The Mindset of a Creative Entrepreneur with Callum Gracie

Creative entrepreneur Callum Gracie (Founder, Otto Media) on resilience, ADHD-fuelled creativity and scaling a values-led agency—after losing everything in COVID and reinventing through SEO (with a side of DJ decks).

In this episode, Paul Corke sits down with Callum Gracie, founder of the fast-growing digital marketing agency Otto Media. Callum’s path runs from music teacher & trumpet player to managing hundreds of creatives, to losing everything during COVID—and rebuilding from the ground up via SEO, content and a renewed creative practice (yes, including DJing).

We dig into the mindset of a creative entrepreneur: how ADHD can power originality (and how to channel it with systems), why he thanks the inner “runner” that always wants to go faster, and why integrity and honesty matter more than money when you’re building something that lasts.

You’ll hear:

• Reinvention after crisis: turning a wipeout into a clearer model, cleaner offers and stronger focus

• ADHD as an edge (and a risk): sprint–recovery rhythms, constraint-based planning, externalised checklists

• Scaling a creative business: simple services → reliable delivery → repeatable results (and when to say no)

• SEO without the smoke: helpful content, smart keywords, authority flywheels and patient compounding

• Leadership for creatives: psychological safety, crisp briefs, feedback loops and “done is better than perfect”

• Building by values: integrity > income for long-term clients, culture and sleep-at-night decisions

• How this maps to Paul’s Mindset Equation (Aspiration, Belief, Drive/Motivation, EQ, Resilience, Learning Agility)

Try this (Creative Growth Sprint — 45 minutes):

1. Offer clarity (10 min): Write one-line promises for your top 1–2 services (who → result → timeframe).

2. Process pass (10 min): List the 5–7 steps that deliver each service; mark the two steps to automate/templatise next.

3. SEO seed (10 min): Brain-dump 10 Qs your ideal client Googles; pick one and outline a helpful post (headline + 3 points).

4. Focus block (10 min): Ship a v1 (post or landing page section). Done > perfect.

5. Value check (5 min): Note one decision this week where you’ll choose integrity over urgency.

A candid, energising conversation—packed with real stories, practical scaling tips and mindset moves for founders, leaders and anyone navigating life’s storms.