Career Pivot? Start with Vision, Not Just a Job Title

Start by creating a Career Pivot Vision

I still remember the rush of excitement when I first opened my calendar and saw… nothing. Completely blank.

After over a decade of back-to-back meetings, calls, and double-booked days in my tech leadership life, that empty space felt like freedom. Finally!

But it didn’t last.

I love learning, and I became curious about how to heal myself. Soon, my calendar filled up again—with research, wellness courses, and figuring out what’s best for my body and my family.

And then there was the mom guilt.

I'd worked in a startup environment while my little baby was in daycare. So I thought: “Now that I’m home, I should homeschool him.”

And I did. For three intense months.

I love my son dearly, but homeschooling a toddler—with chronic back pain—was humbling, exhausting, and honestly not sustainable.

The funniest moment? One day, he looked at me and asked:

“Mama… where are people my height?”

That’s when I realized I had created a new version of overwhelm.

I was living a vision driven by guilt and overcompensation—not one aligned with my energy or reality.

Here are 3 grounded lessons I learned during that real-life pivot:

Pivoting your career—or reimagining your life—isn’t just about updating your résumé or making a bold exit. It’s about crafting a vision that’s rooted in your energy, aligned with your values, and sustainable for the season you’re in. One that honors both your inner truth and your real-life responsibilities.

1. Start with who you want to be—not just what you want to do.

I wanted to be present for my child. But that didn’t mean I had to homeschool and spend every waking second with him.

That version of “presence” came from guilt—not from understanding my energetic needs or what sustainability actually looked like.

Get honest about the qualities you want to embody—not just the job title, schedule, or checklist. A clear vision starts with a grounded identity.

2. Give your vision permission to evolve

As you heal, reflect, and learn what truly brings you joy, calm, and confidence, your vision will shift. And that’s a good thing.

The clearer you become about your energetic patterns and values, the more refined your vision gets.

So give yourself permission to explore, experiment, and pivot again as needed. It’s not failure—it’s feedback.

3. Check in on your values—they change too

In your 20s, maybe money, hustle, or titles were top priorities. Maybe you were fine on 3 hours of sleep, with no kids or health concerns.

But if your life looks different now, your vision should too.

Pause and check in:
What matters to you now?
Is your current path aligned with that?

Whether it’s rest, purpose, family time, creativity, or contribution—design your vision from who you are today, not who you used to be.

Moving from confusion to clarity during your pivot

If you’re in that foggy place where nothing feels “right” yet, that’s not failure—it’s transition. Remember: clarity comes from connection—to yourself, your energy, your life.

That’s why I use the Energy Leadership Index (ELI) to help leaders in the midst of a pivot. It’s not another personality test—it’s a map of how you show up, especially under stress.

In The Eucalyptus Energy Experience, we take the ELI assessment and deep dive into a 90-minute debrief. Think of it as an energy audit: what’s draining you? what lights you up? And most importantly—what pivot feels aligned with your truest self?

If you’re ready to feel lighter, clearer, and more confident about your next move, this could be the first aligned step in your pivot journey.