Yvonne Lindsay didn’t just start a business, she took on an entire industry.

With no funding, no safety net, and a baby on the way, she walked out of a high-paying role at BT and launched a telecoms company from her living room. Fifteen years later, that company now turns over £6 million a year.

But this episode isn’t just about business growth. It’s about grit.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Yvonne for a powerful, no-filter conversation about what it really takes to succeed as a woman, a mum, a founder, and a leader navigating a world that wasn’t built for her.

They talk about the pressure to hold it all together, the strength it takes to keep going when life falls apart, and why most people have no idea what female founders are really carrying.

Key moments include:

✔️ Leaving a six-figure career to start from scratch ✔️ Building one of Scotland’s only all-female telecoms companies ✔️ Paying wages with nothing left for herself and doing it anyway ✔️ Navigating divorce, single motherhood, and leading a team of 18 ✔️ How pink tools and big energy helped her stand out ✔️ The truth about imposter syndrome, burnout, and late-night breakdowns ✔️ Why belief matters more than a business plan ✔️ Her advice to any woman ready to bet on herself

Subscribe to Success or Excuses for more unfiltered, straight-talking conversations with people who kept going when everyone else would’ve quit.

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 Yvonne Lindsay LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonnelindsay/ Company → https://telecomnetworks.co.uk/ Company LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/telecomnetworks/

Craig Evans didn’t grow up with money, but he had vision, grit, and a builder’s mindset.

What started as a plan to buy his first home on a shoestring turned into a full-scale property business. He’s designed entire houses in 3D before ever stepping foot in them. Negotiated deals most people would run from. And learned the hard way that success isn’t about shortcuts, it’s about strategy.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Craig for a conversation every aspiring property investor needs to hear.

They talk about the messy reality behind property investing, from dream deals falling through, to getting burned by your team, to the moments you nearly walk away. And how Craig used every one of those setbacks to build something better.

This isn’t a “how to get rich with no money down” story. It’s a story about long-term thinking, real risk, and what happens when you back yourself even when nobody else does.

Key moments include:

✔️ How Craig reverse-engineered his first home renovation with zero budget ✔️ The deal that collapsed and the brutal lessons about trust and timing ✔️ How ADHD fuels James creativity and decision-making ✔️ Why Craig built Novius, and how it’s changing the game in sustainable housing ✔️ The truth about working with investors (and the awkward chats with their wives) ✔️ What no one tells you about growing slow and why that’s the point ✔️ The mindset that kept him moving, even when everything fell apart

Subscribe to Success or Excuses for more unfiltered conversations with real entrepreneurs building real businesses without the fluff.

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 Craig Evans: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertybridge/ Company Website → https://novius.co.uk/

Chris McLaughlin didn’t plan on building a business he just said yes to cutting a few lawns. Ten years later, CM Garden Services has grown into a thriving family-run company with a strong brand, loyal clients, and a seriously cute mascot called Bruce.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Chris to talk about what it really takes to grow a business from a handful of flyers to a full team and premises all while learning everything on the job.

It hasn’t been easy. There’ve been late payments, team dramas, and moments where Chris seriously considered packing it in. But through the chaos, he’s stuck to the same values: show up well, build strong relationships, and treat people right (even when they don’t always treat you the same).

This conversation is full of laughs, honest lessons, and the kind of grounded wisdom that only comes from living it.

Key moments include:

✔️ How a pushy mate and a flyer sparked the start of CM Garden Services ✔️ What it’s really like running a family business (with your dad, mum and uncle onboard) ✔️ Dealing with team challenges and letting go of “being on the tools” ✔️ Why professionalism matters in a crowded trades market ✔️ How branding, humour and TikTok have helped him stand out ✔️ Learning to lead and when to hand things over ✔️ The value of knowing your numbers (and why your accountant isn’t your business partner) ✔️ What keeps Chris motivated through the hard days: people, purpose, and building something better

Subscribe to Success or Excuses for more straight-talking, no-fluff stories from people who’ve built, rebuilt, and kept going.

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 Chris McLaughlin: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-mclaughlin

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/cmgardens Facebook → CM Garden Services Website → https://www.cmgardens.co.uk/