006 Mike Cruickshank

On this weeks podcast It is my distinct pleasure to be interviewing my good friend, and self build property expert - Mr Mike Cruickshank.

Starting from the beginning, Mikes schooling years were rather unconventional, as his father was in the police force, his family were constantly on the move.

He went from grammar schools to comprehensive schools, and everything in between, incurring extreme changes in school rules and behaviour.

Coming from a humble background, Mike was certainly not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. His father was set in his ways in the sense that ' if you didn't have the cash present ' then you couldn't afford to buy it, meaning the family never had a mortgage, nor any form of loan. It's for this reason that the lifestyle lived by Mike and his family was always a simple one.

Leaving school, Mike started an architectural apprenticeship as he wanted to get out into the world and he wanted to earn..

His parents told him to get an education at school, and get a decent secure job. There was no encouragement to blaze his own trail.

After his architectural work, he moved on to work for the local council as a building inspector. He was then promoted to building control officer, from each of these steps he gained a wealth of experience in property construction at a young age.

He was told you should only stay in a job for 3 years.

Year 1: you're learning your trade

Year 2: you can begin to implement your own ideas

Year 3: it begins to get repetitive, you are not growing!

He still abides by this advice today at the age of 62, he boasts a QBE ' Qualified by experience ' and refuses to head towards retirement,

He was then introduced to the world of commercial property through managing projects for large construction companies and the gave him a spark.

He helped grow scotframe timber from 2 million pounds worth turnover per annum to 38 million per annum.

Through this job he assisted people self build their own homes, and has helped thousands of self builders achieve their dream.

Mike has done the full project himself twice over, building family houses in Aberdeen, and in Donegal.

He now runs a course with us at Touchstone Education, teaching you that self build is absolutely achievable for you, and how you can do it for you and your family.

7 million people are interested In self build. If you choose to self build instead of buying a pre-built house you can expect to save 20-30% on what you would spend on a pre-built house, whilst designing the specifications of your forever home.

What would you do with the extra cash?

Listen now to learn:

How to think like a Trailblazer and highlight the positives in a ' bad ' situation

Why Self build is absolutely achievable for you

Why age is just a number

How starting on the corporate ladder can bode useful for later life