Former McDonald’s employee who flipped burgers becomes a self-made millionaire and shares his inspiring journey despite not having a university degree.
A millionaire who once flipped burgers in McDonald’s has said earning his fortune wasn’t ‘that hard’ – despite not having a university degree.
Joe Davies, a self-made millionaire, proves that success doesn’t always require a university degree.
Starting as a McDonald’s burger flipper, Joe’s journey to building a £10 million SEO empire is a testament to hard work, curiosity, and entrepreneurial drive.
How a McDonald’s employee became a multi-millionaire
Joe Davies, 36, from Birmingham, spent years in dead-end jobs, including flipping burgers at McDonald’s.
He shared: ‘I didn’t go to university like I had originally planned as I got fed up with learning and I only wanted to make money.
‘[After leaving school], I worked mostly on building sites, delivering from factories to shops and flipping burgers in McDonald’s.
However, he felt unfulfilled and dreamed of creating something meaningful.
‘I hated it as I felt like I wasn’t doing anything important. I wanted to create something but my motivation wasn’t very high in these jobs.
‘I had this burning desire to start something on my own and, at the very least, make a bit more of a difference.’
After leaving McDonald’s, Joe took a $130-per-week IT apprenticeship. There, he learned SEO, sparking the idea for his future multi-million-pound business.
In 2012, Joe and his best friend, Joe Taylor, launched FATJOE.com, an SEO service platform for agencies. Within two years, they made their first million.
‘At the company I was working for, I was asked to build a website and learned SEO on the job. This was the first time I had heard that word.
‘I couldn’t put my finger on it but it had elements of engineering, coupled with creativity and marketing, which really fed into my creative personality.’
Within two years, they made their first million. Today, their company is valued at £10 million and continues to grow.
Joe performed well in school but lost interest in higher education. He wanted to make money instead of continuing his studies.
Building a $13 Million empire
Realizing their potential as business partners, the pair quit their jobs in 2013 to focus on FATJOE.com full-time.
“We rented an office from day one to make it feel real. We worked 13-hour days to build the company,” Joe recalled.
Twelve years later, FATJOE.com is valued at £10 million, employs 100 people globally, and serves 1,000 agencies. Joe credits their success to solving problems at scale.
Additionally, Joe shares three key traits for success:
1. Lessons from Joe Davies’ Entrepreneurial journey
2. The importance of personal drive and curiosity
Joe emphasizes personal drive, curiosity, and a desire to make money as the key traits for entrepreneurial success.
3., Overcoming Procrastination and Taking Action
He advises aspiring entrepreneurs to stop waiting for the “right time” and start building. Procrastination, he says, is the enemy of progress.
Despite his achievements, Joe avoids long-term plans. He enjoys traveling, going to the gym, and playing guitar.
‘But most importantly, a drive to make money. It’s cliché, but just starting something – do and build.
‘A lot of the problem for me was procrastinating and thinking about the right time to start, in which there never is one.
‘There’s no such thing as having a ‘destiny’ in life and it’s all about working hard and seeing where this takes you.
‘I don’t like to think too far ahead, because even with grand plans, they can change. I spend a lot of time travelling around the world, at the gym – and still playing guitar. He added.
Joe believes success isn’t hard if you solve a big enough problem. His journey proves that ambition and hard work can lead to financial freedom.