Timestamps
00:00:00: Introduction
00:02:45: Format for the podcast
00:03:03: Guide decisions
00:12:15: TED Speak picks
00:22:41: Helpful podcasts
00:32:00: Blogs and newsletters
00:37:36: Individuals to comply with
00:42:30: Last ideas
Interview Transcription
Sarah Ellis: Hello, I am Sarah.
Helen Tupper: And I am Helen.
Sarah Ellis: And that is the Squiggly Careers podcast. Every week, we speak about a unique matter to do with work, and share some concepts and actions that we hope during the last 12 months and during the last 470-plus-ish episodes —
Helen Tupper: One thing like that.
Sarah Ellis: — have helped you to navigate the Squiggly Careers that all of us have with that bit extra confidence and management. And you’ll most likely inform already from the tone, the relaxed tone, that it’s our final podcast of 2024. If you’re listening to this on the day that it goes out, it is New Yr’s Eve, and your dedication to profession improvement is spectacular.
Helen Tupper: Spectacular, effectively carried out you!
Sarah Ellis: Effectively carried out you! Otherwise you’re escaping your loved ones and you are like, “Yeah, I simply want to actually take heed to this for work”!
Helen Tupper: Additionally, effectively carried out you!
Sarah Ellis: Sure! So we thought, what is going to really feel helpful on the finish of the 12 months, or maybe simply over the vacation festive season, a shorter sensible pay attention? And so, we thought we might do our prime 10 books, podcasts and folks from 2024. Principally, what have we been studying from, who’ve we been studying from, what have we discovered helpful? It is type of our curiosity-curated episode. First time we have carried out one like this. We frequently do a form of end-of-year podcast, which you may need already listened to, the place we mirror on our years and do some questions and a few statements to assist us assume by means of our 12 months. However that is rather more about issues that I suppose have helped us. And we hope that this would possibly offer you a little bit of a listing which you could additionally study from. Or possibly you set collectively your personal checklist and you may share that with one another in a crew.
Helen Tupper: I really discovered it a extremely helpful private course of —
Sarah Ellis: Similar.
Helen Tupper: — to do that, as a result of it jogged my memory of what I might been studying after which it made me assume, “Gosh, that took various effort. I ought to have stored a studying log, so I might have referred again to it. That will have made life loads simpler in attending to all of the insights of right now’s dialog”. And in addition, it made me assume, I might wish to create a approach of referring to those issues extra simply subsequent 12 months —
Sarah Ellis: Similar, yeah.
Helen Tupper: — placing all my hyperlinks in a single place. I even thought, “I’m wondering if there’s some AI factor that may routinely feed it into a type of apps, like Pocket, so I’ve curated all these items that I’ll speak about now, and it routinely goes to a spot”. So, I used to be going by means of it and considering, “I am positive there’s a better approach of doing this than me going by means of my notes and my bookshelf, and all that form of stuff”.
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, that is what I did. I stared at my bookshelf for some time, and I used to be like, “Is that this actually the easiest way to do that?”
Helen Tupper: Precisely the identical!
Sarah Ellis: And I used to be additionally considering, I used to be attempting to additionally ensure that it was issues that had been within the final 12 months.
Helen Tupper: Me too.
Sarah Ellis: As a result of really, one of many books I checked out, I used to be like, “Oh no, that is really extra from the 12 months earlier than”. And so, yeah, I believe there most likely has obtained to be a greater course of. However equally, such as you say, it was fairly a helpful course of. So, the format for the podcast, we have every chosen a ebook, a TED Speak, an individual to comply with, a podcast and a weblog. As we undergo, we’ll speak about our respective decisions. We have not shared them beforehand so let’s hope we have not obtained the identical issues, as a result of that might be a bit boring. You begin us off then, begin us off with a type of Submit-it notes you simply confirmed me offscreen.
Helen Tupper: Okay, my first Submit-it word is my ebook of the 12 months.
Sarah Ellis: Okay.
Helen Tupper: It is perhaps my ebook of the 12 months as a result of I realised, I did not learn many books this 12 months. I felt actually dangerous about it. I used to be like, “Oh no!” However this one really actually caught out, partly as a result of it was a ebook I learn on vacation. So, I believe you are in a barely completely different mindset on vacation. Loads of the time, I am studying in a really environment friendly approach as a result of we’re interviewing somebody for our podcast. However I picked a ebook I took on vacation, and it is known as Similar As Ever. It is a ebook by Morgan Housel, who additionally wrote The Psychology of Cash. And subtitle is, “Timeless Classes on Threat, Alternative and Residing a Good Life”. And it is principally a ebook that claims, we at all times speak about all the things’s altering, the world’s altering at a quicker tempo, now we have a number of that type of narrative?
Sarah Ellis: Yeah.
Helen Tupper: He is going, effectively, that’s true, and there’s a lot of change. But additionally, there’s a lot that’s at all times the identical, that whatever the change, might be constant. And that a few of the issues, for instance, are the predictability of human behaviour over occasions. So, whilst you cannot predict what is going to occur, you possibly can predict how folks will reply, as a result of issues like worry and greed are common and proceed. Additionally, he talks about, I believed this was fairly fascinating, if not just a little bit miserable, happiness and expectation. So, he principally says that, “Happiness is extra influenced by expectation than circumstances”. So, it isn’t how a lot stuff occurs in your life that makes you cheerful or not, it is how a lot you count on that factor to make you cheerful. So, if I’m going by means of, for example our subsequent ebook. If I’m going by means of considering, “That is going to make me so joyful when that’s revealed”, then there’s virtually a possible expectation-versus-reality hole. Whereas in case you go, “I am simply publishing one other ebook” after which any happiness I get from that may be a bonus, fairly than anticipating happiness as an final result. So, simply principally be a bit extra balanced fairly than anticipating outcomes to make you cheerful.
