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The Success or Excuses Podcast

The Success or Excuses Podcast

著者: James Fleming
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You can have success, or you can have excuses, but you can’t have both. This isn’t just another business podcast. This is for those who are done with the fluff, the motivational soundbites, and the sugar-coated stories. This is for the ones who want the real conversations about what it actually takes to succeed, no shortcuts, no excuses, just raw, unfiltered truth. James Fleming is a multi-seven-figure business owner who’s been in the trenches, built from the ground up, and knows first-hand the discipline, resilience, and mindset needed to make it happen. But this isn’t just about his story, he’s sitting down with the people who have really been through it. The self-made entrepreneurs, the industry disruptors, the ones who have had it all, lost it all, and fought their way back. Expect straight-talking interviews with high-level business leaders and extraordinary individuals who have mastered their mindset, faced failure head-on, and come out stronger. The kind of people who don’t just talk about success, they live it. No fluff. No sugar-coating. Just real conversations, real lessons, and the reality of what it takes to build something that lasts. If you’re ready to stop making excuses and start taking action, hit subscribe. Success or Excuses, you decide.Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. マネジメント・リーダーシップ リーダーシップ 社会科学 経済学
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  • Three Years Bedridden, Then Burnistoun, Outlander and Beyond: Kirsty Strain’s Comeback | Episode 38
    2025/12/15

    Kirsty Strain didn’t just find her voice, she rebuilt it from the ground up. From spending her teenage years bedridden with severe illness to performing on the Edinburgh Playhouse stage, starring in hit Scottish TV shows, and coaching leaders on communication, Kirsty’s journey is one of grit, healing, and finding purpose in the most unexpected places.

    In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Kirsty to uncover the true story behind the actor, the coach, and the woman who refused to stay silent. From losing her childhood to chronic illness, to rebuilding her life inch by inch, literally relearning how to walk, speak, socialise, and trust herself. This conversation goes deep into resilience, identity, and what it means to finally accept who you are.

    Kirsty doesn’t just talk about confidence, she earned it the hard way. Whether she’s navigating getting knocked down by the flu during drama school, moving to New York with no safety net, or helping CEOs overcome imposter syndrome, every part of her story comes with raw honesty and powerful lessons you won’t forget.

    This episode is filled with vulnerability, Scottish humour, and life-changing insights about fear, communication, self-worth, and the moments that make us. If you’ve ever doubted yourself, felt behind in life, or struggled to find your voice, this one will hit home.

    Key moments include:

    ✔️ Growing up wild, confident, and carefree, until illness changed everything ✔️ Being bedridden from 17 and losing mobility, social skills, confidence, and identity ✔️ Relearning life: sitting up for 5 minutes, standing at the door, walking to the bus stop ✔️ The emotional toll on her and her parents, including misdiagnosis and financial strain ✔️ Returning to Scottish Youth Theatre and slowly rebuilding confidence ✔️ Getting into Oxford School of Drama and being forced to leave after illness struck again ✔️ Choosing New York anyway and discovering resilience through struggle ✔️ Landing roles in Taggart, Burnistoun, Outlander, River City, Annika, and more ✔️ The comedy show that helped her rediscover joy even while she secretly battled self-doubt ✔️ How COVID led to a major personal breakthrough and deep self-work ✔️ Why she shifted into voice and communication coaching ✔️ Understanding relationships, alignment, presence, and stripping away limiting beliefs ✔️ Helping leaders, actors, and everyday people overcome nerves, fear, and imposter syndrome ✔️ The Rocky philosophy that literally helped save her life ✔️ Her top three pieces of advice (including a powerful Rocky lesson)

    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 Kirsty Strain:

    Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/kirstystrain/

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

    Timestamps:

    [00:00] James opens the episode and welcomes Kirsty [00:44] Kirsty introduces herself: actor, voice coach, unexpected career path [02:25] The illness that changed everything, being bedridden at 17 [12:58] Relearning life: mobility, anxiety, rebuilding from zero [18:45] Youth theatre, college, and slowly stepping back into the world [20:24] Oxford School of Drama and the heartbreak of having to return home [22:00] Choosing New York despite fear, low confidence, and financial struggle [30:50] Returning to the UK and starting from scratch in the acting industry [32:30] Breakthroughs: Taggart, Burnistoun, River City, Outlander [37:58] The one-woman comedy show and the hidden battle with self-criticism [39:21] COVID, setback, and a major personal transformation [51:06] How her coaching methods emerged and why they work [53:10] Who she helps and why communication is about presence, not performance [59:10] Accepting nerves, reframing fear, and building real confidence [01:04:13] Kirsty’s top three life lessons [01:10:05] How to connect with Kirsty

