Tracksuit Millionaire

By Matthew Bray

Ever wondered what it's like to step into the mind of a criminal? The motivations and inner workings? Or maybe you're just eager to build a business but unsure of where to begin and need guidance. Perhaps you're just trying to make sense of life and its challenges. 

In The Tracksuit Millionaire, you will step into

• Language: English
• Publisher: Matthew Bray
• Release date: Jun 24, 2024
• ISBN: 9781805414391

Book preview

Introduction

Job description:

This role requires innovation, doing things just a bit differently and ignoring what you’ve been told to do. You will need a strong desire to succeed, enjoy taking risks and work well with people from all walks of life. You must be able to think on your feet and make executive decisions on the spot. travelling to different countries will be essential. You will be required to attend all types of events, suit and tie, casual and occasionally masked. Travel includes business-class flights, private jets, the odd boat trip and the occasional helicopter flight.

Company cars include:

Ford Mondeo

Hummer

Ferrari

Maserati

Lamborghini

Range rover

Porsche

BMW

Mercedes

McLaren

Compulsory workwear:

New clothing

New shoes and trainers

One watch per day. Rolex, Hublot and Breitling.

Security includes:

Big Dave and one or two others depending on the meetings and Duke (security dog) when working from home.

Working hours:

Any.

lunch break whenever you see fit.

All meals included.

Unlimited time for friends and family.

Gym included.

Salary:

The sky’s the limit.

Minimum and maximum fifteen-year contract only.

Sounds like any successful entrepreneur or interesting job role, right?

Now read the same description again and think about it from a criminal’s point of view.

If you’ve always been on the right side of the law, you may never have considered the similarities between crime and entrepreneurship. The funny thing is people who turn to a life of crime are probably better suited than most to becoming successful entrepreneurs. And, if you care to look, there are vast amounts of psychological and sociological evidence that says the two paths demand almost identical attributes. A desire for independence and autonomy, and a willingness to disregard rules and conventions are just a few of them. Both entrepreneurs and criminals alike choose to work in some of the most competitive and high-pressure trades there are. The sort of thing where the opportunities for profit are huge, but then so are the risks. They’re cut from the same cloth.

The reason for writing The Tracksuit Millionaire is because I know a lot about both worlds. I wanted to give a real-life account, the ups and downs, about why I did what I did, and over the next few chapters explain how and why this all happened and what led me to write this book and why.

I have spent time on both sides of the track: crime and entrepreneurialism. In my early life I was a successful drug dealer, importer of steroids, alleged importer of weapons to the UK, loan shark and much more. I’ll write about how I went from having nothing to allegedly being worth millions. My love for body building, and the crash that nearly ended it all. How I went from crime to a near-death experience onto legitimate business. Well, almost legitimate. In this book there will be some fun facts, exciting experiences and a little knowledge I picked up on the way which now I would like to share and hopefully my story helps.

I am now doing exactly what I had hoped. I found my passion. I am a devoted full-time dad, a successful life coach, mentor and now author, and would you believe it I’m just a normal guy with a new outlook on life. I have had over twenty-five operations to date, and I live with a condition called pancreatitis. I made a lot of money from crime back in the day but more importantly I made more since going legit. I’ve written this because I think there are some valuable lessons to be learnt from both lifestyles and I would like to share what I experienced first-hand and let you decide which you would have chosen given the situation. Your gift can be your curse if you’re not careful. I know first-hand.

You most likely won’t like everything about my story or even me, but I really hope you read till the end and get some useful insight and hopefully some inspiration to keep moving forward no matter what life throws your way. I tell it how it is. I don’t dress it up. I hope I can help anyone who, like me, didn’t and still doesn’t want to be part of the nine-to-five culture; a wage-slave working to make someone else rich and start to wonder if there is another way. My hope is that by showing you the extremes, I may be able to help switch your mindset in some way and channel your creativity and passion towards doing something you are longing to do, something you are more positive and passionate about. I also hope that it helps you understand how certain techniques help you make the right choices in life, which is something I didn’t always manage to do. To become joyful and live a life peacefully is the goal in life. Well, it’s become mine. I love material items, and I think you can and should have both if that’s a desire. I love when a child or adult wants pictures of something I’ve worked hard for. That’s the reward: making others see anything is possible.

