Most people are either hyping AI to sell you something, or warning that it’s about to end your career. But what if there’s a more grounded, useful way to think about it?

In this episode, I introduce the first pillar of the Iron Man Model for video production business owners: AI. Not as a gimmick. Not as a threat. But as a powerful tool that, when used wisely, can make your business leaner, faster, and more profitable.

We’ll talk about how to use AI to travel light, increase your creative output, and build a system that supports you, instead of the other way around. I’ll also share how I’ve been training AI to think and work more like me, and how you can do the same.

This isn’t about hype. It’s about practical, thoughtful steps you can take right now.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by all the noise around AI, this episode will help you cut through it.

Mentioned in this episode:

• The Iron Man Model for video businesses

• Ueli Steck and the alpine climbing metaphor

• Why most AI predictions are wrong

• How to train AI to become your second brain

• Specific tools and use cases for AI in video production

If you run a video production company and want help applying these ideas to your own business, check out my coaching. You'll find everything you need there. No sales calls, just clear info and real support.

Ryanspanger.com/coaching

Welcome to the very first Short Cuts episode. These quick, focused sessions will drop at the end of each week to leave you with one big idea to reflect on, question, or put into action.

This week, I want to talk about a story that comes up often in the video production industry. You’ve probably heard it. You might have even told it yourself.

But what if that story is holding you back more than you realise?
What if the thing you see as a threat is actually something else entirely?

In this short episode, I’ll challenge a common industry narrative and offer a different lens to see it through. One that might change the way you think about competition, creativity, and your own place in the game.

Connect with Ryan Spanger: www.ryanspanger.com
Coaching for Video Business Owners: www.ryanspanger.com/coaching
Dream Engine Video Production: www.dreamengine.com.au

Most superheroes were born with powers or had them thrust upon them.
But Iron Man? He built his own.

In this episode of The Business of Video Production Podcast, I explore why Tony Stark is the perfect metaphor for video production business owners.

You don’t need to wait to be chosen or build a big team to succeed. You can create your own 'suit' by using systems, tools, AI, and innovation to amplify your power, stay lean, and create more freedom.

I break down what I call the Iron Man Model, including:

• Why AI can be your thinking partner, not just a tool for automation

• How outsourcing and offshoring help you stay focused on high-value work

• Setting up marketing systems that work while you are busy with clients

• Innovating your workflow, services, and offers to stay ahead of the curve

• And the most important part of all: your own personal transformation

I also challenge the traditional business advice around scaling, adding staff, and chasing revenue milestones. Because sometimes what looks like growth actually builds a cage.

If you have ever felt like your business owns you instead of the other way around, this episode is for you.

Links & Resources:
🎧 Episode 16 – The Perfect Model for a Production Company
🔗 Learn about coaching with me: ryanspanger.com
💬 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Ryan Spanger on LinkedIn

Before you master the tactics and strategies of building a thriving video production business, there's something deeper you need to look at: your relationship with ambition.

In this episode, I explore why ambition is one of the most misunderstood and underused forces for creative business owners. Many of us were taught to tone it down, play small, or not reach too high. Over time, those messages can create an inner resistance to going after what we truly want.

But here's the thing. You can't build a remarkable business if you're holding yourself back.

We’ll explore:

• Why ambition is not the same as greed

• How childhood messages and cultural conditioning may be limiting you

• The hidden shame that can come with wanting "too much"

• How to reconnect with a healthy, natural sense of drive

• Why ambition is essential for resilience and growth in your business

Whether you're running a lean solo operation or leading a growing team, you need access to that inner fire. The creative fuel that drives bold decisions, consistent action, and real success.

This is a foundational conversation for any video business owner who is ready to stop playing small and start reaching their full potential.

If you’ve ever downplayed your ambition to feel safe or accepted, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now and reconnect with the energy that will move your business forward.

—
Want coaching support to unlock your ambition and grow your business with confidence?
Visit ryanspanger.com to learn more.

While I'm taking a short 4-week break from releasing new episodes, I am bringing back some listener favourites. Today’s rerun is a powerful one: Sales for Non-Salesy Video Producers.

In this episode, I share how "non-salesy" video producers, the ones who do not feel like natural salespeople, can actually become some of the most effective and trusted at selling their services.

You will hear about:

• Why being authentic is your biggest sales advantage

• How to build a sales process that feels natural instead of forced

• The power of educating and empowering clients rather than convincing or pressuring them

• A personal story about winning a client by simply being honest and direct

• Why a strong marketing flywheel makes sales easier and removes desperation from the process

If you have ever felt uncomfortable selling, or if you want to sell in a way that aligns with your values and personality, this episode is for you.

Thank you for listening while I'm on a short break. I will be back with brand-new episodes soon.

🎧 If you missed it, make sure also to check out Episode 5: Developing an Authentic Sales Process for Videographers. It's the perfect companion to today’s topic.

