Nicki Paterson’s career began in professional football.

After playing for around 20 years across Scotland, the UK and North America, Nicki’s journey eventually led him into the recruitment industry, where he has spent the last eight to nine years helping companies hire leaders and specialist talent across more than 60 countries.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Nicki Paterson from Solutions Driven to explore how lessons from sport translate into leadership and business. Nicki shares his early football journey, from being picked up by Motherwell at a young age to playing first team football at Hamilton and eventually moving to the United States on a football scholarship.

Nicki talks about the mindset required to take opportunities, the discipline needed to succeed in professional sport and how those same traits now shape his career in recruitment. He also reflects on the impact of mentorship, hard work and learning from failure.

The conversation explores leadership in both sport and business, the challenge of hiring the right people, and why self-awareness, alignment and clear communication are essential for high-performing teams.

Key moments include:

✔️ Nicki’s journey from professional football into recruitment ✔️ Being picked up by Motherwell and playing at Hamilton ✔️ Moving to the United States on a football scholarship ✔️ Lessons from sport that translate into business leadership ✔️ The role of mentorship, discipline and hard work ✔️ Leadership, communication and building aligned teams ✔️ Why leaders can become the bottleneck in a business ✔️ Hiring great salespeople and recruitment challenges ✔️ Recruitment across global markets and international experience ✔️ Nicki’s three pieces of advice for business and life

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 Nicki Paterson:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickisolutionsdriven/

Company Website → https://solutionsdriven.com/

Timestamps

[00:00] Introduction to Nicki Paterson [00:00:50] Nicki’s background and football career [00:02:20] Being picked up by Motherwell and playing for Hamilton [00:04:40] Moving to the United States on a football scholarship [00:06:30] Opportunity mindset and taking risks [00:08:40] Discipline, mentorship and obsession with improvement [00:17:20] Leadership lessons from sport and business [00:18:10] What makes a great leader [00:24:10] Coaching teams and building accountability [00:26:40] Why leaders burn out and become bottlenecks [00:30:00] Recruitment challenges and hiring great salespeople [00:33:10] The value of international experience [00:35:00] Advice for business and leadership [00:40:20] Nicki on Solutions Driven and recruitment philosophy [00:44:40] Closing remarks

Calum Stevens didn’t set out to build a career in pharmaceuticals; he fell into it.

After studying marine biology, Calum began working in a clinical environment before joining BDD, a Glasgow-based pharmaceutical company that started as a small university spin-out. Today, the business employs around 35 people and works with both innovative biotech’s and some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Calum Stevens, Commercial Director at BDD, to explore growth, culture and taking action. Calum shares how he stepped away to launch a boat repair and servicing business on Loch Lomond, why he returned under the leadership of CEO Carol, and how he moved from clinical trial assistant into sales, marketing and commercial leadership.

Calum speaks openly about scaling a niche pharmaceutical company in Scotland, recruiting highly specialised scientists who can also sell, navigating long decision-making processes with global pharma, and the challenge of maintaining culture as a business grows. He also reflects on networking, fatherhood and why overplanning can stop great ideas from ever getting off the ground.

James brings his own experience into the discussion, sharing lessons on leadership, accountability, buy-in and building belief before driving change.

Key moments include: ✔️ Starting in a small university spin-out ✔️ Launching and exiting a boat repair business ✔️ Growing into Commercial Director at BDD ✔️ Recruiting niche scientific and business development talent ✔️ Managing culture as a company scales ✔️ Working with biotechs and global pharma ✔️ The danger of overplanning ✔️ The power of networking and meeting people in person ✔️ Leadership lessons from fatherhood ✔️ Calum’s three pieces of advice: leap, build your network, don’t take life too seriously

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 Calum Stevens: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/calumstevens/

Company LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/drug-delivery-international-ltd/

Company Website → https://www.bddpharma.com/

Timestamps [00:00] Introduction to Calum Stevens [00:00:52] Calum’s role and BDD’s origins as a university spin-out [00:02:00] Launching a boat repair business on Loch Lomond [00:03:00] Recruiting niche scientific and sales talent [00:04:30] The challenge of scaling culture [00:07:00] Biotech’s vs global pharma and long decision cycles [00:22:10] Returning to BDD under new leadership [00:25:00] Moving into sales, marketing and commercial leadership [00:37:10] Leadership lessons from parenting [00:45:10] Three pieces of advice for business and life [00:54:00] LinkedIn, networking and closing remarks

Val Duguid didn’t plan to start a care company… she was trying to care for her mum.

