Overcoming Business Challenges for Creative Professionals: Lessons and Strategies from ‘The Conquering Creative’ Author, William Warren

by Jeff Bond

As Executive Partner at Chat With Leaders Media, Jeff Bond helps purpose-driven business, communications, and people leaders create high-impact content that strengthens relationships, fuels engagement, and drives meaningful impact.

His team partners with marketing and communications professionals to produce compelling podcasts, corporate event content, and leadership messaging—freeing up bandwidth while ensuring every message resonates.

Through the People First Elevation Team (PFET), Jeff and his colleagues turn company meetings into transformative experiences. By enhancing planning, elevating production, and coaching speakers, they ensure all-hands meetings and town halls inspire action, reinforce values, and build deeper connections.

Beyond media and communications consulting, Jeff serves on the Conscious Capitalism Atlanta Chapter Board, leading the Marcom Committee. He believes businesses thrive at the intersection of purpose and profit, leveraging storytelling and stakeholder-driven leadership to create sustainable impact.

In this episode, Jeff Bond interviews William Warren, author of “The Conquering Creative,” and Owner of The Sketch Effect, about his experience transitioning from a creative hobbyist to a successful business owner. William shares the key steps he took to turn his creative skills into a sellable product, offering advice for other creatives who want to make the same transition. He emphasizes the importance of finding the intersection between what you’re naturally good at, passionate about, and what the market needs. William also discusses the mindset shifts and practical skills that creatives need to develop in order to be successful in both their craft and the business of their craft. The main takeaway of the book is that the business side of creative work is not as hard as you might think, and William breaks down ways to shift your thinking, actions, and outcomes to achieve success. Tune in to learn how to overcome business challenges as a creative professional.