How to Break the Glass Ceiling in Your Commercial Film Business with Daren Smith

Episode #288

Overview

We all know there can be a lot of struggle in leveling up your business to get that successful, well-balanced lifestyle you dream of—booking bigger jobs and reaching better clients, right? Today I’m joined by Daren Smith, author and founder of Craftsman Creative, who discusses his career arc from owning his first business doing post-production sound, then becoming a producer for both film and TV, to his role now as an author and educator for other business owners, helping to initiate the mindset shift that will get you there.

Daren talks about transforming your mindset from one that limits growth to one that will empower you to achieve your highest goals, and how that mental shift will make ALL the difference in where your business can go. We compare some of our early career experiences and the ways we were unknowingly holding ourselves back—and how we each were able to make the necessary changes to course-correct and begin booking the jobs we always wanted.

After hearing Daren talk about the things he’s learned along the way, and how a five-figure creative can become a six-figure business owner, you’ll be motivated to examine both your mindset and your business practices to see how you can do the same.

Today Daren gives some great tips for creators who want to change their mindset and help them understand their value in the marketplace.

What do you think? Could a mindset shift be a game changer for your business?

Key Takeaways

If you don't have the right mindset, it doesn't matter what you try, you’ll get frustrated and end up jumping from one thing to another.

Examine ways we were unknowingly holding ourselves back.
Making necessary changes to course-correct and begin booking the jobs we always wanted.

About Daren Smith

Daren is the founder of Craftsman Creative, and author of the book Craftsman Creative - How five-figure creators can build six-figure businesses. His background is in music and film, and he works as a feature film producer when he's not helping creators grow their businesses.

In This Episode

The genesis of Craftsman Creative [03:08]
Going from a five-figure business to a six-figure business is all about mindset [08:35]
How to overcome imposter syndrome [17:45]
How to overcome the glass ceiling we put on ourselves [25:30]
Building the right relationships will help you go from charging $2,500 to $25,000 [30:08]
The difference between being productive and being effective [33:20]
The three steps to getting high-paying clients - awareness, engagement, conversion [35:30]

Quotes

“Whatever experience we're having in our lives. When it comes to our finances, our business, our clients, that's based on the best that we can do, and so if we're not happy with where we are, then we need to kind of shift our mindset into thinking bigger and to thinking differently into trying different approaches” (12:45)

“When you try the freelancer contractor mindset approach to the $20,000 client, there's this massive disconnect between reality and what you're trying to do, and it'll never work” (29:03)

“Are you going to blame the market and the industry and your competition and your clients for not paying, you know, being cheapskates, or are you going to shift and take responsibility for your current situation and look at instead what you want your life to be like, and then figure out how to get it.” (31:41)

Links

FREE Workshop Available "How to Consistently Earn Over $100k Per Year in Video Production

While Working Less Than 40 Hours Per Week"

Get the ASCEND Method Cheat Sheet

Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group

Find Daren Smith online and get a free, five-day email series on how to take your creative business to the next level.

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