Then you definately’ll like this one, one other form of same-as-ever precept from the ebook, “Storytelling at all times trumps statistics”. The ability of a narrative wins out each time. And so, I simply discover it fairly a balanced ebook, and just a few issues that truly — and he offers a great deal of examples that, from a very long time in the past, that these items are at all times constant, even when we live in a time of change.
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, it is helpful, is not it? I can think about asking your self that query like, “What stays constant, what stays the identical for your self, to your organisation, your business?” It is fairly an excellent reflection, as a result of I take into consideration, for example the conversations that now we have with organisations, and now we have been having now for nevertheless lengthy we have been operating Wonderful If full-time, three, 4 years, there are some issues which have stayed the identical. So, we’ll at all times be like, there are new insights, we’re working new methods. And I believe particularly as all people talks loads about AI, it is simple to neglect a few of these common truths. So, I believe that is an excellent reflection. I’ve not learn that. What was the ebook known as once more?
Helen Tupper: Similar as Ever.
Sarah Ellis: Similar as Ever, good.
Helen Tupper: So, what was your ebook, ebook of the 12 months, ebook of 2024?
Sarah Ellis: So, whenever you say ebook, singular, clearly I cheated!
Helen Tupper: The reader begins!
Sarah Ellis: Sure! I discovered it actually troublesome to decide on one ebook, so I did cheat. And what I’ve chosen, and I reckon it is okay, I justified this to myself, I’ve chosen a group of books that each one come out of Stanford.
Helen Tupper: “I’ve chosen the library”!
Sarah Ellis: Yeah! Effectively, they’re all equivalent in format. So, Stanford Design Faculty write Stanford Design Faculty guides. And so they all look the identical, they’re all the identical measurement. They’re fairly small books, they’re very visible. They’re written by completely different folks, so I’m dishonest just a little bit. However I’ve obtained three of them right here in entrance of me. One in all them known as Experiments in Reflection; one other, The Secret Language of Maps; and the third, Make Prospects Occur. And I believe they’re simply books. I found them this 12 months. So, generally you assume, “How have I not found these books earlier than?” And so they come out of the identical college, the identical establishment, as Sarah Steinberg’s ebook, Curious Acts for Inventive Individuals. So, now we have had Sarah on the podcast earlier than, however I simply hadn’t found these smaller books. And her ebook is way greater and extra, she brings collectively a number of completely different folks.
So, from every of these books, I simply picked out one factor that stood out to me that is obtained a Submit-it word, they’ve all nonetheless obtained Submit-it notes in them. So, Experiments in Reflection, they’ve a extremely good part on questions, they usually speak about how, “Good questions are ones that make you extra curious. They nudge you right into a state of not figuring out, so that you just take into account new potentialities”. You’ll be able to ask good questions that do that for different folks, and importantly, you are able to do this for your self too. And so, what I actually like about their books is they’re pithy, they’re to the purpose, they ask you a number of questions, however they provide you diagrams and visuals and completely different instruments to check out. So, I believe for plenty of our listeners, in case you just like the Squiggly Profession ebook, in case you like You Coach You, I am assured format-wise you’ll get pleasure from these books. So, that was one perception on reflection.
Helen Tupper: I am having just a little scan on Amazon now at these books. I did not learn about this sequence. They appear good, there’s a great deal of them.
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, they’re good.
Helen Tupper: They appear actually good.
Sarah Ellis: That is the one the place in the summertime, I believe you may need been at Disney! So, I found these in the summertime, which really was an excellent second of, as a result of we have been writing our ebook, I believe whenever you write a ebook, you learn much more books because of this. So, I’ve learn hundreds extra books this 12 months, nonfiction books particularly. I at all times learn a number of fiction as a result of I used to be doing a number of analysis for us. And a few of these books hit the mark and a few of them have a paragraph that is helpful, however a few of them you go, “Oh, these are everlasting place-on-the-bookshelf books”, and that is what these have turn into.
The Secret Language of Maps, I actually like. They speak about how, “Regardless of the kind of knowledge, it at all times wants a human to make which means out of it”. And since it’s a ebook about knowledge, they simply confirmed a great deal of various kinds of knowledge. Once more, it’s totally visible, I discovered it actually fascinating, they usually speak about how you may use knowledge at work in a number of other ways.
Helen Tupper: I imply, I am ordering that proper now whereas I am speaking to you for my husband for Christmas, as a result of I’ve obtained time to get it, as a result of he loves a map. So, that is good, current sorted. I am very grateful for this.
Sarah Ellis: Sure, so that they’re actually good. And one of many diagrams I am taking a look at now, they speak about exploring earlier than you clarify. He reveals there’s anyone getting concepts, then determining in case your concept is any good, attempt one thing even when it appears nuts. So, they divide them down into one, two, three, 4, make sense of a giant pile of data. I simply assume they’re actually, actually sensible. It additionally reveals generally, you do not want lengthy books. I am a fan of brief books which are simply helpful. After which, the third one, which is about making potentialities occur, has an entire part on curiosity, which clearly I actually favored. And so they speak about curiosity being important for studying as a result of, “It at all times leads you to one thing you did not beforehand know”. So, once we speak about virtually serendipity and questioning and at all times rising, at all times studying, I believe we have talked loads concerning the significance of curiosity earlier than. And once more, it offers a number of examples.
