Defying Destiny

I wasn't meant to be a tech founder.

The universe did not have this in the cards for me.

I grew up in one of the poorest and roughest areas in the UK.

Conversely, the crime rate was low, mainly because if you were reporting a crime, you'd get stabbed.

My father worked two, sometimes three jobs: butcher, chef, cashier.

The wealthiest man we knew ran a kebab shop.

That was the height of what one could aspire to.

That was the ceiling set for me by destiny. For me, and for countless others in my neighbourhood.

To this day, I don't know what or why, but I never wanted to be bound by it.

There was something innate in my soul that refused to accept the cards dealt.

At school, whilst others were busy playing games, I was busy cracking and modding them.

At school, whilst others were busy watching movies, I was busy ripping and reselling DVDs.

At school, whilst others were busy browsing the internet, I was busy creating graphics and earning cash.

I never thought of myself as resourceful. I had no resources to be resourceful with.

I just knew that I couldn't simply work my way out when the limit of ambition around me was asking if someone wanted chilli or garlic mayo with their doner.

I had to do more. I had to break the cycle. The barrier. The limits set by the universe.

And there was only one way to do that.