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Creative Courage

Creative Courage

Matt Essam

Are you a creative business owner? Do you ever feel like you’ve got more to give? That there’s a bigger impact you could make? Or is there an innate fear that’s stopping you from achieving your full potential? In this brand new podcast series, award-winning coach, author and speaker Matt Essam explores the internal battles we all face as creative business owners. From the fear of launching to the anxiety we face around our life purpose, Creative Courage is the first podcast series that will dive deep into the psychology of courage and its key part in our success as business owners, leaders and creatives. Each week, we bring you expert insights and proven strategies from inspiring entrepreneurs and thought leaders who have conquered their creative challenges. If you’re ready to elevate your creative journey and unlock your full potential, so that you can make more impact, win better clients and ultimately be proud of what you’ve built, then subscribe to Creative Courage now on your favourite podcast platform. Join us as we redefine what it means to thrive as a creative business owner.

42 - The 4 Seasons of Business Every Creative Business Owner Needs to Understand
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  • 42 - The 4 Seasons of Business Every Creative Business Owner Needs to Understand

    What season of business are you currently in? This is one of the most important questions you can ask yourself as a creative studio owner. I used to believe that there were good times and bad times in business, but what I came to realise is that these are just ‘seasons’. And like the seasons in nature, by understanding them and preparing for their arrival, you can weather the worst storms and benefit the most when the sun is shining. In this week’s episode of the Creative Courage podcast, I unpack the four seasons of business, and how each one impacts your projects, clients, and mindset. Knowing which season you’re in can reshape how you make business decisions and help you to avoid frustration and burnout. If you ever find yourself stuck as to where you should be putting your priorities, or your business tends to rapidly switch from ‘way too busy’, to ‘desperate for work’, this episode is for you. Covered in this episode:  What are the four seasons of business and which one are you in? How to avoid the cycle of burnout that traps many creative business owners. Why limiting your capacity can actually be a benefit to your business. How to avoid panic mode when the leads dry up. Why marketing is a year-round priority - even when you’re fully booked. When is the right time to seek outside support? How taking time to celebrate wins can fuel growth. 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. LEARN MORE Apply to work with Matt - 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

    Wed, 20 Nov 2024 - 25min
  • 41 - 3 Strategies To Take Your Business From Surviving To Thriving with Kai Cheng

    Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by your business that it feels like you’re on the brink of collapse? That’s exactly what Kai Cheng was going through after leaving a job at one of Taiwan’s top video agencies to start his own business.  Two years ago, Kai was taken to hospital because he thought he was dying. What was really happening was that he was experiencing panic attacks due to the extreme stress of running his own business alongside starting a family. Since then, Kai has gone from barely surviving to thriving, and in this episode, he shares the three strategies that allowed him to win huge clients like Bentley, stand out from his competitors and generate hundreds of inbound leads. For Kai, it was crucial to create a business that not only supported his family but also allowed him to do more meaningful, impactful work. After sending out thousands of cold messages and getting no response, though, Kai realised that something had to change. This episode is filled with actionable strategies that will help you to grow your creative business faster and more sustainably, so that you can find more fulfilment in your work while avoiding burnout. Covered in this episode:  Three strategies to take your business to the next level, while giving you more free time. How to position yourself to stand out in a crowded market. The crucial mindset shifts that transformed Kai’s business. The cold outreach technique that allowed Kai to secure Bentley as a client. How to use tools like ScoreApp effectively to generate hundreds of inbound leads. How to create a compounding pipeline that fills your sales funnel on autopilot. A strategy for creating irresistible ads targeted to your ideal clients. How to present your services as essential, rather than a ‘nice to have’. 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. LEARN MORE Apply to work with Matt - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator ScoreApp - https://scoreapp.com/  CONNECT  Kai Cheng on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/akaicheng/  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

    Wed, 13 Nov 2024 - 44min
  • 40 - The Filmmaker Who Got His Film In Cinemas While DOUBLING His Agency’s Revenue

