3 Ways to Pivot Your Career- It's Never Too Late

Well, Summer 2022 is coming to a close. I can't say that I'm sorry for it to end; I've always been a big fan of the fall season and the holidays. Nonetheless, I've well aware of the mass layoffs in multiple sectors, as well as the concerns about an uncertain economy. I certainly have been there myself, and I know that 2022 will not be the last time many are concerned about job stability and transitions. And it certainly isn't the first. That said, I figured I'd share a bit of my perspective on the matter, narrowing in on the power of a career pivot.

Honestly, in a lot of ways, the Covid-19 pandemic was a professional blessing in disguise for me. I'd learned a lot about myself and what I truly wanted both personally and professionally. I think that the key to growth is getting to know yourself, especially when enduring challenging times. I came out of a challenging professional situation that tested me on several levels, not to mention all while grieving the passing of my mother and my aunt. Needless to say, my need to soul search and truly discover what I was made of was imminent. I think we all encounter a turning point or two in life...maybe even more. There's nothing wrong with that.

I actually wrote a piece about my professional pivot, and it was more of a way of a way to help myself be clear...all while hoping that it might help others as well. Here are three 3 key tips I can offer to you about what it takes to successfully navigate a pivot, professionally or otherwise:

1. Step back and really think about what makes YOU tick: Yes, YOU...it's not really about everybody else or a "community" of interested parties. Listen, as humans, we evolve. Activities, friends, trends, and more will change as we change. That's something that I definitely know to be true. I've experienced it myself, a few times. When pivoting my career in recent years, I had to step back and really think about what drove me to perform. I started writing when I was 11 years old; I wrote my first poem for a family reunion booklet that summer. My mom used to keep the original printout of the poem on the refrigerator, and she kept it there for decades. As I was thinking more about what mattered most to me, I went back to writing. It helped me to process grief, to endure professional trauma, and to really think about how to blend my unique skillset together.

2. Spend time upskilling: Over the last few years, I myself spent quite a bit of time seeking out opportunities to learn some new skills. During COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, I both took free courses to expand my professional knowledge, and attended free conferences virtually to learn and network. For example, I found a multi-level Ahrefs course that I could take at my own pace online for free, to help me build a base understanding of SEO. It was a 5-week course, that I found to be both very informative and valuable. Taking courses like this one and studying content marketing and copywriting was one of the best things I've done for myself.

3. Surround yourself with people who really cheer for you, sans agenda: My relationships, both personal and professional, have both evolved over the last few years. As I took stock of what mattered most to me and moved beyond life changing events, the people I wanted to be around changed as well. I think it's natural to move beyond some relationships in life; after all, we're all learning and growing at our own pace, so it seems that we'll connect to folks that relate to a current version of ourselves as we do so. My point is that it's okay to let go and move on. In some cases, it's necessary. I also believe that it's a part of self-care. We all have challenges and even an agenda we're managing, and that's not a bad thing. It's human. However, being mindful of those who aren't supportive of your need to evolve and develop is part of self-care as well. It's also part of growth. Let go of anything, or anyone, that no longer fits.

Hopefully these few tips help someone, just a bit. I've taken a lot of time to step back and really think about myself, my priorities, what matters to me, and where I want to be. I know I'm not perfect, and I know I have quite bit more work to do on developing my whole self....and that's okay.

I'm human, and I'm taking it one step at a time. I'm so rooting for anyone that's doing the same....we all deserve to take a chance on ourselves, more than once.

Want to learn more about my journey? Reach out to me directly, and we'll talk.