PIVOT

by Jenny Blake, a former career development programme manager

THE PROMISE

A guide for people who want a career change but are too scared to go for it.

THE REALITY

Although Jenny uses some terrible graphs, I like her. The book is like life homework. You need a pen and paper with you, and you need to be up for drawing ‘life wheels’. It’s not one for the tube. The book begins with a series of quotes: ‘I think I’m going crazy’, ‘I just can’t do this any more’ and ‘Will I ever be happy?’ Oh! I think Jenny understands me – that’s exactly how I felt before quitting. Then Jenny tells me, ‘This book is not a rallying cry for quitting your job.’ Whoops – already done it, Jenny. Now what? The idea behind ‘pivoting’ (determining your best next move) is focusing on positives: what things are already working and what does your perfect future look like? This is a really important attitude shift: when you’re unhappy, you can spend a long time listing all the things you can’t do.

THE RESULT

She makes me feel good about my choice. I quit based entirely on a feeling and, looking at my life through the methodical lens of Pivot, I know I was right about that feeling.

THE TOP TIP

Let people know you’re looking for a career change – they might just be able to help.