.png)
Barrier Busting
The Barrier Busting podcast offers insights, strategies, and inspiring stories that explore practical tips and powerful tools for unlocking our full potential.
Barrier Busting
Mastering Career and Life Pivots: Strategies for Success
Can you imagine reinventing your career and life successfully amidst ever-shifting job landscapes? Join me, Matt Brooks, on the Barrier Busting Podcast as we embark on a transformative journey dedicated to mastering the art of career and life pivoting. This episode sets the foundation for our new series, where we tackle the trials and triumphs of making significant life changes, whether driven by aspiration, necessity, or unforeseen circumstances. We break down the transition from the once stable career paths to the current dynamic gig economy, emphasizing the critical need to hone pivoting skills in today's market. You'll uncover the three primary motivations for pivoting and the essential role that clear purpose and unwavering commitment play in making a successful change.
Next, we dive into actionable strategies for navigating career transitions. Learn how to take inventory of your skills, strengths, and interests, and define your dream daily routine along with non-negotiables. We stress the importance of rigorous research, understanding the job market, and upskilling. Networking takes center stage as we discuss the importance of building new connections and leveraging various resources such as workshops and online content.
Are you feeling stuck? Is something holding you back? Are there obstacles in your way? Well, let's smash through those obstacles so that you can live your best life. Hi, I'm Matt Brooks, founder of Matt Brooks Coaching, and I'm fascinated with how people overcome barriers and achieve success. Join me for insights, strategies and inspiring stories as we explore practical tips and powerful tools to unlock your full potential.
Speaker 1:This is the Barrier Busting Podcast. Well, hello once again, everyone. Welcome back to the Barrier Busting Podcast. I'm Matt Brooks and I'm happy to tell you that we are done talking about habits. That was a long series on habits, but I think it was really interesting. We got to hear about habits from a lot of different perspectives.
Speaker 1:Now I'm going to start a new series of shows on the concept of pivoting career, pivoting, life, pivoting. These are things that are becoming more and more normal, but also it's something that's you know it can be very scary, very daunting, very unsettling, for obvious reasons. So I'm going to do a series now where I'm going to talk about pivoting. I'm going to talk about ageism and pivoting in your 50s, which is extremely complicated, and I'm going to be introducing a bunch of people to you, several people who have done successful pivots in their life and I'm going to pick their brains to see how they went about it and what advice they might have to give for any of us who might be doing that or thinking about doing that. So today I just want to talk about pivoting in general, maybe some ideas about how to do it, but also what you have to go through to decide to do it.
Speaker 1:You know there was a time when you would train for a profession, acquire a job with a company or an employer of some kind, work your way up the ladder and retire after 30 years or so. You'd give what you could to your company and the company would take care of you by providing salary, benefits and a pension. My father was a good example of that. After he finished serving in World War II he went to work for the electric company. He started out as a lineman, one of those guys who goes up on top of the pole and fixes things. Only back in those days they didn't have bucket trucks. They had these steel stakes in the side of the poles that were like a ladder. And you know, my father and his generation would have to climb up that pole, even in ice, and work at the top of the pole and all they had was like a leather strap that would go around their backside and around the other side of the pole. I mean, talk about gutsy stuff, right, but that's what he did. He worked hard and he did everything he could to continue growing. That was one thing about my dad he was always looking for ways to grow. So in that spirit, he volunteered as a right-of-way agent for the company. He served on the local school committee for 25 years. He volunteered in all kinds of capacities and he ended up in a white-collar position as one of the people that ran the real estate operations for that electric company. He never made a fortune, but he did okay and he was able to take care of his family. There was stability and even a decade after his death the company still provided health insurance for my mom. He came through with his part of the bargain and the company came through with theirs.
Speaker 1:Well, as we all know, sadly, those days are gone. According to the US Department of Labor, the average person will change careers get this five to seven times during their working life, and approximately 30% of the total workforce today changes jobs every 12 months. It's truly a gig economy now, so we all got to stay on our toes. Mastering the art of pivoting is going to be essential for all of us to succeed. It sucks, but it is what it is. Of course, there are some positives to remember here, though. We live in a time where more information in fact most of the information we need is readily available and easy to access, and there are so many new ways now to market ourselves that we didn't have in the past to network and meet people to get our names out there. These are just two of the advantages, for sure, but regardless. Pivoting can be daunting and scary, but it can also open doors to a more exciting future.
