Michael Field didn’t just start a business, he jumped off a cliff and learned to build on the way down.

At 26, he was earning £75k a year. Safe career. Clear path. Then a casual chat in the kitchen with his manager changed everything. Three weeks later he’d quit, rented a serviced office, and launched a company with no customers, no cashflow, and only his credit card to keep it alive.

It was sink or swim. And he swam.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Michael, Managing Director of Workflow Solutions, to uncover what it really takes to grow a business when you’ve got nothing but belief, naivety, and the guts to back yourself.

From the fear of failure and imposter syndrome to the challenges of pivoting out of a dying market and embracing automation, AI, and cyber threats head-on. Michael’s story is raw, relatable, and proof that resilience matters more than a perfect plan.

Key moments include:
✔️ The leap from a £75k salary at 26 to zero income and zero clients
✔️ Why naivety was both his biggest risk and greatest strength
✔️ Sink or swim lessons: running installs, invoicing, and customer service with no clue what came next
✔️ How he pivoted from the declining print industry to automation, AI, and digital transformation
✔️ The imposter syndrome and fear that still show up 18 years later and how he handles them
✔️ Why reputation in business is everything (especially in small markets)
✔️ Cybersecurity scams, phishing attacks, and how AI is changing the game for both sides
✔️ The mindset shift from chasing sales to building a platform for brilliant people
✔️ Why success isn’t for everyone and how to know if business really is for you
✔️ Michael’s top three pieces of advice for anyone starting or struggling in business

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 Michael Field:
Website → https://workflowsolutions.co.uk
Email → [email protected]

Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro: James welcomes Michael and Workflow Solutions

[02:00] Early Career: From Sky TV to selling photocopiers

[03:00] The Leap: Quitting a £75k job at 26, maxing a credit card, and starting with no clients

[05:00] Sink or Swim: Running installs, invoicing, and learning business the hard way

[07:00] Pivoting: Moving from print to automation, AI, and digital transformation

[15:00] AI & Cybersecurity: Opportunities, risks, and why humans are the biggest vulnerability

[23:00] Fraud & Phishing: Real-world scams James and Michael have faced and how to protect your business

[32:00] Belief & Resilience: Why conviction in your product/service matters when times are tough

[37:00] Reputation & Customers: Why trust and integrity are everything in business

[42:00] Building a Team: Creating a culture of shared responsibility and flat structure

[46:00] The Future: Growth, vision, and why fear never really goes away

[47:00] Final Advice: Michael’s top three lessons for aspiring or struggling entrepreneurs

[50:00] Outro: How to connect with Michael Field & Workflow Solutions