Creative Courage with Matt Essam

By Matt EssamBusiness Education Arts Self-Improvement Marketing Design

Creative Courage with Matt Essam episodes

January 15, 2025The Proven Formula To Landing Celebrity Clients Like Will Smith & Red Bull
Will Smith, Jay Shetty, Red Bull and Vice are just some of the names that Tim Fare-Matthews has landed for his video production agency. In this episode, Tim shares a peak behind the scenes of exactly how he has achieved this.
If you’re struggling to win over corporates, raise your rates and run your business while producing exceptional results for clients, this episode is for you.
Whether you run a video production agency, animation studio or graphic design studio, these are the key foundational principles for running your business and landing better clients.
Covered in this episode:
Secrets to landing higher-paying clients and getting consistent referrals.
Essentials for surviving as a creative you may not have thought of.
Tips for winning agency clients and how to keep them happy.
What big brands are really looking for in a creative professional.
How will AI affect the creative industry and how to prepare for it.
Balancing delivering an exceptional service and running a sustainable 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.
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/roadmap.

LEARN MORE
Financially Free Filmmaker - https://www.financiallyfreefilmmaker.com/
Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator
CONNECT
Timothy Fare-Matthews on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfmatthews/
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/@Matt_Essam
42 min
January 08, 2025STOP Making New Years Resolutions - Do THIS Instead…
Did you achieve your New Year’s resolutions last year? If you’re like most people, probably not, as stats show that 80% of people fail their resolutions by February.
New Year’s resolutions often set us up for failure, but if you’re looking for transformation in your life and business in 2025, there’s a better way.
In this episode, I share a strategy that you can use to give you a far better chance of reaching your goals. You’ll discover the 3-step process I use to avoid repeating past mistakes and set meaningful, achievable goals for the year ahead.
Covered in this episode:
Why New Year's resolutions don’t work.
What to do instead to get better results.
Uncovering what worked and what didn’t in 2024.
How to build on the successes and avoid repeating past mistakes.
How to achieve more in 2025 without burning out.
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/roadmap.

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/@Matt_Essam
20 min
January 01, 2025The Secret To Making Better Decisions in 2025
If you’ve been running your business for a while, deep down, you probably know what you need to do to grow faster and make more money.
Over the past decade, I’ve coached some of the world’s leading creatives, and often they’re coming to me for permission, rather than answers. They know they shouldn’t have taken on that client or hired that team member.
So what stops them from trusting their intuition?
Fear.
Their intuition is trying to steer them in the right direction, but fear and other external factors are holding them back.
In this episode, I’m diving deep into the power of intuition, why it’s crucial for creative business owners, and how to start trusting yourself so you can make better decisions.
If you ever struggle to take the steps you know are right for your business, this episode is for you.
In this episode, we cover:
What intuition is and why it’s so vital for decision-making in your business.
The reasons people ignore their intuition.
Why it’s so difficult to say no to opportunities that aren’t right for us.
How to find the courage to trust yourself.
The emotional patterns keeping you stuck and how to break free from them.
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
Don’t Trust Your Gut book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dont-Trust-Your-Gut-Really/dp/0062880918
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/@Matt_Essam
23 min
December 23, 2024Lessons From The Agency Owner I Paid £10K A Month To Be Coached By
Does your business feel like more of a prison than a passion?
That somewhere along the line, it’s drifted off course from the business you envisioned?
In this episode, I’m joined by Dan Bolton, a business coach I paid £10k a month to learn from. It's the most I've ever invested in coaching and I wanted to gift you the experience of hearing some of Dan's lessons as he evolved from youth pastor to multiple 7-figure agency owner.
This conversation isn't really about number though (I just mentioned them to sound impressive). It's really a practical guide for anyone that feels stuck or out of sync with their business.
Dan shares a ton of insight on how to identify the hidden problems in your business, make bold but necessary changes, and redefine success in a way that aligns with you.
In this episode, we cover:
How to know when your business is out of alignment.
What to do if you’re running a business you don’t love anymore.
When to scale and when to pull back
What you need to fix before you can fix your business.
The blockers that keep creatives from earning more money.
Why it’s essential to turn down some seemingly good opportunities.
And so 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/roadmap.

LEARN MORE
Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator
CONNECT
Dan Bolton on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bolton/
Dan Bolton on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtscWUoZcVzlOT-76DxMqyA
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/@Matt_Essam
52 min
December 18, 2024Why Fear and Scarcity Are Killing Your Business (And How to Fix It) with Sebastian Bates
After a serious BASE jumping accident that shattered both his legs, doctors told Sebastian Bates he may never walk again.
During Seb’s 2 years of rehab, he lost 15 of his close friends, leaving him with PTSD and major survivors’ guilt.
After a journey of personal development, Seb is now the founder of Warrior Academy, the largest martial arts academy in the Middle East. Seb teaches thousands of kids worldwide while leading a team of 100. Seb has also built several other six-figure businesses and founded a charitable organisation that’s doing incredible things for disadvantaged children globally.
This is one of the most fascinating conversations I’ve had in a long time. Seb shares fundamental principles of courage and resilience that are transformative for creative business owners.
If you want to overcome imposter syndrome, develop resilience, and break through the barriers holding their business back, this episode is for you.
Covered in this episode:
How a near-fatal accident shaped Sebastian’s journey.
Why courage is the most critical trait for success and how to get more of it.
Practical exercises to overcome fear and replace anxiety with excitement.
The impact of a scarcity mindset on creativity and how to break free from it.
How to leave your comfort zone without becoming overwhelmed and burnt out.
The biggest mistakes leading to fear-based decision-making and how to avoid them.
The real indicators of success beyond sales figures.
And so 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
Warrior Academy - https://www.warrioracademy.co.uk/
The Bates Foundation - https://www.batesfamilyfoundation.org/
Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator
CONNECT
Sebastian Bates on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-bates-4b70412b/
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/@Matt_Essam
51 min
December 11, 2024ONLY Work With THESE Types Of Clients
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
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/@Matt_Essam
12 min
December 04, 2024The Hidden Indicators Of Success You NEED To Pay Attention To
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
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/@Matt_Essam
12 min
November 27, 2024Unlock Hidden Revenue Opportunities From Existing Clients With THIS Strategy
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
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/@Matt_Essam
16 min
November 20, 2024The 4 Seasons of Business Every Creative Business Owner Needs to Understand
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
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/@Matt_Essam
26 min
November 13, 20243 Strategies To Take Your Business From Surviving To Thriving with Kai Cheng
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
ScoreApp - https://scoreapp.com/
CONNECT
Kai Cheng on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/akaicheng/
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/@Matt_Essam
45 min