Laurie Macpherson Calls Out the Lies About Online Business And Shares What Actually Works | Episode 26

Laurie Macpherson didn’t just change careers, she rebuilt her entire life. Redundancy, burnout, and self-doubt left her at rock bottom, questioning her worth and wondering what came next. But instead of staying stuck, she made the decision to back herself, embrace her strengths, and start over on her own terms. In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Laurie to talk about what it really takes to reinvent yourself when the safe path disappears. From battling impostor syndrome to realising that “good” was the enemy of “great,” Laurie’s story is packed with the kind of honesty and resilience that anyone facing change can relate to. It wasn’t easy. She wrestled with grief, failure, financial pressure, and the fear of letting people down. Now, as a career coach, Laurie helps others find confidence in their own path, proving that even the hardest setbacks can become the foundation for something better. This conversation is filled with grit, humour, and the kind of perspective that makes you stop and rethink what success really means.   Key moments include: ✔️ The redundancy that forced her to re-evaluate everything ✔️ Honest reflections on burnout and mental health struggles ✔️ The mindset shift from “fitting in” to owning her strengths ✔️ Why impostor syndrome shows up even when you’re on the right path ✔️ Relatable fears about money, security, and starting over ✔️ Why failure wasn’t the end, it was the beginning of something new 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 Laurie Macpherson: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriemac/ Website → https://www.lauriemacpherson.com/ Podcast → What's Working Now Podcast  Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/_laurie_macpherson/ Timestamps: [00:00] Intro: James welcomes Laurie to the podcast [01:00] Laurie’s work: Career coaching and why LinkedIn became her platform of choice [03:00] Fragile platforms: Facebook/Meta changes, losing groups overnight, and the case for LinkedIn [07:00] Authenticity over polish: Why real, raw posts resonate more than “shiny success” [14:00] Calling out the myths: Women returning to work, business ownership struggles, and the Great Resignation vs. the Great Re-entry [18:00] The reality of entrepreneurship: Financial pressure, constant marketing, and lifestyle creep [23:00] Starting advice:  Why cash reserves matter, and why websites/logos can become procrastination traps [27:00] Learning by doing: Trial and error, imperfect launches, and building confidence through action [33:00] Networks & community: Glasgow Glow Girls, masterminds, and why joining groups accelerates growth [37:00] The COVID pivot: Losing all her work overnight, Tesco shifts, and discovering new opportunities [43:00] The “want to” factor: Finding out how when you need to, resilience in early business struggles [49:00] Final Advice: Laurie’s top three tips [52:00] Outro: Where to connect with Laurie