Now Go Create

In this short, slightly, scrappy, 10-minute bonus episode, the strategist’s strategist Julian Cole joins me again - this time for a real-time riff on how to devise a usable strategy brief… when you don’t actually have one.Julian has worked with Uber, Apple, Facebook, Disney and more, and is known for demystifying strategy and making it accessible. In our previous full-length episode, we got so deep into strategy chat that my producer gently told me off for going way over time. So here’s the fun bit we couldn’t bear to delete.What we cover in this mini-episode:Where to start when no usable brief existsJulian shares his “brief audit” approach — the mandatories, the nice-to-knows, and how to avoid reinventing the wheel.Live strategy development: The Dog Teeth Whitening BriefYes, really. We take a fictional vet chain launching a dog teeth-whitening service and unpack:The business problem vs the consumer problemHow to explore audience motivations, goals and fearsWhy aesthetics is never really about aestheticsHow social connection, status and even loneliness show up in strategic thinkingInside Julian’s strategic processWe walk through:Defining goals and problemsUsing goal/fear dynamics to find emotional territorySpotting potential insightsBuilding three “strategy napkins” — quick, rough territories you can test with clients or creativesWhy messy thinking is part of the processStrategy rarely arrives fully formed. This episode shows the real-world expansion phase — the part most people never see.Why listen to this bonus?If you ever need to develop a strategy without a proper brief (which, let’s be honest… is more often than we may like), this episode gives you a practical, human, and transparent look at how a top strategist begins to approach the problem.About Claire Bridges Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose philosophy is that everyone can be creative. Claire worked as Managing Director and Creative Director working with global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Unilever, P&G and Danone in her previous PR career. Upskilling individuals, teams and organisations with practical creativity tools is Claire’s mission. She’s one of only 250 people globally to hold an MSc in Creativity, Leadership & Innovation, and authored an Amazon best-selling creative handbook In Your Creative Element based on her academic studies. Claire and her hand-picked team of experts have worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 40,000 people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011.Join our weekly email for free resources and worksheets to go with the podcast.Connect with Claire:Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreateLinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-bridges-b6205b14About Julian Cole:Julian Cole is a strategy consultant to leading brands including Uber,...

What does it take to turn an idea into a brand new industry? In this lively episode of Now Go Create, host Claire Bridges sits down with Daisy Amodio, creative dynamo, founder of The Proposers, a royal wedding planner, and visionary behind 5,000 unforgettable marriage proposals. Claire and Daisy dig into how an impromptu treasure hunt for her brother kickstarted Daisy’s journey from advertising account manager to “queen of proposals,” defying doubters, inventing her own playbook, and genuinely creating a category from scratch. If you’ve ever been told your ideas are ‘rubbish’ Daisy’s story will inspire you to trust your gut, experiment, and persist despite the naysayers.Listen in for Daisy’s take on creating bespoke experiences for an audience of one, and turning Pinterest boards into live events, including dressing up cats and negotiating to have your face on the Eiffel Tower!Here are the highlights: Daisy turned her brother’s proposal into a creative business idea and, despite scepticism, pioneered the proposal planning industryEven after surveying 500 men who dismissed her idea as “rubbish,” Daisy trusted her gut and pushed forwardHow to get personal for an audience of one - Daisy and her team dive deep into clients’ lives, stalking Pinterest boards, social media, and moreSpectacular proposals: From a fake drug arrest in Barcelona to 50 cats dressed as waitersDaisy and Claire discuss the unique challenges of balancing spectacular creative ideas with seamless executionDaisy often says yes first taking on wild requests and figuring out solutions laterDealing with burnout and Daisy’s journey to a more sustainable work-life balance.Daisy urges aspiring entrepreneurs to be determined, trust themselves, and “fake it till you make it”Try this week:Got a “rubbish” idea you can’t shake? Take a small action toward it research, pitch, or share it with someone you trust. Explore your creative niche: What’s your unique story, and how could you double down on it, even in the face of scepticism?About Claire Bridges:Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose philosophy is that everyone can be creative. Claire worked as a PR agency Managing Director and Creative Director working with global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Unilever, P&G and Danone in her previous PR career. Upskilling individuals, teams and organisations with practical creativity tools is Claire’s mission. She’s one of only 250 people globally to hold an MSc in Creativity, Leadership & Innovation, and authored an Amazon best-selling creative handbook In Your Creative Element based on her academic studies. Claire and her hand-picked team of experts have worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 50,000 people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011.Connect with Claire:Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreateLinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-bridges-b6205b14About Daisy Amodio:Daisy Amodio is the trail-blazing Founder & CEO of The Proposers, the first-ever marriage proposal planning...

