Everything starts with an idea. At least, that is what we always say. However, it is a very limiting phrase because it suggests that we must either wait for creativity to strike or keep a running list of ideas at all times (assuming that we are always in the right place and the right mood for those ideas.)

When I am stuck in a creative block, the sooner I can shift from "I need an idea before I can begin" to "I will discover an idea through creation," the sooner I feel free again.
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Austin Kleon said,

I was stuck all weekend. And to be honest, the only way out of it was the threat of an upcoming deadline. I usually get most of my work done under stress, but I wouldn't say I like it.

My employers give me unrealistic deadlines to get the most out of me in the least amount of time, like a cloth full of water they can ring out.

Some people call this "Useful Urgency," but it is not as valuable as it may seem. Most importantly, it is not a reliable method to get things done.
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More often than not, when I am unprepared for a deadline or face unrealistic expectations, I am more likely to hear the whooshing sound, as Douglas Adams says, of a deadline passing than applause at a job well done.