Pivot

Pivot Plot Summary

Introduction

Change is the only constant in today's economy. Jobs that seemed secure vanish overnight, while opportunities in fields that didn't exist a few years ago suddenly emerge. In this environment of constant flux, the ability to pivot—to make purposeful shifts in new, related directions based on what's already working—is no longer optional; it's essential. Many of us were raised to believe in linear career paths: choose a direction, climb the ladder, retire. But the modern workplace demands nimbleness and adaptability. When you hit a career plateau or sense the ground shifting beneath your feet, the solution isn't to start from scratch or make a blind leap. Instead, it's to pivot intelligently by doubling down on existing strengths while scanning for new opportunities. This book offers a methodical four-stage process to navigate these career transitions with confidence rather than crisis, turning potential disruption into your greatest opportunity for growth and fulfillment.

Chapter 1: Plant Your Strengths and Values

The foundation of any successful pivot begins with understanding what's already working in your life and career. Unlike traditional career advice that focuses on "fixing weaknesses," pivoting starts by identifying and leveraging your existing strengths and core values. Consider Jenny Blake's experience at Google. After five years in training and development, she felt the initial excitement of her role fading. Rather than immediately jumping ship, she took inventory of what energized her: coaching, public speaking, and creating frameworks that helped others navigate career decisions. These strengths became the cornerstone of her pivot, first internally at Google (moving from AdWords training to the career development team), and later as she launched her own business. This inventory process is what Blake calls "planting" – establishing the firm ground from which all your moves will spring. The process involves calibrating your internal compass through clarity on your values, like freedom, impact, or security. Amy Schoenberger, a PR professional, realized during her plant phase that her core values included creative expression, collaboration, and continuous learning. This clarity helped her leverage her existing PR expertise while pivoting to a new focus on social media strategy. To begin your own planting process, create what Blake calls a "career portfolio" – an assessment of your marketable skills, work history highlights, zone of genius (where your talents and passions intersect), and reputation capital. This isn't just resume fodder; it's identifying the transferable strengths that will carry you forward. For example, Joanna Bourke leveraged her business background when pivoting into food entrepreneurship, applying her project management and operations experience to launching a cooking business. A critical part of planting involves financial preparation. Kyle Durand, who pivoted from military service to entrepreneurship, advises calculating your "monthly nut" (essential expenses) and determining your "runway" (how long your savings could sustain you). He emphasizes building bridge income – work that provides stability while you explore new directions. This might mean consulting, part-time work, or a strategic side hustle that leverages existing skills. The Plant stage concludes with articulating your one-year vision – not a rigid five-year plan, but a clear picture of what success looks like in the nearer term. Gillian, Blake's sister-in-law, envisioned a flexible work environment that kept her physically active and positioned her for future family plans – clarity that guided her pivot from law to yoga studio management.