Crime is never the easy route. Sure, it pays, but it is hard work and very risky. I have lost more friends than I care to mention, many to untimely, unnecessary deaths. Others I know have been put away for a long time. Being deprived of your freedom is a big price to pay. Don’t ever underestimate that fact. Plus, I have made some enemies along the way. Many of them would have remained good solid friends if the spectre of greed, broken trust and betrayal had not played its role. Rumours and opinions are the worst; they spread like wildfire with no consideration to who they hurt along the way. True or false.

Part of what inspired me to write this is the fact that, in my view, too many young people want a life of crime today. The divide between the haves and have nots in this world is wider than ever before. ‘Ordinary’ kids see pictures of the young super rich driving around in super cars, or sweeping in on their private jets and think, That’s never going to be for me. How am I going to get a job that earns me that much? It can be done. Trust me.

Occasionally, the more go-getting kids work out that there is one possible way they might be able to join the ranks of the super rich. If they can’t become the next Richard Branson, or don’t ever see themselves wearing a suit in a high-flying job, there is a very obvious alternative: crime. If you’ve got the bollocks, no fear, you can duck and dive, buy and sell, and not worry about the consequences, then great. And if you are good, you’ll make a fair few quid along the way. Sooner or later though, if you don’t set your target and get out, it’ll all go wrong. Not only because you are on the wrong side of the law, but because you will be surrounded by people just like you: criminals. Those criminals are doing what you do, and along the way someone somewhere is being watched, under surveillance, you must contend with jealousy, there will be gossip and rumours circulating. Even if none of it’s true, it’s happening. If you’ve got more than they have, or even a little bit less, you’re fair game. Don’t be fooled. Sometimes it’s those closest to you that can bring you down. The very people that are along for the ride until they or you decide to get off. That’s when you find out who you really married or dated and who your friends really are. Trust me, I know first-hand!

Those involved in crime, or heading down that path, might want to stop and think for a moment. There is a viable alternative option. It’s risky, but then so is breaking the law day after day. Instead, they could use their skills to become very successful legitimate entrepreneurs. In other words, there is the option to make lots of money without the danger of jail time, or violence, or worse still, an untimely death. The gift, given the right direction, means many criminals in prison today could have been worthy rivals to Elon Musk, Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos. Maybe you don’t want to be that big. Five thousand or ten thousand a month might be plenty. That’s your call.

It took a really big life-changing event for me to alter my path and put my energies into another lifestyle. After living as a career criminal until the age of twenty-five years old or thereabouts , I resolved to channel my passion and creativity into entrepreneurial pursuits. Strangely, up until the point when my life changed so dramatically, I had never ever even considered going legit. Yet, once I embraced being an entrepreneur, I immediately knew I would be obsessive enough to make as much of a success of it as in my previous role. I had already built legitimate businesses along the way, but they were mostly just to cover up what I was really up to and allow me to live the life I wanted to.

It’s only once I made the decision though that I realised how similar the skills were that I needed for both ‘jobs’. Entrepreneurs intuitively think and act out of the box. They have an instinct for not accepting the status quo or the tyranny of being told by everyone: it is what it is. They know the ‘accepted way of doing things’ doesn’t always make any sense. That is exactly what I was doing before, although this time I was on the right side of the law.

It took a while to find my feet. I really struggled to go completely legitimate. I carried on in the same circle, just making it smaller, being more careful and using others to do the dirty work. I just made myself look very legit and I do admit there are no easy shortcuts to making a fortune. Like anything you must be hardworking, disciplined and committed. You must set goals and targets. However, with entrepreneurialism the outcome is a lot more certain and a lot less dangerous. Being an entrepreneur is amazing when the ideas are flowing but I had days and times when things wouldn’t be flowing or going well. These are the ups and downs of life and business.

