If you’ve got the perfect job or business, congratulations.
But if you are even a little bit uncertain that your current gig is the right fit, it is time to start thinking about your next move. In the new world of work, it’s the only move that matters.
What’s next? is a question we all have to ask and answer more frequently in an economy where the average job tenure is only four years, roles change constantly even within that time, and smart motivated people find themselves hitting natural professional plateaus. But how do you evaluate options and move forward without getting stuck? Jenny Blake’s solution: it’s about small steps, not big leaps, and the answer is already right under your feet.
When you pivot, you double-down on your existing strengths and interests, instead of looking so far outside of yourself for answers that you skip over your hard-won expertise and experience. Pivot is the new Plan A; it is the crucial skill you need to stay agile, whether or not you are actively looking for a new position. Pivoting empowers you to navigate changes with flexibility and strength—now and throughout your entire career.
No matter your age, life stage, industry, or bank account balance, Blake’s advice will help you move forward in a methodical way. Drawing from her own experience and those of other successful pivoters, she shares her four-stage Pivot Method that will teach you how to seamlessly and continually:
- Double down on existing strengths, interests, and experiences. Identify what is working best and where you want to end up, then start to bridge the gap between the two points.
- Scan for opportunities and identify new skills without falling prey to analysis-paralysis or compare-and-despair. Explore options by leveraging the network you already have.
- Run small experiments to determine next steps. Do side projects to test ideas for your next move, taking the pressure off having the entire answer up front.
- Take smart risks to launch with confidence in a new direction. Set benchmarks to decide when the time is right to go all-in on your new direction.
You will meet pivoters like Amy, who took on a task no one at her company wanted—learning about social media—and parlayed that into a VP position directing social media outreach. Like Adam, who transitioned from creative director of a real estate company to design business school, before founding his own brand strategy company. And like Jenny herself, who left her job running career development programs at Google to start a related business based on her blog and first book.
Pivot also includes valuable insight for leaders who want to have clearer and more frequent career conversations to help talented people pivot within their roles and the broader organization, rather than looking for outside work.
No matter your current position, one thing is clear: your career success and satisfaction depends on your ability to determine your next best move. If change is the only constant, let’s get better at it.
I must admit that I’m a bit biased when it comes to this book. Jenny is a friend of mine — and she featured my career pivot in the book. Grab your copy of Pivot today here.
Your career mentor,
Bud
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