Maxwell Muir didn’t just survive rock bottom, he rebuilt his life, his business, and his mindset from the ground up. But not before facing fear, failure, and a cancer diagnosis that would shake anyone to their core.

In this episode, James Fleming sits down with Maxwell for a powerful, no-fluff conversation about what it really takes to come back stronger not once, but time and time again.

From living in a tent with his dog to building one of Scotland’s most respected dog training businesses… From losing it all to learning how to lead himself… Maxwell’s story is proof that resilience isn’t built when things are easy — it’s forged in the moments no one else sees.

And just when life seemed steady, he was hit with something he never saw coming: early-stage prostate cancer. But true to form, Maxwell’s response wasn’t panic — it was perspective. The kind most people don’t gain until it’s too late.

This isn’t a story about pretending to be strong. It’s a story about becoming it.

Key moments include: ✔️ From villa life to a tent in the woods: the decision that changed everything ✔️ How a lost passion turned into a purpose-driven business ✔️ The brutal power of climbing a mountain with no way back down ✔️ What happened when he ripped up his script before the biggest talk of his life ✔️ The conversation that led to his cancer diagnosis — and how he handled it ✔️ Why most people wait too long to get checked, and what Maxwell wants every man to know ✔️ How fear and faith can live in the same moment ✔️ Rebuilding life with more clarity, more honesty, and zero tolerance for BS ✔️ Why success has nothing to do with money, and everything to do with meaning ✔️ The legacy Maxwell wants to leave — and what you can learn from it

This one hits deeper. And it might just change how you see your own story.

Subscribe to Success or Excuses for more honest, hard-hitting conversations with people who’ve built, pivoted, and pushed through when it mattered most.

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 Maxwell Muir:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxwell-muir-speaker/

Email → maxwell@maxwellmuirempowerment.com

He fled a revolution at four years old. Lost everything. Rebuilt from scratch. Today, Armin Ossatian runs one of the most trusted IT support firms in the country.

This episode of Success or Excuses is about more than business it’s about pressure, resilience, and what it really takes to lead when the stakes are personal.

James Fleming sits down with Armin for an honest, no-filter conversation about starting over in a new country, building a business from nothing, and the toll leadership can take when you never truly switch off.

Armin didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur. But after years of watching poor service frustrate customers, he made a choice: if no one else would do it better, he would.

No investors. No shortcuts. Just relentless work, powerful relationships, and a quiet promise to show up every single time.

This isn’t a story about IT. It’s a story about integrity, grit, and the mindset it takes to build something that lasts even when the odds are against you.

Key moments include:

✔️ What fleeing Iran and starting school without English taught Armin about survival ✔️ Why he turned down a safe life in teaching, Germany, and the military — and stayed in Scotland ✔️ The power of relationships in business (and what most people get wrong about networking) ✔️ The weight of leadership and why burnout creeps in without warning ✔️ The truth about growing a business when you refuse to lower your standards ✔️ Letting go of control: the hardest lesson in building a team ✔️ Why trust and responsiveness became the foundations of Dico IT ✔️ How to build a business where people want to recommend you ✔️ Why Armin still finds it hard to switch off and what needs to change ✔️ What legacy really looks like when you’re building it from the ground up

Subscribe to Success or Excuses for real, raw conversations with leaders who built on courage — not comfort.

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 Armin Ossatian:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/armin-o-1617b178/

Website → https://dycoit.co.uk/

Email → ao@dycoit.co.uk

Andrew Morrison didn’t just build a business; he built a legacy.

In this episode, James Fleming sits down with Andrew for a real conversation about building and selling a business the right way, without losing yourself in the process.

From surviving redundancy to navigating the emotional pressure of running a company through COVID, Andrew shares what it actually takes to stay in the game long enough to exit on your terms.

This isn’t about big egos or buzzwords. It’s about clarity, integrity, and building something that lasts.

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Key moments:

✔️ The three biggest mistakes people make when trying to sell their business

✔️ Why recurring revenue and owner independence matter more than turnover

✔️ Navigating redundancy, self-doubt, and rebuilding from scratch

✔️ How Andrew created a business that was attractive to buyers, without listing it for sale

✔️ Why “doing the right thing for the business” is sometimes the hardest choice

✔️ What AI is doing to the consultancy world and how to adapt

✔️ The difference between building for lifestyle and building for legacy

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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 Andrew Morrison:

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

Website → https://www.businesssalebasecamp.co.uk/

Email → andrew@businesssalebasecamp.com

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Subscribe to Success or Excuses for more honest, hard-hitting conversations with

people who’ve built, pivoted, and pushed through when it mattered most.