Good afternoon, and welcome back to ToTheUnknown,
The newsletter that sticks with you longer than that mystery girl’s perfume from last night. 🕵️‍♂️

Today, we’re diving into the no-holds-barred, zero-safety-net, make-it-or-break-it life of Simon Squibb.

This guy didn’t just defy the odds—he flipped them off, built 19 businesses, and walked away with a story that’s equal parts hustle and heart.

Simon Squibb isn’t just a name; he’s a manual. A living, breathing guide to building success from scratch (literally, scratch) and proving that pain isn’t just a struggle—it’s fuel.

And before we roll into the meat of today’s post, here’s one of my favorite Simon gems:

Simple, right?

But trust me, it hits harder the more you think about it.

If you’re ready to dig deeper, do yourself a favor—check out Simon’s chat with Mike Thurston. It’s a podcast episode that’s part life lesson, part masterclass, and fully worth your time.

Here’s what’s on the menu today:

• 👶 The Early Years (Age 0-15): A Rocky Start

• 👦 The Hustle Phase (Age 16-25): Building Blocks

• 👨‍🦱 The Leap (Age 26-35): From Local Hustler to Big-Time Entrepreneur

• 👱‍♂️ The Give-Back Era (Age 36-Now): Purpose Over Profit

• 🤓 What we can learn from Simon: Key Takeaways

• 🫵 Why Simon’s Story Matters to You

So, grab your popcorn, your notepad, or maybe even your grandma’s inspirational cat poster, because this is one you don’t want to miss.

👶 The Early Years (Age 0-15): A Rocky Start

Simon Squibb didn’t exactly have a fairy-tale beginning. Growing up in a modest household, Simon faced hardship early on.

At the age of 15, he was kicked out of his home.

No safety net.

No backup plan.

Just a teenager with a world of uncertainty ahead of him.

Let’s pause for a moment—imagine being 15, broke, and homeless.

Most of us wouldn’t know where to start, but Simon saw this as his first life lesson:

What did he do?

He got to work.

Simon took on odd jobs and slept wherever he could find shelter. This experience taught him resilience and resourcefulness—qualities that would later become his secret weapons.

But life wasn’t kind.

Simon often describes this period as "the fire that forged him."

He didn’t just scrape by; he absorbed every setback as fuel for the future. This phase gave him a sense of grit that formal education never could.

👦 The Hustle Phase (Age 16-25): Building Blocks

Without formal education or a support system, Simon’s path to success wasn’t a straight line.

He started working at a young age, doing everything from cleaning toilets to managing sales. Each job, no matter how small, taught him invaluable lessons about people, persistence, and problem-solving.

Here’s the kicker:

Simon didn’t let his lack of resources define him.

Instead, he developed a "learn by doing" mindset. He wasn’t afraid to fail because he knew every failure came with a lesson.

At 19, Simon decided he wanted to start his own business.

But with no money, how do you make that leap?

Simple: You get creative.

Simon started small, offering services he could manage with little capital. His first business was a humble gardening company.

Not glamorous, but it was his first taste of entrepreneurship.

Lesson: 

Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Start where you are, with what you have.

👨‍🦱 The Leap (Age 26-35): From Local Hustler to Big-Time Entrepreneur

By his late 20s, Simon’s entrepreneurial spirit was in full swing.

He moved to Hong Kong, a city brimming with opportunity but also fierce competition.

There, he founded Fluid, a creative agency that would go on to become wildly successful.

But it wasn’t just smooth sailing.

Simon admits that he had to take risks—some of them terrifying. He poured everything he had into Fluid, working long hours and taking on roles that stretched his skill set.

He once said,

Fluid grew rapidly and caught the attention of major players in the industry.

Eventually, Simon sold the company for millions, solidifying his status as a self-made entrepreneur.

But he didn’t stop there.

👱‍♂️ The Give-Back Era (Age 36-Now): Purpose Over Profit

After selling Fluid, Simon realized something profound: Success isn’t just about money.

It’s about meaning.

So he shifted his focus to helping others find their purpose.

He founded The Purposeful Project, a platform designed to help people start and scale their own businesses.

Simon’s mission is simple: democratize entrepreneurship.

He believes everyone deserves a shot at success, no matter where they come from or what resources they have.

Simon has also become a sought-after speaker and mentor, sharing his story and strategies with millions.

His advice?

🤓 What we can learn from Simon: Key Takeaways

1/ Resilience is Your Greatest Asset: Life will knock you down, but it’s about how you get back up.

2/ Learn by Doing: Forget waiting for the perfect moment or enough resources. Start now, fail fast, and learn faster.

3/ Purpose Over Profit: True success isn’t just about making money; it’s about making an impact.

4/ Take Risks: Calculated risks are the bridge between dreams and reality.

5/ Help Others: Pay it forward. Your success can be someone else’s inspiration.

🫵 Why Simon’s Story Matters to You

Simon Squibb’s journey is proof that you don’t need a silver spoon or a perfect plan to succeed.

All you need is determination, a willingness to learn, and the courage to keep going—even when the odds are stacked against you.

If you’re feeling stuck, take a page out of Simon’s book: Start small, think big, and never stop pushing for what you want.

After all, the only person who can truly hold you back is you.

And that’s a wrap for today’s Storytelling Wednesday!

Hope you enjoyed diving into Simon’s insane journey as much as I did writing about it (though, let’s be real, Simon made millions, and I just made… this post).

Look, I know the education system is out here robbing us of precious time—like, how many more ways do I need to learn where to put a capital letter?

Meanwhile, I’m out here trying to balance building a newsletter, training for a marathon in September (yep, 15 years old and running 42 km, haters gonna hate), filming my first videos for YT, learning more about crypto, while also trying to get back to the agency rabbit hole (I was in it 1 year ago, learnt something, now, when I finish with my crypto notes, I’ll jump right back in), and even more leaning about the marketing space.

So, let Simon’s story light a fire under you this week.

Start small.

Dream big.

Take risks.

And maybe, just maybe, someday someone will be writing about your story.

Catch you next Wednesday, until then, stay hustling, stay learning, and remember—your future self is counting on you, and what you do RIGHT NOW!