How to Pivot With Grace

Pivotal Point

Have you ever been in a position that you knew would only work for a certain period of time? Or have you ever embarked on a journey, thinking the path would lead one direction only to discover you’re most assuredly headed somewhere else? Have you reached a pivotal point in your life?

Recently, I finally heard what my instincts have been telling me since launching this website about a year ago: I work with men and women.

I already knew this because I’ve been working with men and women since beginning as a Career Transformation and Empowerment coach. But, I still chose to market my business primarily to women. It seemed to make more sense, to market to a niche. The result has been this nagging inner dialogue, reminding me at every opportunity that I work with men as well. My inner chihuahua has been barking at me, asking me why I wasn’t speaking to all of my clients in every word I write.

Finally, I’m listening. I’m moving forward doing exactly that. And I already feel at peace with my decision because I know it’s what I should have been doing all along.

So, now what? How do I make this change?

I start with honesty.

Just as I’m doing right here, I let those around me know what’s happening. By being up front and honest, I’m making the entire pivot less confusing. Essentially, I’m not changing any of the most important parts of my business; I’m simply changing the language I use in my marketing and branding.

As you figure out where to begin with your pivot, think about those will be impacted. And then move those people to the top of you list: tell these people first about your pivot. Approach with confidence, holding on to that peace and happiness that’s blossomed as you’ve accepted what needs to be done.

We’re always learning and growing.

I know change isn’t easy. I’ve spent a great deal of time in my life resisting change, only dipping a toe in here and there before deciding to jump. But change is something to embrace.

Every experience in our lives shapes our perceptions. To expect that we will be roughly the same now as we will be in 10 years would be denying that we are ever-changing people. As ever-changing people, we must pivot and adjust our course often. Why? Because if you’re like me, then you won’t be satisfied if you’re not pushing yourself to learn and do more.

How do you know it’s time to pivot?

For me, knowing it was time meant acknowledging what I already knew to be true. It meant tuning in to myself, my instincts, and what my inner chihuahua had been telling me for months. In times past, I knew it was time because I knew I couldn’t continue as I was.

When I was really, truly stuck in life before I figured out what it is that Omozua really wanted out of life, I reached a breaking point. I knew I needed to shift the momentum in my life because I was miserable. Nothing was working. I had accomplished everything I had set out to accomplish, and I still went home at night wondering what I was doing with my life. Was this really it?

I finally did something about that when it just became too painful to continue on the path I’d been following.

Imagine that you’re walking barefoot down a gravel path. As you walk, it’s a little rough at first. But soon, you’ve adjusted and it doesn’t feel that painful to continue. You have quite a long ways to go, so you’re in a little bit of a hurry. So, you hustle along.

After a while, your feet begin to hurt. You can feel the rocks scrape against your skin and each point poke. You continue to walk, though, because you know you’ll never reach your destination unless you continue on. After all, you’re not a quitter. So, on you go. The pain grows and grows, but you keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Finally, you reach your destination. You collapse in relief and then look around you. What you see is that this isn’t really a destination, anyway. It’s just another stopping point. But you can’t possibly continue on as you have been.

This is exactly where I was several years ago. I was stuck. I didn’t know what to do.

Pivoting is a life-long exercise.

You’ll come to many stopping points along the way. These are moments that lend themselves well to an evaluation of your situation.

Right now, at this moment, I have reached another pausing point (because stopping points aren’t really stopping points). I am ready for the next chapter.