00:00:00: Introduction 00:03:53: Quickfire questions 00:08:50: End-the-sentence statements 00:18:10: 5 talent areas… 00:18:34: … strengths 00:22:28: … values: pleasure 00:26:37: … values: powerful instances 00:36:30: … values: seeking to 2023 00:39:42: … confidence 00:40:33: … networking 00:41:22: … prospects 00:52:21: Trying-ahead lists 00:58:20: Ultimate ideas
Helen Tupper: Hello, I am Helen. Sarah Ellis: And I am Sarah. Helen Tupper: And also you’re listening to the Squiggly Careers podcast, a weekly podcast the place Sarah and I speak concerning the ups and downs and ins and outs of a Squiggly Profession, and share with you some concepts for motion, some sensible issues you are able to do after you pay attention at this time to assist you along with your profession improvement. Sarah Ellis: And that is our ultimate episode of the Squiggly Careers podcast for 2022. Helen Tupper: Not ever! Sarah Ellis: Yeah, I do know, that sounded dramatic, “That is it! We’re going out with a bang!” However earlier than we do discuss at this time’s episode, we needed to start out by saying thanks. We’ve such a superb group of people that hearken to our podcast each week, who ship us messages, telling us what’s labored for them, who share it with different individuals, who share it of their organisations, with their pals, with their household. I do love seeing these Spotify lists that give you what you have been listening to; and while you see the Squiggly Careers podcast alongside, I’ve to say some completely good podcasts that I additionally hearken to, that I do know have much more listeners than us, it does at all times make me really feel actually proud, and in addition simply extremely grateful, as a result of we all know that our listeners preserve coming again, that you simply preserve listening. All people has received decisions to make about the way you spend your time, and the truth that you select to spend your listening time with us is one thing that we are going to by no means take with no consideration, and that is why we’re going to preserve going. So, yeah, there is no such thing as a finish in sight! Helen Tupper: Properly, I additionally actually respect it from a studying standpoint, as a result of generally I discover it arduous to prioritise listening to podcasts. I like listening and studying from podcasts, however I do not at all times discover a time to do it in my week. So, after I see individuals who’ve made us their precedence, I additionally suppose they’ve made their profession improvement a precedence too, and I simply respect that as a result of meaning week after week, they’ve made a while to study, and I believe that is a giant pat on the again for doing that as properly, no matter whether or not it is with us or one other podcast that helps you with work; I believe that is an vital dedication to make to your profession. Sarah Ellis: So, this week’s podcast is about reflecting on 2022 and it is how you can look again to look ahead, so how you can replicate in your 12 months, but additionally to make use of that to propel you to make some optimistic progress prepared for 2023. And one of many issues to say when it comes to the best way we have structured at this time’s podcast, is we actually hope now we have give you some questions that you’ll all be capable of use for yourselves. So, you’re about to listen to quite a bit from us, maybe in a approach that you do not often on the podcast, as a result of we’re going to discuss our years to carry these to life; however within the PodSheet, you can get all of those questions, you may simply comply with this format for your self. So, that is the very first thing. The second factor that each Helen and I’ve discovered as we have ready for this podcast is, be careful for recency bias. It’s actually arduous while you’re doing this to not simply take into consideration principally the final week or the final month. And so I actually went again to my calendar initially of the 12 months and simply did a fast skim by, “Okay, what was occurring in January, what was occurring in February?” to try to enhance principally the standard of my reflections, as a result of I may spot that that was occurring. Then, Helen and I have been even chatting earlier than we received began and saying, we predict this format truly might be most helpful if you happen to use it extra continuously, extra quarterly. After which if you happen to’ve received quarterly reflections to return again to at this level on the finish of the 12 months, I believe your self-awareness can be even higher. So, it is simply two issues that we discovered, as a result of I wrote these questions and they don’t seem to be simple! So, we have got some quickfire questions and finish-these-sentence statements to start out with, that are simply going to heat us up. Helen and I do not share beforehand what we will say in response to those, so it is going to be fascinating. After which now we have received teaching questions round strengths, values, confidence, networking and prospects, so these 5 abilities to achieve a Squiggly Profession; we have taken every of these and we have thought, “How would you usefully look again to look ahead on every of these?” So, Helen, are you learn for the fast fireplace questions? Helen Tupper: I’m prepared. I’ve lower and pasted all of Sarah’s questions right into a separate Phrase doc so I may fill it out and never give it away, so we’ll see whether or not she’s nonetheless speaking to me after this! Sarah Ellis: So, I will ask Helen the quickfire questions, then she’s going to reciprocate and ask me, after which we won’t resist however speak somewhat bit about them in a bit extra element, I believe. After which we’ll do the finish-the-statement sentences and comply with that very same format. Proper, are you prepared? Helen Tupper: It can all make sense, everyone! Yeah, I am able to go. Sarah Ellis: One phrase to explain your 12 months? Helen Tupper: Stretchy. Sarah Ellis: One phrase to explain Wonderful If’s 12 months? Helen Tupper: Increasing. Sarah Ellis: One phrase to explain, I wrote “one another”, however principally me? Helen Tupper: Would you like some love?! Perspective. Sarah Ellis: Oh, fascinating! Okay. Helen Tupper: Okay, one phrase to explain your 12 months? Sarah Ellis: Rollercoaster. Helen Tupper: One phrase to explain Wonderful If’s 12 months? Sarah Ellis: Development. Helen Tupper: One phrase to explain me? Sarah Ellis: Supportive. Helen Tupper: Oh, that was practically my phrase for you and I used to be like, “I at all times say supportive. I really feel like I need a totally different phrase”, however that was my first phrase for you; how humorous! So, your first, your rollercoaster phrase then, do you wish to give a little bit of context? Sarah Ellis: And also you have been stretchy on your first phrase to explain your 12 months? Helen Tupper: I used to be stretchy, yeah. Sarah Ellis: How simple or tough did you discover it to give you your phrase? Helen Tupper: I discovered it fairly arduous truly, as a result of this 12 months has simply been actually, actually stretchy at instances, to the purpose of like, “I am really feel like I am stretched too far”, both due to some challenges that we have been going by, or the calls for on our time, or the issues that I used to be attempting to do outdoors of labor concurrently inside of labor. So, I discovered it arduous. I did not wish to be destructive concerning the 12 months, but additionally it hasn’t all been sunshine and laughter, there’s been some arduous — so, stretchy was the phrase I felt that simply received that throughout. Your rollercoaster? Sarah Ellis: Not less than it wasn’t “snapped”! Helen Tupper: Yeah, I do know! Sarah Ellis: You are like, “Stretchy, nevertheless it did not fairly snap. Almost, however did not fairly!” Helen Tupper: “Damaged”; that was the phrase I crossed out! So, you had rollercoaster? Sarah Ellis: Yeah, and I imply I do not like occurring rollercoasters. Helen Tupper: So, there you go! Sarah Ellis: Yeah, very related sentiments to you. And I believe what it made me realise is, I’m any individual who I truly take pleasure in change, I like newness, I like doing issues in another way, I positively prefer to really feel like I am accountable for these issues; and I believe this 12 months for me has felt nearly like, even the highs, it is too excessive and low for my liking. I believe I’m pragmatic and calm, I prefer to be in management, and there are issues, personally and at work as properly, the place I did not really feel like I used to be driving that rollercoaster. As certainly one of our listeners identified to us, I believe we used rollercoaster as an analogy in a earlier episode and we would stated about driving, “Do you’re feeling such as you’re driving it?” and he was like, “You do realise, you do not actually drive a rollercoaster?” However after I was interested by that rollercoaster, I positively really feel like I am using it, reasonably than on the entrance going, “Now I am selecting to go in that route, and now I am selecting to go on this route”. There have been moments the place I’ve edged ahead, you’re feeling such as you’re making some good decisions and performing some issues which are good which are going that can assist you, with inevitable ups and downs as a result of it is by no means going to be all easy crusing, we all know that. However I believe the final two or three years, which have been difficult for everyone, I’m wondering for some individuals, possibly like in 2020 after we had our first lockdowns, or then 2021 when it felt like we have been a bit on repeat however much more uncertainty, you then had 2022 the place there’s been, as somebody stated to me about compound uncertainty the opposite day, and I used to be like, “Yeah, there was a whole lot of that”. Helen Tupper: Yeah. Sarah Ellis: And if I take into consideration the final three years, this has been my hardest 12 months of the final three years. Helen Tupper: I agree with you. I nearly suppose for us, it is nearly like compound problem. Firstly of the pandemic, we pivoted; after which the second 12 months, so 2021, we have been sort of experimenting with progress in just a few totally different areas, which was fascinating; after which this 12 months, I’ve form of had some rising pains, I believe. That is what it is felt like. And I do not suppose it is unhealthy and I believe we most likely would have at all times had it, however I believe we have simply actually skilled it this 12 months. After which clearly we have each had some stuff personally occurring that simply that house you might want to reset to deal with that hasn’t been there. So, it has been problem in work, problem outdoors of labor. Sarah Ellis: Somebody stated to me that in some unspecified time in the future while you’re operating your personal enterprise, you undergo your teenage years, like Adrian Mole’s diary; it stroke a chord in my memory of that! It is a bit awkward and issues are altering, you are attempting to determine stuff out and also you do have rising pains, do not you, and that is how I believe it is felt somewhat bit for us at instances. After which that is why these final phrases are so vital, as a result of maybe if I did not have perspective and if you happen to weren’t supportive, maybe at instances you’d have snapped. I believe we got here shut a few instances, which I am positive we’ll discuss! I believe there have been two fairly apparent moments in the course of the 12 months the place you snapped and I snapped, at totally different instances and locations, and if something I believe it is good that you would be able to snigger about them. And in addition that complete level about, “It’s okay generally to be like, ‘Properly, no, that is felt actually tough'”. However let’s do the following bit, as a result of the following questions, I believe, are barely extra upbeat, as a result of I really feel like we have began on an actual downer! Helen Tupper: Okay, properly, actual! Sarah Ellis: “How’s your 12 months been?” “Erm…!” Helen Tupper: “Fairly arduous!” Okay, proper, I will ask you these first after which you may ask me. Sarah Ellis: Okay. Helen Tupper: Okay, you had probably the most enjoyable at work when…? Sarah Ellis: After we went away as a crew. So, as any individual truly who would not actually like going away with different individuals notably, I used to be fairly shocked by how a lot enjoyable I had. I believe it jogged my memory of what we have been constructing, of why we do what we do. I liked studying extra about our crew. I do suppose you join with individuals differently while you’re in an immersed atmosphere. We went away for an evening and also you’d discouraged me from placing an excessive amount of work on the agenda. I am at all times actually tempted in these moments to be like, “Proper, how do we have to spend our time collectively?” and for it to be fairly work-focused, and we had very deliberately, and also you’d talked me down from having an excessive amount of work, we had some studying, we did a superb workshop with Amy and Nicola from Good Shout and we learnt a bit about copywriting and simply writing typically, and that was wonderful. However once more, that felt like a crew expertise, it felt like a studying expertise. I believe I simply look again on these couple of days as a extremely vital a part of our 12 months, and that did not really feel like rising pains, that felt like good progress. And one of many issues I have been considering loads about lately is, as a result of everyone’s at all times obsessive about progress, and I believe rising is vital for us, however good progress is vital for us, and being actually clear about what that appears like. And that simply felt like we have been rising collectively, and for the primary time it felt like we have been making this transition away from it being you and I to all of us. There was a “we-ness” right here that we would by no means had earlier than. I liked the very fact there was some studying, I favored the very fact there was chat over meals, but additionally there was time for individuals to be by themselves. There have been additionally some fairly tough moments in that couple of days, which we might or might not discuss, as a result of it is extra your second to share whether or not you wish to or not. However I nonetheless look again on that and suppose I had a whole lot of enjoyable. And enjoyable for me might be barely totally different from enjoyable for you, however I discovered that enjoyable. Helen Tupper: I will maintain that second, as a result of I’ll come again to it with a unique context. It was beautiful to spend time with the crew. So your second query, end this sentence: what shocked you was…? Sarah Ellis: What number of purposes we had for among the jobs that we marketed this 12 months; and linked to that, how small adjustments to a recruitment course of could make a extremely huge distinction. So, we put a whole lot of effort into interested by how we have been going to recruit. We shared interview questions beforehand that had a approach greater impression than I would imagined when it comes to individuals feeling like they could possibly be at their finest in these interviews; we created some questions as a part of the applying course of, asking individuals to share what they have been pleased with and a few of their strengths; and we simply had a lot optimistic suggestions on simply the method, individuals having fun with making use of for that function. I believed, “That is wonderful, that we are able to make it one thing that folks take pleasure in doing, whether or not they get an interview or whether or not they’re profitable or not”. I believe individuals felt prefer it was useful for them, so I used to be actually pleased with how we did that. And simply the variety of purposes that we received, the place individuals have been speaking about how excited and energised they might be by the prospect of working with us. Helen Tupper: Yeah, it was wonderful, it was very nice. Even individuals that did not get the function that then received in contact about how optimistic the expertise was, it was beautiful. Final however not least, end the sentence: a brand new connection that you’ve got been impressed by was…? Sarah Ellis: So, I discovered this one actually arduous, which I believe is a mirrored image doubtlessly additionally how I’ve spent my time over the previous 12 months, and I can consider a few current connections who I have been actually impressed by, again to the recency bias. I’ve had a few Ask the Skilled interviews for the podcast: Sharmadean Reid and David Erixon. David Erixon’s episode is developing in January, so individuals will not have heard that but. Each of these conversations I got here away from simply feeling good, nearly like when your mind is on fireplace in a superb approach? Each of these individuals, the dialog had gone on, it had felt intense and fascinating and plenty of sparks moving into all types of various instructions, as a result of they have been each individually good. And it jogged my memory of the significance of these sorts of conversations, how a lot vitality they offer me, how a lot I take pleasure in them. However I believe a whole lot of my new connections this 12 months have been nearly by these Ask the Skilled conversations. There have been some moments the place I’ve performed a barely higher job of some curious profession conversations that I will take a couple of bit later after we get to “community”, however nearly a brand new connection outdoors of our Ask the Skilled podcasts, I truly actually struggled. And I can not work out whether or not it is as a result of I can not keep in mind, nearly due to that time about going again and attempting to consider all of the individuals that you’ve got spoken to; or simply whether or not I have never spent sufficient time doing that this 12 months. Helen Tupper: Yeah, I agree on the Ask the Specialists. I form of miss doing these a bit this 12 months, and the extra the 12 months has gone on, the extra I’ve realised what a spot that creates when you do not have them. Sarah Ellis: Okay, ought to we swap; prepared? Helen Tupper: Yeah. Sarah Ellis: You had probably the most enjoyable when…? Helen Tupper: We’re filming collectively. We have performed numerous filming, now we have. And are you aware the one I actually keep in mind? Sarah and I’ve recorded a video ebook for the Squiggly Profession which we’ll speak extra about very quickly. We needed to do some late night time filming in a studio, and it is actually bizarre as a result of generally it isn’t what you wish to do while you’ve been at work all day doing one thing else, it is like, “Okay, we will go to a studio”. However Sarah and I truly do not spend a number of time collectively, which could sound actually bizarre, as a result of if you happen to hearken to the podcast, it’s essential to suppose we’re at all times collectively, “You speak to one another each week”. However that is most likely one of many few moments that now we have a chat with one another fairly so overtly and curiously about the place our heads are on matter. Within the week, we’re each very often working independently and preserving in contact by way of WhatsApp with what is going on on. However after we’re filming, I really feel like, I do not know, there are humorous moments, we’re fairly — Sarah Ellis: There are numerous sweary moments! Helen Tupper: Sure, numerous sweary moments! We get by it after which we give ourselves somewhat excessive 5 when it is performed. However