    Would you love to work on more impactful projects, but the day-to-day running of your business gets in the way? Cey Sesiguzel was in the same boat, running a successful video production agency while eager to produce the documentary he’d dreamed of making. Five years later, Cey’s film is days away from its release in cinemas nationwide - and his agency's turnover doubled in just 12 months whilst creating his film. In this episode, Cey shares his journey of achieving his creative dream, without sacrificing his business. Cey opens up about overcoming the obstacles that stood in his way, and how he managed to raise a large amount of funding off the back of a single piece of content. As Cey was a past client of mine, I got goosebumps several times throughout this episode. Cey’s story of making his passion project a reality is an inspiration and for creatives looking to do more impactful work, I know you’re going to get a huge amount of value from it.  If you’ve ever found yourself stuck between growing your business and pursuing something bigger, this episode will show you how it’s possible to achieve both. Covered in this episode:  How to get started on your passion project while growing your business. The strategies that helped Cey’s business grow while producing a feature film. How Cey was able to raise investment from his network and existing clients. The steps to getting a personal project off the ground and into cinemas. How to rethink money in a way that fuels your creativity and impact. The connection between sales, funding, and turning your creative vision into reality. A 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  The Divided Island - https://www.thedividedisland.com   Apply to work with Matt - https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator CONNECT  Cey Sesiguzel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cey-sesiguzel-a88b9b22/ 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

    Wed, 06 Nov 2024 - 37min
  • 39 - Use This Simple Referral Strategy To Generate Consistent Leads

    If you’re like most creative agency owners, chances are most of your work comes through word of mouth and referrals. And that’s not necessarily a problem - referrals can be one of the best lead generators. But what I’ve discovered is that most people don’t have a referral strategy, leading to inconsistent results and a lack of control over the flow of projects. In this episode, I’m sharing an underrated strategy that can transform the way you win projects, giving you a steady stream of inbound inquiries without that uncomfortable feeling that you’re ‘begging’ people for work. We’ve implemented this strategy with our clients and it’s led to them paying for an entire year of coaching within 30 days of joining. And this can work for past clients and those you never ended up working with, too. I share the exact questions to ask that allows you to give more value, rather than take it and create a consistent referral machine. If you want to take back control of your project pipeline and become known in your network for delivering value, this episode is for you. Covered in this episode: How to build a referral strategy that gives you control over your lead flow. Flipping the referral process so you’re giving, rather than ‘begging’. The questions you should be asking to generate more consistent referrals. How to demonstrate your value and keep clients coming back for more. How to position yourself as the go-to expert in your network. 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  Apply to work with Matt - https://resources.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

    Wed, 30 Oct 2024 - 13min
  • 38 - The 3 Keys to Scaling Your Agency Without Hustling Harder

    Are you struggling to scale your business, without working longer hours? Are you feeling burnt out and unfulfilled, even though from the outside, your business looks like it’s thriving? That’s exactly where I was years ago - snowboarding in Canada, living the digital nomad lifestyle. I had friends messaging me, congratulating me on living the dream - but beneath the surface, it was a different story. I wasn’t happy. I was working with the wrong kinds of clients, feeling overwhelmed, and constantly stressed about money. But this all changed when the loss of a family friend forced me to rethink everything. I spent months reflecting on my business and what wasn’t working. I invested almost all the money I had in mentorship from some of the most successful entrepreneurs out there, hoping to understand what they were doing differently. And it quickly became clear. In this episode, I share the game-changing lessons I learned to help you build a business that doesn’t just pay the bills but allows you to thrive and do more of the work that fulfils you. Covered in this episode: How to stop trading time for money and build something that scales without you. The three things that move the needle when it comes to doing more work that makes a positive impact and leave you feeling fulfilled. How to position yourself as a partner so clients stop asking for discounts and start respecting your true value. How to sell your services in a way that can double a prospect’s budget in one conversation. The key to standing out in an oversaturated market. How to make sure you're actually implementing your ideas. Real-world case studies of creative business owners who have transformed their businesses and lives with these strategies. 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. LEARN MORE  Case studies - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/success-stories  Apply to work with Matt - https://resources.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

    Wed, 23 Oct 2024 - 27min
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