and wrote his first book, Life Without Limits (published by Random House in 2010). In 2005, at age 23, Nick was nominated for Australia's prestigeous Young Australian of the Year Award. His first worldwide television interview was on ABC's 20/20 which aired on March 28, 2008.  Nick is also is a successful stock market and real estate investor.  He has a passion for life and for people, and has probably done more for God in his 28 years of life than most people twice his age. From his first introduction into the world, Nick has since become a bright and shining star.

God has used me to let people know in countless schools, churches, prisons, orphanages, hospitals, stadiums and in face-to-face encounters with individuals how very precious they are to God. Secondly, it's my pleasure to assure them that God does have a plan for their lives that is purposeful.  For God took my life, one that others might disregard as having any significance and filled me with His purpose and showed me His plans to move hearts and lives toward Him. Understanding this, though faced with struggles, you can overcome, too.

I believe that if you have the desire and passion to do something, and if it's God's will, you will achieve it in good time.  As humans, we continually put limits on ourselves for no reason at all!  What's worse is putting limits on God who can do all things.  We put God in a "box."  The awesome thing about the Power of God is that, if we want to do something for God, instead of focusing on our capability, concentrate on our availability for we know that it is God through us and we can't do anything without Him.  Once we make ourselves available for God's work, guess whose capabilities we rely on?  God's! - Nick Vujicic

"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood."

Nick moved from Australia to Los Angeles, California in 2007 because of his numerous of speaking invitations around the country.  Nick has a younger brother and sister, neither of whom are afflicted with his rare disorder.

As the owner of a company, you must have a positive attitude and accept 100 percent of the responsibility for the results of your business.  When you accept responsibility, you can act to make the necessary changes to accomplish the desired results.  Then, when success is achieved, you're generous in giving credit to others within the organization.  Without exception, the most successful business owners understand that it's all about people:  hiring and retaining the right people, eliminating ineffective people and providing the necessary resources for employees to master their tasks.

(Reprinted with permission from Ron Finklestein, www.rpfgroupinc.com)

Gardening can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors, get physical activity, beautify the community, and grow nutritious fruits and vegetables. Take a few minutes to help stay safe and healthy while gardening:

- Put on protective gear as needed, including safety goggles, sturdy shoes, long pants, gloves, insect repellent, or sun screen.

- Drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially when it's hot, to prevent dehydration.

- Make sure your tetanus/diptheria (Td) vaccination is up-to-date.  If it's not, call your doctor or nurse to make an appointment to get it.

(Source:  www.cdc.gov)

How the custom of pranking on April 1^st originated remains a mystery. One of the more popular theories dates back to 1500 when the western world changed from the Julian calendar (when the new year began on April 1) to the Gregorian calendar (the new year begins January 1). French peasants would surprise friends with a "surprise new year visit" on April 1^st in an attempt to confuse them into thinking it was indeed the new year. Thus, it became tradition to pull harmless April Fool's jokes on those near and dear to us.  But, beware:  According to superstition, the April Fool's Day pranking time expires at noon on April 1^st -- after that time, any jokes attempted during the remainder of the day will bring bad luck to the jokester!

One of the more ingenious April Fool's jokes took place on the morning of April 1, 1996, when Taco Bell executives announced they had bought the Liberty Bell from the federal government and was renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell. The public was so outraged by this that they immediately complained to the National Historic Park in Philadelphia where the bell is housed. Shortly afterward, Taco Bell confessed to the spoof.  When Mike McCurry (then the White House press secretary) was later asked about the sale, he jokingly said that the Lincoln Memorial had also been sold to a different corporation and would now be known as the Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial.

When a lot of BS comes your way, just BS:  Be Still (at least for a little while), Be Strong, Be Sober-minded and Be Satisfied with what you have.

-- Nick Vujicic (on Twitter, June 2009)

A man was blissfully driving along, when he saw the Easter Bunny hopping across the middle of the road. He swerved to avoid hitting the Bunny, but unfortunately the rabbit jumped in front of his car and was hit. The basket of eggs went flying all over the place. The driver, being a sensitive man as well as an animal lover, pulled over to the side of the road, and got out to see what had become of the Bunny carrying the basket. Much to his dismay, the Bunny was dead. The driver felt guilty and began to cry.

A woman driving down the same road saw the man crying and pulled over. She stepped out of her car and asked the man what was wrong. "I feel terrible," he explained. "I accidentally hit the Easter Bunny and killed it. There may not be an Easter because of me. What should I do?"

The woman told the man not to worry. She knew exactly what to do. She went to her car trunk and pulled out a spray can. She walked over to the limp, dead Bunny, and sprayed the entire contents of the can onto the little furry animal. Miraculously, the Easter Bunny came back to life, jumped up, picked up the spilled eggs and candy, waved its paw at the two humans and hopped on down the road. Fifty yards away the Easter Bunny stopped, turned around, waved and hopped on down the road another 50 yards, then turned, waved, hopped another 50 yards and waved again!!

The man was astonished. He said to the woman, "What was it that you sprayed on the Easter Bunny?"

The woman turned the can around so that the man could read the label:  It said: "Hair Spray. Restores life to dead hair. Adds permanent wave."