Millionaire Who Flipped Burgers at McDonald’s Says It Was ‘Not That Hard’ Building $12 Million Empire

December 3, 2024
|In Inspiration
|By Prince Ea

Have you ever felt stuck, like life was just passing you by? That was Joe Davies. He was flipping burgers at McDonald’s, working long hours at a job that didn’t feel like it mattered. Every shift felt the same—monotonous and uninspiring. But deep down, Joe knew he wanted more. He didn’t want to settle for “just enough.” He wanted to build something, something he could be proud of.

The thing is, Joe didn’t have a fancy degree or a golden opportunity handed to him. He had struggles, doubts, and moments when giving up felt easier than pushing forward. But instead of waiting for the perfect time or the perfect plan, he made a choice: to start. With a £100-a-week apprenticeship and a lot of trial and error, he turned an idea into a company worth £10 million.

Joe’s story isn’t just about making millions—it’s about proving that where you begin doesn’t have to dictate where you end up. So, before we dive into how he did it, let me ask you: What’s stopping you from taking that first step? Because sometimes, all it takes is one decision to change everything.

The Humble Beginnings

Image source: Shutterstock

Joe Davies’ story starts in a place many of us know all too well—doing jobs that feel like they’re going nowhere. Growing up in Birmingham, Joe spent his days working on building sites, delivering goods, and flipping burgers at McDonald’s. Each job left him with the same sinking feeling: Is this it? Is this all I’m meant for?

He wasn’t lazy, nor was he without dreams. He just didn’t know how to bridge the gap between where he was and where he wanted to be. “I hated it,” Joe admitted, reflecting on his earlier years. “I felt like I wasn’t doing anything important.” He wasn’t just looking for a paycheck—he wanted purpose, something that made him feel alive.

Joe often looked to his father, Mick, for inspiration. Mick, who owned a first aid training company, showed Joe what it meant to dream big and work hard. It planted a seed in Joe’s mind: If his dad could build something from scratch, maybe he could, too. But while Joe had the desire, he didn’t yet have the direction. What he did have, though, was a restless energy—a drive to find a way out of mediocrity and into something that mattered.

Little did he know, that burning desire would soon ignite the spark that would change everything.

How a £100 Apprenticeship Sparked a Multi-Million Pound Vision

Have you ever taken a job not because of the paycheck, but because you hoped it might lead somewhere new? That’s exactly where Joe found himself. For just £100 a week, he signed on as an IT apprentice. The money wasn’t great, but Joe wasn’t looking for a fortune—he was looking for a door to open.

It was in this humble role that Joe stumbled upon a term he’d never heard before: SEO. At first, it sounded technical, even a bit boring. But the more he explored it, the more it intrigued him. It wasn’t just one thing—it was a blend of problem-solving, creativity, and strategy. And for someone like Joe, who loved to figure things out and make something work, it felt like he’d found his thing. “I couldn’t explain it,” Joe later said, “but it just clicked.”

Think about that for a second. Sometimes, it’s not the flashy opportunity or the dream job that changes your life. It’s the moment when something new sparks your curiosity, and you decide to lean in instead of walking away.

Building FATJOE.com—From Late Nights to a Global Platform

When Joe and his childhood best friend, Joe Taylor, decided to launch their own business in 2012, it wasn’t with some grand, polished plan. It started with an idea—simple, but bold. They wanted to create a service that helped businesses achieve better SEO results, something they felt no other agency had done quite right before. The name? FATJOE.com, a nod to their friendship and their shared vision.

In the beginning, it was just the two of them. No fancy office, no team of experts, just two guys determined to make it work. “We rented an office from day one to make it feel real,” Joe Davies explained. It wasn’t glamorous. Long days stretched into longer nights as they worked up to 13 hours daily to keep things running. They juggled everything themselves—client calls, service delivery, and the endless task of building their reputation.

But here’s the thing about starting something from scratch: it’s hard, messy, and sometimes overwhelming. Yet, it’s also where the magic happens. Before long, they brought on their first employee, Emily, who became a vital part of their growing team. Slowly but surely, their vision began to take shape. They weren’t just building a company; they were building a solution—a platform that made outsourcing SEO services easier and more effective for agencies. In fact, their approach was so innovative that even the SEO agency Joe had worked for began using their platform.

It didn’t take long for FATJOE.com to take off. Within two years, they hit their first million, proving that their relentless effort was paying off. Today, the company employs over 100 people globally, serving more than 1,000 agencies. What started as two friends chasing an idea has become a global success story. But at its core, their journey was never just about making money—it was about creating something meaningful, one step at a time.

Image source: fatjoe. website

Climbing to Success—Lessons in Growth and Grit

Success didn’t come overnight for Joe and his team. As FATJOE.com grew, so did the challenges. With an increasing client base came higher expectations, and scaling operations became their biggest test. Joe and his partner quickly realized it wasn’t just about working harder—it was about working smarter. Building a team of specialists who could handle the technical and creative demands of SEO allowed them to focus on steering the company in the right direction.

A big part of their growth came from learning to adapt. The digital world changes fast, and Joe knew that sticking to the old ways wouldn’t cut it. By embracing new ideas and staying ahead of industry trends, FATJOE.com remained competitive in a crowded market. Their innovative service platform became a cornerstone of their success, proving that sometimes, the best solutions are the ones you build yourself.

By 2024, FATJOE.com had grown into a global powerhouse, employing over 100 people and serving more than 1,000 agencies. But for Joe, the real victory wasn’t just the numbers—it was staying true to their vision. “Success isn’t about luck,” Joe often says. “It’s about persistence and learning from every step, whether you stumble or soar.”

The Three Traits of a Successful Entrepreneur

What does it really take to succeed as an entrepreneur? According to Joe Davies, it boils down to three essential traits: personal drive, curiosity, and the courage to start. “You have to want to be better,” Joe emphasizes. “It’s about pushing yourself, even when it’s uncomfortable, to grow into the person you need to be.”

Curiosity played a huge role in Joe’s journey. From learning SEO on the job to figuring out how to scale a business, he never stopped asking questions or seeking new ways to solve problems. “Curiosity is what keeps you moving forward,” he says. “It’s about poking around, experimenting, and not being afraid to fail.”

And then there’s the hardest part—just starting. Joe knows the paralysis that comes from overthinking and waiting for the “perfect” time. “There’s no such thing as the right moment,” he says. “You just have to begin, even if you don’t feel ready.” For Joe, success wasn’t about having all the answers upfront. It was about taking action, learning along the way, and letting persistence pave the path.

Redefining Success, One Step at a Time

Joe Davies’ journey from flipping burgers to building a £10 million company isn’t just a story of financial success. It is a blueprint for anyone ready to rewrite their own narrative. His path shows us that where you start doesn’t define where you can go. It’s not about having all the answers; it’s about having the courage to take the first step and trusting the process as it unfolds.

Success, as Joe reminds us, isn’t about destiny or luck. It is about hard work, curiosity, and the willingness to adapt. His story proves that ordinary beginnings can lead to extraordinary outcomes when fueled by resilience and determination. If there’s one thing to take away from Joe’s experience, it is this: the life you dream of is possible, but only if you dare to start building it today.

So, what’s holding you back? The next chapter of your story is waiting to be written. All it takes is one decision, one step, to begin transforming your life just like Joe did.

 

Feautured image from Joe Davies @fatjoedavies on X