How to prepare for a successful pivot

We’ve established the fact that retirement is not something we GenXers believe in. Read more:

• The GenX Creed
• Laughing In The Face of Retirement

One of the better words to define vocational changes that occur as early as our 50’s and many times in our 60’s is PIVOT.

What is pivoting?

In business terms, it means completely changing the way one does something. Due to COVID, many businesses were forced to pivot. For example, restaurants became delivery services.

I Googled the phrase, “career pivot” which returned over 30 million hits in a fraction of a second. In fact, if you’re considering a pivot yourself, try getting yourself immersed in what people are saying about this topic.

In the past few months, I have talked with a lot of people in their 3rd and 4th career. They didn’t talk in terms of retiring. They talked about starting something new and different. Some were even on their 4th start up (and one of those people was in their 70’s!)

So how do you prepare for an eventual pivot as you enter your 4th quarter?

This issue isn't about HOW to pivot, but how to PREPARE to pivot. Here are a few thoughts to get you started down the right path. See if I’ve missed anything:

Journal

That’s right. I said the “J” word. I know not all of you like to journal. But you may have a false assumption about what journaling is.

It’s much more than keeping a diary and writing out all your thoughts and emotions.

It can be a bullet list, a set of questions you’re always asking yourself.

Journaling gets your mind used to a reflective mode of thinking. When you reflect, you can see things that you normally don’t see when you’re in the whirlwind of life.

Explore

Make a timeline of your life from as far back as you can remember to today. Along that line, indicate the positive and negative events that had an impact on you. What did you learn about yourself in those moments?

Make a list of all your skills and experiences. What have you learned to do with your mind, your hands, your leadership??

Exploring gives you some clay to work with when thinking about pivoting to something new and meaningful.

Inquire

Once you have a rough idea of what you are thinking about pivoting to, make inquiries of those currently in that role. I spoke this week with someone in their 4th quarter who is considering opening a coffee shop next year. The best thing for him is to sit down (preferably over coffee) and just ask what it’s like to be in that position.

Consider these questions when you inquire:

• How did you get started doing this?
• What surprised you once you get into it? Was it a good surprise or a bad one? Why?
• What do you love about what you do?
• What have you had to learn that you didn’t already know?

Pivoting is a very natural thing to do for a GenXer. We are the resilient generation. We know how to get things done.

I trust these thoughts (Journal, Explore, and Inquire) help get you going in the right direction as you consider if or when you are going to pivot.

So, what did I miss? Share in a comment.

Thank you so much for reading the?GenX Weekly . I appreciate each one of you.

And I wish you all the best!

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