"A creative business cannot be structured like any other business. Why? Because wasting time is where the magic comes in. You cannot productise that." - Marko Pfann

Former broadcast design studio owner turned creative business mentor Marko Pfann shares insights from scaling a studio to €4 million in 18 months and its eventual dissolution. He discusses the challenges of creative business growth, the importance of authentic relationships over automated systems, and his approach to helping creative studios find sustainable success without sacrificing creativity. 

Through his journey from running a high-pressure broadcast design studio to becoming a mentor, Pfann emphasises the critical balance between structure and creative freedom. His current work with partners including OFFF founder Hector Ayuso focuses on helping creative businesses define meaningful goals while maintaining their innovative spirit and avoiding the pitfalls of over-productisation.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Creative businesses need structure but shouldn't follow traditional business models that kill creativity
• Building genuine relationships is more valuable than automated lead generation for securing major clients
• Getting out of your comfort zone is essential for growth, even if you don't know exactly where you're heading
• Goals should focus on who you want to become rather than just what you want to have
• Success in creative business requires balancing risk-taking with wisdom gained from experience
• The creative industry often struggles with anxiety and insecurity, making authentic self-expression crucial
• True leadership in creative work means asking questions and challenging clients' beliefs rather than just executing their requests
• Personal growth and business growth are interconnected - breaking conditioning and developing new patterns is essential
• Long-term thinking often leads to short-term gains in creative business
• The path to creative success isn't about productizing everything but about maintaining space for innovation and exploration

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

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