As someone who has faced significant challenges, I understand the importance of sharing our stories to inspire and support others. Growing up with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), I was acutely aware of my mortality. This awareness instilled in me a resilience that became central to my identity. However, despite this inner strength, I encountered personal struggles that tested me to the very edge.
The Foundation of Resilience
Living with CF meant confronting the possibility of a shortened lifespan from a young age. I was constantly reminded that my future was uncertain. I spent countless hours in hospitals, undergoing treatments, managing infections, and facing the reality that many others with my condition didn’t make it to adulthood. I learned early on that every day mattered, and that instilled in me a relentless drive to push forward, to never let limitations define me.
At 15, I lost my twin sister to CF, a loss that profoundly shaped my perspective on life. It reinforced the uncertainty of my own future, but rather than succumbing to fear, I focused on what I could control. While I couldn't change the fact that my disease could limit my time, I was determined to push that limit as far as possible. I threw myself into exercise, determined to strengthen my body, and embraced life fully. Creativity became my escape, an outlet where I could channel my energy into design and problem-solving. That passion led me to pursue product design, driven by a desire to create something meaningful and lasting.
In 2006, As I approached 30, I founded Trunki, the children’s ride-on suitcase brand, and built it into a globally recognized company.
I used my resilience to tackle every challenge the business world threw at me, from hand luggage bans and Dragon’s Den humiliation to copycat lawsuits and the devastating impact of COVID-19 on travel. I believed my ability to overcome adversity was unshakable.
But what I didn’t realize was that while I was solving problems in my professional life, my personal struggles were quietly building up beneath the surface.
The Hidden Struggles Behind Success
In the depths of COVID-19, as travel bans halted sales of ride-on suitcases and Trunki was on the brink of collapse, my personal life was unravelling. My 17-year relationship was breaking down, but I felt paralysed, unable to take action. As someone who prides themselves on problem-solving, I was crippled by the fact that I couldn’t "fix" this. I spent years in an unhappy place, trying to find a way to make the relationship work, staying for my young kids, and convincing myself that holding it all together was my duty.
I was afraid. I had seen friends go through horrific separations, and I told myself that the other side would be even worse. The unknown felt terrifying. So, I stayed put. I bottled up my emotions. I threw myself into my work. I kept running, literally, pushing my body through long-distance runs to try to create space in my mind. But nothing changed. I was stuck.
One pivotal moment that helped me break free from this paralysis was a visualization exercise with my Campfire Circles, a men’s support network for entrepreneurs. We were asked to picture our future selves and hear what they had to say. I saw myself at 50—just 7 years away—and I was happy. I had a loving partner, a comfortable home, and my kids were thriving. That vision made me realize that happiness was possible, but only if I took action. It was the first moment I gave myself permission to move forward.
I knew I needed help. That’s when I turned to a divorce coach, someone who could help me see past the guilt and fear. The biggest lesson? Staying in an unhappy relationship wasn’t what was best for my kids. What they needed was to see me happy, to see what a loving, healthy relationship looked like. That realisation changed everything.
The Breaking Point
By the end of 2022, Trunki had survived COVID, but I was facing two of the biggest transitions of my life: exiting the company I had built for 18 years and navigating the separation from my long-term relationship while raising three young kids. Two mountains to climb, but at least I was moving forward.
The sale process had complications. Our factory had a small contract with the Ministry of Defence, which required government clearance before completing the Trunki deal!
On New Year’s Eve, I was alone in a friend's house, looking forward to a fresh start in 2023. Instead, I started violently throwing up. I assumed it was food poisoning. Then I began passing out.
That night, I collapsed in the shower, hitting my head. I dragged myself to the hospital, expecting to be checked over and sent home. Three hours later, I was rushed into emergency surgery.
A blood vessel in my stomach had been leaking. I had lost nine litres of blood and was on morphine for the intense pain. If I had waited another day, I likely wouldn’t have survived.
I spent three days in intensive care. My ex refused to bring the kids to visit, and in that moment, any lingering doubts about my decision to move on vanished.
At the time, doctors couldn’t say what caused the bleed. Later, after reading The Body Keeps the Score, I realised the truth. The accumulated stress of everything, the separation, the sale, the emotional suppression, had taken a physical toll. I had been carrying so much, refusing to acknowledge the emotional burden, and my body finally forced me to stop.
Navigating to a New Life
A week later, I found an incredible house to rent, perched on a hill with breathtaking views over Bristol, a garage (finally!), and a home office. For the first time, I had space to breathe.
During this period, I also started exploring new ideas, and the early seeds of a business around family sleep health began forming. This ultimately turned into Zeepy, which I co-founded with my brother. Zeepy www.zeepy.co
After six months of dating, I met someone incredible. She had a spark, loved to have fun, and embraced life. We were both celebrating our new beginnings, finally able to be our true selves. By the end of 2023, I had my best New Year’s Eve ever, dancing into the new year with my partner.
Most importantly, my kids got to see me happy, not just surviving but thriving. They witnessed firsthand what a healthy, loving relationship looks like and how embracing change can lead to a better life. Instead of seeing a parent weighed down by stress and duty, they now see someone who is present, fulfilled, and truly enjoying life with them. They now see what a loving relationship looks like, built on joy, respect, and openness.
Lessons I Wish I Had Learned Sooner
1. You Can’t Solve Everything Alone – I tried to push through my struggles the same way I had with CF and business, by grinding through. But some problems aren’t meant to be tackled solo. Seeking help isn’t weakness; it’s essential.
2. Stress Doesn’t Disappear, It Builds Up – I exercised, I kept busy, I stayed productive, but I never really processed my emotions. Therapy, journaling, and facing difficult emotions head-on might have saved me from that breaking point.
3. The First Step Is the Hardest – I spent years avoiding what I knew deep down had to happen. Fear kept me stuck. But once I took that first step, visualizing a better future, everything started to shift.
4. The Other Side Is Bigger, Not Smaller – The fear of leaving was worse than the reality. My world didn’t shrink; it expanded. I found happiness, love, and new opportunities that I couldn’t see before.
Moving Forward
Today, I am in a much better place, having navigated these challenges. I share my story in the hope that it resonates with others facing similar struggles. If you’re feeling stuck, know this, you’re not alone.
If you're struggling, reach out. Tough To Talk is doing incredible work to break the stigma around men’s mental health. Speaking up is the first step.
You don’t have to see the whole path. You just have to start moving.
support group campfire https://www.campfirecircles.co/
Rob Law Short Biography
As a seasoned entrepreneur Rob transformed an initial setback on BBC
Dragons' Den in 2006 into the foundation of a revolutionary children's travel
product empire. His company has redefined the market with innovative
solutions that simplify family travel. The flagship Ride-On suitcase a staple
of his UK-based manufacturing since 2012 has reached homes in over 100
countries with sales surpassing 5 million units and has garnered more than
120 industry accolades. In February 2023 Rob exited his business to Heroes
Technology Ltd marking a new chapter in his business journey.
Rob's entrepreneurial spirit remains undimmed as evidenced by his latest
ventures with his brother: Aphelion Agency Ltd a firm that empowers brands
to thrive on Amazon and Zeepy Ltd an innovative start-up devoted to
enhancing natural sleep in infants and young children.
In addition to his business accomplishments, Rob is a passionate supporter
of fostering the next generation of leaders and innovators, a cause for
which he has received two honorary doctorates and an MBE for his
business contributions.
His autobiography "65 Roses and a Trunki: Defying the Odds in Life and
Business," serves as a testament to his journey offering a source of
motivation and a blueprint for resilience and success in the face of
adversity.
Comments