MIND IS MOST IMPORTANT MUSCLE FOR ACHIEVING SUCCESS, ATHLETE DISCOVERS
▶ Mohammed-Ehsan Hatef tells Haneen Dajani how an injury inspired him to help others reach for their dreams
An athlete is using the power of sport to help others achieve their dreams – after “finding himself” when a serious injury left him unable to walk for a year.
Sport has been a big part of Mohammed-Ehsan Hatef’s life since the age of 10. He was a basketball player before he became a professional snowboarder and a parkour coach.
But his high-energy lifestyle was brought to a sudden halt when he ruptured his Achilles tendon eight years ago.
His many months of immobility gave him plenty of time for contemplation and allowed him to shape a plan to help others.
“During that one year, I guess I found myself,” says the Dubai resident, 34.
Once he recovered and was able to be active he realised his time spent on the sidelines had changed his outlook.
“I calmed down a bit and became a sports and lifestyle coach,” he says.
He decided to launch a project that inspires people to create their own success stories.
“We want to wake the people up, to tell them if you want something you have to go get it – don’t wait for things to come to you.
“Unfortunately, many people have become followers. Every day, they waste their time checking the stories of other people’s lives – so many hours are spent doing just that and it is not touching their lives at all.”
With this thought in mind, he came up with Warrior Angels, a sports clothing line that carries inspirational messages from the likes of boxing great Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan to urge people to never give up on their aspirations.
“If you want to succeed like them, you have to go out and do something yourself,” he says. And once the business grows bigger, he plans to help talented people establish themselves.
“We want to help people who have skills but don’t have money by sponsoring them and giving them the facilities they need.”
Mr Hatef says the idea to start such a project came to him a year ago.
“I was sitting at home and I said, ‘I have to do it and bring it out’.”
He started brainstorming for a logo to go with the concept, and having studied graphic design at university it was not hard for him to illustrate the image that came to his mind: a muscular figure with enormous wings.
He collaborated with his wife, Zvezdana Todorovic, a supermodel who dealt with many brands and therefore understands how fashion is made, and they started designing their first collection.
“We put our minds together to tell a tale of success and create something inspirational,” Mr Hatef says.
Warrior Angels kicked off with a collection featuring Muhammad Ali.
One of the T-shirts features Ali’s image and has his famous quote, “the man who has no imagination has no wings”, on the back. Another features Ali’s quote: “If my mind can conceive it, if my heart can believe it – then I can achieve it.”
A few months later, Warrior released a collection featuring late American rapper and actor Tupac Shakur, using his quote: “Reality is wrong, dreams are for real.”
Their latest collection calls for people to believe in their dreams. One of the quotes says: “When no one else believed in me, I did”.
“The ‘believe’ collection is because we believe in the family we want to create,” Mr Hatef says.
He says a portion of the profits they have made has gone to people in need.
“That is the main reason we created this company: to help other people.”
Warrior Angels is on Instagram, and will be launching its own website soon.