The One Where Ross Is Trying to Move a Couch...

A career pivot is a purposeful move that lets you apply your existing skills and knowledge in a different field or industry. It's not a complete change of direction, but rather a shift that depends on your strengths and interests. A relevant example: For several years, I was an architect, focused mostly on IT Strategy, Operational Transformation, and Organizational Change Management. This meant that I would collaborate with C-level executives on both the theoretical and practical aspects of transforming an organization, and how to do it. I was often extended longer than the original engagement end date in order to see major milestones reached and ensure that transition to operations went smoothly. What energized me about the work was the change I’d get to witness. I helped customers overcome their challenges and obstacles to realize the value that had been obscured by fear, uncertainty, and doubt regarding organizational change. I usually worked on what I’d call ‘save’ engagements – something went wrong somewhere in the work, and my role was to fix things with the customer, save the relationship and engagement, and ideally create more work by being the ‘right resource at the right time’. I really LIKED what I did, because I could see concrete progress, happy customers, and the return on an investment of being away from my family for 4 days a week, every week for months on end. When the travel became too much, I ‘pivoted’ and accepted a role that allowed me to stay in one place for a while and focus on rebuilding a product and improving it to serve its customer community better. A variation of my work as an architect, but much more of a deeper dive focused on knowledge management, content management, UX and app development. All things that my nerd brain loves.

In the middle of this new work, I encountered a situation that I’ll label as a ‘pivot’ – a chance to go back to my transformation roots. You could say it was an unplanned pivot, but I will say that after several weeks of reflecting on it all, I’d now say it was a positive one. The opportunity to work closely with a customer to drive significant, transformational change, operational transformation is unmatched. The bonus is that the pivot I made to ‘stop traveling’ helped me better understand the pivot that refocused me on organizational change and transformation. The career journey is NEVER linear.

Why is a career pivot important? Because it can help you:

• Keep up with the rapid changes in the world and stay ahead of the competition. My industry is changing very fast, and some people might want to ignore it and hope it goes away. But this is a bad idea because you will become obsolete and irrelevant at work. Nobody wants that.
• Prevent feeling exhausted and bored by following your interests and imagination. A pivot lets you see work from a different angle. For example, switching from a customer-facing role to an engineering role or vice versa is a pivot. I have done this several times in my career, trying to combine the best of both worlds and improve my understanding of how to make better products and services. It's hard to know what customers REALLY think of what you build if you don't hear them complain about how your !@%!@@ Software works for them. It's a shocking experience, but I think everyone in tech should have it so they can empathize with the customer's problems more directly. I know from experience.
• Improve your happiness and fulfillment by finding more value and direction in your work. Getting out of your comfort zone and pivoting can help you use more of your brain to solve problems. Imagine it as putting on a different hat, walking in someone else's shoes. The insights and lessons are huge and powerful.
• Increase your network and impact by meeting new people and groups. This can happen via pivoting because you're exposing yourself to different professional networks that you might not have thought of before, but you're also giving people (maybe your next boss) a chance to see you differently.
• Increase your income and prospects by exploring new markets and segments. Broadening your horizons can make your wallet bigger, for sure.

Okay, all this sounds great, but how do you make a successful career pivot? Here are some tips:

• Identify your core values, skills, and goals. What are you good at, what do you enjoy, and what do you want to achieve?
• Research the market and the industry. What are the trends, needs, and gaps that you can fill with your unique value proposition?
• Build your personal brand and online presence. How can you showcase your expertise, credibility, and personality to attract the right audience and opportunities?
• Network and collaborate with others. Who are the people who can support, mentor, or partner you in your new venture?
• Experiment and learn. What are the projects, courses, or events that can help you test your ideas, gain feedback, and improve your skills?

A career pivot can be a daunting but rewarding journey. Overall, it has been for me, and I've learned and experienced more than I ever could have if I had stayed stagnant. It takes courage, resilience, and adaptability to embrace change and uncertainty. But if you do it right, it can catapult you to your next level of professional success.