Turning Adversity to Avantage

Napoleon Hill says "definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement," and my personal definiteness of purpose--seeking freedom--was the starting point of my achievement.

I was born in an impoverished family in one of the poorest countries on earth-Cambodia. Ever since I was very young, I knew nothing about freedom or prosperity, but fears and poverty.

Going to elementary school was an option not mandatory... And you need to walk, run, and swim miles though the jungle risking your life from predators like wild animals and from being kidnapped. Yet I managed to transform all of those fear by applying faith. How? By believing in myself and in the Universal Power that was bigger than mine. 

I made powerful rainstorms and deafning thunderstorms to become softest rainfalls and beautiful musics. I converted rice and dried fish and a bowl of dirty water to become the most delicious feast and holy water from heaven. All of that was done inside my mind's eye by envisioning freedom: freedom from fears, wants and oppressions. I saw it perfectly clear in my mind every moments of my life. 

When I was sent away to become "a pagoda dog," in a Buddhist Temple, I excelled the bullies with my perseverance and left them behind. When I was sent to war as a kid, fighting the communists, I fought days and nights with "freedom" as my guidance counselor. I outlived the many fighters.

When Cambodia lost the war to the Communists, millions were expelled from our home to work in labor camps. This man, Pol Pot, sent millions of Cambodians to be executed. I was one of his victims. But, with the picture of freedom inside my head, I escaped his rounds of bullets Matrix style and continued my journey for months trough the deepest jungles of Cambodia. I survived the many captures, the millions of land minds, the wild animals, the valleys, the mountains and landed in FREEDOM exactly 4 months after my journey began.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you want to succeed, keep your definiteness of purpose-the biggest dream you have--in front of you all the time. Hear it, see it, smell it, taste it, feel it and think about it in every breath you take. You can turn every adversity to advantage by using your biggest dream as the guidance. 

I told this story in Ireland during our leader and instructor certification trip. My late friend and one of my heroes Tom Cunningham encouraged me to write a book.... then he introduced me to my next friend and hero Taylor Tagg. Taylor just donated one of his kidneys on behalf of my son Anthony who is still recuperating now. We then put our story together into one of the Amazon International Bestselling books called Adversity to Advantage...

You can click on the link to buy this book online or you may contact me at Timothychhim@aol.com to purchase a signed copy. Thank you.

Taylor Tagg's Amazing Gift of Life!

Taylor Tagg's Amazing Gift of Life!

A journey to find a blessed one...

He is blessed so that others can be blessed. He believes in the Highest Being who gives him his personal power to help make a difference in other people's lives. You can call that Highest Being the Universal Power, the Universe, the Supreme Being, The Infinite Inteligence or simply God.

I was put on Earth more than 50 years ago in one of the poorest countries, so I could start my personal journey along with more than 3 billions other human beings who have roamed this beautiful planet with different dreams. My dream was to find freedom and freedom was not free. Each of us needs to struggle to achieve such a thing called liberty.

Front row: Chief Dwaine Perry, Jeremy Rayzor, Taylor Tagg and Tom Cunningham
On April 9, 2016 in Phnom Penh Cambodia
Now the world population is at about 7.6 billions and climbing at the rate of more than 1.1 percent per year. The Universe is still at work and our personal journey is still going. However, my definiteness of purpose has changed. I live in a free society, yet my mind is not free until my basic needs are met with acceptable fulfillment and I can overcome obstacles that come in my way.

One adversity that I needed to conquer was to find a hero--a kidney donor who could help save Tony’s life, my only son. The "impossible" journey to seek for such a "blessed person" has been long and arduous. Yet, this latest journey reminded me of the impossible journey which I undertook when I was sent to be executed in 1975. Seeking for that "blessed person" has become our definite major purpose.

Taylor Tagg: A blessed man with a blessed heart!

My Definiteness of Purpose is Freedom!

