The Art of the Pivot

Many of us entered the new year with a different mindset. We desire to be more productive, successful, and better managers of our time. Planners, to-do lists and goal setting are now a part of our routines. Our vision boards are done. The roadmap for the next 12 months is clear. Three months into 2023 and we are on track to conquer the year. We feel unstoppable.

But what happens when things do not go as planned? Do you have a backup strategy, or two? Are you prone to stressing out if your day has an unexpected plot twist? We have all had times when a perfectly planned out day goes off-course. Maybe it begins to rain right before your picnic. Or it is possible the decorator got sick the morning of your wedding. What if an investor pulled out right before the launch of your new business? Worse day ever, right?

Well, it does not have to be. An important part of blossoming into the best version of yourself is being able to pivot. To pivot is to quickly turn and change directions when there is a sudden roadblock. Sure, the unplanned agenda may not be pleasant. It may require you to reevaluate and choose other options. However, it does not need to ruin your moment. It is not the end of the world. You can still have a successful outcome. It all depends on one thing: if you mastered the art of the pivot. Here is how you can become a pro.

Be Prepared

You could be organizing your day, month, or entire year. You have a list of tasks that need to be done and actions needed to achieve the goals. During your planning stages, you should also include being mentally or physically prepared for the “what-ifs”. Have an additional blueprint in mind if the original idea does not pan out. Even better, have multiple backups handy in case one does not work.

Being prepared enables you to reach your goal no matter what happens. When something catches you off guard, you can still get the job done with plan B. The best part is this can be applied to your smallest plan or biggest dream. Is a bad storm threatening your pool day? A prepared person has already picked out a movie or a good book to enjoy the day inside. Did coffee spill on your report on the way into the office? An equipped individual would have extra copies on hand. Like a wise person once said, “if you stay ready, you never have to get ready”. Amen to that.

Be Flexible

If 2020 did one thing right, it taught us how to be flexible. The biggest curveball was thrown our way that year.  The normal routines of life were tossed out of the window. The pandemic was something we could not really prepare to experience.  For times such as this, your ability to be flexible is mandatory to have a good turnout. Being flexible means your mind is open to different possibilities. You are not stiff in your willingness to find another way to do things. This is necessary to keep going and making progress.

We had to find another way to work, learn and socialize. Basically, we had to find another way to live. For those of us who were flexible, we adapted to the new way of life. For others, the world stopped and may still be on pause as they are waiting for “normalcy” to return. To pivot successfully, we need to be agile to turn at any given moment. Once you develop this skill, no obstacle can throw you off balance.

Be Cool

Whether a big or small incident, our reaction to any changes could make or break the outcome of the original plan. Negative responses such as anger, frustration and defeat usually lead to a lack of productivity, an undesirable result, or both. Do not get me wrong. We are human and we are allowed to feel these emotions when something does not go right. Sometimes the monkey wrench thrown into our plans is so big and disruptive, we must start from scratch, and that can be overwhelming. However, we should not reside in the negative mindset. We waste time being upset instead of recalculating the new route we must take.

If your birthday party is not off to the wonderful start you envisioned, take a quick moment to release the appropriate emotion, deeply inhale, and move on to plan B. Pivot to the bag of “what-ifs” and pull out a solution to the problem. If you cannot do that, be flexible and go with the flow. Tell yourself you are going to have a good time on your special day, no matter what happens. Keeping your cool not only maintains your peace and happiness but provides you with a clear mind to come up with a new scheme. A positive reaction to an unpredictable mishap will result in a win regardless.

To accomplish it all and dominate 2023, we need to be able to quickly change courses when things do not go as we expect. Even if the outcome is not as you imagined, you will reach your goals with lessons learned. Do not let a hiccup destroy your day, month, or year. Do not allow your dreams to be crushed by an unparalleled event. The best year of your life can still be the best year of your life, no matter what occurs. Once you master the art of the pivot, you will get things done. One way or another.