My Creative Journey with Mike Jeffrey

Introversion is a superpower and in this episode I want to show you why! As someone who has struggled with my identity as an introvert for many years, I am going to take you through some of the strengths that I have found from being a more reflective person. I also discuss how introversion can be even more beneficial for all of you creative people out there and how it can help us take our art and our businesses to another level.
If you enjoy this episode I would really appreciate it if you could share this episode around with a friend who you think would like it as well. Introversion is a topic with a lot of false stereotypes and in a world that is made for extroverts, its more important than ever to make sure we find strength in our identity. I hope this episode can help start a conversation or a moment of reflection for yourself.
If you have any questions or want to reach out, I would love to hear from you on Instagram @_mikejeffrey
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We've all been there - in a place where we have no ideas and no inspiration to create anything. Hopefully be listening to this podcast you are getting the inspiration you need but then comes the question of what to do next. Where do you get ideas from? In this episode I reflect on how I come up with Ideas for this podcast as well as Blog Posts and Instagram Captions. I speak about my method of vetting ideas and curating a list of killer content. Plus we also speak Inspiration and how you can look outward to create within.
If you enjoyed this episode, I would love to hear from you on Instagram @_mikejeffrey my DMs are always open!!
One amazing way you can support this podcast is by sharing it with a friend or family member, someone who you think would also enjoy it and gain a weekly dose of inspiration and knowledge. We always love having new people joining this amazing community!
PS. If you are interested in my new Wedding Planning Podcast you can find us on Instagram @tobewed_podcastLaunching February 14th 2022
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Referrals are the backbone of my Business and the way they I get over 80% of my new enquiries so you would be silly to ignore them. In this episode I let you in on the two types of referrals that I get in my Business and walk you through how you can get more as well just by changing the way you think about client interactions. It's really not that hard and I hope this episode can be super helpful to all of you!
If you liked this episode I would love to hear from you guys on Instagram @_mikejeffrey
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Have you ever wondered why you're not getting any leads or enquiries in your Creative Business? You think that maybe you're not doing enough marketing, or maybe your Instagram feed isn't aesthetically pleasing enough or maybe your website has a lot of spelling mistakes. We always jump to these conclusions but have you ever thought that maybe your Product or Service just isn't good enough?
If you enjoyed this episode, a free way that you can support the podcast is by leaving the show a rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. This really helps the podcast get suggested to more likeminded people like yourselves.
Finally, if I have impacted you at all with this episode then I would love to hear from you on Instagram @_mikejeffrey
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This episode we are thinking about where we are putting our energy & attention. Far too often we prioritise low value tasks in our businesses which result in no rewards and cause us to be out of business very quickly. Maybe we are trying to run multiple different side hustles that aren't really on the side of anything because our main business is struggling to stay afloat. I want to address these issues as they have occurred in my business and give you some practical tips on how to move forward in 2022.
If you enjoyed this episode, a free way that you can support the podcast is by leaving the show a rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. This really helps the podcast get suggested to more likeminded people like yourselves.
Finally, if I have impacted you at all with this episode then I would love to hear from you on Instagram @_mikejeffrey
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Christmas can be a very positive time because it gives you a break away from work to think about your goals for the new year. It can also be a very negative time if you are surrounded by the wrong people. In this episode I want to share some tools and the mindset to deal with haters and critics that may be there to tear down your dreams before you even start. If you enjoyed this episode, I would really appreciate it if you would consider sharing it around with a friend who may also benefit from it. This is a message that I think could help a lot of people this holiday season.Another free way that you can support the podcast is by leaving the show a rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. This really helps the podcast get suggested to more likeminded people like yourselves.Finally, if I have impacted you at all with this episode then I would love to hear from you on Instagram @_mikejeffrey
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Work/Life Balance is always something that I have struggled with as a creative person and I am sure a lot of others struggle with it too. I first started my Photography Business to be flexible and break free of the 9-5 work day but I quickly realised that I was working far more than 8 hours a day and often at the sacrifice of my personal life. In this episode I share some tips on how I have managed to get back a bit of my free time to spend on things that bring me joy and happiness.If you enjoyed this episode I would really appreciate it if you could leave a rating or review on your podcasting platform of choice. Both Spotify & Apple Podcasts now allow you to rate podcasts out of 5 stars and this really goes a long way to having my podcast heard by more people. If you have any questions or comments please always feel free to send me a message on Instagram @_mikejeffrey or Twitter @_mikejeffreyWatch the Podcast on YouTube