Are you feeling flat, uninspired, or stuck in a rut with your creative work? You’re not alone and you don’t have to go it alone either. Following on from last week’s episode of Now Go Create Claire Bridges chats to improv specialist and storytelling coach Maria Peters for a lively, practical deep-dive into getting yourself out of a creative slump (and why it’s actually normal to have one!)Claire and Maria open up about the telltale signs of a slump, the difference between external and internal validation, why creative flow is so elusive, and how helpful constraints, a dash of play, and some improv magic can get you unstuck fast. Plus, they explore tools including the ‘artist date’ and an eye-opening exercise they call the ‘jealousy map’, a fresh way of using envy as a creative compass.If you’ve ever compared yourself to others, felt your creativity wane, or simply wondered how to nudge yourself back toward inspiration, this episode is packed with stories, and practical micro-actions you can try right away.Here are the highlights:Spotting a slump: Why comparison and self-doubt are classic signalsInternal vs. external validation and how to recentre on your own creative compassThe magic (and science) of flowHow limits can jumpstart your ideas (and why improv isn’t as wild as you think)“Yes, and”: Using the improv mindset with your own ideasMorning pages, artist dates, and creative ‘micro-doses’The jealousy map, playful exercise to use envy or jealousy as a signpost for your own creative desiresRefilling your creative well, why pleasure, play, and tiny nudges matter as much as big breakthroughsHow to shake yourself out of autopilot (and what to try if you’re in a rut today!).Try this week:Schedule an ‘artist date’ with yourself - two hours (or whatever you can manage) doing something just for fun, no output required.Do your own jealousy/creative envy check: Whose work, life, or output do you wish was yours? What is it specifically you want? Let that guide your next small creative move.Do you have a creative challenge or dilemma for a future episode? Email [email protected] or join our weekly email for free creativity resources and worksheets at nowgocreate.co.ukAbout Claire Bridges:Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose philosophy is that everyone can be creative. Claire worked as a PR agency Managing Director and Creative Director working with global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Unilever, P&G and Danone in her previous PR career. Upskilling individuals, teams and organisations with practical creativity tools is Claire’s mission. She’s one of only 250 people globally to hold an MSc in Creativity, Leadership & Innovation, and authored an Amazon best-selling creative handbook In Your Creative Element based on her academic studies. Claire and her hand-picked team of experts have worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 40,000 people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011.Connect with Claire:Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/Facebook:

What do you do when the creative ideas stop flowing? In this episode of Now Go Create, host Claire Bridges gets real about a topic we don’t talk about enough: the creative slump. She shares her own recent experience, and explores why slumps might happen, how they differ from creative burnout or “block,” and why we shouldn’t panic when the creative tide is out. Introducing her practical “Creative CAT Scan” self-check-in, designed to help listeners get curious about their own moods, take micro-actions, and approach themselves with genuine tenacity and compassion. If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a blank page feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just plain flat even though creativity is part of your job, this is the episode for you.Here are the highlights:Why creative slumps are different from burnout or creative blockWhat’s really happening in our brains during a slump and why rest helpsClaire’s go-to tactics for an immediate energy boost (walks, smoothies, noodling, and more)The “Creative CAT Scan”, a self-diagnosis exercise for Curiosity, Action, and TenacityExpert insights: practical suggestions from Claire’s creative networkWhy self-compassion (not criticism) can help you out of a holeInspiration from past guests and listeners on resilience under creative pressureDo you have a creative challenge or dilemma for a future episode? Email [email protected] or join our weekly email for free creativity resources and worksheets at nowgocreate.co.ukAbout Claire Bridges:Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose philosophy is that everyone can be creative. Claire worked as a PR agency Managing Director and Creative Director working with global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Unilever, P&G and Danone in her previous PR career. Upskilling individuals, teams and organisations with practical creativity tools is Claire’s mission. She’s one of only 250 people globally to hold an MSc in Creativity, Leadership & Innovation, and authored an Amazon best-selling creative handbook In Your Creative Element based on her academic studies. Claire and her hand-picked team of experts have worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 40,000 people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011.Connect with Claire:Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreateLinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-bridges-b6205b14Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

In this episode, Claire Bridges sits down with Jody Orsborn Medina, experiential creative director and founder of Recess, a global creative community and incredible resource hub. Jody shares her journey from in-house and agency life to freelancing, and how the need for authentic connections inspired her to start Recess. What began as monthly internal inspiration sessions has blossomed into a worldwide network and the must-have Creative Playbook, championing collaboration and open access to creative resources.Jody and Claire discuss the realities of creative life: battling “inspiration overload,” embracing your nontraditional path, and how everyone from producers to designers to strategists can lay claim to creativity. They dive into global creative trends from the Playbook, practical hacks for working smarter, battling imposter syndrome, and the importance of breaking down gatekeeping in the creative industries. This episode is packed with actionable insights for anyone looking to stay inspired and build a creative community, whatever your job title.Here are the highlights:Introduction: Why Jody started Recess Anatomy of a Recess session and what makes them work The Creative Playbook: How it came about, what’s inside & who it’s for Favourite creative hacks, daily tools & tips from the Playbook How Jody curates the playbook, and why diversity of resource matters How freelancers can beat isolation & build community The creative power of producers and challenging creative ‘gatekeeping’ Nonlinear creative careers: permission to claim creativity Imposter syndrome: lessons from creative leaders What Jody’s experimenting with next, making space for personal creative work Quickfire: Jody’s two top suggestions to spark creativity right now. Do you have a creative challenge or dilemma for a future episode? Email [email protected] or join our weekly email for free creativity resources and worksheets at nowgocreate.co.ukAbout Claire Bridges:Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose philosophy is that everyone can be creative. Claire worked as a PR agency Managing Director and Creative Director working with global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Unilever, P&G and Danone in her previous PR career. Upskilling individuals, teams and organisations with practical creativity tools is Claire’s mission. She’s one of only 250 people globally to hold an MSc in Creativity, Leadership & Innovation, and authored an Amazon best-selling creative handbook In Your Creative Element based on her academic studies. Claire and her hand-picked team of experts have worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 40,000 people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011.Connect with Claire:Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreateLinkedIn: