This hits hard especially on the heels of Marjane Satrapi’s death today.
So many Iranians have this story: having to flee in middle age to a new country/language/culture with nothing. And these folks were the lucky ones!
Dara on the chip he's been carrying since his family lost everything:
"My father built an incredible family business. We came here. We lost everything, and I saw it destroy my father.
As I grew up, I observed my father, who when I was a kid was a giant of a man, become less giant. He just lost that spark.
It drove myself and my brothers and my family to rebuild. Many immigrants have a chip on our shoulder, and I had a particularly big one.
But, it's never satisfied. I just believe in being all in in anything that you do.
When I'm with my kids and my family, I'm not checking messages. I'm not getting distracted.
If you're going to do something — whether that's work, sports, personal life — just go all in. Get rid of the distractions."