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I think we've gone through about four strategies of things to do.
But I was intrigued by something you said which was to,
to know how to avoid common mistakes.
What do you see as common mistakes that people make in career transitions?
>> Yeah. So, I mean, the first is,
we talked about it be realistic.
>> Hm. >> I mean, A, this is not easy.
B, it can take time.
>> Mm-hm.
>> You may fail.
You may go down a path that doesn't work.
So, you have to regroup.
>> Mm-hm.
But you've gotta, you've gotta know that you're gonna make it,
it's gonna be okay, but you've gotta be realistic about it.
And you know, very closely connected, is be patient.
>> Right. >> Because it can take time.
>> That's a hard one, sometimes.
>> You know, lightning could strike and it does.
>> Right. >> But more likely,
you're gonna have to navigate this and figure it out, and
give yourself enough time and enough space to do it.
And that's why, you know,
project work is actually an interesting way to keep yourself busy as you go
through this because oftentimes that can turn into something that you don't expect.
>> Right.
Right.
Well, and also it seems like there is a phrase that you've used
several times that I've always liked, which is embrace the serendipity.
>> Right. >> Is that opportunities may come up,
you may not be ready for them or even- >> Right.
>> Want them, or you may not
think you want them- >> Right.
>> But you really should embrace them.
>> Right. And you know, it's we, there,
there are sort of three things that are connected.
You know, A, you've gotta be realistic, you've gotta be patient, but
you've also got to roll up your sleeves.
>> Yeah. >> You may have to take a step back.
You may have to do things that feel uncomfortable.
>> Right. >> But again,
you're trying to forge a way into something new.
>> Right. >> And so, like anything new,
you know, it's going to feel a little uncomfortable.
You're going to have to do some things.
Also, we always talk about the importance of teamwork, which is,
of course, important.
>> Mm-hm.
>> When you're pivoting, you have to think of yourself as a new, a new worker,
a new employee, and you want to figure out how you can make an individual impact.
You wanna show that you can make a contribution.
And you wanna make it in a way that lets people understand this is gonna work.
>> [LAUGH] And be the team player,
but also be very clear on what you're bringing.
>> Right. >> To personal value.
>> And, and then, the serendipity is just- >> Something that you've
always said that I like.
>> It, it, you know.
>> [LAUGH] >> It, it's actually, as I said, the,
the career that is pivoting, is gonna be unique to everybody.
>> Mm-hm. >> And so one of the reasons that
you want to be fluid and opportunistic is, you know, I look at my own career.
I could never have written down law to investment banking to government to,
you know, media to venture capital.
>> Mm-hm. >> You know, you would never have
seen that.
>> Right. >> It's a combination of following what
you're interested in, but being nimble, and when the opportunity comes up.
So, media's a really good example, and this is kind of another thing for
career pivots that I think people should just keep in mind.
I got a opportunity to go into media precisely because I knew nothing about it.
>> [LAUGH] >> And
it was a situation where there had been an attempt to create a, a new market, and
the people who knew a lot about that market were very rigid in their thinking.
And they said, I know how to do this, and of course, it's a new market.
>> Right. >> So sometimes
knowledge can be an obstacle.
>> Right.
Right. >> Not not a plus.
So they- >> So
they glad, they were glad you were clueless.
[LAUGH] >> They were glad I didn't
know anything and so again, you know, you, that's being nimble.
>> Mm-hm. >> Like I didn't expect
that I could walk into an opportunity in media cuz I knew nothing about media.
>> Right. >> I had no media in my background.
I got lucky.
>> Right. >> Found something that was.
And so, it's just keeping your eyes open, being receptive-
>> Mm-hm.
>> To things that you hadn't thought of, but that might work.
>> Mm-hm.
>> And trying them.
>> Oh, the other thing is, I would say,
I don't wanna, you know, skip over is the, get your hands dirty.
>> Yes. >> Now, you may,
if you're making a clear transition or pivot,
you may have to do something that you, you may think was below you, or
that you- >> Right, exactly.
>> That you, your, your skills were beyond.
>> Exactly. >> But you, you do it.
>> You do it because you know where you're going.
>> Right. >> And you know, the thing that's
interesting about this whole area is we're talking a lot about what an individual
needs to do- >> Mm-hm.
>> To be successful in a career pivot.
Employers now have to think more broadly- >> Right.
>> About people's career and how to evaluate that,
because it's not gonna look like it's always looked.
>> Right.
>> And so the ability to understand that people are pursuing different different
things at different times and to be able to assess and evaluate the quality of that
individual, even though it's a lot harder- >> Yeah.
>> Than it used to be when you said, okay, they advanced up in 2.6 months.
>> Right, right.
>> And so I think it's a new skill for- >> For employers.
>> Employers too, to be aware that this happening at the rate that it's happening.
And to adjust their own expectations and skills honestly in order
to recognize the great talent that's out there that is pursuing a different path.
It really does feel like a new normal.
>> I think we are going to see more and more people who both, again, by choice or
by happenstance, are finding themselves looking to make a career pivot.
And I think they should feel excited about that opportunity and
excited about where it might take them.
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