Creative Courage: The Creative Business Podcast

I believe the future of design is shifting away from phones toward wearables, voice agents, and more physical, tactile experiences. This episode breaks down what that could look like and why it matters for your career.

I talk about the macro trends I'm noticing in design and consumer behaviour in general, and what you can do to stay ahead of the curve. 

If you found this episode valuable, please hit the subscribe button. 

 When you are ready to go deeper, here are 2 ways I can help: 
1: Join my private '$100K conversations' channel on Instagram 

2: Stop getting ghosted and close bigger deals using my One Page Sales Framework ™

Have you ever found yourself in that weird in-between space between familiarity and a new compelling future? You know there is more available to you, but it's difficult to let go of the comfort and familiarity of your current reality.  In this episode I explore “the gap”. The scary space between the life you know and the one you want. I then break down three key principles for closing the gap and moving into that new reality. 

Whether it's raising your prices, changing industry or leaving a relationship, we all face the gap at some point. This podcast will give you the tools and strategies to navigate it. 

 

Connect with me on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/ 

Apply to work with me 1:1

If LinkedIn still feels like an enigma, this episode is for you. I sit down with Maria Ledenstova in Hyde Park to unpack how she grew 40k+ followers and now gets steady inbound clients and brand opportunities.

We break down exactly how she has done it and how you can aply it to your business. 

We cover: 
How to show up authentically without being cringe 

What to post and when 

The importance of finding purpose

And so much more. 

If you found this episode useful, please share it with a friend. 

Connect with Maria on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marialeden/ 

Work with me 1:1 to grow your creative business here: https://matt-essam.notion.site/A-Private-Invitation-To-Work-With-Me-1-1-3ce1bfbff88681f5b880c4ee39c210cb?source=copy_link

If you are still pitching with your experience and portfolio, you need to listen to this episode.

I had a crazy experience the other day. I posted on LinkedIn asking for help writing some case studies, and I was inundated with DM's. What blew my mind was that not a single person led with any value. They all just shared their experience and portfolio.

In 2026, this only gets you drowned out in the noise. It won't win high-value clients, and you are probably leaving thousands on the table.

Instead, you must lead with value and insight. The right clients have more money than time; they won’t DIY; they’ll pay for someone who’s showing how it’s done. You must give away your best ideas and thinking before you pitch 

I break down the exact approach in this episode and what I would have done differently. 

PS: If you are looking for help landing higher-value clients, you can apply to work with me here: https://social.mattessam.co.uk/coaching-linkedIn

Do you remember the feeling of sending the proposal and then patiently waiting to see if you won the project? What if you never had to feel like that again, and there was a better way...

In this episode, I break down why PDF proposals lose projects and what to do instead. I talk about framing, uncovering the real objections and moving people from "let me think about it" to "When do we start?" 

You can also grab a copy of my One Page Sales Framework which has been used by hundreds of creative founders to close more deals and raise prices.

Send me a message on LinkedIn and I will send you a copy back