Squiggly Careers

🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO

Are old habits holding you back from the progress you want to make? September often feels like a natural reset point—a chance to stop what’s no longer serving you and start building new wins. In this episode, Helen and Sarah share their own September “starts” and “stops” to inspire you to reflect, reset, and refocus. You’ll hear how small, intentional changes can help you create space for growth, protect your future self, and build habits that last beyond the September spark.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Announcement

01:02 Introduction

03:45 Why September feels like a reset moment

07:18 The power of starts and stops

10:35 Weekly Borrowed Brilliance

15:40 Building from scratch with AI

21:58 Parallel learning (habit stacking with podcasts)

26:45 Monthly mentor moments

32:30 Responding quicker instead of waiting

36:55 Leaving the phone behind in the evenings

41:48 No more post-it actions

44:55 Stop moaning about Mondays

48:20 How to use this as a team activity

52:00 Wrapping up & accountability

🎯 What You’ll Learn

📚 Resources Mentioned

How to Change by Katy Milkman (for the “fresh start effect”)

For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email [email protected]

More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:

📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/

🏃‍♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024

📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction

📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the fourth and final episode in the Squiggly Careers Quote Series, and today Sarah shares the quote that has shaped her approach to leadership: “Be yourself more with skill.” Inspired by the book and article Why Should Anyone Be Led by You?, this episode explores how true leadership comes from leaning into your strengths and embracing uncomfortable situations that spark growth. There’s no blueprint for being brilliant, and whether you're in a leadership role or not, you don’t need to become someone you’re not—it’s about being a better version of yourself.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Introduction & Announcement

02:33 The quote: "Be yourself more with skill"

07:44 Action 1: Job Crafting – Be the architect of your career

10:30 Action 2: Ask for feedback on blindspots

13:03 Action 3: Have a squiggly stretch

🎯 What You’ll Learn

- How to lead authentically by leaning into your strengths

- How to be the architects of your own work life

- How to take intentional control of your job description

- Smart ways to ask for feedback on blindspots

- The value of stepping into uncomfortable situations

📚 Resources Mentioned

Why Should Anyone Be Led by You?: What It Takes To Be An Authentic Leader Hardcover

by Robert Goffee and Gareth Jones https://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Should-Anyone-Led-You/dp/1578519713

HBR Article 'Why Should Anyone Be Led by You?: https://hbr.org/2000/09/why-should-anyone-be-led-by-you

Job Crafting Article by Dan Cable https://dan-cable.com/linkedin-article/job-crafting/

For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email [email protected]

More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:

📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/

🏃‍♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024

📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction

📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO

Are you letting other people set the boundaries for your career? This is the third episode in the Squiggly Careers quote series, and today Helen shares the quote that’s shaped her approach to career development: “Challenge your limits, don't limit your challenges.” In the episode, Helen and Sarah discuss how this mindset can help you push past external expectations, explore what’s truly possible, and embrace challenges without letting others hold you back. You’ll learn practical ways to identify your potential, build confidence, and celebrate progress along the way.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Announcement

00:58 Introduction

02:08 The quote: “Challenge your limits, don't limit your challenges”

07:05 Exploring your potential & gaining confidence

08:56 Action 1: Curiosity before commitment

12:27 Action 2: Celebrate your wins

15:15 What does this quote look like for you?

🎯 What You’ll Learn

- How to avoid letting others place limits on your career

- Why what’s possible looks different for everyone

- How to pick a challenge and stick with it, despite outside pressures

- Ways to explore your potential and build confidence

For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email [email protected]

More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:

📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/

🏃‍♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024

📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction

📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO

Are you unintentionally repeating the same career year again and again? This is the second episode in the Squiggly Careers quote series, and today Sarah shares the quote that’s inspired her career mindset: “Never live the same year twice.” In the episode, Helen and Sarah talk about how this idea helped Sarah move beyond linear ladder-thinking and sparked a more intentional, experimental approach to career development. You’ll learn how to embrace variety and novelty — so your career (and confidence) can keep evolving.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

01:56 The quote: “Never live the same year twice”

