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