PASSION to PROFIT

• 089. THE RIPPLE OF AMBITION: WHY YOUR CREATIVE BUSINESS GROWTH MATTERS

  Have you ever caught yourself downplaying your ambitions for your creative business? Maybe you’ve hesitated to voice your bigger dreams, or even allowed yourself to fully imagine them. You’re not alone. Many creative entrepreneurs start with modest goals-enough work to pay the bills, flexibility for family life, or simply doing what they love. But when you align your business with your exceptional strengths, something remarkable happens: your ambition naturally grows. In this episode, we explores the “Ripple Of Ambition” - how building your creative business around what you do best leads to organic, sustainable growth and new opportunities you may never have imagined. Discover why your creative business growth matters, not just for you, but for your clients and community and how small mindset shifts can create a powerful ripple effect. I share real stories, practical insights, and a fresh perspective on giving yourself permission to want more, letting go of limiting beliefs, and building a business that truly reflects your unique strengths. If you’ve ever wondered what could be possible when you fully embrace your ambition, this episode is your invitation to imagine, expand, and grow your creative business in a way that feels authentic and inspiring   Key Moments: _*]:min-w-0 !gap-3.5"> _*]:min-w-0 !gap-3.5"> [00:00] Introduction: Why ambition matters in creative business [01:42] Behind the scenes: Finishing the upcoming Handbook [03:35] The "Ripple of Ambition" pattern in creative entrepreneurs [05:18] Case study: The interior designer's transformation through strength recognition [07:24] My journey: From restaurant flowers to global design projects [10:05] Why we downplay ambition: Fear, imposter syndrome and playing small [12:25] Ambition in everyday life: Lessons from my daughter's cricket aspirations [15:58] Building from strengths, not "shoulds": Authentic growth versus external validation [17:58] Reflection question: Imagining your business without self-imposed limits   Notable Quotes: "What would your creative business look like if you built it entirely around your exceptional strength, without limiting your vision based on what seems 'realistic' or what others in your field are doing?"   Resources Mentioned: Read: This Week's Full Journal Post Handbook: Join The Waitlist  Website: www.philippacraddock.com Email: [email protected]   Share Your Insights: I'd love to hear how ambition shows up in your creative business. Have you experienced that natural expansion of vision as you've gained clarity about your strengths? Share your reflections with me on Instagram – I'm genuinely interested in your experience with this phenomenon.   Never Miss an Episode: Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for behind-the-scenes insights, exclusive resources, and first access to new offerings as we continue exploring how to build sustainable success through recognising your exceptional strengths.

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• BONUS EPISODE: A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA: BRINGING YOU BEHIND THE SCENES

  _*]:min-w-0 !gap-3.5"> Show Notes: In this special Tuesday bonus episode, I’m pulling back the curtain to share some exciting behind-the-scenes changes. I’m introducing a brand new “Real Life, Right Now” section to our weekly newsletters, a space designed to bring you closer into my world and offer genuine, meaningful connection for creative entrepreneurs. This thoughtful addition reflects what I’ve noticed: as creative business owners, we’re craving more authenticity and real stories in an AI driven content landscape. Listen in to discover how I’m constantly evolving to best support your creative journey and help you build a business that feels truly authentic.   Key Moments: [01:29] Behind the scenes of the past six months of business refinement [03:13] The conversation about personal newsletters that sparked this change [03:42] Introduction to the new "Real Life, Right Now" newsletter section with its three components [06:05] Information about our newsletter community and invitation to subscribe   Notable Quotes: "I've been quietly refining everything in the business, getting super clear on how I can best support you and what really makes the biggest difference for creative business owners like you." "People are craving real connection more than ever. I think with so much content being AI generated these days, seeing and hearing more behind the business creates a different kind of relationship."   Resources Mentioned: Handbook: Join The Waitlist  Newsletter: Signup Website: www.philippacraddock.com Email: [email protected]   Share Your Insights: What elements of behind-the-scenes business operations would you find most valuable to hear about? Please send me a DM on Instagram I personally read and respond to all messages. Many of our conversations go on to form the basis to future episodes.   Never Miss an Episode: Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for behind-the-scenes insights, exclusive resources, and first access to new offerings. Our weekly emails are designed to be quick to read, yet packed with practical ideas you can implement immediately in your creative business.