Every of the books, the books are written by completely different folks, so they don’t seem to be formulaic, they do not all comply with the identical formulation. So, this one, the Make Prospects Occur, for instance, may be very neon, but it surely’s obtained extra massive statements and sentences. It talks a bit about what to do in form of moments of rejection. Yeah, so the design of every of them is a pleasure. So, if you’re somebody who’s all in favour of design, they usually’re not the identical, however they’re straightforward to spend time with, they’re straightforward to choose up and put down once more. However I usually did discover, I’ve really learn them greater than as soon as, however you possibly can learn them in a single sitting. As a result of in case you had an hour, I believe you may make fairly good progress by means of them. And they’re positively books to have. Get the highlighters out, get the underliners, put the Submit-it notes. I actually get pleasure from spending time with them.
They’ve turn into a bit like — there are three sequence of books the place I just about at all times purchase them. So, I purchase a number of the HBR books. So, there will be like an HBR ebook on judgment or on self-awareness, the place they accumulate collectively articles, and put them in a single place. And we have been in just a few of these books, in issues like vital considering. So, clearly I’ve really purchased our ones, however I additionally do purchase a number of the opposite ones. I usually purchase the DO books. So, they’re from David Hieatt, who’s been on the podcast. So, you’ve got obtained issues like DO Tales, DO Scale, DO Agile. One which’s simply come out really on DO Groups, which I’ve not learn but. And the Stanford Design Faculty guides, they’re my three. They’re trusted sources of high quality. I just like the model and I’ve obtained all of them on my bookshelf. And so, yeah, with my one ebook suggestion, I’ve now given you three ebook sequence and you’ve got most likely obtained about 50 books now you can select from.
Helen Tupper: It is a bit of an aspiration. I’d love us to have like a sequence, a Squiggly Expertise sequence, the place they’re brief books on the abilities for careers. That is one for subsequent 12 months. We’ll add it to the checklist of issues that we’re presupposed to be writing about. Okay, class: TED Speak. That is the place I’ve cheated just a little bit, as a result of I’ve obtained two, however I’ve obtained two for a cause, as a result of the primary one is de facto good, but it surely’s just a little bit heavy. So, I’ve obtained one which I discovered actually, I do not know, fairly significant, after which one which was only a bit lighter. I believe they complement one another very properly.
Sarah Ellis: Okay.
Helen Tupper: Neither of them are actually to do with work, however I believe that is the good factor about TED Talks, is you do not at all times have to observe the TED Speak that is actually apparent about, like, work-based stuff as a way to get some helpful insights. So, my first suggestion known as To Love Is To Be Courageous, and it’s by Kelly Corrigan, who’s an writer and a podcaster. And the rationale that I like to recommend that is I believe it’s a masterclass in empathy, which I do not assume is one among my super-skills. And so, simply watching anyone speak by means of empathy in relationships, all types of relationships, like pals, household, companions, and she or he talks about seven phrases that it is best to say when you find yourself listening to anyone share one thing that’s onerous for them. It might be something, it might be a work-based factor, it might be an out-of-work-based factor. However seven phrases that it is best to say, that are form of just like the masterclass in empathy.
She says these are courageous phrases that it is best to say to create connections and help folks. And the phrases are, “Inform me extra, what else? Go on”. And it’s simply this potential to stick with anyone who’s sharing one thing that’s necessary to them and she or he says what courageous folks do in these conversations, the place individuals are sharing, is they do not take over and turn into the hero. And you know the way you speak concerning the distinction between a help and a shift response, the concept that a help response is staying with them, a shift response is shifting it to you?
Sarah Ellis: Yeah.
Helen Tupper: I believed it resonated with me, they do not take over and turn into the hero. However I identical to the, “Inform me extra, what else? Go on”, and simply having the ability to sit with a dialog. So, it is a actually shifting one, and I believe she’s good. She additionally provides in little moments of humour into what is kind of a shifting watch. She’s simply very, superb. And so after it, I believed, “Oh, you want just a little little bit of lightness”, and so my lightness, just a little little bit of lightness, is Easy methods to Discover Laughter Wherever. It is fairly a brief watch, about eight minutes, by Chris Duffy, additionally a 2024 new TED Speak. And he simply talks concerning the humour that children can create as a result of they don’t seem to be self-judging what they’re saying. And he has some humorous tales about issues that children say and issues that children do, and he talks just a little bit about improvisation and this concept that a number of the time, we’re self-judging and we’re modifying what we’re saying, as a result of we fear about what folks take into consideration us, all that form of stuff. And youngsters haven’t got that filter. And he form of talks simply usually about how, in case you undergo life with a bit much less of a filter and caring just a little bit much less what you are presupposed to say and do and what different folks consider you, then really, it is simpler to search out pleasure. And it is a brief watch and it is fairly humorous and it is most likely not going to vary your life, however it’s a fairly good little pairing with a barely extra shifting and emotional one.
Sarah Ellis: I can not keep in mind the precise analysis, however I am positive I’ve learn one thing the place individuals are usually at their happiest as soon as they attain, I can not keep in mind whether or not it is like their 50s or their 60s, however principally it is as a result of they care much less and have much less of a filter. Virtually like, with expertise comes letting go of being too vital of your self, such as you’re so vital of your self, notably in your 20s, I believe, or definitely I used to be, and also you simply begin to be a bit extra assured in who you’re, such as you say, most likely simply get pleasure from all the things a bit extra, not get fairly as frightened about all the things. And I am positive that may be a factor of age, and such as you mentioned, that is the identical type of factor, is not it, simply being ready to simply let go and snort at your self and snort with different folks, very nice.
Helen Tupper: Sure. Effectively, he says, “Enable your self to be laughed at and know when to snort at your self”, so it is precisely what you are saying, yeah.
