Alex Robertson had everything he thought he wanted: A £250k-a-year job in oil and gas, a sea-view apartment, a personal driver, and a lifestyle most people only dream of. But one day, he realised he was living the dream of his 18-year-old self… and it no longer fit.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Alex to talk about the bold decision to walk away from a high-flying career and start from scratch. No salary. No safety net. Just a belief that he was meant for more.

It wasn’t smooth. Alex lost money for years, made mistakes, worked every hour, and still doubted if it was worth it. But along the way, he built a 300+ property portfolio, created a business that runs without him, and redefined what success means far beyond the payslip.

This conversation is packed with honest reflections on money, mindset, risk, and the uncomfortable but necessary process of growing into the next version of yourself.

Key moments include: ✔️ The moment he realised his “dream life” wasn’t making him happy ✔️ Why success without purpose will always feel empty ✔️ Leaving oil and gas during COVID to build a property business from scratch ✔️ Losing money in the early years and why that’s more common than people admit ✔️ The trap of high income + low fulfilment ✔️ Why he stopped chasing scale and started chasing sustainability ✔️ Building a team, stepping out of operations, and learning how to lead ✔️ The mindset shift that changed everything: comfort isn’t the goal, growth is

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 Alex Robertson: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/ajrobertsonproperty/ Website → https://www.ajrobertson.co.uk/

Timestamps: [00:00] Intro- James welcomes Alex to the podcast [13:25] Stress as a signal: “If you can’t handle it, you’re in the wrong place” [14:00] Why Alex walked away from a £250k job to chase something more [20:50] The trap of fast cash: Earning big and still feeling broke [25:54] Starting his property business during the pandemic [33:57] Resetting the strategy: Selling off properties that didn’t serve the vision [40:32] The truth about quitting: Most people give up just before it gets good [46:01] The mindset and structure behind scaling sustainably [51:02] Alex’s advice to young investors: Start lean, think long-term

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. 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 ✔️ 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