Creative Courage

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 Now, he coaches creatives to break free from outdated models and challenge limiting beliefs so they can charge what they’re worth, and build businesses they truly love.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

Does your business feel like more of a prison than a passion? That somewhere along the line, it’s drifted off course from the business you envisioned? In this episode, I’m joined by Dan Bolton, a business coach I paid £10k a month to learn from. It's the most I've ever invested in coaching and I wanted to gift you the experience of hearing some of Dan's lessons as he evolved from youth pastor to multiple 7-figure agency owner. This conversation isn't really about number though (I just mentioned them to sound impressive). It's really a practical guide for anyone that feels stuck or out of sync with their business. Dan shares a ton of insight on how to identify the hidden problems in your business, make bold but necessary changes, and redefine success in a way that aligns with you. In this episode, we cover: How to know when your business is out of alignment. What to do if you’re running a business you don’t love anymore. When to scale and when to pull back What you need to fix before you can fix your business. The blockers that keep creatives from earning more money. Why it’s essential to turn down some seemingly good opportunities. And so 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  Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator CONNECT  Dan Bolton on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bolton/ Dan Bolton on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtscWUoZcVzlOT-76DxMqyA  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

After a serious BASE jumping accident that shattered both his legs, doctors told Sebastian Bates he may never walk again. During Seb’s 2 years of rehab, he lost 15 of his close friends, leaving him with PTSD and major survivors’ guilt. After a journey of personal development, Seb is now the founder of Warrior Academy, the largest martial arts academy in the Middle East. Seb teaches thousands of kids worldwide while leading a team of 100. Seb has also built several other six-figure businesses and founded a charitable organisation that’s doing incredible things for disadvantaged children globally. This is one of the most fascinating conversations I’ve had in a long time. Seb shares fundamental principles of courage and resilience that are transformative for creative business owners. If you want to overcome imposter syndrome, develop resilience, and break through the barriers holding their business back, this episode is for you. Covered in this episode: How a near-fatal accident shaped Sebastian’s journey. Why courage is the most critical trait for success and how to get more of it. Practical exercises to overcome fear and replace anxiety with excitement. The impact of a scarcity mindset on creativity and how to break free from it. How to leave your comfort zone without becoming overwhelmed and burnt out. The biggest mistakes leading to fear-based decision-making and how to avoid them. The real indicators of success beyond sales figures. And so 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. LEARN MORE  Warrior Academy - https://www.warrioracademy.co.uk/  The Bates Foundation - https://www.batesfamilyfoundation.org/  Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator CONNECT  Sebastian Bates on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-bates-4b70412b/  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

Not all clients are created equal. When I used to run my web design and marketing agency, I would work with just about any client who had the budget. But after working with them, some clients would make amazing leaps which would transform their businesses, and some got no results at all. So, what was the difference?  And if you can deliver the exact same service to two different clients and get paid the same, why does it matter what they do with what you’ve created for them after? If you take on too many clients who aren’t getting the results they set out to get, I guarantee you that it’ll come back to bite you in the form of a damaged reputation, and a lack of growth. In this episode, I’m going to share a strategy that will help you to understand exactly what kinds of clients you should be taking on. The kinds of clients that will value what you do, achieve the results they were after and ultimately elevate your brand recognition, so you can grow your business faster and take on higher paying clients. You’ll learn how to qualify leads beyond just their budget and discover why saying no to misaligned clients (even high-paying ones) can protect your business in the long run. In this episode, we cover: Why some clients thrive after you’ve worked with them and others don’t. Why working with the wrong clients can harm your business (even if they have a big budget). How to spot the attributes that determine ‘perfect fit’ clients. How aligning with the right clients builds your brand’s reputation in the market. 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 The One Page Sales Framework - https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/salesframework  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