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/

Donna McAteer didn’t wait for opportunity she created it.

Two babies under two. No job to go back to. A partner offshore. And absolutely no time to sit and panic. When her role in Dubai disappeared overnight after maternity leave, Donna didn’t spiral she stepped up.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Donna to unpack what it really takes to build a business from your kitchen table, with a newborn on one arm and a laptop on the other. From banking to branding, late nights to local marketing, Donna turned fear into fuel and built Global Buzz into one of Scotland’s most passionate hospitality-focused marketing agencies.

This conversation is packed with energy, honesty, and real-life lessons for anyone trying to juggle parenthood, pressure, and a plan to do things differently.

Key moments include: ✔️ The moment she lost her job post-maternity leave and decided to start her own business ✔️ Building a business around two small children and zero childcare ✔️ Why being scared of failure was never an option ✔️ How routine, structure and mindset gave her freedom ✔️ Growing up working class and the entrepreneurial dad who shaped her drive ✔️ Her love of food, hospitality and why your marketing should always feel personal ✔️ Hiring mistakes, staff challenges and learning how to let go of control ✔️ The reality of being “the face” of your business and the pressure that comes with it ✔️ How she turned fear into belief, and built her business from grit, not glamour ✔️ Her top three tips for anyone starting out in marketing (or any business)

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 Donna McAteer: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-mcateer-b437b0212/ Website → https://www.globalbuzzmarketing.co.uk/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/globalbuzzmarketing

Gavin Smith didn’t follow the rules he rewrote them.

No confidence. No funding. No business plan. Just a belief that there had to be a better way to make a living and a difference. From growing up in a small Ayrshire mining village to becoming the founder of the UK’s leading renewable heat consultancy, Gavin’s story is a masterclass in grit, growth, and figuring it out as you go.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Gavin to unpack the messy, honest reality of starting something from scratch when you're broke, burnt out, and battling self-doubt. From £8K a year to running a business that works while he sleeps, Gavin proves you don’t need to have it all figured out you just need to start.

This conversation is full of mindset shifts, leadership lessons, and the silver shrapnel (you’ll get it when you listen) that comes from years of learning the hard way.

Key moments include: ✔️ The 3-year round-the-world trip that built his confidence without taking a single flight ✔️ Starting a business with no money, no roadmap, and a lot of Excel spreadsheets ✔️ The brutal year he earned £8K and what kept him going anyway ✔️ How purpose became the driving force behind profit ✔️ Letting go of bad hires (and the guilt that comes with it) ✔️ Why your team suffers when you avoid difficult decisions ✔️ Building a business that makes money while you sleep ✔️ The moment he realised he’d outgrown his own knowledge and what he did next ✔️ Neurodivergent-friendly leadership: building systems that work for real humans ✔️ Gavin’s top 3 tips for anyone starting a purpose-led business from the ground up

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 Success or Excuses Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/successorexcusespodcast YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@SuccessorExcusesPodcast Website → https://thepowerwithintraining.com/

Follow Gavin Smith:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavin-smith-05423916/

Website→ https://yourenergysource.co.uk

Company LinkedIn (Your Energy Source) → https://www.linkedin.com/company/your-energy-source/

Email → gavinpetersmith@gmail.com

Scott Weir didn’t just build a business he rewrote the narrative he was handed.

Raised in poverty. Bullied. Stealing food just to survive. Told he’d never amount to anything. For a long time, he believed it. Until he didn’t.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Scott to unpack what it really takes to go from a childhood of hardship to building an award-winning property business with heart.

At 16, he joined the Navy. Years later, he started Pillow Partners with no laptop, no money, and no clue just an idea, relentless work ethic, and the drive to make life better for others.

Diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult, Scott realised his brain wasn’t broken, it was built differently. And that difference became his advantage.

Now, he not only runs a thriving short-term let management business, but helps other entrepreneurs through his franchise model and gives back through Safe Havens, an emergency housing initiative supporting families in crisis.

This episode is raw, honest and full of perspective. Scott doesn’t pretend it’s been easy but he proves it’s possible.

