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Ep 149 Career: You're underpriced because you're under confident. sdgates
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Ep 139 Career: The Hard Truth About Creativity’s Role in Business Today (and Yesterday) sdgates
Ep 99 Career: The 8 habits of successful people
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Show notes
Hey everyone – welcome to the 99th episode of The Crazy One podcast. I’m Stephen Gates, and as always, this is the show where we talk about creativity, leadership, design, and everything else that helps creative people thrive.
As we hit this milestone, I’ve been reflecting a lot on this journey—nearly four years, 99 episodes, and countless insights. Creating this podcast has been an incredible, often surprising experience. In many ways, it’s felt like living through a creative version of the pandemic: personal, a little isolating, and deeply introspective. Unlike speaking on stage—where we have a shared experience—this format often feels like talking into the void.
But through that void, something powerful emerged: patterns, habits, and themes that I’ve seen over and over in the most successful creatives I’ve worked with. So I want to distill all of that down into eight habits I think make the biggest difference in setting apart great creatives from the rest.
1. Make Peace with Yourself
The entire reason I started this podcast was to help people make peace with who they are. Most successful creatives I know have figured out how to embrace what makes them different. They don’t see their uniqueness as a weakness—they see it as their strength.
But that’s hard. Imposter syndrome, childhood trauma, career insecurity—these things make that peace elusive. Still, the people who thrive are those who work through that internal chaos to build confidence in their authentic selves.
Deeper dive in Episode 86
2. Balance Humility with the Need for Recognition
Being humble doesn’t mean being invisible. The most successful creatives stay open, curious, and kind—but they also advocate for themselves. They know that recognition matters. Not ego-driven recognition, but acknowledgment of their value and contributions.
It’s about knowing your worth and sharing it with confidence—without arrogance. That balance is tricky, but essential.
3. Value the People Around You
Success never happens in a vacuum. These creatives trust and actively listen to those around them. That means actually listening—not just waiting for your turn to talk. It means being present, being empathetic, and caring about what people are really saying.
They also build emotional trust—people know they can be vulnerable around them. That kind of connection is rare and powerful.
More in Episodes 78 and 88
4. Know When (and How) to Fight
You need to know when to stand up for yourself, your ideas, and what you believe in. The best creatives aren’t pushovers. They’re intentional and constructive in their battles. They don’t fight for ego—they fight for what matters.
And because of that, people trust them to fight for them too.
Check out Episode 55 on constructive confrontation
5. Develop Emotional Intelligence
It’s not just about being smart—it’s about being emotionally aware. Self-regulation, empathy, social skills, and self-awareness are all critical. These creatives balance EQ and IQ. They know how they affect others and how others affect them.
And more than anything, they stay motivated to grow through that awareness.
More on this in Episode 70
6. Build a Strong Work Ethic
Talent is great. But work ethic? That’s what wins.
I’ve seen four types of career paths:
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Peakers – High talent, low work ethic. They burn bright early, then fade.
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Grinders – Low talent, high work ethic. They rise steadily and outlast everyone.
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Climbers – High talent, high work ethic. They’re consistent performers who rise with time.
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Unicorns – Off-the-charts talent and work ethic. These are your legends.
Work ethic beats talent in the long game—every single time.
7. Have a Bias Toward Action
Ideas are nothing without action. The most successful creatives start. They take risks, put themselves out there, and are willing to fail.
That’s how this podcast started. I didn’t know if it would work. But I hit record. That single action changed everything. Even if you fail, you iterate, improve, and grow.
8. Cultivate Deep Self-Awareness
This is the big one. The most successful people I’ve met know themselves deeply. Their process, their struggles, their strengths—they’re always paying attention and evolving.
They don’t rely solely on books or podcasts for answers. They trust themselves. And they know they don’t have to do it all alone.
You don’t have to be a lone genius.
Yes, you own your growth. But no, you don’t have to do it all by yourself.
Final Thought: Balance Between Self-Importance and Self-Doubt
I think most of us live in a constant tug-of-war between wanting to be important and fearing we’re not good enough. Success happens when you find the balance between those two—when you know your worth but stay humble and open.
There are more answers inside you than in any book or podcast. My goal is to help you find the courage to see them—and act on them.
So as we close in on 100 episodes, I hope this reflection helps you find clarity and motivation. You are strong. You are creative. You are a badass.
Act accordingly.
Subscribe to the show
Check out the YouTube channel
Learn more: thecrazy1.com
As always, thank you for your time. Stay safe, stay sane, and stay crazy.
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