📧 The Squiggly Careers Guide to Creating New Possibilities Through Pivoting
From a five-part series on Career Changers
Hi Friends,
I was delighted to Zoom in as a guest expert for a career change series on a UK podcast that I’ve admired for many years from afar, Squiggly Careers. (We shared the same publisher for Pivot and their book, The Squiggly Career.)
The series covers five key stages: Starters, Returners, Setbacks, Changers, and Continuers. I’m part of the changers section, where we explored the unexpected gold that’s found in these non-linear journeys, and how you will not “solve” your pivot up front—you just need to start taking small steps and let them show you which ones take on a momentum of their own.
Whether you are contemplating a smaller career shift or a complete reinvention, I hope these insights spark something valuable in your own professional journey! Listen to our conversation here, and check out the accompanying Squiggly Career Change guide here »
And don’t miss Helen’s PodPlus bonus for this episode on YouTube:
Now for the next installment in our ongoing Strengthscope series . . .
💪 Strengthscope Deep Dive: Detail Orientation
Is detail orientation an energizer or a drainer for you?
🔋 If details energize you, you are the person who finds treasure in the footnotes—noticing and delighting in the subtle nuances that others breeze past in both projects and people. Your superpower lies in seeing the intricate patterns within the tapestry, spotting those small but crucial elements that transform good work into exceptional work (that others might dismiss as trivial). You love nailing down the perfect punctuation mark or catching that small inconsistency others missed; precision isn’t just your preference, it’s your playground.
Who annoys you: People who pay little attention to the detail of a task or project. They might appear careless or “sloppy” to you in the way they conduct their work and don’t appear to work to the same high standards of quality which you value.
Who is annoyed by you: People who are strategic, big picture thinkers and pay little attention to the detail. They are energized by operating at the 30,000 foot level rather than the 3-foot level. These people might see you are spending too much time in the detail at the expense of the bigger picture. Results focused, decisive people who want to get things done quickly might also see you as too much of a perfectionist who struggles to work fast under pressure.
🥵 When in overdrive: You can spend too much time in the details at the expense of the bigger picture, losing perspective on the overall goals or plan. People may regard you as a perfectionist.
Self-check by asking: I need a certain amount of context before I feel comfortable moving forward. What key questions will help me move proceed with confidence, even if I don’t have all the details buttoned up?
🪫 If decisiveness is a drainer for you: You may pay little attention to the details of a task or project, potentially undermining the quality of output.
Reframe it by reflecting: Which energizers allow me to focus on details?
📊 Get to Know Your Significant Seven Energy-Strengths
If you want to dive deeper into the 24 energy-strengths, including an assessment that will show your biggest energizers and drainers:
Individuals: Purchase the Strengthscope report here and get instant access to your results and a 45-minute Upgrade Your Energy pre-recorded workshop to better understand your unique profile, with tips to find more flow at work.
Or book a 45-minute 1:1 with me that comes with a Strengthscope report; together we’ll talk through your results and develop a customized strategy based on your Significant Seven energy-strengths.
Teams: If you work within an organization and have the budget to run this as an in-person half-day team-building workshop, we are now booking for next quarter. Learn more and inquire here »
That’s it for now . . . thank you for reading!
❤️ With Love,
