The Success or Excuses Podcast

Debbie Airey’s career has been anything but ordinary.

From starting out in telesales to becoming the youngest team leader in the country at Vodafone, Debbie built her career through hard graft, curiosity and a willingness to throw herself into new environments.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Debbie Airey to explore her journey through sales, leadership, industrial sectors and STEM. Debbie shares how her early experience taught her how to read people, communicate with confidence and develop others through coaching and mentoring.

She also opens up about the darker side of her career, including discrimination, harassment and the behaviours she has seen across different industries. These experiences led her to create Kicking the Door Down, a podcast and platform designed to give people space to talk openly, educate others and support women in STEM and beyond.

James brings his own perspective into the conversation, sharing what he has seen through leadership development, women in construction, male allyship and why real change needs to focus on mindset and behaviour, not just tick-box training.

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Company LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/safe-monitoring-group/

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Bob Keiller’s career has taken him from engineering and the energy industry to leading, buying, growing and selling businesses.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Bob Keiller to explore leadership, culture, communication and the power of storytelling. Bob shares how he moved from corporate life into leading a business, the brave decision to offer to buy part of Halliburton, and how storytelling helped him secure support and funding.

He also speaks about building a business where values weren’t just words on a wall, but the foundation for decision-making, culture and growth. From turning down work that didn’t fit their values to helping save Glen Craft in Aberdeen, Bob explains how culture became a real business differentiator.

James brings his own perspective into the conversation, sharing how storytelling has shaped the way he communicates leadership, mindset and belief through The Power Within Training.

Key moments include:

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Website→ https://www.ourunionstreet.com/

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James Ashford always wanted to be an entrepreneur, but the journey wasn’t a straight line.

After trying different businesses, taking on different jobs and learning from other entrepreneurs, James eventually found his way into the accounting industry. He built a piece of software, bootstrapped the business with no investment, and within five years sold it for an eight-figure sum.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with James Ashford to explore entrepreneurship, mindset and what it really takes to scale a business. James Ashford shares how his early belief around business and freedom shaped his journey, why software became the route he took, and how solving sales problems became the foundation of his business.

He also speaks about belief systems, coachability, setting goals beyond your current capability, and why business owners often need to look deeper than strategy when they hit a sticking point. Alongside that, James Ashford reflects on health, relationships, self-awareness and the importance of building success across every area of life.

James Fleming brings his own perspective into the conversation, sharing his thoughts on mindset, goal setting, coaching, relationships, health and what it takes to stay at the top of your game.

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Andrew Hulbert didn’t build his business from a perfect plan; he built it through graft, mistakes and an all-in mindset.

After growing up in a working-class family in Oxford, Andrew started earning money from a young age and later moved into property services. At 27, he started Pareto from his bedroom with a laptop and an idea. Over 10 years, he grew it into a £50 million turnover business with 500 staff, raised $100 million in private equity value, and exited the business at 37.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Andrew Hulbert to explore entrepreneurship, sacrifice and what success really looks like behind the scenes. Andrew shares the early lessons that shaped him, why he wanted to build a customer-focused business, and how he took on major clients including Bulgari Hotel, Yahoo, Candy Crush, London Zoo and Twitter.

He also speaks openly about the harder side of business, including loneliness, burnout, missing time with family, making expensive mistakes and learning from a £400,000 bad debt. Alongside that, Andrew reflects on selling the business, stepping back, rebuilding relationships and focusing on family, legacy and being present.

James brings his own perspective into the conversation, sharing his early working life, the realities of business ownership, leadership, family and the pressure that comes with building something of your own.

Key moments include:

✔️ Starting Pareto from a bedroom with a laptop and an idea

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Linktree → linktr.ee/andrewhulbert

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[00:00] Introduction to Andrew Hulbert

Dr John Demartini was told as a child that he would never read, write or communicate effectively.

After struggling with dyslexia and leaving home at 13, John spent his teenage years travelling and living as a street kid before a chance encounter with health educator Paul C. Bragg inspired him to change the direction of his life. That moment sparked a lifelong commitment to learning, teaching and understanding human behaviour.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Dr John Demartini to discuss values, purpose, leadership and human potential. John shares how he overcame early challenges, why people thrive when they align their lives with their highest priorities, and the principles that have guided more than five decades of research and teaching.

James also reflects on his own experience with dyslexia, self-belief and leadership, exploring the mindset shifts that helped shape his journey. Together, they discuss personal growth, prioritisation, intrinsic motivation, overcoming setbacks and what it takes to create a meaningful and purposeful life.

Key moments include:

✔️ Being told he would never read, write or communicate effectively

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[00:00] Introduction to Dr John Demartini

Carol Jackson knows exactly what it feels like to leave the comfort of a successful career and step into the chaos of building something from scratch.

