The Crazy One

In this episode of The Crazy One, host Stephen Gates dives into a topic that’s all too familiar for many: getting laid off. With his personal experience of being laid off three times throughout his career, Stephen offers practical advice for those facing the uncertainty of potential job loss. He covers how to prepare for a layoff before it happens, the emotional rollercoaster of being let go, and the essential steps to take during and after the process. From understanding your severance package to managing the emotional fallout, Stephen provides insights into handling layoffs with resilience and turning the experience into an opportunity for growth. Whether you’re currently facing job insecurity or simply want to be better prepared, this episode offers valuable advice for navigating the tough times and bouncing back stronger.Send us a textSHOW NOTES AND MORE: https://thecrazy1.com/ WATCH MORE CONTENT ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@StephenGates WORK WITH CRZY: http://crzydesign.com/ FOLLOW THE CRAZY O

In this thought-provoking episode of The Crazy One, host Stephen Gates dives deep into the state of the creative industry in 2024. As the industry grapples with unprecedented layoffs and shifting dynamics, Stephen shares invaluable insights into the underlying factors driving these changes. He explores how economic pressures, evolving technologies, and changing consumer behaviors are reshaping the landscape for creative professionals. Listeners will gain practical strategies for navigating these challenges, including how to adapt your skills, stay relevant, and seize new opportunities in an uncertain market. Join Stephen for an eye-opening discussion that empowers creatives to thrive amidst adversity.Send us a textSHOW NOTES AND MORE: https://thecrazy1.com/ WATCH MORE CONTENT ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@StephenGates WORK WITH CRZY: http://crzydesign.com/ FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook

In this long-awaited return to The Crazy One podcast, host Stephen Gates shares an honest and introspective look at his journey over the past year, from leaving New York and launching his own studio to grappling with burnout and rediscovering his passion. In this episode titled “Is This Thing Still On?”, he opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of going independent, confronting career disappointments, and evolving his relationship with the podcast. With a renewed focus on authenticity and self-reflection, he invites listeners to join him as he reboots the show in a fresh, more spontaneous format. Tune in to explore resilience, self-discovery, and the challenges of staying true to one’s creative voice in a rapidly changing industry.Send us a textSHOW NOTES AND MORE: https://thecrazy1.com/ WORK WITH CRZY: http://crzydesign.com/ FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook

In episode 131 of The Crazy One podcast, Stephen Gates dives into one of the most common questions he encounters: “Should I start my own thing?” Drawing from his journey of leaving New York, starting his agency, and mentoring creatives, he explores the deeper challenges behind building a personal brand and finding fulfillment in a career. This episode challenges listeners to reflect on what truly makes them happy, what they want from their work, and how to break free from industry norms. Tune in for an honest, introspective conversation on self-belief, creative independence, and taking the leap to pursue what matters most.Send us a textSHOW NOTES AND MORE: https://thecrazy1.com/ WORK WITH CRZY: http://crzydesign.com/ FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook

My keynote about how to build a breakthrough career from the 2023 BeMore festival which is an annual epic 24-hour super conference bringing 100+ legendary speakers in Design, AI, Product & Career Growth. Elevate your future with live keynotes, networking and an experience that will empower and educate the community. SHOW NOTES:http://thecrazy1.com/episode129 FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE:Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook

The last few months have seen more layoffs, more uncertain futures, and creative frustration, which has many people wondering if they should go out on their own.  It could be as a freelancer, consultant, or starting their own business. But there are so many questions, uncertainty, and few answers. In this episode, we are going to look at the foundational questions you need to ask yourself about the type of business you want to start, the questions you need to ask to figure out the type of business you want to create, share some insights in my journey launching my own studio, and more.SHOW NOTES:http://thecrazy1.com/episode128 FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE:Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook 

We are in a time when most people have realized that they have to take on a lot more to have a successful career. But it can be tough to navigate and know what you need to do to be successful. In this episode, we will look at what has caused this new era of defensive employment, what it will mean for you and your leadership style, and what you need to do to succeed.SHOW NOTES:http://thecrazy1.com/episode127 FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE:Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook 

The job market continues to evolve from a war for talent where people were getting multiple offers to rampant layoffs and tons of frustration. I think all of this will add up to a big change, and it is something I haven't seen in a while. It will create both opportunities and challenges for all of us. In this episode, we will talk about what is going on in the creative industry in 2022 that is driving so much change in companies and the job market, the big shift that I think is coming in the next few years, and how all of this has set me in a new direction with my career.SHOW NOTES:http://thecrazy1.com/episode126 FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE:Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook 

The third in a 3 part series where we will look at the steps you can take to help your team and company understand the value of design. In this episode, we will look at how to show the value of design through design reviews, set a different tone through feedback guidelines, and measure the impact through metrics and case studies.SHOW NOTES:http://thecrazy1.com/episode125 FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE:Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook 

The second in a 3 part series where we will look at the steps you can take to help your team and company understand the value of design. In this episode, we will look at creating the demand for design by creating an effective plan and using three critical methodologies and approaches to help move your team to a more valued contributor to your company.SHOW NOTES:http://thecrazy1.com/episode124 FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE:Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook 

The first of a 3 part series where we will look at the steps you can take to help your team and company understand the value of design. In this episode, we will talk about how people can see design as a claim of ownership instead of a process, how we separate creativity from execution as the basis of knowing how to show the value of design, and how to start to create the data you will need to begin to change things.SHOW NOTES:http://thecrazy1.com/episode123 FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE:Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook 

While trying to get promoted or deciding if you should quit your job are at very different stages in your career journey, they share the need for clarity, action, and a way to understand the way forward. They also share that you might be the problem, and you have a blindspot to that fact. In this episode, we will go over a simple process you can use to think through how to approach this problem, lay out the issues you will need to think about, and lay out how to have the conversation that will get you the answer you need to make a decision.SHOW NOTES:http://thecrazy1.com/episode122 FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE:Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook 

The past six months have been a fascinating exploration into a new perspective on Design Thinking. I never thought I get it from the US Army as I learned about how they teach and use the Army Design Methodology. In this episode, we will go over the basics of the US Army Design Methodology, look at how it is different and I would even say better than Design Thinking, and highlight some things they do differently that can make a huge difference in your team or company.SHOW NOTES:http://thecrazy1.com/episode121 FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE:Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook 

I'm sure you noticed this show went on an unannounced 7-month hiatus. Before I started recording new episodes, I wanted to take a few minutes to explain what happened that made me stop, what kept me from restarting, and why it is coming back now. As always, thanks for your support, and I hope you enjoy the new episodes.FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE:Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook 

Most people would probably be shocked to learn that applying for your next job is only going to work 5% of the time, but when you look at the numbers, this is only the tip of the iceberg. We are all engaged in a process that doesn't work for us and honestly doesn't work for the companies looking for new talent. We need a new approach, and I've had some recent experiences that I think might be able to help. In this episode, we will explore some of the 2022 job data that will show you why you shouldn't apply for your next job, discuss a new approach to your job hunt, and go over my playbook for how you can make it work for you.SHOW NOTES:http://thecrazy1.com/episode120 FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE:Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook 

Facilitation asks to balance the goals of the meeting, the team's social dynamics, and all while creating an environment that is a participation democracy where everyone can be heard. Unfortunately, it is a rare skill, mainly because few companies take the time to teach the skills and often because you feel like you have to be an extrovert to be good at it (which isn't true). In this episode, we will look at what it takes to be a great facilitator, what you shouldn't do, the actions and behaviors you will need, and share a playbook to create the best meetings and workshops.SHOW NOTES:http://thecrazy1.com/episode119 FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE:Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook 

Everyone is still trying to get used to remote work, but the three biggest things people struggle with remote work are unplugging after work, loneliness, and collaboration and/or communication. Even now, over 18 months later, too many teams still haven't caught on to the fact that you have to overcome these critical issues and build teamwork, trust, and empower vulnerability. In this episode, we will look at why remote team building is critical to your success and walk through some of my favorite remote team building activities I have done with teams over the years.SHOW NOTES:http://thecrazy1.com/episode118 FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE:Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook 

Most people think about company culture as team building events and ping pong tables, but there is more going on under the surface than most people realize. Culture is shaped by how all employees, from the top executives to the interns, show up every day, but that is something very few companies are aware of or focus on despite having such a massive impact on creativity and innovation. In this episode, we will explore the 3 basic parts of how everyone experiences an emotion, a breakdown of cognitive and emotional cultures, and what anyone can do to start to change your culture.SHOW NOTES:http://thecrazy1.com/episode117 FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE:Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook 

It's no secret that the pandemic has changed how we work forever, but many people have not caught up to the fact that it also changed the triggers and ways that our imposter syndrome manifests in our work. In this episode, we will look at the three things created by remote work that have changed imposter syndrome, how those affect the five types of imposter syndrome, what you can do about it, and how you can help other people.SHOW NOTES:http://thecrazy1.com/episode116 FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE:Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook 

We have talked before about how job descriptions are one of the most significant sources of imposter syndrome. Why don't we find a more effective format and address the bias built into this process? In this episode, we will look at the common problems when we start the process, the basics of the great job description, how to remove bias from your job descriptions, and how to go beyond the JD to do more to make hiring a better and more equitable process.SHOW NOTES:http://thecrazy1.com/episode115 FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE:Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook