Creative Courage with Matt Essam

By Matt EssamBusiness Education Arts Self-Improvement Marketing Design

Creative Courage with Matt Essam episodes

August 19 When Life Works: Build Your Personal 'Flow' List
Imagine feeling like every day is one of your best days. In this episode, I walk you through my “When Life Works” list: a handful of controllable habits and inputs that reliably make your days feel more energized, grounded, and joyful. No long rituals or 5am fads just practical, personal things you can use to see subtle but real shifts in how you feel day to day.

Give it a go and see what changes after seven days. If you enjoyed this please share this episode with a friend.

Connect with me on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/
12 min
August 12How to find out what really makes you happy
Humans are terrible at predicting what will actually make them happy. So how do we avoid wasting years of our life chasing things that won't give us what we are actually looking for. Today I'm breaking down "goal renting", which involves deliberately testing a goal in real life before committing years of sacrifice to it. I walk through my own experiment as well as many other examples. Ultimately closing the the gap between what you think you want and what you actually want.
You'll learn:
Why stress-testing a goal beats logically reasoning your way to it
How to compress the time between clarity and experience
A simple framework for testing big life goals (more free time, relocating, buying property) in weeks instead of years
Why the people who already have what you want are your best and most honest source of information
How I reward myself along the way to a long-term goal, instead of only at the finish line
Whether you're craving more time, eyeing a lifestyle change, or just chasing a goal you've never actually tested, this episode gives you a practical way to find out if it's really what you want.
I'm Matt Essam the business coach to creative studio founders and author of The Creative Studio Roadmap.
🎧 Subscribe for weekly episodes on courage, creativity, and building a business (and life) on your own terms.
🔗 Connect with me on LinkedIn.
15 min
August 05 Whose Permission Are You Waiting For?
If you’ve ever felt stuck in your business or life and didn’t know why, this episode might be worth a listen.
This week I threw thousands of hours of coaching calls into Claude and one common pattern came up...

The one thing that keeps most founders stuck is waiting for permission. Most of us know what to do but we have subconscious patterns that keep us stuck, often waiting for permission from someone that isn't even around anymore.
These patterns can show up in your pricing, your sales calls and even your positioning. In this episode I explore how to spot the patterns and break them once and for all.
Whose permission are you still waiting for? This episode is a warm invite to look inward, update your script, and get out of your own way so you can do the work you actually want to do.

Please hit the subscribe button if you found this useful and share it with a friend.
24 min
July 29 Do this if you're struggling to decide
Are you struggling to make a decision or simply feel overwhelmed with options?

In this episode, I discuss my own struggles with decision making and break down four principles that have helped me to make decisions faster.

Whether you are at a crossroads or just feel overwhelmed with options, these principles might get you unstuck and making better decisions.

If you found the episode valuable, please hit subscribe and share it with a friend.

