How My Cleft Palate Prepared Me for Life on Wall Street

By Dave Liu, as advised to WebMD by way of Smile Train

Many would take into account being born with a cleft lip and palate a setback that might have unfavorable implications all through one’s entire life. Looking again now, as a 30-year veteran of the finance and expertise trade, I can see clearly that my cleft journey gave me the instruments I wanted to rise on Wall Street, in Silicon Valley, and reach enterprise. 

I used to be born within the Nineteen Seventies with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, and have undergone nearly a dozen surgical procedures all through my lifetime. At the time, earlier than the age of the Internet and social media, I used to be unable to seek out position fashions, or foster connections with these in related conditions. It wasn’t till my twenties that I met one other individual with a cleft. I spent the vast majority of my childhood in Hong Kong, the place I largely stored to myself, remoted by the social stigma related to having a cleft.

Growing up might be tough for anybody. And it may be particularly exhausting for cleft-affected people; with out illustration, it’s isolating and lonesome. After being bullied and ridiculed by others, I used to be taught an necessary life lesson by my mother and father at a younger age: to give attention to myself and ignore what others had been saying about me. I channeled my vitality into enhancing myself by means of my research and retailers like drawing comedian books and Chinese portray. It enabled me to disregard what others mentioned and give attention to enhancing myself.

Despite the peculiar appears to be like and fixed stares, I used to be at all times reminded of the phrases spoken to me by my mother and father. To at the present time, I nonetheless use them as my North Star. Focusing on my research and self- enchancment, I acquired a finance diploma from the Wharton School and an engineering diploma from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences on the University of Pennsylvania. Upon getting into the workforce, my cleft ready me properly for an extended profession on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley by giving me what I known as “rhino skin.” A psychological  toughness to persevere. I realized to view it as a blessing fairly than a curse, as a result of it gave me the fortitude and dedication that propelled me all through my profession.

Now that I’ve achieved a lot of my profession objectives, my hope is to function a supply of inspiration for cleft-affected people and create a cleft council composed of the position fashions and illustration that I want I had as a baby. If I may share a message with youthful people who’re going through adversity, I’d say: bear in mind you aren’t alone and to imagine in your self. With a little bit of luck and perseverance, you’ll be able to obtain something you need.

To share my journey and the techniques I used to climb the company ladder, I wrote a guide titled, The Way of the Wall Street Warrior: Conquer the Corporate Game Using Tips, Tricks and Smartcuts. 100% of my internet proceeds will profit charities like Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused group that transforms lives, and smiles, by means of the free cleft surgical procedure and complete cleft care they provide worldwide.  

About Dave Liu

Dave is a 30-year veteran advisor, entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and writer of The Way of the Wall Street Warrior. You can study extra about Dave by visiting his web site at www.liucrative.com.

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