Gratitude as a resource for success – Arman Alizad at Vehkalahtisali
The Hamina Library Services democracy project culminated in the final guest speaker event in November, when Arman Alizad arrived on Thursday 27.11. at Vehkalahtisali to speak, among other things, about the encounter of cultures and people and multiculturalism. Arman was born in 1971 in Iran and moved with his family to Finland via the United States in 1980 due to the revolution and the resulting persecution. Arman found a friend through a notice board announcement the very next day, even though the boys did not have a common language.
Language skills are important, but communication is also possible without a common language. I have learned from traveling that a bond can be created even without a common language,
Arman reminded the audience.Elementary school was a wonderful time, but in middle school, Armani had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. It was a stressful time when everyone else seemed to have a clear direction but he couldn't really get a job in the things he liked: fantasy literature, wizards, dragons, martial arts movies, and the fancy costumes in movies. After elementary school, Arman joined the army and didn't even have time to think about the future. After that, however, the question of what to do with his life was again before him.
After a few job trials, Arman ended up working in a clothing store and found that the world was interesting. A friend told him about a clothing training program where he could do creative work with clothes. Arman was a highly motivated student and realized that understanding comes from interest. After finishing school, the only way to learn more was to find a master. Arman found Jouni Korhonen as his master, and he applied for his apprentice every week for many months. In the end, his perseverance was rewarded.
The first years as an apprentice also required perseverance, because for the first six months the apprentice's job was to make coffee, walk the dog and cook. But at the same time, I was always able to watch as Jouni had costumes fitted, sewed, drew and designed. During the first two years, Arman was slowly allowed to start doing very small things. The Master-competitor philosophy is followed all over the world and there are huge cultural differences. This philosophy teaches an extremely deep commitment to one's own passion.
You should always listen to your inner voice and act accordingly. It is important to realize that a dream without initiative is just a wish. If you ever want to do something, then you do it. It will either succeed or fail, but at least you will know.
One example of this is Armani's TV career. MoonTV asked him to do a show and at first he refused, but then he realized that he didn't want to watch the show and say that he would have done it differently. So, Arman delved into the secrets of fashion in a show called Dresscode. The concept of MoonTV was created so that once a week, the hosts and producers would come up with ideas for what would be cool to see on TV and then make it happen.
The pursuit of dreams continued, as those without experience and equipment, Tuukka Tiensuu and Arman Alizad went to the Middle East to film martial arts champions. This was the birth of the 2009 program Kill Arman. The men wanted to highlight all the contrasts in the world they saw during their travels, both good and bad. This idea became clear in the Arman and the Last Crusade series. During the trips, they also understood that there are shortcomings in Finland, and Arman Under the North Star was created to address them.
Gratitude as a resource for success
Gratitude for Arman means that a social dreamer and a person who follows his own path has been able to come to a safe country that must be cherished by all means. In Finland, children can go to school, there is social justice and people can live in a welfare state. Arman talked about how we easily take many things for granted, even though for millions of people they are distant or even impossible dreams.
Complaining is human, but it is still good to see things through a sense of gratitude. It is good to recognize which things are good, which can create a wave of positive power. Feelings of guilt on your shoulders are paralyzing and therefore not worth carrying. It is important to understand things and their backgrounds, but that does not mean that everything has to be accepted, tolerated or tolerated. Black and white narrows the perspective and prevents you from seeing the world in all its shades.
Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage means that there is something greater than fear.
Arman told the audience that for every success, there are at least a hundred failures. Most dreams fail, but even one dream has a chance of succeeding. Although not all dreams come true, it is good to remember that if you do nothing about it, then at least it will not come true. Luck and timing are also essential factors in making dreams come true. Success is the experience that your work and life have meaning. When you focus on your own superpowers, you can find the keys to your own success.
Hope is the strongest force in the universe. There are places where hope has no room to breathe.
Arman also reminded the audience that everyone needs enthusiastic people around them, because the support of a circle of friends and the environment is important. Everyone needs an inspiring environment that supports their dreams.
Don't take advice from people who haven't done the things you want to do. Don't believe those who say you can't succeed. Important tools in life are humility, respect, curiosity, caring, love for work, trust, perseverance and enthusiasm.
And most importantly: remember that you shouldn't suppress your inner child. It's like cutting off the wings of a butterfly.
The event, held in Vehkalahtisali in Hamina on Thursday, November 27, 2025, was the final part of the two-year project "The Library as a Meeting Place for Deliberative Democracy and a Promoter of Inclusion" funded by the Regional State Administrative Agency.