After 25 years in the industry, I’ve refined a video production business model that is profitable, sustainable, and aligned with how I want to live and work. In this episode, I break it down so you can consider whether parts of it might work for you too.

We cover:

• Why I prefer working directly with businesses instead of through agencies

• The types of video services I offer and why I don’t niche too narrowly

• My sweet spot when it comes to project budgets

• The ideal team structure for agility and profit

• Office setups that keep overheads low and flexibility high

• Why I avoid owning a studio and what I do instead

I’ll also share practical questions to help you design your own business model: one that supports your goals, lifestyle, and income targets.

If you're ready to build a video production business that actually works for you, this episode is a great place to start.

Visit ryanspanger.com/coaching to learn more about working together.

When you hear the words Video Production Proposal, do you feel excited… or overwhelmed?

If you’re in the corporate B2B space, writing effective proposals is a crucial part of winning work. But many video producers treat them as an afterthought or necessary evil. In this episode, I’ll show you how to turn your proposals into powerful sales tools that impress prospects and help you land high-value projects.

We’ll cover:

• Why proposals matter (and why skipping them can cost you work)

• The difference between quotes, proposals, and tenders

• A proven structure for persuasive proposals

• Common mistakes that cause proposals to fail

• How to make your proposals stand out visually and strategically

You’ll walk away with practical tips you can use to improve your current proposal process, close more deals, and present your business in the best possible light.

Whether you're sending proposals to corporate clients, government agencies, or educational institutions, this episode will help you approach them with clarity and confidence.

👉 Want help refining your proposal or sales process? Visit www.ryanspanger.com/coaching to learn more about my coaching for video producers.

It’s been one year since this podcast launched—and this episode is both a reflection and a celebration. In Episode 52, I’m sharing the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the past 12 months of creating The Business of Video Production podcast. If you're a regular listener, this will give you some behind-the-scenes insight into my process. And if you run a video production business, these lessons will likely resonate with your journey too.

I’ll talk about:

• The courage to begin—and the magic that happens when you just start

• Why having a clear strategy (and evolving it) matters

• How committing to quality and going old school helped me stay consistent

• What it means to build a no-compromise business and podcast

• How resisting the urge to quit—and trusting your instincts—can change everything

• The power of reflection, and looking at the “gain,” not the “gap”

  
  

I’m also taking a short break to run the 90-Day Video Business Transformation, a group coaching program for video business owners who want to completely transform their operations. While I’m away, I’ll replay some of the most popular episodes from the past year.

Thanks so much for coming on this journey with me. It’s been a wild, fulfilling, and meaningful ride, and I can’t wait to share what’s next.

In this episode of The Business of Video Production podcast, I walk you step-by-step through the 90-day transformation process that I’ll be guiding a small group of video business owners through—starting next week. Whether you join the group or take the solo route, this episode is packed with practical, actionable strategies to help you create real momentum in your business.

We cover:

• Why non-negotiable commitment beats goal-setting

• A simple sales prospecting method you can start today

• How to get your website working for you (not against you)

• What most people miss about LinkedIn—and how to get it right

• How to understand your ideal client on a deep, emotional level

• Using your existing content and case studies to drive new business

• Creating content consistently without losing your unique voice

• Building packages and offers that are clear, valuable, and irresistible

• Developing a non-salesy sales process that actually works

• Why financial analysis and weekly P&L check-ins are underrated

• How to bring it all together and keep the momentum going

This episode isn’t just theory. It’s a practical blueprint for how to grow a more confident, consistent, and profitable video business, one step at a time.

🎯 Want to join the 90-day transformation program?

Spots are limited. Learn more at ryanspanger.com/transformation

🎥 Curious about results other business owners have achieved?

Watch real client reviews at ryanspanger.com/reviews

What if the next 90 days could completely change the trajectory of your business?

In this episode, we build on last week’s conversation about the shifting landscape of the video production industry. AI, outsourcing, client expectations—it’s all evolving fast. And the truth is, just being good at your craft isn’t enough anymore.

So what do you do in the face of all this change?

You need more than hope. You need a plan.
And in this episode, I share mine.

This is about how to respond with clarity instead of panic. How to stop drifting, and start building. I’ll walk you through the key areas to focus on if you want to future-proof your video business and regain momentum.

We’ll cover:

• Why “so far, so good” is a dangerous mindset in a shifting industry

• What it actually looks like to take control of your business direction

• The core systems and strategies most production companies overlook

• Why structure, focus, and community are more essential now than ever

• And how to make real progress, without burning yourself out

If you’ve been feeling stuck, unsure, or quietly frustrated with how things are going: this is a conversation you’ll want to hear.

🎧 Press play. Let’s get to work.

Learn more at https://www.ryanspanger.com/transformation