The Art of Pivoting: How to Use Planners and Journals to Handle Life’s Detours

This past year has been such a tough year for everyone. Very few people remained untouched by the changes that come with a pandemic.

I have read posts and comments on social media about how 2020 has stolen the joy out of planning. Everyone is pretty traumatized by having their plans derailed and goals postponed.

But, there is a concept that has been helping me, and it’s one that I have used before but didn’t really have a name for it. That is pivoting.

A lot of folks are talking and writing about pivoting this year, and for good reason. Pivoting is something entrepreneurs and companies do when they have to change course.

Even though the word is a mainstay in business, this concept is just as helpful when applied to our every day lives and the challenges we face. And, of course, I am a firm believer that using planners and journals can help us when times get unpredictable.

What does pivot mean?

For those of us who are fans of the show, Friends, we may think of the word pivot as something you do when moving an unusually large couch up a flight of stairs. But, the word actually has a couple of different meanings that are helpful when life requires us to take a detour.

According to Merriam-Webster, a pivot can be a noun, such as a “shaft or pin on which something turns.” And, it can be a verb: “the action in basketball of stepping with one foot while keeping the other foot at its point of contact with the floor.”

Now, I’m not usually one to use sports analogies, but this one is pretty helpful. Even the noun definition brings a good image to mind. When we pivot, we are changing direction, but we remain centered and grounded.

In business, pivoting is rooted in that second definition. Businesses that decide to pivot and change direction, do so while remaining true to their core values, message, and mission.

The same can be true for our personal lives. We need to be flexible enough to change our short-term goals and direction while staying true to ourselves and our long-term goals.

How to know when it’s time to pivot?

I think businesses have it a little easier when it comes to figuring out whether a pivot is needed. Basically, if sales are down, the company is not growing, or money is being lost, something needs to shift to keep the business alive.

But, for people, it can be a little more complicated. Don’t worry. I have boiled it down to two main types of signs that you need a change. And, I have some personal examples I will share with you.

Two types of signs you need to pivot:

1. Your gut is telling you. We all know what this means. And, even though there are times we want to ignore the little voice inside of us that is telling (or screaming at) us that things are not working and we need to change direction, all the signs are there. Those might include:

• A sick feeling in your stomach when you think about the direction of your life or circumstances.
• Feeling generally unhappy about or unsatisfied with your circumstances (not to be confused with clinical depression, which requires seeking help).
• Trouble sleeping at night (because of worry) or getting up in the morning (because you dread facing your situation).
• Daydreaming about or wishing for a different life, job, etc.
• Any other sense you may have, on a deep level, that you are not where you need to be.

2. The universe tells you. What I mean by “the universe” are the circumstances and things that are completely out of your control. Sometimes things happen or the proverbial door closes. For example, this pandemic came out of nowhere, stalling and cancelling a lot of people’s plans. These are often the most frustrating, since you didn’t get to choose having to pivot; life chose it for you.

My own experiences with pivoting:

I went to college with a plan to become a lawyer, specifically a child advocate. And, I stayed on that path all the way until I graduated law school. Here are some of the many pivots I’ve had to make since then:

-My husband decided he wanted to return to his home state to get a graduate degree, so I had to change plans and apply to take the bar exam in that state. It also meant, I had no job connections, so my first pivot was to get licensed and find work in a new place.

-Shortly after taking and passing the bar, 9/11 happened, and all the jobs dried up. So, I pivoted and applied for jobs I hadn’t planned on pursuing, including a clerkship with the federal court.

-My clerkship ended and I had loans to pay. There went the goal of child advocacy (which doesn’t pay enough to pay off those loans), and I went to work for a firm where I got a lot of experience and paid off a hefty chunk of those loans.

-I was an associate at the firm for a few years before I became a mom. I figured I would have my baby and work my way up the partnership track. But, after that little guy was born, I found myself wanting more time with him. My next pivot was to leave the firm (and the partnership track and the salary) and take a more flexible job with the federal public defender, which just happened to allow me to work with folks who experienced the kinds of circumstances that made me want to be a child advocate. They were the kids I wanted to work with, just grown up.

-I started as a research attorney with the FPD’s office but thought I would eventually transition to a litigator position. Then, my daughter’s illness was diagnosed, and I realized I needed the flexibility of my current position. Although there was no official movement, it was my career goals that pivoted. I decided to stay in research and writing and to go for an adjunct professor position where I now teach a night class in the spring at a local law school.