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, effectively you do, you positively have to try this. You recognize when folks say, “You’ll be able to take your work severely, however by no means take your self too severely”? My favorite folks by no means take themselves too severely, and I at all times hope that I would not both. However I am lethal critical about work, I actually care about what we do.
Helen Tupper: Sarah’s like, “I am lethal critical about work”!
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, effectively I believe you’d solely need to learn our WhatsApp conversations to grasp we actually care! However equally, generally I believe we’re at all times good at nonetheless discovering enjoyable and laughing with one another, really in a few of the hardest moments, however in different moments as effectively. And I believe in case you and I ended laughing, I believe that is after I get most frightened, as a result of now we have at all times been in a position to snort at one another and with one another. I really assume that is helped us in so many conditions.
Helen Tupper: So, what was your TED speak?
Sarah Ellis: So, mine wasn’t recorded final 12 months, however I did watch it for the primary time final 12 months. So, I used to be studying a bit about, we did that podcast episode, When is Good Sufficient Nice? And we have been arising with this concept as a part of the ebook, the place we have been speaking about minimal viable progress, the place it was like find out how to transfer issues ahead whenever you’re feeling a bit caught, or whenever you’re procrastinating, whenever you’re discovering issues onerous. And I had really by no means watched Tim City’s Contained in the Thoughts of a Grasp Procrastinator TED Speak.
Helen Tupper: It is some of the standard ones, is not it?
Sarah Ellis: It’s. I believe it is two or three. It is one thing like 75 million views, however I wasn’t one among them.
Helen Tupper: What are we at? We’re at like 2 million, a little bit of a option to go.
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, however are you aware what, I am going to take it.
Helen Tupper: I am going to take it.
Sarah Ellis: Speaking about making you snort, he has obtained that viewers within the palm of his hand, making them snort. He is a extremely pure presenter. He is really good, , good to observe, somebody who seems to be very comfy on stage. Now, what was fascinating about it’s the factor that has actually caught with me, and he positively self-identifies as somebody who actually procrastinates, he at all times leaves all the things to the final minute, and so on; however the perception that stayed with me was once we procrastinate, there’s principally two forms of procrastination. There’s procrastination whenever you’ve obtained a deadline, which really individuals who do procrastinate discover their approach once they’ve obtained a deadline, as a result of he talks about this factor known as the panic monster. So, you have got the moment gratification monkey, who stops you making progress, and your rational self that tells you, “Do issues in levels”.
However then if in case you have a deadline, like for us for instance, this 12 months, we did have a deadline to submit the primary draft of our ebook, or each week, you and I’ve a deadline to do a podcast each week, so each week now we have that, there’s a second the place if you’re procrastinating for too lengthy, the panic monster kicks in and also you principally do make progress. However then, there are issues that you just procrastinate on the place there simply is not any deadline. And he mentioned, that is really the place folks begin to actually give themselves a tough time about their procrastination. So, that might be one thing like simply need to train extra or get fitter, however there is not any deadline. Should you’re operating a marathon, there is a deadline, however usually there’s not. And he was saying what was fascinating is when he first began writing about procrastination, he does it in a really light-hearted approach, however he obtained a number of critical responses, folks going, “That is actually impacting my life. This actually does get in my approach”. And he mentioned, we have to generally virtually create a deadline that’s going to kickstart ourselves into motion on these issues that do not naturally have, like, actually apparent deadlines.
He confirmed one thing that I believe is de facto highly effective, on the finish of the TED Speak. And I’m going to spoil it, I’m going to point out what it’s. However basically, he reveals your life as a calendar with a great deal of little squares on a display. And he goes, “Is not that the final word deadline? That is not that many packing containers”. And I can not keep in mind whether or not the packing containers are per week or a 12 months, but it surely’s form of going, “Effectively, look, that is your complete life as a calendar, roughly, relying on how lengthy you reside for. Is that fairly an excellent motivator to cease you procrastinating on that factor, as a result of that is it, that is how lengthy we have”. And so, whether or not it’s you’ve got at all times had that dream of doing that factor that you just simply have not began or really feel such as you’ve by no means been in a position to prioritise, it is a very type of zoomed out perspective, but it surely’s fairly stunning.
I believe one of many issues that I used to be happy with final 12 months, effectively, this was nonetheless nearly on this 12 months, was doing extra memorable experiences with my pals and my household, which I might type of stopped doing for some time, partly due to life, partly operating a enterprise, having small children, all that form of stuff. And I used to be a bit like, “However why am I not doing these issues? I’ve obtained entry to them, I might make them occur, I am occupied with making them occur and by no means really doing it”. It served as a helpful reminder for me of going, simply watch out you are not placing your power and efforts into all the things that is too brief time period or simply within the now, when you do not need to try this train or whenever you’re considering or have not obtained time for it. Virtually seeing a reside calendar is an excellent reminder of why it is best to exit for the stroll, why it is best to see your folks, these issues that do not routinely have deadlines and which are straightforward principally to place off for an additional day.
I do know Tim’s work, so I’ve obtained Wait However Why on my Kindle. I’ve really additionally ordered — they’ve managed to determine — they solely did it on Kindle initially, they’ve now printed it. It is really fairly an costly ebook, however he explains why, principally as a result of they’ve printed it correctly and it is obtained a great deal of diagrams in. So, he’s price a comply with usually, and his weblog is extremely standard. However simply that one speak, I am like, it was so visible, the speak was, and I believe there’s something for everybody in that speak, and it is simply actually stayed with me.
Helen Tupper: So, I did that train, becoming a member of some profession improvement dots, I did that train this 12 months. I used to be at a convention the place they obtained us to color in these packing containers in your life in weeks —
Sarah Ellis: Oh, yeah.
