Squiggly Careers

Sometimes work can feel messy, complicated, or simply “a lot”. Whether you’re drowning in tasks, unsure where to begin, or struggling to make sense of something hard, these small-but-mighty strategies help you pause, prioritise and move forward with more confidence.Episode 517🦞 Pre-order Learn Like A Lobster:🇺🇸PRH US - https://bit.ly/3KxTeBn🇬🇧 Amazon UK - https://amzn.to/3KcRZaR🎯 What You’ll Learn• How to clear mental clutter by getting thoughts out of your head• A simple prioritisation technique—the Bird and the Worm—that helps you balance long-term goals with short-term actions• Why sharing your thinking with someone else (or with AI) can unlock fresh insight and reduce overwhelmFor questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/🏃‍♀️ Join the Skills x AI Sprint: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNQl9gsac8BXnWe2qoGuHkLKwsygjP_Ma&si=l7kODG3JpopH0Irz📮 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/

This week, Helen and Sarah revisit insights from three podcast guests—Amy Gallo, Celeste Headlee, and Dr. Sunita Sah—to tackle a topic many of us shy away from: difficult conversations.From team conflicts and moments of defensiveness to speaking up when something feels off, these everyday challenges can shape how we collaborate, grow, and thrive.In this episode, you’ll learn practical strategies to handle tension with ease: turning irritation into curiosity, using affirmations to stay grounded, and recognising the early “tension signals” that signal it’s time to speak up. You’ll learn how to navigate disagreements without defensiveness, communicate with confidence, and act in alignment with your values—even when it’s uncomfortable.Episode 516🦞 Pre-order Learn Like A Lobster:🇺🇸 PRH US – https://bit.ly/3KxTeBn🇬🇧 Amazon UK – https://amzn.to/3KcRZaR📚 Resources MentionedGetting Along by Amy Gallo - https://bit.ly/43XtfdJCeleste Headlee’s TEDx talk: 10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation - https://youtu.be/R1vskiVDwl4?si=3PFsc2v2v1xK9fy_Dr. Sunita Sah’s Defy: The Power of No In A World That Demands Yes - https://bit.ly/3KfPuF7How to Preempt Team Conflict — Harvard Business Review - https://hbr.org/2016/06/how-to-preempt-team-conflictPrevious Squiggly Careers interviews with:Amy Gallo - https://youtu.be/iO7Q1g7u0SY?si=Pm5srmx-7AgkjIaPCeleste Headlee - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC9kT476GL4Dr. Sunita Sah - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ELoznhCWtk5vlONAlY3wC?si=z6i8C1JOT_21aQ0HeNiZzQ

In this Squiggly Career Shortcut, Helen shares five simple, everyday ideas that can have a big impact on your development—no long courses or huge time commitments needed. These micro-habits take just minutes but build confidence, clarity, and resilience over time.Episode 515🦞 Pre-order Learn Like A Lobster:🇺🇸PRH US - https://bit.ly/3KxTeBn🇬🇧 Amazon UK - https://amzn.to/3KcRZaR🎯 What You’ll Learn• How tiny, everyday habits build long-term career confidence• Why reflecting on successes boosts resilience and motivation• Simple ways to make learning easier, more consistent, and more collaborative For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/🏃‍♀️ Join the Skills x AI Sprint: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNQl9gsac8BXnWe2qoGuHkLKwsygjP_Ma&si=l7kODG3JpopH0Irz📮 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/

