A dad-of-one in the UK who was unemployed and "absolutely broke " has told of how he is about to earn his first €1 million after setting up an online car finance broker company.
Callum Walsh explained that after suffering a mini-stroke at the age of 26, he pawned his Breitling watch because he "didn't have a pot to p*** in".
He described going into overdraft and having to take out loans to support his wife Daisy and their then four-month-old baby girl.
A determined Callum, who is now 30, used the money he was given for the watch to apply for a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) licence and began networking to start his own enterprise.
Now, Match Me Car is booming, Manchester Evening News reports.
The business earned a revenue of over €104,000 in the short financial year of trading in 2018.
Growth accelerated in the second financial year of business in 2019, when the company earned €1.7 million in revenue by securing €14.4 million of car finance for customers.
Callum, originally from Wythenshawe, Manchester, said: "We anticipate to provide €83.9m worth of car finance to our customers by the end 2022, with a total earned revenue of €10.07m.
"The company was set up with a moral compass more than anything, with a mission to save our customers money.
"I took out a high-interest loan secured against my house. I was willing to risk it all because I was so passionate it wouldn't fail.
"I had all the fire in the world inside my belly, but ran out of cash initially."
Daisy, who married Callum in 2015 when he worked in banking, said: "He always dreamed of being a police officer, but I think his drive to make money from such a young age is what really makes him tick.
"Despite growing up on a council estate, Callum has been driven from such a young age."
The hairdresser's partner moved from banking into the world of motor finance shortly after the wedding.
But Callum suffered his mini-stroke in 2017, just after the birth of his daughter.
The hard-working dad, who now lives in leafy Cheshire, said: "I found myself jobless, with a small family to feed and not a pot to p*** in.
"I was absolutely broke.
"I supported my family on credit cards, maxed my limits and took out loans and overdrafts. My amazing wife was even robbed of her maternity leave by me, but she didn't complain.
"I was now a stay at home daddy. Mummy provided for her family, whilst I tried to find work. I felt like an absolute failure.
"I pawned my Breitling watch, applied for a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) licence with the money and reached out to my LinkedIn network for support.
"After some lengthy messages and long processes, I finally had some lenders to support my brokerage."
Callum, who ran a tuck shop 'business' at school, applied for business credit cards and used these to fund the first few months in business.
But he almost took a job stacking shelves before his FCA licence came through.
He said: "I think growing up in Wythenshawe has taught me you have to work harder for anything you want in life and although I had a great childhood and the most amazing parents, who made sure me, my brother and two sisters never went without, I did witness the struggles they went through to provide for us and get by.
"As I went to a school away from Wythenshawe - the Kingsway School in Cheadle - I always felt I had more to prove as I never really felt a sense of belonging or full acceptance into the school, being one of the few kids in there off a council estate.
"I think feeling the need to constantly prove myself to others has created a burning desire inside.
"My advice to anyone considering starting a business is to trust your instincts and not be swayed by the negative opinions of others, because sometimes, they just don't see what you see.
"If I'd have listened to those who told me not to start my business, I wouldn't be in the fortunate position I am today.
"If you have a vision, follow your dreams, find good people and most importantly back yourself."
Daisy told how the stroke led to Callum temporarily losing the feeling down the left side of his body.
"As you could imagine this was an extremely worrying time for us all, and the hospital warned that it was usually a warning that you are about to have a full blown stroke," the hairdresser said.
"But by the end of his first full financial year in 2019 he turned over €1.7m.
"He has large offices still based in Wythenshawe town centre where he employs approximately 30 staff, with plans to grow to 50 by November this year.
"He vows to always keep his offices in Wythenshawe where he grew up, and I'm very proud of him.
"He's living proof that you can do anything when you put your mind to it."
