Authority in the Wild #143 - The False Creativity-Money Paradigm w/ Christian Brim
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Why creative entrepreneurs who make money often burn out faster than those who don't and the profitability framework that solves both problems simultaneously.
Christian Brim, author of Profit First for Creatives and host of The Profitable Creative podcast, deconstructs the false paradigm that creativity and profit oppose each other. This conversation reveals the operational mechanics behind sustainable creative businesses: value-based pricing that increases as you improve, the cash vault system that enables strategic decision-making, and the fractal application of the 80/20 rule where 1% of activities generate 50% of results.
The conversation breaks down why profitability can mask fundamental business problems, how cost-plus pricing penalizes expertise, and the counterintuitive strategy of deliberately repelling customers to build focused authority. Christian explains the two-problem framework for all business challenges, the three-to-six-month working capital cushion that transforms reactive thinking into strategic planning, and how to identify the single most valuable hour in your business.
Core insights: the difference between creating a job versus building a business, why saying yes to everyone prevents portfolio coherence, how to price based on customer value rather than your time investment, and the systematic application of delegation and automation to high-leverage activities.
No inspirational filler. No motivational narratives. Pure operational clarity for entrepreneurs and creatives building authority through systems, not volume.
🟪 Timestamps
(00:00) Introducing Christian Brim
(01:44) The Profit Prophet
(03:42) Profit First for Creatives
(11:31) Value-Based Pricing
(19:34) Building Your Brand
(25:09) How to Stand Out
(33:17) Maximizing Efficiency
(41:24) Connect with Christian Brim
🟪 About the Guest
Christian Brim is the author of Profit First for Creatives, host of The Profitable Creative podcast, and founder of Core Group, a financial services firm specializing in creative businesses. Known as "The Prophet of Profit," Christian helps creative entrepreneurs build profitable, sustainable businesses through strategic financial systems and value-based pricing frameworks.
🟪 Connect with Christian Brim
- Website: https://christianbrim.com
- Core Group: https://coregroupus.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianbrim
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Until Next Week,
Pura Vida!