Chapter 2: Scan the Horizon for Opportunities

Once you've established your foundation in the Plant stage, it's time to widen your perspective and explore possibilities. The Scan stage is all about structured exploration – researching new skills, expanding your network, and identifying opportunities that align with your strengths and vision. Shawn Henry's FBI career demonstrates the power of effective scanning. Over 26 years, he pivoted 13 times within the organization, each time expanding what he calls his "sphere of influence." Rather than following a traditional promotion path, Henry strategically moved into emerging areas that matched his strengths and interests. When repeatedly passed over for field desk roles, he scanned the horizon and spotted an opportunity in computer investigations – a nascent field in 1999. Though not a programmer, Henry saw how his investigative skills could transfer to this new domain, becoming an early cybersecurity expert and eventually rising to executive assistant director before pivoting again to become president of a cybersecurity startup. Scanning involves building what Blake calls a "network of collective brainpower" – mentors, peers, and advisors who can provide insight and support. One approach is seeking "one-off mentors" for targeted conversations rather than awkwardly asking strangers for long-term mentorship. Monica McCarthy, while pivoting from acting to event production, began hosting monthly dinner salons called Cheshire Parlour, connecting interesting people around big ideas. These gatherings not only expanded her network but ultimately led to a custom role at Holstee that perfectly matched her community-building talents. A crucial element of the Scan stage is becoming "discoverable" – making yourself and your interests visible so opportunities can find you. Daniel Kelleghan, a photographer pivoting from corporate work to creative pursuits, built his Instagram following by consistently posting high-quality, artistic photos. When Instagram featured him on their suggested user list, his following exploded from 7,000 to over 100,000, attracting clients like Audi and Warby Parker who began reaching out to him rather than the other way around. To scan effectively, embrace "investigative listening" – putting your ear to the ground to detect patterns and opportunities. Marques Anderson used this approach while pivoting from NFL football to international development work. In his travels to over fifty countries, he immersed himself in local communities, letting them guide his understanding of their needs rather than imposing his own solutions. This listening stance helped him create the World Education Foundation, which now implements health, education, and sports initiatives in developing nations. The Scan stage should also include bridging knowledge and skill gaps. Adam Chaloeicheep, after leaving his role as a creative director due to burnout, used his scanning period to identify the skills he would need for his goal of becoming a chief experience officer. This led him to Parsons Business of Design program, which became a strategic "leapfrog" move that ultimately enabled him to launch his own brand strategy firm. Remember that scanning isn't aimless browsing – it's strategic exploration guided by your Plant-stage foundation. As Casey Pennington discovered while pivoting from accounting to IT, simply making her interests known to her managers positioned her for opportunity when a temporary assignment arose. "Because I had laid the groundwork to let my managers know I was interested," she says, "they recommended me for the project."

Chapter 3: Pilot Small Experiments

With your foundation established and potential opportunities identified, the Pilot stage is where you begin testing your ideas in the real world. Rather than making dramatic leaps, you conduct small, low-risk experiments to gather data and validate your direction before committing fully. Jerry Seinfeld's creation of "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" exemplifies the power of piloting. After his iconic sitcom ended, Seinfeld didn't make a radical career change; instead, he pivoted about 90 degrees. He combined his existing passions – comedy, cars, coffee, and casual conversation – to create a web series. "It just seems like the Internet is screaming at artists to be creative," Seinfeld explained. He started small, using the first season as a pilot, then refined the style and production value as the audience grew and sponsorship increased. By season seven, the show had evolved into a successful business model, proving his hypothesis that web TV could be profitable. Piloting effectively means starting small and focusing on quantity over quality initially. Pamela Slim, author and business coach, tested the viability of a new workshop concept by simply asking her readers which cities they'd like her to visit. The enthusiastic response from over a hundred people led to a four-month tour across North America, reaching over a thousand entrepreneurs. This real-world experiment validated her desire to pivot from online business coaching toward community-building programs, with minimal upfront investment. Thomas Frank's YouTube channel growth illustrates the incremental nature of effective piloting. He began with simple, low-production videos expanding on his college advice blog. His first experiments had poor lighting (desk lamps after a custom light nearly caught fire) and no script. He tested different formats, including a video mixing academic topics with Tony Hawk skateboarding moves. Another pilot involved creating a six-minute summary of a popular one-hour lecture, which became his third most-viewed video with over 100,000 views. Each experiment provided data on what resonated with viewers, guiding his next steps. To run your own pilots, look for experiments that meet three criteria: they connect to your existing strengths, start small, and offer asymmetric upside (more potential gain than loss). Ryan White (a pseudonym used initially) wanted to create a Bondage course for couples but wisely tested the concept in stages. Instead of quitting his day job as a business consultant, he created a simple landing page and free PDF guide to gauge interest, planning to develop a full course only if early feedback was positive. This low-risk approach allowed him to discover that while there was market interest, he personally preferred integrating this knowledge into his existing work rather than pivoting completely. Seth Marbin's GoogleServe initiative demonstrates how to pilot within an organization. Rather than proposing a massive company-wide program immediately, Marbin started by recruiting a small volunteer team to launch a week of service projects. In the first year, they engaged 3,000 participants across 45 offices. The pilot's success led to expansion (doubling participation the second year), and eventually to Marbin's full-time role focused on Google's philanthropy efforts. After completing a pilot, evaluate it using what Blake calls the "three E's": Did you Enjoy doing it? Are you gaining Expertise in this area? Is there opportunity for Expansion? Casey Pennington discovered through her virtual assistant side hustle that while she enjoyed working with entrepreneurs, she preferred consulting with multiple businesses rather than working for just one. This insight led her to refine her next pilot: adding additional clients and developing systems to serve them, which ultimately prepared her for running her own consulting practice.

Chapter 4: Launch with Courage

After reducing risk through the Plant, Scan, and Pilot stages, the Launch phase represents the definitive move that completes your pivot. It's the moment when you pull the trigger on the final 10-20% of your transition, making the bigger commitment that your pilots have prepared you for. Tricia Krohn's story illustrates the transformative power of a well-prepared launch. Despite having "done everything right" throughout her career—climbing the corporate ladder to reach her "dream job" in banking—Tricia found herself deeply unhappy. After working through her own version of the Pivot stages, she became increasingly clear that teaching English was her true calling. Though leaving banking security was daunting, Tricia's preparation gave her confidence to make the decision: she would return to school, bridging her income by working as a restaurant server and substitute teacher. "My life has been a dream since quitting," she says. "I still have ups and downs but I am not unhappy with life, I always have something to look forward to." The key to a successful launch is identifying your personal launch timing criteria. For some, like Brian Jones (a pseudonym), this means setting a firm date-based deadline. After a decade climbing the ranks at a large technology company, Brian decided he would leave after the holidays, regardless of whether he had another offer in hand. His financial preparations gave him runway for at least a year of exploration. For others like Tom Meitner, financial benchmarks drive launch timing. When Tom's wife asked what it would take for him to leave his unfulfilling customer service job, he mapped out specific criteria: making a list of 300 potential clients and securing at least $2,500 in monthly work. Within three weeks, he had surpassed his goal with $3,000 in monthly income, giving him confidence to launch his freelance copywriting business. Gut instinct often plays a decisive role in launching. Peter Carr realized his "dream job" in sports video production wasn't sustainable when he found himself working 80+ hours weekly. "I knew I was at a pivot point because I was miserable, and my body was telling me what my mind didn't want to accept," he says. For Peter, physical cues—seeing the stressed lifestyle of colleagues and his own health signals—were the tipping point that prompted his move toward entrepreneurship and a more balanced life that honored his values of health and travel. A critical aspect of launching is addressing the fear of failure that naturally arises. Blake suggests reframing how we define failure itself. Beyond financial setbacks, true failure might include "not giving something my best effort," "failing to act in my own best interest," or "not trying something new based on irrational fear." When Dave Ursillo's book on personal leadership didn't achieve the success he hoped for, he mined this "failure" for insights about his strengths. He discovered his true passion was for writing itself, not leadership theory, which led him to create a thriving online community for writers—turning his initial disappointment into a more aligned opportunity. Launching often requires difficult conversations with others, from family members to bosses. Blake recommends separating the actual decision from the conversation about it. When her client "Sadie" struggled with giving notice at her job despite being clear she wanted to start her own business, they worked through this separation process: first clarifying her decision based on gut instinct, then preparing how to express it clearly, and finally determining when to have the conversation. This separation gave Sadie tremendous relief and confidence to move forward. Remember that courage follows action, not the other way around. As Jeff Bezos notes in his "regret minimization framework," the greatest failure is often not trying at all: "I knew that when I was 80, I was not going to regret having tried this... I knew that if I failed, I wouldn't regret that. But I knew the one thing I might regret is not ever having tried."

