Coach Gwen

Coach Gwen

Share

Entrepreneur | Corporate Trainer | Life Coach | Director of Ceremonies | Motivational and Public Speaker | Network Marketer | Facilitator and Trainer |Blogger

One on One Coaching Sessions

10/01/2025

Sometimes I look at life and smile.

I am grateful for everything including the not so rosy parts.

10/01/2025

He was fired from Facebook in 2006.

Rejected by Twitter in 2008.

Called "delusional" by venture capitalists in 2009.

Today, his app has over 2 billion users.

Here is the beautiful story of Brian Acton the founder of WhatsApp after a decade of rejection

—and the lessons we can all learn from him.

2006, Brian had a stable job at Yahoo,

leading their ad platform.

But after 11 years, he made a bold decision to quit.

His sights were on Facebook, one of the fastest-growing tech companies at the time.

The result?

An immediate rejection.

But that rejection planted a seed.

In 2008, Acton was still unemployed and decided to try his luck with Twitter.

He applied again to work at another tech company;
Once again, the answer was no. He was rejected.

Disappointed but determined, Acton found an unexpected friend - Jan Koum, both where ex-Yahoo employee he met at a weekly ultimate frisbee game.

Both had been rejected by Facebook.

Both were frustrated with how communication on mobile phones worked.

One conversation between them sparked an idea that would change the world.

At the time, phone companies were making billions by charging per text.

Then in 2009, something revolutionary had just launched: the iPhone App Store.

With $250,000 in savings, Acton took a risk.

He gave his Koum his life saving to develop their idea of an App that could send instant messages free in real time
while he searched for work.

They called it WHATS -APP. A messaging tool for friends to check on their friends and family to what they are doing in real time

Then Whatsapp was launched

The first version of the app wasn’t promising.
It crashed constantly.

Users: 10.
Revenue: $0.

But then, Apple introduced push notifications.

This changed everything.

Users were now alerted when they had new messages, making the app engaging and addictive.

Downloads started doubling every month.

By 2011, WhatsApp raised $8 million from Sequoia Capital at a valuation of $25 million.

The same investors who called Acton and Koum “delusional” two years earlier were now begging to fund them.

But Acton and Koum weren’t building just another app.

They had a manifesto for Whatsapp:

We are not going to make on it.

No ads. Ever.

No games or gimmicks.

No user data collection.

No marketing budget.

Their philosophy was simple:

“No one wakes up excited to see more advertising.” - Brian Acton

This “anti-Facebook” approach resonated with users.

By 2013, WhatsApp had outgrown Twitter, reaching over 200 million users.

All of this was achieved with just 50 employees.

And then, Facebook came knocking.

The same company that had rejected Acton in 2006 now wanted to buy his company.

The price?

A staggering $19 billion.

It was the largest private acquisition in tech history.

But the story doesn’t end there.

In 2018, Facebook started pushing for ads on WhatsApp.

Acton, a man of principle, walked away—leaving behind his $850 million in unvested stock options.

His response?

“It is time to leave"

Today, WhatsApp powers over 100 billion messages daily. It’s bigger than Instagram and Facebook Messenger combined.

And Brian is worth over $16 billion dollars

From two guys playing frisbee to a global phenomenon, the journey of WhatsApp is a testament to resilience and staying true to your values.

Key lessons from Brian Acton’s story to every Entrepreneur:

1. Rejection is redirection.

2. Keep it simple.

3. Principles matter more than profits.

4. Start small, but think big.

5. Be flexible to new ideas Stand your ground for to protect your principles.

And most importantly:

Sometimes, your biggest setback is just the setup for your greatest comeback.

Brian Acton once tweeted after being rejected by Twitter 😉

“Got denied by Twitter HQ. That’s OK. Would have been a long commute.”

Little did Twitter know, they had just passed on a future billionaire.

Hopefully you go about today turning your rejection into a positive point ✅





Tech Stories

Photos from Zimbabwe news 4 us Zimbabweans's post 09/01/2025

Great atmosphere.

08/01/2025

FOCUS

This should be your favourite word for 2025.

08/01/2025

WHAT WE OFFER:

1. Corporate Training
2. Life Coaching
3. Leadership Seminars - Schools and companies.
4. Director or Ceremonies
5. Motivational and Public Speaking
6. Teenage Seminars
7. Women Empowerment programmes.
8. Business Coaching

08/01/2025

INTEGRITY.

Doing the right thing even when noone is watching.

08/01/2025

5 Room Options To Choose From

plus: Parking, Power ( ), Free ,

And Much Much MORE!!!

WhatsApp Now: +27 65 046 0436

#2025

Photos from Zimbabwe news 4 us Zimbabweans's post 08/01/2025
08/01/2025

Thank you for this beautiful place.

Safe, quiet, tranquil and very close to Sandton-City Mall , Nelson Mandela Square .

5 Room Options To Choose From

plus: Parking, Power ( ), Free ,

And Much Much MORE!!!

WhatsApp Now: +27 65 046 0436

#2025

08/01/2025

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Bridgette Kagonye, Chipo Caroline

07/01/2025

You are allowed to be a Work-In-Progress and a Masterpiece at the same time.

Embrace Both Titles.

07/01/2025

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Training Edge Zimbabwe is excited to offer your young ones a comprehensive 3 Hour Life Coaching Session on 5 of the most important topics.

Register your child now on 071 977 3122

Let your children come and experience a free discussion on different aspects of their life before they go back to their day or boarding school.

1. Self Respect - what it means.
2. Setting Goals - vision boards for academics and career.
3. Peer Pressure and Social Media Influences.
4. Alcohol and Drug Abuse - how addictions occur.
5. Dating and S*x - what young ones need to know.
6. BONUS TOPIC !!

Date: Saturday 11 January 2025
Time: 2pm - 5pm
Venue: Karigamombe Centre in Harare
Coaching Fee : $15 (including snacks and materials)

Please register with full name and age:
Coach Gwen - wa.me/263719773123.

07/01/2025

Sometimes you get to a point where you realise that who you call your friends or family may not exactly be that.

Be okay with not having to beg for attention, understanding, outings, presents or calls.

The people who are meant to be in your life are the ones who look for you the same way you look for them.

Do not feel bad or obligated to give special treatment to people who would never do the same for you.

If they can watch you struggling emotionally, financially, mentally and not care, they are not your people.

This year - delete numbers and start afresh.

06/01/2025

Marriage Coaching.

It is quite unfortunate how so many marriages are breaking these days.

I always wonder if people do change or if we do not ask each other the most important or right questions before we get to that part.

I will share a link in the comments section for my Podcast -This Life where I discuss the 10 Fundamental Questions To Ask Your Fiance/Fianceè before you say I DO.

06/01/2025
06/01/2025

2025 is going to be a great year.

We will be doing so much in Life Coaching and Corporate Training.

More skills will be shared.

Motivation galore.

Entrepreneurship - starting and growing.

Podcast- This Life.

04/01/2025

Happy First Weekend of 2025.

04/01/2025

Louder please !!

Nothing changes until you change

Want your business to be the top-listed Gym/sports Facility in Harare?
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.

Videos (show all)

Inspiration for 2025#Plan2025 #positivevibes #growthmindset
WHAT WE OFFER:1. Corporate Training2. Life Coaching3. Leadership Seminars - Schools and companies.4. Director or Ceremon...
I am always talking about Self Development because that is one of the ways you can create solutions.
Happy 2025!!
2025 is going to be a great year.We will be doing so much in Life Coaching and Corporate Training. More skills will be s...

Category

Address


Harare