After years in the corporate world, Carol reached a point where she knew something had to change. What started as a side hustle became ELJ Drinks, an award-winning boutique Scottish spirits company with a range of gins and a Honey Spiced Rum.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Carol Jackson to talk about corporate burnout, expensive mistakes, COVID pivots, building a product-based business and learning as you go.

Carol shares how ELJ Drinks began with a ready-to-drink gin cocktail range, why early decisions led to stock being poured down the sink, and how the business adapted when hospitality shut down overnight.

She also talks about moving online, running virtual gin experiences for charities, building community through Cocktails with Carol, crowdfunding her lemon gin, and launching Honey Spiced Rum using honey from her own bees in Blythswood Square.

James adds his own experience throughout, reflecting on the early struggles of building a business, the pressure of COVID, the importance of mindset, and why business ownership is one of the hardest but best things he has ever done.

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Mark Skinner didn’t wait for the “perfect time” to take the leap. He saw the opportunity, backed himself and built from there.

After starting out in sales with Keystone Valves in Glasgow he was there for about 8 years and was then asked to join John Bell Pipeline in Aberdeen. When the business came up for sale, Mark and his colleague Brian decided to buy it. With everything mortgaged and plenty on the line, they built the business into the largest independent of its type in the UK before eventually selling it.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Mark Skinner to explore buying, growing and selling a business, building an employee-centred culture, and learning to let go once a business is no longer yours.

Mark also shares the story behind Scots Bridge, which he set up with Don Wong to help Scottish and UK companies enter Southeast Asia with more structure, due diligence and realistic ambition. The conversation covers moving into new markets, the impact of COVID, and how unexpected opportunities in food and beverage helped the business evolve.

James adds his own experience throughout, reflecting on the fear of COVID hitting business overnight, the reality of running a business under pressure, and the mindset needed to keep finding a way forward.

Key moments include:

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Website → https://www.scotsbridge.net/

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Stephen Pettigrew grew up around business long before he ever built his own path.

From working in his family’s warehouse as a teenager to watching his parents’ business grow to £35 million in revenue before eventually collapsing, Stephen learned a hard lesson about value, timing and why a business should be built with the option to sell.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Stephen Pettigrew to explore the reality of building, scaling and exiting a business. Stephen shares how his family business shaped his thinking, why he moved into mergers, acquisitions and private equity, and how he now supports founder-led businesses to grow, systemise and become more valuable.

Stephen also explains what makes a business attractive to buyers, from clean financials and strong systems to reducing owner dependency and increasing transfer value. He speaks openly about why many business owners leave it too late to plan an exit, the risks of going to market unprepared, and why working with the right specialist matters.

James adds his own experience throughout, reflecting on how he built The Power Within Training with an exit strategy in mind, including IP, systems, processes and a business model that could scale without being fully dependent on him.

Key moments include:

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Linktree →https://linktr.ee/stevenpettigrewinvestor

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Andrew Gilmour didn’t just start a business, he built it through setbacks, lessons and a shift in thinking.

After more than 25 years in the security industry, Andrew launched his own business and experienced both strong post-COVID growth and significant financial losses, which forced him to rethink his approach. That shift led him into acquisitions, where he is now building a group of businesses under a single holding company.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Andrew Gilmour to explore the reality of business ownership, scaling through acquisitions and the mindset required to keep moving forward. Andrew shares how he transitioned from running a single business to acquiring multiple companies, the strategy behind his group structure, and why profitability and scalability are non-negotiables when buying businesses.

Andrew also speaks openly about the challenges that come with business, including financial pressure, being unable to switch off and balancing work with family life. He shares what success looks like to him, not money, but building a strong team that believes in the vision.

James adds his own experience throughout, reflecting on the early struggles of building a business, the reality behind the highlight reels, and why mindset plays a critical role in long-term success.

Key moments include:

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Company LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/dimagroup-ltd/

Company Website → https://dimagroup.co.uk/

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[00:00] Introduction to Andrew Gilmour

Colin Frame didn’t build Stellar by following the traditional path.

After leaving school without going to university or college, Colin used work as his classroom. After two failed attempts at business, personal challenges and moments that tested his resilience, he kept going and built Stellar into a business with just under 200 people.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Colin Frame to talk about business, resilience, work ethic and making your own luck. Colin shares how an early opportunity at 16 shaped his belief in giving others a chance, why Stellar is built around doing things differently, and how the company’s mission is rooted in helping people build careers in technology.

Colin also speaks openly about the sacrifices behind business ownership, including failed attempts, personal setbacks and learning to ignore criticism from people who don’t know the full story.

James adds his own experience throughout, reflecting on the realities of building a business, delegation, hiring, selling with passion and why values matter when you’re building something meaningful.

Key moments include:

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LinkedIn→ https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-frame-21a94915/

Website → https://stellaruk.co.uk/

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