02:05 What inspired Sarah to choose this quote

04:46 How to avoid feeling stuck

05:57 Turning inspiration into action

06:38 Action 1: Coach-yourself question

07:58 Action 2: The “what” – use the fresh-start effect

09:56 Action 3: The “who” – connect with weak ties

12:14 Action 4: The “where” – new places and spaces

13:44 Final thoughts

🎯 What You’ll Learn

- How to avoid career complacency and increase resilience

- How the fresh-start effect can create lasting change

- Why weak ties expand your learning and opportunities

- How space and variety can spark new career ideas

📚 Resources Mentioned

Values Toolkit (Free) https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/

The Long Win by Cath Bishop https://bit.ly/4mozgXo

How To Change Katy Milkman https://bit.ly/45izWXI

For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email [email protected]

More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:

📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/

🏃‍♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024

📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction

📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🥇 Sign up for the Skills Sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO

This episode is the first in a four part mini series where Helen and Sarah focus on quotes that have inspired their career. They discuss how each quote has helped them and share ideas for action so you can put the inspiration into action for your development.

We’re starting with one of Helen’s favourites: 'run your own race'. It's all about letting go of comparison and building confidence by focusing on what matters to you. Helen and Sarah also share 3 practical ways to turn this quote into action - so you can start growing with confidence.

For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email [email protected]

More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:

📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/

🏃‍♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024

📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction

📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you making big decisions without applying real judgement? In this Ask the Expert episode, Sarah speaks with Sir Andrew Likierman about what good judgement looks like at work—and how to improve it. They talk about the difference between decisions and judgement, the stages of the judgement process, how to get better at reading the (virtual room) and learn from poor choices. You’ll learn how to apply a practical framework to improve your own judgement, no matter your role.

🥇 Sign up for the Skills Sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

00:54 Is judgement a quality or skill?

01:50 Judgement and decision-making

05:25 The 6 stages of the judgement process

08:43 Establishing a trusted person

10:06 Reading the room, zoom or teams meeting

13:21 Understanding your strengths and weaknesses

16:54 Famous examples of bad judgement

18:11 The importance of listening

19:24 Persevering when it's time to stop

22:33 Common watch-outs with judgement

23:35 Should you trust instinct & gut feeling?

25:43 Managing risk

29:22 Final thoughts

🎯 What You’ll Learn

- The difference between decision-making and judgement

- A 6-step process to improve judgement

- How to trust wisely, read the (virtual) room, and stay aware

- Why feelings, experience, and listening all shape judgement

- How to develop your personal judgement

📚 Resources Mentioned

Andrew's Book: Judgement at Work: Making Better Choices - https://bit.ly/458TWvJ

Actions Speak Louder Than (Listening) To Words: https://cclinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/actions-speak-louder-than-words.pdf

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman - https://bit.ly/4m8OyQ2

Blink by Malcolm Gladwell: https://bit.ly/3J76pIM For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email [email protected]

More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:

📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/

🏃‍♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024

📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction

📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore the common complaints we all have about work—and how to respond to them in ways that are realistic. From endless meetings, to never having time to think, they unpack why certain complaints come up so often and how to take small, doable steps forward. They share practical tactics like "co-working meetings," “to-think” lists, and a forgiving approach to navigating the inevitable frustrations of work life—so you can focus less on moaning and more on momentum.

🥇 Sign up for the Skills Sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and intro to the episode

01:00 Why we all complain (and why that’s okay sometimes)

03:00 Common complaints: too many meetings, too much to do, not enough time to think

08:58 Complaint #1: Too many meetings

10:30 Imperfect solutions: Shorter meetings, co-working time, reclaiming your calendar

15:48 Complaint #2: Too much to do

17:00 Zoom in/zoom out to clarify what matters most

19:00 Good enough is great: Adjusting your effort with intention

21:45 Complaint #3: No time to think

23:00 The “To Think” list and first thoughts method

25:00 Using voice notes and self-explaining for fast clarity

26:30 Complaint #4: Senior people are slowing me down

28:00 Reframing communication: work with—not against—bottlenecks

🎯 What You’ll Learn

- Why it’s helpful to turn your work complaints into first-person statements

- How “imperfect” solutions can be more useful than perfect plans

- Practical ideas to manage meetings, workload, and thinking time

- Ways to reduce bottlenecks and collaborate better with others

📚 Resources Mentioned

https://reclaim.ai/ – tool to block time for focus and reflection

When Good Enough Is Great Episode: https://www.amazingif.com/listen/when-good-enough-is-great/

For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email [email protected]

More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:

📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/

🏃‍♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024

📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction

📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever had your day derailed by a last-minute request? A sudden change of plan? Or that dreaded moment when you're put on the spot and don’t have the answer? In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore the curveballs that show up in our working week—and how we can respond to them with more confidence and control.

