Creative Courage

Many creative business owners get stuck for the same reason… They’re focusing on too many things at once. But the most successful entrepreneurs don’t do everything. They double down on the one thing that moves the needle. Recently, I spent time with 50 incredible entrepreneurs, some making multiple 7-figures a month, at a retreat curated by Daniel Priestley. I saw first hand what separates those who scale effortlessly from those who stay stuck. If you feel stuck in your business and unsure where to place your focus, this episode will give you the clarity you need to break through. In this episode, we’ll cover: Why using too many strategies is killing your progress. How to figure out what ONE thing to focus on. The question to ask yourself to unlock clarity. The secret to crafting an irresistible offer that attracts more clients and doesn’t feel like work. 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

Do you ever feel like giving up on your business? Like no matter what you try, or how hard you work, things just aren’t feeling right? You’re not alone. Many creative business owners hit those moments of doubt, frustration, and burnout. The problem is, many of them give up just before they break through to the other side. In this episode, I’m sharing three powerful strategies to push through those tough times and come out even stronger. These are strategies that I’ve used myself, and my clients have seen serious results from. You don’t have to keep feeling like this, and with these three strategies, you’ll be able to guide yourself out of this funk whenever that feeling comes up. Covered in this episode: Why we lose motivation for our business and how to get it back. How to reframe the negative stories we tell ourselves that hold us back. The questions to ask yourself every week to shift your focus to the positive. How to control what you focus on to stay driven. 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/roadmap.   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

It’s getting harder and harder for creative business owners to get new customers. Buyers are more sceptical than ever and it feels like there’s too much competition out there to stand out. But there’s a way of cutting through the noise and attracting clients that most creatives aren’t leveraging - their personal brand. This week, I’m joined by Freddie Pullen. Freddie is an expert in story-driven marketing and helps entrepreneurs position themselves as the go-to authority in their space. And in this episode, Freddie shares the strategies he uses with his clients to help them build a personal brand that does the selling for them. If you want to cut your sales cycle in half, effortlessly attract high-value clients and stand out in a crowded market, this episode is for you. Covered in this episode: Why it’s become so essential for creative business owners to build trust with their audience. How to build a personal brand even if you don’t think your story is worth telling. How to capitalise on LinkedIn before it’s too late. Telling your origin story in a way that positions you as an authority without bragging. Why customer acquisition is getting harder - and how to fix it for your business. The key to attracting top talent and opportunities. A powerful exercise to uncover your unique story. Freddie’s incredible journey that led him to leaving a prestigious corporate career track for a life of entrepreneurship. 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/roadmap. LEARN MORE  The Healthy Entrepreneur-  https://thehealthyentrepreneurclub.com/  Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator CONNECT  Freddie Pullen on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/freddie-pullen/  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

How much white space do you have in your diary? If you’re like most creative businesses, your calendar is jam-packed with client work and calls. This may look impressive on the outside, but it’s likely costing you the freedom to grow your business effectively and leads to burnout. I’ve worked with many creative studio owners in this position and have helped them to take back a day a week in their calendars without breaking their business. In this episode, I share the exact strategy you can use so that you can get the time back to work on your business instead of in it, and grow a business that serves you. Covered in this episode: Why creative business owners should avoid a full calendar. How to get back one day a week without breaking your business. The exact formula to work out how many calls and projects you need to grow your business sustainably. The key to building a business that serves you. 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/roadmap. 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

Are you tired of working endless hours with little reward to show for it? In this episode, I sit down with Robin Waite, a bestselling author, award-winning business coach and former agency owner. Robin is an expert at productising and pricing services and has helped countless creative studio owners gain freedom while growing their business Robin shares his journey from running a successful agency to experiencing burnout and ultimately transforming his approach to business. Now, he coaches creatives to break free from outdated models and challenge limiting beliefs so they can charge what they’re worth, and build businesses they truly love. This episode is packed with actionable insights to help you stop trading your time for money and take your agency to the next level. Covered in this episode: How to avoid burnout as an agency owner. Why productising your services is essential to scaling sustainably. The massive opportunities agency owners are missing by not productising their offering. The 3 principles of productisation and how to apply it to your business. The questions you need to ask all your clients if you want to raise your prices. How to stay creative while building a profitable business. 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/roadmap.   LEARN MORE  Get Robin’s book for free - www.fearless.biz/tys  Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator CONNECT  Robin Waite on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinmwaite  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

