Gary McAlister is the definition of starting from scratch. No head start. No silver spoon. Just grit, graft, and a relentless drive to build something better.
From his early days as a joiner in Glasgow to running multiple businesses in construction and property, Gary has learned every lesson the hard way, on-site, in debt, and under pressure. But that’s what makes this conversation so powerful. He’s not talking theory. He’s lived it.
In this episode, Gary opens up about the reality behind the scenes, the missed paydays, the marketing nightmares, the big wins, and the bigger wake-up calls. He’s building businesses while trying to fix a broken industry, mentoring the next generation of tradespeople through The Refurb Academy, and learning what it means to truly lead.
This one’s for the grafters, the risk-takers, the ones trying to turn their skills into something scalable and finding out it’s not as simple as just being good at the job.
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Key moments:
✔️ From failing in school to finding purpose through joinery
✔️ Why the UK has a massive skills crisis and how Gary’s trying to change it
✔️ What most tradespeople get wrong when they go self-employed
✔️ The mindset shift from tradesman to business owner
✔️ Why subcontracting can make or break your reputation
✔️ How payment terms are killing small construction companies
✔️ The painful truth about joint ventures and why contracts matter
✔️ Building The Refurb Academy to create real opportunities for others
✔️ Managing pressure, self-doubt, and the weight of responsibility
✔️ The difference between running a business and owning one
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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 Gary McAlister:
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mcallister/
Website → https://www.propertyrefurbacademy.co.uk/
Property Refurb Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/propertyrefurbacademy?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
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Subscribe to Success or Excuses for more real conversations with people who’ve built their success from the ground up. No fluff. No filters. Just the truth.
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