Samuel Jamieson didn’t follow the traditional route to leadership, he built his career through grit, resilience, and a deep belief in people. From selling fake perfume in Wishaw Market at age 9 to leading high-performing sales teams across the UK, his journey is anything but ordinary.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Samuel to talk about growing up in a working-class environment, unlearning unhealthy patterns, and the importance of personal development in business and leadership. With honesty, humour, and a strong sense of purpose, Samuel shares how social work shaped his leadership style, why visualisation helped him break through limits, and what it really takes to build high-performing teams without losing yourself in the process.

This episode is packed with wisdom for anyone who’s ever felt underestimated and a reminder that mindset and belief can take you further than any qualification.

Key moments include:

✔️ Growing up working class, selling on the market stall, and learning sales early ✔️ How a role in social work shaped Samuel’s approach to leadership and empathy ✔️ The mindset shift that changed his career trajectory ✔️ Why we need to unlearn what we've been shown, even by the people we love ✔️ The power of visualisation, and how walking through Bearsden changed his future ✔️ Experience of burnout, fatherhood, and redefining happiness ✔️ Why personal development should stretch you, not just your role ✔️ Samuel’s three pieces of advice for anyone in sales or leadership

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 Samuel Jamieson:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-jamieson-18370379/

Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro: James introduces the episode and Samuel Jamieson [01:00] Growing up selling at the market and developing a love for sales [03:00] Working in social work and how it shaped Samuel’s empathy and leadership [07:00] Conversations that change lives: belief, upbringing, and breaking the cycle [10:00] Happiness vs. success: chasing contentment in different seasons of life [13:00] Burnout, fatherhood, and the emotional toll of high achievement [17:00] Helping people reach their potential and knowing when to step back [21:00] Dyslexia, education, and unlearning what you were told you “couldn’t” do [25:00] Visualising a new life: Bearsden walks and mindset shifts [30:00] Taking action, trusting your gut, and the value of making decisions [34:00] Sales cycles, scenario planning, and how to future-proof your success [36:00] Top 3 pieces of advice for anyone in leadership or sales [39:00] What energy really means and why mental energy drives everything [44:00] Final thoughts and where to connect with Samuel