A narrated YouTube video telling Roberto Corona’s personal story: at 31 he was robbed and lost his business and equipment but retained one camera. That setback triggered a reinvention—after an encounter in New York he launched the "collecting smiles" photography project, which over about seven years took him to roughly 77 countries and collected thousands of smiles. The project refocused his life away from money toward purpose; it led to speaking engagements on wellbeing, the creation of a foundation, and his nomination as Chile’s Ambassador of Happiness. The piece closes by urging creators to try things that make them smile.
Chapters
It's funny how the story of the happiest job ever begins with a Sad1. At 31 years old, Roberto got robbed and lost everything. The business, the equipment and the money to pay the employees. The only thing left was a camera that the thieves didn't steal. Frustrated, I had to start all over again. So he booked a flight to New York to photograph a wedding. But when he got there, the couple broke up and he found himself again jobless. How do you feel? Terrified. At the beginning was like, oh, wow. I had to start all over again. But I don't care anymore. There's nothing else to lose. So what did you do? A stranger in Times Square approached him and asked him for a Chilean coin. Nothing special, just a coin collector. But in that at that moment, Roberto dreamed of an idea that he took very seriously. That will be the beginning of his new life. A project that for seven years took him around 77 countries to collect thousands of smiles with a toe Robi, the representation of love and acceptance within all races. Suddenly, this picture become really popular. He did it. And this time his focus was everything but money. Living the life, being free. I felt like a kid again before the robbery. For eight years, the wedding business made him unhappy. I remember when I first started, I really loved what I was doing because was connected to photography. Through photography I was able to express myself. But then I wasn't able to. To really do photography all the time have deadlines that didn't allow me to sleep for two or three days straight. I'm not sure if I really want to be successful. If I don't have time for myself or family or friends. Sometimes in life we get trapped focusing on the wrong things. What we want to achieve rather than how we want to feel. I was making money, I was buying the stuff that I really want. But then I feel this feeling of being empty in size. The robbery, it was a blast in the sky. He got his time back and decided to invest it only in his passion. What happened next, it's unbelievable. I learned through photography, if you focus in something, that's what you will start seeing everywhere. And I remember when I was starting with the collecting Smile project, I started to connect with happy moments, with happy people. And I was focusing on what inspires me. That's how he turned passion into motivation and purpose. In other words, the recipe to attract opportunities. Traveling the world. He became an icon ambassador. He was invited to give conferences about well being and happiness. He started a foundation and eventually he even got nominated the ambassador of happiness of Chile. This guy is a powerhouse of happiness. Trying new things seems scary but maybe will bring you joy. Ask yourself what you do makes you smile. If not, life is long Just try and in the meantime, creators keep creating.
