#488 Coping with curveballs – what to do when your day doesn’t go to plan episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 15, 2025 · 34 MIN

#488 Coping with curveballs – what to do when your day doesn’t go to plan

from Squiggly Careers · host The Squiggly Career

Ever had your day derailed by a last-minute request? A sudden change of plan? Or that dreaded moment when you're put on the spot and don’t have the answer? In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore the curveballs that show up in our working week—and how we can respond to them with more confidence and control. From tech fails to surprise tasks, curveballs can throw us off track and test our confidence. Helen and Sarah share personal stories, reflect on their own curveball capability, and offer practical ideas for action to help you deal with the unexpected, think on your feet, and stop small things from snowballing. 🥇 Sign up for the Skills Sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to the Squiggly Careers Podcast 00:33 Day-To-Day Curveballs 05:52 Acknowledging & Receiving Curveballs 07:46 Why Curveballs Feel Hard In The Moment 09:06 Curveballs Are More Likely In Squiggly Careers 11:00 Rating Your Curveball Capability 16:55 Idea For Action — Anticipating & Thinking On The Spot 20:35 Idea For Action — Using Multiple Workarounds 26:14 Idea For Action — Avoiding Curveballs Becoming Snowballs 🎯 What You’ll Learn - Why curveballs feel hard in the moment - Why curveballs are more common in squiggly careers - How to anticipate the unexpected and think on your feet - How to stop curveballs from becoming snowballs For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email [email protected] More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever had your day derailed by a last-minute request? A sudden change of plan? Or that dreaded moment when you're put on the spot and don’t have the answer? In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore the curveballs that show up in our working week—and how we can respond to them with more confidence and control. From tech fails to surprise tasks, curveballs can throw us off track and test our confidence. Helen and Sarah share personal stories, reflect on their own curveball capability, and offer practical ideas for action to help you deal with the unexpected, think on your feet, and stop small things from snowballing. 🥇 Sign up for the Skills Sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to the Squiggly Careers Podcast 00:33 Day-To-Day Curveballs 05:52 Acknowledging & Receiving Curveballs 07:46 Why Curveballs Feel Hard In The Moment 09:06 Curveballs Are More Likely In Squiggly Careers 11:00 Rating Your Curveball Capability 16:55 Idea For Action — Anticipating & Thinking On The Spot 20:35 Idea For Action — Using Multiple Workarounds 26:14 Idea For Action — Avoiding Curveballs Becoming Snowballs 🎯 What You’ll Learn - Why curveballs feel hard in the moment - Why curveballs are more common in squiggly careers - How to anticipate the unexpected and think on your feet - How to stop curveballs from becoming snowballs For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email [email protected] More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: 📩 Download our free career tools: https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 🏃‍♀️ Join our next Skills Sprint: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024 📮 Get Squiggly Careers in Action in your inbox: https://bit.ly/SquigglyCareersInAction 📚 Read our books: The Squiggly Career and You Coach You: https://www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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#488 Coping with curveballs – what to do when your day doesn’t go to plan

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How long is this episode of Squiggly Careers?

This episode is 34 minutes long.

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This episode was published on July 15, 2025.

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Ever had your day derailed by a last-minute request? A sudden change of plan? Or that dreaded moment when you're put on the spot and don’t have the answer? In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore the curveballs that show up in our working week—and...

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