Malcolm was born in a small town in Africa, and like most of his peers, growing up has always been a struggle. However, he always knew that he wanted to escape poverty. So one day, he decided to do something that would amaze the whole world.
At first, people laughed at his idea. "The boy is crazy" - everyone said. That, however, didn't stop him. Instead, Malcolm's believed in his vision and managed to create something that changed the lives of many people in the village.
A Man Born Into Poverty
Like every other boy in his village, Malcolm was born into raging poverty. In a sense, it was impossible to escape this kind of life, but he knew from a young age that he wanted something better for himself.
This challenge didn’t hinder his talent, and he didn’t let the obstacles get in his way. However, it wasn’t easy, and the road to success was inevitably hard.
Making Ends Meet
His parents worked hard, especially his mother, to make ends meet for their growing family. In his area, food and work were scarce, so they did all they could to earn every single penny they could.
Malcolm always said that life in Africa was hard, but this didn’t discourage him – instead, it made him persevere. Although, there was one particular obstacle that made Malcolm doubt his family’s status in life.
A Serious Gambling Addiction
Malcolm’s father had a serious gambling addiction, which made things undeniably worse for his family. All the money that he would earn, he would gamble instead of feeding his hungry family.
This gambling addiction made things worse for them, especially when Malcolm’s father lost everything and left his family with crippling debt. There was no way out, but thankfully, Malcolm had a genius idea.
He Had an Idea
One day, Malcolm was walking around his neighborhood when he realized that so many old tires were being wasted away. So instead of feeling sorry for himself and letting his family drown in debt, Malcolm followed his gut and took on a challenge for himself.
He bought as many old tires as he could, and he wanted to build something that was both durable and affordable so he could earn some living. Many people thought he was crazy, and at some point, he might’ve even believed that he was – although this was only the beginning.
Going Back to the Beginning
To understand the root of Malcolm’s success, we have to go to the very beginning. Being born in a relatively poor area led Malcolm to want more things for himself, and he wanted to stop living with the bare minimum.
From a young age, he saw how his parents worked really hard, and he saw how some people succeeded if they worked harder. So this was ingrained in Malcolm’s head, and he dreamed that someday he would be successful too.
Malcolm’s Life in Africa
While growing up, Malcolm’s family was relatively poor, but he could see that his parents were both hardworking. This was the push that he needed to ensure that he would have a solid foundation when he grew up.
Sure, money was hard to come by for his family, but his parents showered him with all the love that he could ever want. However, this didn’t mean that life wasn’t challenging because it was.
Life Was Challenging
As he grew up, Malcolm faced various adversities that not many people in the west faced. While he was still in school, he had to wake up earlier than expected because he had to help his parents at work.
In this part of the world, life was a bit more challenging. Not only that, his family faced something a bit harsher…
Finding Work Was Hard
When he grew a bit older, Malcolm realized that he had to stop studying to help out his family. He wanted to finish his education, but he also knew that they would go hungry if he didn’t help out in his household.
So even though he didn’t want to quit school, he did, and he went to work as a laborer. Though sometimes, he couldn’t find work because everybody in his village wanted a job.
Earning Just Enough
During those times when Malcolm could find work to add to his family’s income, it wouldn’t always be enough. He worked so hard every day, but his pay was always so little.
Malcolm gave his best in every single job that he had, but he realized that they would get nowhere because of his dad. There was one problem hindering his father from providing for his family, and it was a pretty serious one that Malcolm got mad at his dad for…
His Father’s Problems
One of their family friends took Malcolm’s dad to gamble, and since then, his dad has become addicted. This was a serious problem that their family faced because not only was their income insufficient, but his dad took the liberty of spending their hard-earned cash and gambling it away.
Naturally, his mother was furious every time his father would go home without a single penny in his pockets. “How could you do this to us?” His mom asked angrily. However, this was nothing compared to the problem his dad would bring them a few weeks later.
Gambling All Their Money
A big game was going on somewhere in their town, and Malcolm’s dad went freely. He told his family he had a good feeling about this one, but they didn’t believe him – still, he went.
A few hours later, his father went back home with a glum look on his face and said, “I lost all our money.” Malcolm couldn’t believe what he was hearing and asked his dad, “What do you mean you lost all our money?” He stared at his father with a confused look.
