The Untold Story behind "The Unstoppables"

In 2017 February, my ship was sinking, and I was left without a life jacket to save myself. Battling the ferocious waves, I struggled to keep my head above water, fighting with every ounce of strength I had to survive the storm that had engulfed me. Although I had weathered many storms before, this one felt like the end of everything. I couldn't see any light at the end of the tunnel. And it is disheartening to say that sometimes in life we face situations where the ship we were sailing on, which we drive and direct to be able to reach new destinations and accomplish our goals, we have to abandon that very ship and instead save ourselves as we fight the storm we are facing in that moment and rebuild ourselves before we go back and rebuild the ship again.

Before I delve into my story, I want to highlight a point. Behind every successful person lies not just one, but many storms they have battled, conquered, and endured. A common thread runs through all these stories : courage, resilience, and an unwavering willpower. True greatness is not measured by how many times one falls, but by the ability to rise again each time, to walk, run, and eventually fly.

"The Unstoppables" was born out of my passion for discovering the life stories of those who have not only survived but triumphed over these ferocious storms. The funny thing is, when you look back, the dots always connect. Every time I faced a storm, it felt like the end. But in retrospect, it seems as if the Universe had a plan. I realized I would never have become this person without those challenges. Each storm revealed a part of me that I didn't know existed—an inner reservoir of resilience and strength. The storm brought forth a side of me where I discovered my unwavering will power.

Returning to 2017, I was immersed in my second startup, a mobile app designed to connect women worldwide, fostering a network for collaboration, creation, and growth. We were already operational in five countries—USA, Turkey, Dubai, Jamaica, and India. My startup had garnered a lot of attention on social media with announced funding and a seed fund term sheet ready to be signed. Additionally, I had initial discussions with SAIF Partners and MATRIX Partners about the next phase of potential opportunities and development.

Storm 1

Then came an unexpected and devastating storm. I was the sole founder, but I had a tech partner with whom disagreements arose over certain terms and conditions. Before I could find a resolution, he withdrew, causing the code and the app to crumble. In the early stages, we lacked comprehensive paperwork, leaving me unable to claim anything. Our first beta launch had been released on August 16, 2016, and we were scheduled to roll out a second version for the international audience in February 2017. On February 7th, instead of launching, I found myself with no app and no website. Everything was gone.

We had over 10,000 women members across these five countries. Our efforts had been covered by Your Story, TOI, and various social media platforms. Amidst all the publicity, I had no mobile app and no answers for the questions and expectations my team had. There were five chapter leaders, one for each country, who had placed their trust in me and shared the vision with equal passion.

As a moral responsibility, I put the funding on hold and focused on restoring normalcy, ensuring we had the resources to handle the situation. My biggest lesson was to never rely so heavily on one person that their departure cripples you. Additionally, it's crucial to have strong paperwork, even when building a company with family or friends. Every term and condition should be documented and signed.

By the end of 2018, we finally relaunched the mobile app, onboarding over 150 brands and launching in one city. It took a year to navigate the challenges, manage finances, and secure the necessary resources.

By the end of 2018, we finally relaunched the mobile app, successfully onboarding over 150 brands and launching in one city. It took a year to overcome the challenges, manage finances, and secure the necessary resources.

Reflecting on this journey, even though the venture didn't unfold as I had envisioned, it left me with invaluable life lessons that no school or mentor could impart. This storm shook me to my core, bringing sleepless nights and immense pressure. Yet, it also revealed a side of myself I hadn't known existed. It was a true test of my resilience and strength, uncovering a warrior within me that I had never met before.

While I have faced numerous challenges in my life, each imparting profound lessons, this particular storm was uniquely devastating due to the commitments, promises, and high expectations riding on the venture's success. It was a professional blow like no other. But this was not it, an even bigger unseen storm was on the horizon.

Storm 2

In 2022, I experienced an immense and irreversible personal loss. My grandmother said goodbye to this world—at least in her physical presence, because I believe she will always remain with us in spirit. Without delving into all the details, which could fill a book someday, I can say that this loss felt like the end. I was so deeply attached to her that I couldn't imagine life without her. She was the reason I traveled the world but always returned to Udaipur, unwilling to miss even a moment with her. Words cannot capture the depth of our bond, and this storm was the most ferocious of my life, a loss unparalleled by anything I've faced or will face in the future. It took me months to emerge from the pain and find the courage to move forward with the same unwavering focus.

The most important lesson I learnt during this phase, battling those 6 months through hospitals was the value of our loved ones in our life. Life is short and unpredictable. I learnt to do my karma and leave the rest to the creator. There is an unseen force which is guiding you and even when you want things to work out your way, you cannot challenge the creator's plan. You may have all the wealth in this world but you will still have to leave this planet empty handed. You may have all the power there is, you still have nothing you can control. How we live in an illusion to think we control and direct. We do not even control the food we digest, our heartbeats which fluctuate without our control on it, the sun which will rise despite you being in bed, the world which will go on today and forever... before you and after you. I could see the truth in front of me. That we all are here for limited time and how grateful we should be each moment for every single blessing we have. This life is a blessing and how we should live each moment being eternally grateful for it.

What kept me going then, and continues to drive me now, is her love. My grandmother’s love never let me stop. Even when I hit the rock bottom, I would remember her words: "We are all here on this planet for a limited time; this is not forever. Do your best to leave this planet a little better and create a difference where you touch the lives of people. Bring them happiness and make their lives better."

I am proud to say that I started my non-profit, Empowering Billions Foundation, with her as my partner and inspired by her enduring strength. Love has the power to make the impossible possible. Love can create miracles. Love is the essence of our very existence. Believe it or not, I survived with all my will power, for her love kept me going, her unconditional divine love.

She had founded 2 non-profits, at the age of 16 and 24 and she continued without taking any breaks or retiring from her work. Growing up I could see the difference she created in people's lives. Her limitless passion and her resilience to fight ever challenge head on, it is magical.

For these two stories, I did not have a successful outcome. My venture EWON has been on a pause and despite all efforts we as family did, for my grandmother, we did not succeed in being able to give her a new life, I see it differently. Every challenge's outcome may not be what you want it to be, but the story does not end there. The learnings, the change that you go through and the person you become post that event is the reason that event holds significance in your life. No business will sustain forever, no human will live forever, creation and destruction, life and death is a part of life, what remains is evolution and growth. These experiences shape us and in turn we grow into a better version of ourselves each day. This journey we call life is not about failing or succeeding in one life event but it is about learning.. a forever learning which continues till our last breath.

I share these two chapters of my life today to highlight why I started "The Unstoppables with Hurratul". When we are in the midst of a storm, it feels like the end—a full stop. Many break and give up at this point. But some, though they may fall, refuse to stay down; they get up, walk again, run again, and eventually fly. The Unstoppables aims to tell the stories of those who have shown resilience in the face of life’s storms, who battled and persevered. Looking back, we always find lessons learned and how the dots always connect. Here I am, striving to bring you the stories of these resilient individuals, who never gave up. Stories of courage, resilience, and strength.

I hope you will love watching and listening to the series...as much I am loving creating it for you.

Love and light,

Hurratul