Uploaded November 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Most portfolios don’t get rejected for lack of talent. They get rejected because they’re saying the wrong things — or nothing at all. In this episode, Stephen pulls back the curtain on how hiring managers actually review portfolios, what they’re looking for, and why most creatives are missing the mark. Whether you’re in the middle of a job search, feeling stuck in a bad gig, or just want your work to tell a better story, this episode is your wake-up call — and your roadmap.
You’ll learn:
• Why your portfolio is a crystal ball for hiring managers — and how they read it
• The red flags that instantly kill your chances (sliders, typos, and broken links, anyone?)
• How to structure your book like a story — not a slideshow
• The myth of “they’ll connect the dots” and why it’s killing your chances
• What it really means to treat your portfolio like a design problem
• How to get better feedback — and why most people don’t
• The hard truth: results take real work, not shortcuts
This is the feedback you wish you’d get — and the challenge to do something about it.
Send us Fan Mail (buzzsprout.com/539050/fan_mail/new)
SHOW NOTES AND MORE:
thecrazy1.com
WATCH MORE CONTENT ON YOUTUBE:
youtube.com/@StephenGates
WORK WITH CRZY:
crzydesign.com
FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE:
LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/crazyonepodcast) , Instagram (instagram.com/sdgates/) , Facebook (facebook.com/CrazyOnePodcast)
Most portfolios don’t get rejected for lack of talent. They get rejected because they’re saying the wrong things — or nothing at all. In this episode, Stephen pulls back the curtain on how hiring managers actually review portfolios, what they’re looking for, and why most creatives are missing the mark. Whether you’re in the middle of a job search, feeling stuck in a bad gig, or just want your work to tell a better story, this episode is your wake-up call — and your roadmap.
You’ll learn:
• Why your portfolio is a crystal ball for hiring managers — and how they read it
• The red flags that instantly kill your chances (sliders, typos, and broken links, anyone?)
• How to structure your book like a story — not a slideshow
• The myth of “they’ll connect the dots” and why it’s killing your chances
• What it really means to treat your portfolio like a design problem
• How to get better feedback — and why most people don’t
• The hard truth: results take real work, not shortcuts
This is the feedback you wish you’d get — and the challenge to do something about it.
Send us Fan Mail (buzzsprout.com/539050/fan_mail/new)
SHOW NOTES AND MORE:
thecrazy1.com
WATCH MORE CONTENT ON YOUTUBE:
youtube.com/@StephenGates
WORK WITH CRZY:
crzydesign.com
FOLLOW THE CRAZY ONE:
LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/crazyonepodcast) , Instagram (instagram.com/sdgates/) , Facebook (facebook.com/CrazyOnePodcast)






![Managing and fighting Imposter Syndrome [CAREER COACHING]
Even the most successful creatives a little secret we all share - from time to time we feel like frauds. Its called design imposter syndrome and it is a psychological phenomenon where you have a belief that you’re inadequate despite evidence to the contrary. In this episode, we will look at why it is something we all have, the 5 different types of imposter syndromes, and what you can do about it.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro
4:17 - Research
7:51 - Why do we get it?
10:00.- What else is going on?
19:30 - Different types
30:15 - What can we do about it?
38:24 - Understanding trust
44:12 - Fial thought
51:25 - Wrap up
MORE INFORMATION AND ALL PODCAST EPISODES:
http://www.thecrazy1.com
ILLUSTRATIONS FROM:
https://undraw.co/illustrations
FOLLOW ME IN THESE PLACES FOR UPDATES
Twitter - https://twitter.com/sdgates
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Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sdgates/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stepdgat/ Managing and fighting Imposter Syndrome [CAREER COACHING]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/y9u7OuYIK68/mqdefault.jpg)

![Essential Milanote tips and tricks [MASTERCLASS]
I have been using Milanote for years as an essential part of my creative process. This masterclass will show you all the tips, tricks, and hidden features you probably didn’t know you could do and will make a huge difference saving you time and being more productive in your Milanote workflow!
UPDATE:
Thanks to the Milanote team who has updated the app so keyboard shortcuts are now available for all features. Just hover over anything and the shortcut will appear.
How to get started with Milanote [MASTERCLASS]
https://youtu.be/It6FvvbNLcY
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro
2:52 - Important details
5:42 - Creating notes
11:32 - Navigating Milanote
18:07 - Working with notes
25:40 - Hidden features
MORE INFORMATION AND ALL PODCAST EPISODES:
http://www.thecrazy1.com
FOLLOW ME IN THESE PLACES FOR UPDATES
Twitter - https://twitter.com/sdgates
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CrazyOnePodcast/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sdgates/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stepdgat/ Essential Milanote tips and tricks [MASTERCLASS]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yQYCNym1eBo/mqdefault.jpg)