Speaker 1:So why pivot? As I see it, there are three main reasons for a career or life pivot. One you want to, as in. You want to pursue something else, for whatever reason, but it's out of choice, not necessity. Two you need to. Your situation is no longer acceptable to you. You just can't do it anymore. Maybe it's taking a toll on your physical and mental health or your family. You need to make a change. And three you have to. You've been pushed out of your job or career. You have no choice but to find a new way forward.
Speaker 1:So, regardless of the why, there are some things you're going to need to do. First, for those that want to pivot, you're going to need to clarify your why. Those that both need or have to pivot already know their why, but those of you who are simply opting for change, you really need to clearly define what you want. What's behind this yearning, and is it enough to fuel you as you go through the rigors and the disappointments of the process of pivoting? For anyone who's making a pivot, there comes a time when, in order for it to have a chance of working at all, you're going to have to fully commit to it. Tipping your toe in the water here isn't going to do anything but test the waters. If you really want to make a change, you need to come to a point where you're all in. So anyone pivoting, but especially anyone who is choosing to pivot rather than being forced to, is going to need true clarity as to why. At this point, you don't need true clarity as to what you will end up doing, but your why must be fully defined and worked out.
Speaker 1:Regardless of your why, you will also need to craft a vision for your what, as in what are you pivoting to? What are you going to do? Let me pause right here, however, to make it clear that the goal of your pivot may change several times before you find the perfect fit. That's natural. Don't be rattled if it happens. One thing I can assure you is that everything you do towards the pivot you think you want will serve as a benefit to the pivot you ultimately make. Don't worry too much about nailing it on the first try. Going outside of a comfort zone may take a bit of practice and a bit of getting used to. Don't be afraid to dream, but also don't be afraid to amend your dream as you amass more knowledge and skills.
Speaker 1:It's important, when crafting your vision, to forget the past. Did you hear that? Forget the past, or should I say, forget past thinking patterns that are going to hold you back, those habits you've gotten into throughout your life, those negative thought processes that you are so comfortable with. You're going to have to forget those. If you're going to make a new you, then you have to also be new. Shed any cognitive distortions from your past existence and think outside the box, way outside the box. Challenge any reasons you might come up with that might hold you back If you hear yourself saying the words I can't, blah-de-blah, because blah-de-blah, challenge it. Or have someone, like a coach, challenge it for you. Why can't you? What would happen if you tried, etc. More than anything, though, be sure to clearly think through and define your values and your priorities. What's really important to you and your priorities what's really important to you? Who do you want to be? These are going to ultimately be the guiding principles as you go towards your pivot. Okay, so you thought through all those things.
Speaker 1:Time to get started on the pivot right? No, wait a minute. We got a few more things to think through first, such as the big one, the elephant in the room. What are the financial ramifications of your pivot right? How will you pay your bills while pivoting? Will you need training or more education, and if so, how much is that going to cost? How much are you willing to financially invest to make a pivot work? Also, what kind of time is this going to take? It could be a few months and it could be a few years. How long is too long? And when do you know if it's time to repivot? If things don't go well, you're going to need to define a clear cutoff point. So once you go through all those steps and you've committed to a pivot, it's time to roll up your sleeves and get to work making it happen. We'll discuss steps you'll need to take right after a quick break.
Speaker 2:Feeling overwhelmed, struggling to find balance in your daily life? At Matt Brooks Coaching, we get it and we can help. With over 25 years of non-profit executive experience and an MSW with a clinical focus, matt Brooks offers personalized coaching designed to help you rise above your challenges and live your best life. Whether you aim to advance your career, enhance your skills or simply find more clarity and peace, matt is here to be your partner and ally. Visit mattbrookscoachingcom to book your free discovery session today. Take the first step towards a brighter tomorrow.
