Creative Courage Matt Essam

Wouldn’t it be nice to attract your ideal clients without having to send hundreds of proposals and spend countless hours on sales calls?
Mark Leruste joins me in this episode to share his strategies for doing just that. Mark is the king of ‘Storyselling’. His TED Talk, ‘What they don’t tell you about entrepreneurship’ has amassed over one million views, and he gets paid five-figure sums to speak for blue-chip clients like Google, Nike, and Adobe.
We have a focused conversation on exactly how you can use your story to attract your dream clients and gain the upper hand in creative pitches. 
Storytelling doesn’t come naturally to a lot of us, but the frameworks that Mark shares will allow you to plug your story into your brand and start truly connecting with your audience.
Covered in this episode:
How to use your story to attract your dream clients.
The 3-step framework to transform your portfolio.
How our attraction to stories is biologically ingrained in us all.
Why politicians tell stories over sharing figures.
How to turn client case studies into powerful client stories.
The 5 types of stories that you can use to connect with your audience.
How to guarantee useful testimonials from your clients.
Techniques for building empathy with your clients and making them feel seen.
How stories can make sales more enjoyable for creatives who hate sales.
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
Mark Leruste - https://www.markleruste.com/
Storycast - https://www.storycast.co/
Mark’s TED Talk - https://youtu.be/f6nxcfbDfZo
CONNECT
Mark Leruste on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markleruste/
Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/
LISTEN
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT?si=c5205d3971864d8e
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam

Sales don’t happen without people. So, why are so many creatives so adverse to building relationships?
In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Daniel Priestley. Daniel is a best-selling author and entrepreneur, who launched his first company at 21 and grew it to a multi-million dollar enterprise by 25. He’s grown businesses around the world, and in this episode, he shares with us his insights on sales, gratitude, and success.
We dive deep into the skills and mindset that creative business owners need to grow their businesses. We speak about the importance of building relationships and how you can build them in a way that works for you. We get a look into Daniel’s mindset that enables him to perform as an entrepreneur and so much more.
Covered in this episode:
Why your relationships could make or break your business success.
How to build more relationships as an introvert.
How to get better at selling as a creative.
Understanding your worth and what you have to offer the world.
Escaping a downtrodden view of the world and the impacts that your mindset has on your business.
The concept of three mindsets: The Empire Builder, The Reptile, and The Autopilot, and how they can affect us as business owners.
The difference between creativity and imagination and why it’s so important to understand.
Understanding how to deliver real value that people actually need.
How using ScoreApp can help you to collect more useful information on your leads.
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
Daniel Priestley - https://danielpriestley.com/
Key Person of Influence - https://www.keypersonofinfluence.com/
ScoreApp - https://www.scoreapp.com/
CONNECT
Daniel Priestley on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielpriestley/
Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/
LISTEN
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT?si=c5205d3971864d8e
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam

Angelina Jolie, Drew Barrymore, Dua Lipa. These are just some of the famous faces that Dan Kennedy has photographed.
Dan is a London-based portrait and fashion photographer who’s worked with some of the biggest names in the world and he joins us in this episode to share his insight.
Not only does Dan share some incredible stories of his experiences of working with his celebrity clients, but he also gives us a look into the way that he captures the confidence of his clients and ensures he’s able to consistently get results to be proud of, often in a very short space of time - these are busy people we’re talking about.
We speak about how, as a creative, to stay ahead of the competition. We learn about the research that goes into each job before the client has stepped through the studio door. We go into strengths and weaknesses as a creative and why it’s important to understand and communicate them. And much more.
Covered in this episode:
How Dan Kennedy is able to take control and exude confidence in his photography sessions with famous celebrities.
The major faux pas that Dan has learnt from to avoid losing clients’ confidence.
The importance of resourcefulness as a creative.
Training the creative muscle and not getting left behind.
Knowing what your strengths and weaknesses are and capitalising on them.
What is the future of photography where AI is concerned?
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
Dan Kennedy - https://www.danielkennedy.com/
CONNECT
Dan Kennedy on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dankennedyphoto/
James Martin on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dankennedyphoto
Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/
LISTEN
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT?si=c5205d3971864d8e
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam

Are you putting your authentic self across in your marketing? Is there something holding you back from telling your story? 
James Martin, Founder of Made By James and Creative Partner at Lincoln Design Co. joins us in this episode to share his journey from accidental entrepreneur to successful agency owner. 
Made By James was a beautiful accident. Once he began to tell his story and started to reveal the inner workings of his talent, James found himself picking up 100+ logo design clients a year through his content marketing. The money was coming in, but something was missing.
I last caught up with James at Adobe Max in 2023. At the time, his partnership with Lincoln Design Co. was a mere concept. Now, that partnership has come to fruition, and it’s been a match made in heaven.
We get the behind-the-scenes on how James has been able to get to where he is today. James opens up about his past and we learn how he has been able to take ownership of his flaws and channel them into positive outcomes. And he shares plenty of advice for agency owners who want to take things to the next level.
Covered in this episode:
How James Martin was able to overcome the challenges of his past and build a successful agency.
Becoming a creative partner and not just an order taker.
How social media has changed the creative business landscape.
How to be truly authentic on social media.
The behind-the-scenes on James’ partnership with Lincoln Design Co.
How James was able to shift to charging fair rates for his services.
Why creatives and agency owners aren’t sharing their stories and how they can overcome those blockers.
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
Made By James - https://themadebyjames.com/
The Creative Life - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/
CONNECT
James Martin on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-martin-3b594698/
James Martin on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/made.by.james/
Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/
LISTEN
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT?si=c5205d3971864d8e
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam

Unlock the secret to thriving in creativity and business - with this episode's deep dive into thepower of presence. Join Matt Essam as he uncovers how this singular mindset shift can notonly enhance creativity, but also transform stress into success, and uncertainty into clarity.In a candid discussion, Matt opens up about his personal journey, revealing how the practice ofpresence pulled him through tough times in business, inspired by the profound teachings in"The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle.
IN THIS EPISODE:
Delve into the philosophical underpinnings of presence with real-life applications thatwill impact your creative process.
Gain practical strategies to harness the power of now, turning everyday challenges intoopportunities for growth and innovation.
Discover meditation and listening as tools not just for personal development but as keyskills for business growth.
Transform your approach to creativity and business with the power of presence.
Inspired by this episode? Connect with Matt on LinkedIn to share your journey or suggesttopics you’re eager to hear about in future episodes.
LEARN MORE
Creative Life - https://www.mattessam.co.uk
CONNECT
Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/
Want a Custom Roadmap to Grow Your Creative Studio? Get yours for FREE in less than 10 minutes by clicking this link: https://social.mattessam.co.uk/LR98
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

Picture this: you're faced with a daunting challenge, but instead of feeling overwhelmed, youfeel empowered and in control. How is this possible? Join Matt Essam as he uncovers threepowerful strategies that can help you reduce stress, reframe negative situations, and envisionthe success you deserve.In this episode, Matt reflects on his personal journey, where he faced significant challengesthat took years to overcome. He emphasizes that it's not the events themselves but ourinterpretations of them that dictate our emotional responses; he shares insights gained fromcognitive-behavioral therapy and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), highlighting theprofound impact of our thoughts on our emotions and behavior.
COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:
Understanding the impact of interpreting events on emotions.
Harnessing mindset to achieve goal-aligned actions and success.
How to understand emotional intensity and its interpretation.
How to embody specific behaviors and mindsets to influence desired outcomes.
Techniques for regaining control over emotions and thoughts.
Reframing perceptions and visualizing success using NLP techniques.
LEARN MORE
Creative Life - https://www.mattessam.co.uk
CONNECT
Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/
Want a Custom Roadmap to Grow Your Creative Studio? Get yours for FREE in less than 10 minutes by clicking this link: https://social.mattessam.co.uk/LR98
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