Chapter 5: Build Your Support Network

The journey of pivoting is rarely a solo endeavor. Creating a robust support network can make the difference between an isolated struggle and a successful transition filled with connection, insight, and opportunity. Monica McCarthy, an actor pivoting into event production, discovered the power of community through her monthly Cheshire Parlour salon events. These gatherings connected interesting people around big ideas, expanding her network while showcasing her natural talent for facilitating meaningful conversations. When interviewing for an office manager position at Holstee, Monica mentioned these events to the founders. They had coincidentally been considering creating an events coordinator role—a position that hadn't even been advertised. This network connection led directly to her "events impresaria" role, hosting dinners and workshops that perfectly matched her strengths and vision. Strategic networking isn't about collecting business cards or making desperate grabs for favors. It's about developing mutually beneficial relationships that energize both parties. Shawn Henry, who pivoted multiple times within the FBI before becoming a cybersecurity executive, expanded what he calls his "sphere of influence" by connecting authentically with peers throughout his career. "People always say it's a small world. That doesn't just happen," Shawn notes. "The world becomes smaller when you increase your circle and make that happen." Blake identifies several key elements for building an effective support network. "One-off mentors" provide targeted guidance without the pressure of formal mentorship. Tom Blake (Jenny's brother) used this approach when pivoting into real estate. He approached an accomplished investor he admired and offered to help manage his properties without pay for a few months in exchange for observing his operations. This shadowing arrangement led to a full-time role managing the investor's properties for two years, providing the foundation for Tom's commercial real estate career. "Friendtors"—friends who can also mentor professionally—offer ongoing support and accountability. Lora Koenig, who pivoted from product management to the Peace Corps, found that connecting with like-minded peers online provided crucial emotional support during her transition. "While people I knew at my job and in my city would say they didn't understand why I wanted a change, my online peers were saying, 'It's okay to feel like this,' and 'It's your life.'" Formal mastermind groups provide consistent structure for accountability and brainstorming. Blake describes setting up regular calls with one or two friends doing similar work, with dedicated time for check-ins, focused brainstorming on specific challenges, and identifying next steps. When Alexis Grant and Blake were writing books simultaneously, they created a shared daily writing tracker. This accountability system motivated them to write consistently even when not feeling "inspired," resulting in the first time Blake had written daily in eight years of blogging. Adam Chaloeicheep's pivot from burned-out creative director to graduate student at Parsons demonstrates how support networks create redundancy during transitions. Though moving to New York with just $5,000 of savings remaining was risky, Adam found that the structure, connections, and mentoring he received in school created a safety net. He maximized this support by tying school projects directly to his emerging brand strategy business, building a team of fellow students that quickly generated six-figure revenue—all before graduation. Career karma—the principle that helping others comes back to you—powers the most effective networks. Lisa Danylchuk, a psychotherapist, calls this "reciprocal transformation," where one person's growth becomes another's. Blake herself experienced this when struggling with her business direction post-Google. By pausing her self-focused brainstorming and instead asking her readers what challenges they faced, she gathered insights from hundreds of minds rather than just her own, leading to the creation of an online community that became central to her business model. To build your own support system, identify five to ten people from different spheres who could provide diverse perspectives on your pivot. Schedule conversations focusing on learning rather than selling. Ask open-ended questions about their career journey, and listen for insights that might apply to your situation. Follow up with genuine appreciation, implementing their advice where relevant, and look for ways to add value in return.

