Our Story

From Setbacks to Steps Forward

I grew up in an ordinary middle-class family, nothing flashy—just steady and hardworking. After finishing my degree, I joined my dad’s small business, eager to make a go of it. But things didn’t work out—within a year, the company folded. I was gutted. For three months, I sat at home, jobless, feeling like I’d hit a dead end. Then I bought a bike and started doing delivery runs. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was a start. A month later, the bike was nicked right outside my flat. I sat there, fuming, thinking the world was dead set against me.

That’s when a relative dragged me along, tried to talk sense into me, and handed me a book that flipped a switch in my head. It hit me: You become what you think about most of the time. I’d been stuck dwelling on failure, and that’s all I was getting. So I decided to change it—focus on something better, even if I didn’t know how to get there. I told myself: just take a step, any step, and figure it out as you go.

That was five years ago. Looking back, it’s mad how much has happened since. I landed a job at a private club, worked my way up to assistant manager, got married, then switched paths to become a coordinator at a law firm. I even passed an exam that opened new doors—something I’d never have pictured back when I was pedalling that bike. None of it came easy, and I can’t always explain how it worked out. But here’s what I learned: Dare to Dare. Don’t Quit—Do it. Even when I hadn’t a clue, that’s what pulled me through.

That’s what Aspire-Artwords is all about. It’s not about fancy promises—it’s about sticking with it, believing you can do better, and building a life worth living. Our pieces are here to nudge you, to remind you to keep pushing, no matter what. Because when you do, things start to shift—sometimes in ways you’d never expect.

This is my story, and maybe it’s a bit like yours. Life knocks you about, but you don’t have to stay down. Keep going. Aim higher. Dare to make it happen. And thanks to my wife—she’s ace.