I simply actually loved, after I take into consideration the 12 months, they’ve been a few of our most memorable instances, us within the studio, generally fairly chilly, generally fairly sweary. Sarah Ellis: At all times chilly. Helen Tupper: At all times chilly! Sarah Ellis: Why are studios at all times chilly? Helen Tupper: After which usually on the finish of the day, then I stick a digital camera in Sarah’s face as a result of I am like, “I want some content material for social”. Sarah Ellis: And at that time, I get actually indignant as a result of I’ve reached my restrict of how a lot I wish to be in entrance of a digital camera and you then’re like, “As an instance Pleased Christmas and do a Christmas ebook competitors”. At that time, I believe I stated one thing actually fairly aggressive to you! Helen Tupper: You probably did! You simply get meaner and meaner. Sarah Ellis: I do not need that hour of tape to get shared; I would get cancelled, I believe! What shocked you this 12 months? Helen Tupper: That we revealed a ebook! Sarah Ellis: Yeah, I do know! How is that this 12 months? Helen Tupper: So, in January, if you do not know, possibly if you happen to’re a newer listener, we revealed our second ebook, and it went fairly properly. It was a Sunday Occasions bestseller, known as You Coach You. However the expertise of that after which simply the size of this 12 months, which I respect 12 months is 12 months, nevertheless it hasn’t felt like 12 months; it felt like they’ve stretched, to the earlier phrase of the 12 months. However yeah, we revealed a ebook this 12 months; congratulations! There you go. Sarah Ellis: Yeah, to be honest that I’m very, very pleased with. Helen Tupper: Me too. Sarah Ellis: I am nearly shocked generally, while you return and you are like, “Yeah, that web page is sweet; that is coach-yourself query!” And I like listening to when individuals inform us they’ve learn Squiggly or You Coach You and it is helped them, these moments the place it has felt arduous this 12 months, simply know you probably have ever written a evaluation for the podcast or received in contact with us about studying a kind of books, actually that’s what retains us going. That is what makes us suppose, “Oh, it’s all price it, as a result of we’re being helpful and we’re making Squiggly Careers higher for everybody”. So, thanks to everyone who’s performed that. Who’s a brand new connection that you’ve got been impressed by? Helen Tupper: Properly, this can be a little bit of recency bias positively, as a result of I met with him final week, however I additionally met with him in January, so it form of closes the loop on the purpose! So, James Routledge, who was beforehand the CEO of Sanctus, spoke at our ebook launch for You Coach You in London, together with Adrienne Herbert, after which I met with him once more final week in London as a result of we have found that we each have a connection from the place we’re from, Stoke-on-Trent, and I used to be simply actually impressed by the journey that he is gone on. He constructed a enterprise, scaled it, after which he stepped away from that enterprise as CEO, he stays on the board contributing to it; he is moved again to Staffordshire as a result of he believes there is a chance to shine extra of a highlight on Stoke-on-Trent and the artistic expertise there. And this particular person that’s getting clearer and clearer concerning the worth that they add, which is that he is nice at beginning issues off and creating vitality round one thing, after which always reinventing his profession, whereas preserving the energy that he brings on the coronary heart of it. I discovered it actually inspiring that he isn’t outlined by one factor, he is doing a whole lot of what we discuss when it comes to transferring the expertise. So, yeah, I am impressed by him. Sarah Ellis: He wrote an awesome ebook, did not he, Psychological Well being at Work, I believe it is known as? Helen Tupper: Sure, certainly one of Penguin Enterprise’s shorter books. So, yeah, good learn on psychological well being. Sarah Ellis: Nice. So hopefully, that helps to get you began. I imply, I say they’re quickfire, they weren’t that fast, have been they?! However I do suppose figuring out a phrase to explain your 12 months typically, a phrase to explain your 12 months at work, after which possibly a phrase to explain if you happen to’ve received an in depth relationship with somebody you’re employed with, that may be actually useful. Take into consideration when have you ever had your most enjoyable; I believe it is a actually good query. I believe enjoyable and play at work is so vital, and if you cannot consider these examples, I believe that additionally tells you one thing. And if you happen to can consider a great deal of examples, once more that provides you most likely carry. The shock one is fascinating, one thing that was only a bit leftfield, otherwise you hadn’t anticipated; and that new connection, I believe most likely like Helen and I, it is prompted us each to, , when these conversations are good, you actually keep in mind them however if you happen to’re not having sufficient, you form of really feel their loss. Helen Tupper: So, we at the moment are going to get into our 5 Squiggly talent areas so that you can replicate on the 12 months, so we’ll undergo every one. Sarah Ellis: For a few of these, we’re each going to speak about them however for some, we will alternate, simply because this feels very a lot about us however it’s actually extra about you; we wish you to all be interested by your years. In order at all times with these podcasts, it positively helps us loads as properly. So, we will begin with strengths. I am simply going to speak to Helen about strengths after which we’re each going to do values. So for strengths, three questions for you all to have a take into consideration: when have you ever been at your finest; who’re you sharing your strengths with; and, how may you utilize your strengths extra in 2023? After which utilizing your reflections on these three teaching questions to simply summarise by considering, “My strengths motion is…”. So, Helen, the place did you get to on strengths? Helen Tupper: So I stated, “When have I been at my finest?” I believe within the programmes that we ship for purchasers. So in that second, it doesn’t matter what’s been occurring in work or outdoors of it, in that second I have been current and I consider that I’ve delivered excessive vitality, excessive effectiveness profession improvement periods, I have been actually pleased with these moments and there is been a whole lot of them this 12 months; so, felt good about that. “Who am I sharing my strengths with?” So, in the mean time, good person who I am form of mentoring, known as Marie, who’s seeking to develop and develop her enterprise in a number of alternative ways, and I really feel like I’ve received a number of concepts and recommendations and methods of creating her concepts occur that I am fairly excited to do to assist her with, it is given me a number of vitality to do this. And, “How can I exploit my strengths extra in 2023?” I had an concept that I’ve not talked to you about, which is about serving to one particular person a month. It sounds a bit bizarre, as a result of now we have periods and we’ll have generally 1,000 individuals in a session, and you are like, “Properly, you are serving to fairly lots of people without delay then”. However for me, there’s one thing within the one-to-one, the small bits of assist that you simply give one particular person, which have a giant distinction to how you’re feeling. So, I’ve determined that for subsequent 12 months, I will deal with one particular person, or a pair, a month to actually assist them with one thing particular they’re engaged on. So, possibly somebody’s attempting to jot down a ebook proposal, or possibly somebody is attempting to create a industrial proposition, and I’ve already received the primary three individuals in thoughts. They are not essentially going to know that they are on my record! Sarah Ellis: Do they even really want any assist, or are you simply going to be like, “You are getting helped, whether or not you need it or not!” Helen Tupper: “I believe you want some assist although!” No, I believe they’ll have most likely requested in a roundabout way, and I most likely have not made that particular dedication. However in my thoughts, I will put the date within the diary, like I already know one particular person I am coping with in January, and I’ll sit down with any individual else in February who I talked to in direction of the top of final 12 months, however I simply wish to be somewhat bit extra intentional concerning the small-scale assist that may make fairly a giant distinction to that one particular person, but additionally makes fairly a giant distinction to how I really feel about my impression. It isn’t at all times the large stuff, ? I wish to preserve the small stuff in. So, my motion for 2023 is to create what I am calling a “care-and-share record”; who’s engaged on one thing that I care about, and the way can I share my strengths to assist them? So, I wish to get that record and simply be very intentional about it for the 12 months. Sarah Ellis: Yeah, that is actually fascinating, and I believe such as you stated, generally if you happen to’re not intentional, you are both doing it however you do not give your self credit score for it, otherwise you’re simply not getting these small wins alongside the best way which are at all times so vital. I’ve realised this 12 months, and I do not know whether or not it is simply by chance, or whether or not it is simply one thing that I finish nearly providing with out realising, I am actually good at serving to individuals to go away properly. So, in