Why squiggly careers are better for everyone | Helen Tupper & Sarah Ellis | TEDxLondonWomen

Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis met as ambitious students, keen to make their mark on the working world. Yet, after years of striving for promotions and pay rises, they realised that the traditional career ladder wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. In fact, it was holding them back from their true potential. Now, Helen and Sarah are champions of squiggly careers, shifting the focus from titles to talents, from career plans to possibilities, from learning that is limited by level to learning that is limitless for all. Helen and Sarah invite us all to embrace this new way of working and become advocates of squiggly careers.
Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis are the founders of Amazing If - an award-winning company with an ambition to make careers better for everyone. They are the co-hosts of the UK’s no.1 careers podcast, Squiggly Careers, which has had over 1m downloads, and are authors ofThe Sunday Times number one bestselling business book, The Squiggly Career. Before launching Amazing If, they led teams in organisations including Virgin, Microsoft, Barclays and Sainsbury’s. Helen is a trustee for Working Families charity and Sarah is Co-Chair of the Mayor of London Workspace Advisory Group. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@prkzoomin6994]

A Good Quote, Never go in search of love, go in search of life, and life will find you the love you seek.

[@carolinepomfret1590]

"Change comes from action" and "no one has a monopoly on wisdom" are my fave soundbites from this.

[@jimmymcloughlin9419]

'In Squiggly careers, everybody is a learner and everybody is a teacher' - a brilliant quote from the fantastic concept that is Squiggly Careers.

[@duluncheyilai]

Off the ladder and into the squiggle! Touching on the multicareer lives that we all must become acclimated to. Adaptability is the new super power. Exciting times!

[@nickbezdek2847]

Wow i love how yall talk and its not loud nor quiet but easy to understand and im an American hard of hearing wearing both hearing aids. So glad we have two sides of the world "understanding and huh" and the best part is i didn't have to use close caption.

[@cboucher20]

Thanks for an amazing video, it sums up my career perfectly, in every job I've had, every time I've tried to 'climb the ladder', my manager has kicked me back down again, and so I've spent my whole career re-inventing myself and pursuing a different career path in the hope of earning the salary I felt I deserved and discovering my 'purpose'. I'm now in my mid-40s, sick of all the rejections and still struggling to find happiness and fulfilment in my career so I'm now in the process of starting my own career coaching business so that I can work on my terms and help others to find fulfilling careers that they truly love and help them avoid making the same mistakes I did. So many people just spend their careers chasing higher salaries, but it's when you spend time helping others and making a difference in other people's lives that you get a true feeling of happiness and fulfilment in your career and in life in general.

[@grahammewburn]

Don't try to be a person of success Rather be a person of value Albert Einstein

[@willjones5907]

Hes a fraud

[@pokepros2733]

@@willjones5907 and a sexist

[@worldcoming6535]

ethereum NFT ? 🌈🍿👀💡

[@richgl31]

I agree that squiggly careers can be beneficial for the workforce and mainly the individual, but there is also the need for many to remain within the same area of work and focus solely on progressing there; building the experience and knowledge - and yes, "climbing the ladder". There is a danger that as a society - we all think that moving about is the most beneficial way to progress - . The presentation here is very much a middle class concept - not tied by the need to actually pay the bills.

[@billwong6077]

I ABSOLUTELY agree with this! That is why I take on the challenge of being a TEDx organizer. I also decide to take on volunteer roles in my profession of occupational therapy as well. This sounds like a very strange combination... since none of my peers so far have NOT organized a TEDx event before. But, this is my own career path that makes it fun, even though the combination of things I am involved in can be overwhelming!

[@aboubakerjuma]

I'm English learner that's why I'm flowing Ted x to improve my listening skills. ✌️🇸🇩

[@barbarajoseph-adam8337]

I think you mean ‘following’ rather than ‘flowing’. Good luck with your studies!

[@marikaserasini2315]

Me too💪👍👋👋🇮🇹

[@aboubakerjuma]

@@marikaserasini2315 ah happy to see someone from Italy, cause I love Italy as much as my country 😘😘😍

[@SnowyDaBear]

Me: *reads title* Also me: Woohoo! I can finally be a squiggly line!

