Craig Campbell, from Glasgow, was desperate to escape his “dead-end” life and forge a better life for himself – in which he could be his own boss.

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But, by the time he was in his early 20’s, the determined entrepreneur sparked a business idea that would go on to transform his life for ever.

Meanwhile, the only positive thing to come from working at the fast food chain was meeting wife Lauren.

Workaholic Craig decided to launch his own digital marking company and he dedicated 18-hour shifts to it whenever he could.

The young lad waved goodbye to nights out with his mates and passed up having a social life.

However, with nearly 1.10million subscribers on his YouTube, @CraigcampbellseoUK, Craig only has to work when he feels like it now.

The entrepreneur earns an eye-watering £5,000 simply by posting a 10-minute video – although there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes.

Craig said: “Being able to work for myself rather than for a company was always a big appeal.

“The driving force was being my own boss and being able to work when it suited me. But when I started out, I was putting in 18 hours a day.

“I was drained and it was a long slog to hone my skills – it felt like a 15-year-long apprenticeship. But I kept going.”

Due to the relatively unknown nature of digital marketing, Craig was pouring all his efforts into teaching himself.

He would absorb all the info he could from online groups in his desperate bid to enjoy a life of “freedom”.

“I only work a few hours a day now – nothing more, and never on the weekends,” added the content creator.

“It gives me a lot of freedom and I get to spend more time with the family. My son is five so I can do the school run and be around for him, too.”

GOING GLOBAL

Craig’s business has seen him jet all across the world and enjoy luxury hotels.

He’s been recruited for public speaking in, Dubai, Thailand, the US, Bulgaria and Finland.

“The first conference I spoke at was in London in front of around 30 people,” he said.

“I was covered in sweat and panicking beforehand, and was ready to text the organiser with an excuse.

“But something inside me urged me to do it, and I haven’t looked back since.”

More recently, Craig got up and spoke in front of a whopping 6,000 people and went on 25 trips with a nine-month period.

Rags to riches

By Emer Scully

A DAD-of-one who once shared a room with his dad and brother has told how he became a multi-millionaire.

Samuel Leach, 32, lived in a seven-bed mansion and owned a Ferrari in this twenties after starting his business as a student at the University of Hertfordshire.

During his childhood Samuel, who was born in Watford, shared one room with his family in a five-bed house share.

He rebelled in school during his teenage years and was kicked out of college for not turning up.

Yet by the age of 21, he was making £4,500-a-month through trading.

And, by the time he left university he had turned a £2,000 bursary grant for achieving a triple distinction, into more than £170,000.

Samuel’s business now runs an Ofqual-registered 16-week diploma in financial trading that costs just £6,500.

Now he’s worth £10million and lives on a country estate with his girlfriend and three-year-old son.

“It’s a great privilege to be asked to speak around the world and get to see more of it,” he added.

And, now the businessman wants to give back.

He teaches people they too can watch the cash roll in from their start-up ideas.

He said: “After spending 14 years getting to grips with everything, I’ve tried and tested it all and made tons of mistakes.

“It has taken me a lot of time and money to get me where I am. But I can help people get there a lot quicker – I’m passionate about it.”

Craig likens his career to property renovations – but he boosts the value of online businesses, assets and websites rather than houses.

And, despite having the funds to throw in the towel today, the CEO doesn’t think he will ever “fully retire”.

“I don’t know how I’d pass the time!”, he joked.

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