What does it take to build a thriving, scalable business whilst only working with your dream clients? After eight years in the Royal Navy, Josh Gudgeon now runs a multiple 6-figure video production agency and a top 1% podcast. In this episode, we get under the hood of exactly how Josh runs his agency, how he’s been able to attract his ideal clients, and the 3 secrets to building a business that gives you the lifestyle you want and allows you to be yourself. Josh is able to work on projects he’s passionate about, has scaled his business while staying true to his values, and has mastered the art of attracting high-value clients who are willing to pay premium prices. And if you want to do the same with your business, this episode is for you. Covered in this episode:  How to get the attention of your ideal clients. Finding a niche you’re obsessed with and why it matters. Freelancers vs. employees for an agency. Why price is no longer an objection to Josh. How to become incomparable to your competitors. When should you fire a client and how to get the courage to do so. How to deliver value to your prospects before even speaking to them. 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/roadmap. LEARN MORE  Josh Gudgeon on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JoshGudgeon/  Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator CONNECT  Josh Gudgeon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-gudgeon/  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

If you rely only on word-of-mouth and referrals to grow your business, you’re missing a trick. In this episode, I’m sharing one of the most underrated lead generation strategies I know of - The Partnership Playbook. This strategy is like referral marketing on steroids. If used correctly, it will scale up your lead flow and start bringing in warm leads on autopilot. Forget spending endless hours creating content and doing cold outreach. This strategy has been one of the biggest growth levers in my business, and in many of my clients’. One of whom used this strategy to attract 40 signups to her online workshop. And in this episode, you’ll discover how to get similar results. If you’re looking to scale your business faster, this episode will change the way you think about lead gen. Covered in this episode: How to attract your ideal clients on autopilot using The Partnership Playbook. How to form relationships with influential people. The three types of partnerships you can start building today. Practical examples of how my clients and I have scaled lead flow using this strategy. 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/roadmap.   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

Will Smith, Jay Shetty, Red Bull and Vice are just some of the names that Tim Fare-Matthews has landed for his video production agency. In this episode, Tim shares a peak behind the scenes of exactly how he has achieved this. If you’re struggling to win over corporates, raise your rates and run your business while producing exceptional results for clients, this episode is for you. Whether you run a video production agency, animation studio or graphic design studio, these are the key foundational principles for running your business and landing better clients. Covered in this episode: Secrets to landing higher-paying clients and getting consistent referrals. Essentials for surviving as a creative you may not have thought of. Tips for winning agency clients and how to keep them happy. What big brands are really looking for in a creative professional. How will AI affect the creative industry and how to prepare for it. Balancing delivering an exceptional service and running a sustainable business. 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/roadmap. LEARN MORE  Financially Free Filmmaker - https://www.financiallyfreefilmmaker.com/  Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator CONNECT  Timothy Fare-Matthews on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfmatthews/  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

Did you achieve your New Year’s resolutions last year? If you’re like most people, probably not, as stats show that 80% of people fail their resolutions by February. New Year’s resolutions often set us up for failure, but if you’re looking for transformation in your life and business in 2025, there’s a better way. In this episode, I share a strategy that you can use to give you a far better chance of reaching your goals. You’ll discover the 3-step process I use to avoid repeating past mistakes and set meaningful, achievable goals for the year ahead. Covered in this episode: Why New Year's resolutions don’t work. What to do instead to get better results. Uncovering what worked and what didn’t in 2024. How to build on the successes and avoid repeating past mistakes. How to achieve more in 2025 without burning out. 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/roadmap. 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

If you’ve been running your business for a while, deep down, you probably know what you need to do to grow faster and make more money. Over the past decade, I’ve coached some of the world’s leading creatives, and often they’re coming to me for permission, rather than answers. They know they shouldn’t have taken on that client or hired that team member. So what stops them from trusting their intuition? Fear. Their intuition is trying to steer them in the right direction, but fear and other external factors are holding them back. In this episode, I’m diving deep into the power of intuition, why it’s crucial for creative business owners, and how to start trusting yourself so you can make better decisions. If you ever struggle to take the steps you know are right for your business, this episode is for you. In this episode, we cover: What intuition is and why it’s so vital for decision-making in your business. The reasons people ignore their intuition. Why it’s so difficult to say no to opportunities that aren’t right for us. How to find the courage to trust yourself. The emotional patterns keeping you stuck and how to break free from them. 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. LEARN MORE  Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator Don’t Trust Your Gut book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dont-Trust-Your-Gut-Really/dp/0062880918 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