Key moments include: ✔️ The trauma that shaped him — and the mindset that changed everything ✔️ Why dyslexia turned out to be his greatest business strength ✔️ How he launched Pillow Partners without money, experience or a backup plan ✔️ What it's really like to lead when you’ve grown up with nothing ✔️ Why giving back is built into his business model ✔️ The difference between ego-led growth and servant leadership ✔️ His advice for anyone who feels like they don’t fit the mould ✔️ What every young person needs to hear if they’ve ever been told they won’t make it

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 Success or Excuses Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/successorexcusespodcast?igsh=OW51MzlrazkwMXc%3D&utm_source=qr YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@SuccessorExcusesPodcast Website → https://thepowerwithintraining.com/

Follow Scott Weir: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottweirpillowpartners/ Website → https://pillowpartners.co.uk Instagram → @pillowpartners

Paul Costello didn’t just build a business he rebuilt the reputation of an industry that had let people down for too long.

No background in estate agency. No formal training. Just the frustration of trying to sell a flat, a camera phone, and a vision to do things better.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Paul to talk about what it really takes to start from scratch, make it work, and grow a business with integrity, personality, and persistence even when everything feels like it’s against you.

It wasn’t smooth. It wasn’t glamorous. It was two years of rejection, self-doubt, late nights, and lessons the hard way. But Paul kept showing up with a hammer, a set of ladders, and a belief that if they did things the right way, the success would come.

Now, alongside his wife Charlene, Paul runs Upload Abode, one of the most trusted estate agencies in their region with a team, a reputation, and a client base built on honesty, high standards, and being real with people.

This conversation is packed with raw truths, resilience, and the kind of wisdom that only comes from doing the hard yards.

Key moments include: ✔️ The house sale that triggered their business idea and how they turned frustration into fuel ✔️ What it’s really like building a business with your partner (and the boundaries that get tested) ✔️ The brutal early days one house sale at a time, and the self-doubt that came with it ✔️ Why having a strong origin story matters more than you think ✔️ The moment Charlene joined the business and everything changed ✔️ How they’ve grown a team and a brand that people actually trust ✔️ The sacrifices no one sees behind the scenes including selling their own stuff to survive ✔️ What resilience really looks like when the business hits a wall ✔️ Advice for anyone starting out and why being “all in” is the only way ✔️ Why your business won’t succeed if you’re not 100% sure you can do it

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 Success or Excuses Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/successorexcusespodcast?igsh=OW51MzlrazkwMXc%3D&utm_source=qr YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@SuccessorExcusesPodcast Website → https://thepowerwithintraining.com/

Follow Paul Costello / Upload Abode: Website → https://www.uploadabode.co.uk Instagram → @uploadabode TikTok → @uploadabode Facebook → facebook.com/uploadabode LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-costello-aa804164/

Craig Alexander Rattery didn’t just learn how to run a business he learned how to run a life.

Raised in a council flat in Newmains, he was the first in his family to attend university. But it wasn’t just about getting a degree it was about escaping limits. Craig’s journey took him from a job in accountancy he never really wanted, into the world of corporate finance, private equity, and finally, to running his own business where he now empowers others.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Craig to explore how he went from feeling trapped in the rat race to living life on his terms in sunny Crete.

It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t smooth. He’s navigated personal losses, battled burnout, and faced the reality that most business owners don’t have a clue about their numbers and it’s costing them. Now, through his Know Your Numbers programme, Craig’s mission is simple: stop businesses from flying blind and help owners steer with confidence.

This episode is packed with practical advice, honest reflections, and the mindset shifts you need to grow a business without losing your way.

Key moments include:

✔️ Why most business owners don’t really understand profit, cashflow, or KPIs ✔️ The story of a 57-year-old client who learned more in two hours with Craig than in 35 years of business ✔️ The three daily questions every business owner should ask to stay ahead ✔️ Why Craig decided to scale back, pack up, and move to Greece ✔️ His frustration with accountants who don’t give clients the real insights they need ✔️ How to use cashflow forecasts and management accounts to make faster, smarter decisions ✔️ The truth about the long hours, risks, and invisible hard work behind financial success ✔️ Why excuses are the biggest block to growth and how to overcome them ✔️ The power of gross margins, utilisation rates, and proactive financial management ✔️ Craig’s two golden rules for business: focus on cash and don’t forget rule one

Subscribe to Success or Excuses for more honest, straight-talking conversations with people who’ve built, rebuilt, and kept going when others 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 Craig Alexander Rattary: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigalexanderrattary/

Website → https://knowyournumbers.biz/

Email → craig@crcorporatesolutions.co.uk

Instagram → @knowyournumbers.biz