Helen Tupper: — after which speak about it and mark out moments and see the way you have been, what you’ve got obtained left, primarily based on varied issues. It was a extremely fascinating dialogue. However on Wait However Why, there’s, I’ll hyperlink to it within the PodSheet that helps this episode, however you possibly can obtain the template and there is a complete article about how you need to use it to your reflection. It is known as Your Life in Weeks and it is by Tim City
Sarah Ellis: There you go.
Helen Tupper: So, let’s simply transfer on to our third class. Now we have carried out TED Talks, I can eliminate that Submit-it word. Let’s speak about podcasts. So, what’s a podcast episode or podcast sequence that has been helpful for you? Shall I’m going first?
Sarah Ellis: Go for it.
Helen Tupper: So, mine is a sequence and it is on the How To podcast, which comes from The Atlantic, which I fairly wish to learn The Atlantic. I usually discover they’ve actually, actually good articles.
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, they do.
Helen Tupper: And How To dives into all types of issues, however they have a sequence that is really form of energetic in the intervening time. I believe it is perhaps sequence seven of the podcast, but it surely’s like a ‘better of’ sequence. So, it is like their, “Better of How To”. And so, there’s 4 within the sequence, there’s 4 episodes which are reside in the intervening time. There’s the How To Spend Time on What You Worth; How To Relaxation, which is with Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, who we have interviewed earlier than; there’s How To Construct Group; there’s How To Waste Time with Oliver Berkman; they usually’re form of summaries. However the cause that I actually like it’s as a result of it is fairly a pleasant type of end-of-year, start-of-the-new-year pay attention. It’s totally balancing, like listening — it is fairly a peaceful podcast, folks aren’t overexcited. All these episodes are all about find out how to discover area and which means, however in fairly a sensible approach. I’ve discovered them simply good conversations to take heed to. They have not radically modified my considering. I have not gone, “Oh, that is one thing I positively did not know earlier than”. However they’ve extra jogged my memory of some ideas of relaxation, or that losing time may be as necessary as being productive at work, generally much more so.
So, it is fairly a comforting pay attention. I believe the authors, they have a number of authors that they speak to on the podcast, are very, very fascinating. And there is just some little, good questions and quotes in there which have caught with me, within the Spending Time on What You Worth, which is with Arthur C Brooks, who I like what he writes within the Atlantic as effectively; however, “Should you had an additional hour a day, how would you employ it?” Simply as ideas on what you worth and what you prioritise. And he talks concerning the distinction between what you’ll do and what it is best to do. So, for instance, what most individuals would do is that they’d most likely simply spend it on work. They’d most likely simply do extra of what they’re already doing.
Sarah Ellis: Oh, I used to be simply considering I might most likely simply go for an additional stroll or learn.
Helen Tupper: Would simply go for an additional stroll and skim one other ebook? Learn one other ebook, I do know you’ll. However he mentioned really, the factor that’s confirmed to make you happier over the long run is your reference to different folks. So, what it is best to do is spend that point reaching out to anyone or connecting with them.
Sarah Ellis: Okay, I did not consider that!
Helen Tupper: That’s the factor that truly makes you cheerful over the long run in your life, but it surely’s not the factor that individuals usually select on with out occupied with it. But it surely made me assume and I loved it, and I really discovered it only a stress-free pay attention.
Sarah Ellis: I’ll take heed to these, they sound nice. And I do know a few of these folks and I do know I am going to get pleasure from spending time with them, in order that’s good. Podcasts are fascinating for me, as a result of a bit such as you have been saying, you’ve got not learn hundreds extra books, I have not listened to a great deal of new podcasts, I believe partly due to how I take heed to podcasts. And I take heed to them as virtually an escape from work. And so, it is really fairly uncommon that I take heed to a podcast to do with work. It usually tends to be very intentional. Our good friend, Bruce Daisley, despatched us a podcast hyperlink the opposite day for Data Tree podcast, which is excellent. And I most likely will take heed to that episode, as a result of he despatched a particular episode going, “Oh, that is good in case you write books”. And I believed, “Oh, okay”. I imagine his suggestion, and we do try this factor.
So, I are likely to take heed to a number of comedy podcasts and meals podcasts, issues that I believe will not be that helpful for work. And that is not one thing I plan to vary, as a result of really I actually get pleasure from that and look ahead to it. However I believe it’s generally good simply to combine up what you’re listening to. And so, I’ve obtained two, each of that are listening to people who find themselves outdoors of my regular world, each really private world {and professional} world. So, This Cultural Life is a Radio 4 podcast, and most people, 90% of the people who find themselves on This Cultural Life, I have not heard of, however their work is fascinating. So, possibly they’ve designed the units for Beyonce or Taylor Swift’s present, or —
Helen Tupper: Es Devlin?
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, so Es Devlin’s been on it, yeah. She’s been on it, who we do really each, effectively, we do not know, however we each know of her.
Helen Tupper: I want I did know Es Devlin!
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, she’s very, very cool. And a well-known individual I listened to lately that individuals will know, so Invoice Nighy was on it. And what’s actually fascinating is, it is type of a meander by means of anyone’s cultural influences. And so they’ve usually carried out actually fascinating issues, labored with actually fascinating folks, they usually’re speaking about the place they get their inspiration from, what has impacted them. They’re very reflective and artistic conversations, however they’re at a really completely different tempo to, I believe the tempo that we spend our days. They’re slower in tone and even the tempo with which the presenter speaks and the individual speaks. They’re very explorative. And there is very hardly ever something that afterwards I believe, “Oh, I’ll use that in a workshop or write that down for work”, and even share that with anybody else. However I believe that is fairly good for me; it is simply another.
Then I’ve additionally tried to, as a result of we do speak about this in workshops, and I used to be like, “When was the final time I did this?” So, usually we’ll say, “It is actually good occasionally simply to have a random act of curiosity”. Like, This Cultural Life is not one million miles away from issues that I’m all in favour of, so I do not assume that counts as a random act of curiosity. I believe it must be one thing that you just’re like, “I’d not usually take heed to this. This isn’t one thing I might usually select to spend time with”. And also you’re simply doing it simply to be like, possibly to place your self out of your consolation zone a bit, or simply to do one thing a bit leftfield. And so, I did take heed to The Relaxation is Politics. And if somebody mentioned to me, “Do you need to take heed to The Relaxation is Politics?” the reply would have been, “No”. I get frightened with politics that individuals are going to argue, and I’ve obtained battle as a confidence gremlin, so I by no means need to hear folks arguing in my spare time or my private time ever. And I used to be like, “Oh, everybody’s going to be most likely fairly — it is most likely going to be fairly difficult conversations”. And in addition, I am not likely or immersed on this planet of politics.
So, I knew it was a well-liked podcast and I knew Alistair Campbell and Rory Stewart, who’re the 2 presenters, I knew of them as a result of most individuals within the UK would have carried out; they’re fairly excessive profile figures. After which, I did take heed to a few of the episodes and it stunned me. I loved it and I discovered them fascinating. And so they had some politicians on who I believe I’ve seen in different contexts. And I do discover it fairly onerous the place I really feel like everybody’s disagreeing for the sake of it. However on the podcast, I believe folks have extra space to be themselves, they don’t seem to be arguing with another person, they’re being requested. So, they have the liberty to share their story and their perspective. And so they do ask these politicians a bit about why they obtained into politics and what they care about. And also you take heed to them and you are like, “Oh, these are folks too”, which I believe you do know, however usually possibly you do not hear that story.
A few of the tales are literally actually inspiring, like why folks get into politics and a few of the issues that individuals care about and issues that they’ve carried out, and folks have labored actually onerous to get to that time. They do attempt to give these folks area. They’ll gently disagree, or they could generally immediate or say, “Oh, , there is a completely different perspective”. However additionally they have folks like Reid Hoffman. I listened to Reid Hoffman’s episode this 12 months, who’s the founding father of LinkedIn. His episode is de facto good as a result of he is clearly not a politician, however he’s all in favour of politics. They’ve had Invoice Gates on. And so, I’ve not stored listening to it each week, it isn’t turn into an everyday podcast for me. I do now look in and see who it’s and assume, “I’m wondering if they will be fascinating”.
There was one man who they did a two-part episode with, who they each clearly actually admired. And I might, once more, by no means heard of this individual, a man from Scotland who I believe was talked into being an MP. They have been like, “Come on, you’ll be good at this”. And he clearly had carried out a number of public service, actually been there for his group and did some actually fascinating jobs. And so, it is type of transformed me, and it is jogged my memory why generally you do need to spend time with issues that you just would not usually. And you will not like all of them, and that is okay, however yeah, it was an actual standout for me as a result of I virtually put it on angrily, I used to be like, “I do not even need to take heed to this”. After which I used to be like, “Oh, that is really fairly fascinating”.
Helen Tupper: On that form of like, you have to form of pay attention outdoors of your regular bubble, my mentor, Julie, really useful me the Legacy podcast. And I listened to fairly just a few episodes of that. And that is the place two historians speak about two historic figures. So, like I listened to just a little brief sequence on Cleopatra, one on Cecil Rhodes, one on Napoleon Bonaparte, and it is of no relevance to my world, however I used to be like, “Oh, fascinating. Oh, that is why it is known as that”. You recognize it is like generally, these historic figures have a relevance right now? And a few of the issues that we are saying or know, I hadn’t joined the dots. So, yeah, that was one other one. I believe generally you may get to these leaps by asking different folks, “What do you take heed to?” after which go, “I’ve by no means heard of that”.
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, I believe I might stolen that from another person. As a result of usually in our workshops, we’ll say, “What’s one factor you are studying, watching, or listening to that is serving to you to study or to remain curious?” and many folks share The Relaxation is Politics. And so I believed, “Oh, are you aware what, there’s sufficient swell of individuals saying, ‘That is price your time’, that it is price giving a go to”.
Helen Tupper: So, let’s speak class quantity 4: blogs and newsletters. I imply, that is such a cheat since you and I are presupposed to have one for every one among these, and I am undecided on any class but, have we simply talked about one, however we’re allowed. So, to start with, Peps Mccrea, I do not know if that is find out how to say his full title, so I am sorry, Peps, if that is incorrect, however he has a e-newsletter known as Proof Snacks and it’s all about schooling, so it is schooling, psychology and studying, very a lot within the context of faculties.
Sarah Ellis: Attention-grabbing.
Helen Tupper: However I believe there are some very fascinating insights. He is superb, they’re very particular, they’re very effectively researched. You’ll be able to go on Proof Snacks, you may get the e-newsletter, and I usually scroll by means of and assume, “Oh, I did not know that [or] that is a good suggestion. How might that relate to the world of labor?” So, I believe in case you’re all in favour of studying or schooling, Proof Snacks is nice, join the e-newsletter. It is superb.
Sarah Ellis: We’ll be subscribing straight after this. Sounds good.
