I dropped out of school at 16 and teachers told me I’d be nothing but now I run my own successful business – here’s how
A MAN who was told he was the worst student at school now runs a successful business.
Jake Posner was diagnosed with dyslexia while in primary school, and struggled with his concentration.
His maths teacher said he was the 'worst student he had ever taught', and he was told he would only ever be good at sport.
Jake said his English teacher would tell him he had a good imagination but they didn't think his mind could process or develop literacy skills.
Although his confidence was knocked, he found his entrepreneurial spirit when in secondary school.
He started selling things like cigarettes to other students, sometimes going to the betting shop to put bets on for others.
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After leaving school with one GCSE, he started an apprenticeship at an estate agent, working six days a week for 400 pounds a month.
At 29 years old he put his life savings - £80,000 - into starting his own fashion brand.
The company, NO ONE TRUE ANYTHING, is a sustainable brand aiming to raise awareness for those with dyslexia.
In April 2023 Jake opened his first store in Soho, London, which will stock streetwear like t-shirts, hoodies and jogging bottoms.
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: "I've always been told I wouldn't achieve anything. I've always had that drive to be like 'I will do something' and to prove them wrong. I had the ambition and fire in my belly to make something of my life so then people would say 'oh, it's that guy?'.
The shop will reflect how Jake's mind reads words - by breaking them down and using hyphens.
He said running a business with dyslexia is hard, but if he is passionate about something - like his brand - his concentration levels improve massively.
He said: "If I have to reach out to people, I feel pressured to get my writing perfect and I'm always worried the person on the other side will judge me. I try to use a lot of my own handwriting in a lot of my branding because I feel it gives that unique touch."
When reflecting on what he would say to his teachers who told him he'd amount to nothing, he said: "I know I wasn't the best behaved student or the brightest but I always wanted to achieve something.
"I'd tell them I think about your comments daily and that has driven me to achieve this dream."
This comes after a man was kicked out of school with no qualifications, but now runs a successful jewellery business.
One woman who started out on £10-an-hour now runs her own million pound business.