[@saikumarmakireddi6552]

"No one has a monopoly on wisdom. In squiggly careers everybody is a teacher and everybody is a learner " Wt a idea!! Isn't it the change we r waiting for? 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙.

[@wilmaknickersfit]

I don't think 'the ladder' has been the norm in the UK for donkeys' years. It probably started changing around the same time that job security began disappearing and a job for life became part of our history.

[@varsityathlete9927]

for whats its worth, in the early 90s at school a teacher said in class, that everyone would end up with many different jobs and over their working lives not one job for life. so you have almost 30yrs that was a message.

[@wilmaknickersfit]

It started changing in the 80s.

[@chrisklugh]

The problem is more then half the population does not like learning. They want to learn something more or less once, and demand stability towards it, even if it goes against their mental health. Most people are stubbornly lazy when it comes to enhancing their wisdom and I blame internet 'social media' for that. Cat videos are more important to more people then anything else.

[@bethepioneer2143]

*Take up one idea, make that one idea your life. Think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.* Have a nice day

[@lucasmonk8101]

I love this! Both these women are so in time with each other and nod to the other's points!

[@scottbittner6875]

It's almost like they rehurst it

[@anewtattoobynancy1]

@@scottbittner6875 😂🤣

[@lucasmonk8101]

@@scottbittner6875 That much anyone can tell, I was simply noting my adoration for their affinity, how well they seem to get along and how they constantly smile. :3

[@walshdog61]

Honestly I can’t lie, this is a phenomenal perspective. Sometimes you have to take 4 steps back to take 5 steps forward - as long as you buy into yourself, you’ll be golden.

[@uranusrising5050]

Brilliant, ladies!!!!!! Yes!!!! I’m a natural talent scout. Let me know if you’re hiring.

[@DA-ru8mp]

One way your kept down is when you get hired your employer will say try not to tell your coworkers how much your pay is.

[@yasuhiroshamoto2024]

This is eye opening to me. :)

[@trudynamoombasiameja8961]

I love this. You have made my day.

[@kierralewis4285]

😍🤞🏼 I LIVE FOR TED TALKS

[@justcallmesomething8089]

Not gonna lie... thats kinda sad man.

[@willjones5907]

It's the hands they're hypnotizing you. Ted talks are lame AF

[@va7915]

Full employment is possible only in a social state with a planned economy.

[@johnemorton7439]

This video is so true...

[@leemorgan6810]

Love you two ❤

[@asm6556]

Doesn't squiggly mean a series of low paying entry level jobs? Moreover, both authors worked in marketing related roles their entire careers, they just changed companies. What is squiggly about that?

[@jeffdorris5321]

Nice work ✨✨🎆

[@juanangelpinzon2049]

What is squiggly?

[@walshdog61]

Watch the video, you’ll find out!

[@JuanDavid-fj3tg]

serpenteante , ondulado , retocidas , el video habla de tratar de no seguir carreras solo por seguir la escalera corporativa tradicional sino que al aprender otras cosas y salir de esa estructura tradicional uno puede aprender mas y hacer de su vida laboral mas entretenida.

[@Sol-Amar]

@@JuanDavid-fj3tg Gracias por explicar.

[@tnsdulay]

Thank you for this! It was getting lonely squiggling along.

[@salmonellatyphi2601]

Thank you

[@SonuSharma-hb1ox]

Every time TED X teaches us the way of life you have to create or what is the true value if sucess

[@F_L_U_X]

Just here to check our their bodies.

[@its_kirru]

Y

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

The best you can hope for is to find a job that isn't soul destroying and that you don't hate. A minority will find work that they love and they are truly lucky. Most of us just do plodding mind numbing jobs because most jobs are just that way and that is reality. Most people want job stability but sadly, that just does not exist any more.

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

@Shahnoza Minzhanova We would all love the perfect lifestyle, balancing work and play etc. but these sort of talks are, at least in my opinion, rather fanciful. Sadly very few people get what they need in life.

[@udemeeee]

Love this!

[@MS113MS]

Based on my personal experience, I can say that these two ladies are absolutely right.