Nothing Was Left
Apparently, his father went through the family budget and went a bit overboard with his gambling money. After the game, that night, Malcolm’s father had spent all the money they had for the month, and there was nothing left.
“I can’t believe you did that. What are we going to eat?” Malcolm’s mother screamed at his father. The worse part was that not only did his dad spend all their money, but he had a huge debt that his family was burdened with paying.
A Debt for Their Family
When his father lost their money, Malcolm and his mother thought he simply meant his earnings for that day. They weren’t aware that he went behind their backs and took money from their monthly budget.
Naturally, this caused anger to the pair – how could they trust their father if he would do such a drastic gamble? Because of these hardships, Malcolm was almost ready to give up on everything he tried to work so hard for.
They Wanted to Give Up
One day, Malcolm went home defeated, and he said to his mother, “I don’t know what I’m working hard for. Everything seems worse, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get better.” His mother gave him a tight hug and assured him that they would get through this.
For a few days, Malcolm thought long and hard as to what his next steps would be. Then, everything changed when a surprising incident came his way…
A Surprising Incident
While he was walking home from work, Malcolm saw so many tires lingering around his town. These were tires that had been neglected by their owners, and they couldn’t be used for driving because they were so worn out.
During that walk, it hit him – he had a genius idea that he couldn’t stop thinking about. However, would his concept work, or will it end up as another failure?
One Smart Idea
Malcolm told no one about his ideas because he was afraid that people would make fun of him or discourage him. It was a smart move on his part because the people in his town were a bit frustrating in their own way.
So he kept his idea to himself, and he saved all the money he could to buy the tires he needed. Malcolm was so excited, and he couldn’t contain it – he hoped that his plan would work because this was a risk he couldn’t afford to lose.
Buying Old Tires
Once he hit his budget goal, Malcolm started to buy all the necessary tires and equipment to start his project. “I really hope this works and that I succeed,” he said to himself as he paid for all the things he bought.
Then he went home and converted his backyard into his own workspace. At first, his mother had no idea what her son was up to, but she believed in his visions and capabilities, so she let him do his thing.
Malcolm Got to Work
Malcolm spent every day working on his craft, and he was so excited to see where this new journey would take him. It hadn’t been easy, but he was so sure that it was going to work out.
After all, he couldn’t afford to fail because he still had his father’s massive debt to pay for. Not only that, but all the tires in his backyard caused some confusion to some of his family members and many curious neighbors.
Confusion from Everyone
A few weeks had passed, and it seemed like he wasn’t going anywhere. Naturally, this kept the confusion on everyone’s minds because they all thought that Malcolm was wasting both his money and energy.
One curious onlooker told Malcolm’s mother, “Your son is going to regret his decisions. It’s better if he did actual work instead of playing like a boy in your backyard.” Malcolm heard this remark, and it even made him doubt himself too.
Doubting His Capabilities
Upon hearing all the negative comments people have been saying about his new venture, Malcolm turned to his mother in disappointment. “Maybe they’re right. Maybe I should just stop and find another stable job,” he was tired, and he knew that they needed the money.
However, his mother was not having it, and she said, “You’re a bring young man, and I will support you in any way I can.” She smiled at him, and this was the push that Malcolm needed to keep on working.
Malcolm Kept on Working
Upon receiving the assurance from his mother, Malcolm felt like he could take on any challenges that life would throw at him. So he continued working passionately for the idea that he had, and he didn’t stop until he saw progress.
“I won’t stop until I succeed, and I will make my family proud,” this was his promise to himself. Needless to say, he didn’t give up even though success seemed so far away.
He Didn’t Give Up
Even though not many people believed in his visions, this didn’t stop Malcolm from working hard. On the contrary, this was the motivation that he needed to prove everyone wrong in the end.
He worked tirelessly, and as the days went by, he was starting to see progress. He kept going because he knew that he was getting so close. After working so hard for weeks and weeks, Malcolm finally had the fruit of his labors on his very own hands.
The Fruit of His Labors
Judging by the look of the tires Malcolm initially bought, nobody would ever assume that he could make something out of it. After all, who in their right mind would purchase old tires and try to make an invention from them?
