In Part 1 of this two-part episode, I sat down with Tyrone Reid, a Tech entrepreneur shares how a devastating injury shattered his football dreams — and set him on an unexpected path into tech. From childhood influences to early struggles, Tyrone opens up about the emotional journey that reshaped his identity and redirected his life.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲: ✅ Caribbean roots and life lessons ✅ How Tyrone pivoted from football to tech after injury✅ Male identity, mindset and resilience✅ Building legacy first, Fatherhood later!✅ Breaking generational cycles
👉🏾 Part 2 drops soon, where Tyrone breaks down how he built a six-figure business, what drives him today, and his advice for others ready to pivot.
🎯 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲? Everyone!
𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧 𝗧𝗬𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗘
Born and raised in London with strong Caribbean roots—my father from Jamaica and my mother from Guyana—I was shaped by the strength and struggles of a big family with limited resources. My birthday falls on Christmas Eve, which often meant no gifts and shared celebrations. It taught me early that nothing would come easy.I started life on the track—literally. As a teen, I ran for the borough of Wandsworth in the 100m sprint and 75m hurdles before finding my passion for football at 15. By 19, I was playing semi-professionally and attending trials with professional clubs, while studying Sports and Exercise Science at university.Then at 21, everything changed. A ruptured Achilles ended my dream. Lost and uncertain, I had no backup plan—until I watched a friend grow his career in tech. With no prior experience, I began teaching myself web development using free websites and YouTube. Six months later, I’d mastered HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Five months after that—C++ and Java. No paid courses. Just relentless drive.Soon after, I landed my first role building Salesforce CRM systems. Within a year, I was headhunted. Two years later, I founded Software Everything Ltd, delivering solutions for major clients including Net-a-Porter, OVO Energy, Telefonica, and Capgemini.Now, I’m preparing to launch a social media platform built from scratch by my team—something I believe will shift how people connect online.My journey—from the streets of Southwest London to the boardrooms of global companies—is deeply personal. I broke a cycle, became the first in my family to attend university, and now provide for my mother through private healthcare. I’ve also explored entrepreneurship through my former fashion brand Reganalds, which was featured at London and Paris Fashion Weeks and worn at the Cannes Film Festival.I’ve chosen to delay fatherhood so I can build a legacy strong enough to give my future children everything I didn’t have. Today, I’m in a long-term relationship with my Brazilian partner, and I consider her children my own blessing.When not building the next phase of my business empire, you might find me supporting Manchester United or enjoying a good football match.Every step—from athlete to developer, developer to architect, architect to entrepreneur—has been self-taught, no mentor and grounded in resilience. And I’m just getting started.The Long Story Short Podcast brings you inspiring stories of resilience from people around the world. Through their honest narratives, we highlight the resilience behind their achievements, providing you with key insights for your own personal growth. Music featured: Song: LAKEY INSPIRED - Days Like These. Creative Commons - Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 UnportedMusic provided by Sound Library.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9xs2K4SG-o🎵 Support https://www.patreon.com/profile/creators?u=4430730Socials:https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspiredhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOmy8wuTpC95lefU5d1dt2Qhttps://www.instagram.com/lakeyinspired/