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• 088. PERMISSION TO BE OBSESSED: WHY CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS SHOULD BUILD DIFFERENTLY

  _*]:min-w-0 !gap-3.5"> "I love thinking about my work all the time. It doesn't feel like an imposition, it feels like the privilege of doing something I'm obsessed with." When a friend said this during dinner recently, it struck a chord... This powerful episode explores why creative entrepreneurs often unconsciously limit their potential by trying to fit into industry norms or downplaying their ambition. We're constantly receiving subtle messages to "stay in our lane" or "be realistic", that our dedication to our creative businesses is somehow unhealthy. Instead, I'm inviting you to embrace your healthy obsession as a vital strength and a pathway to sustainable success. Discover why giving yourself permission to be fully absorbed in your work, to think about it constantly, and to build your business around your natural strengths is the key to standout growth in today's competitive creative market. With real stories and actionable insights on how to break free from limiting beliefs, avoid burnout by aligning your hard work with what energises you, and how to recognise your professional value to create a business that truly reflects your authentic expertise. If you've ever felt guilty for being "too obsessed" or worried your ambition is too big, this episode is your 'permission slip' to dream magnificently, work passionately, and build differently, creating a standout creative business that's unapologetically yours and delivers the business growth you desire.   Key Moments: [00:00] Introduction - The subtle ways we're taught to limit ourselves in business [02:01] The dinner conversation that revealed how passion for work is often misunderstood [04:51] Why it's okay to be obsessed with your business in a healthy, energising way [07:42] Moving beyond standard industry practices - The photographer who transformed her business [10:56] The distinction between depleting hard work and energising hard work [13:14] Why there's no universal "best" business model for creative entrepreneurs [14:56] Building from natural strengths - Creating more value with less struggle [16:46] My personal journey of restructuring my flower design business around my unique strengths [20:18] Announcement of the upcoming Handbook on building exceptional creative businesses Join the Waitlist [22:50] Final thoughts on embracing our natural strengths to create businesses that energise rather than exhaust.   Notable Quotes: "What comes naturally to you is often exactly what makes you exceptional. Your distinctive way of approaching projects, of solving problems, of creating experiences—that's not just a personal preference. It's a huge business advantage."   Resources Mentioned: Read: This Week's Full Journal Post Handbook: Join The Waitlist  Website: www.philippacraddock.com Email: [email protected] Share Your Insights: What aspect of your business feels most natural to you? Where do you excel without even trying very hard? I'd love to hear how your business might change if you centered more of your work around this natural strength. Share your thoughts with me on Instagram, where I always make time to read and respond to your messages, however old this episode may be when you listen.   Never Miss an Episode: Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for behind-the-scenes insights into creating a business built around your natural strengths. You'll be the first to receive exclusive resources and learn about new offerings before they're publicly available.

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• 087. 2025 DESIGN TRENDS: WHAT CREATIVE BUSINESS OWNERS NEED TO KNOW

