Have you ever had to start your entire life from absolute zero? No money, no friends, and no idea how the system works?

In a powerful episode of The Untamed Section, host Eric Khay sits down with Bolaji, a man whose journey from a bank customer service rep to a high-ranking care manager is a masterclass in grit, survival, and the shameless pursuit of a better life.

If you are stuck in a job that feels like it’s going nowhere, or you feel like your dreams are out of reach, Bolaji’s blueprint for success will change your perspective on what is possible.

1. The Audacity To Quit Comfort

Just one month after arriving in the UK, Bolaji landed a prestigious job at a major bank. To everyone around him, he had “made it,” but after just two weeks, he did the unthinkable: he quit.

• The Survival Mindset: He realized the bank job, while aesthetic and professional, gave him the barest minimum and capped his earning potential.

• The Strategic Pivot: He moved into care work, not because it was his dream, but because it allowed him to increase his financial capacity and build his life from scratch.

2. The Four Day “Car Kitchen” Strategy

Before he had a car, Bolaji spent 15 hours a day jumping on buses to visit clients, leaving home at 6:00 a.m. and not returning until 10:00 p.m.. When he finally got a vehicle, his commitment reached legendary levels.

• Living On The Road: To maximize his earnings and pay the bills, he would leave home on Monday and not return until Thursday.

• The Car Meals: His wife would cook four days’ worth of meals, which he kept in the cold car, using it as a natural fridge, and microwaving them during breaks.

3. The Power Of “The Gift Of Men”

Bolaji attributes much of his success to a community of people who refused to let him fail, proving that you can only go as far as the people around you.

• The Housing Miracle: After being broken by the brutal house hunting process, a family friend gave him a £1,500 gift to help his family get settled.

• The No Gatekeep Community: He attended gatherings of fellow immigrants who were already succeeding, and instead of hiding their secrets, they gave him a footprint for his own journey.

4. Majoring On The Major Things

How do you go from a support worker to a manager in record time? Bolaji’s secret is a concept called “Majoring on the Major”.

• Solution Oriented: He never identified a problem without also bringing a possible solution to his bosses.

• Upskilling On The Job: While others treated care as “low wage work,” Bolaji was researching, taking NVQ Level 4 courses, and mastering the technical side of the business.

• The Result: He received multiple promotions in a single year, rising to Care Manager without ever having to “chase” the title.

5. The Brutal Truth About The System

Bolaji shares a lesson he learned from a retired colleague: this country is not here to make you rich, it is only here to make you comfortable.

The Takeaway: The less you expect from the system, and the more you expect from yourself, the higher you will go.

Bolaji’s Final Advice: “If you are not going to give your best, don’t bother showing up. But whenever you show up, give it your all”.