31 min
July 22 Why I Closed My Business (Solo Episode)
I'm back with another episode of the Creative Courage Podcast. Today I'm talking about why I closed my business, what freedom means and how to build a financial buffer in your business.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you are subscribed and share it with a friend. Connect with me on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/
29 min
April 22The Formula For Attracting Your Ideal Clients On LinkedIn with Sam Browne
If you’re like most creative business owners, you’ve probably dabbled with posting on LinkedIn, but you’ve found that even with consistency, no-one pays attention.
Sam Browne is an entrepreneur and LinkedIn strategist who has built multiple six-figure businesses and has grown an audience of over 100,000 followers.
Sam spent nearly 20 years operating his creative businesses in silence before stepping into the spotlight, sharing his story, and attracting his first 50,000 LinkedIn followers in just a year.
And in this episode, we unpack why so many creative founders struggle to get traction on LinkedIn and how to turn your story into something that makes your ideal clients pay attention.
If you’ve been posting consistently but haven’t seen results, this will help you understand what’s missing and how to fix it.
Covered in this episode:
How Sam scaled multiple six-figure businesses.
The litmus test for knowing if a business idea is worth pursuing.
How Sam grew to 50k LinkedIn followers in a year.
The biggest mistakes agency owners are making on LinkedIn.
How to write posts that don’t get ignored.
Turning your story into content that attracts ideal clients.
The 3 types of LinkedIn content and when to use each one.
How to sell through your posts without driving people away.
Optimising your profile and connection requests to reach more ideal clients and partners.
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.
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
Sam Browne on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-browne/
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
1 hr 9 min
April 15If You Feel Lost, Ask Yourself This Question…
It’s understandable if you feel a bit lost right now.
There’s more noise and pressure than ever for business owners.
And we try to make the right decisions, but the right path isn’t always obvious.
In this episode, I wanted to do something a bit different. This is more of a conversation I wanted to have with you. I share the crossroads that I’ve faced over the last few years in my business and the questions I ask myself to find clarity.
If you’ve been feeling stuck or unsure about which direction to take in your life and business, this episode will help you to move forward with intention.
Covered in this episode:
Why it’s normal to feel lost (especially right now).
The crossroads many founders reach in their business.
The questions to ask yourself to find clarity.
Identifying your skill gaps.
Why every business decision comes with trade-offs.
How to uncover hidden risks before making a move.
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
17 min
April 08Are You Undercharging? Use This Number To Find Out…
It might feel like you’re charging the right amount.
Your close rate is good.
The business is running smoothly.
But what if you could charge more without increasing your hours? Most creative business owners wouldn’t say no to that.
And there’s a number most creative founders are missing that can easily tell them whether or not they’re undercharging.
In this episode, I share what that number is and how you can apply it.
If you’re consistently winning work but you feel too busy, or want to find out if you’re leaving money on the table, this is for you.
Covered in this episode:
The number that tells you if you’re undercharging.
What a healthy close rate looks like.
Why a high close rate can actually be a red flag.
How to make more money without working more hours.
Packaging your offer to prevent taking on underpaying clients.
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
11 min
April 01Uncovering The Hidden Patterns Holding You Back with Kristy Campbell
Most creative founders think their business needs them to survive.
That if they step away, everything will slow down or fall apart.
But what if the opposite is true?
In this episode, I’m joined by Kristy Campbell, Founder of Pink Pony Creative. Kristy has built a social media following of hundreds of thousands.
But what makes this conversation interesting isn’t just what Kristy has built, it’s how she’s been able to step away from the business and keep it growing.
We unpack what happened when Kristy took time away from her business after having a baby and how the business and her following continued to grow without her. We also have a mini coaching session, where I help Kristy uncover some of the hidden patterns and limiting beliefs that hold many creatives back.
If you’ve ever felt like your business depends too much on you, or you feel stuck in ways that you can’t quite explain, this episode will help you see what’s really going on.
Covered in this episode:
Why creative business owners find it so difficult to step away from the delivery.
How Kristy’s business continued to grow while she took time off.
How to maintain a steady stream of content.
What creatives get wrong with social media that limits growth.
The strategy behind Kristy growing an audience of over 300k.
Why following what other successful businesses are doing doesn’t always work.
Identifying the “phantom patterns” influencing your decisions.
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
Kristy Campbell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristy-campbell-pinkpony/
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
1 hr 1 min
March 25Scarcity Mode vs. Opportunity Mode - Which One Are You In?
As a creative business owner, it can feel like there’s a lack of opportunities out there.
Like you’ve exhausted all possibilities, or, people “just aren’t buying at the moment”.
But often, the opportunities are there, we’re just not in the right mindset to see them.
We’re in ‘scarcity mode’, rather than ‘opportunity mode’.
And when we’re in scarcity mode, our brain switches to fight or flight. We make defensive decisions and we stop seeing opportunities that are right in front of us.
In this episode, I break down the difference between scarcity mode and opportunity mode, how scarcity damages your sales and creativity and the practical steps you can take to shift your thinking when panic starts creeping in.
Because once you learn to recognise it, you’ll start seeing opportunities showing up everywhere. And you’re more likely to land them when they do.
Covered in this episode:
The difference between “scarcity mode” and “opportunity mode”.
Why scarcity thinking leads to bad business decisions.
How panic harms creativity.
The real reason many creatives stay stuck in a feast and famine cycle.
Techniques to pull yourself out of scarcity mode.
Why more opportunities exist around you than you think.
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
19 min