An exercise physiologist and chronic illness specialist for over 20 years, Val built her career in complex rehabilitation. But when her mum suffered a near-fatal accident, breaking her pelvis, hip and arm, Val stepped away from her previous business and became a full-time carer.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Val Duguid, founder of Bentley’s Home Care, to explore how a personal crisis became a business. Val shares the six weeks spent in hospital, the breakdown of relationships, the struggle to find appropriate care, and the moment she broke down trying to manage a wheelchair and four bags of shopping. That was the turning point. If the service she needed didn’t exist, she would build it

Val explains how Bentley’s began with a befriending service while waiting for a Care Inspectorate licence, how trust and local reputation helped it grow, and why she leads without rigid hierarchies, focusing instead on accountability, ownership and empowering experienced carers.

James brings his own experience of business ownership into the conversation, unpacking the loneliness of leadership, responsibility for staff, and the mindset required to lead without excuses

Key moments include: ✔️ Val’s 20+ years in complex rehabilitation ✔️ Her mum’s near-fatal accident and six weeks in hospital ✔️ Leaving her previous business to become a full-time carer ✔️ The struggle to find regulated, suitable care support ✔️ Interviewing individual carers and discovering gaps in regulation ✔️ The emotional breaking point with the shopping incident ✔️ Starting Bentley’s with a befriending service ✔️ Building through trust, referrals and reputation ✔️ Empowering carers to phone doctors and take ownership ✔️ Leadership as integrity, accountability and no excuses ✔️ A five- and ten-year vision to expand across Scotland and beyond

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 Val Duguid: Website → https://www.bentleyshomecare.com/ Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/valerie.duguid.1 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-duguid-69426838/

Timestamps [00:00] James introduces Val Duguid [00:01:00] Val’s background in rehabilitation [00:01:18] Her mum’s accident and life changing overnight [00:03:45] Starting Bentley’s and the befriending model [00:13:15] Hospital experience and personal impact [00:18:00] The wheelchair and shopping breaking point [00:22:15] Interviewing carers and regulatory challenges [00:29:15] Empowering staff and building culture [00:38:30] Vision for expansion across Scotland [00:42:30] Leadership, integrity and no excuses [00:45:45] Val’s top three pieces of advice [End] James closes the episode

Mark Glasgow didn’t grow up with much, but he always knew he was going to be a business owner.

A gas engineer by trade, Mark founded Edinburgh Boiler Company in 2015 with a simple objective: make boilers easy and deliver outstanding customer service. He spotted early opportunity in digital, hiring a web designer as his first employee and investing heavily in SEO, radio, TV and marketing to grow fast in a traditional trade sector.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Mark Glasgow, founder and managing director of Edinburgh Boiler Company and director of The Energy Training Academy, to explore ambition, resilience and innovation. Mark shares how growing up with very little fuelled his drive to create a better life for his family, how his company has grown to around 60 staff with a managing director in place, and why renewables now make up the majority of the business.

Mark speaks openly about launching The Energy Training Academy as a community interest company to help address the skills gap in gas and renewables, alongside Scotland’s 2045 net zero target. He also explains how AI, automation and CRM systems are transforming his operations, from voice bots booking services to route optimisation and lead handling.

Together, they discuss family, vision, resilience, uncertainty in UK business, skills shortages and the importance of attaching strong emotion and strategy to long-term goals.

Key moments include:

✔️ Growing up with very little and developing ambition early ✔️ Starting as a gas engineer before launching EBC in 2015 ✔️ Hiring a web designer as the first employee ✔️ Investing every penny back into marketing ✔️ Growing to around 60 staff and appointing an MD ✔️ Moving from boilers into renewables ✔️ Cashflow challenges around heat pump funding ✔️ Launching a community interest training academy ✔️ Addressing the skills gap and net zero targets ✔️ Implementing AI, voice bots and CRM automation ✔️ Leadership, resilience and mindset ✔️ Vision, strategy and building a legacy

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 Mark Glasgow: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-glasgow-89942047/

Website → https://theenergytrainingacademy.com/

Company Website → https://www.instagram.com/theenergytrainingacademy

Timestamps

[00:00] James introduces Mark Glasgow [00:00:59] Mark’s background and early ambition [00:02:23] Launching Edinburgh Boiler Company in 2015 [00:03:15] Digital marketing and early growth [00:04:29] Leadership and appointing an MD [00:05:54] Structure, meetings and growth plans [00:06:24] AI, automation and CRM systems [00:06:57] Moving into renewables and funding challenges [00:07:56] Launching the training academy [00:11:14] Leadership and caring for your people [00:16:06] Uncertainty in UK business [00:18:24] Mindset and personal development [00:29:44] Skills shortages and AI disruption [00:37:03] Future plans and acquisitions [00:38:36] Mark’s top three pieces of advice [End] James closes the episode

Brian Creegan didn’t plan to start his business during a global pandemic, he just happened to open on 1 March 2020.

An Irishman who grew up in South Africa before moving to Scotland, Brian built his early career in banking before unexpectedly moving into recruitment and working his way up to director level. Wanting to do things differently, he left to create his own business focused on training companies how to manage hiring themselves.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Brian Creegan to explore what it really takes to launch a business when circumstances are completely outside your control. Brian shares the reality of starting with only months of financial runway, the panic when the world shut down, and how offering free CV support to people helped him stay afloat until work slowly returned.

Brian speaks openly about the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship. From income uncertainty and losing clients, to leading small teams through difficult markets and constant change. He reflects on growing up without a safety net, the fear of failure that drives him, and the resilience required to keep going when things feel out of control. James brings his own experience into the discussion, sharing the emotional impact lockdown had on his business, the uncertainty leaders faced when clients paused work, and the pressure of navigating a crisis without a clear roadmap.

Together, they unpack resilience, leadership, hiring, culture, generational change, and what it means to find a way forward when there isn’t one.

Key moments include: ✔️ Growing up between Ireland, South Africa, and Scotland ✔️ Starting a career in banking before moving into recruitment ✔️ Working up to director level ✔️ Leaving to start his own business ✔️ Launching on 1 March 2020 ✔️ Panic and uncertainty as COVID shut everything down ✔️ Helping people with CVs for free during lockdown ✔️ Gradually rebuilding work as restrictions eased ✔️ Fear of failure and entrepreneurial pressure ✔️ Leadership lessons from mistakes and experience ✔️ Hiring, onboarding, and culture challenges ✔️ Navigating generational differences in the workforce

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 Brian Creegan: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/briancreegan/

Company LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/creegantalent/

Company Website → https://creegantalent.com/

Timestamps [00:00] James introduces Brian Creegan [00:00:54] Brian’s background and early career [00:02:50] Launching just before the pandemic [00:05:07] Panic and early survival tactics [00:06:19] Work returning as restrictions eased [00:11:00] Fear of failure and mindset [00:18:06] Market uncertainty and business impact [00:24:50] Hiring and onboarding challenges [00:31:55] Leadership lessons and mistakes [00:36:00] Generational change in the workforce [End] James closes the episode

Emma Ross didn’t leave because she was failing. She left while earning £140,000 a year.

After dropping out of university, Emma built her career in banking before moving into commercial finance at HSBC. Within three years she increased her income from £34,000 to £140,000, generating £500,000 net income for the company in her final year. Walking away from that security wasn’t easy.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Emma Ross, founder of Ross Commercial Finance, to explore what it really takes to start again from zero. Emma shares the financial realities of brokering, knowing there could be a six to nine month income gap, and carrying significant family responsibility while making the leap.

Emma speaks openly about the pressure of building a business just two years old. From working 6am to 2am and never leaving emails unanswered, to managing anxiety and the physical toll of stress. She reflects on being the only woman in the room in a male-dominated industry, early criticism about looking “unprofessional”, and how she’s learned to turn that into confidence.

James brings his own experience into the discussion, drawing parallels around hiring, letting go of control, working alongside your spouse, and the realities people don’t see behind visible success.

Together, they unpack growth, standards, awards, marriage, ambition, and the desire to build a team strong enough to eventually work a more sustainable shift.

Key moments include: ✔️ Dropping out of university and starting in banking ✔️ Moving into commercial finance at HSBC ✔️ Increasing income from £34,000 to £140,000 ✔️ Generating £500,000 net income for her employer ✔️ The decision to start Ross Commercial Finance ✔️ Expecting a six to nine month income gap ✔️ Working 6am to 2am and never leaving emails unanswered ✔️ Anxiety, staying busy, and the impact on health ✔️ Hiring struggles and learning to let go of control ✔️ Building a team of five within two years ✔️ Being the only woman at industry events ✔️ Early criticism about appearance and professionalism ✔️ Winning Best Scottish Broker, Best Commercial Mortgage Broker, Best Bridging Broker, and Highly Commended for Northern Ireland ✔️ Being nominated for awards by lenders ✔️ Working alongside her husband Marty ✔️ Launching a finance and football podcast ✔️ The goal of building a team big enough to work a “normal shift” ✔️ Emma’s top three pieces of advice: find a mentor, build a strong network, and trust your own abilities

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 Emma Ross:

Podcast → https://open.spotify.com/show/3Zv9V5zUzMCDuykaaouvTL?si=5516ec3e3c224848 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-ross-78ab5677/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/emma_ross_commercial_finance Company LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/ross-commercial-finance/ Website→ https://rosscommercialfinance.com/

Timestamps [00:00] James introduces Emma Ross [00:00:50] Emma’s background and early career [00:01:30] The decision to leave and start her own business [00:03:00] Financial realities and income gaps in brokering [00:04:00] Work ethic, long hours, and pressure [00:06:00] Anxiety and health impact [00:07:00] Hiring challenges and letting go of control [00:11:30] Women in a male-dominated industry [00:15:20] Award wins and recognition from lenders [00:18:18] Working with Marty and balancing marriage and business [00:27:00] Vision for growth and working a normal shift [00:29:16] Emma’s top three pieces of advice [00:31:00] James closes the episode