Michael Howard | The Scars of Struggle: Why a Desire to Avoid Poverty Drove a Multi-Million-Pound Business Empire

In a compelling episode of Beyond the Boardroom, entrepreneur Michael Howard offered a rare, unvarnished look at the true engine of his success: a childhood shaped by poverty and chaos. Known for his incredible business credibility and low-profile, Howard revealed that his multi-million-pound company was not built by an ambition for luxury but by a fierce drive to escape struggle. In this conversation with podcaster, YouTuber, speaker, influencer, media commentator Aleksandra King, Howard offers a humbling perspective on motivation, resilience, and the relentless reality of business.

From Broken Home to Business Builder: A Motivation Rooted in Pain

Michael Howard's journey started in difficult circumstances, growing up in a broken home with no money. His mother worked multiple cleaning jobs, and money was so scarce that food was bought daily, never having the luxury of stocking a freezer. Howard's experience included being briefly homeless at 17.

He explains that his drive is not "towards success" but "away from pain," a much stronger form of motivation. For him, money isn't about happiness, but a tool: "Money fixes a lot of stuff... It is designed to fix a lot of things". This is symbolized by a childhood memory:

"We had a fridge and the door broke and there was a, a stall that we had that was against the fridge door to keep it closed for my whole life... If anything broke, it wasn't repaired. There was no resources and there was no money".

The Relentless Pursuit: Taking Every Opportunity

Joining his current office design and fit-out company at 19, Michael "literally knew nothing". His motivation, however, was intense, driven by a desperation to succeed and "not to be broke". He educated himself, leaving school at 16 with "zero qualifications," by reading books (like Tony Robbins) and listening to motivational cassette tapes; meticulously rewriting his notes and highlighting his books to ensure he absorbed everything. His strategy was simple: "I took pretty much every opportunity and that was, that really, really paid off. I didn't let an opportunity pass me by". He even went into the office every Saturday just to observe the owner and learn.

The Business Reality: Resilience, Honesty, and Humility

Howard believes that "everyone struggles running a business" , calling the social media portrayal of easy success "ridiculous". He compares a businessperson's dedication to that of a top athlete like Andy Murray, where success is the result of relentless, measured training and sacrifice. Despite his accomplishments, he remained unconvinced of his own competence, thinking he was "useless and hopeless" until his late forties/early fifties. This moment of clarity came at a US seminar where he realized he was running the largest business in the room.

"The moment you think you've landed and arrived, or you are great, you've, it's the end".

Key Takeaways from Michael Howard

• Motivation: "Away from pain is a much more motivational than towards something good".
• Business Reality: Be tough and resilient; the glamorous social media image is below the surface of enormous stress and hard work.
• Personal Growth: Self-education and relentlessly taking opportunities are essential, especially when starting with nothing.
• Focus: The goal isn't to build an empire, but "not to be broke".

The full podcast is available now on the Aleksandra King Youtube Channel or discover more about Michael Howard's Business and how he reached his success.