      I've been noticing something fascinating happening in design right now – While AI innovation rushes forward, there's this equally powerful pull back towards handcrafted work and genuine connection. But, rather than feeling pressured to chase every trend (who has the time!?), through insights from Creative Boom's latest industry report this episode shares which 2025 design trends actually matter for small creative businesses, and how they might best complement what you already do brilliantly. These insights from leading design studios reveal opportunities that play to your natural strengths rather than working against them – and isn't that the kind of trend worth paying attention to?   Key Moments: [01:53] Introduction to Creative Boom's 2025 design trends report [03:03] The importance of balancing trend awareness with authentic creative values [04:14] The AI-Human Balance: AI moving beyond ideation to final outputs [06:09] The counter-movement: returning to handcrafted, human-centered design [07:43] The #StarterPackNoAI movement as an example of reclaiming creative space [09:22] The return to physical experiences and creating meaning in a digital world  [12:28] The craft renaissance: personalisation, sustainability, and technology integration [14:25] Design experimentation and breaking away from template-driven sameness [16:30] "Minimalist Maximalism" as an emerging visual approach  [18:50] How these trends create opportunities for small creative businesses   Notable Quotes: "The most successful creative businesses don't blindly follow every trend but thoughtfully incorporate relevant elements that align with their own authentic approach." "This isn't an either/or situation but a rebalancing, where we're getting clearer about where technology adds value and where human creativity remains irreplaceable." "Your greatest asset isn't about how well you follow trends—it's your capacity to create work that only you could make, infused with your combination of skills, experiences, and perspective."   Resources Mentioned: Read: This Week's Full Journal Post Previous Episode Mentioned: What's Really Working On Instagram In 2025 Read: Creative Boom Report, by Katy Cowan: "Design trends for 2025: creative leaders share their vision for the year ahead" Read: Metricool's 2024 Social Media Report Ref: Photographer - Pippa MacKenzie's LIFE photo albums Ref: Design Agencies Mentioned: Wolff Olins Global (Brand Consultancy), Red Antler (Marketing Agency), Rosie Wilson-The #StarterPackNoAI Movement (Illustrator), Jamhot, Fold7Design, Design LSC, Tavern, Bedow, How Studio, DesignUps, SomeOne Website: www.philippacraddock.com Email: [email protected]   Share Your Insights: I'd love to hear which of these design trends resonates most with your creative business. Are you already incorporating some of these movements, or are you seeing different trends emerging in your specific field? Send me a message on Instagram I genuinely value these conversations and learn so much from your experiences, with many of these conversations going on to shape future episodes.   Never Miss an Episode: Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for behind-the-scenes insights into how I'm applying these design trends in my own work. You'll also get exclusive resources about building your business around your exceptional strengths and be the first to hear about new offerings coming soon.

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• 086. WHY COMPARISON FADES WHEN YOU LEAD WITH YOUR STRENGTHS

  Struggling with that constant urge to compare yourself to others in your industry? You’re not alone, that nagging sense of comparison doesn't just affect how you feel, it can fundamentally limit what you build. In this episode we explore why comparison is so persistent for creative entrepreneurs and reveal the subtle mindset shift to make it finally fade away. Discover how leading with your natural strengths, instead of chasing industry “shoulds,” can transform your business from the inside out. I share real stories from you, listeners who’ve broken free from the pressure to fit in, found their unique superpowers, and have started building businesses that feel energising, authentic, and impossible to replicate.   Key Moments: [02:13] The powerful responses from creative entrepreneurs who are embracing their unique strengths [04:32] Why so many creative entrepreneurs feel the weight of comparison and what's actually happening [06:28] How social media and standardised business advice create constant comparison [08:01] The additional ‘complication’ as a creative [10:24] The transformative power of leading with your exceptional strengths  [12:19] How focusing on your natural abilities creates distinctive positioning [13:34] The shift from convincing clients to connecting with the right ones  [16:23] Creating your own momentum and rhythm in business  [19:13] How building from strengths changes your relationship with challenges [22:39] Practical steps to move from comparison to confidence  [23:28] The importance of aligning strengths with what your audience values  [27:45] The broader movement toward more aligned ways of building creative businesses   Notable Quotes: "When we're clear about our exceptional strengths, we naturally create more distinctive offerings. Instead of looking similar to everyone else in our field, we begin to stand out, not through gimmicks or clever marketing, but through the genuine uniqueness of what we offer." "Comparison doesn't just fade when we lead with our strengths, it becomes largely irrelevant. Because when you're building something that's genuinely yours, something rooted in your exceptional strengths, you're no longer on the same path as everyone else. You're creating your own."   Resources Mentioned: Read: This Week's Full Journal Post Episode:  082. Finding Your Exceptional Strength: The Key To An Unstoppable Creative Business Website: www.philippacraddock.com Email: [email protected]   Share Your Insights: What strengths do you find yourself naturally using in your business, even when you don't recognise them as special? I'd love to hear how you're beginning to see your natural abilities in a new light. Send me a message on Instagram I personally read and reply to every DM, many of our conversations shape future episodes.   Never Miss an Episode: Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for behind-the-scenes insights, early access to new resources, and weekly guidance on building a business that feels genuinely yours. You'll be the first to know about new offerings and receive exclusive content not shared anywhere else.  

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