Plant Fitter to Sales Geek Scotland Owner: Davie Sneddon’s Business Journey | Episode 54

Davie Sneddon didn’t begin his career in sales.

Growing up on the south side of Glasgow, Davie struggled at school and didn’t see himself as academic. He began his career with an engineering apprenticeship as a plant fitter before realising he wanted more from life than working in heavy engineering.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Davie Sneddon, Chief Commercial Officer and co-owner of Sales Geek Scotland, to explore the mindset, lessons and experiences that shaped his career.

Davie shares how martial arts helped him develop discipline and focus, how his first exposure to sales while working abroad ignited his competitive drive, and how he progressed into senior leadership roles in major global companies including Würth, Brammer and Snap-on Tools.

The conversation explores Davie’s journey into franchising with Sales Geek, how he partnered with another franchise owner to build Sales Geek Scotland eventually becoming co-owner of Sales Geek Scotland, and why strong relationships, trust and honesty are the real foundations of successful sales.

Key moments: ✔️ Davie’s early life in Glasgow and leaving school unsure of his path ✔️ Starting an engineering apprenticeship and realising he wanted more ✔️ Discovering discipline and focus through martial arts ✔️ First exposure to sales while working abroad ✔️ Progressing into leadership roles with Würth and Brammer ✔️ Managing redundancies during a major business downturn ✔️ Leaving a corporate leadership role to prioritise family life ✔️ Becoming a franchise owner with Sales Geek ✔️ Partnering with another franchisee to launch Sales Geek Scotland ✔️ Why sales is about relationships, trust and listening ✔️ Skillset, mindset and goal set as Davie’s three principles for success 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 Davie Sneddon LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/davie-sneddon-l-isp-b5990045/

Company Website → https://www.salesgeekscotland.co.uk/

Timestamps [00:00] Introduction to Davie Sneddon [00:01:10] What Sales Geek is and how the business operates [00:04:30] Growing up in Glasgow and struggling at school [00:05:20] Engineering apprenticeship and early career [00:06:00] Martial arts and developing discipline and focus [00:07:10] First experience in sales while working abroad [00:07:50] Career progression with Würth and leadership training [00:08:40] Senior leadership roles and managing large teams [00:09:10] Business downturn and the reality of making redundancies [00:15:00] Leaving corporate leadership to focus on family [00:16:30] Starting a Snap-on franchise and self-employment [00:17:00] Joining Sales Geek and building the business [00:19:50] Why sales is about relationships, trust and listening [00:27:50] What makes a strong sales leader [00:33:00] Franchising and launching Sales Geek Scotland [00:47:00] The role of mindset in business success [00:50:30] Davie’s three principles: skillset, mindset and goal set