America—the strong force of the West—introduced hope and freedom to Southeast Asia. In 1970, the Khmer Republic, which overthrew the absolutist government that was led by Prince Norodom Sihanouk, wholeheartedly believed in the United States and its message. A life of destitution, conformity, and autocracy—from government to society—made me hunger for change. America’s message resonated with me; it stoked me. Freedom became my burning desire. As a result, I joined the Republic force as a police officer, to help drive out the bad elements from Cambodia: absolutism, oppression, and communism. Tragically, the United States could not see it through, as the communist forces proved more organized, focused, and powerful. It ended its involvement with Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos and retreated in humiliation on April 15, 1973. When the last American staff members evacuated the United States Embassy in Cambodia, I continued to defend my war-torn country against the communist force backed by Vietnam and China. But they were more powerful. I wondered whether hope and freedom also had abandoned me for good.

In 1970's many students volunteered to help defend their school and to help fight the communists along with the government armed forces.

On April 17, 1975, the Cambodian communists known as the Khmer Rouge emerged as victors of the five-year Cambodian civil war. They made their way to Tuol Kok, where I, a twenty-year-old young man at the time, was living and taking refuge with my Uncle Say’s family. They told the residents to pack up their belongings, to bring only what they needed and leave the city right away. Some people who had lived there all their lives refused to leave. The communist soldiers shot a few people dead to show they meant business.

I, wearing shorts, T-shirt, and flip-flops, trudged with my Uncle’s family along the highway, hauling our belongings with the help of bicycles and motorcycles. Like the rest of the population we drifted many days with little food or clean water, in fear and in poor health, until the Khmer Rouge took census and background information from us. Not knowing the true intention of the communists, most people, including me, honestly told them our occupations under the Khmer Republic regime. I told them I was a student and a police officer. Some people told the truth while other boosted their rank. With this information, the communists divided people up based on our background information. They gathered about seventy students and soldiers of the Khmer Republic at a time, telling us we would be returned to Phnom Penh to help rebuild the country. The news gave us pride and hope.

 

My last picture shortly before Cambodia was taken over by communist forces and before I was sent to be executed.

Three people, a young man, a middle-aged woman, and elderly man, had given me clues that my group was being taken to Ghost Mountain to be killed. However, I did not believe them—not until it was almost too late. Sitting outside in a drizzling rain with over seventy other people in front of an abandoned pagoda to listen to the stern, communist soldiers making their speeches before they took us to be executed, my hopes, dreams, and desire to live kicked me so hard that I got up from the ground and jumped as high as I could over the heads of two women sitting in front of me. I spun my feet as if I had never touched the earth. As I headed for the forest on the east side of the abandoned pagoda, multiple rounds of gunshots echoed through the pagoda. My burning desire to stay alive grew as I heard the loud popping explosions and saw the impacts of flying bullets striking the trees and wet ground to the sides and in front of my path. I zigzagged to dodge the bullets; tripped and fell a few times. Discarding the plastic sheet I had used to cover my head, I finally reached some thick bushes, which seemed to stretch across many kilometers away.

I drifted to many places and was captured and sent to death rows two more times, all the while guided by the voice of my deceased father, before I reached Preah Vihear and ultimately the Cambodian–Thai border. There, I looked back and promised I would return to rescue my fellow Khmer who remained behind, if they happened to survive the regime.

Mountains like these were among the many obstacles I needed to overcome to seek freedom.

At the border, Thai soldiers captured me and imprisoned me until a rich woman picked me out and bought me as her domestic slave. I went through many obstacles, trials and tribulations before I escaped to a refugee camp and received sponsorship to the United States of America in 1976. In New York, I found work washing dishes during the night time at a restaurant to put myself through school. I graduated and later on opened up my own business.

When other refugees made their way to New York, I made sure they had clothes, blankets, shelter, and food. I even helped found several nonprofit organizations including the World Cambodian Congress, and became a leader and organizer at Wat Samakki in Brooklyn. I tried to steer people to work hard and do good for themselves and our community. Not aware of my true calling, I ventured into politics, hoping I could make a difference for the people in the country I left behind. I had promised to return to help, but I faced multiple challenges in Cambodia’s corrupted society; thus, I found this other avenue to help my fellow countrymen whose lives seem to deteriorate every day.

Cambodia Science of Success was brought into Cambodia for the first time in April 2016.

In the 2000s, I set on a path to do something different—something that had made America grand and powerful. I discovered Napoleon Hill’s book “Think and Grow Rich.” I started to study hard and went through a rigorous process to be a student and finally an instructor of Dr. Hill’s teachings. I formed a bond and friendship with people I met at The Napoleon Hill Foundation Leader Certification trip to Ireland and elsewhere. We kept in touch. I became great friends with two of them: Taylor Tagg and Tom Cunningham who recently passed away. Tom taught me about bravery, about surviving until the end. Taylor did a courageous and unselfish thing by offering to donate his kidney to my only son, and when it did not perfectly match, he found another way by donating his kidney to someone who is a perfect match and in exchange, pushed my son’s name up the list to receive a matching kidney himself. How many people in this world would do that for another human being who is not even a relative? Tom and Taylor will forever be my heroes. They had shown me how great it is to love and inspire each other as human beings.

School of Success was opened for many other young Cambodian students in Kampong Chhnang.

I had to bring such teachings to Cambodia; therefore, I formed a mastermind alliance with Khmer–American and Khmer citizens in Cambodia under a partnership called PMA Science of Success Cambodia, also known as Cambodia Science of Success. I gave students at the InterEd a taste of the teaching and principles of Dr. Napoleon Hill and they hungered for more.

Students at the International Education Institute enjoy their Science of Success every Sunday morning in Phnom Penh.

The classes became so popular that I arranged for the Napoleon Hill's Science of Success program to Cambodia to give people there a chance to find their "Definiteness of Purpose" and to unleash their full potential like I had. I found my freedom, to be and do great things, not only for me, but also for others.

I spoke about my definiteness of purpose--a journey to freedom-- in Austin, Texas at the 2018 National Charter School Convention...share the stage with my hero and co-author Taylor Tagg

Talking to grandchildren in Spork Reach and other listeners from around the world about The City That Never Sleeps, New York City. What do you know about New York City? Do share your knowledge and experience.

A hero...

Helping my Hero to save my son!

Many of my friends and relatives know that my only son, Anthony Achariya Chhim (“Tony”), needs a kidney transplant. Tony’s kidneys had lost all functions in 2010, for some unknown reasons. His doctor did not want to perform a biopsy, a test to find out the cause of his kidney failure, as it could be fatal.

Since a person only needs one kidney to survive, my wife—his mother Neang—who has the same rare blood type “O”, without any hesitation, gave one of her kidneys to save his life.  Neang’s kidney, however, only lasted for five years. In 2015, after many difficulties, Tony’s body finally rejected her kidney completely. He has been on regular dialysis treatments ever since. He spends three times a week, for up to five hours at a time at the dialysis center. It is an exhausting and painful process for him. It devastates me to watch my son suffers. Though the dialysis does the job of keeping him alive, but a transplant would offer him the ability to live a longer, healthier, and more normal life. It would allow him to follow his big dream, return to his passion of creating video games and to run his company called Quantum Imagination Studios. A new and functional kidney would also give him free time with his family and friends, something many of us take for granted.

According to the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS), over 93,000 people are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. It is a one in millionth chance to receive this precious gift of life. His mother and I had been working tirelessly to find a new donor. As parents, we would do anything, by ethical and legal means, for our children. It reminds me so much of my own parents and siblings who made big sacrifices for me.

As a peasant from Prey Khmer of Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia, I lived in a harsh environment where my parents, who had me at an old age, struggled to survive and provide education and food for our family of seven: my parents, my four older sisters, and me. The one thing that kept them going, as they spent twelve to thirteen hours a day doing backbreaking labor of rice cultivation in our farmland, was me.  They genuinely believed their only son would be somebody great one day.  With that dream, they sold their lands to pay for my education and worked on what little they had to feed the family and me. My four sisters gave up their education so that my parents had enough to pay for my education and food while I was away from home.

In 1970 war finally struck Cambodia. Ideologies of capitalism and communism clashed amongst my countrymen and families. When the victors won, they gathered leaders, soldiers, civil servants, students and anyone who the communists perceived as their archenemies to be executed. I was among them. They led us to believe they were taking us back to Phnom Penh to help rebuild the country. As I sat with seventy or so others in the drizzling rain listening to their group leader speak, I recounted the people I met and the demeanor of the communists. Then insight and clarity set in. They were taking us to be executed. I thought long and hard about my father and mother who gave up so much in life to see me educated and become someone great. I could not let them down. I had to survive. I looked at the soldiers with their AK-47 guns. My eyes scoured my surrounding for a quick exit. Based on my calculation I had a 1% chance of surviving and 99% chance being captured or shot. I could not allow someone to take my life just like that. I took the 1% chance. I made it to safety until I was caught two more times and slated for execution both times. My will to survive remained strong. That’s why I would never give up on my son, or any of my children, for that matter.

   

After years of searching and calling for friends and strangers alike for help, like godsend, a very good friend, Taylor Tagg, has got his blood tested and lo and behold, everything is a match! Our savior had been with us all along. There was a reason he came into our lives. Taylor is now in the process of donating one of his kidneys to Tony. My family and I are over the moon. Thinking about it brings us tears of joy. We are grateful to him for making such a big sacrifice for Tony and to his family for supporting his selfless decision.

I am so touched by his sacrifice that, when we personally met in New York last month, I asked him, “Why do you decide to do this, Taylor?”

He said, “You are my hero, Tim.”  

He shocked me. I couldn’t say another word but responded in kind that it was the other way around—Taylor is my hero. Yes, Taylor is the bravest man I’ve ever met. Who, among us, as strangers, would give one of our organs—a part of our body—to save another human being? I went on to ask Taylor about the support of his wife Sherri, his mother and father. He told me that everyone he spoke with supported him. I was overwhelmed and could hardly utter any more words.

As happy as we are, we are not out of the woods yet. We may have a donor but we are short on funds to cover our hero’s traveling, lodging and recovery expenses. Taylor and his family will be traveling and staying in New York for a few weeks. We are expecting the expenses to be more than $10,000 and we are pledging that the unused money will be donated to a Kidney Foundation or a not-for-profit organization on behalf of the donor and Tony.

We don’t like to burden our friends and strangers alike, but we are in desperate need of your help to save our son and we want to make our donor and his family as safe and as comfortable as possible. After all, he makes the biggest sacrifice of his life for us. Can we count on you to help fund these expenses?

Thank you for taking the time to read this. We appreciate any amount you can contribute. You may help by donating through this website: “Giveforward” https://www.youcaring.com/anthonyachhim-794666

You may send your contribution to Timothy Chhim 21 Riverglen Drive, Thiells, NY 10984 or you can send it via my PayPal account at Timothychhim@aol.com.

If you would like to speak with me for any additional information please email me or call me at my work number 845-624-2500 or my cell phone at 845-642-3232.

God bless you and your family.

Sincerely,

Timothy S. Chhim

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https://www.youcaring.com/anthonyachhim-794666

The Story

Helping my Hero to save my son!

Many of my friends and relatives know that my only son, Anthony Achariya Chhim (“Tony”), needs a kidney transplant. Tony’s kidneys had lost all functions in 2010, for some unknown reasons. His doctor did not want to perform a biopsy, a test to find out the cause of his kidney failure, as it could be fatal.

Since a person only needs one kidney to survive, my wife—his mother Neang—who has the same rare blood type “O”, without any hesitation, gave one of her kidneys to save his life.  Neang’s kidney, however, only lasted for five years. In 2015, after many difficulties, Tony’s body finally rejected her kidney completely. He has been on regular dialysis treatments ever since. He spends three times a week, for up to five hours at a time at the dialysis center. It is an exhausting and painful process for him. It devastates me to watch my son suffers. Though the dialysis does the job of keeping him alive, but a transplant would offer him the ability to live a longer, healthier, and more normal life. It would allow him to follow his big dream, return to his passion of creating video games and to run his company called Quantum Imagination Studios. A new and functional kidney would also give him free time with his family and friends, something many of us take for granted.

