Pursue Your Pivot: R.I.P. To The Old Me

A word …

Around this time, six years ago, I unexpectedly lost my mother. It still seems surreal. My mom worked for 35+ years in a career she loved, but with people she didn't care for. She had a lot of plans for her life after retirement but passed away within two years of doing so without checking those boxes.  

I don't want that for you! I don't want that for me! 

Seeing that play out is one reason why I focus on Black women pivoting into their brilliance and creating a life they love starting TODAY. As long as life is, it is short, and time seems to move at increasing hyperspeeds as I get older. Do you feel like that?

So, take this as a sign to not wait until "the right time" to pivot and pursue your dreams. Let's start now and figure it out as we go. 

Continue to Rest in Power, Mommy! 

Along the same vein of grieving the loss of a loved one, this week, I want to dive into a topic that many of us may have experienced but rarely talk about from what I've seen – the loss and emotional journey of professional pivots. 

When a large part of our identities are tied up in what we do, when we embark on a new path, whether it's transitioning to a new role, starting our own business, or exploring a different industry, we often find ourselves grieving who we used to be professionally. 

So, why do we experience this grief? It's because those roles and titles are not just labels. They represent years of hard work, dedication, and accomplishments. And letting go of those titles, roles, and prestige we worked so hard to achieve in our previous endeavors can feel like starting from scratch, leaving behind a familiar identity, and stepping into the unknown.

They are symbols of our expertise, recognition, and status in our respective fields, and losing them can feel like losing a part of ourselves. This loss of identity can trigger feelings of grief, uncertainty, and even self-doubt.

For me, there was a period (although short because I was over my profession, lol) where I wondered who I was, if not a CPA, the career I'd built for 15 years!

Here's the thing: grieving is a natural and necessary process. It's okay to mourn the past while embracing the pivot and the future. Acknowledging these feelings of loss and honoring the journey that brought you to this point is important for your emotional well-being and resilience.

So, how can you navigate this transition and emerge stronger, more confident, and empowered during your pivot series? 

For me, ripping the bandaid off worked best. I cleansed my LinkedIn, generalized my resume to be more transferable, and let everyone know that I left the profession to help myself let go of Eboni, the CPA. I also took a break to decompress and mentally distance myself from my past profession by brainstorming my next steps and just resting.

While this was my process, you have to find what works for you, and that, in and of itself, can be a journey.

If you are going through your professional grief journey or find yourself in that position in the future, here are some actionable steps you can take to navigate the process:

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings: Allow yourself to feel and process the emotions that come with professional pivots. Whether it's sadness, uncertainty, or excitement, acknowledging and accepting these feelings is the first step toward healing and growth.

2. Reflect on Your Why: Reconnect with your purpose and motivation for making this pivot. What inspired you to embark on this new journey? What are your goals, aspirations, and dreams for the future? Keeping your why front and center can help provide clarity and motivation during challenging times.

3. Celebrate Your Achievements: Take stock of your accomplishments and milestones from your previous professional endeavors. Celebrate the skills, experiences, and lessons learned along the way. Recognizing your strengths and achievements can boost your confidence and resilience as you navigate new challenges.

4. Seek Support: A theme that you may have noticed in Pursue Your Pivot's editions is cultivating a supportive community, and this week is no different. Surround yourself with peers, friends, mentors, and family who understand and validate your journey. Share your feelings, concerns, and aspirations with trusted confidants who can offer guidance, encouragement, and perspective.

5. Embrace A Growth Mindset: Cultivate a growth mindset that embraces learning, adaptability, and resilience. Challenges are opportunities for growth and development. So, embrace the continuous learning, evolution, and self-discovery journey, and know and accept that you are worthy of all the blessings coming your way!

6. Set Realistic Expectations: Professional pivots take time, effort, and patience. Set realistic expectations for yourself and the transition process. Focus on progress, learning, and incremental improvements rather than perfection or immediate results. Things don't happen overnight, regardless of what Instagram highlights try to tell you.

7. Stay Flexible and Open-Minded: Be open to new opportunities, experiences, and possibilities that may arise during your professional pivot. Stay flexible and adaptable to changes, feedback, and evolving circumstances. Embrace the adventure of exploration and discovery. I started down one path after I left the accounting profession and eventually shifted to nonprofit consulting because I was open to trying new things.

Parting Thoughts …

Remember, professional pivots are not about starting over. They're about transformation, growth, and becoming the best version of yourself professionally. So, embrace the journey, honor your past, and step boldly into the future.

As always, I would love to hear from you. Is there any other guidance you would give other women grieving their former professional selves? Reply to this email and let me know.