Creative Courage

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 [https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/salesframework]  Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator [https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator] CONNECT  Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/]  LISTEN  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT [https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT]  Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799] YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam [https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam]

Most creative business owners are measuring success the wrong way. It’s easy to get caught up in only measuring tangible outputs like how much revenue you’ve taken each month or how your team is performing. But what happens when you spend hours and hours on business development and those results don’t immediately show up? Does that mean you haven’t been successful? This fixation on the outputs is causing many creative business owners to feel stuck and demotivated because they’re overlooking the real indicators of success. The hidden indicators that, with consistency, would bring them inevitable results. In this episode, I’m going to help you to reframe how you view success. You’ll learn how to spot hidden signs of progress, so you can stay motivated and keep growing your business - even when the big wins don’t show up immediately. Covered in this episode: * Why focusing solely on the tangible outputs can stall growth. * How to identify and celebrate the ‘invisible’ success indicators. * The key inputs you need to focus on to make reaching your targets inevitable. * How consistency and celebrating small wins can transform your business. * Why many creative business owners are taking their foot off the accelerator too quickly and missing out on success. * Real-life examples of how inputs have led to major breakthroughs for my clients. * 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 [https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator] CONNECT  Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/]   LISTEN  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT [https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT]  Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799] YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam [https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam]

What would it be like if you could grow your creative business without having to find new clients? That’s exactly what the ‘realignment process’ can do for you. In this episode, I’m breaking down the powerful strategy I've been using with my coaching clients to raise prices and increase profits without signing any new business. Most creative agencies rely on repeat clients, but the stream of work can be inconsistent and it makes increasing prices difficult. By using the realignment strategy, you’ll be able to consistently deliver value, position yourself as an expert (not just a worker), and strengthen your client relationships, while breaking free from legacy pricing. If you’re not regularly realigning with your clients, relationships can easily fall out of sync. And if you’re like most creatives, most of your conversations with clients happen over email and are focused purely on projects. But if you want to unlock hidden opportunities and keep clients coming back, realignment is essential. Covered in this episode: * How realigning with your clients is essential to growing your creative business. * How to pitch the idea of realignment calls to clients so that they’re excited to be involved. * Structuring the four elements of a realignment call. * How to deliver value that positions you as an essential partner, not just a 'nice to have'. * Ways of getting valuable feedback and uncovering new opportunities during realignment conversations. * Why giving away your best ideas for free can actually drive more 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.   LEARN MORE  The Realignment Process free guide - https://doc.clickup.com/9016164712/d/h/8cpfgb8-12016/d5b6344464a29c7 [https://doc.clickup.com/9016164712/d/h/8cpfgb8-12016/d5b6344464a29c7] Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator [https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator] CONNECT  Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/]  LISTEN  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT [https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT] Apple Podcasts -  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799] YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam [https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam]

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 [https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator] CONNECT  Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/] LISTEN  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT [https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT] Apple Podcasts -  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799] YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam [https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam]

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 [https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator] ScoreApp - https://scoreapp.com/ [https://scoreapp.com/]  CONNECT  Kai Cheng on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/akaicheng/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/akaicheng/]  Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/]  LISTEN  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT [https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT]   Apple Podcasts -  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799] YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam [https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam]