In this episode of the UX Fika Podcast, I chat with Jeff Gothelf – author of five books including Lean UX, Sense & Respond, Forever Employable and Who Does What By How Much – about how we can bring the same intentionality we apply to product design into shaping our own careers.
Jeff’s work has helped organisations around the world build better, more customer-centric products, and executives build the culture that is needed to build better products. But what happens when you apply those same principles – iteration, clarity of outcomes, experimentation – to your own career? That’s exactly what we talk about in this conversation, recorded back in 2021.
We cover the story behind his book Forever Employable and how turning 35 made Jeff question everything and pushed him to “plant his flag” as a thought leader. We also dive into the evolution of Lean UX through three editions, the value of outcomes over outputs, and why getting paid what you’re worth matters.
We also talk about what spending six months working in a circus and how working as a musician and performing live helped shape his skills as a speaker and trainer, and what those unexpected experiences taught him about adaptability, feedback, and finding your place on stage.
It’s a thoughtful, practical, and inspiring conversation about designing your life and career with intent.
Plus:
☕️ Why dark chocolate rice cakes and coffee are his favourite fika
🌟 Why you should stop starting and start finishing
What we cover:
00:00 Intro
02:25 Adapting to Remote Work: Changes in Business Dynamics
07:38 The Evolution of Lean UX: A Journey Through Editions
10:30 Evolving As A Writer
14:35 Writing the Third Edition of Lean UX
15:44 Jeff's Different Books
19:28 Becoming Forever Employable
23:13 Planting your own flag
26:39 Treating your career as a product
30:20 Finding Your Ikigai
33:42 Career Insurance And Making Yourself Resilient
37:27 The Value of Experience
39:08 Beating Imposter Syndrome & Getting Paid What You're Worth
43:53 Evaluating Speaking Opportunities
50:19 Forever Employable Stories Podcast
52:25 Lessons From Working In the Circus & Being in A Band
54:46 Reading the Room
58:21 Engaging with Criticism
01:05:57 Future Projects
01:06:59 Life advice - Stop Starting, Start Finishing
Where you’ll find Jeff:
Where you’ll find Anna & UX Fika:
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