Success doesn’t happen in a straight line. It’s built in the trenches, through hardship, betrayal, health scares, and moments when giving up feels like the only option.
In this powerful episode of the Success or Excuses podcast, James Fleming sits down with Michael Savage, CEO of Channel Group, for a raw, unfiltered conversation about what it really takes to keep rebuilding, again and again.
Michael isn’t here to share a polished comeback story. He’s still in the thick of it. But what makes his journey so compelling is the relentless mindset that keeps him moving forward, even when the odds are stacked against him.
From building a multi-seven-figure finance brokerage from the ground up, to facing a life-threatening brain tumour and dealing with betrayal during recovery, Michael lays it all bare. He opens up about the mental toll of being a leader under pressure, the moments he felt like walking away, and how the right people (and the wrong ones) shaped everything.
This episode is for the ones still in it. The ones navigating doubt, starting over, or rebuilding when everything feels uncertain.
It’s not about polished success, it’s about the grit that makes it possible.
⸻
Key Moments:
✔️Building a finance business without funding and why banks said noBeing diagnosed with a brain tumour in the middle of running a company
✔️Losing trust in key people and the emotional toll of betrayal
✔️Why resilience is non-negotiable if you want to lead
✔️What it really means to start from zero, twice
✔️Loyalty, mindset, and creating a culture where your name means something
✔️The truth about growing a business in Scotland and redefining the game
⸻
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 Michael Savage:
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/channel-finance-group-uk/
Website → https://www.channelfinance.co.uk
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/channelfinancegroup/
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/channelfinance
⸻
Success is earned in the arena, through grit, failure, and choosing to show up when everything’s on the line. This episode is proof of that.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.