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    1 時間 11 分
  • Redundant at 24, Building a Business Just a Few Years Later: Kieran Taylor’s Story | Episode 37
    2025/12/08
    Kieran Taylor didn’t wait for certainty, he built his business in the middle of chaos. From being made redundant in Aberdeen’s oil crash to launching his own wealth advisory firm with zero clients, Kieran’s journey is all about backing yourself long before the results show up. And despite entering one of the most mistrusted industries in the UK, he set out to do it differently by putting people before products and fighting for the kind of business he believed in. In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Kieran to dig into the real story behind Welsh & Taylor Wealth. From redundancy at 24, to battling age prejudice, to fighting tooth and nail through regulatory hurdles, this one’s a powerful lesson in resilience, self-belief, and refusing to quit when things get uncomfortable. Kieran doesn’t just talk about building a business the right way he lives it. Whether it’s guiding clients through turbulence, rebuilding after setbacks, or clashing with mentors before finding harmony, he’s proof that growth happens when you stay committed, stay patient, and keep pushing even when it hurts. This episode is filled with raw honesty, Scottish humour, and proper real-world lessons for anyone trying to carve out a future on their own terms. Key moments include: ✔️ Getting pushed out of oil and gas during the crash and seeing it as a clean slate ✔️ Why he entered financial advice with zero experience and what instantly hooked him ✔️ The harsh reputation of the industry and how he set out to do things differently ✔️ Being 24, lacking credibility, and learning to overcome limiting beliefs ✔️ The early days of struggle: no clients, no clue, just a laptop and a suit ✔️ How niche expertise in oil and gas became their biggest advantage ✔️ His biggest business battle: fighting to go independent and doing 750+ pieces of client advice ✔️ The clash of personalities that nearly derailed his team early on ✔️ What he learned about ego, hiring, and knowing your weaknesses ✔️ Why resilience matters more than talent (and how football taught him that) ✔️ The Buddhist teaching that reframed how he views hardship ✔️ His long-term vision for the firm and the “Welsh & Taylor way” of financial planning ✔️ Why lifestyle planning beats “off-the-shelf” financial advice every time ✔️ The importance of honest conversations, knowing your numbers, and constant improvement ✔️ Kieran’s top 3 pieces of life and business advice simple, tough, and spot on Subscribe to Success or Excuses for more straight-talking conversations with people who’ve built something real, pushed through the messy bits, and kept going long after others 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 Kieran Taylor: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieran-taylor-3b672277/ Website → https://www.welshandtaylorwealth.co.uk/ Timestamps: [00:00] James opens the episode and introduces today’s guest [00:48] Kieran introduces himself and the story behind Welsh & Taylor Wealth [02:15] The early advice James gave Kieran before launching the business [02:54] Redundancy in the oil crash the moment everything changed [04:01] Discovering financial advice with zero prior knowledge [05:06] The reality of starting with no clients and no roadmap [07:31] Why the financial advice industry has such a bad reputation [08:39] Overcoming age, credibility, and limiting beliefs [09:45] Niching into oil and gas and why it worked [11:30] The biggest challenge: fighting to go independent [12:34] The Buddhist lesson that reframed how Kieran handles hardship [15:22] Building recurring revenue from scratch [16:22] Learning what a “bad client” looks like [17:44] Becoming a dad and finding a new level of drive [19:07] Why reaching your full potential matters [20:51] Building a team: clashes, lessons, and hiring for strengths [24:04] Bringing in experts and letting go of ego [26:36] “Whether there’s a want to…” finding the how [30:35] The ‘Welsh & Taylor Way’ lifestyle financial planning [33:31] Why advice must be bespoke, not off-the-shelf [35:30] Why retirees often end up returning to work [38:42] What James would actually do in “retirement” [39:33] The two mentors who shaped James’s career [43:22] Owning mistakes, knowing your numbers, and constant improvement [45:17] Moving 750 clients over the scale of going independent [46:47] Keeping speed, service, and the “Amazon culture” [47:40] Adapt or die why evolution matters in business [50:04] Kieran’s top three pieces of advice for life and business [52:55] How to connect with Kieran
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    54 分
  • From Cage Fighting at 16 to Scotland’s Indie Film Uprising: The Real Story of Kyle McGuinness | Episode 36