-The pandemic hit in the middle of a semester where I’m working on cases, managing our office’s interns, and teaching a class. All of a sudden, I had to pivot in terms of my day job (creating a virtual intern program), my evening job (learning to teach on a virtual platform), and homeschooling my kids, who didn’t have classes for weeks while the schools figured out how to get them online and learning.

Looking back on my life, it’s been a lot of pivoting. Some has been from my own internal realization that things are not working for me, while other times it was life that threw the curve ball. (Yes, another sports analogy.)

Having some experience with this, I can tell you that pivoting is not easy, but each time I’ve done it, I have been really grateful for the changes I made. Each pivot is a chance to learn and grow. I also managed to stay true to my core values and goals.

Obstacles to overcome and how to shift your mindset

The first thing I will say about pivoting is that it involves change. Even with one foot planted firmly in our core values, a pivot means things have to be done differently.

Some of the things we used to do before, we now cannot do. Other things we’ve never done before (and may be intimidated to try) we now have to tackle and even master.

Obstacles

The way to get pivoting is to acknowledge and move past some of the obstacles we face when needing to pivot. Here are a few of the main ones:

Resentment. It is so frustrating to have to make changes, especially if we are comfortable with the status quo. I find that the best way to overcome my resentment is to first accept the situation for what it is. That includes validating any feelings I have about it (if it sucks, it sucks). After accepting things for how they are, my next step is to figure out what is in my control that will make me feel like I’m doing something positive about the situation.

Fear. When people say they don’t like change, what they really mean is that they fear it. Usually, it’s a fear of the unknown. Or, it may be a fear of failure, especially when the pivot was a product of something not having worked. The best way to overcome fear is to face it head on and reassure yourself that things have a tendency to work out. Also, remind yourself that failure is a great learning tool.

Being invested. Another obstacle to pivoting may be that the course you were on before was one you put a lot of time and effort into. It could be a business you’re running that you are reluctant to close. Or, if it’s a career, you may not want to give up all the benefits you’ve accrued over the years. The question you need to ask is whether the change you realize you need outweighs whatever you’ve invested in the prior venture. If the change is truly necessary and is more likely to bring you better results in the long run, that can help you to let go of the prior endeavor.

Shame. Another obstacle to pivoting is the shame we may feel by admitting that things were not going well. A pivot might be the result of poor decisions or a risk that we took that didn’t pay off. We may feel that pivoting might let the world know that we didn’t get it right that first time. Keep in mind that no one is perfect, not everything works out, and every successful person in existence has gotten to where they are by learning from their failures and mistakes. Shame will only hold you back.

Shifting the Mindset

Usually, the need to pivot is just that- a need. It is sometimes necessary to make changes, especially when your gut or the universe is telling you that things cannot stay the same. Here are some ways to change your mindset and overcome the mental obstacles that keep us from pivoting:

See the benefits of the alternate route. You know the old saying, “where one door opens . . .” Well, it’s true. Each time you make changes in how you are living your life, you are invariably going to open yourself up to new opportunities and experiences. Moreover, the whole reason you need to pivot is because whatever you were doing before wasn’t working. So, clearly, it wasn’t meant to be, which means something else may be that right thing.

Consider the pivot a minor detour. At least, take this approach at first. If your heart was truly set on that former path that has somehow been foreclosed, it may just be that this is a minor detour. In other words, there is more to be done to prepare for the previous goal to become a reality. So, if you didn’t get the dream job, focus on building skills and knowledge now that will get you there later. You don’t have to give up on your dreams entirely. Again, do what you can with what is in within your control.

View it as a growth opportunity. Most companies pivot as a means of promoting growth and staying current in their market. We can do the same. When things don’t work out, we can use it as an opportunity to learn new things and grow. Perhaps this situation is a test of your desire and determination to reach a goal. It may be that you are going to have to really think outside the box to get to where you want to be. That journey may be what gives you confidence in yourself and makes the outcome more satisfying.

In other words, stay positive. Things often happen for a reason, and our decision to see the good in things is what will be the difference between being defeated and successfully pivoting.

Areas of life we may need to pivot

Pivoting is something that can be helpful in nearly every area of life. As I noted in my personal share above, I have had to pivot in my career, my family life, and even where I live. And, I’m sure I will be pivoting in other life areas in the future.

Here are some of the areas where we goal plan and may need to pivot when circumstances change:

Career. This is the area folks think of most commonly when it comes to pivoting. Maybe you lose your job (or your company goes out of business). Or, you may just feel dissatisfied with your current work. I’ve known folks who decide on a career change 30 years into their jobs simply because they realize they only have a few more working years left and they want to try something new. It is also one of the scariest pivots since it usually affects our livelihoods, but it can also be one of the most rewarding, especially if we find work we’re passionate about.

School. Plenty of folks go to school thinking they will major in one area only to end up in another. Or, someone who has been working for years may decide to go back to school. Those kinds of changes represent a pivot.

Families and Partnerships. We can find ourselves needing to pivot due to situations that are within or outside of our control such as the birth of a child, death of a loved one, divorce, or even the relocation of family members. Any major changes in these relationships can require us to reevaluate our place and pivot to meet the new circumstances.

Health– either yours or a loved one’s. Whether it’s our own body requiring a change (such as a new diet thanks to an allergy or weight loss based on the doctor’s advice) or a loved one’s changed health circumstances (a major illness or injury), we will need to pivot and find ways to accommodate these changes.

Mental Health and Self-Care. Sometimes, as was the case for me, our bodies tell us that we are overdoing it. Whether it be stress, untreated trauma, or some other issue, making the time and changes to address these needs may require pivoting.

Budget. The loss of a job or the addition of new income may require us to alter our spending and savings habits. Or, we can choose to pivot as part of new goals to get a better handle on our finances.

Using planners and journals to help you pivot

You know I cannot talk about goals and life changes without mentioning the tools that help me navigate my own goals and circumstances each day.

As I’ve mentioned many times before, I journal daily and use multiple planners (more on that next week) to not only plan out my day to day tasks, but to help me dream about my future. I also use these tools when things don’t seem to be working well in my life to help figure out what needs to change.

Here are some ways to use your journals and planners when it’s time to pivot:

Brainstorming. I love brainstorming. When I sit down with a journal and start to write a list of different ideas, it seems one idea leads to other, often better ones. For a successful pivot, you might try to brainstorm new goals, backup plans should some of the new things you’re trying not work out, or people to contact as resources for your pivot. Consider using a journal that has paper you find pleasing- whether it be the texture of the pen on it or some pretty illustration on the page.

Mind mapping. Once you’ve brainstormed all of your pivot ideas, see if there are any connections between them. At its most basic, a mind map allows you to make a visual model of your ideas, starting with a core concept at the center. Branching out from it are the related ideas and the sub-concepts linked to those. For example, if you are brainstorming a new career, that would be the center of your map. Some of the main offshoots may be education, networking, mentors, and desired workplaces. From each of those, you might figure out the different aspects of each that could help you attain your new career goal. This is another great use for a journal.

Prioritizing. Another lesson to take from businesses that have pivoted is to narrow down your changes to a key few. In fact, most businesses only focus on pivoting one product or aspect of their company at a time. Use another journal page to figure out what the most important changes are that you could make to get yourself primed to make a successful life pivot.

Goal-setting. Of course, setting goals and the habits it takes to reach those goals is key when making changes in your life. Planners are an excellent place to chart out which goals you’d like to attain, and when, along with using habit trackers to establish new routines. You can do this in your main planner or use an intentional goal-setting planner like the PowerSheets Planner I use and recently reviewed here.

Planning. I find that things don’t get done unless I incorporate them into my week. This means putting them in my planner. So, if my pivot involves making calls to potential clients, and the goal is to contact 5 a week, I will list one client per day in my planner so I remember to add them to my daily task list. Color coding can help with this as well. Perhaps you have several pivot-related goals in one month- assign them a color so they stand out in your planner.

Learning to pivot is not something that comes naturally to most of us, but we will all likely have to do it some time in our lives. Given the present time we’re living in, with all of its uncertainty, this is a good a time as any to be thinking about being more flexible with the circumstances in our lives.

By knowing that we are capable of making key changes that may lead to better circumstances, we can develop the sort of resiliency that makes certain companies and individuals more successful than others, especially during times of crises.

Have you had to pivot in 2020? Any lessons to share as we head into 2021? Leave a comment below!

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** Images of arrows, detour sign, and hand with compass found on Pixabay; images of road and turning point sign were found on Unsplash.

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