the event that they’re attempting to go away a crew or an organisation or profession change, and generally these might be fairly knotty moments in your Squiggly Profession, they’ll really feel arduous for many causes, there are two or three individuals, it isn’t like there are multitudes of individuals, however there are two or three individuals who I can see that they’ve performed what I’d at all times describe as a sublime exit; so that they really feel actually good about themselves, they’ve saved actually good relationships, and so they’ve performed that in a approach that is labored for them. I really feel like I’ve performed a extremely vital half in serving to somebody to do this in a time that’s usually fairly overwhelming and nerve-racking. So, yeah, it is a very particular factor, however while you begin to spot, “I am clearly fairly helpful in these moments”. So once more, that is usually fairly useful to then suppose, “That is clearly utilizing my strengths, possibly about being supportive, possibly giving individuals perspective”, so maybe I may try this for extra individuals subsequent 12 months who’re in that knotty second, after which you possibly can suppose, “Properly, what does that appear like?” Helen Tupper: Okay, so the second space we wish to discuss is values, so Squiggly talent quantity two, and that is one we’re each going to speak about, simply because we predict it is so basic, and in addition we predict that this 12 months has performed a task when it comes to our values quite a bit, when it comes to our happiness and generally challenges at work. So, Sarah, one second you felt pleased with? Sarah Ellis: I felt actually proud this 12 months after we did an occasion for our Lead, Be taught, Join neighborhood. So, this can be a neighborhood of people that work in studying and improvement. We get collectively each six to eight weeks, just about at all times nearly, and for the primary time in three years, we received over 100 individuals in a room collectively. And I believe the rationale I felt actually pleased with that day was the agenda, was the folks that we introduced collectively. So, it wasn’t actually about us, it was what we may carry to that neighborhood. And I believe what we are able to carry to that neighborhood is curiosity, considering in another way, problem and construct, and I believe we received good individuals within the room to encourage and to share these concepts, and to show individuals to attract and to do all types of fascinating issues. I believe that is likely one of the distinctive issues that we provide to the folks that we work with and we put a whole lot of effort into designing that day and interested by how you can make it a superb studying expertise, since you do get that traditional cliché, do not you, of the world that you simply work in is commonly one thing you neglect for your self. So, I felt like we gave a day of profession and studying improvement to individuals who work in that space and spend most of their time supporting different individuals with their careers. And it is a great deal of work, everybody is aware of occasions are at all times a great deal of work and there is tons to kind out and to organise; and clearly we did not have it in our plans initially of the 12 months, so we would not created all this spare house to make that occur. However I do keep in mind afterwards simply feeling extremely good about what we would achieved and the impression that we would had, and that we would been helpful; that benchmark that we at all times have week in, week out, “How are we being helpful; how may we be extra helpful?” I felt like we created an extremely helpful day of studying and improvement for individuals, so I felt actually pleased with that. Helen Tupper: Yeah, and it wasn’t the second that I would written down truly, we’ll discuss these in a minute. However after I replicate on that, I really feel like there’s one thing, and it isn’t certainly one of our values truly, however there’s something for me that we do PodPlus each week, which is one thing that we do without cost to assist individuals who wish to dive a bit deeper into their improvement. That occasion as properly, these individuals which are a part of that neighborhood, we put that on, we funded the entire thing, and for me there’s something actually vital in that form of generosity of studying that we allow; I really feel like that is one thing that is vital to each of us, that we create these moments for individuals to return to and be a part of. It looks like a giant a part of our model and the way we do what we do. Sarah Ellis: So, what did you’ve gotten? Let’s stick with pleasure earlier than we transfer onto the following one. Helen Tupper: So, my second I felt pleased with? Ebook launch resilience; I wrote, “Ebook launch resilience”; that is precisely what I’ve written, everyone, as a result of I am undecided of my feelings of that point! So, the context was, when You Coach You got here out in January, we had just a few powerful instances with the publishing course of, the ups and downs with numbers that have been being reported and every kind of issues; it was actually arduous. That felt like a really rollercoaster month for me of, “Oh, it is going properly. Oh no, it is a catastrophe!” Then we had an awesome concept of placing personalised covers collectively, so you bought, “Sarah Coach Sarah”, which principally meant me, for 2 months with another individuals in our crew, printing and packing up and posting books and organising a mini operations course of that was simply exhausting and tough. Then the crew received COVID throughout that point, you bought COVID; I simply felt like that was arduous. However I am actually pleased with the resilience of us all getting by that, and that we delivered on all of our commitments at the moment. Sarah Ellis: And we bought a whole lot of books. Helen Tupper: We bought a whole lot of books and we did stay occasions with Penguin, and we confirmed up for all of these moments and we coated one another when it felt powerful. And I am simply actually, like you are able to do arduous issues? I have a look at these couple of months and I am going, “Are you aware, we are able to do arduous issues”. Sarah Ellis: We will do arduous issues! Helen Tupper: We have performed arduous issues, and we are able to do arduous issues! Sarah Ellis: If nothing else, this 12 months, we are able to do arduous issues! Helen Tupper: We will do arduous issues! That was a little bit of a show level; a show level and a proud level for me, that we may try this. All proper, so the following one: one time, Sarah, the place life felt powerful this 12 months and what you learnt from it? Sarah Ellis: Properly, for individuals who hearken to the podcast who actually do pay attention, after we did our evaluation this time final 12 months, I talked about having a little bit of a meltdown on Clapham Junction Station. So this 12 months, apparently, that is the place I’ve all my meltdowns; practice stations! I used to be like, “Is there some form of metaphor on this; or, is it to do with transitionary moments? I do not know, possibly it is simply pure coincidence. This time it was Paddington, Platform 1, very particularly, and once more it was simply a kind of moments the place the whole lot — when you may address loads, individuals discuss that stress bucket. Whenever you do your psychological well being first-aid coaching, I at all times discover it useful, that concept of your stress bucket will get stuffed and stuffed and if there is not any one turning on the faucets to alleviate a few of that stress, in some unspecified time in the future it’s going to overflow, after which that is it, that is all you may address. And that is very arduous to anticipate for me when these moments are going to occur, however they do. And after they do, they really feel so totally different to arduous issues. So we have described, “There’s been arduous issues and we have discovered our approach by, and a few of these issues have been irritating”? There’s something very totally different for me about when I’ve these platform-related mini meltdowns, the place I really feel utterly numb. For any individual who is sort of feeling-related more often than not, I am going utterly numb, very clean and lose an actual sense of connection to work, to individuals — Helen Tupper: It is coping, proper; it should simply be a coping mechanism? Sarah Ellis: Yeah, it should be. What was totally different this 12 months was as a result of I’ve had it earlier than, I used to be like, “Oh, it is that once more”. I imply, I’ll say I believe he would not pay attention, however there was a man on Platform 1 who noticed me strolling up and down this platform; I could not discover a constructing I used to be attempting to get into, and that turned out to be the ultimate straw. And this man noticed me, he labored for Nice Western Rail, and I believe he noticed me on the sting of tears I believe trying extremely distressed. I should have seemed actually on the sting. And he came to visit to me and was like, “Whats up, I used to be simply questioning if you happen to have been okay and if I may show you how to?” and I used to be identical to, “No, I am not okay!” However while you’re additionally like, “And I can not let you know how you can assist me, apart from virtually I do want to seek out this constructing”? It was extremely variety, as a result of truly all I actually wanted in that second was him — I did want any individual to return and speak to me, or I believe I might need simply capitulated and sat down on that platform in November, or each time it was. And what’s fascinating I believe while you do really feel that approach, is letting go of attempting to repair it. So I believe when it has occurred to me earlier than, I have been like, “Properly, how do I repair this?” whereas truly this time, I used to be like, “Okay, I’ve received that bizarre clean feeling once more”, and also you simply go, “It feels bizarre, however I do know it’s going to go away”, and trusting in that and never worrying about it an excessive amount of, and simply letting your self be for 2 or three days. Then, you do discover your approach by these moments. I imply, it isn’t one thing I would look to repeat. Helen Tupper: You are not trying ahead to coach station 2023 meltdown?! Sarah Ellis: No! I used to be studying an article about — that is so boring; however I ought to decide the great practice stations in London and be like, “That one’s received a pleasant espresso store the place I may have the following mini meltdown”! However I noticed my pals truly, I believe it was actually the following day, some very, excellent pals, and it was humorous that I simply could not fairly join with them in the identical approach, it did not really feel like it will usually really feel seeing them, and it simply took me two or three days. I believe I am at all times attempting to replicate on, “Might I’ve prevented it?” and truly I believe the reply to that’s sure. It was an unlucky time and mixture of circumstances and mixture of actions, nevertheless it was positively no less than partly resulting from overload; not all, however partly resulting from overload. And I used to be being actually, , if you happen to’re attempting to do this management versus uncontrolled in a really table-like approach, what in that second was in my management, what was out of my management, I nonetheless consider there was sufficient in my management that I may have prevented the overload. There have been another issues occurring in my life the place nothing I may have performed about it and so they have been at all times going to be arduous, and a few of these issues have been extra private; however there have been some issues the place if I would have simply most likely seemed forward somewhat bit extra, been a bit extra ruthless about prioritising, stated no somewhat bit extra, requested for assist a bit extra, I most likely may have simply turned on the faucet somewhat bit with that stress bucket. However in some methods, I am form of used to it now. We’ll all be excited to see which platform it’s and which station it’s subsequent 12 months! Helen Tupper: None of us shall be enthusiastic about that. Sarah Ellis: Place your bets now! Helen Tupper: I hope that is not a actuality of subsequent 12 months. Sarah Ellis: I did inform a few my pals who had listened to the podcast and so they have been like, “Why is it at all times at a practice station?” and I used to be like, “I do not know”, however apparently it’s. They aren’t enjoyable. I imply, I can snigger about them now, however I actually, actually do not take pleasure in it, as a result of I believe I discover it so alien to really feel that disconnected. I believe if it had been any greater than a few days earlier than you begin to reconnect, it is an issue, you have to go and speak to the physician. I actually do not suppose I may really feel that approach for very lengthy, it will be an actual purple flag. I do not wish to make too gentle of it, as a result of I believe feeling like that for any longer is definitely actually severe. For just a few days, it was sort of copable with, and it wasn’t the primary time that I would felt it. So, there you go, you go now! Helen Tupper: Oh my gosh! So, I do not know what I learnt from my time; so the query, everybody, simply in case you forgot the query, “A time when it felt powerful and what did you study?” Sarah talked about certainly one of her favorite moments of the 12 months was when the crew received collectively, and never due to the crew, that was certainly one of my least favorite moments of the 12 months, as a result of Sarah and I simply had a really difficult dialog about every kind of stuff when it comes to the enterprise, a rising ache factor with the enterprise, and that was most likely my breakdown second. I imply, what number of instances have you ever seen me cry within the time that we have been pals? Sarah Ellis: That point? Helen Tupper: Yeah, so it isn’t that I am unemotional, however I believe that I am fairly managed when it comes to my feelings. And there was one thing about that scenario the place I did not really feel — and I nonetheless get upset interested by it now, and I do not actually know what I learnt from it. I believe what I learnt is that when there’s an issue, I prefer to have it out; not like an argument, it isn’t that, I like to debate it, I like to simply get it out within the open after which really feel like there’s an ongoing dialogue about what is going on on, how are we doing; even formalising it in a roundabout way most likely helps me with the emotions and being like, “Okay, we have got a red-flag scenario round this factor”. As a result of I am a fixer, I do not thoughts points; points are unavoidable. However what I do love to do is repair it, and I additionally like to repair it quick. And that scenario was most likely — and it is also not totally been resolved now, as a result of it isn’t probably the most fixable quick factor. For context everybody, it is about some monetary stuff and authorized stuff that it’s important to get different individuals concerned in that Sarah and I had sought. Sarah Ellis: It seems like we’re divorcing! Helen Tupper: Yeah, we’re divorcing! We’re not divorcing, it is just a few structural stuff and it is actually vital. And I can not repair it quick and I can also’t do it myself, which then introduces different dependencies. And I believe the 12 months plus that was presumably contributing to the feelings, and it simply felt actually, actually arduous. And so, I do not know what I learnt from it, apart from that there are some issues that I can not repair quick and I will have to just accept that that is going to really feel arduous to do. So possibly even calling out like, “This is not one you may repair quick and that is okay for now”, possibly it is that that helps. However I discovered it very uncomfortable. I’ve nonetheless discovered it uncomfortable since, as a result of I would prefer to neglect about it however I really feel like till it is resolved, it isn’t a factor you may transfer on from, as a result of the problem that created it’s nonetheless there. Sarah Ellis: Yeah, it’s fascinating. It caught me off-guard as a result of it’s so — Helen Tupper: Un-me. Sarah Ellis: Yeah, atypical when it comes to your behaviour. However then I believe in some methods, I really feel pleased with that second, as a result of cash is at all times arduous to speak about, finance is at all times arduous to speak about, is not it? However we had a really grown-up dialog and we talked about it in a short time. I believe we noticed in a short time that additionally we have been feeling very in another way most likely, as a result of truly we have been; it wasn’t like we have been each feeling the identical approach. I believe we each knew we would received some stuff to repair, however I believe we have been feeling like we had totally different feelings about that. So, I believe you must really feel actually good. We sat down and we talked about it in a short time and we have saved coming again to it and we have tried to be actually clear, have not we, with the place we’re and what we have to do. I’d observe the factor that you simply discovered arduous is partly since you go, “I simply wish to transfer on from it”, and you may’t, and it is the not with the ability to repair it quick. Helen Tupper: I hate it. Sarah Ellis: I can nearly see the ache, the bodily ache that it causes you to be like, “I can not simply kind this”. I believe most likely I am far more okay with that and simply going, “It is okay, we’re speaking to the correct individuals and we’re getting some of these items sorted”. Helen Tupper: Are you aware what’s fascinating simply on these moments, it is actually fascinating; it’s totally reverse to us. Yours was actually arduous since you stopped caring, not for lengthy, however for a second your emotions disappeared since you’d disconnected and disassociated a lot from a scenario that you simply had no emotions left; and mine was so arduous that each one of my emotions bodily got here out! Some sort of metamorphosis went on the place I grew to become you and also you grew to become me and we’re like, “Take us again to regular; that is horrible!” Sarah Ellis: Neither of us loved it, let’s be sincere! Nevertheless it goes again to the factor as properly, would not it, you are able to do arduous issues and generally feeling like issues should not at all times going to be simple, you may’t at all times make things better quick; generally I believe if you happen to simply study that, it does not imply that you’ll take pleasure in it the following time, however you are most likely a bit extra ready. Helen Tupper: Yeah. And I imply there’s good issues in it, however I believe it takes you some time to get to the great issues. They’re bruising, these moments are bruising, and also you simply develop by what you undergo and you may be extra lobster, and all these different good issues that we have stated in earlier instances! However they don’t seem to be simple, they don’t seem to be simple within the second, and you may’t get away from that. Sarah Ellis: So, what does dwelling certainly one of your values extra subsequent 12 months appear like? Helen Tupper: This one, I discovered a lot simpler. I’ve 4 values; freedom, progress, vitality and achievement, and it is the expansion one which I actually wish to deal with truly. So, progress to me means making issues greater and higher. There’s