Speaker 1:Okay. So you've made your decision to pivot. You've carefully considered all the factors I mentioned and you're ready. So now, what is your pivot? How do you determine what you want to do Now? At this point, it's still okay if you don't have a clear vision for where you want to end up. It really is. The following steps should help you figure it out.
Speaker 1:Step one lists, lists, lists. You're going to need a lot of lists. You're going to need some paper and a pen because you're going to make several lists. It's time to brainstorm.
Speaker 1:First, take an inventory of your skills and don't be shy about it. This is a list for you, nobody else, so no need to be all humble and shit. Say it like you really mean it. Say everything you want to say. That are your skills, and think broadly. By the way, I'm sure you have more skills than you realize Really.
Speaker 1:Take the time to think through all the tasks that you did throughout the years and find identifiable skills from them. Next, make a list of your strengths all of them. Again, this is a list for you, nobody else, so don't be humble. Write down everything you think is a strength of yours. Try to be honest with yourself too, but just write it all out, no matter how long that was. The longer the better, the better.
Speaker 1:Now make a list of your interests again. Be broad here. Nothing is too silly. If your interests are to go to disney world, write it on the list, it's. It doesn't matter. All the silly things might add up to something later. So write everything you can that you're interested in, whatever comes to mind. You're going to be looking at all of your lists many times and in time I promise you patterns should emerge. So just write as many interests as you can think of. The more the better.
Speaker 1:Next, try to define what type of experience you want to have in your new life. What would your typical day look like, a typical week In an ideal world? What is your daily experience? How would you prefer to spend your day, your time, your energy, what does that look like? Write it all down on paper. Now you get to do what I call some therapeutic venting. Make a list of what you will absolutely not tolerate, what you're no longer willing to put up with, or do A list of non-negotiables shit you are not willing to put up with ever again. This list will contain very important information. I promise that will help guide you in your decision regarding your future path Plus. Like I said, it's extremely therapeutic. So have fun with it and just write down everything. Just be like I'm never doing that again and I'm not doing that again and no way I'm doing you know. Just have a good time with it, but really do it. Write everything out. It's going to help.
Speaker 1:Next step research, research, research, research, in fact, throughout every step of the pivoting process. But now it's really important to research because you're still trying to figure out what that pivot is. What types of jobs are out there? What's the job market like? What skills will you need to hone or acquire, and where can you get those skills? How much time and expense will that be? If you're thinking of starting a business, well, there's a mountain of things you need to learn.
Speaker 1:Again, get going on the research. In fact, through every step of the way towards your goal, research is going to be key. Be assured, however, that we live in a time where information is readily available and, as I said, easy to access. So just get started doing Google searches and start now. And one last thing Through all of this, please don't forget your values and priorities.
Speaker 1:Be sure to write them on a list too. You do not want to lose sight of them amidst all this other information. So now you've got all these lists, what are you going to do? You're going to study them. You're going to read them several times a day. Just read them over, just glance at them, read them over whatever. Study them. Eventually, patterns are going to emerge, light bulbs are going to start going off, clarity is going to reveal itself. You'll be clear on what you don't want to do, what you'd like to do and what you can do. Once you reach this point, you then are ready to choose a clear path. Please remember, however, that you may still not end up with your chosen goal, because once you start down the path towards that goal, you may find that the path leads you in a slightly different direction, or several different directions as you go. That's totally okay, because whatever you're doing to work on your goal right now will, in fact, serve you in whatever direction it takes. You Trust the process and trust yourself. Trust your instincts. Okay, so now you have a sense of direction. It's both exciting and scary, but you are ready to go. While all that careful thought and planning you've done is important, nothing replaces action and you're ready to act.
Speaker 1:First, accept that this will be a steady march, not a run. Focus only on forward momentum and be slow and steady. There is no fast track here. It's going to take a lot of work and you're going to have to be discerning about what work to do when. Don't take on too much. The key is forward motion. Rome was not built in a day. Be methodical, do what you can reasonably accomplish well and then move on to the next thing on your to-do list. Accept that this is going to take some time and be patient. I know very hard to do, especially when you're watching those bills. You know. Ramp up and your savings account ramped down right. I know it's very hard to do, but you got to be methodical here and you got to accept the fact that this isn't going to happen overnight. Again, research Now that you have a clear path.