Well, Malcolm – he had an idea that he could turn a bunch of old tires into durable slippers for the people of his village. After all, walking was an integral part of their lives, and their feet needed extra protection. So this was what Malcolm had in mind when he tried making these slippers – but will they work?
A Genius Invention
Naturally, the first person who tried Malcolm’s invention was also the first person who believed in him: his mother. “Let me know if they’re comfortable or not so I can make adjustments,” he said as his mother tried on her pair of slippers.
Even though the slippers were made from tires, they were actually quite comfortable. Not only that, but they were both durable and affordable. A few days after creating his first few slippers, word spread out, and now everybody wanted a pair for themselves.
People Wanted His Products
As soon as other people saw the slippers that Malcolm made himself, they all wanted a pair for themselves. A few weeks ago, these were the same people trying to discourage Malcolm into following his dreams – how the tables have turned.
Now, these people were ready to pay the amount that Malcolm wanted for a pair of his handmade slippers. Initially, he charged people from USD 1 to USD 3 because he knew that people in his village couldn’t afford to pay more. These slippers were great and accessible, just like Malcolm intended them to be.
His Slippers Were a Success
Who would’ve thought that the tires Malcolm bought a few months ago would be amazing slippers that his co-villagers would wear daily? This was nothing but a dream for Malcolm at first, but it turned into reality thanks to his hard work.
Malcolm’s slippers were a success, and so he made more. The number of people wanting to buy his products was immense, so he needed to keep working because he kept on selling out.
He Sold Out
After creating a few hundred pairs of slippers made from used tires, Malcolm felt he needed to rest. Although, his mother had a different suggestion, “Why not hire more people to help you out?”
This was an ideal solution, but he wasn’t sure whether he could afford to hire people as he was only starting. So he thought long and hard about his mother’s suggestion.
Hiring More People
Malcolm tried to rest for a day or two, but the number of people wanting to buy his slippers grew. He had a stall in his local market, and the slippers he sold always ended up being bought by various people.
Naturally, this made Malcolm happy – after all, he could finally support his family and pay off his father’s debts. So he listened to his mother, and he started hiring people in his community to help him create more slippers.
Giving Back to His Community
Malcolm hired ten people to help him with the production, which was only the beginning. Different people from various villages asked for his slippers as they were affordable and durable.
So when he was starting to make a name for himself, Malcolm never forgot where he came from. So all the workers he hired always came from his own village because he knew how hard it was to find a job and make a living for your own family. He gave back to his own community, and his co-villagers were grateful.
Loving What He Does
Making slippers out of tires stemmed from Malcolm’s own mind. He was curious because he wanted to create something amazing while eradicating waste.
In return, making these slippers had become a passion project for Malcolm, and he loved what he was doing. Although, will he stick to slippers for now, or will he try to expand in the near future?
Plans for the Future
According to Malcolm, he loved making slippers, but he had something else in mind for the near future. He had already drawn up new designs for the furniture line that he was trying to create, and everybody was excited to see these things for themselves.
Malcolm kept on trying to create new things, which his family loved about him. Not only did he create something for himself, but he also helped his family along the way and did something incredibly special for his parents…
A Surprise for His Parents
He worked hard to get to where he is now, and this didn’t alter his lifestyle in any way because Malcolm stayed humble. However, he did something that made his parents tear up…
One afternoon, he sat down at their kitchen table and told his parents, “I’ve paid off the debts that dad made when he was still gambling. I hope this is the last time that we will ever have this problem.” His father couldn’t thank him enough and promised he would never gamble again.
Succeeding in His Craft
Malcolm succeeded in his craft, and though it wasn’t easy, he proved that creating something out of “trash” was possible. Not only that but the things that people see as useless can be transformed into something magnificent.
The slippers that Malcolm created had been a phenomenon, and now, people all over his country are trying to replicate it. It shows that with passion and hard work, you can succeed too – just like Malcolm.
Believe in Your Dreams
If you look at Malcolm’s life, you can see that nothing was ever handed to him because he didn’t grow up with privilege or money. However, this didn’t stop him from wanting a better life for himself and his family.
It shows that if you have drive and vision, you can succeed even though people around you are starting to doubt your capabilities. Like Malcolm, you can create a better life for yourself if you only believe in your dreams. Now, who wants to try a pair of Malcolm’s handmade slippers?