Doing things the right way makes a massive difference to your state of mind and wellbeing too. A lot can be said for getting a good night’s sleep, and being in your own bed with those hotel type sheets. There really is a big difference between earning money and being free to spend it and earning money and having difficulty in being able to spend any of it, because you have to launder it clean first. (Even then, you are permanently vulnerable.)

At the time of writing this seven years ago I had a legitimate income, I could spend my money as I wished, whether it was on treating the family, buying and selling businesses and property, or helping others, or adding another fast car to my collection. Life was great.

While entrepreneurs and criminals share many of the same qualities, I won’t say I was an instant success when I found my new direction. Yet, with every success or failure, I learnt valuable lessons.

I found that the path to success is to find a business or compelling product that customers find hard to get elsewhere or equal the quality and will pay over the odds to acquire. If you are the only guy selling something useful or better than anyone else, it’s the best way to attract unlimited amounts of customers. It worked with my business importing steroids to sell to body builders and with the attempt of building a chain of specialised gyms while desperately trying to go legit. I also learnt that teamwork and meticulous planning are crucial. This was hugely effective in my former business selling pharmaceuticals. I was cautious and only sold directly to a handful of trusted customers. However, everything I owned had to have profit in it otherwise I wouldn’t invest. I would even sell my referrals list to my colleagues in the business, letting them take the risk. Drugs and weapons helped fund my lifestyle and start-up businesses. This was all I had ever dreamt of doing after films such as Scarface and The Godfather made such an impact on me. It was exciting and I wanted that way of life. The risks of prison and the time you got for having and selling outweighed the profit earned so I set targets and made plans.

KISS: ‘keep it simple, stupid’. Great saying. The less complicated things are, the less you must remember and worry about looking after. Keeping things simple is always the best whatever it is you choose to do; if you complicate things, you’ll always get into trouble. This certainly paid dividends when I was bringing weapons back into the UK in my car and was always sure not to hide the evidence. Once you get searched, they’re bound to find something. Here’s the deal: you’re either very unlucky or someone’s tipped them off, hence the rumours and intelligence I mentioned earlier.

Sadly, when you do something long enough, eventually your number is up one way or another. You’re better off saving energy and your car and thinking on your feet to find a way to talk yourself out of the problem or not doing it at all. In the entrepreneurial world, simplicity always pays too. As long as people know what you are about, they’ll keep coming back. For example, in the steroid business I would read up on steroids, types of doses, etc. I knew what my clients needed when they came, I knew that getting them results kept a consistent cash flow and also word of mouth (only recommendations, of course). I always had undercover police trying to buy or randoms. I would never sell to anyone that wasn’t already using. I didn’t like the idea of starting people off on a very slippery slope.

There are lessons like these throughout this book. Things that guarantee success for both entrepreneurs and their less legit cousins. I should reiterate that the chances of getting caught or killed are very high if involved in crime, so I recommend that you use these techniques to further your legally sound enterprises. Every time.

In an ideal world, it’s my strong wish to encourage anyone who might be inclined to the criminal side of things to think again and use their gift, energy and ambition in a more productive way. Following this guide has no guarantee of success, but it does guarantee you’ll be a lot safer. You will sleep a lot easier and be able to live a more authentic self. It is also worth mentioning to anyone that has already set off down that criminal path: it is never too late to change, just as I did. In fact, you may be in the best place to learn the most valuable lesson you’ve ever learnt. Research has shown that youngsters who once engaged in more aggressive, risky and illegal activities frequently go on to become more successful in business than their more law-abiding peers. I am not recommending becoming aggressive or doing anything illegal, especially if that’s not you. Far from being the dregs of society, they’ve got whatever it takes (and then some) to make it big in the business world. As I say, it is never too late to change, and the best part is, you can also take all the best bits with you.

