117. LET'S TALK ABOUT AMBITION: WHAT IT REALLY MEANS FOR CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS
Release Date: 11/20/2025
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127. NO ONE TALKS ABOUT THIS
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126 WHEN THINGS DON'T GO TO PLAN
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125. WHY AUTHENTICITY & STORY TELLING MATTER MORE THAN EVER
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124. FEWER THINGS DONE BETTER
CREATIVE STRENGTHS
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123. A DIFFERENT KIND OF YEAR
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122. TAKING TIME TO CELEBRATE HOW FAR YOU'VE COME
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121. LESSONS FROM TAYLOR SWIFT'S TOUR
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120. WHEN YOUR 'SERIOUS' BACKGROUND MEETS YOUR CREATIVE BUSINESS (AND WHY THAT'S YOUR SUPERPOWER!)
CREATIVE STRENGTHS
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119. YOUR CREATIVE MIND IS YOUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
CREATIVE STRENGTHS
Welcome to the very first episode of the Creative Strengths podcast. This foundational episode examines something backed by research but often overlooked: how your creative thinking isn't a quirk misplaced in business, it's one of your biggest competitive advantages. Leading research consistently identifies creativity as the number one factor for future business success. This episode explores what creative thinking actually means in practical business terms, why it matters more than ever, and what becomes possible when you understand your specific creative strengths as genuine competitive...
info_outlineSomewhere along the way, ambition became associated with things that don't resonate with creative entrepreneurs, hustle culture, sacrificing everything for growth, becoming someone you're not. So when people talk about scaling or being ambitious, many of us instinctively recoil. Not because we don't want success, but because we don't want the version of success being sold to us.
In this episode, through real-life examples, we explore what ambition actually looks like for creative businesses: having a sense of purpose, doing work you're proud of, and being fairly rewarded for it. You don't have to choose between them. You can have all three.
Key Moments:
- [00:00] Why last week's episode on financial independence sparked this conversation about ambition
- [03:24] Redefining what ambition actually means for creative entrepreneurs and why it's not what you think
- [04:05] The three elements that make up real ambition: purpose, pride, and fair reward
- [06:50] What aligned scaling looks like - hint: it's amplification, not multiplication
- [07:48] Kate's transformation: changing one question that shifted everything for her team
- [10:28]The interior designer who stopped doing free consultations and created Space Planning Intensives instead
- [13:48] Why traditional scaling advice feels wrong and the unshakeable foundation that makes ambitious growth possible
- [17:39] My own journey choosing to scale on my terms and why that was more ambitious, not less
- [19:43] Three clarity questions that change everything about how you approach growth
Notable Quotes:
"Let's fully embrace and celebrate ambition. For most creatives, ambition is having a sense of purpose, doing good work you're proud of, and being fairly rewarded for it."
"Ambition isn't the problem. Following someone else's definition of ambition is the problem."
Resources Mentioned:
- Read: This Week's Full Journal Post
- Listen Episode 116: "Why I Do What I Do"
- Link: The Base Notes Waitlist
- Subscribe to our Weekly newsletter
- Website: www.philippacraddock.com
- Email: news@philippacraddock.com
Share Your Insights:
What does ambition look like for you? I'd genuinely love to hear how you define success on your own terms. Please do share your thoughts with me over on Instagram these conversations really matter and often shape future content.
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