From Oil-Stained Hands to Opportunity: A Hard-Working Dad’s Journey into Affiliate Marketing

Fifteen years. That’s how long I spent in the motor trade. Spanners, ratchets, diagnostics, grease under the fingernails, working hard every day. I invested thousands in tools, constantly upskilling to keep up with new tech. Like many other hard-working dads out there, I believed that if I just kept my head down and pushed on, one day it would all pay off.

But after a while, I realised I wasn’t moving forward. I was stuck in survival mode.

The Truth About the Trade

I reached that familiar turning point. Do I spend another few grand on new tools? Go all-in on EV training? Or aim for management, less physical, but more stress, and still not a huge leap in income?

Meanwhile, the physical toll was mounting. Summers in the workshop were like standing in a furnace. Winters? Miserable even under numerous layers. My back was starting to give out, never a good sign in your late 20s early 30s and I had to ask myself:

“Can I really keep doing this into my 60s and 70s?”

The answer was becoming painfully clear.

I had an opportunity to move into a facilities maintenance job, the hours were more stable, and the conditions were slightly better. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t it. It was a temporary fix, not a long-term vision.

A Moment That Shifted Everything

Then came the moment that changed everything: the birth of my son.

Already a proud stepdad to two amazing boys, becoming a dad flipped a switch in me. I started thinking long-term. About what kind of future, I wanted to build. What kind of example I wanted to set.

I looked at my parents, still working hard into their mid-60s no sign of retiring soon and I thought:
“I can’t let that be me. I need to build something better, not just for me, but for my family too.”

Grateful, But Not Settling

Let me be clear:

I’m grateful for everything I have right now.
A roof over our heads. A job that pays the bills. Three happy, healthy kids. A loving partner. That’s a lot to be thankful for.

And it’s a huge improvement from where I was a few years ago.

Back then, I was in a rough place financially. Car on finance, credit cards piling up, stress levels through the roof. A lot of that came from a toxic relationship that I’ve since left behind. Since then, I’ve been building back, slowly creating stability, but even now, with the rising cost of living, it still feels like we’re just making it through month to month.

I realised I couldn’t just wait for things to get better. I needed a plan. Something I could build that would grow and pay me back long-term.

Remember When You Were a Kid?

As kids, we all had dreams.

Some people chase them. Some achieve them. But many, far too many lose touch with them as adults. Life gets serious. The pressure builds. The responsibilities take over. And slowly, that spark fades.

But me? I like to think I’m still a big kid at heart. Well, I get told that when mucking around with the boys.
Growing up might be necessary, but it shouldn’t mean letting go of the parts of us that dream big.

Me and my other half are always talking about our dream house. The life we’d love to build. The holidays we’ll take with the kids. The memories we want to create. Ticking off some bucket list motorbike rides and I started thinking:

“Why stop at just dreaming? Why not go build something that makes it possible?”

That’s the moment I knew I needed to do more than just work hard, I had to work smart.

Affiliate Marketing: A Smarter Path Forward

That’s when I discovered high-ticket affiliate marketing. A business model built around health and wellbeing, one that allows me to build an income outside the ‘normal job’, without punishing my body every day.

It felt different from anything I’d seen before and I’ll be honest, I was sceptical at first. But once I dug deeper, I saw how this could be the vehicle to help me, and my family live the life we dream about and even open doors we never imagined were there.

This isn’t a quick fix or some get-rich scheme. It’s a business. But it’s one that works with you, not against you.

I’m building an income that will support us, but also becomes part of our retirement plan. One that lets me be more present, more flexible, and more intentional about the life I live and the legacy I leave behind.

If You’re a Hard-Working Parent Reading This…

Maybe you’ve felt stuck. Maybe you’ve wondered if there’s more out there. Maybe you’ve started to think your dream was too big, or that your time had passed.

I’m telling you now: It hasn’t.

You’ve got the work ethic. You’ve already proved that.
Now it’s time to build something that rewards you for it not just now, but for years to come.

Let’s Chat

If you’re a hard-working dad, tradesman, or someone looking for a way out of the month-to-month grind, reach out.

Message me, ask me questions I’ll be honest with you.

I’m not promising easy, but I’ll show you what’s possible when you back yourself.

Because if you’ve got a dream, don’t just hold on to it.

Reignite it. Build around it. And go live it.