Ep 62: Listener questions: Advice for junior designers, activating empathy, work routine and more.

Show notes

In Episode 62, Stephen Gates answers six listener questions that dig into the nuances of creative work, leadership, and personal growth. It’s a deep dive into how he works, the books he recommends, how to mentor young creatives, and how to shape team culture. This unscripted, unfiltered episode is loaded with practical insights and brutally honest advice.

Key Takeaways

1. Content Creation, Scheduling, and Social Media

• Stephen maintains a flexible creative process using Miro-like tools such as Milanote.
• He breaks work into stages: Raw, Rough, Needs Polish, Ready — a method he uses for everything from podcast episodes to large creative projects.
• He avoids rigid content calendars. Posts only when he has something valuable to say.
• Emphasizes authenticity over gaming the algorithm. His social presence reflects his experience and values, not a performance.

2. Top 3 Books for Creatives and Leaders

• Applied Empathy by Michael Ventura — A modern leadership guide rooted in empathy.
• Remote: Office Not Required by Jason Fried — A tactical and cultural guide to working and leading distributed teams.
• What Every BODY is Saying by Joe Navarro — Teaches how to read people and body language, helpful for negotiations, leadership, and trust-building.
• All resources are curated in the “Essentials” section at podcast.stephengates.com.

3. Advice for Junior Designers and Interns

• Ambiguity and self-doubt are constants in creative careers.
• Embrace discomfort. Learn how your own creative process works.
• Creativity is personal — so it’s natural to feel exposed or uncertain.
• Reflect on your workflow. Own your story. Don’t look for others’ answers, build your own.

4. Activating Curiosity, Empathy, Courage, and Trust in Big Orgs

• Change starts with leadership and team norms, not slogans.
• Curiosity must be prioritized in hiring and nurtured by rejecting apathy.
• Empathy can be embedded via design thinking, user research, and direct user interactions.
• Courage and trust are earned over time through consistency, honesty, and vulnerability.
• Create safe environments for failure and risk-taking.

5. Focus and Fighting Mode Switching

• High-level leaders must shift tone, content, and approach constantly.
• Use calendar blocks to create protected work time.
• Define weekly priorities (2–4 max) to ensure progress on what matters.
• Avoid being “40 lanes wide and a quarter-mile deep” — go deep on what counts.

6. Being a Jack of All Trades vs. Specializing

• Early in a career, broad exposure helps build perspective.
• Later, deep mastery in process and insight matters more than execution alone.
• The most valuable creatives lead with thinking, not just tools.
• Execution can be taught. Empathy and insight are the real differentiators.

Closing Framework: What Makes a Modern Creative

• A holistic approach to design — spanning platforms and disciplines.
• Business savvy — understands strategy, politics, and impact.
• Empathy — knows how to design for people and with people.

This episode is a masterclass in navigating creative careers, whether you’re just starting or leading the charge. Listen, reflect, and redefine what growth means for you.

Tagged as:
career growth content creation crea creative career creativity design inspiration design tips jack of all trades junior designer advice must-read books productivity tips recommended books skill development Stephen Gates The Crazy One podcast