Speaker 1:Study everything you can about it. Read everything you can find, listen to podcasts and watch relevant YouTube videos. There are plenty of resources available to help you with every step. Go find them and spend the time necessary with those resources. Determine if you need more education and don't be hesitant. I went back to grad school as part of my pivot. Not only was it great intellectual stimuli, it was a kick going back to school after all these years and it was wonderful. It really fired up my brain. So don't be shy about that. Whatever you do, however, just don't stand still. Keep growing, keep moving forward. Keep that forward momentum.
Speaker 1:Now you most likely will need to revamp your brand and update your materials. The key here is to just look as current as possible. This is where you might want to seek a job coach or a life coach to help you do that. Give you feedback, so that you can be as marketable as possible in our world today. You also want to create what's called a bridge narrative.
Speaker 1:So go back to your list of skills and figure out how they are transferable and relevant to your new goal. And, as I mentioned before, when it comes to skills, they aren't just specific to your old job. Think about those skills from a more broad perspective. What do I mean by that? Well, you were in management, say. If you were in management for a long time, you dealt with a lot of people, all kinds of people. You have unique insights into human behavior. That's how I mean. Take a skill that you had and think of it from a broader perspective.
Speaker 1:Okay, you're also going to want to develop an elevator pitch for yourself, and if you don't know what that is just Google elevator pitch. You're going to see tons of stuff come up. You'll find plenty of tutorials about how to make one. It's just a few short sentences that really encapsulate who you are, what it is you're doing. You're going to need one, you're going to have to sell it, and you Encapsulate who you are, what it is You're doing. You're gonna need one, you're gonna have to sell it and you're gonna have to sell you after all. So Get an elevator pitch. Here's one seek mentors. Seek mentors who will guide you and seek peers who will support you. You can't do this alone, nor should you. There's people out there. Use that community around you to help you move forward.
Speaker 1:I just start small, one step at a time. If you want to start a business, for instance, perhaps you begin by researching the legal side of things. Should you register as a DBA or an LLC, for instance? What are the applicable laws and regulations in your state? Or if you're planning on finding a job in another industry, maybe you just start by focusing on revamping your resume. Do one thing at a time. Don't overwhelm yourself. This is going to be a bit of a slow crawl. Start by focusing on revamping your resume. Do one thing at a time. Don't overwhelm yourself. This is going to be a bit of a slow crawl.
Speaker 1:As I said, what's really important is forward motion. It's not a race. Just keep moving. Know that you're going to face obstacles there's no getting around that and also know that the biggest one you're probably going to face is your own self-doubt. Fight that. Believe in yourself. You're your best ally. Go for it.
Speaker 1:None of this is going to come easy. There really aren't any shortcuts here. However, you can do a lot to overcome all the challenges just by your sheer industry, how hard you work and how smart you work. You're going to need to be productive, so creating new daily rituals or new habits will be very important. Work to keep your mindset positive. After all, if you don't believe, who will? And most of all and I know this is going to be preaching, I apologize, but don't neglect your health, both physical, mental and spiritual.
Speaker 1:Since you're creating a new future for yourself, why not start by also creating healthier habits? That would give you the support you need. Get enough sleep, get some exercise, eat well and be sure to have a healthy work-life balance. Think of it this way these are the tools you need in your toolbox if you want to build both resilience and success. Oh and, by the way, don't forget the last one Network, network.
Speaker 1:Network, and not just to the people you know. Get out there and meet new people, attend workshops and conferences. Give a business card to everyone who would take one. The world needs to learn about the new you. That's all for today. I know it was another short one, but I think we got a lot of good information in there. Next week, though, I'm going to get a little heavier. We're going to talk about ageism and pivoting your 50s, what it's like and what to do if you're in that unfortunate position. The numbers regarding workers over 50, or should I say those who are out of work over 50, are astounding. You won't believe it, so be sure to tune in, as always. If you've enjoyed this, please hit the subscribe or follow button and you'll be notified every time I drop a new episode. Thank you so much for listening. Be well, and I'll catch you next time on the Barrier Busting Podcast. Thank you.
