His father was a heroin addict – at 36, Sam is CEO of a multi-million dollar company

Sam Budd (36), CEO of Buddy Media Group, has had an impressive journey. "Dad was homeless," he describes his childhood to Fortune . The son of a heroin addict, Sam founded the marketing agency Buddy Media Group in 2020, which now generates $5.1 million annually, equivalent to around €4.5 million. His life shows that you can work your way up despite adverse circumstances.

The CEO tells Fortune magazine that his success began unexpectedly. He was 18 years old and working as a lifeguard on the beach in Cornwall, a coastal region in England. Sam used the opportunity to network and meet potential employers .

One day, he met someone who was in charge of the Beach Break Live Festival, a music festival for students. The then 18-year-old applied for a position and had a moment of revelation: "I didn't just send in my resume , I told a story," he told the magazine. After that, his meteoric career in marketing began, culminating in the founding of his own company .

In an interview with the magazine, the CEO revealed that he had a mentor back then. Jeremy Martell, a friend of his father, took Sam in and introduced him to the corporate world. Today, Martell sits on the board of the Buddy Media Group. Now the 36-year-old has a plea to Generation Z: "Ask for help, seek support, and set ambitious goals." He said he rose to the top of a 100% growth company because he had a goal, was courageous, wanted to learn from experienced people, and always asked the right questions.

Sam Budd's superpower in rising from the streets to the top was the right networking . To get it right, these tips can help:

• Increase visibility : Your achievements are only relevant if they are seen. Keep your profile on career networks up to date and share milestones regularly.
• Schedule time for networking : Set specific time slots for active networking. Before events, find out who you want to reach out to.
• Stay authentic : Always be yourself and don't pretend. Authenticity builds trust and is the foundation for a stable network.
• Offer help : Offer your support and expertise to build trust and reciprocity. Follow the 70-20-10 rule to maintain a balanced network: 70 percent of the time helping others, 20 percent promoting yourself, and 10 percent accepting help.
• Be able to say no : Help whenever you can, but don't overextend yourself. Be honest if you don't have time right now to maintain trust.

At 36, Sam is part of the millennial generation. However, his work routine is quite different from that of his peers. A study by "academized.com" shows that over half of workers between 26 and 41 have at least a second job. A third even work four or more jobs simultaneously . On average, these side jobs generate additional income of just €11,250 per year.