[@AYMAN-fh5pk]

I'm watching you from Egypt 🙂🇪🇬💙

[@aboubakerjuma]

like you

[@u883o5]

-استغفرالله 💭 - سُبحان الله 💫 - الحمدلله 💓 - لا إله إلا الله 💎 - اللهُ أكبر 💭

[@sarahjosua]

that concept pretty much defines my career 😂 it just doesn't fit anymore the idea of doing only one thing for the rest of your life...

[@srelifewellness3103]

Frist View First Comment

[@Blurydo]

*any askers*

[@Mclovin-ub6nx]

@@Blurydo copy that foxtrot, can confirm nobody asked.

[@grahammewburn]

First view, frist comment?!?=^#@?

[@HollynHex]

Spent 9 minutes telling us nothing….

[@shreyanshukadam9938]

First

[@user-wr9hc6gf2n]

The idea that some jobs are worth more than others is just silly. There are poeple who like to clean up and make things look nice and hygenic, but being a cleaner is a job that is usually looked down upon and not well paid. There is always a spectrum of knowledge in any task, you can know nothing about properly cleaning a place but you could also know about every chemical there is, every technique to remove a stain, good ways to order documents and how to make a room look nice. Every job is worth doing and every job should paid well depending on how knowledgebale the individual is. Sitting behind a desk is not inherently worth more to society than physical work.

[@Ither222]

I think you are correct some important 'low rank' jobs go underappreciated. But the idea of one job being worth more has a valid base. Cleaning up crime scenes or cleaning offices are very different jobs, which pay different. This balance is off in some areas for sure I gotta give you that

[@carlosjosejimenezbermudez9255]

Competency gaps are real, not everyone can achieve the same results or is good at the same things. Some industries shrink and die, while others keep growing whilst requiring more talent than there is in the talent pool. It's a market and it's ruled by supply and demand

[@user-wr9hc6gf2n]

@@carlosjosejimenezbermudez9255 Society currently demands a lot of nurses and caregives....but no one is willing to pay them because the healthcare system has to pay dividends, human life comes second. A self regulating market is a capitalists dream and humanities nightmare and we are living it.

[@ASBsweet]

Some jobs are worth more than others........what a silly comment. Just because a job isn't worth as much as another doesn't mean its not important. Not being funny but a cleaner is never going to earn the same money as a (for example) project manager unless they ran their own business / franchise etc...

[@allis8379]

Please show me how “sacred geometry decoded “ is wrong. Sci man dan please show me how his channel is wrong. Thank you!

[@themacocko6311]

Redhead heaven

[@alexcoghlan1940]

Learn to code

[@stanmyler9037]

Sounds like a lot of 🐂, this "squiggly career" speil.

[@senshai1267]

Someone tell my indian parents ...about squiggly hyphen careers.. ....before they dismiss this concept without beginning to listen .

[@casebeth]

This is all well and good but until it's accepted by employers, we're just SOL

[@swallowedinthesea11]

Then we should sue them.

[@casebeth]

@@swallowedinthesea11 i M 💯 on board. You get the rest of the working class

[@702prodigy]

unsub

[@BGomez-tk7lu]

Why

[@cfdemi4074]

@@BGomez-tk7lu people are afraid of change

[@fabriciocostaa]

why

[@gonefishin4760]

I'm punching myself TED!!! 2 talking birds TED?!!? Snakes can't rap Theodore. Get it right!!!!!!!

[@conned]

Nothing new, most people have squiggly careers ,it take guts, risks or sheer stupidity...give them 10 or more years and lets see what their outlook n Tedtalk will be. But good talk though to the young.another facet to old hohum security of work n Maslow heirachy.

[@remainselusive1]

I desperately hope these women weren't paid for this.

[@TheWheelofLife100]

This has nothing to do with squiddly diddley 😕

[@henrycollins2478]

Extroverts scare me

[@RikodiusRex]

I’m squiggly but I do not think learning from people with no credentials a good idea.

[@Lifebeinglilly]

Most of the items you use on a daily basis were invented and built by people without any what you call “credentials”.

[@macktheripper7454]

“I’m a woman .. talking .. and.. moving my hands .. while repeating basic common sense” - Ted 2021

[@Kchewz]

b r u h