Story of Chris: From Rags to Riches

Hey ,

What does it mean to be a founder?

It's the attitude of ‘never giving up’ in the toughest of times.

Last weekend, my thoughts were fixated on a conversation I had, and honestly, I couldn’t keep it to myself.

Today, I’m sharing a very inspiring story of a founder whose journey has been nothing short of a movie.

This is the story of Chris, in his own words:

Growing up with a single parent in a small, impoverished neighborhood, life was far from easy. My mother worked tirelessly to care for me and my two younger siblings, juggling multiple labor jobs to make ends meet.

Despite our dire financial situation, my mother instilled in us the values of hard work, determination, honesty, and mindfulness.

From a young age, I was determined to change my circumstances. I took up various labor jobs, often working late into the night. But my passion for learning never wavered. With no electricity at home, I would borrow books from friends and study under the dim glow of streetlights, driven by a relentless will to learn.

My mother was literally a superhero, and one of the most profound influences in my life was her dedication to meditation and mindfulness. Every morning, despite her grueling schedule, she would find time to meditate and pray.

She always said it gave her the strength and clarity to face each day. Intrigued, I began to adopt her practice when I was 10, finding solace and focus in those quiet moments.

By the time I turned 17, I had managed to save enough money to start a small white-label business. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. Slowly, hard work began to pay off, and life started to improve. Within two years, I had opened a successful clothing brand.

By my late 20s, my company had grown into a multimillion-dollar business, a far cry from the days of labor jobs and streetlight studies.

But throughout my journey, I never abandoned the habits my mother instilled in me. Meditation and mindfulness have been my practices for the last 35 years. Even as my business expanded and the demands on my time increased, I remained committed to these practices.

Why, you may ask? Because they were my anchor, providing me with the mental clarity and resilience needed to navigate both the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship.

Now in my 40s, I look back and realize that everything I have achieved is a result of my mother’s guidance, my hard work, the grace of God, and the conscious lifestyle I embraced.

Meditation and mindfulness have been particularly instrumental, allowing me to maintain focus, make sound decisions, and stay grounded, no matter how turbulent the journey became.

This conscious approach to living and decision-making has been the key to my success, and I firmly believe it is essential for any founder aiming to create something impactful.

I’m not here to provide any advice, but at Santhosh’s request, I just want to share one thing I learned from my mother:

All I can say to whoever is hustling and building out there is, “Everything will work out well for you.”

Thanks,

Chris S.

I had goosebumps when I was on the call with him.

Such an amazing personality and indeed a very inspiring journey.

All I can say is that founders are a different species altogether, and I feel great to be part of this Super Founder community, which is growing day by day.

Thank you for constantly supporting us, and I hope you get some value out of these emails.

If you want to share your experience or discuss anything, we’re all ears! (Looking forward to your email.)

Stay tuned for the next one, which will take you one step closer to becoming a SUPER FOUNDER.

Thank you,

Santhosh, founder of WeBuidl