This week on the Squiggly Careers podcast, Helen and Sarah borrow brilliance from Dr. Zach Mercurio’s book The Power of Mattering. They talk about how mattering goes beyond belonging, why it boosts motivation and wellbeing, and what happens when we feel invisible or replaceable at work. From personal reflections on high and low mattering moments to practical ways to help others feel noticed, affirmed, and needed, Helen and Sarah bring this idea to life with real-world examples. You’ll learn how small actions — from giving meaningful feedback to showing appreciation — can make a big difference to how people feel, perform, and connect at work.Episode 514🦞 Pre-order Learn Like A Lobster:🇺🇸PRH US - https://bit.ly/3KxTeBn🇬🇧 Amazon UK - https://amzn.to/3KcRZaR⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Introduction 02:30 What is mattering? Feeling valued and valuable04:39 Mattering vs belonging — what’s the difference?07:42 The data: 4 in 10 people feel invisible at work10:07 High and low mattering moments in your career17:00 The 3 ingredients of mattering18:44 Noticing others in meetings22:35 Affirmation vs recognition27:36 Making people feel needed33:41 The mattering spectrum: meaningless, mattering, enmeshment35:27 How to increase mattering for yourself and others🎯 What You’ll Learn- How to understand the psychology of mattering at work- The difference between belonging and mattering- Three simple ways to help others feel valued and valuable- How to create a stronger sense of purpose and performance in your team📚 Resources MentionedThe Power of Mattering by Dr. Zach MercurioFor questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/🏃‍♀️ Join the Skills x AI Sprint: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNQl9gsac8BXnWe2qoGuHkLKwsygjP_Ma&si=l7kODG3JpopH0Irz📮 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/

When people describe their week at work in one word, pretty much 90% of people use the word busy. By swapping this vague default for a more specific and honest word, you can understand your week more clearly, make better choices, and create more meaningful momentum in your squiggly career. From feeling overwhelmed to making progress, Sarah shows how “naming it to tame it” helps you turn how you feel into useful actions.Episode 513🦞 Pre-order Learn Like A Lobster:🇺🇸PRH US - https://bit.ly/3KxTeBn🇬🇧 Amazon UK - https://amzn.to/3KcRZaR⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Welcome to Squiggly Shortcuts00:13 Why “busy” isn’t helping01:01 Name it to tame it02:14 Finding your one-word check-in03:06 Tools for clarity and prioritisation04:14 How language shapes your working week🎯 What You’ll Learn- Why “busy” blocks clarity, reflection, and progress- How choosing a more specific word helps you coach yourself- Practical prompts to turn overwhelm or confusion into action- Ways to build better weeks through intentional language🎧 To learn more listen to Episode 29 on How to Manage Stress: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5JahChD4u1yHlnD6d3Rx2t?si=BLIvThjOQLupOHgsTQsIFgFor questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/🏃‍♀️ Join the Skills x AI Sprint: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNQl9gsac8BXnWe2qoGuHkLKwsygjP_Ma&si=l7kODG3JpopH0Irz📮 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/

This week, Helen and Sarah borrow brilliance from Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, who writes about the seven types of rest that everyone needs.Rest is far more than sleep — it’s a set of rituals that help you restore energy, creativity, and motivation in your squiggly career. From physical and mental rest to creative, emotional, and social rest, Helen and Sarah share how to identify your biggest “rest gaps” and design routines that actually work for you.You’ll also hear how Helen used AI to create a personalised rest profile (with some surprising insights) and how you can try the same coaching prompt to find your own rest reset.Episode 512🦞 Pre-order Learn Like A Lobster:🇺🇸PRH US - https://bit.ly/3KxTeBn🇬🇧 Amazon UK - https://amzn.to/3KcRZaR⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Introduction02:10 The 7 Types of Rest explained04:40 Physical and mental rest05:43 Sensory and creative rest 06:33 Emotional and social rest 07:05 Spiritual rest 09:05 Coach yourself: Rest bests & rest gaps20:39 Who can help you close your rest gap?24:40 Using AI to create a personalised rest profile28:55 Practical rest rituals you can start this week30:39 Team idea: A “Reflections on Rest” session🎯 What You’ll Learn- The 7 types of rest and how to recognise which you need most- How to build small, sustainable rest rituals into your week- Ways to use AI to personalise your rest strategy- How to support rest across your team📚 Resources MentionedSacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity* by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith.For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/🏃‍♀️ Join the Skills x AI Sprint: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNQl9gsac8BXnWe2qoGuHkLKwsygjP_Ma&si=l7kODG3JpopH0Irz📮 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/

In this Squiggly Shortcut, Helen shares five practical ideas to help you become a speed learner at work — so you can keep growing, adapting, and learning even when time is tight. From instant inspiration to everyday experiments, these quick and simple strategies will help you learn faster, stay curious, and build learning into your day-to-day routine.Episode 511🦞 Pre-order Learn Like A Lobster:🇺🇸 PRH US – https://bit.ly/3KxTeBn🇬🇧 Amazon UK – https://amzn.to/3KcRZaR⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Welcome to Squiggly Shortcuts00:24 The difference between speed and slow learning01:15 Idea 1 02:05 Idea 2 02:55 Idea 3 03:45 Idea 4 04:30 Idea 5 05:15 Where to learn more🎯 What You’ll Learn- How to learn faster without feeling overwhelmed- Why reflection and feedback accelerate your growth- Practical ways to build learning into your workday📚 Resources MentionedSuperhuman AI - superhuman.com For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/🏃‍♀️ Join the Skills x AI Sprint: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNQl9gsac8BXnWe2qoGuHkLKwsygjP_Ma&si=l7kODG3JpopH0Irz📮 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/

This week on the Squiggly Careers podcast, Helen and Sarah borrow brilliance from a sweet source — the marshmallow experiment — to explore how the science of delayed gratification applies to our work and career choices.Inspired by the famous psychology study, they unpack what it means to make one marshmallow versus two marshmallow decisions — the everyday trade-offs between instant satisfaction and long-term success. From replying to emails and saying yes to everything, to applying for jobs and building relationships, Helen and Sarah share real-life examples of how to recognise and reframe your choices for greater impact.You’ll learn how to spot your own marshmallow moments, connect them to what motivates you most, and choose progress over quick wins (at least some of the time!).Episode 510🦞 Pre-order Learn Like A Lobster:PRH US - https://bit.ly/3KxTeBnAmazon UK - https://amzn.to/3KcRZaR⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Introduction03:53 The Marshmallow Experiment explained05:43 Why delayed gratification matters for squiggly careers06:43 The shiny object trap — instant wins vs. long-term goals08:13 One vs. Two Marshmallow choices at work10:53 Email decisions — control vs. quality16:23 Saying yes vs. saying no — and why “no” can lead to more impact24:03 Career choices — applying vs. creating opportunities29:03 Building relationships and the “giant marshmallow” payoff30:53 How to spot your marshmallow moments🎯 What You’ll Learn- How to apply the concept of delayed gratification to your career- Why awareness of short-term vs. long-term trade-offs boosts progress- How to make intentional choices that lead to more impact- Ways to balance quick wins with meaningful goals📚 Resources MentionedThe Marshmallow Test by Walter Mischel https://www.amazon.co.uk/Marshmallow-Test-Understanding-Self-control-Master/dp/0552168866Delayed Gratification article by James Clear https://jamesclear.com/delayed-gratificationFor questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/🏃‍♀️ Join the Skills x AI Sprint: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNQl9gsac8BXnWe2qoGuHkLKwsygjP_Ma&si=l7kODG3JpopH0Irz📮 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/

Most of us will change career up to 5 times in our squiggly careers. In this shortcut, Sarah shares why career change isn’t about having the perfect plan — it’s about getting started. She gives three practical ways to make progress without pressure, from small experiments to curious conversations that open new doors.Episode 509🦞 Pre-order Learn Like A Lobster:🇺🇸 PRH US – https://bit.ly/3KxTeBn🇬🇧 Amazon UK – https://amzn.to/3KcRZaR⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Welcome to Squiggly Shortcuts00:28 Why “perfect plans” hold us back01:05 Idea 1 02:15 Idea 2 03:35 Idea 3 04:50 Why small actions build big confidence05:10 Where to learn more🎯 What You’ll Learn- How to stop overthinking your next move- Why progress matters more than perfection- How to turn small steps into big opportunities- How to reframe uncertainty as growth🎧 For more ideas, listen to Episode 379, where Sarah interviews April Rinne about navigating career change with confidence.For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/🏃‍♀️ Join the Skills x AI Sprint: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNQl9gsac8BXnWe2qoGuHkLKwsygjP_Ma&si=l7kODG3JpopH0Irz📮 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/