In this episode, I chat with Christian Brim, author of Profit First for Creatives, about shifting money mindsets, implementing Profit First as a creative, and why small steps like saving 1% of your revenue can change everything. We, or rather, Christian, talks on how to price based on value, overcome inherited beliefs around money, and stop seeing profit as a trade-off for doing what you love.
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Website: https://christianbrim.com/
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tbdWhen it comes to building a business, especially as a creative entrepreneur, most of us are navigating marketing, client work, and finances without a roadmap. That’s why I loved sitting down with Christian Brim to talk about money—specifically, how creatives can finally make peace with their profit.
Christian’s the author of Profit First for Creatives, a financial strategist with a knack for quoting movies, and someone who knows the struggle of being great at your craft while feeling overwhelmed by the numbers.
We kicked off the conversation lightheartedly—turns out, Christian is very fluent in movie quotes (and occasionally music references too). But behind the humor is someone who’s deeply passionate about helping creatives build profitable, sustainable businesses without losing their spark.
Who He Helps—and Why Creatives Need a Financial Mindset Shift
Christian works primarily with entrepreneurs in creative industries—think videographers, content creators, and agencies—but really, anyone who identifies as a creative. His perspective? If you’re an entrepreneur, you’re already creative. It’s not just about painting or design—it’s about solving problems in innovative ways. That mindset shift alone is powerful.
He also shares that, like many of us, he didn’t grow up talking about money. His family went from wealth to bankruptcy, and the emotional aftermath shaped how he thought about finances for years. It wasn’t until later—after trying and failing to implement Profit First the first time—that he began intentionally rebuilding his beliefs about money and profit.
Profit Isn’t the Enemy of Creativity
One of the standout points in the conversation was how often creatives see profit as something icky or secondary. There’s a narrative that you either do the work you love or you make money—but not both.
Christian turns that idea on its head.
Profit isn’t the enemy of creativity—it’s powered by creativity. And when we begin applying that same energy we use to build for others to how we price, spend, and save, we start to unlock real, lasting growth.
He encourages creatives to question old beliefs, like “you have to spend money to make money.” Often, those ideas are inherited from a scarcity mindset—usually rooted in a wage-earner household where money was fixed. But entrepreneurship? It’s about creating value. And that value can generate wealth—without overspending to get there.
Start With 1%
When asked what one action listeners could take away from the conversation, Christian offered something simple and powerful: Open a savings account. Start transferring 1% of every deposit into that account—for three months. Don’t touch it. Don’t even look at it. Just let it grow.
After three months, you’ll likely be surprised at how much is sitting there.
This little habit isn’t about becoming a Profit First pro overnight. It’s about proving to yourself that saving—even in small amounts—is possible, and it adds up. More importantly, it plants the seed that profit can be intentional and sustainable.
Where to Focus for Better Returns
Many entrepreneurs believe that profit comes from cutting expenses. But as Christian explains, cutting only goes so far. The real opportunity? Increasing your revenue and gross margin.
That leads us into the idea of value-based pricing—a concept Christian breaks down beautifully. Instead of basing your prices on what it costs you to deliver a service, ask: What’s this worth to my client?
That one shift can dramatically increase your revenue—without changing your offer.
But it takes work. You have to understand your customer, what success looks like for them, and how your services connect to their bottom line. The good news? Once you do that work, you can build pricing models that truly reflect the transformation you provide.
Key Takeaways
- Creativity and profitability aren’t mutually exclusive. In fact, your creativity is your greatest asset in building profit.
- Mindset matters. Many of our beliefs around money were inherited, not chosen. You have the power to replace them.
- Start small. Saving just 1% of each deposit builds not only your bank balance, but your confidence.
- Focus on value. When pricing your services, ask: What is this worth to my client?—not just what it costs you.
If money has always felt a little messy or overwhelming in your business, know this: you’re not alone. And it’s not too late to shift how you think about profit.
Christian’s book, Profit First for Creatives, dives deeper into these concepts and offers tangible ways to implement them—without sacrificing the soul of your work.
