From nothing to running multiple business

Ange Dove (00:01)
Welcome to You're the Boss podcast show. And today I have a guest with me, Michael Elliott. He's also from the UK where I'm from, so it's nice to chat with a fellow Brit. So Michael, welcome to the show.

Michael Elliott (00:15)
Thank you for having me. I've been looking forward to this one for a while, and I'm excited to share my journey and experience with the audience.

Ange Dove (00:22)
That's wonderful. So just tell us, Michael, a little bit about who you are and what we should know as we go into this episode.

Michael Elliott (00:30)
So I'm a serial entrepreneur. I came from nothing — we'll get into that in a little bit — but I came from nothing. I learned a skill, took a gamble when many wouldn’t have, and it paid off. I diversified and now own multiple seven-figure companies: a holiday park, a trade holiday home company, a PPC agency, an AI agency, plus investments in real estate and other ventures.

At my core, though, I’m a freelancer operating in the digital field — Google Ads, Meta Ads, digital advertising — helping businesses increase revenue every day.

Ange Dove (01:22)
Some people listening to this might think, “You’ve got so many businesses and I’m struggling just to start one.” Can you tell us a little about where you came from and the hurdles you faced to become successful?

Michael Elliott (01:52)
Absolutely. And first, if you’re sitting there wondering whether you can start a business or scale one — the answer is 100% yes.

The only real issue is if you don’t have a skill. But even then, with AI now, you can learn a skill faster than ever before. That’s not motivation — that’s fact.

So my journey started with struggle. My parents worked multiple jobs just to survive. We were poor, but I didn’t realize it because our home was full of love.

Later, my mum started her own business, and that entrepreneurial spirit changed our lives.

Then, within six months, three major things happened:

• My brother nearly died in a motorbike accident.

• My nephew was born with Down syndrome and required open-heart surgery.

• My dad suffered a heart attack and briefly died before being revived.

We survived it all, but it changed everything.

Ange Dove (03:24)
How old was your mum when she started her business?

Michael Elliott (03:29)
Probably around 36 or 37. I’m 33 now.

Those events pushed my parents to move and build something for themselves. They created a successful business and brought us from poverty into a more stable middle-class life.

But my real turning point came later.

Michael Elliott (05:27)
At 18 or 19, I got my partner pregnant while I was at university. We eventually split up, and at first, I handled it badly — drinking, partying, avoiding reality.

Then one morning I woke up and felt completely broken. Like I physically couldn’t get out of bed.

That was when it hit me: I wasn’t going to see my daughter every day.

I barely left the house for six months. My parents were genuinely worried about me.

But that period changed me forever.

It gave me what I call a “frozen core.” After you’ve hit rock bottom, fear changes. You realize you’ve already survived the worst.

Michael Elliott (09:07)
Eventually, I got a job at a PPC agency and worked my way up.

One day, a mate who had left the agency and started his own business came around. He looked me dead in the eye and said:

“Seeing you still here just reminds me how good a decision it was for me to leave.”

That hit me hard because deep down I already knew he was right.

The next day, I handed in my notice.

I had a newborn baby, a mortgage, and only £3,000 in the bank.

Terrible conditions to start a business.

But I backed myself.

And it became the best decision I ever made.

Ange Dove (10:55)
I was similar when I started my business. I just knew I needed freedom.

Michael Elliott (11:43)
Exactly. You know when you’re ready.

At the beginning, I was unstoppable. I’d set alarms through the night to answer overseas clients. If I had spare time, I was cold calling businesses, reaching out nonstop.

At first, all I wanted was to replace my salary.

Ange Dove (13:18)
That’s exactly what I wanted too. So how did you grow beyond that?

Michael Elliott (13:41)
Trial and error.

I got to a point where I was earning really good money on my own with great work-life balance. Most people would’ve stopped there.

But I wanted more.

So I started hiring.

And that changes everything because when you hire staff, their livelihoods become your responsibility.

If the company struggles, I get paid last.

That’s leadership.

Michael Elliott (15:09)
One employee I always mention is Chloe. She took a massive pay cut to come work for me because she believed in the vision.

I couldn’t promise success. I was honest with her about that.

But she saw the drive.

And because she took that gamble on me, she now owns percentages in multiple businesses I’ve built.

Every long-term employee eventually gets equity.

That ownership changes everything about how people work and think.

Ange Dove (21:50)
I love that. So how do you manage multiple businesses?

Michael Elliott (22:07)
Honestly? Probably ADHD.

My brain never switches off. I constantly see opportunities.

But the real answer is relationships and delegation.

For example, one of my businesses is run day-to-day by my best friend. I handle funding and marketing, but he operates it.

You can’t do everything yourself forever.

Michael Elliott (24:30)
If you’re watching this and thinking about taking the leap — do it.

You have no idea what you’re capable of when your back is against the wall.

You will surprise yourself.

And you’ll also realize how many people are willing to pay for your skills.

Ange Dove (25:39)
AI has changed things massively too.

Michael Elliott (26:19.788)
Absolutely. People think AI is just asking ChatGPT questions, but it can completely transform how you work and operate.

Michael Elliott (28:35)
Drop me in another country with nothing, and I’d still build something.

That’s entrepreneurship.

The companies you admire started with people who also had no clue what they were doing.

They just took action and figured it out.

Michael Elliott (31:37)
Anybody can replace their salary working for themselves.

The biggest mistake people make is listening to others who’ve never done it.

Don’t let small minds kill big ideas.

Michael Elliott (34:03)
Within four months of starting my business, I had £100,000 in the bank.

That completely changed my understanding of what’s possible.

Michael Elliott (38:23)
I was terrified when I started.

But fear becomes fuel.

When you’re employed, your salary creates comfort. But when you bet on yourself, something inside you wakes up.

And most people go through life never discovering their full potential.

That’s the real tragedy.

Michael Elliott (42:19)

Entrepreneurship is hard.

It’s lonely. It’s stressful. The responsibility is enormous.

But I would rather die knowing I tried and failed than spend my entire life accepting mediocrity.

That’s the message.

Michael Elliott (47:18)
The fastest way to kill a big idea is to tell it to a small mind.

So don’t.

Ange Dove (52:39)
I love that. That’s a great point to end on.

So Michael, where can people find out more about you?

Michael Elliott (53:05)
Connect with me on LinkedIn, but mainly check out my YouTube channels:

• Michael Elliott AI

• Michael Elliott PPC

I share behind-the-scenes business strategies, freelancing advice, and practical ways to win clients.

Ange Dove (54:54)
Amazing. Thank you so much for coming on the show.

Michael Elliott (54:54)
My pleasure. Thanks for having me.