According to the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS), over 93,000 people are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. It is a one in millionth chance to receive this precious gift of life. His mother and I had been working tirelessly to find a new donor. As parents, we would do anything, by ethical and legal means, for our children. It reminds me so much of my own parents and siblings who made big sacrifices for me.

As a peasant from Prey Khmer of Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia, I lived in a harsh environment where my parents, who had me at an old age, struggled to survive and provide education and food for our family of seven: my parents, my four older sisters, and me. The one thing that kept them going, as they spent twelve to thirteen hours a day doing backbreaking labor of rice cultivation in our farmland, was me.  They genuinely believed their only son would be somebody great one day.  With that dream, they sold their lands to pay for my education and worked on what little they had to feed the family and me. My four sisters gave up their education so that my parents had enough to pay for my education and food while I was away from home.

In 1970 war finally struck Cambodia. Ideologies of capitalism and communism clashed amongst my countrymen and families. When the victors won, they gathered leaders, soldiers, civil servants, students and anyone who the communists perceived as their archenemies to be executed. I was among them. They led us to believe they were taking us back to Phnom Penh to help rebuild the country. As I sat with seventy or so others in the drizzling rain listening to their group leader speak, I recounted the people I met and the demeanor of the communists. Then insight and clarity set in. They were taking us to be executed. I thought long and hard about my father and mother who gave up so much in life to see me educated and become someone great. I could not let them down. I had to survive. I looked at the soldiers with their AK-47 guns. My eyes scoured my surrounding for a quick exit. Based on my calculation I had a 1% chance of surviving and 99% chance being captured or shot. I could not allow someone to take my life just like that. I took the 1% chance. I made it to safety until I was caught two more times and slated for execution both times. My will to survive remained strong. That’s why I would never give up on my son, or any of my children, for that matter. 

  

After years of searching and calling for friends and strangers alike for help, like godsend, a very good friend, Taylor Tagg, has got his blood tested and lo and behold, everything is a match! Our savior had been with us all along. There was a reason he came into our lives. Taylor is now in the process of donating one of his kidneys to Tony. My family and I are over the moon. Thinking about it brings us tears of joy. We are grateful to him for making such a big sacrifice for Tony and to his family for supporting his selfless decision.

I am so touched by his sacrifice that, when we personally met in New York last month, I asked him, “Why do you decide to do this, Taylor?”

He said, “You are my hero, Tim.”  

He shocked me. I couldn’t say another word but responded in kind that it was the other way around—Taylor is my hero. Yes, Taylor is the bravest man I’ve ever met. Who, among us, as strangers, would give one of our organs—a part of our body—to save another human being? I went on to ask Taylor about the support of his wife Sherri, his mother and father. He told me that everyone he spoke with supported him. I was overwhelmed and could hardly utter any more words.

As happy as we are, we are not out of the woods yet. We may have a donor but we are short on funds to cover our hero’s traveling, lodging and recovery expenses. Taylor and his family will be traveling and staying in New York for a few weeks. We are expecting the expenses to be more than $10,000 and we are pledging that the unused money will be donated to a Kidney Foundation or a not-for-profit organization on behalf of the donor and Tony. 

We don’t like to burden our friends and strangers alike, but we are in desperate need of your help to save our son and we want to make our donor and his family as safe and as comfortable as possible. After all, he makes the biggest sacrifice of his life for us. Can we count on you to help fund these expenses?

Thank you for taking the time to read this. We appreciate any amount you can contribute. You may help by donating through this website: “Giveforward” or you may send your contribution to Timothy Chhim 21 Riverglen Drive, Thiells, NY 10984 or you can send it via my PayPal account at Timothychhim@aol.com. 

If you would like to speak with me for any additional information please email me or call me at my work number 845-624-2500 or my cell phone at 845-642-3232.

God bless you and your family.

Sincerely,

Timothy S. Chhim

It is better to have a heart without words...

It is better to have a heart without words...

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