Squiggly Careers Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode: Learn Like a Lobster: How to Keep Growing in Your Career
Hosts: Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper
Date: September 23, 2025

Overview

This lively episode celebrates the launch of Sarah and Helen's new book, Learn Like a Lobster, and uses the quirky metaphor of lobsters to explore practical approaches to continuous learning within "squiggly" career paths. The hosts share insights on how adopting a flexible, self-driven, and experimental attitude towards personal development can help listeners thrive amidst workplace complexity and change. They elaborate on core concepts from the book, offer actionable tools, and share candid personal anecdotes—all designed to help listeners “learn like a lobster.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Learn Like a Lobster?

• Ladder vs. Squiggly Careers
  The hosts critique the traditional "ladder" career model, highlighting its linear limitations versus the adaptable, resilient nature of "squiggly" paths.

  “We have a belief that the idea of ladder like careers holds people back because it's very determined by the level that you're at.” – Helen (00:00)

• Lobster as Learning Metaphor
  The lobster is held up as the ideal animal for career learning, for three key reasons:
  1. “They never stop growing.”
  2. “They grow the most in hard moments.” (shedding their shell, becoming vulnerable)
  3. “Lobsters fuel their own growth… they even eat their own shells.” – Sarah (00:21, 07:07)
     This metaphor is carried throughout, connecting the ideas of lifelong learning, embracing vulnerability during challenges, and being resourceful/self-sufficient in personal growth.

2. The Learn Like a Lobster Library & Community

• The hosts introduce a companion community and resource hub for those who pre-order the book, including:

  • Three live, virtual learning workshops (October–December)
  • Access to a 10-minute “Learn Like a Lobster” tool focused on learning in meetings
  • A WhatsApp group (optional) to build connections with other career-minded learners
  • Early bird bonuses for pre-orders between Sep 23 and Oct 1

  “Everything in the library is free… you’ll get all three [workshops] for free… as soon as you join, you get a 10 minute tool you can use yourself and with teams.” – Sarah (02:19)

• Emphasis is placed on the value of community and peer learning in supporting squiggly career journeys:

  “I think you will be smarter, more able to navigate your squiggly career if you become part of that library.” – Sarah (03:01)

3. The Three “Lobster Learning” Principles

a. Learn as You Go (Continuous/Easy Experiments)

• Out Loud vs. Quiet Thinking
  The hosts encourage experimenting with both discussion-based ("out loud") and introspective ("quiet") cognitive styles as a tool for continual learning and problem-solving.
  • Out loud = generating ideas and solutions by talking them through with others (voice notes, walking meetings)
  • Quiet thinking = self-reflection or mind mapping solo, using "to think" lists
  • Referencing Shane Parrish:

    “Thinking better than others means that you'll have more free time and fewer problems.” – Sarah (01:02, 13:10)

• Both Helen and Sarah share their typical thinking preferences (extroverted/introverted), their experiments with alternative approaches, and encourage teams to discuss preferred styles.

b. Learn in Hard Moments (“Shell Shedding”)

• Embracing Discomfort and Vulnerability
  • Growth happens most rapidly in challenging or vulnerable periods—mirroring the lobster’s molting process.

  “There will be shell shedding moments. They're sort of inevitable. But can we grow as a result?” – Sarah (07:07)

• Fly on the Wall Facts (Practical Tool – 24:44)
  • Create emotional distance in “hard moments” by imagining yourself as an objective observer, noting only the facts of a situation (not feelings or assumptions).
  • This can reveal learning opportunities and lead to more constructive action.
  • The segment includes a live example as Helen and Sarah debrief a tough week at work with questions like:

    “What do I know to be 100% true about this situation?” (26:08)

    • They identify underlying issues (overwhelmed schedules, onboarding new people, asynchronous working patterns) and brainstorm systemic solutions ("solve it sessions").
    • Sarah observes,

      “Sometimes you do have to whack them all. That does have to happen. But actually what you don't want to do is keep doing that the whole time.” (32:14)

c. Lead Your Own Learning (Fueling Your Own Growth)

• Being a Beginner & Small Firsts
  • Challenge yourself to regularly find “small firsts”—instances where you can be a beginner at work, fostering a growth mindset.
  • This could mean trying new technology, taking on a new role, or initiating conversations with people outside your usual circles.
  • Sarah introduces "Beginner Bingo": a playful approach to encouraging repeated beginner moments and learning by way of a bingo-card system, offered as a downloadable tool for listeners. (38:00)

  “The more you practice being a beginner, then you're like, well, they're the ones that you're in control of. Like, I'm going to choose to be a beginner.” – Sarah (36:11)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Barriers to Learning:

  “It's not something to look forward to. It's something that people feel frustrated by. 'I can't find any time to learn', 'There's no money for me to learn.'… If we wait, if we try to find the time, if we rely on other people, you could end up getting left behind in your squiggly career.” – Sarah (08:36)

• On Learning Together:

  “I think learning like a lobster is even better when you do it together as a team, because I think that creates a commitment and a shared understanding of what learning looks like.” – Helen (20:16)

• On Team Experiments:

  “Sometimes I think I rely on you too much. You know, sometimes I think you can get over reliant on one person for your thinking. I think I do overly rely on you.” – Sarah (19:43) “Am I being dumped for a notebook?” – Helen, joking about Sarah’s new “to think” notebook (19:45)

• On Hard Weeks:

  “It’s like… whack-a-mole with a problem. That’s annoying. Whack that problem… But actually, when I say it out loud to you, I’m like there is a bigger thing going on…” – Helen, using the “Fly on the Wall” approach (29:27)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00-02:19 – Why lobsters? Launching the Learn Like a Lobster book & library
• 03:01-04:50 – The value of community in learning
• 05:47-09:54 – Squiggly vs. Ladder careers; why learning is the super-skill
• 11:29-13:10 – Out loud vs. quiet thinking: practical examples and team applications
• 20:16-22:13 – Learning together as a team; introducing “learning in hard moments”
• 24:44-35:08 – Demo: Using "Fly on the Wall Facts" to extract learning from challenges
• 36:11-41:50 – Embracing beginner moments, “Beginner Bingo”, and being intentional about new learning
• 43:21–end – How to join the library; gratitude to listeners and pre-order supporters

Episode Takeaways

• Lifelong learning isn’t reserved for courses or qualifications—it’s a mindset, an ongoing openness to experimentation and self-reflection, embedded in daily work.
• Hard times and feelings of vulnerability are inevitable but powerful moments for growth; using techniques like “Fly on the Wall Facts” can help turn setbacks into deeply meaningful learning.
• Proactively seek out “beginner” experiences—big and small—to keep your skills fresh and stay adaptable in a squiggly career world.
• Peer support, community, and experimentation are vital tools for anyone seeking to thrive in modern, nonlinear careers.

For More Information:
Pre-order Learn Like a Lobster and join the free learning library: hello@learnlikealobster.com
Further resources and show notes: Amazing If / Squiggly Careers