Hey, Bob here!
This week, I’m sharing the story of Umer Farooque—
A 23-year-old entrepreneur who’s already lived a lifetime of lessons.
On the surface, Umer seems like someone born to win.
His first company? Started at 16.
His second?
Launched in an aggressive market where the odds were stacked against him.
But don’t let that fool you—
Umer’s journey is filled with failure, frustration,
and lessons that’ll hit you right in the gut.
At 16, while his friends were living carefree lives, he made a choice:
Start something of his own.
His first venture was ambitious, but it failed—
Spectacularly!
Vendors didn’t take him seriously.
Web developers dismissed him as “just a kid.”
And his lack of experience led him straight to the ground.
But here’s the thing about failure:
It teaches you who you are.
Umer didn’t stop.
He dove into his second business in the furniture industry,
Where he was surrounded by people out to make a quick buck.
He fought harder this time.
Bigger ticket sizes. More vendors. More chaos.
And yet, the same problem emerged:
He wasn’t being himself.
He was trying to fit into a system that didn’t align with his values.
That’s when Umer learned a lesson we all need to hear:
You can’t win if you aren’t authentic.
So he started over.
At 20, with four years of hard-earned lessons under his belt,
Umer launched his third company.
This time, he built it on his terms:
- Value first. Always.
- Be 100% honest, even if it’s hard.
- Trust your people and let them grow.
The results? Game-changing.
Umer now focuses on solving people’s problems, not just making a profit.
His approach is simple:
Serve first. The rest will follow.
But what struck me about Umer’s story is this:
He’s not driven by money.
Umer is motivated by something deeper—
The desire to enable others.
He wants to build an ecosystem where people can succeed.
Where they don’t need second jobs or side hustles.
Where they’re empowered to reach their potential under his roof.
That’s a powerful way to live!
Lessons from Umer’s Journey
1. Failure Isn’t the End—It’s the Beginning
Umer’s first two businesses failed. Hard.
But those failures built the foundation for his success today.
2. You Can’t Be Someone Else and Succeed
In his second company, Umer tried to play by someone else’s rules.
Real success only came when he stayed true to himself.
3. Relationships Are Everything
Umer invests in people—a janitor, a vendor, or his team.
When you build trust, people will show up for you when it counts.
4. Serve First, Profit Later
Focus on delivering real value, and the rewards will come naturally.
5. Being Uncomfortable is How You Grow
From public speaking fears to industry struggles,
Umer faced discomfort head-on.
And every time, he came out stronger.
What’s the End of the Rainbow for Umer?
It’s not billions of dollars or fame.
It’s simple: To enable 1,000 people to reach their dreams.
His story proves that no matter how young you are
or how many times you fail,
YOU CAN ALWAYS RISE!
So let me ask you:
Where in your life do you need to get uncomfortable and start again?
Until next time,
Bob
