Get to Know Chris Otto: Perspectives from the Dojo

“Success in life doesn’t just happen overnight, that is why it’s absolutely important to develop a personal foundation built upon patience, perseverance, and discipline. Often times you can’t just walk away when the going  gets tough, but you can uses these difficult periods in your life to strengthen your resolve and become stronger and smarter because of it.” – Senior Vice President – Wealth Management

Having good money habits may seem like a skill that can only be attained by earning a degree in finance or working full-time as an accountant or banker. But the truth is that the qualities which can help a person be successful with managing their finances—patience, consistency, and dedication, among others—are often developed through lessons learned in day-to-day life.

Chris Otto understands this better than most. As a troubled teenager growing up in Kapahulu on Oahu, Otto found himself getting into fights with kids in neighborhood gangs. He was introduced to kempo karate in high school and saw it as an opportunity to learn how to fight back against bullies. "Basically, I was tired of getting my butt kicked. I wanted to study martial arts for the wrong reason, which was to learn how to beat someone else up for a change," Otto says. "Instead, my instructor helped me to develop strong character traits such as respect, discipline, patience, and determination—all of which provided benefits beyond just my martial arts training."

In addition to practicing the kata, or movement patterns, of karate, Otto learned the importance of showing up every day and focusing his attention during karate lessons. He began to understand the values of consistency and dedication—how the discipline of hard work teaches resiliency. "I learned that using martial arts for self-defense should be the last resort. The real takeaway was growing as an individual, learning compassion, and protecting people who can't protect themselves."

Having patience and a strong resolve would pay off for Otto as an adult, especially when he was diagnosed with early-stage IV cancer in 2012. His rare type of head and neck cancer required radiation treatments that were so intense, Otto had to live off a feeding tube for six months. All this, after only recently getting married, buying a house, and having a child that was less than one year old. "I decided, if by the grace of God I survive this, I will pay it forward and help people just as others have helped me during my time of need," he says.

Today, after more than 10 years of being cancer-free, Otto continues to pay it forward by helping others pursue their goals and navigate life’s challenges. “My experiences have taught me the benefits of having a real-world PhD—which is perseverance, hard work, and discipline,” Otto says. “Everything I’ve learned in life has helped me become a more purposeful adult, and a better human being overall.” The lessons he’s learned have also shaped his approach to helping others build strong foundations for the future:

Patience

“You’ve got to have patience for progress to unfold and for long-term goals to take shape,” says Otto. “A lot of people struggle with patience—when things take a downturn, it can feel like everything is falling apart. But if you stay the course, you often find that things recover and improve over time. There’s a saying I’ve come to appreciate: it’s not about perfect timing, but about staying committed over time.”

Progress in life often comes with ups and downs. Acting impulsively during challenging times can be costly and may lead to setbacks. It’s important to stay grounded and patient, especially when working toward long-term goals. By avoiding quick fixes or shortcuts, people are often better positioned to achieve meaningful and lasting success.

Consistency

"Consistency is key in finance when it comes to compounding interest in savings accounts and putting systematic investment plans together. A 401(k) usually becomes a person's biggest nest egg because money consistently goes into their accounts. That's crucial to success," Otto says. Consistency means being steady and stable, which helps to build momentum and stay focused on goals, especially when it comes to finances. By being consistent with smart money habits—such as sticking to a budget, paying your bills on time, and saving regularly—you can help reduce your debt, improve your credit score, and build wealth over time.

Discipline

"Discipline with your finances means everything from paying yourself first to controlling your debt. It's preventing yourself from splurging on purchases you don't necessarily need," says Otto. Having discipline with your personal finances can help you set clear goals, save consistently, avoid unnecessary debt, and stay committed to your long-term strategy. Just like managing your time or maintaining your health, discipline often means saying no to short-term temptations so you can say yes to what truly matters.

Want to learn more about others who make Bank of Hawaii the bank of Hawaii? Visit our stories archive.