PASSION to PROFIT

• 081. WHAT'S REALLY WORKING ON INSTAGRAM IN 2025

  What if everything you've been told about Instagram strategy for the past year is actually wrong? In this episode, I share surprising new research that completely contradicts the "Reels and video first" approach many of us feel we should be focussed on. The data reveals a dramatic shift in what's now actually driving reach and engagement for creative businesses in 2025 - and it's not what most experts have been advising. This shift will come as a welcome relief to many creative entrepreneurs who've been struggling with constant video creation despite it not feeling natural to their business. If you've been feeling overwhelmed by making video content to feed the instgram algorithm, these evidence-based findings will help you develop a far more natural, sustainable and ultimately more enjoyable approach. I also share how niche focus, valuable content, and strategic calls to action can save you hours while improving your results...   Key Moments: [04:16] The truth about Instagram's latest algorithm shift: Why everything you thought you knew about content performance is changing dramatically in 2025. [07:11] The secret to captivating your audience: How a recently expanded Instagram feature can transform your storytelling and boost engagement naturally. [13:38] Finding your niche focus: Discover how narrowing your target audience can speed up your account growth, regardless of your current follower numbers. [17:17] Cracking the content code: The "formula approach" used by top-performing accounts to create consistent engagement without constant reinvention. [21:37] How to conduct a quick content audit: Uncover what's truly working for your Instagram account and what may need a refresh. [23:15] Hook your audience from the start: Crafting compelling content that captures attention immediately and encourages meaningful interaction. [26:03] The power of small changes: How making subtle, sustainable adjustments to your Instagram strategy can lead to transformative results over time.   Notable Quotes: "The platform seems to be rewarding different types of content again, which excitingly for us creatives, means we can focus more on the formats that align with our natural strengths and creative processes." "Narrowing your focus always expands your impact. It's about finding a good balance between where you can provide exceptional value to a specific audience rather than general content."   Resources: Read: This Week's Journal Post Read: Metricool's 2024 Social Media Report Website: www.philippacraddock.com Email: [email protected]   Share Your Insights: I'd love to hear what's currently working for you on instagram. Has your experience matched what the data is showing? Please do send me a DM on Instagram - however old this episode is, I genuinely read every message and am curious about your experiences.   Never Miss an Episode: Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for behind-the-scenes insights, early access to new episodes, and exclusive resources to help you grow your creative business with less effort and more joy!

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• 080. WHY PERSEVERANCE IS YOUR GREATEST BUSINESS ASSET

  Exploring the transformative power of perseverance in business. Whether you're a creative entrepreneur just starting out or running an established business, every business owner faces moments of discomfort, uncertainty, and self-doubt. But what if that discomfort isn't a sign of failure? What if it's actually the key to your business's success? Through my own personal experiences I'll guide you through practical strategies to embrace discomfort and turn it into your greatest business asset. We explore how challenges and setbacks are an inevitable part of all our entrepreneurial journies and how they can serve as stepping stones to greater growth, confidence, and sustainable success.   Key Moments: [02:15] The hidden reality behind social media content - why you rarely see the 'messy middle' of business growth [03:27] My personal experience of recording 50 podcast episodes before the fear subsided [06:03] Finding an approach that works for you versus following standard advice [07:34] The relationship between discomfort and meaningful business growth [10:23] My two-year journey to secure a Selfridges concession despite consistent rejection [15:40] Why many stop just before breakthrough happens - four common patterns [19:25] How asking for specific feedback turned rejection into a clear path forward to growth [22:10] The story of landing my first prestigious venue client through persistence [25:43] How to distinguish between productive discomfort and misalignment [30:23] Five practical ways to build persistence into your business framework [34:59] The natural progression from £1,000 to £500,000 projects through incremental growth [38:38] A message for both established and new business owners feeling deflated   Notable Quotes: "The difference between those who eventually succeed and those who don't isn't talent or resources or luck – it's simply the willingness to continue slightly longer than seems reasonable. To push just a bit further when everything in you wants to stop." "What looks like failure is actually just part of the process. Meaningful business success rarely happens overnight - it's built through consistent effort despite discomfort."   Resources Mentioned: Read This Week's Journal Post Website: www.philippacraddock.com Email: [email protected] Persistence framework checklist available on our website   Share Your Insights: Have you pushed through something that initially terrified you in your business? Or perhaps you're in an uncomfortable chapter right now? I'd love to hear your experience. Pop over to Instagram for a chat - I will always help where i can and your questions and insights often shape future episodes.   Never Miss an Episode: Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for exclusive business growth insights, behind-the-scenes content, and first access to new offerings,   

