Creative Courage

Does business feel a bit slow at the moment?

You’ve got the portfolio, but enquiries and referrals aren’t coming in like they used to.

And with AI rapidly evolving, a lot of creatives are asking themselves if things are only going to get worse.

In this episode, I break down the shift I believe every creative business owner needs to make if they want to stay relevant, profitable and in demand over the next 5–10 years.

Most studios aren’t struggling because their work isn’t good enough, they’re struggling because of how they’re positioned. And that positioning is turning them into commodities.

I walk you through the “4 Ps of Power Positioning” that will make you irreplaceable. I’ve seen this work for so many creative business owners. So, if business is feeling slow, or you’re earning less than you should be, this is for you.

Covered in this episode:

Why business feels slow right now.

The positioning mistakes struggling studios are making.

The ‘4 Ps’ that keep businesses relevant and growing.

What AI can’t replace.

Myths around niching.

How to avoid pricing ceilings.

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/playlist?list=PLcf0CcYK3MtnITQCyGXoVVR-eTu8SEbAV

You do great work.

You have all the case studies and testimonials.

But you still feel invisible.

This is a problem most creative founders face. They want to be seen as the go-to expert. The name that gets mentioned in rooms they’re not even in.

But instead, they’re constantly chasing projects and wondering why people with less experience are getting all the attention.

In this episode, I sit down with Sabrina Stocker, serial entrepreneur, Founder of Two Comma PR and former Apprentice candidate, to unpack what it takes to build visibility and authority as a creative.

Sabrina has built a powerful personal brand, spoken on some of the UK’s biggest stages and grown an audience of over 50,000 followers.

We explore the strategies and mindset shifts that separate leading authorities from talented but overlooked creatives, and how to position yourself so the right people start coming to you.

If you feel undervalued and overlooked, this episode will change the way you think about authority and how to build it.

Covered in this episode:

The 3 steps to becoming the go-to expert in your industry.

Why creatives should pay attention to AEO.

How to go from visibility to paying clients.

What most creatives get wrong about their offering.

How to build relationships and get into the right rooms.

How Sabrina has been able to speak on some of the UK’s biggest stages.

Operating at a high level as an introvert.

Simple ways to gain respect on a sales call.

What needs to be in place before seeking PR opportunities.

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

Two Comma PR - https://twocommapr.com/ 

Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator

CONNECT 

Sabrina Stocker on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinastocker/ 

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/playlist?list=PLcf0CcYK3MtnITQCyGXoVVR-eTu8SEbAV

Most creative founders don’t struggle because their work isn’t good enough.

They struggle because the business they’ve built, or the role that they play within that business, isn’t right for them.

In this episode, I’m joined by Sam Ramsden, Founder of film production studio, Dojo Films.

Sam has been employed in the creative industry, he’s freelanced, and now he’s running an agency. But throughout his journey, Sam has found that success on paper doesn’t automatically mean fulfilment.

We dive deep into the shifts that Sam had to make within his business to allow him to do more of the work that he loves, while still scaling.

If you’ve ever found yourself losing the creativity that made you start your business in the first place, this conversation is for you.

Covered in this episode:

How Sam built a film production studio working across 16 countries remotely.

Can creativity truly be standardised?

How niching can allow a business to be more creative.

Choosing the role within your business that’s right for you.

Agency vs one-person studio and when each model makes sense.

When giving work away for free can make you more money.

The “fun, fame, fortune” test to decide which projects to say yes to.

What to do if you hate sales but still want to scale.

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 

Dojo Films - https://dojofilms.co.uk/ 

Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator

CONNECT 

Sam Ramsden on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramsden-sam/ 

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/id17215157999

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcf0CcYK3MtnITQCyGXoVVR-eTu8SEbAV

“Be authentic.”

You hear it all the time in the branding space.

But what if authenticity wasn’t actually possible?

In this episode, I’m joined by James Martin (Made By James) for a very different kind of conversation.

We dive into the idea of why “authenticity” when it comes to branding is misleading, why so many creatives end up bored of their businesses, the shifts happening in the creative industry and a whole lot more.

You’re either going to love this conversation, or hate it.

And if you’re a James Martin fan, and want to hear him take the p*ss out of me, you’ll probably love it.

Covered in this episode:

Why “authentic” brands don’t exist.

Evidence vs. perception and why you need both.

Why followers don’t equal success.

What a brand really is.

Why creatives get bored more easily than most.

The shifts that are happening in the creative industry.

Defining your own version of success.

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 

James Martin on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-martin-3b594698 

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/playlist?list=PLcf0CcYK3MtnITQCyGXoVVR-eTu8SEbAV

You’re probably paying more tax than you need to.

And for a lot of creative business owners, that extra tax can become a real burden and slow down growth.

In this episode, I’m joined by Pali Banwait, who shares some advice on how you can avoid paying more tax than you should be paying.

But our conversation goes a lot deeper than tax.

Pali is the founder of Strive, which helps entrepreneurs set up businesses in Dubai and he’s also founded and invested in many other businesses over the last 20 years, which has given him a unique perspective on what makes a business thrive.

We dive into how to run your business like an entrepreneur and not just a creative, how to spot risk early before things go wrong, and why so many businesses are moving overseas.

If you want to keep more of what you earn, build a healthier business and stop wasting money through avoidable mistakes, this episode is for you.

Covered in this episode:

Why you’re probably paying too much tax and how to fix it.

The biggest misconceptions people have about setting up a business in Dubai.

How to know if moving your business is worth it.

The hidden risks most founders miss when making financial decisions.

Why you need more than just a bookkeeper to manage your business finances.

How a SWOT analysis can help you avoid upcoming risks and capitalise on your strengths.

Why reporting is essential for any business and how to get it right as a creative.

Getting feedback from clients and using it to grow your business.

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 

Strive - https://www.strivedubai.com/ 

Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator

CONNECT 

Pali Banwait on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/palibanwait/ 

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/playlist?list=PLcf0CcYK3MtnITQCyGXoVVR-eTu8SEbAV