Man who turned life around inspiring business owners

The Tyldesley teenager showed promise in the boxing ring after taking up the sport aged 12.

But he was later thrown out of St Mary’s Catholic High School in Astley for violent behaviour.

Between the ages of 16 and 18, he slept in different places such as friends’ sofas and hidden areas of a park.

James as a young boxer

He said: "The first night I was homeless I stayed in a toilet of an abandoned house.

"I was not going around telling people that I was homeless.

"I slept in a park but no-one saw me there.

James carried on boxing and moved into a Wigan hostel when he turned 18.

A year later he got a job at Leigh Sports Village as he continued to pursue his dreams of making it as a middleweight boxer.

Around the same time two people close to James died, which brought on severe depression.

He suffered another low point in his life when after he became a professional boxer his jaw was broken in a fight and he was subsequently diagnosed with osteoporosis.

This led to him retiring.

"Boxing was all I ever wanted to do," James said.

"That's what people knew me for and then it was taken away from me."

James’ mental health problems got worse and he was diagnosed with psychosis.

But one day when he was 23, disgusted with his out of shape body, he decided to address his life.

James said: "I looked at myself and thought I have had enough of this.

"I made sure my mental health was kept in check and then I started working in Tyldesley."

He got a job at Your Move Estate Agents and worked his way up to branch manager in two-and-a-half years, with the outlet winning a national award in that time.

His career then soared when he was appointed a director of estate agents Yopa.

James’ personal life improved and he now has two children, Matthew, six, and Lilly, three months, with his partner Lauren Chambers.

James with his partner and their baby Lilly, three months, who was born 10 weeks early while the family were on holiday in Spain

James's children, Matthew, six, and Lilly, three months

After securing his financial future, he joined business coaching firm Action Coach 18 months ago.

He holds seminars where he draws on his own experiences to inspire business owners.

James is also in the process of writing a book to help others.

James works for business coaching firm Action Coach

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He said: "I decided that I wanted to contribute to the local community and help start-up businesses to achieve success.

"It has been amazing so far and is going from strength to strength."

His next event takes place at Swinton Park Golf Club on Tuesday, October 1. For more details or to book a place click here.