Squiggly Careers

Pixiu
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  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Squiggly Careers is a weekly podcast that will help you take control of your career development. Hosted by the founders of Amazing If (https://www.amazingif.com/), Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper, together they cover all things work: from how to manage stress and overcome your confidence gremlins to micro-aggressions and discovering your strengths. Each episode is full of ideas, actions, hints, and tips that you can put into practice straight away.  Every so often they take a break from talking to each other to interview other people who are leading the way in making work better. Past guests include entrepreneur and philanthropist Dame Stephanie Shirley, author of The Joy of Work Bruce Daisley, and neuroscience expert Amy Brann.  The Squiggly Careers podcast has been recommended by Harvard Business Review, Stylist, Marie Claire and Management Today. For more ideas, tools and inspiration every week, you can also sign up to their newsletter Squiggly Careers in Action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 11 HR AGO

    AI Skills Sprint: How To Discover Your Strengths Using AI (in 10 Minutes)

    This is the first episode of the Squiggly Careers x AI skills sprint series and today Helen and Sarah are kicking things off with Day 1: Strengths. Our strengths are what we're known for - they shape how we show up and help us make more impact at work. And because strengths develop throughout your career, it's important to keep reflecting on them. In this episode, Helen and Sarah share how to give AI the right prompts to help you spot your strengths in action, stretch your strengths in your team and build a clearer and more confident LinkedIn profile. AI doesn't know you better than you know yourself, but it can act as a sparring partner - giving you new ways of looking at your experiences and surfacing patterns you might miss. By combining reflection with the power of AI, you'll walk away with practical ways to build on your strengths and accelerate your squiggly career. 🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:48 What are strengths and why do they matter? 02:13 AI prompts to help discover you strengths 08:20 Optimising your LinkedIn profile around your strengths with AI 09:19 Team activity: 3 ways to talk about strengths with your team 🎯 What You’ll Learn * Why strengths evolve throughout your career * How to use AI prompts to uncover and reflect on your strengths * How to optimise your LinkedIn profile to reflect your value * Ways to stretch your strengths in a team setting for more impact 📚 Resources Mentioned Strengths Daily Summary - https://bit.ly/scss-ai-day1-summary Amy Edmondson - https://amycedmondson.com/ Claude - https://claude.ai/ Canva's AI Tool - https://www.canva.com/magic-design/ Strengths Toolkit – https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com 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.

    11 min

  2. 1 DAY AGO

    Welcome to the Squiggly Careers AI Skills Sprint 2025 🥇

    AI is on everyone’s minds and we’re getting curious about how it can help to develop our squiggly career skills. Join us for a 5-day sprint from the 15th September where we’ll be exploring lots of AI tools to support our 5 squiggly career skills: Strengths, Values, Confidence, Networking, and Future Possibilities. Just 10 minutes a day for lots of ideas and insights on how AI can help you to accelerate your squiggly career. 🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/3UC3jPy 👥 Join our Squiggly Community: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amazing-if/ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to the Squiggly Careers AI Skills Sprint 2025 00:43 What is a Squiggly Career? 01:10 What is a Sprint? 01:40 Supporting you while you sprint 02:13 FAQs 03:12 Learning with thousands in our community 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.

    4 min

  3. 6 DAYS AGO

    #496 4 Team Habits That Are Holding You Back (and What to Do Instead)

    🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO This week, Helen and Sarah shine a light on the unhelpful habits that teams often slip into without even realising it. From meetings that drag on autopilot to one-to-ones that don’t deliver what you need, these routines can waste time, reduce energy, and stop people from working at their best. In this episode, they share the four most common team traps and practical alternatives to try instead. You’ll hear how to spot unhelpful routines, reset them without blame, and create new habits that help your team feel more energised, inclusive, and effective. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Announcement 01:02 Introduction 05:15 Why teams get stuck in autopilot 08:20 Trap #1: Repeating the same roles in meetings 15:40 Trap #2: Defaulting to recurring meetings 21:58 Trap #3: One-to-ones that lack focus 29:45 Trap #4: Unhelpful communication and collaboration 38:37 How to experiment and reset as a team 42:30 PodSheet and next steps 🎯 What You’ll Learn 4 common team habits that hold people backWhy recurring meetings and default roles reduce effectivenessAlternatives to traditional 1:1s that create more valueHow to reset team communication for clarity and collaborationSimple experiments you can try together to build better ways of working For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com 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.

    40 min

  4. 2 SEPT

    #495 The September Reset: Stop Old Habits, Start New Wins

    🥇 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 Why September is such a powerful time to reset and refocusHow to identify habits that are helping—or holding—you backPractical ways to design new starts that spark motivationHow to stop habits that drain your energy and confidenceWhy sharing starts and stops as a team builds connection and support 📚 Resources Mentioned How to Change by Katy Milkman (for the “fresh start effect”) For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com 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.

    39 min

  5. 26 AUG

    #494 Be yourself more with skill

    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 helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com 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.

    23 min

  6. 19 AUG

    #493 Challenge your limits, don't limit your challenges

    🥇 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 helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com 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.

    17 min

  7. 12 AUG

    #492 Never Live the Same Year Twice: How to Get Unstuck

    🥇 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 helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com 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.

    15 min

  8. 5 AUG

    #491 How to Run Your Own Race

    🥇 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 helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com 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.

    16 min
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Hosts & Guests

About

Squiggly Careers is a weekly podcast that will help you take control of your career development. Hosted by the founders of Amazing If (https://www.amazingif.com/), Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper, together they cover all things work: from how to manage stress and overcome your confidence gremlins to micro-aggressions and discovering your strengths. Each episode is full of ideas, actions, hints, and tips that you can put into practice straight away.  Every so often they take a break from talking to each other to interview other people who are leading the way in making work better. Past guests include entrepreneur and philanthropist Dame Stephanie Shirley, author of The Joy of Work Bruce Daisley, and neuroscience expert Amy Brann.  The Squiggly Careers podcast has been recommended by Harvard Business Review, Stylist, Marie Claire and Management Today. For more ideas, tools and inspiration every week, you can also sign up to their newsletter Squiggly Careers in Action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Channel
    Pixiu
  • Creator
    The Squiggly Career
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    501
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Amazing If
  • Show Website
    Squiggly Careers
  • Provider

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