65 Roses and a Trunki: Defying the odds in life and business, reviewed

By Simon Cocking, review of 65 Roses and a Trunki: Defying the odds in life and business by Rob Law. Available here

65 Roses and a Trunki  is a life-affirming book that tells the extraordinary success story of entrepreneur Rob Law, designer and inventor of the Trunki, the award-winning children’s ride-on suitcase that’s sold millions of units worldwide.

Born with cystic fibrosis (children often call the disease ‘65 Roses’), Rob watched his twin sister die from the same illness at sixteen. Told he could not expect to live into his twenties, he made a promise that he was going to defy the odds and live a long and successful life.

Despite his business being described as “worthless” when he appeared on Dragons’ Den, Rob went on to create a new category of consumer product, build a global business brand, become an accomplished athlete, get an MBE from the Queen, bring joy to millions of children all over the world and become a father to three children after being told he would die childless.

Having beaten overwhelming odds on the road to success, Rob has written this memoir to help anyone facing difficult challenges in life and business.

Drawing on key insights from personal and business psychology – from brand-building and harnessing your creativity, to managing a chronic health condition and facing your demons – 65 Roses and a Trunki is an inspirational success story from which readers will learn that anyone can defy the odds, follow their passion, keep fighting when the experts are telling you to quit, and overcome every challenge they face.

65 Roses and a Trunki: Defying the odds in life and business, reviewed

Wow. This book begins in a pretty striking way, with some seriously tough life challenges throw at the author. In many ways he was already succeeding by remaining alive. From this starting point the author, Rob Law, then wanted to go on and do a whole lot more, and not be constrained by his CF condition.

For the first hundred pages you are more or less amazed he even managed to get past teenagerdom, especially as his twin sister did not manage to do so. This is a tough, harrowing read, and he clearly articulates the survivor’s guilt that he carried with him over the next two decades as well.

After this tough baptism of entering adulthood, the book then moves onto a fascinating account of his successes and failures in developing and building the Trunki product and brand. It is an eventful ride, and one that he recounts with great honesty and interesting insights. Very much aware of the challenges of becoming friends with the people you hire, and the risks that that brings, often resulting in fractious breakups. Overall though Law comes across as a man of integrity, strong ethical values and this is a great read for anyone looking to develop and grow their own business too.

Delighted to announce my Audio book has just launched. Hear is a short sample on #humility and #humble #leadership pic.twitter.com/MES7XHmbDx

— Rob Law MBE (@trunkidaddy) July 23, 2020

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