You know it’s the right thing to do but you’re getting cold feet. You’ve given it plenty of thought and know that it’s the best thing to do.
So why wait? Pivot!
There are points in your life when you feel like you’re stuck in a swamp, your feet sinking deeper with every hesitant step. Nothing seems to be right.
It’s that point where you start to question your choices and decisions. It could be in any sphere of your life – personal, professional, or creative.
So what’s to be done? Your choice: maintain status quo and wait, or make a bold, strategic shift.
It’s not as easy or simple as it appears. This is only possible if you’re aware of being caught in the time web.
It’s your self-awareness that will trigger your thinking, leading you to make the required decisions.
Once you recognise the signs, you no longer feel comfortable being stagnant; you want to explore new possibilities, you want to move out of the present limbo.
This is the beginning of the big change.
Honestly Evaluate Your Current Situation
Begin the evaluation by identifying the signs of stagnation.
- Are you lacking drive or enthusiasm?
- Is the repetitiveness of the action becoming boring?
- Are your actions leading you towards the goal you had set for yourself?
- Is a sense of unfulfilled potential gnawing you from within?
Well, if you’ve felt one or more of these then it’s about time you took a hard look at the way things are.
But before you begin on working on a new path, understand that stagnation is different from going slow.
Some actions take time to bear results. That’s not stagnation. Say, if you’ve started a business, you can’t expect to have exponential growth in a few weeks or months.
You will make progress, albeit slowly. You will making mistakes and learn from them, you need time to acquire some new skills.
So it’s still progress. You don’t have to pivot in such circumstances.
Stagnation is when you feel stuck, trapped in inertia. Like, the writer who can’t seem to get the flow of ideas to transform into the written word. Or in your career, where you feel a lack of inspiration to continue.
Be clear about the situation before deciding if it’s time to pivot or not.
You can ask yourself some hard questions. Examine if you are truly stuck or just in a plateau?
A plateau is phase of a temporary stagnation. It’s a period of slow activity, that’s all.
It can be frustrating but still has small steady signs of progress, like getting better at as ill but not yet excelling.
Whereas feeling stuck comes with emotional fatigue boredom and a loss of motivation.
If in doubt ask yourself –
– Have I stopped learning or growing?
– Is the dissatisfaction because of the lean phase or have I lost interest?
– What changes do I want? Are they aligned with the present goals or are they different?
By allowing yourself to think and evaluate, you’ll be able to get a clear picture of what is ailing you, or the system.
Exploring Without Abandoning Current Progress
Pivoting requires you to make a hard turn. It’s not just one isolated action, it’s a change in the thinking.
But it doesn’t make sense abandoning your current progress, does it? Why not revamp the approach is so that you can still maintain stability while making their changes?
For that entrepreneur from earlier, while you’re learning through experience, pick up a new project on the side. That will infuse some novelty to the routine and keep you motivated.
Network with other people in your office who you feel are doing something more interesting or exciting. Talking to them will give you new ideas and insights which can assist you to rejig your current situation.
Set up small, exploratory goals to test the waters without giving up your current project and progress. The side venture can provide the stimulus you need to feel inspired. If it works, you can then think about committing to it more deeply.
When I first launched my online store, I went with the flow and created all sorts of printables. I gradually learnt how it works – selecting the niche, working on the layout, marketing, and so many other things.
It took me more than a year to find direction. Now I specifically create educational resources for children.
My writing became my side venture as it was therapeutic. And the growing number of followers has kept me motivated.
Think of these side ventures and explorations like the sidecar; it goes along with the current progress and provides stability.
Knowing When to Pivot
It’s your call finally when to pivot. Understanding and recognising the situation and then deciding on the correct time to make that change is essential.
It has to happen when there seems to be no possibility of any growth happening in your current situation.
Staying put weighs you down as you feel like you’re compromising with your goals and values.
It’s the right time then to make the change rather than suffocate.
Don’t get disheartened. Pivoting is not a failure but a change. It’s a necessary part of evolving. That’s growth. And growth leads to progress.
JK Rowling was rejected multiple times before pivoting towards a new approach to getting her book published.
Steve Jobs was ousted from Apple before retuning with a new vision.
Your pivot could be the tuning point that lead to your biggest success yet.
It shows your strength of character, resilience and commitment to what you believe in. You’re focused on your goal and are now trying out a new path to reaching it. Being able to pivot needs courage. Bravo!
Pivoting is about seizing opportunities for growth, without abandoning effort.
In Conclusion
If you’re not willing to commit to your goal, is it really your goal?
Pivoting is part of that process of reaching the goal. Some steps succeed, some need a little working on, and some need to be abandoned. But each of them have contributed towards progress, towards your learning.
Listen to your instincts and embrace the journey as an exploration towards fulfilment.
When the signs point to new horizons, don’t hesitate—pivot boldly and with intention.
