You’re reading the “Spark” edition of Abundance Mindset.

On the second week of each month, I share a personal reflection, story, or mental model to help you think differently, stay inspired, and take meaningful action in your career & life. For more on-demand insights, career thinking, and career coaching, follow my YouTube Channel.

Pivots, Pivots, Pivots.

Someone recently asked me how I've been able to pivot SO much in my career.

I walked them through my long journey from sports media marketing, to education, back to sports, and now education nonprofit work. whew… it was a journey, but it all boils down to these realizations I made early in my career:

📌 Write This Down:

Let’s call this the MCP. Mindset, Confidence, and Practicality…These three things are the keys to making a pivot in your life.

📌 Write This Down:

Now it’s time to take action! The first type of pivot that people typical make is a “job function” pivot.

Example: someone might say, "I no longer want to be a social media manager. I want to be an influencer marketing manager instead and stay in the same industry."

The role changes, and everything else stays the same. The roles are similar enough in that it might be easier to make that move without any major hiccups. Some job function pivots will be harder to swing. for instance, if you want to leave your social media role to become an accountant. The skills are so different that there might be a steep learning curve. it's not impossible, but it will take more time, energy, and resources.

📌 Write This Down:

Next, you have industry pivots.

Example: someone might say, "I no longer want to work in healthcare. I want to work in sports instead."

Now pivoting from a traditional healthcare company into sports could be challenging UNLESS, you're strategic. Maybe you're working with a private sports physician doing the same job function you were doing at the healthcare company. Or maybe you work for a local college sports team doing the same type of job function. keeping your function during an industry pivot will save you a headache.

A pivot usually = a HUGE change (even if you don't think it will be.) When you pivot it's harder to pivot both the job function and the industry at the same time. humans like sure things. so either you already know how to do the job OR you already understand the industry. it takes a special team to hand you the keys when you're walking in blind on both ends.

Pivots, Pivots, Pivots.

They're possible, but you have to choose your pivot battles wisely.

🔖 Bookmark This:

Lucky for you I documented the blueprint I used to make my very first career pivot. you can read it here.

...and spoiler alert, I'm a rule breaker, obviously.... so I broke the golden rule. I changed my industry + function at the same dang time. 😬

MY PIVOT:

tv/film entertainment & sports [industry], marketing operations [job function]
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business media & digital publishing [industry], integrated & brand marketing [job function]

Like I said, anything is possible, if you’re strategic about it! 🙂 If you’re in pivot season, congrats and good luck!

P.S. A powerful community can be a propellant and might even be the missing ingredient in your pivot journey. If you’re curious about how to lean on your network to help you unlock new opportunities, check out my NBE framework here.

🤔 QTNA #1: Are you currently in a “thinking” phase or an “action” phase with your pivot?

🤔 QTNA #2: If failure wasn’t a factor, what pivot would you make today?

Hit reply and send me the answer to any of the above questions!

Until next time,
DEJA WHITE | BREAKROOM BUDDHA