Laurie Macpherson didn’t just change careers, she rebuilt her entire life. Redundancy, burnout, and self-doubt left her at rock bottom, questioning her worth and wondering what came next. But instead of staying stuck, she made the decision to back herself, embrace her strengths, and start over on her own terms.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Laurie to talk about what it really takes to reinvent yourself when the safe path disappears. From battling impostor syndrome to realising that “good” was the enemy of “great,” Laurie’s story is packed with the kind of honesty and resilience that anyone facing change can relate to.

It wasn’t easy. She wrestled with grief, failure, financial pressure, and the fear of letting people down. But the turning point came when she stopped trying to fit into roles that weren’t built for her and instead leaned into her neurodivergence, transforming what once felt like a weakness into her superpower.

Now, as a career coach, Laurie helps others find confidence in their own path, proving that even the hardest setbacks can become the foundation for something better.

This conversation is filled with grit, humour, and the kind of perspective that makes you stop and rethink what success really means.

Key moments include: ✔️ The redundancy that forced her to re-evaluate everything ✔️ Honest reflections on burnout and mental health struggles ✔️ The mindset shift from “fitting in” to owning her strengths ✔️ How she turned neurodivergence from a challenge into a superpower ✔️ Why impostor syndrome shows up even when you’re on the right path ✔️ Relatable fears about money, security, and starting over ✔️ Why failure wasn’t the end, it was the beginning of something new

Subscribe to Success or Excuses for more raw, straight-talking conversations with people who’ve built, rebuilt, and kept going long after everyone else gave up.

Follow James Fleming: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesflemingtpwtd Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/successorexcusespodcast YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@SuccessorExcusesPodcast Website → https://thepowerwithintraining.com/

Follow Laurie Macpherson: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriemac/ Website → https://www.lauriemacpherson.com/ Podcast → What's Working Now Podcast

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/_laurie_macpherson/

Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro: James welcomes Laurie to the podcast

[01:00] Laurie’s work: Career coaching and why LinkedIn became her platform of choice

[03:00] Fragile platforms: Facebook/Meta changes, losing groups overnight, and the case for LinkedIn

[07:00] Authenticity over polish: Why real, raw posts resonate more than “shiny success”

[14:00] Calling out the myths: Women returning to work, business ownership struggles, and the Great Resignation vs. the Great Re-entry

[18:00] The reality of entrepreneurship: Financial pressure, constant marketing, and lifestyle creep

[23:00] Starting advice: Why cash reserves matter, and why websites/logos can become procrastination traps

[27:00] Learning by doing: Trial and error, imperfect launches, and building confidence through action

[33:00] Networks & community: Glasgow Glow Girls, masterminds, and why joining groups accelerates growth

[37:00] The COVID pivot: Losing all her work overnight, Tesco shifts, and discovering new opportunities

[43:00] The “want to” factor: Finding out how when you need to, resilience in early business struggles

[49:00] Final Advice: Laurie’s top three tips

[52:00] Outro: Where to connect with Laurie

Ellie McKay didn’t lose her business she walked away from the life that was breaking her.

Successful podcast. Multi-million-pound property company. A lifestyle that looked perfect from the outside. But behind the scenes? Ellie was burning out, losing herself, and quietly falling apart.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Ellie for a raw and unfiltered conversation about what it really takes to rebuild not just a business, but a life.

They talk divorce, motherhood, burnout, and identity. What it’s like to look like you’ve got it all together online while everything’s crumbling offline. And why sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is let go of the thing you built… and start again.

This isn’t a polished comeback story. It’s real. It’s rough. And it’s exactly what so many people need to hear.

Key moments include:

✔️ The pressure of performing success while quietly breaking down ✔️ What it felt like to be homeless, divorced and still showing up as a mum ✔️ Ellie’s breaking point, and the courage it took to burn it all down ✔️ The emotional weight of being “the strong one” all the time ✔️ Why rebuilding had nothing to do with business and everything to do with honesty ✔️ How podcasting helped Ellie find her voice again ✔️ Redefining success after losing everything that once defined you ✔️ The unspoken truth about women, leadership, and starting over

Subscribe to Success or Excuses for more honest conversations with people who’ve built, rebuilt, and kept going long after everyone else gave up.

