We often don’t want to talk about it – but as creative business owners most of us would like to increase our profits through closing more sales. But how on earth do we do that without feeling grubby!?

My guest for episode 39 is Ian Genius and he believes improving your sales in your business is not about old school techniques and it’s not giving the hard sell. It’s about educating your clients so they make a better choice, getting tangible with numbers and not getting in our own way.

This episode is packed full of gems that you can take away and action in your business and ultimately will re frame what it means to sell.

Our conversation explores:

• Focussing on the solution that solves your client’s problem

• What having effective conversations in our business actually means

• Working out the ROI of your services and using that information to secure more work

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You can connect with Ian on LinkedIn and through his website at www.iangenius.co.uk

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This episode is sponsored by The Creative Collective – the online networking group for creative businesses. You can sign up here for free! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-creative-collective-tickets-299305188877

For episode 38 we have the warm, funny and sage like music composer Michael Coltham!

We have a brilliant conversation and touch on these topics:

• Why everybody needs a battle to fight, an adventure to live and a beauty to save
• Learning to love the anxiety that comes from a blank sheet of paper
• When to bin your bad ideas and start again
• Running a value based business

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You can connect with Michael online here:

@michaelcolthammusic on Insta

www.blacklabmusic.co.uk

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This episode is sponsored by The Creative Collective – the online networking group for creative businesses. You can sign up here for free! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-creative-collective-tickets-299305188877

For episode 37 of Squaring The Circle we have another, but very different Creative Collective Mastermind session. We recorded this during Mental Health Awareness week in May with the focus on how we support ourselves with regards to mental health but it just so happened that for the first time it was an all male group. Even with the seemingly progressive attitude towards mental health, I don’t think it is any secret that men still find it tough to chat openly about the subject. So we saw this as an opportunity to share our thoughts, the difficulties we face and coping strategies we use.

What you’re about to hear is a searingly honest conversation where we all put down the barriers and lend a listening ear to one another. We were hesitant about releasing this episode due to how private some of the shared thoughts were – but feel it is only with these kind of chats – gradually the dial is moved and the mental health stigma can be worn away.

A huge thank you to Martin Whiskin, Michael Coltham, Matt Read, Simon Wells, Quinton Quayle, Sean Anthony and Nick Field for contributing to what I hope is a valuable conversation.

Our chat explores:

• How we manage our mental health
• Getting lost in the process of life
• How being employed and self employed alters your mental health
• Using a community to aid your mental health

*Also, a quick warning – due to the nature of the conversation - attempting suicide is mentioned and discussed*

If you're struggling with your mental health at the moment the below charities are set up to help:

https://www.mind.org.uk/

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/

https://mentalhealth-uk.org/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------This episode is sponsored by The Creative Collective – the online networking group for creative businesses. You can sign up here for free! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-creative-collective-tickets-299305188877