From High School Flunk to Multi-Million-Pound CEO: My Maverick Journey. If you had told me in school that I wouldn’t amount to much, I probably would have believed you. All my friends were cruising through schoolwork with ease, while I struggled. The information just didn’t go in. Back then, I didn’t know I was dyslexic; I just felt there was no place in school for a kid like me. Except for P.E. – I loved sports and it was the only subject I flourished in! Otherwise, I was more interested in what I could buy on eBay and sell to my schoolmates for a profit than in learning anything about the curriculum.
That early entrepreneurial spark has always been a part of me, and it’s what drove me forward when others were ready to write me off. My first proper job was at a mobile phone service provider, and it was there that I realised just how differently my mind worked. It was like flicking a switch – my mind was racing a million miles an hour! I was always looking for ways the business could scale or streamline processes. I was excited, inspired, and ambitious! But my enthusiasm wasn’t always well received by senior managers. They didn’t know what to do with a high school dropout who had big ideas.
But I didn’t let that stop me. I had my fingers in many pies, always a side hustle on the go, some more successful than others! By my early 20s, I had already reached some major milestones – like being awarded Young Entrepreneur of the Year and even selling a business for half a million dollars. That sale was a pivotal moment for me. It allowed me to expand my business portfolio, setting up my future. It also made me stop and question: What’s next? I had achieved my initial goals, but I didn’t want to stop there.
My latest and proudest venture came about when my wife Jess and I saw a gap in the market while searching for a neon sign for our young son’s bedroom. With just £250, we made an investment that has since grown into Custom Neon – a global business that now turns over more than £11 million. Custom Neon has become a brand recognised by some of the biggest names and events out there. We’ve provided signage for Paris Hilton’s wedding, Facebook HQ, The Grammys, The Olympics, The Tennis Open, and even Elon Musk. My journey from being underestimated to leading a multimillion-pound business has been nothing short of extraordinary.
I often think about what would have happened if I hadn’t had those entrepreneurial roots to help guide me – and how many kids fall through the cracks or grow up feeling so inferior because their skills aren’t being compared like for like. As a father of three, I’m more passionate than ever about sharing my story with young people, especially those who feel like square pegs in round holes. School success is not a prerequisite for life success! Even though traditional academics weren’t my strength, I found a knack for business at an early age. Children should be encouraged to nurture their strengths and unique attributes rather than be made to feel bad by an education system that fails them. If I can help and inspire even one child, it’s worth it.
I always think of the famous quote often attributed to Albert Einstein: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
There needs to be more measures of success for young kids growing up. I am delighted that neurodiversity is becoming so much more widely recognised with strategies in place to assist learning, but there is still more to be done in building the confidence of the kids that will always struggle with academic assessments.
There are so many success stories from high school dropouts.
Richard Branson, who, like me, struggled with dyslexia. He quit school at 16 to set up a student magazine, which eventually led to the creation of Virgin, a global empire. Or Ray Kroc, the man behind McDonald’s, who quit his education as a teenager because he no longer had the patience for school and went to work as a salesman. Then there’s Henry Ford, who never even set foot in a school.
These are just a few examples of how traditional education isn’t the only path to success.
Whilst I struggled at times with my journey, I now think Dyslexia made me a better businessman and more compassionate leader. In my younger years, some business owners would have deemed me unemployable based on my academic level. I would never turn down a candidate based on their education status. I look for passion, drive, ambition, and creativity – stuff that can’t be learned in a book.
Success doesn’t fit into one mold, and I’m living proof of that. My journey has taught me that with the right mindset, resilience, and a maverick approach, anything is possible. And now, I’m committed to inspiring others to find their path to success, even if it’s a little unconventional.
Don’t let traditional measures of success define your worth. Whether you’re a student, a parent, or an entrepreneur, remember that the world needs more mavericks – people who see things differently and aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo. Nurture your unique strengths, follow your passion, never stop learning, and don’t be afraid to take the road less travelled. You never know where it might lead.