From tech fails to surprise tasks, curveballs can throw us off track and test our confidence. Helen and Sarah share personal stories, reflect on their own curveball capability, and offer practical ideas for action to help you deal with the unexpected, think on your feet, and stop small things from snowballing.

🥇 Sign up for the Skills Sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Welcome to the Squiggly Careers Podcast

00:33 Day-To-Day Curveballs

05:52 Acknowledging & Receiving Curveballs

07:46 Why Curveballs Feel Hard In The Moment

09:06 Curveballs Are More Likely In Squiggly Careers

11:00 Rating Your Curveball Capability

16:55 Idea For Action — Anticipating & Thinking On The Spot

20:35 Idea For Action — Using Multiple Workarounds

26:14 Idea For Action — Avoiding Curveballs Becoming Snowballs

🎯 What You’ll Learn

- Why curveballs feel hard in the moment

- Why curveballs are more common in squiggly careers

- How to anticipate the unexpected and think on your feet

- How to stop curveballs from becoming snowballs

For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email [email protected]

More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:

📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/

🏃‍♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024

📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction

📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you make sure your message gets heard—and acted on? In this Squiggly Careers Ask the Expert episode, Helen speaks with author and influence expert Steve Martin about the powerful role of the messenger in communication.

Drawing on insights from his book Messengers, Steve explains how people respond differently depending on who delivers the message, and why understanding the difference between hard and soft messenger traits can transform your influence at work.

Together, they talk about how you can be more effective in meetings, remote settings, and team communication—plus how to match the right message to the right messenger for maximum impact.

🥇 Sign up for the Skills Sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Welcome to the Squiggly Careers Podcast

01:00 Why the Messenger Matters as Much as the Message

04:40 Trust vs Truth: How We Really Decide Who to Listen To

07:20 Hard vs Soft Messengers (and When Each One Works Best)

13:15 The Kevin Keegan Story: Choosing the Right Messenger

15:20 Why Content Isn't Everything: Choosing the Right Voice

16:30 A Better Way to Start Meetings (That Builds Credibility)

20:00 The Role of Introductions in Empowering Messengers

21:15 Influence in Remote Work: Tips for Zoom & Teams

25:30 Mimicry and Mirroring: Small Shifts That Build Connection

29:08 Announcements

🎯 What You’ll Learn

- Why who delivers a message can be more important than what they say

- The difference between hard and soft messenger traits—and when to use each

- Practical ways to increase your influence in meetings and remote settings

- How to elevate others as effective messengers to get results as a team

📚 Resources Mentioned

Steve's Book, Messengers: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Messengers-Who-Listen-Dont-Why/dp/1847942350

Try Steve’s free quiz: https://www.influenceatwork.com/quiz/

Influence with Robert Cialdini: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d5VBsx-Rec

For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email [email protected]

More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:

📩 Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/

🏃‍♂️ Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024

📮 Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction

📚 Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/ http://www.amazingif.com/books/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you always doing too much yourself? Do you struggle to let go, even when you know you should? In this episode of the Squiggly Careers Podcast, Helen and Sarah explore why so many of us don’t delegate—and what we can do differently to delegate with clarity, confidence, and collaboration. Learn how to avoid the 4 common delegation mistakes and how to give people space without leaving them stuck.

🥇 Sign up for the Skills Sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Welcome to The Squiggly Careers Podcast

00:48 Why You Don’t Delegate (Even When You Should)

12:55 4 Don'ts Of Delegation (And What To Do Instead)

13:15 Don’t Delegate the How

16:52 Don’t Delegate and Disappear

22:41 Don’t Do It for Them

25:06 Hybrid Approaches to Teaching & Delegating

26:25 Don’t Expect It Done Your Way

28:00 Letting Go of “Your Way” and Embracing Other Styles

🎯 What You’ll Learn

- Why delegation feels uncomfortable for even experienced leaders

- 4 delegation mistakes to avoid & what to do instead

- How to give people freedom without micromanaging

- The power of clear outcomes, expectations, and trust

For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email [email protected]

More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:

📩 Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/

🏃‍♂️ Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024

📮 Sign up for Squiggly Careers in Action, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction

📚 Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/ http://www.amazingif.com/books/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices