Take 4 steps for a successful career pivot

Jenny Blake's recipe for avoiding blind leaps and analysis paralysis

Jan 21, 2025

Screenshot of Ross Geller from Friends commanding his buddies to pivot as they attempt to move his sofa through a stairwell — Jenny Blake is probably a better coach than Ross for your career pivot

Front cover of Pivot by Jenny Blake — Click the cover image to go to Bookshop.org, where you can select a local bookstore to support. Your online order will be filled directly by their distributor, and the full profit from your purchase will be sent to your bookstore of choice.

In Pivot, the former career development manager at Google reveals how to methodically make your next career move by doubling down on what’s already working for you.

“Career pivots can stretch us to our maximum capacity, and often even a bit further, but they do not have to be debilitating. Working through the 4 Pivot stages will help you avoid extremes on the risk spectrum: neither taking a blind leap, nor analyzing yourself into the ground by overcalculating every step,” said Jenny Blake.

STAGE 1 of PIVOT METHOD: PLANT. “Plant by creating a foundation from your values, strengths, and interests, and your 1-year vision for the future. The primary goal of the Plant Stage is grounding,” according to Jenny Blake.

STAGE 2 of PIVOT METHOD: SCAN “The aim of this stage is structured exploration, which involves research, plugging knowledge and skill gaps, having conversations, and clarifying what types of opportunities interest you most,” according to Jenny Blake.

“You will harness serendipity by expanding your network and exposure, while being mindful not to scan so much that you fall into analysis paralysis or compare and despair,” said Jenny Blake.

STAGE 3 of PIVOT METHOD: PILOT “After identifying potential opportunities…you will likely have several hypotheses about what to pursue. Instead of betting big on any one, it is best if you can pilot–reduce risk by conducting small tests–then expand upon what is working to launch in the most promising direction,” according to Jenny Blake.

“Piloting is critical because it gets your momentum snowball started. Small pilots will help you get unstuck, without the pressure of having to figure out all the answers up front,” said Jenny Blake.

STAGE 4 of PIVOT METHOD: LAUNCH “The first three steps of the Pivot Method, repeated as many times as necessary, help reduce risk and give you a greater chance of success, often taking you 80 to 90 percent of the way toward your goal. Launch is when you pull the trigger on the remaining 10 to 20 percent,” according to Jenny Blake.

“Do not expect courage to rain down from the sky before you make a move. It comes from taking action. Courage will not arrive in full before your launch; it will appear afterward, when the confidence from making a life-changing decision settles in,” said Jenny Blake.

In the olden days, moms used to clip articles from newspapers for their kids if they thought it was something they needed to know. I’m keeping an eye out for things that you might have missed that may be helpful to you.

This week’s clips:

Even the psychologist who founded The Happiness Lab struggles with perfectionism. In this podcast episode, Dr. Laurie Santos talks with a fellow recovering perfectionist about evidence-based strategies for fighting self-criticism and embracing self-acceptance. Or you can quick-read the five tips suggested for combatting perfectionism.

In ‘The Joy of Connections,’ a book published shortly after her death at 96, one of America’s best-known sex therapists, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, offered practical strategies for anyone feeling lonely. Read or listen to five tips from Dr. Ruth to feel more connected.

“What are my career goals?” can be a hard question to answer when you’re just getting started in your career. Someone who stood in your shoes not so long ago suggests 15 examples of long-term career goals worth striving for.

Last fall, writer/artist Becky Blades predicted that no matter how the election turned out, half of America would be unhappy–and she was right. She shares practical ideas about how to fast-forward resetting your happiness if you’re not thrilled with the change in presidential administrations this week.

Is ‘People Pleasing’ giving you money problems? Spending money to avoid conflict or gain social acceptance can ruin your finances. Some self-reflection and support from professionals can help turn things around. Read or listen to how to fix things.

Things Your Mom Should Have Told You

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