embracing your career pivot.

There is a saying, ‘It is a woman’s prerogative to change her mind’, yet when we do, especially when it comes to our careers, it is often perceived negatively. Inconsistent, unreliable, flighty.

My question is, why do we need to know what want to do in 3 or 5 years time?

The simple answer is that we don’t.

However, to show ambition, we are often forced to show that we are hyper-focused and only want to do and be one thing.

The funny thing though, is that one element of the equation that is forgotten is growth. The one element that propels us to new territories, to explore different career paths and helps us to hopefully discover our purpose.

As someone who has pivoted, there can be nothing so scary, moving into a new world and in many ways leaving the other one behind or at least initially. At the beginning there is the no (wo)man’s land, where people who know you from your role before, will begin to challenge your pivot. It isn’t malicious, but they have most likely not been party to your growth. They might not be able to see and understand your vision. Then there is the other world, where you are the newcomer in a new space, where there are eyes scrutinising you and measuring you by existing benchmarks.

A pivot is not easy at the beginning even if you are driven by conviction. It is my overwhelming conviction, that I was in exactly the spot I needed to be in, that motivated me to keep going.

Changing direction is recognition that the path you are currently on is not the right one. Many women are scared to pivot because they don’t want to be seen as failures, but pivoting is brave, but also embracing success.

So, to anyone who is reading this who is unsure, trust me, you will not regret it.