There are also some useful pointers here for anyone who has not even considered going to the ‘dark side’. Like I said, I have spent the second half of my career working as a life coach to many athletes, business owners, entrepreneurs and even some guys involved in crime trying to get out. I have found many of my earlier skills have been hugely helpful in this respect. While criminals and entrepreneurs are very similar in attitude and outlook, it is important to properly understand how to channel this gift and passion. I know for a fact that entrepreneurs are not overly suited to the increasingly complicated laws and regulations the government likes to heap upon business owners. No one wants to spend hours reading up on how to stay on the right side of the law when they could be creating something amazing and making tons of money. There’s always the temptation to cut corners and get on with things and even take a risk too far which I have done far too many times. I know that on more than one occasion I’ve looked back to my old life and been more than a little bit tempted. It’s not the right thing to do though and the odds are you will get caught, or worse. I’ve managed to resist and intend to go on doing so.

Don’t get me wrong, crime did have its upsides. I had a lot of fun along the way and met some amazing characters and thanks to my fake or social self, I have been very fortunate to be part of some amazing experiences and business opportunities. However, being known as a criminal can cost you amazing characters, experiences and opportunities too. I’m grateful I can look back and reminisce about some of the stuff I got up to. I loved hanging out with friends all day. I loved the freedom, eating out wherever, whenever, money was no object. Didn’t worry about bills or anything really. My brain was always busy. For me that’s the buzz: my brain being positively occupied. Every now and then I would turn to religion too. I would pray to God every time.

‘Please, God, let me get through customs and give me the chance to turn what I have into legitimate income, and I swear I will never do it again.’

I don’t know how many times I asked for ‘just one more try’. Fortunately, I never ever got caught. Well, there were a couple of times, but more on that later. I was the exception though and I know that.

I’ve also enjoyed being an entrepreneur more though and now I have made the choice, I know which I prefer. It’s not just that I am safer, I also know I will always be around for my family. That means everything to me, especially when I can still make a good living by using all my creative skills.

Writing The Tracksuit Millionaire has been an interesting process. It’s been quite useful to take a step back and reflect on what I know about the way the system works. It has helped me gain a greater understanding and appreciation of my own gifts and creativity and how best to use them. I can also see that I have traits and tendencies that I see as a gift, an opportunity to be one of a kind. However, I am in good company. My research for this book also showed me that these qualities are also common in entrepreneurs, doctors, solicitors and teachers. I now realise that understanding myself and allowing myself to be who I want to be are key to being happy and successful. You just have to be very careful as these positive traits in business can be totally detrimental if used in your personal life.

My sincere hope is this book helps you to find out a little bit more about yourself too and pushes you towards making conscious decisions so you can make good money in a fast-growing and legitimate business. Let me share with you my gift, the best the criminal mind can offer, so you don’t have to go down that path. If you recognise traits or patterns, it’s ok, you have a gift. Now let’s put it to work to give you the life you deserve.

Here is my story.

1

Meet the Brays

Nature or nurture? Are we born into a life of crime? Or is it something that can be blamed on our parents, or society, or unemployment, or bad housing? Or is it just the fickle finger of fate? Keener minds than mine have debated it over the past century or so.

What do I think?

I think it is what it is. At the end of the day, we all have the choice. Something I’ve worked out over the years is that, whether your choices are made from a conscious place or not, mine, well… they definitely weren’t. A lot of mine were from my, what I later learnt as something called, social self, but we will get into that later.

If you were a die-hard born-into-a-life-of-crime believer, you’d never have had me down as a future criminal if you’d have met me as a child. I was just this short super skinny kid from Southend. I came from an ordinary family, lived in an ordinary terraced house and had an ordinary upbringing. Both sets of grandparents lived nearby and if you didn’t know them, you’d have thought they were pretty normal too. What family isn’t like that though? Granted, my dad’s dad did have an attic full of rifles, handguns and bullets, but he wasn’t some sort of weird survivalist.