Alex Robertson had everything he thought he wanted: A £250k-a-year job in oil and gas, a sea-view apartment, a personal driver, and a lifestyle most people only dream of. But one day, he realised he was living the dream of his 18-year-old self… and it no longer fit.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Alex to talk about the bold decision to walk away from a high-flying career and start from scratch. No salary. No safety net. Just a belief that he was meant for more.

It wasn’t smooth. Alex lost money for years, made mistakes, worked every hour, and still doubted if it was worth it. But along the way, he built a 300+ property portfolio, created a business that runs without him, and redefined what success means far beyond the payslip.

This conversation is packed with honest reflections on money, mindset, risk, and the uncomfortable but necessary process of growing into the next version of yourself.

Key moments include:
✔️ The moment he realised his “dream life” wasn’t making him happy
✔️ Why success without purpose will always feel empty
✔️ Leaving oil and gas during COVID to build a property business from scratch
✔️ Losing money in the early years and why that’s more common than people admit
✔️ The trap of high income + low fulfilment
✔️ Why he stopped chasing scale and started chasing sustainability
✔️ Building a team, stepping out of operations, and learning how to lead
✔️ The mindset shift that changed everything: comfort isn’t the goal, growth is

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
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/successorexcusespodcast
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@SuccessorExcusesPodcast
Website → https://thepowerwithintraining.com/

Follow Alex Robertson:
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/ajrobertsonproperty/
Website → https://www.ajrobertson.co.uk/

Timestamps:
[00:00] Intro- James welcomes Alex to the podcast
[13:25] Stress as a signal: “If you can’t handle it, you’re in the wrong place”
[14:00] Why Alex walked away from a £250k job to chase something more
[20:50] The trap of fast cash: Earning big and still feeling broke
[25:54] Starting his property business during the pandemic
[33:57] Resetting the strategy: Selling off properties that didn’t serve the vision
[40:32] The truth about quitting: Most people give up just before it gets good
[46:01] The mindset and structure behind scaling sustainably
[51:02] Alex’s advice to young investors: Start lean, think long-term