Creative Courage: The Creative Business Podcast

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.

This is one of the most fascinating conversations I’ve had on this podcast (back in 2024), so I wanted to share it again for anyone who hasn’t heard it.

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.

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

Your clients are slowly killing your creative business.

Not the market.

Not the algorithm.

I recently ran a poll asking creative business owners what their biggest frustration is. Over 60% said inconsistent income and project flow.

The feast and famine cycle.

But the truth is that this usually isn’t caused by the quality of your work or how much promotion you’re doing. The difference between studios that are constantly busy and those that struggle for work comes down to the way they perceive their clients.

In this episode, I break down the shifts that separates oversubscribed creative businesses from those scrambling for the next project.

If you’re tired of taking on poor-fit projects just to keep cash flowing, and you’d rather build a business where you’re inundated with enquiries, this episode will show you the mindset shifts you need to make.

Covered in this episode:

Why inconsistent income usually isn’t a marketing problem.

The difference between “feast and famine” studios and consistently busy ones.

The two major problems your current client dynamic is creating.

How to spot a toxic client relationship.

When to say no to clients.

What it takes to run a business that gets to pick and choose opportunities.

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

Does business feel a bit slow at the moment?

You’ve got the portfolio, but enquiries and referrals aren’t coming in like they used to.

And with AI rapidly evolving, a lot of creatives are asking themselves if things are only going to get worse.

In this episode, I break down the shift I believe every creative business owner needs to make if they want to stay relevant, profitable and in demand over the next 5–10 years.

Most studios aren’t struggling because their work isn’t good enough, they’re struggling because of how they’re positioned. And that positioning is turning them into commodities.

I walk you through the “4 Ps of Power Positioning” that will make you irreplaceable. I’ve seen this work for so many creative business owners. So, if business is feeling slow, or you’re earning less than you should be, this is for you.

Covered in this episode:

Why business feels slow right now.

The positioning mistakes struggling studios are making.

The ‘4 Ps’ that keep businesses relevant and growing.

What AI can’t replace.

Myths around niching.

How to avoid pricing ceilings.

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

You do great work.

You have all the case studies and testimonials.

But you still feel invisible.

This is a problem most creative founders face. They want to be seen as the go-to expert. The name that gets mentioned in rooms they’re not even in.

But instead, they’re constantly chasing projects and wondering why people with less experience are getting all the attention.

In this episode, I sit down with Sabrina Stocker, serial entrepreneur, Founder of Two Comma PR and former Apprentice candidate, to unpack what it takes to build visibility and authority as a creative.

Sabrina has built a powerful personal brand, spoken on some of the UK’s biggest stages and grown an audience of over 50,000 followers.

We explore the strategies and mindset shifts that separate leading authorities from talented but overlooked creatives, and how to position yourself so the right people start coming to you.

If you feel undervalued and overlooked, this episode will change the way you think about authority and how to build it.

Covered in this episode:

The 3 steps to becoming the go-to expert in your industry.

Why creatives should pay attention to AEO.

How to go from visibility to paying clients.

What most creatives get wrong about their offering.

How to build relationships and get into the right rooms.

How Sabrina has been able to speak on some of the UK’s biggest stages.

Operating at a high level as an introvert.

Simple ways to gain respect on a sales call.

What needs to be in place before seeking PR opportunities.

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

Two Comma PR - https://twocommapr.com/ 

Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator

CONNECT 

Sabrina Stocker on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinastocker/ 

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

Most creative founders don’t struggle because their work isn’t good enough.

They struggle because the business they’ve built, or the role that they play within that business, isn’t right for them.

In this episode, I’m joined by Sam Ramsden, Founder of film production studio, Dojo Films.

Sam has been employed in the creative industry, he’s freelanced, and now he’s running an agency. But throughout his journey, Sam has found that success on paper doesn’t automatically mean fulfilment.

We dive deep into the shifts that Sam had to make within his business to allow him to do more of the work that he loves, while still scaling.

If you’ve ever found yourself losing the creativity that made you start your business in the first place, this conversation is for you.

Covered in this episode:

How Sam built a film production studio working across 16 countries remotely.

Can creativity truly be standardised?

How niching can allow a business to be more creative.

Choosing the role within your business that’s right for you.

Agency vs one-person studio and when each model makes sense.

When giving work away for free can make you more money.

The “fun, fame, fortune” test to decide which projects to say yes to.

What to do if you hate sales but still want to scale.

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 

Dojo Films - https://dojofilms.co.uk/ 

Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator

CONNECT 

Sam Ramsden on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramsden-sam/ 

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/id17215157999

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcf0CcYK3MtnITQCyGXoVVR-eTu8SEbAV