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• 079. HOW BIGGER GOALS CREATE CLEARER DECISIONS

  div>div>:is(p,ul,ol)]:pr-4 md:[&>div>div>:is(p,ul,ol)]:pr-8 [&_pre>div]:bg-bg-300 [&_.ignore-pre-bg>div]:bg-transparent"> _*]:min-w-0">   Discover how setting more ambitious business goals can simplify decision-making, cut through distractions, and bring unexpected clarity. In this episode, I reveal how using bigger targets as a "clarity filter" can help creative entrepreneurs overcome shiny object syndrome, make confident choices, and feel more at ease with business growth. Learn how this counterintuitive approach will help you: Recognise your true professional value Filter out distractions Build sustainable success around your strengths All by shifting your perspective on goal-setting in a way you might never have considered before!   Key Moments: [00:00] How aiming bigger creates clarity and calm in business decisions [03:20] The “10x is Easier than 2x” concept - using numbers as decision tools [05:10] Why we tend to add more projects rather than thinking bigger about our core offerings [07:07] Sustainable ambition vs. unsustainable pressure: Knowing the difference [09:17] How my “clarity number” (2.5x) became a natural filter for opportunities [12:54] Using the “clarity filter” to focus on what truly matters [14:54] How to find your own “clarity number” for motivation, not overwhelm [17:08] A word of caution: Keeping perspective and avoiding unnecessary pressure   Notable Quotes:  "When we pile on more projects or try to be everywhere at once, that's often unsustainable pressure. But when we think bigger about our core strengths and the work we already do brilliantly - that's sustainable ambition." "It's easier somehow to imagine doing more things than to imagine doing better with what we already have." "This isn't about adding pressure or pushing unnecessarily for massive growth. It's simply about finding a new lens to look through when you're making decisions about your business."   Resources Mentioned: Book: "10x is Easier than 2x" by Dan Sullivan Read this week's full  journal post Website: www.philippacraddock.com Email: [email protected]   Share Your Insights:  I'd love to hear if you've tried using a "clarity number" for your business decisions. What number brings you clarity? Does it change how you evaluate opportunities? Please do share your experiences with me on Instagram, I always love chatting about any episode, past or present.   Never Miss an Episode: Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for behind-the-scenes insights and exclusive resources that complement each episode. You'll be the first to know about new offerings and get additional support for implementing these ideas in your own business.

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• 078. BREAKING FREE FROM INDUSTRY NORMS: WHY YOUR UNIQUENESS IS YOUR BIGGEST ASSET

  What if the industry 'shoulds' you've been following are actually holding you back? In this episode, we will explore how to distinguish between conventional business advice that genuinely fuels success and the practices that don’t align with your strengths. Through personal insights and real-world examples, I share how trusting your instincts and building a business around your natural working style can lead to greater profitability, sustainability, and long-term success.   Key Moments: [00:00] Introduction to the perception of industry ’Shoulds’ [01:50] Spotting the different types of business “Shoulds" and their impact on us and our businesses [07:42] The project management tool revelation - when industry standards don't serve us [14:45] Distinguishing between growth challenges and misaligned practices [17:34] How to transform perceived limitations into business strengths [19:20] Practical ways to build systems around your natural working style [21:42] Creating sustainable success by trusting your professional instinct   Notable Quotes: "Our biggest successes often come precisely when we have the courage to step away from those misaligned 'shoulds' and trust our natural way of working." "Sometimes the very best thing we can do for our businesses is to have the courage to say 'That might work brilliantly for others, but it's not right for me.'"   Resources Mentioned: Read this week's full journal post [email protected] www.philippacraddock.com   Share Your Insights: I'd love to hear about your experience with business "shoulds" - when have you trusted your instincts and found it led to something better? I always love to hear your thoughts and perspective, so please do drop me a line on Instagram,   Never Miss an Episode: Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for behind-the-scenes insights, exclusive resources, and first access to new offerings. Each week, I share practical strategies for building a sustainable, profitable business that aligns with your natural strengths.

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• 077. THE POWER OF PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES IN CREATIVE WORK

  This conversation has the potential to completely transform how you run your creative business. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by client demands, struggled to take proper breaks, or found yourself responding to emails at all hours, this episode will show you how to create the space you need to do your best work, while actually strengthening your client relationships. And all done in a very straightforward and completely positive way.   Key Moments: [00:00] Welcome and introduction to professional boundaries in creative business [03:13] The Costa Rica story - learning about boundaries the hard way [06:57] Why boundaries are particularly challenging in creative businesses [09:42] The hidden costs of poor boundaries - from creative exhaustion to burnout [12:08] Essential areas for setting boundaries: time, project scope, communication, financial [15:41] How to implement boundaries while maintaining positive client relationships [18:53] Practical strategies for communicating boundaries effectively [21:42] Using AI to handle boundary-related client communications [22:43] Step-by-step guide to implementing your first boundary [24:50] Signs that your boundaries are working and how to adjust them   Notable Quotes: "When we don't have clear boundaries, we're actually doing our clients a disservice. They don't get our best work, they don't get our full creative energy, and they don't get the clear, professional relationship they deserve." "What's fascinating is that if I had simply set clear boundaries - an out-of-office message, a system for handling opportunities while I was away - everything would have been fine. The world wouldn't have stopped."   Resources Mentioned: Read this week's full journal post  Episode link: 074 Using AI to Make Customer Service More Personal Website: www.philippacraddock.com Email: [email protected]   Share Your Insights: I'd love to hear where you are right now with boundaries in your business. Are you feeling frustrated, relieved, or excited about implementing changes? Share your thoughts with me on Instagram - I read every message and would love to hear your perspective.   Never Miss an Episode: Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for behind-the-scenes insights, exclusive resources, and first access to new offerings. Each week, I share additional thoughts and practical tips that complement the podcast episodes.

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