Helen Tupper: I prefer it. After which the final one, much less you, extra me, is Surprise Instruments by Jeremy Caplan. That’s all about, effectively, in the intervening time it is fairly AI-focused, I’d say, however instruments that enable you be higher at what you do. And that is as a result of they make you extra environment friendly or they make your life simpler. Once more, weekly e-newsletter. I actually favored his roundup of the highest 10 of the 12 months. Additionally, I used to be going by means of it and I used to be like, “Oh, 5 of these I’ve used”. So, there was like perplexity.ai, there was ideogram, for instance. I used to be like, “Oh, I do not really feel so dangerous”. I’ve really, this 12 months, experimented with 5 of these, and I’d get on board with the opposite 5 now in the event that they’re within the prime ten. So, I actually like Jeremy Caplan. Extra in case you like tech, experimenting, effectivity, that form of stuff, I’d go for his.
Sarah Ellis: Yeah, it is fascinating, is not it, with blogs? The factor that I discovered onerous with them, as a result of I subscribed to fairly just a few, is then ensuring you really learn them.
Helen Tupper: Sure.
Sarah Ellis: And I believe that is fairly an fascinating studying behavior is considering, “Effectively, okay, there’s extra newsletters than you’ve got obtained time for”. However with those that you just do obtain, how do you just remember to do then — as a result of I do know the standard of a few of the newsletters that I get is de facto good. However generally, I simply discover it difficult to then determine, “When do I…?”, like a when query, “When do I learn this?” So, one of many issues I am considering I’d do in 2025 is simply have the identical second each week after I assume, I am going to put all my newsletters in the identical folder and I am simply going to spend half an hour studying these newsletters.
Helen Tupper: I believed the identical factor, as a result of I do not assume I’ve that devoted time.
Sarah Ellis: Similar.
Helen Tupper: And I believe some weeks, I do miss them. However really, this train of wanting again at them I used to be like, “Gosh, these make my mind higher, they’re price me spending time with”.
Sarah Ellis: And you do not at all times need to learn them. So, in case you do not already watch Christine Armstrong’s weblog on LinkedIn, then you possibly can subscribe and she or he emails the video to you, in case you simply discover that simpler. There are many video blogs on the market now, and Christine’s is simply so good. She’s so humorous. And really, I do fairly like the truth that it is video. There’s most likely one thing about that that generally I am going to watch that on a practice. They’re at all times brief, they usually’re a extremely good mixture of subjects, and she or he at all times manages to learn the room, learn the Zoom proper, I believe, when it comes to form of what’s on folks’s thoughts. So, I do are likely to at all times watch Christine’s, and hers is at all times on a Friday, so I do know it is approaching a Friday. And it is the correct type of factor that I need to watch on a Friday as effectively, so I believe she’s obtained the day of the week proper.
However my weblog selection was the Farnam Road weblog, which is Shane Parrish’s weblog. And the rationale I believe I like that weblog a lot, and really it is an fascinating one, I usually go on to the web site, old-school, fairly than essentially it coming into my inbox, as a result of I belief his take. So, his blogposts are normally primarily based on conversations he is had with the precise folks, or he is carried out a number of analysis. They’re easy, they’re straightforward to learn, however they’re at all times considerate. And I do not assume they’re easy, however with out being overly simplified, which I believe is kind of onerous to get proper. And so, one factor I used to be studying loads about this 12 months was, he talks concerning the Richard Feynman — and Richard Feynman is a Nobel Prize-winning scientist — studying method. And so, I used to be getting my head round that studying method, and I used to be like, “I do know the place’ll have a extremely good abstract of this, the Farnam Road weblog”, which it does. We’ll put the hyperlink to that within the PodSheet and the present notes from right now.
What I usually discover is by studying that article or that weblog from Shane, I then begin clicking round. So, I used to be studying concerning the protégé impact, which is actually if that different individuals are going to study from us, we do a a lot better job of studying for ourselves, as a result of we then really feel a way of accountability to share one thing in a approach that is smart. After which I found a extremely good Guardian article on the protégé impact, about the way it may also help you study virtually something. After which, and I guess you will keep in mind this, Helen, as a result of we talked about this earlier within the 12 months, I found this concept of rubber duck debugging, which is when pc programmers practise explaining their code line by line to a plastic toy. And what they’re doing is that they’re verbalising their considering course of, as a result of then they discover it simpler to determine potential issues of their programme. So, they don’t seem to be even instructing an individual, they’re instructing an inanimate object. However really, it actually helps them to not solely, I assume, study but additionally to go, “Oh, really I’ve noticed I’ve obtained a spot [or] that does not fairly work.
So, that is the rationale I actually just like the Farnam Road weblog. I believe I usually do begin, it is a actually good beginning place to your information, after which you possibly can determine, “Do I’ve sufficient now for what I have to know, or do I need to dig a bit deeper?” And there is usually good hyperlinks and it takes you in good locations. So, it is a very dependable and reliable supply of studying, in case you’re simply all in favour of a number of subjects round studying and profession improvement, I believe.
Helen Tupper: So, final class is folks to comply with, so possibly some people who we began following this 12 months or a really useful follower for folks for subsequent 12 months. So, I’ve two.
Sarah Ellis: In fact!
Helen Tupper: Customary; it is presupposed to be one, I’ve obtained two!
Sarah Ellis: I imply, why we structured this podcast 5 issues, I do not know.
Helen Tupper: I do not know. It is like, “500 issues to assist your studying subsequent 12 months!” Effectively, there’s 5 classes.
Sarah Ellis: We most likely have to learn one thing on prioritising, or return to Essentialism, which is an excellent ebook, which is like, “Prioritise! Filter!”
