This piece may NOT be freely reprinted. Please contact the author [see below] for re-print rights.

The Apprentice Millionaire

As a young boy, living in a modest house with is mother and brother, Mike was always finding ways to earn money. His childhood was broken up by moves to different countries [his father worked for the American Air Force]. Education was never going to be his passport to a better life.

He acquired an ‘attitude’, which is another way of saying he knew what he wanted, and refused to accept put downs.

Mike could always spot good role models, until he was to become one himself. And Mike spent time with people he admired, and quickly took on the qualities he wanted. He quickly realised to keep out of the way of those who might do him down. In short, he was a brilliant modeller. And like many of us, he was logging in his mind the kind of childhood he would want for his offspring.

We all have the potential to apply our talents in areas other than in the ones we are found lacking. We are no less of a person. In fact we are a complete person when we set out and continue on the path of our destiny.

Famous people written off by parents, teachers, peers and employers makes fascinating reading. It includes, Einstein, Churchill, FW Woolworth, Henry Ford, Sochiro Honda, Edison, Fred Astaire, Beethoven, Darwin, Tolstoy, Rodin, Disney, Abraham Lincoln, Isaac Newton, Socrates…

My late father worked for 48 years in a factory making wire mesh. It would have been cruel to expect a monkey to do his job. A man of immense talent, it was suppressed and never revealed itself at work. Outside work, he was a champion badminton, tennis, and bowls player. He learned how to strip and re-build motor bike engines. He built a photographic enlarger from sheet metal and lenses. He could play the violin, ice hockey, and was an expert decorator, and dedicated body builder. There was nothing he couldn’t do if he put his mind to it. He rode his bike to and from work, mostly twice a day, as he came home for his mid-day meal. He rode over 100,000 miles in his lifetime. But he had few qualifications.

In his teens, Mike was often asked what he was going to do with his life. “No problem,” was his reply, “I’m an apprentice millionaire.”

He loved cars. After he left school, he started buying and selling cars, particularly sports cars. He also saw the value in property.

His lifelong companion is his childhood sweetheart Caroline. Caroline shared his enthusiasm for life, and his willingness to take risks, borne out of his growing self-belief.

Over 20 years ago, Mike decided he wanted to live in a small village a few miles south of where he had spent some of his childhood. He discovered a house was coming up for auction in his favourite village, and the agents had invited prospective buyers to look around it prior to purchase. The expected price of the house was £55,000, the limit of what Mike and Caroline could afford.

Mike and Caroline turned up on their motor bike, as the agent was showing a couple around. The agent was a little taken back, and was amazed a couple of young people barely out of their teens could even contemplate buying this house. And, of course, he let it show, treating them contemptuously as he fawned around the first couple.

The pair saw enough of the house to convince them it was what they wanted, but Mike was annoyed by the agent’s attitude.

A few weeks later, the auction was being held at a local hotel. Standing room only. Interest in the house was considerable. No space left.

This was Mike’s first auction, so he wasn’t aware of the protocols. However, he did know that the house would go to the highest bidder. And if it was under £55,000, it would be him.

Mike would be late for his own funeral. The bidding was about to start. He drove up to the hotel, no spaces, except right outside the entrance. No time to lose, that was his space. He turned off the Porsche’s engine and ran into the room.

The only place left to stand was on the window ledge at the back of the room. He climbed up and stood on the ledge looking directly at the auctioneer.

Bidding was brisk, and quickly got to £40,000, Mike bidding quietly from his vantage point. However, it then slowed down as a number of bidders dropped out.

‘Forty-one? Forty one five…forty two am I bid?” shouted the auctioneer.

“Forty two five…forty three…forty four thousand. Come on now who wants this wonderful development opportunity in one of our prettiest villages?”

Well, Mike did. And to his amazement the bidding stopped at £45,000, the highest bid. His bid.

“Sold to the young man at the back.”

Mike jumped down from the ledge, and went over to the auction agents. The snob who had looked at him with contempt when he went to see the house didn’t recognise him at first.

“You do realise you have bought the house, and we require 10% deposit now?” said the agent.

“Yes” said Mike, unruffled.

“We’ll take a cheque or banker’s draft.”

Mike knew a banker’s draft wasn’t an option, as the house price couldn’t have been known in advance at an auction.

“Cash?” asked Mike.

After a flurry of ignorance and reluctance to drive home with £4500 in his pocket, the agent finally agreed to take the cash, as he knew it was valid.

A final attempt at social one-upmanship backfired.

“And you do have the balance of £40,500 plus solicitor’s fees?” stuttered the agent.

“Tomorrow do you?” said Mike.

Mike collected his paperwork, gave the cash to the agent, and walked out of the front entrance. The agent saw him get into his Porsche and drive off.

Mike renovated the house, and sold off various parts of it [it had stables and outbuildings] over the years. Made at least £200,000 profit when they decided to move. Over the next 20 years, he and his wife Caroline moved again a couple pf more times in their village.

They now live, with their daughter in a house worth at least £4 million, with over 40 acres of land. Mike has commercial properties all over the area, a villa and yacht in Spain and his classic car business is thriving. A month ago, he went out and bought a Porsche like most of us would buy some new shoes.

Affected? Mike is still one of the lads. Treats people the same regardless of their income or status.

No longer the apprentice, I first met Mike and his family in February this year. He is my brother. My wife and I met my [and Mike’s] mother [I was adopted] in May. I have two other brothers and a sister in America. I have still to find my birth father.

Shame Mike never met my [adoptive] father, as they had a lot in common…

The agent is still a snob.

JS, 19 July 2006.