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Goal setting is always something that comes up at this time of year so I thought I would make a short episode and tackle some of my ideas around the topic. Recently I have been reflecting on my goals for 2021 to determine how many of them I have achieved. In that process I have discovered a trend within all the goals that I had set for myself this year and wonder whether there is a better way to go about the goal setting process. What if we could focus more on the lifestyle we want rather than items on a to-do list. I hope you guys enjoy this episode and it makes you think a little bit about your own goals for 2022.If you enjoyed this episode I would really appreciate it if you could share this episode around with a friend who you think would find it valuable as well. This podcast continues to grow in listeners and I am so thankful for you guys sharing this podcast around.Send me a message on Instagram @_mikejeffrey or Twitter @_mikejeffreyWatch the Podcast on YouTube
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Marketing goes against human nature and tells us that we need to stand out in a world where it is much easier just to fit in. This episode is my thoughts on how I have been trying to make my personal brand and my photography business stand out amongst all the noise out there today. I dive into some of the places that I think you should be marketing your business online and speak about how you can leverage your niche for more success. I hope you all enjoy :)If you enjoyed this episode I would really appreciate it if you could share this episode around with a friend who you think would find it valuable as well. This is something that I think a lot of creative people experience but we just don't seem to talk about it so I hope this episode can start a conversation.Send me a message on Instagram @_mikejeffrey or Twitter @_mikejeffrey My 2022 Calendars are Now AvailableWatch the Podcast on YouTube
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In this episode I am speaking about something which I don't think gets enough attention and that is the financial struggles of creative people. I want to address the experiences I've had in the past with dealing with 'financial anxiety'. As a photographer or any other freelancer, there are always financial struggles on your business and sometimes these can compound and become all too much. Recently during the pandemic I was faced with the challenge of how to keep my business alive and financially afloat whilst I wasn't allowed to go out and work due to government imposed lockdowns. This was a very tough time for us all but as we start to come out of that I thought I would take this opportunity to speak about my experiences. My 2022 Calendars are Now Available - There are only 10 left so make sure get in quick if you would like one for your home :)Send me a message on Instagram @_mikejeffrey or Twitter @_mikejeffreyIf you enjoyed this episode I would really appreciate it if you could share this episode around with a friend who you think would find it valuable as well. This is something that I think a lot of creative people experience but we just don't seem to talk about it so I hope this episode can start a conversation.Watch the Podcast on YouTube
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This episode I speak about my current equipment list as a Photographer and dive into whether I think better equipment makes you a better artist! Us creative people (especially photographers/videographer) have a fascination with gear/equipment and normally upgrade as soon as new things come out. In this episode I want to share my thoughts about the role equipment plays on your creativity and how to know when is the right time to upgrade. If you enjoyed this episode, I would really appreciate if you could share the podcast with a friend who you think may also enjoy it. This podcast continues to grow and I know that is because my listeners continue to share it around and for that I am forever grateful!! Also, please feel free to send me a message on Instagram @_mikejeffrey. I would honestly love to hear from you guys!!You can also find me on Twitter @_mikejeffrey & TikTok @_mikejeffreyWatch My Creative Journey on YouTube
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How do you charge for something that you would happily do for free? This is the question that I am trying to answer in today's episode. Over the past few years I have been very fortunate to be able to do something that I absolutely love (Photography) as a career. One unexpected hurdle in this career has been pricing my work and understanding how to charge for my artistic services. I think every creative person knows this feeling all to well and it is just one luxury that we have as people who love what we do. In this episode I just want to speak openly about my thoughts and normalise the fact that having doubts about your pricing is okay. If you enjoyed this episode please feel free to send me a message on Instagram @_mikejeffrey. I would honestly love to hear from you guys and find out why you tune in every single week!!You can also find me on Twitter @_mikejeffrey & TikTok @_mikejeffreyWatch My Creative Journey on YouTube
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This week I speak about how I am packing up my business in Sydney and moving to Port Macquarie. It will be a big change but I am excited about new things to come. Moving away from Sydney brought back a lot of memories of when I first moved to Sydney almost 6 years ago. Back then I never realised how important your environment was on your own success. If I had never moved to Sydney I don't think I ever would have started on this Creative Journey so in this episode I speak about the importance of your Environment and your Community as it has played out in my life. Enjoy :)If you would like to support my terrible moustache and donate to my Movember fundraiser for Men's Mental & Physical Health you can do so here movember.com/m/mike-jeffrey If you gained something from this episode, I would really appreciate it if you would consider sharing the podcast with a friend who you think may enjoy it as well. This podcast continues to grow and I know that is because my loyal supporters continue to share it around. For that I am forever grateful!! Also, please feel free to send me a message on Instagram @_mikejeffrey. I would honestly love to hear from you guys!!You can also find me on Twitter @_mikejeffrey & TikTok @_mikejeffreyWatch My Creative Journey on YouTube
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A question I was thinking about this the week that really made me stop and ponder. Role models or heroes were such an important part of my childhood and gave me something to aspire to. As an adult however, I have slowly drifted away from the idea of heroes being important. In this episode I want to touch on the benefits of having role models in your adult life and how we can use them and their successes as inspiration in our own creative journey. If you gained something from this episode, I would really appreciate if you would share the podcast with a friend who you think may also enjoy it. This podcast continues to grow and I know that is because you guys continue to share it around and for that I am forever grateful!! Also, please feel free to send me a message on Instagram @_mikejeffrey. I would honestly love to hear from you guys!!You can also find me on Twitter @_mikejeffrey & TikTok @_mikejeffreyWatch My Creative Journey on YouTube
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Over the past couple of years I have sold Photographic Prints and Calendars online and today I thought that I would do a deep dive in to the process behind that. A lot more people are starting online businesses these days so I thought that it could be helpful to hear everything that goes into it from pricing a product to marketing it. I hope that this episode can be a great starting point for you guys!!If you enjoyed this episode or have any questions about my online store, please send me a message on Instagram @_mikejeffrey because I would honestly love to hear from you guys!!- Check out my 2022 Calendars on Sale Now -You can also find me on Twitter @_mikejeffrey & TikTok @_mikejeffreyWatch My Creative Journey on YouTube
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When I first started this podcast it was a place where I could document my life as a creative business owner as it happened every week. Over the past 9 months it has grown into something which I am very proud of and I now speak about more topics than just my own business. In this episode I speak about where this podcast is headed as we look forward to 2022 and how being clear on my niche can help my audience understand what I am all about. I also touch on aspects of my business and use examples of where niches have really helped me in the past. Hope you all can find this helpful.If you enjoyed this episode, please send me a message on Instagram @_mikejeffrey because I would honestly love to hear from you guys!!- Check out my 2022 Calendars on Sale Now -You can also find me on Twitter @_mikejeffrey & TikTok @_mikejeffreyWatch My Creative Journey on YouTube
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This week I was lucky enough to be joined by Harry & Tommy from Bandwagon Australia to chat all about how they started their Business. Bandwagon is a sustainable clothing business committed to making streetwear more ethical and environmentally friendly through the use of organic and recycled materials. These boys have gone through it all over the past couple of years since starting their business and we touch on everything in this episode. From their background in fashion to how they market their business, managing Covid shutdowns and dealing with mental health; nothing was off limits and I want to thank the boys for being so honest about their experiences. I learnt so much from this conversation and I really hope you you all enjoy it as well!Find Bandwagon online at www.bandwagonclothing.comInstagram: @bandwagonaustraliaFacebook: BandwagonYoutube: BandwagonAustraliaPodcast: BandwagonIf you enjoyed this episode, please send me a message on Instagram @_mikejeffrey because I would honestly love to hear from you guys!!I would also appreciate it so much if you could share this episode with a friend or family member who you think would enjoy it too. Week on week this podcast continues to grow and I am under no illusion that it is from you guys tuning in and sharing it around with your inner circle and for that I want to say thank you!
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Defined on Wikipedia as a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their skills, talents, or accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a "fraud". This is something that hits a lot of creative people hard and stops them from producing work and putting themselves out there to the level that they should be. In this episode I speak about how Imposter Syndrome has and continues to impact my life and give you guys some practical tips for moving past it in your own lives.If you enjoyed this episode, send me a message on Instagram @themikejeffrey because I would honestly love to hear from you guys!!Remember that you can also review the podcast on Apple Podcasts and give me up to a 5-star rating. I read all the reviews and it blows me away to hear how much this podcast is impacting peoples lives!Watch My Creative Journey on YouTube
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Should you spend your time producing one amazing piece of work or multiple "pretty good" pieces of work? This is something that I get asked a lot and hear talked about all over the place so in this episode I thought I would give you guys my take on it. We touch on all different types of creative professions in this episode from Photography to Blogging, Youtube, Podcasting, making Music and much more so be sure that there is some takeaway for you in this episode. Hope you all learn something and enjoy :)If you enjoyed this episode, feel free to send me a message on Instagram @themikejeffrey because I would honestly love to hear from you guys!!I would also love it so much if you could share this episode with a friend or family member who you think would enjoy it too. Each week this podcast continues to grow and I am under no illusion that it is from you guys tuning in each week and sharing it around with your inner circle. So for that I want to say thank you!Watch My Creative Journey on YouTube
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Today I am talking about something which is really impacting me right now and that is my anxiety about returning to work after having such a long time off. Due to the lockdown in Sydney I haven't been able to work for over 15 weeks however this Friday things are opening back up again and I am going to photograph a Wedding. In this episode I try to open up as much as I can about the things I am feeling because I think that I am ahead of the game here. Hopefully you can use some of the things that I talk about in this episode to help you when you eventually have to go back to living life normally again.If you enjoyed this episode, feel free to send me a message on Instagram @themikejeffrey because I would honestly love to hear from you guys!!I would also love it so much if you could share this episode with a friend or family member who you think would enjoy it too. Each week this podcast continues to grow and I am under no illusion that it is from you guys tuning in each week and sharing it around with your inner circle. So for that I want to say thank you!Watch My Creative Journey on YouTube
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