Early Independence: What Choosing Work Over School Taught Me About Business

I’m Adam Thornhill, an entrepreneur and investor based in Dubai, originally from Liverpool, England. This series looks back at the early stages of my career – the businesses I built, the mistakes I made, and what those experiences taught me about building something that lasts. I hope you find these lessons useful. I’d love to connect with you if so.

Even as a child, I was never one to follow a traditional path.

Growing up in Anfield, Liverpool, I was surrounded by strong personalities and close-knit communities, in a culture where independence was encouraged from a young age.

This environment, combined with my own experiences inside and outside of the education system, gradually pushed me towards finding my own direction, rather than following the conventional school-college-university route.

Looking back, this decision was actually crucial to my future success in business. People often dismiss teenage ambition, but many of the choices I made back then – some deliberate, some instinctive – were crucial in shaping my later successes as an entrepreneur.

Growing Up in Anfield

I grew up on a small street where everyone knew each other. Like a lot of kids, we spent our time playing football outside and making our own fun.

Unlike other kids my age, though, I was born with clubfoot in both feet, which delayed my ability to walk and left visible scars on the backs of my legs. Even as a child, this never felt like something that defined me – just an obstacle I would need to overcome to get to where I wanted to be.

I attended Anfield Junior School and enjoyed learning. My headteacher, Mr Lund, left a lasting impression on me, and school at that stage felt positive and straightforward. There were Christmas plays, endless football games in the playground, and lots of excitement about growing up and becoming my own person.

My First Taste of Business

Secondary school, however, became more challenging. I attended North Liverpool Academy, a newly opened flagship school at the time, a place filled with new technology and ambition that was famously shaped like an aeroplane!

Academically, I started strong and was placed in top sets across most subjects, but outside the classroom, I was suffering. I was overweight with a significant overbite, which made me insecure about my appearance and unsure of where I fit socially.

It was during this period that I had my first experience of business. I began buying sweets and drinks with my pocket money and selling them at school. What started as a small hobby grew into my first real moneymaking venture.

I quickly realised that buying the sweets in bulk reduced my costs, so I began sourcing stock cheaply from places like Greatie Market and Costco. It was simple, but it was the first time I understood how supply, demand and margins worked in practice – and it’s a lesson I’ve never forgotten.

Bolstered by my newfound business acumen and ambition, I became more interested in life outside of school. I joined Salisbury Amateur Boxing Club, ZAP Youth Club, and the Army Cadets. I lost weight, became more confident, and started to feel more comfortable in myself.

Choosing Independence Over Convention

As my confidence grew outside of school. I became less engaged in lessons and more interested in life beyond the classroom. Around this time, I also changed my surname from Askew to Thornhill, taking my father’s name.

This marked a personal shift, and became the name I would use as a founder and entrepreneur, even if I didn’t know it back then.

In my final year of school, I was told that because of my lateness record, I wouldn’t be allowed to attend prom. This was the catalyst for me choosing to leave school early and pursue work instead.

I was still fifteen when I received my National Insurance number and took my first steps into working life. When I turned sixteen, completing my CBT and getting a scooter gave me my first real sense of independence and freedom.

At the time, it didn’t feel like a dramatic decision. It felt practical. I knew I wasn’t reaching my academic potential at school, and I believed strongly that I would find my own path through work rather than education. I was right to take a chance on myself, even though it felt risky.

What Uncertainty Taught Me About Business

Looking back, I can see now that the uncertainties I faced in childhood shaped how I think about responsibility and decision-making as a working professional.

From an early age, I became comfortable making choices without certainty and accepting the consequences that came with them. I learned early that progress often comes from doing rather than waiting for permission or perfect timing.

The small experiences mattered more than I realised: selling sweets at school, building confidence through boxing, and learning that independence came with responsibility.

None of this felt strategic at the time, but it actually formed the foundations for how I would approach business later on. I became more interested in practical outcomes than theory, and more comfortable learning through experience.

How My Early Life Shaped How I Work Today

When people see the businesses I’ve been involved in now, they often see the later stages – companies, partnerships, or projects. What’s less visible is how much of that approach comes from those early years.

Leaving school at fifteen and entering the workforce meant learning quickly how to adapt, take ownership, and make decisions without a clear roadmap. That mindset still shapes how I work today, particularly in environments where uncertainty or change is constant.

That early sense of independence later influenced how I approached building and operating businesses such as Relate Consultancies and the ventures that followed.

It also influences how I work with others. Many founders and business owners I work with haven’t followed traditional paths either. Understanding that there isn’t always a single correct route makes it easier to focus on practical solutions rather than following the ideal, perfect path.

If you’re inspired by my story, please get in touch.