a number of issues that I wish to do when it comes to how we scale Wonderful If somewhere else and alternative ways; however I would additionally actually like that “even higher if” focus to be one thing that I’ve the psychological house to do. As a result of, I am fairly often delivering as a part of the rising, however what I would love to do is extra of the creating, “How may this be higher; and what may we study from different individuals; and the way may we innovate extra on this space?” I get actually enthusiastic about that a part of my progress worth subsequent 12 months. What about you? Sarah Ellis: So, my values are: achievement, concepts, studying and selection. The very first thing I wrote down truly was, “After we are making decisions and selections, to maintain connecting them again to our values, our values as an organization and our values as people”, as a result of that is the why behind the work. And generally I believe among the time trade-offs that now we have to make and among the selections we’re making about what we do in what order, I believe if we extra recurrently use these values as a filter, it will give us extra confidence round these selections. I believe typically we make fairly good selections, nevertheless it may provide you with an additional enhance of confidence. I believe it will additionally simply problem you, and us collectively occasionally, to be actually courageous about issues. We did have a second this 12 months the place for 2 or three weeks, we labored very in another way, and that was fairly a courageous name for us to do, as a result of we have been going to make much less cash throughout that point and we have been spending our time differently. And I believe we each did that as a result of we recognised that we want a little bit of house for concepts and studying and freedom and progress. We have been each dwelling our values very a lot in that point. So for me, it was much less about certainly one of my values extra and it was extra about persevering with to maintain your values actually seen, our collective values and our particular person ones. And I used to be additionally interested by that for our crew now as properly. After which simply preserve coming again to, “Are we rising aligned with our values; are we dwelling aligned with our values?” as a result of all of these, if anybody’s ever performed that profession graph train that we discuss in Squiggly Careers on values, the place you plot what your highs have in widespread, what are you able to study out of your lows; all of these highs are at all times when these values are actually current. So, simply persevering with to remind your self of that and keep in mind that may be extremely helpful. Virtually as we’re trying into 2023 and considering the traditional, “What are you going to do extra of; what are you going to maintain the identical; what are you going to much less of?” preserving these values actually entrance of thoughts all through, I believe, to assist us make some trade-offs, since you’re at all times making powerful selections; that was entrance of thoughts for me. Helen Tupper: So, only a recap them on these questions on values, it is one second you felt pleased with; one time when it felt powerful and what you learnt; and what does dwelling certainly one of your values extra in 2023 appear like? So, for the following two, we’re simply going to learn you the questions, as a result of we’re acutely aware that there is quite a bit to hearken to and do not forget, as Sarah stated, this can all be summarised within the PodSheet for you, so simply the issues so that you can replicate on. I would see if we are able to create somewhat asset, Sarah, as properly, like a “2022 in Evaluation” factor that folks can fill in for themselves as properly. Sarah Ellis: That might be actually helpful. Helen Tupper: One thing to remove from at this time. So, the boldness questions are: primary, “When have your confidence gremlins come out to play?” Quantity two, “What’s one instance of while you’ve caged a confidence gremlin?” And quantity three, “What’s a method you may proceed to construct your self-belief in 2023?” And in order for you any assist figuring out your confidence gremlins, if you happen to go onto amazingif.com, onto our free toolkit, which you will get from if you happen to click on on Be taught With Us within the toolbar on our web site, you may see a great deal of assets. However there’s a free e-book there on The way to Cage Your Confidence Gremlins, and we have listed out the highest ten confidence gremlins that we see most continuously. So, if you happen to want somewhat little bit of a nudge to get to the solutions on that one, that could possibly be ebook so that you can learn. After which, while you’ve mirrored on all of that, you wish to get to your 2023 motion when it comes to your confidence, what would that be? Sarah Ellis: So, for community, which as a reminder we describe as “individuals serving to individuals”, query one, “Who have you ever been studying from over the past 12 months?” Query two, “What networks have you ever uncared for in 2022 you may wish to take care of a bit extra in 2023?” Query three, “What do you wish to study out of your community subsequent 12 months?” I do actually like that final query, I believe it provides you an actual focus for creating connection. And that may simply be for me, as an introvert who, I’ve to seek out focus right here to make this occur. We’ve answered these questions as properly, however after I wrote that down, that gave me an actual sense of objective when it comes to, “How do I be purposeful about who I am connecting with and why I am connecting?” as a result of I believe that final one is a extremely essential query, “What do you wish to study out of your community subsequent 12 months?” Helen Tupper: And the fifth and ultimate space, and this one we are going to each reply, is round prospects. So, three questions right here so that you can replicate on, so I’ll ask Sarah them. So, Sarah, how do you’re feeling about your profession alternatives and choices after this 12 months? Sarah Ellis: Yeah, it is fascinating! I discovered this fairly a tough query, that I wrote, and I used to be like, “Why am I writing actually arduous questions?” What went by my head was, “Am I kind of employable than I used to be initially of the 12 months?” and, “Do I really feel like I’ve received kind of choices?” as a result of I at all times really feel such as you wish to be opening up choices. I believe that simply appeals to me when it comes to my very own values, but additionally I believe that is a wise factor to do. So, regardless of what we have talked about at this time, which at instances individuals may simply be like, “Wow, they sound like they’ve had a extremely tough 12 months”, I’ve come to the top of this 12 months and I’ve by no means felt extra satisfied that I am doing the factor the place I can take advantage of distinction, when it comes to I’ve discovered and found the work the place I might be at my finest, the place I might be helpful, and issues that I am good at, that profit from my strengths. And I can think about utilizing these strengths in different methods. So, can I think about transferring my skills? I do not truly discover it that tough to think about that, as a result of each you and I’ve each performed a number of different issues earlier than. However what I am extra curious about is, how can I exploit my skills in a method to assist us when it comes to that good progress that we wish to obtain for Wonderful If? If we’re right here to make Squiggly Careers higher for everybody, how do I join what I do very well and the place I am good and at my finest, to assist us to do this? That is what I wish to do, that is what I get actually enthusiastic about. Every time I speak to individuals, from the surface in it is at all times fascinating, is not it, to see what individuals’s notion is of what we do and the way we spend our time; individuals at all times say, “You possibly can simply see and listen to from you each”, after they’ve seen you as properly, “that sense of care and dedication that it’s important to individuals’s careers”. That’s as a result of it is so real. We’re not making it up or pretending or attempting to do this. So, even when it has been actually arduous this 12 months, I do not wish to do something totally different. A buddy, certainly one of my finest pals, truly requested me this 12 months, I went to go to her and he or she was like, “What are you able to think about your self doing now in 5 or ten years’ time?” and I used to be like, “I wish to do that!” and I’ve by no means answered that query in that approach earlier than. And I do not wish to be dwelling the identical 12 months twice, as a result of that is my favorite little bit of profession recommendation, is rarely stay the identical 12 months twice, however I simply wish to preserve increasing and rising from the place I’m, and I can see a great deal of methods to do this that I get actually enthusiastic about. I do additionally suppose asking this query did make me replicate on, selection is certainly one of my values and I’m at all times higher in no matter I am spending the vast majority of my time on, I’m at all times higher if I’ve one thing else alongside that, I at all times have been. So, after I labored at Sainsbury’s, I did a four-day week, I spent at some point on volunteering in Wonderful If, and I’ve simply at all times had this slight mismatch inside my working week and I take pleasure in that. I believe I’ve had much less of that this 12 months than I’ve ever had earlier than as a result of now we have been so in Wonderful If and so in our world, and it is wanted that for a great deal of causes; all of these rising pains and the entire good progress and the entire issues that we do, it should be 97%, 98% of my time, with the odd exception alongside the best way, has been totally in Wonderful If. It is made me suppose, “That is not what I need”, as I say to Helen! She’s like, “Whenever you say, not what you need…?” I do not fairly know what that appears like but. I’ve received some concepts and I do know that can really feel arduous, again to these trade-offs and again to the place we’re. And in some methods you may pay attention and be like, “It sounds actually counterintuitive”. However I do know that shall be good for me and I believe that is what I’ve missed a bit. I believe additionally doing that for me opens up choices and alternatives and it creates connections. I really feel like I’m doing what I am meant to be doing and I am actually enthusiastic about how else we may try this and the place else and be much more formidable for the place our careers may take us, individually and collectively, and I believe I need one thing barely totally different inside my working week, and I believe I’ve missed that. Helen Tupper: I solely ever get enthusiastic about enabling you. I simply go, “Properly, I do know now we have a crew now, I do know now we have a enterprise, and much of people that look to us for assist with Squiggly Careers, however in the end this enterprise began with you and me, and if I can allow you and allow the enterprise…” So, if you happen to have been like — I will make it occur, as a result of that is what I do, that is my energy, no matter works for you! Sarah Ellis: What I actually like is your preliminary response to that’s simply to go, “Okay, so what do you want?” Helen Tupper: Determine now; do not make me sit with the uncertainty! Sarah Ellis: I am like, “Let me discover, for God’s sake!” I am joking. How do you’re feeling about your profession alternatives; are you about to use for an additional job?! Helen Tupper: Yeah, so, newsflash…! No, I truly really feel fairly, excited is the unsuitable phrase, to take this 12 months on, as a result of I have never received the vitality to be excited, I believe I want a break. However I really feel that this 12 months has been the 12 months that the enterprise has most felt like a enterprise, an precise enterprise. Sarah Ellis: An actual-life enterprise. Helen Tupper: Yeah, an precise real-life correct enterprise, with real-life correct enterprise issues and challenges and all that sort of stuff. And we have additionally made some real-life enterprise selections about folks that we’re bringing into the crew. So, after I stay up for subsequent 12 months, I can have a look at among the folks that we’re bringing in, and I can see how that may reshape my function somewhat bit. What I am fairly trying ahead to, when it comes to this query being about my profession alternatives and choices, I believe my function may look somewhat bit totally different subsequent 12 months, when it comes to how I spend my time within the enterprise. I believe I do not want maybe the identical selection you do as a result of it isn’t my worth in that approach. What I do wish to make certain is that my time is excessive attaining for the enterprise. And what I am fairly trying ahead to is sitting down with you and nearly redefining my function somewhat bit, when it comes to the strengths that I carry and what the enterprise wants; if we have been to allocate my time in a approach that labored finest for me and the enterprise, what would that appear like, and I really feel like I’ve possibly not had that flexibility for some time, as a result of there’s been numerous calls for — Sarah Ellis: In your day. Helen Tupper: — on my day, when it comes to what the enterprise wants. However as a result of we’re now bringing in folks that shall be much better at that stuff than me, I believe it’s going to create some house for me to make use of that point for us in different methods. I can see us, possibly March, as a result of there’s somewhat little bit of onboarding and all that; however I can think about you and me in March sitting down and going, “Let’s redo your week. What do we want it to be; what would you like it to be?” and I discover that fairly thrilling when it comes to the impression that I can have. Sarah Ellis: Yeah, so it is a arduous query, nevertheless it’s one, is the conclusion I’ve come to. Helen Tupper: It’s a good one. Sarah Ellis: We have talked about this somewhat bit, so maybe we’ll do that one fairly briefly, however after we’re interested by prospects, we all know that persons are actually pivotal to supporting our development. And in Squiggly Careers, nobody succeeds by themselves. So, it is price simply asking your self, “What curious profession conversations have you ever had this 12 months; and, would you prefer to have subsequent 12 months, notably with that framing of exploring profession prospects?” So, these should not “making use of for job” conversations; these are “home windows into different individuals’s worlds” conversations. So, any that notably stand out for you, Helen? Helen Tupper: Rob Pierre at Jellyfish. Sarah Ellis: I believe he’d be good on the podcast. I am positive we’ll get him on the podcast in some unspecified time in the future. Helen Tupper: Okay, I will converse to him! So, Rob was a suggestion from certainly one of our Squiggly Profession advocates. He was like, “I actually suppose you must speak to him, he is received a managers’ organisation. And I had a few good chats with him. Then I used to be like, “We’d like Rob at Lead, Be taught and Join”, which is the occasion that Sarah talked about. He impressed everyone as a result of he’s simply counter to a whole lot of trendy constructions of organisations when it comes to what he is constructing at Jellyfish and his strategy, and I believe it is actually refreshing to listen to. Refreshing Rob, I believe, can be my profession dialog of the 12 months! Sarah Ellis: Or, Relentless Rob, as I believe I truly known as him on the day! Helen Tupper: Sure, that too! Refreshingly Relentless Rob at Jellyfish, however I believe what he is doing there may be actually fascinating. What about you; what stands proud? Sarah Ellis: I’ve truly had just a few conversations by a espresso roulette that is arrange by a neighborhood that I am a part of for those that run their very own corporations, most likely people who find themselves extra skilled at operating their very own corporations than we’re, corporations which are barely greater than ours, however not utterly totally different. And up to now three or 4 months, I believe as a result of I would recognised that possibly I would not had that many curious profession conversations, I signed as much as this espresso roulette, after which actually you simply get an e-mail and so they’re like, “That is the particular person you have been linked with”. These individuals have been actually good each time at getting in contact with me and saying, “Sarah, we have been matched, shall now we have a chat?” and also you suppose, “I do not know, when is that going to occur?” It is the prioritising of that chat that I believe has been tough. However I’ve prioritised them and I am so glad that I’ve as a result of I’ve spoken to 2 or three individuals now, from very differing types of companies, and each single certainly one of them has been actually helpful. It is actually fascinating to see what questions they ask about our firm, so that provides you just a few insights; actually fascinating to listen to their reflections. One of many women that truly I am speaking to quickly runs a fairly posh, I believe, hairdresser. I would heard of the model after which I used to be like, “Do I’ve to kind my hair out earlier than I can speak to her?” as a result of I would be actually self-conscious! However these curious profession conversations have actually stood out for me, the place the factor you have received in widespread is that you simply run an organization. So, it takes you out of your world, so that you’re much less in profession improvement and studying world; you are simply extra within the, what are the challenges of operating your personal firm, being a founder, being a co-founder. So, I’d say one of many actually widespread themes I hear is persons are simply so jealous of our relationship, and I by no means actually know what to say, as a result of individuals go, “I would actually like to have a co-founder”, and I am like, “Okay, yeah, I imply it’s actually nice”. Helen Tupper: Co-founder! Sarah Ellis: Yeah, nevertheless it does make you realise there are some issues about structurally how we’re arrange which I believe have been very natural for us, it is simply we have made these selections as a result of they felt proper for us alongside the best way, that it makes you very grateful for, issues like we do not have exterior funding to fret about, we do not have some personal fairness firm saying, “You need to tick this degree of progress”, as a result of I do not suppose I’d take pleasure in that very a lot; and you are not doing it by your self. Even when I take into consideration, “Might I’ve performed the final 12 months on my own?” No, I do not suppose so. So, a few of it’s a bit about, it lets you spot the great and the grateful; you are like, “Okay, this stuff are good and we must always defend these issues”, and simply how vital these issues are, and in addition individuals asking some actually good questions that simply unlock your considering. So, I will preserve making time for these, as a result of I did not within the first half of this 12 months, after which I’ve since October time; and each single one, with out fail, has been helpful. Helen Tupper: And the final query in prospects, which we’ll simply say this one so you may replicate on it your self is, “Which of your transferable skills do you wish to strengthen in 2023? So, simply to recap on these questions, the primary one was, “How do you’re feeling about your profession alternatives and choices after the 12 months?” “What curious conversations have you ever had about your profession?” and, “Which of your transferable skills do you wish to strengthen in 2023?” Sarah Ellis: So, simply to complete, we thought it is at all times useful simply to do a little bit of a, we name them looking-ahead lists now in Wonderful If, which we at all times discover fairly helpful. So, one work factor that you are looking ahead to, that is in your looking-forward-to record for 2023; and one house factor that is in your looking-forward-to record for 2023. Helen, do you wish to go first? Helen Tupper: I’ve received two, as a result of certainly one of them I used to be considering you is likely to be like, “I do not find out about that one”, so I used to be like, “I will do one other one in case she dismisses it!” So, I am trying ahead to subsequent 12 months, that is the one I believe you may dismiss, scoping ebook three, as a result of I believe Sarah’s like, “We have not determined we’re doing ebook three but”, and I do know we’ve not, however I am trying ahead to the dialogue about doubtlessly doing ebook three, in order that’s going up there. Then the second, which you are not allowed to debate with me, is about studying innovation. I actually would like to spend somewhat little bit of time, and I used to do that in different industries that I labored in and I actually loved it, simply innovation that is occurring in numerous areas, and simply interested by, if we have been going to do one thing actually totally different with how we taught individuals Squiggly abilities, what would totally different appear like, when it comes to the tech that we use and the way we do it. I believe Sarah is so good at studying design, when it comes to the questions and the way we use visuals, and I believe generally how I can take into consideration how we are able to use tech is the little bit of worth that I add as properly, and simply totally different industries and what do they do. So, I am trying ahead to spending a little bit of time doing that, I believe that could possibly be fascinating. Then the one house factor on my looking-forward-to record is working within the Squiggly studio! Sarah Ellis: She’s received a Squiggly studio, individuals! Helen Tupper: I am very excited! Sarah Ellis: It appears actually chilly and bleak in the mean time, I can see her on display screen; it would not look that good! Helen Tupper: It is fairly heat, nevertheless it’s very white, it isn’t very Squiggly. However I’ve received a brand new constructing. So, we have had varied totally different places of work over the past 12 months that we have been doing our Squiggly periods from and for me this 12 months, as in 2023, I’ve a brand new studio house which is in my house, which is actually thrilling, and I am simply trying ahead to doing it up in order that I can really feel I can are available in right here and I might be work me, however I actually must go throughout the grass and I might be house me, and that simply looks like the 2 issues are very linked, but additionally fairly good to have somewhat little bit of Squiggly separation as properly. So, sure, that is mine. So, your looking-forward-to work record for subsequent 12 months, Sarah? Sarah Ellis: The work one is hopefully realising and seeing the potential, as we have described, now having Workforce Wonderful If, reasonably than Sarah and Helen Wonderful If, as a result of I believe it may make a extremely huge distinction. I am actually curious about the way you create high-performing groups, high-trust groups, to ship these high-performing groups; and in addition how we are able to share what we’re studying nearly about making a high-performing crew, in a extremely open approach. Till now, and we have truly discovered this 12 months, to our detriment, we do not write that a lot stuff down as a result of we needn’t, as a result of basically so long as Helen and I do know, it is all form of tremendous. However when you begin to produce other individuals, it isn’t tremendous as a result of how does any individual perceive what a working week appears like, what you do, what’s your tradition, what defines your methods of working? So, I used to be simply nearly trying ahead to understanding a crew, spending time with a crew, nearly making a tradition that’s Wonderful If, reasonably than simply feeling like we’re simply Helen and Sarah. Then, what we have most likely performed over the past 12 months or so is, we’re form of a bit extra of a group of Wonderful If people who find themselves all excellent at what they do, and we have began to return collectively increasingly more as a crew. I can see and I can really feel a lot potential in individuals, and I am simply actually enthusiastic about that and what that would carry and what that would develop into. So, that is the work one. Helen Tupper: That is beautiful. Sarah Ellis: And the house one for me is — Helen Tupper: Is it a vacation?! Sarah Ellis: No, it isn’t! Properly, truly, it form of is linked to that. So this 12 months, I’ve received fairly into, my five-year-old actually likes in search of crabs and fish and stuff on the seaside within the UK, and we go to the seaside quite a bit. Him and I’ve additionally found a shared ardour for locating sea glass. If anybody’s by no means discovered sea glass earlier than, you sort of comb the seashores for these small bits of sea glass that look stunning. So, I completely love discovering all of this wildlife and the ocean glass and have gotten very into it. Me and my son have this little rock pool ebook and we like ticking off that we discovered a rock goby, or a sure sort of crab. This 12 months for the primary time, I received in chilly water in a wetsuit, which I believe I did discuss on the podcast, so I am getting extra adventurous by the day. And we now have this cool snorkelling stuff for the UK, and we have got this cool digital camera factor the place you set your iPhone into your digital camera, so you are able to do underwater footage of, I do not know, a crab or no matter. It’s truly a bit extra of the identical factor. Once I was interested by my day-to-day, I am very fortunate that I do a number of issues that I actually take pleasure in with my pals and my household, and that is actually vital to me. I do not wish to lose that, I believe I’ve found that actually within the final couple of years. I’ve additionally rediscovered just a few issues this 12 months, like taking part in netball, which hasn’t occurred on a regular basis, nevertheless it’s occurred among the time. And each time it has occurred, I’ve felt significantly better about myself and significantly better about my life and my work and the whole lot. So, figuring out to guard these issues which are already vital to you, I believe that is what it jogged my memory of, reasonably than interested by newness. I am at all times fairly drawn to newness. There’s a number of new stuff workwise in my head, however truly home-wise, there’s not newness. I need my household to be completely happy and okay and really feel like I am there to assist them for the whole lot that they want and that is going to be vital subsequent 12 months, as a result of a number of issues are occurring in my household subsequent 12 months, and I wish to preserve going with some issues that already make me very completely happy. Helen Tupper: I like that. Additionally, it could possibly be good social content material, Sarah, footage of you discovering — no, she’s not completely happy! Sarah Ellis: I’ve already made you’re taking one down this 12 months! An image of me immediately appeared someplace and I used to be like, “Take it down. I am not having that!” My query as at all times is, “How is that helpful to anybody?” Nobody must see an image of me in my wetsuit. Helen Tupper: Folks may like your journey with sea glass. So, tell us, everybody, helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com — Sarah Ellis: Actually, do not. Helen Tupper: — if you want some footage of Sarah! Sarah Ellis: If that is what persons are spending their time on when it comes to their content material, I can provide them ten higher issues that they could possibly be doing. Helen Tupper: Okay, do not e-mail, she’s going to present you a to-do record. You do not want this, everybody! However thanks, everyone, for listening to our reflections. We have performed these form of end-of-year evaluation podcasts in just a few totally different guises now, however I at all times stay up for them as a result of it is an actual press-pause second to look again on the 12 months. And in us urgent pause and studying, I hope we share some actually helpful questions with you. But in addition, it is a good factor for us to do, and I do know that in some unspecified time in the future sooner or later when Sarah and I are older and greyer than we at the moment are, we are going to most likely pay attention again to those and be like, “Oh, gosh, do you do not forget that Clapham Junction second? That hasn’t occurred for 20 years”, I hope! However there’s a whole lot of reminiscences for us which are captured in these episodes, so thanks for giving us the house to share them with you too. Sarah Ellis: Thanks everyone. We hope you all have a brilliantly Squiggly and really completely happy 2023. Please preserve coming again, please preserve recommending and supporting the whole lot we do with the Squiggly Careers podcast; we actually respect it and we love having you together with all of us on all of our Squiggly Profession journeys. Thanks a lot and bye for now. Helen Tupper: Bye everyone.