Helen Tupper: What I am going to do is I am going to make the PodSheet look actually neat, and actually summarise and fake that — I’ll prioritise for us after the episode! So, I’ve obtained two folks, they’re people who I comply with really on LinkedIn. So, that is the place I discover it most helpful to comply with them. And they’re each, once more, to be sincere, they’re on the lens of productiveness, effectivity, methods, which is one thing that simply naturally appeals to me. And the voices are Chris Donnelly and Ben Mear. I believe they do very helpful summaries, posts, actionable instruments that make me need to attempt them out. I learn the posts, they don’t seem to be too lengthy and I believe, “Oh, I need to attempt them out”. They’re additionally very talked-about. I believe Chris Donnelly’s obtained one thing like 978,000 followers on LinkedIn.
Sarah Ellis: Oh, okay!
Helen Tupper: They’re fairly standard. So, it is doubtless you might already comply with these folks, however in case you do not, be a part of the plenty, provided that you are all in favour of that productiveness, methods, development, you and your development. Most likely are, as a result of that is why you take heed to this podcast, so that they might be price following. What about you?
Sarah Ellis: Mine is a little bit of a cheat. So, one of many issues that if in case you have been a loyal Squiggly Careers listener this 12 months, you’ll have heard me uncover the guidelines. And I really feel like I’m, in a number of methods, the least doubtless individual to desire a guidelines. One in all my values is selection. I do not like the concept of feeling constrained. And I believe my beginning assumptions with checklists is like, “Oh, I do not need to do a job the place I’ve checklists, I do not need checklists to be a part of my life”. Nonetheless, I then learn The Guidelines Manifesto by Atul Gawande. And he talks about principally how checklists assist us in so many various conditions, and notably round avoidable failures, “That are each widespread and chronic”, he says. And he mentioned, “Not solely that, they’re demoralising and irritating”. And I believe I felt that.
So, we have loads higher this 12 months at sharing our mistake moments. So, we share our mistake moments utilizing Groups. So, with everybody in Wonderful If, everybody reads everybody else’s mistake moments. And the change that we have made this 12 months, which I believe has been actually useful, and it feels like a small factor, however I believe it is made a major distinction, is we used to simply do it in our all-company channel, whereas we then created a channel within the one that everyone can see that particularly says, “Mistake moments”. So basically, all of our mistake moments are in the identical place, so it’s a lot simpler to identify your personal threads and themes for your self, but additionally throughout the corporate. And I believe a number of our mistake moments are issues which are avoidable and preventable and comprehensible on the identical time. However neither of us prefer it, we each get actually annoyed with ourselves and like, “Why are we not doing this?”
What I’ve discovered actually fascinating is the reply to, “How are we going to repair this for the longer term? What’s the motion we’ll take? What have we discovered? So, what can we need to do in a different way?” So, many instances this 12 months, the reply has been, “Truly, we might actually profit from a guidelines, as a result of it is a repeatable motion, that is one thing we do greater than as soon as. And traditionally, really, we have not been nice at writing issues down, as an organization”. So, it’s a approach of form of codifying, “Okay, in case you’re operating a workshop in a room, do not forget that is the tech that you just want”, simply actually easy, fundamental stuff. Should you mentioned to me, “Do you assume it is best to be capable of keep in mind this?” I at all times assume, “Effectively, sure”. However you do not, the purpose is you do not, you do get issues mistaken. And so, I’ve then began following Atul’s work. Significantly, you possibly can return on issues just like the New Yorker. He is really been writing for a extremely very long time, not simply on checklists, however on find out how to get issues proper, find out how to do issues in a greater approach. I believe it is simply that this concept of checklists has each stunned me and caught with me, and I can already see how we’re discovering it actually useful.
My win, I believe, for this week was Helen saying to me yesterday, “You have transformed me to the guidelines”. And so, I also can see the way it’s benefited us all collectively. And it is made me actually all in favour of his work. I am most likely a bit extra open to following individuals who do speak a bit extra about, such as you mentioned, processes or issues which are extra about effectivity, whereas maybe beforehand, I’ve type of restricted my very own studying by going, “Oh, I am not as all in favour of that. That generally feels a bit formulaic for me”, but it surely additionally simply reveals why it is best to simply be actually open to simply attempting various things out, as a result of it has been actually, actually useful and I am satisfied it makes us a greater firm because of this.
Helen Tupper: So, hopefully now we have given you a number of issues to subscribe to, to take a look at, to learn, because of listening right now. What we’ll do to make that simpler for you is we’ll put the hyperlinks to a prioritised model of what we have talked about on the PodSheet, and we’ll additionally do like a swipeable abstract of this and we’ll put it on our @amazingif web page on LinkedIn. And we might like to know what you’ll add to that checklist. So, if in case you have obtained a selected ebook or a podcast or a e-newsletter or a TED Speak that has actually resonated with you this 12 months, please go to the Wonderful If web page on LinkedIn and add it, in order that the group can have an even bigger curated checklist of assets that they’ll study from in 2025.
Sarah Ellis: However we simply wished to complete the 12 months by saying thanks. Thanks for spending time listening with us, studying with us. We love our Squiggly Profession group and we actually admire you displaying up each week, you recommending, you score, you do all of these issues. A lot of you have got come alongside to occasions this 12 months and it has been beautiful to fulfill a few of you in actual life, which has been wonderful. A lot of you come to PodPlus on a Thursday, the place we form of do a workshop model of the podcast, and that is at all times nice to do too. So, podcasts are at all times a spotlight of our week, not simply the second we’re recording, but additionally the suggestions and the concepts that we get from all of you. And we all know you at all times have a selection about the way you spend your time. So, thanks for being a part of the Squiggly Profession group and we’ll see you in 2025. Bye for now.
Helen Tupper: See you quickly, all people, bye.
