My name is James Simpson. I’m 29 and I’m an entrepreneur based in the UK, with most of my business generated online.

I started my working life in the same way 95% of the workforce do — in the 9-5 rat race — when I left college aged 18. I had the opportunity to go to university but I was offered a programming placement in a small company which I couldn’t turn down. You see, I’ve always been a big believer that experience is the best form of education. In other words, nothing beats having done it in the real world.

I quickly progressed through the company, but never received a promotion; there was only one rank in the company and we all had it. It was a real ‘team’ company where everyone helped each other. I guess that’s the great thing about small companies who set their own rules.

Unfortunately business wasn’t going so well for a number of years and in August 2005 I was made redundant. I was actually their last employee and had been for some time. It wasn’t great timing (when is it ever?) because my wife and I had just had our first baby, and the programming skills I had at commercial level were completely out of date (COBOL, Powerhouse, CBAS anyone?).

After trying to find a job for a number of months I pretty much gave up. There was nothing out there for me and to be honest I was going to struggle in a company that had the typical corporate regime. I was used to working when I felt like; provided I got the hours in and the work was done, I could come and go as I pleased. So going back to the rat race wasn’t really an option.

But I did have a trick up my sleeve. For the 3 years prior to losing my job, I had been learning marketing. Most of it online, but with some offline stuff as well. I learnt it all through books and case studies, and by applying what I picked up.

I didn’t earn a bean in those 3 years; it wasn’t until I was made redundant that I had no choice but to make it work. Young baby, bills to pay and no income. I was forced to make it work and that’s exactly what I did.

Since then, I’ve been steadily growing my income which is now at a comfortable level. I’m not loaded, but I’m not exactly broke either. Mind you, I don’t work much these days so I’m enjoying the auto-pilot income online business can easily bring when things are done right.

I still have tons of projects in mind and usually have 4 or 5 on the go at once, as well as a lot of client work. I know that sounds odd when I tell you I don’t work much but when you have things set up as they should be (with the right people in the right places to do the rights jobs) then it’s actually pretty easy to do.

I’ve aquirred tons of new skills and have learned so much about business I realise now how little I really did know. But I’m still a student of business and I’ll never stop learning.

So that’s me, up until now. I’ll update this occassionally, as and when needed.

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