Craig Alexander Rattery didn’t just learn how to run a business he learned how to run a life.

Raised in a council flat in Newmains, he was the first in his family to attend university. But it wasn’t just about getting a degree it was about escaping limits. Craig’s journey took him from a job in accountancy he never really wanted, into the world of corporate finance, private equity, and finally, to running his own business where he now empowers others.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Craig to explore how he went from feeling trapped in the rat race to living life on his terms in sunny Crete.

It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t smooth. He’s navigated personal losses, battled burnout, and faced the reality that most business owners don’t have a clue about their numbers and it’s costing them. Now, through his Know Your Numbers programme, Craig’s mission is simple: stop businesses from flying blind and help owners steer with confidence.

This episode is packed with practical advice, honest reflections, and the mindset shifts you need to grow a business without losing your way.

Key moments include:

✔️ Why most business owners don’t really understand profit, cashflow, or KPIs ✔️ The story of a 57-year-old client who learned more in two hours with Craig than in 35 years of business ✔️ The three daily questions every business owner should ask to stay ahead ✔️ Why Craig decided to scale back, pack up, and move to Greece ✔️ His frustration with accountants who don’t give clients the real insights they need ✔️ How to use cashflow forecasts and management accounts to make faster, smarter decisions ✔️ The truth about the long hours, risks, and invisible hard work behind financial success ✔️ Why excuses are the biggest block to growth and how to overcome them ✔️ The power of gross margins, utilisation rates, and proactive financial management ✔️ Craig’s two golden rules for business: focus on cash and don’t forget rule one

Subscribe to Success or Excuses for more honest, straight-talking conversations with people who’ve built, rebuilt, and kept going when others 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 Craig Alexander Rattary: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigalexanderrattary/

Website → https://knowyournumbers.biz/

Email → craig@crcorporatesolutions.co.uk

Instagram → @knowyournumbers.biz