Not the Plan, But Exactly Right: How a Career Pivot Is Rekindling My Confidence

Intro:

Life doesn’t always move in straight lines. Sometimes, the path forward takes a turn you didn’t see coming—and yet, it lands you somewhere you deeply needed to be. That’s exactly what happened when I recently joined an amazing company as their Dealer Support Representative.

If you’ve been following my journey, you know I’ve been in higher education for almost a decade, feeling like my life was passing me by faster than a freight train on caffeine. I had a fine job with all the great benefits, PTO, but no pay and no sense of accomplishment.  So, I started looking for new roles a few years back, and all the while, I began to learn more creative skills both physically and digitally. 

 

The New Start Turned Out to be a Window

I love my new role and the folks I work with, but if I have learned anything at all in the last several weeks, it's that I am still not where I am ultimately supposed to be.  And that is perfectly fine because sometimes, a pivot isn’t the destination.  It is the window that lets you see more clearly where you want to go next.

Just yesterday, I put a post up on Facebook that said, “Ever find yourself doing that hobby you love and think, geee if I could do this every day, I’d be happy? Why do we believe that’s not possible? Why don’t we pursue that?”  And the first response was from one of my long-time, dear friends, Amy.  She very pointedly said, “I’m convinced, conditioning and fear.”  BINGO, Amy!!! 

She’s right.  We have been told to play it safe, stay in our lane, and not want too much or risk being seen as greedy.  But when you start peeling back those layers, conditioning and fear, you realize that the thing you have been craving isn’t impossible at all.  It is just waiting for you to say yes to getting moving.

 

Driving Reflections

I spend a lot of time on the road driving a few times a week.  Copious amounts of driving.  What else can you do when driving but think about anything and everything?  It has been cathartic for me in many ways. Those long drives have become my “thinking time,” where the noise of life gets quiet enough for the whispers of what’s next to be heard.  And in those quiet miles, I’ve realized something: this chapter I am in isn’t random.  Nothing in my life was ever random. It is all part of the plan. 

 

This Pivot Taught Me What I Have Strived to Teach Others in My Past

This role is a reminder that growth doesn’t always come with a neon sign.  Sometimes it shows up disguised as an opportunity that feels “different,” not perfect. But those are the moments that stretch us the most in life.

• You don’t have to burn it all down to make a change.
  I’m not jumping ship and chasing down anything without a plan in place. I’m growing. Stretching. Creating.
• You can honor your past while saying yes to your future.
  My past experiences in education, real estate, and coaching all show up in this new chapter. Nothing will be wasted.
• A pivot doesn’t mean you’re lost. It means you’re evolving.
  Change is not a detour; it’s often divine direction. We don’t always know what we need until it is in our face.

 

GRACE + GRIT at Work (Literally)
This transition has required every bit of the GRACE + GRIT framework I share with others:

• Gratitude for where I’ve been and the people who helped me get here.
• Resilience to show up fully, even when everything feels new.
• Attitude rooted in curiosity and possibility, not perfection.
• Confidence to trust that I bring something unique to the table.
• Excellence in how I communicate, collaborate, and create.

And of course:

• Graceful resolve to embrace the unknown,
• Initiative to jump in and add value,
• Truth in honoring my own alignment and story.

 

Final Thoughts: Change Doesn’t Have to Be Loud to Be Life-Changing

This chapter isn’t flashy or headline-worthy. But it’s real. It’s honest. And it’s mine.

If you’re reading this and feeling like your own career (or life) path is shifting—lean in. The pivot may not make sense to everyone else, but if it feels expansive, if it lights a little spark inside you… pay attention.

This new role reminded me of something I’d forgotten: You don’t have to know exactly what you’re looking for to find something that feels right. And even though it is not the perfect fit, it has given me the clarity I needed to plan for what my heart truly desires.

 

Proverbs Say What We Don’t Know How To Say

I did not know it until recently, but here is my favorite, most fitting Proverb to my life:

For the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in the trap. Proverbs 3:26.

To me, this means that even when the path feels uncertain or winding, I can trust that every step, even the ones that don’t seem to “fit,” is guided.  I just need to keep listening.

Final Thoughts . . . . for now :)

If you’re standing at your crossroads wondering if it’s too late, too risky, or too “out there” to start again, let my story remind you that pivots are powerful. They wake us up. They shift our perspective. And they just might be the bridge to the life you’ve been quietly craving.

What’s the one change you’ve been scared to make but can’t stop thinking about? Maybe this is your sign.