Follow James Fleming: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesflemingtpwtd Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/successorexcusespodcast YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@SuccessorExcusesPodcast Website → https://thepowerwithintraining.com/

Follow Ellie McKay: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-mclaughlin

Personal Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official Podcast Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0 Podcast → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-a-mission-podcast-2-0

Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro: James welcomes Ellie back on the podcast, reflecting on their first-ever episode together

[02:00] Podcasting beginnings: Ellie on how “On a Mission” started during lockdown and why conversations became her university of life

[06:00] Looking successful, feeling broken: The hidden burnout behind running a property company and podcast

[08:00] Breaking point: Juggling kids, lockdown chaos, and the moment everything came crashing down

[12:00] From Facebook Lives to #1 podcast: How Ellie built momentum, landed big names, and leveraged relationships

[18:00] The crash: Losing her marriage, business, home, and financial security all at once

[22:00] Survival mode: Showing up as a mum while navigating divorce, homelessness, and trauma

[27:00] Rebuilding from zero: Self-belief, energy, and using every tool in the mindset toolbox

[32:00] Vibration & manifestation: How shifting energy and habits opened doors to opportunities again

[38:00] Redefining success: Moving from “good enough” to building a great life on her own terms

[42:00] Lessons from rock bottom: Resilience, accountability, and learning to find joy in the present moment

[54:00] Final advice: Ellie’s top three pieces of wisdom

[58:00] Outro: James closes with reflections on Ellie’s resilience and future

Kyle Campbell didn’t just become a dad at 19, he built a life from the ground up because of it.

One minute he was a university student working shifts at McDonald’s. The next, he was staring down the reality of unexpected fatherhood. No plan. No money. No idea what came next. Just fear, sleepless nights, and the pressure of growing up overnight.

Instead of running, Kyle chose to face it. He leaned into fundraising, volunteering, and building experience wherever he could, he was turning setbacks into stepping stones. Today, he works as a fundraiser at Maggie’s Cancer Centre, using his journey to inspire others who feel like life has thrown them in at the deep end.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Kyle to talk about what it really takes to keep moving when you’re young, scared, and handed responsibilities you didn’t ask for.

It’s not polished. It’s not perfect. But it’s real and it’s proof that sometimes you don’t need a plan, just the courage to ride the wave.

Key moments include: ✔️ Finding purpose through a school charity project that changed everything ✔️ The night he discovered he was going to be a dad and the fear that followed ✔️ Why he leaned into responsibility instead of running from it ✔️ Juggling university, McDonald’s shifts, and preparing for fatherhood ✔️ The role of fundraising and volunteering in reshaping his career path ✔️ What a baby loss charity taught him about grief and perspective ✔️ How he built confidence and career opportunities through LinkedIn ✔️ Why riding the wave is sometimes better than fighting the tide ✔️ His advice for anyone facing unexpected challenges or parenthood

Subscribe to Success or Excuses for more raw, straight-talking conversations with people who’ve built, rebuilt, and kept going long after everyone else gave up.

Follow James Fleming: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesflemingtpwtd Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/successorexcusespodcast YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@SuccessorExcusesPodcast Website → https://thepowerwithintraining.com/

Follow Kyle Campbell: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-campbell

Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro: James welcomes Kyle to the podcast

[01:00] Discovering fundraising: A school project that sparked a passion for charity work

[03:00] University life: Studying ancient history, COVID struggles, and finding the subject wasn’t for him

[04:00] McDonald’s: Working his way up to manager at 19

[05:00] Life-changing news: The moment Kyle found out he was going to be a dad

[08:00] Breaking the news: Telling family and dealing with the shock

[10:00] Choosing responsibility: Deciding to step up and support his girlfriend and baby

[15:00] “Ride the Wave”: How a quote helped him reframe fear and take opportunities head-on

[16:00] Flipping the McDonald’s role: Turning charity initiatives into career experience

[18:00] Fundraising impact: Securing thousands in grants for charities through McDonald’s

[23:00] Becoming a dad: Arla’s birth story and those first emotional days

[32:00] Adjusting to fatherhood: Sleepless nights, learning on the job, and prioritising family time

[37:00] Building a future: Moving into their first home and reflecting on progress

[39:00] Maggie’s Cancer Centre: Starting a career in fundraising with purpose

[42:00] What’s next: Kyle’s big goal to become a CEO in the charity sector

[43:00] Advice for others: Ride the wave, uni isn’t always the answer, and don’t take life too seriously

[46:00] Outro: How to connect with Kyle on LinkedIn