A YOUNG entrepreneur who went from rags to riches and back again believes he is set to rejoin life in the fast lane.
Twenty-five-year-old Marvin Baker a self-taught computer whizz and web designer, is hoping he can become the next dot.com millionaire with a new idea to hit the Internet.
And he is well qualified to believe in his own success because, as well as having bags of confidence, the former Prestwich High School pupil has already tasted the high life.
After leaving school Marvin, of Milton Road, set up his own business from home with a £500 loan from an ex-girlfriend, the mother of his two year old daughter.
His firm Support Publications Ltd, which published books containing information about voluntary organisations and charities, had a turnover of more than £1 million at its height, employed 60 staff and traded from four different plush offices in prime locations.
And with the success story came enviable luxuries for Marvin, such as eating out in elegant restaurants, £10,000 Christmas bonuses and, of course, his very own dream machine which was a red Porsche 911 Speedster. Unfortunately, the dream was not to last and, in his own words, Marvin rapidly went from Porsche to pushbike, coming back down to earth with a big bump.
Marvin, pictured on his two wheel mode of transport, explained: "Due to the rapid expansion and my inexperience at recruiting top level management, the company subsequently overtraded and in January 2000 was liquidated.
"As well as that I did not save my money and I not only paid myself well I paid the others the same. Saving is my downfall!"
Marvin continued: "I was the man, I swanked about and lived it large. I was too generous and took out everyone I knew ."
For a child who was placed in the low sets at school and grew up on the outskirts of Salford with almost nothing, this was a different world so no one can blame him for living it up a little.
He said: "The money is great but what gives me the real buzz is the achievement. I went back to school in the Porsche just to prove what I'd achieved."
Determined to recapture his success and the lifestyle Marvin embarked on a new project with his own web company and has created an idea that he believes will revolutionise access to the Internet.
He is due to launch www.TodaysDate.co.uk in October. It will allow Internet users to access a date specific web site that will open up a whole range of information possibilities.
Marvin explained: "The Internet is awash with millions of web sites and users spend much of their time searching for the information they require. Information that is date specific is even harder to find as many sites only store the current day's details."
He went on: "We will provide 366 sites offering date-related information, one site for every day of the year, including leap years. The system is designed for the least number of clicks so valuable time is not wasted."
Now he is banking on the venture making him a millionaire.
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