Chapter 6: Embrace Failure as Feedback

The fear of failure looms large during any pivot, often becoming the biggest obstacle to taking action. Yet reframing how we view failure—seeing it as invaluable feedback rather than final judgment—can transform it from paralyzing force to powerful catalyst. Shawn Henry's FBI career demonstrates how rejection can become a stepping stone to unexpected success. After being passed over for four consecutive supervisor roles despite being the most qualified candidate, Shawn was dejected and questioning his future. When a position opened as chief of the computer investigations unit—a field where he had no formal training—he took a chance, pitching his ideas about applying traditional investigative techniques to online crime. This pivot, born from repeated rejections, led him to become the FBI's "cyber guy," representing the U.S. government in international cybersecurity forums and eventually pivoting to become president of a cybersecurity startup. "It is about keeping doors open, constantly persevering, and having confidence and faith in yourself," Shawn reflects. "Just because these circumstances didn't work out it is not a judgment on you as a person; there are other opportunities around the corner." His story illustrates that what feels like failure in the moment often redirects us toward more aligned opportunities we couldn't have anticipated. Dave Ursillo's experience shows how to mine disappointment for hidden strengths. When his book on personal leadership failed to gain traction, Dave was watching his bank account dwindle in New York City's expensive East Village. Rather than seeing this as a complete failure, he examined what was actually working—even if it represented only a small percentage of his current activities. He discovered that what he truly loved and excelled at was writing itself, not writing about leadership theory. More importantly, he noticed that many readers wanted to write their own books but were hitting roadblocks. Working with Blake, Dave developed a plan leveraging this insight: creating a supportive community for writers called Literati Writers, with regular calls and critiques. Starting with a modest $20 monthly membership fee, the group evolved over two years into a premium offering at $225 per quarter. By viewing his book launch not as a failure but as market research, Dave turned disappointment into a thriving business that better aligned with his strengths and audience needs. Separating decisions from difficult conversations can help overcome fear of others' reactions. When Tricia Krohn decided to leave banking to become a teacher, she worried about disappointing her family and colleagues. She tackled these concerns through meaningful conversations, first with her daughter (who became enthusiastic) and then her parents. Though expecting disapproval from them about giving up a secure job with benefits, they surprised her by saying, "Go for it!" At work, rather than the scorn she anticipated, her decision inspired colleagues, many saying, "Wow, I wish I was brave enough to do what you are doing." Tara Decoda's rejection story reminds us that obstacles often reveal better paths. After being rejected twice by Glamsquad, an on-demand beauty services company, Tara declared, "If you can't join 'em, beat 'em," and launched her own company, Blow On The Go. She later added a line of natural hair products called Bare Mane, eventually pivoting again to focus on lash extensions. Each rejection and adjustment helped her refine her business model and establish herself as a beauty expert across multiple services. To develop your own failure resilience, Blake suggests listing your MIPs (Most Important People)—those who "would help you move a body." When you face criticism or setbacks, focus on what these core supporters would say rather than getting distracted by negative voices. Also consider how you define failure personally—beyond financial setbacks, what values-based criteria matter most to you? This clarity helps distinguish between actual failure and temporary discomfort that accompanies growth. Remember Jeff Bezos's insight about his decision to build Amazon: "I knew that when I was 80, I was not going to regret having tried this... I knew that if I failed, I wouldn't regret that. But I knew the one thing I might regret is not ever having tried." The greatest failure is often not taking the risk at all.

Chapter 7: Create Your Continuous Pivot Cycle

In today's rapidly changing economy, pivoting is not a one-time event but an ongoing cycle of adaptation and growth. The most agile professionals have internalized this process, transforming it from a crisis response into a proactive career strategy they return to throughout their working lives. Christian Golofaro and John Scaife exemplify this continuous approach. After working as commodities traders on Wall Street for five years, they felt unfulfilled by the daily pressures of buying and selling. Seeking more meaningful work, they pooled their resources to start SpringUps, an urban farming business in Brooklyn that grew pesticide-free produce year-round. Their pivot was methodical: they set a predetermined runway of two years—one year for exploration and decompression, followed by one year to launch and expand the business. They established clear make-or-break markers, defining that SpringUps needed to show profitability or a promising revenue trajectory after their first full year in operation. What's particularly instructive about their story is what happened next. Although SpringUps landed major retail clients and showed promise, after a year they realized the business wasn't the right long-term fit for their strengths and financial goals. Rather than stubbornly persisting due to sunk costs, they pivoted again. John, who had studied probability theory in college, returned to trading, this time focusing on developing algorithms using the Python programming language. Christian moved into technology sales, leveraging his interpersonal skills while creating more stability as he prepared for marriage and family. Neither regretted their urban farming venture—it provided valuable decompression time, learning experiences, and clarity about their true strengths and goals. They saw each pivot not as a failure but as a natural evolution, recognizing that "their careers will be ever shifting from this point forward, fluid enough to meet their growth-oriented lives." The continuous pivot cycle often reveals that everything in your past has been preparing you for your next move, even if you couldn't see it at the time. Jennie Nash, who pivoted from being a "mid-list writer" to a thriving book coach, reflected: "It turns out that everything I have done in my life prepared me for what I am now doing. I just had no idea it was happening." Her previous experiences as an author, UCLA writing instructor, and editor all converged in her new role, though the connection only became clear in hindsight. To maintain this continuous cycle, regularly return to the four Pivot stages: Plant by reassessing your evolving strengths and values; Scan by staying curious about emerging opportunities; Pilot by running small experiments to test new directions; and Launch when the data and your intuition align. This process works not just for major career changes but also for smaller projects, role adjustments, and ongoing professional development. Blake's own path illustrates this continuous nature. After pivoting from Google to her own business, she experienced multiple smaller pivots within entrepreneurship—from focusing on her first book to building an online community, developing workshops, and creating the Pivot Method itself. Each adjustment built upon previous work while responding to changing market conditions and her evolving interests. The Pivot Method becomes most powerful when internalized as a mindset, not just a one-time process. It helps you approach change with curiosity rather than fear, viewing each transition as an opportunity to refine your direction. As Blake notes, "Operating this way is the adventure and privilege of a lifetime. And it is from this place that we can turn our full focus outward and make the impact on the world that is waiting for us." Amy Schoenberger, who pivoted within her PR firm to become a social media expert, put it succinctly: "If you don't know what you want to do next and you are feeling stuck, do the work no one else wants to do. It may lead you to a surprising and rewarding answer about what you like, what you are good at, and where you can differentiate from everyone else in your industry."

Summary

Life in today's economy demands continuous evolution. The four-stage Pivot Method—Plant, Scan, Pilot, Launch—offers a structured approach to navigating these changes with confidence rather than crisis. By starting with what's already working, exploring options methodically, testing ideas through small experiments, and launching with preparation and courage, you transform uncertainty from threat to opportunity. As Joseph Campbell writes, "People say that what we're all seeking is a meaning for life... I think that what we're seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonances within our innermost being and reality, so that we can actually feel the rapture of being alive." Your next pivot isn't just about changing jobs—it's about aligning your work with your deepest values and strengths to create that sense of aliveness. Today, identify one small pilot experiment you can run in the next week—a conversation with someone in a field that interests you, a mini-project that tests a skill you want to develop, or simply writing down your strengths inventory. Remember that pivoting isn't about dramatic leaps but meaningful steps in a continuous journey of growth and impact.

About Author

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Jenny Blake

Jenny Blake is an author, podcaster, and keynote speaker who loves helping people move from friction to flow through smarter systems, powered by Delightfully Tiny Teams. Her third book, Free Time: Lose The Busywork, Love Your Business, launched March 22, 2022 and won seven publishing awards, including the Pencraft Award for Literary Excellence and the New York City Big Book award.Jenny’s previous bestselling book, Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One, won the Axiom award for best business book in the careers category upon its release in 2016.Jenny hosts two podcasts with over two million downloads combined: Free Time for small business owners, and Pivot with Jenny Blake for navigating change. After working at a Silicon Valley startup, then at Google for five years in coaching and career development, Jenny moved to New York City in 2011 to launch her own business, where she still lives with her husband (a fine artist) and their angel-in-fur-coat German shepherd. She loves yoga and buys too many books. Learn more at http://jennyblake.nyc

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