    2025/12/01
    Kyle McGuinness didn’t wait for someone to hand him a role, he built his own path, picked up a camera, learned every skill he didn’t yet have, and carved out a place for himself in Scotland’s rising indie film scene. From primary school drama clubs to cage fighting at 16, selling DVDs in high school, working in construction, and eventually stepping back into acting through sheer persistence, Kyle’s journey is anything but linear. But every chapter, the discipline from martial arts, the entrepreneurial spirit, the graft, the setbacks, and the moments of doubt all shaped the filmmaker and actor he’s becoming today. In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Kyle to unpack the real story behind Production Hoose and the years of graft that led to it. From shooting short films during lockdown and learning cinematography from scratch, to working on Bollywood sets, appearing on The Rig, building KMG Media, and pushing Scotland’s indie film industry forward, Kyle’s story is a lesson in taking action long before you feel ready. Kyle doesn’t just talk about opportunity, he creates the opportunities for himself. Whether it’s learning every role behind the camera, building a business to fund his own films, or refusing to let peer pressure or circumstance derail his passion a second time, he’s proof that resilience compounds when you stay on your path. This episode is full of real storytelling, Scottish humour, and honest insight into what it actually takes to keep going when nobody is coming to save you. Key moments include: ✔️ How Production Hoose began and why Kyle learned every part of filmmaking himself ✔️ Shooting his first short during the 48 Hour Film Festival ✔️ Leveling up to cinema-quality gear and submitting films to festivals ✔️ The childhood drama club that sparked everything ✔️ Peer pressure, leaving acting behind, and how martial arts shaped his discipline ✔️ Fighting MMA at 16 and how it built resilience ✔️ His early entrepreneurial side hustles ✔️ Re-entering acting, signing with an extras agency, and landing a Bollywood set moment ✔️ Appearing in The Rig and what it taught him about being on set ✔️ How KMG Media now funds their films and expands opportunities ✔️ The struggle of Scotland’s indie film scene and why he’s determined to help build a middle ground ✔️ The moment he knew filmmaking was his path and why he refuses to wait for permission ✔️ The three pieces of advice he’d give to anyone pursuing acting or film ✔️ James and Kyle’s shared belief in resilience, discipline, and never waiting for the “right time” Subscribe to Success or Excuses for more raw, straight-talking conversations with people who choose action over excuses. 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 Kyle McGuinness: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/kylemcguinnessofficial Company Instagram Page → https://www.instagram.com/productionhoose Company Website → https://www.productionhoose.com Timestamps: [00:00] James opens the episode and introduces Kyle [00:54] Kyle explains how Production Hoose began [02:00] Learning filmmaking during lockdown and building skills from scratch [03:36] Making their first short and entering the 48 Hour Film Festival [04:37] Leveling up equipment and submitting films internationally [05:13] James compares Kyle’s journey to Concrete Jungle [06:22] Kyle on passion, collaboration, and learning the funding process [07:48] Why Kyle refuses crowdfunding [08:04] Creating KMG Media to fund their films [09:59] Going back to Kyle’s early years: drama club, family life and a supportive teacher [12:04] Peer pressure and stepping away from acting [12:37] MMA, discipline and early fights [13:47] A documentary idea he keeps under wraps [14:06] Working in business development and early entrepreneurship [15:58] Building something bigger than himself [16:47] Why Scotland needs a stronger indie film ecosystem [17:22] The moment acting called him back [18:34] Acting school and signing with an extras agency [19:02] Landing a Bollywood role by accident [21:32] Seeing the film with his dad before he passed [22:49] James shares his own extra experience on Star Wars [24:22] Kyle’s short appearance on The Rig [25:46] The mindset behind his resilience and persistence [27:02] Why he believes this is his path [28:21] James on confidence, fear, and learning through doing [29:55] Living like the person you want to become [31:37] James on his own journey and morning routines [38:05] Why Kyle refuses to give up on his path [39:53] The vision for Production Hoose and upcoming projects [40:50] Creating trailers to spark demand [42:44] How networking can create the “lucky...
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    52 分
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