Ep 50 Conference talk: ‘Building your personal brand’ from Adobe MAX 2017

Show notes

Half a hundred episodes in. In this milestone episode, Stephen Gates takes you inside his standing-room-only session at Adobe MAX in Las Vegas — a deep-dive masterclass on one of the most overlooked and essential tools in your career: your personal brand.

This isn’t about logos. This is about clarity. Confidence. Control. Whether you’re job-hunting or building influence where you are, a personal brand helps you cut through the noise and own your narrative. This is the full uncut session, packed with hard truths, proven frameworks, and battle-tested strategies for building a personal brand that actually means something.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why success isn’t luck — it’s a choice, driven by clarity and constant preparation

• The five essential reasons personal branding gives you an edge (spoiler: it’s not just for job searches)

• How most resumes fail — and why self-awareness is your most underrated asset

• The real difference between being a commodity and a standout

• The two questions Stephen asks every job candidate (and why most can’t answer them)

• How to define your brand vision through four key pillars: target audience, market relevance, brand promise, and reason to believe

• Step-by-step brand exercises including the “I am” statement and the archetype card sort

• Why copying successful people is a waste of time — and what to focus on instead

• The myth of overnight success, the truth about validation, and the power of building for longevity

• How to express your brand across digital platforms, portfolios, and social media with focus and consistency

• Why your story beats your software skills every single time

• How to network with intent — and why most people are doing it wrong

• Why the goal isn’t to be liked by everyone — it’s to be known by the right ones

BOLD TAKEAWAY:

If your brand doesn’t make someone feel something — if it doesn’t get loved or hated — it’s not a brand. It’s wallpaper. Great brands stand for something. And great creatives build them with clarity, craft, and courage.

Tagged as:
Adobe MAX 2017 brand building branding career growth career success competitive advantage creative industry dream job industry respect personal brand professional development standing out Stephen Gates The Crazy One podcast unique strengths