Creative Courage

On the verge of burnout. You’ve just lost a client. A team member is off sick. When it all hits at once, the default reaction is to push through. But what if the answer to fixing your business is the exact opposite? In this episode, I share why the first thing I often tell clients when everything is falling apart is that they need to take a break. Last year, I stepped away for an entire month and came back with more clarity and focus than ever. This year, I did it again.  And nothing broke. Now, I know our businesses are different, but I’ve seen it work time and time again. And in this episode I share exactly what to do to make it possible, so that you can reap the benefits. Covered in this episode: Why stepping away from your business could be exactly what it needs. The 2 key moves you need to make for taking a break to be possible. How to manage your finances in a way that allows you to take a month off while still paying the bills. What to expect when you return (hint: it’s not chaos). If you get value from this episode, follow Creative Courage on your favourite podcast app for more transformational content to help you thrive as a creative. PS: If you want a custom roadmap to grow a creative studio that works for you, rather than the other way around. Click this link - https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/.   LEARN MORE  Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator CONNECT  Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam   LISTEN  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT  Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam

When you jump on a call with a prospective client, does it feel more like a job interview? Does it feel like you have to prove yourself to them? Like an order taker rather than a valued partner? What if there was a simple way to turn the conversation on it's head? To go from service provider to interviewer. In this episode, I share a 15-minute clarity call framework that will allow you to take control of the conversation, quickly qualify clients and avoid time-wasters so you can work with people who value what you do and pay you what you’re worth. I’m sharing the exact structure and framework I’ve used (and coached clients through) to transform the sales process without sounding too salesy. Covered in this episode: The exact framework to follow to win more of your ideal clients. The switch that turns you from ‘order taker’ into ‘trusted partner’. How to take control of the sales conversation (without being pushy). Why you should stop sending proposals (and what to do instead). Why client budgets are a myth. How to never get ghosted again. If you get value from this episode, follow Creative Courage on your favourite podcast app for more transformational content to help you thrive as a creative. PS: If you want a custom roadmap to grow a creative studio that works for you, rather than the other way around. Click this link - https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/.   LEARN MORE  Download the framework - https://matt-essam.notion.site/Clarity-Call-Framework-and-Script-e8fa45f41ab1482e9ad8dd37ddc05a52?source=copy_link  Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator CONNECT  Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/  LISTEN  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT   Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam

The project deadline is looming. A team member just called in sick. Your computer is playing up. All while the client is constantly chasing you. We’ve all had those weeks where your to-do list is never-ending and everything feels like it’s on fire. And you’re wondering how on earth you’re going to get it all done. I’ve been in this situation myself, and I know what it feels like. That’s why, in this episode, I’m sharing one of the most underrated strategies I’ve used to stay calm under pressure, protect client relationships, and still deliver high-quality work - without burning out. If you ever feel overwhelmed or stretched too thin, this 3-step plan is going to give you the clarity and tools you need to get back on track. Covered in this episode: How to stay calm when the pressure is on. The 3-step system I use to get back on track. How to decide what really matters on your to-do list. How to communicate with clients when deadlines loom. The trick to avoiding burnout while still getting stuff done. Why trying to “do it all” is killing your productivity. A simple mindset shift that instantly reduces overwhelm. If you get value from this episode, follow Creative Courage on your favourite podcast app for more transformational content to help you thrive as a creative. PS: If you want a custom roadmap to grow a creative studio that works for you, rather than the other way around. Click this link - https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/.   LEARN MORE The ONE Thing (book) - https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_One_Thing/ROoCnwEACAAJ  Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator CONNECT  Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/ LISTEN  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT  Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam

Have you ever been asked for a discount for your services? Do you ever deal with micromanaging clients who just won’t let you get on and be creative? And do you ever find the scope of a project gets stretched just a little further at every milestone? If so, you’re probably making one of the three pricing mistakes that I’m sharing in this episode. These are the most common mistakes I see creative business owners make. And it’s costing them their time, money and sanity. I’ve worked with clients who, after fixing these mistakes, have managed to double, triple and even 10x their revenue, without doing 10 times the work. If you want to start attracting clients who respect you, value your work and pay you what you deserve, this episode will show you how. Covered in this episode: The three pricing mistakes that many creatives are making. Why you keep attracting the wrong clients. How to raise your prices without losing deals. A mindset shift that will help you stop undercharging. Quick tweaks that can lead to huge wins. And more… If you get value from this episode, follow Creative Courage on your favourite podcast app for more transformational content to help you thrive as a creative. PS: If you want a custom roadmap to grow a creative studio that works for you, rather than the other way around. Click this link - https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/.   LEARN MORE  Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator CONNECT  Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/  LISTEN  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT  Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam

AI is evolving fast. The creative skills that we once thought were immune to being replaced by AI seem less ‘safe’ every day. And if you’re not willing to adapt, you’ll quickly get left behind. That goes for designers, web developers, audio engineers, and most other creative skillsets. But how can creatives adapt to this inevitability? In this solo episode, I’m digging into the impact AI is already having on creative work, and more importantly, what you can do to stay ahead of it. This episode isn’t to scare you - it’s to help you adapt before it’s too late, so that you can continue getting paid for your creativity for years to come. Covered in this episode: Why AI is threatening creative jobs more than you think. Will AI take over the creative industry? The key mindset shift you need to make now. How to position yourself so you can’t be replaced by an AI tool. What you need to start doing today to protect your business. If you get value from this episode, follow Creative Courage on your favourite podcast app for more transformational content to help you thrive as a creative. PS: If you want a custom roadmap to grow a creative studio that works for you, rather than the other way around. Click this link - https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/.   LEARN MORE  Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator CONNECT  Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/  LISTEN  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT  Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam

Do you ever feel like you’re building a business based on someone else’s blueprint rather than what feels authentic to you? Following strategies that don’t quite sit right. Building relationships that just feel… off. Pushing yourself down a path that looks good on paper, but feels heavy and draining. If this sounds familiar, you probably need to reconnect with your intuition. In this episode, I’m joined by leadership coach Liza Leiss, and we’re diving into how to reconnect with your intuition and build a business that actually feels good to run - while still achieving your goals. Liza has an MBA and has helped hundreds of founders scale without burning out, and she shares practical strategies to help you get back on your own path and move forward with clarity. Covered in this episode: Why so many creative business owners ignore their intuition and the hidden costs this has. How to spot the symptoms of building a business that’s out of alignment. What really creates fulfillment in your life. The mindset shift that will help you stop overthinking and start trusting yourself again. And much more… If you get value from this episode, follow Creative Courage on your favourite podcast app for more transformational content to help you thrive as a creative. PS: If you want a custom roadmap to grow a creative studio that works for you, rather than the other way around. Click this link - https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/.   LEARN MORE  Liza Leiss - https://lizaleiss.com/  Liza on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/liza.leiss/  Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator CONNECT  Liza Leiss on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/liza-marie-leiss-90b00014b/ Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam  LISTEN  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT  Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam

You know what you need to do to grow your business, but something’s holding you back from taking action. Maybe it’s fear of how people will react... Maybe it’s the voice in your head that tells you you're not good enough. In this episode, you might just learn how to break through these invisible barriers. I sit down with my friend and Coach Adil Hussain who shares a powerful story that allowed him to stop people pleasing, push through fear and start leading his life and business with confidence. Covered in this episode: The real reason most people stay stuck. The formula for building true confidence. How to double your prices. The power of archetypes and understanding yourself better. And more… If you get value from this episode, follow Creative Courage on your favourite podcast app for more transformational content to help you thrive as a creative. PS: If you want a custom roadmap to grow a creative studio that works for you, rather than the other way around. Click this link - https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/. LEARN MORE  Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator CONNECT  Adil Hussain on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adilhussain001/  Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/  LISTEN  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT  Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam

I know what it’s like to feel trapped in your business. You’re desperate for a holiday, but you know that things will fall apart if you take more than a couple of days away. The team can’t match the level of quality your clients expect. Operations become chaotic. And you tell yourself it’d be easier to keep handling it on your own. But this isn’t sustainable. It leads to burnout, and makes scaling much harder. That’s why, in this episode, I’m sharing 3 key principles that will help you remove yourself from the day-to-day without your business breaking. So you can focus on the work you want to do and take time off without stress. Covered in this episode: Why so many creatives feel stuck in their business. How to ensure your team matches the level of quality you expect. The 3 principles to free yourself from day-to-day operations. How to stop micromanaging and still get results. How to grow your business without creating more stress in your life. If you get value from this episode, follow Creative Courage on your favourite podcast app for more transformational content to help you thrive as a creative. PS: If you want a custom roadmap to grow a creative studio that works for you, rather than the other way around. Click this link - https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/.   LEARN MORE  Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator CONNECT  Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/ LISTEN  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT  Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam

Losing a project to a competitor can be gutting. You know your work is good. You know you can solve the client’s problem. But for some reason, they picked someone else. I’ve been there. Back when I ran my creative studio, I’d come across competitors with great work - sometimes even better than ours - often charging less. And I’d wonder why a client would choose us over other studios. I was assuming clients only cared about the work. But I was wrong. And in this episode, I’m sharing what really matters when it comes to winning clients. It’s a strategy I call ‘The River of Life’, and it’s going to help you cut through the noise, make the competition irrelevant, and charge what you’re really worth. Covered in this episode: - What clients actually care about when choosing who to work with. - Why your skills alone won’t win 6-figure projects. - How to position yourself as uniquely fitted to solve your ideal client’s problems. - How one creative business owner quadrupled his revenue with this approach. - And more… PS: If you want a custom roadmap to grow a creative studio that works for you, rather than the other way around. Click this link - https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/. LEARN MORE  Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator CONNECT  Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam   LISTEN  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam

Marcel Petitpas, a profitability expert who helps agencies boost their profit margins, joins the conversation with valuable insights for creative entrepreneurs. They discuss major pricing pitfalls creatives often face and the three essential levers every agency owner should master. Petitpas reveals why many creatives underprice their services and the real issues behind low profits. He also emphasizes the importance of balancing creativity with financial sustainability, encouraging listeners to understand their business metrics for improved earnings.