The Art Of Pivoting
The art of it and why it is so crucial to long term success.
(HAPPY EARTH DAY, IF YOU’RE A NATURE LOVER LIKE ME, SPEND SOME TIME OUTSIDE TODAY!)
We’ve all had to make a change for the better, whether we liked it or not. Pivoting. Defined business as “to completely change the way in which one does something”
Businesses that have been open for 100 years may sell the same products and have the same objectives, BUT the way they run the business is something that is ever evolving. The way of doing business in 1925 isn’t the same way it was done in 1985. The way you bought groceries and other things in 1985 isn’t the same way people are buying groceries these days.
Your ability to adapt to change and quickly move on to something better for you, is crucial to long term success. This isn’t just about business. It applies to life across the board. Technology is an ever changing landscape that has an effect on many industries across the board. In 2025… RIGHT NOW.. everyone’s jobs and overall life is changing (or will change in the very near future. That is just the way life goes.
So how do you stay ahead of the game and keep yourself off the chopping block? You get reeeeeeaaaaal good at pivoting and expecting change. You challenge yourself to welcome change. You stay ahead so that you are never behind.
Here are 4 things you can do NOW to be ready for what’s coming:
1. Keep Your Skills Sharp & Stack New Ones
Why it matters: Opportunities favor the prepared.
How to do it: Constantly learn — even just a little each week. Stack skills that compound your value (communication + tech, or sales + AI tools). Audit your skills; Identify transferable strengths and close gaps with focused learning.
Pivot mindset: “What can I learn today that gives me more options tomorrow?”
2. Expand and Nurture Your Network
Why it matters: Your next pivot often comes from who you know, not just what you know.
How to do it: Reach out. Follow up. Be helpful. Join industry groups or communities, even online.
Pivot mindset: “Stay top of mind and in the right rooms.”
3. Simplify & Stabilize Your Life
Why it matters: You can’t pivot if you’re weighed down by clutter, debt, or distractions.
How to do it: Trim dead weight. Eliminate time-wasters, toxic ties, or habits that block growth. Stay fluid – Don’t over-attach to one path too soon.
Pivot mindset: “Lighten the load so you can move fast.”
4. Stay Curious, Not Comfortable
Why it matters: Comfort kills momentum.
How to do it: Follow your curiosity. Explore side gigs, freelance work, new ideas, or unfamiliar environments. Build visibility – Network, share your work, and be findable when opportunity knocks.
Pivot mindset: “Be a student of what’s next.”
Pivoting is crucial for long-term success because the world doesn’t stay still — and neither should you. Life is ever changing and evolving. Every day something new is being built and something old is being torn down. Out with the old and in with the new. Trees have to fall so that new life can be born from the fallen tree trunk. It is a part of life. SHIT HAS GOT TO CHANGE. Once you accept that and prepare yourself for it, it’s almost like a superpower. Here’s a few reasons why pivoting is key:
1. Change Is Constant
Industries evolve, tech advances, and markets shift.
If you don’t adapt, you will be left behind eventually, no matter the industry or how smart you are.
Pivoting keeps you relevant.
2. Failure Is Feedback
Not every plan works. That’s normal.
Pivoting lets you take lessons from what didn’t work and redirect your energy toward something that might.
It turns setbacks into springboards.
3. Opportunities Aren’t Always Obvious
Sometimes the “right” path appears after you’ve already started walking.
Being willing to pivot helps you seize better chances when they arise.
It keeps you open to surprise wins.
4. Growth Requires Risk
Staying in the same place might feel safe, but it can stunt your potential.
Pivoting pushes you to grow — in mindset, skillset, and confidence.
No pivot, no progress.
Pivoting = Progress.
Those who adapt, win. Those who resist, risk being left behind. It is that plain and simple. You saw it with old, bulky computers when the new, slim laptops came out.. You saw it with older cars as the newer models came in.. you saw it with flip phones when touchscreen smartphones hit the market. Companies that don’t adapt get left behind. Think about Nokia. Nokia once dominated the cell phone market but they were slow to adapt to smartphones. Companies like Apple were a lot quicker to bring consumers what they wanted in cell phones. Nokia was eventually sold to Microsoft, no longer makes phones, and has since been involved in the infrastructure that was created to create 5G. Think about yourself as an individual and the life you live. If you do not adapt to the new world order, you may end up doing something you don’t want to do.