Real Talk from a Real Estate Underdog: Paul Costello on Grit, Growth & Getting Through It | Episode 15

Paul Costello didn’t just build a business he rebuilt the reputation of an industry that had let people down for too long.

No background in estate agency. No formal training. Just the frustration of trying to sell a flat, a camera phone, and a vision to do things better.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Paul to talk about what it really takes to start from scratch, make it work, and grow a business with integrity, personality, and persistence even when everything feels like it’s against you.

It wasn’t smooth. It wasn’t glamorous. It was two years of rejection, self-doubt, late nights, and lessons the hard way. But Paul kept showing up with a hammer, a set of ladders, and a belief that if they did things the right way, the success would come.

Now, alongside his wife Charlene, Paul runs Upload Abode, one of the most trusted estate agencies in their region with a team, a reputation, and a client base built on honesty, high standards, and being real with people.

This conversation is packed with raw truths, resilience, and the kind of wisdom that only comes from doing the hard yards.

Key moments include: ✔️ The house sale that triggered their business idea and how they turned frustration into fuel ✔️ What it’s really like building a business with your partner (and the boundaries that get tested) ✔️ The brutal early days one house sale at a time, and the self-doubt that came with it ✔️ Why having a strong origin story matters more than you think ✔️ The moment Charlene joined the business and everything changed ✔️ How they’ve grown a team and a brand that people actually trust ✔️ The sacrifices no one sees behind the scenes including selling their own stuff to survive ✔️ What resilience really looks like when the business hits a wall ✔️ Advice for anyone starting out and why being “all in” is the only way ✔️ Why your business won’t succeed if you’re not 100% sure you can do it

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 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 Paul Costello / Upload Abode: Website → https://www.uploadabode.co.uk Instagram → @uploadabode TikTok → @uploadabode Facebook → facebook.com/uploadabode LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-costello-aa804164/