The steps I took to change my life (without blowing it up first)

The power of a calculated pivot

Most people think a pivot means going all in, then figuring it out on the way down.

That’s one way, but it’s not mine. I’ve talked before about the list I made that started my pivot. (If you don’t know about that, start here). But now, I want to go into more detail on what came after.

I like to call myself a calculated risk-taker. When I decided to leave my engineering role, I didn’t just leap, but I built a bridge while still standing on the old one. Every move I made had some logic involved, even when it didn’t feel like it in the moment.

Here’s what I did:

Step 1: Place yourself in the environment

Once I had the list, I knew which direction I was headed, but knowing isn’t enough. You have to get into spaces that already have the experience you’re trying to gain.

I went alone to every tech event, creative workshop, and free conference I could find in the Bay Area. During my layoff period, I found my creative community by joining design groups and a creative collective. I even got around people already living the thing I was trying to move toward by taking a part-time job at the Museum of Ice Cream.

Now that one, I know people were confused. Comments like “What are you doing? You have an engineering degree.” were heard often.

But I was strategic about that job. MOIC had a strong brand, startup energy, and people who led with creativity every single day. The role involved hosting or serving ice cream, but my job was to learn and absorb everything around me.

Thinking your way into a new direction isn’t possible; you have to get around people with the mindset you need for your next chapter.

Step 2: Do the work.

Being in the environment isn’t enough. You still have to put in the work.

I took marketing courses, hired a design coach to level up (that was a bit risky with no job), worked with an apparel brand, and did as many freelance projects as I could find to build my portfolio (some went well, others were a good learning opportunity 🙃). I also started creating publicly with a video series, my photography, and online content. All to build my creative muscle.

The reps you do in private build your skill.
The reps you do in public build your evidence.

Step 3: Bring your background with you

A pivot doesn’t mean starting from zero. It means bringing everything you’ve built into a new context.

When I got into these new rooms, sometimes I felt like an outsider. Everyone around me had years of marketing and design experience I didn’t have, so I often felt far behind.

Then I realized that I wasn’t behind; I was just different.

The engineering background that felt like a liability was actually leverage. The skills I learned: problem solving, systems thinking, technical communication, etc., were the things most people in those rooms didn’t have. I knew I couldn’t out-experience them, but I decided to find my lane.

Whatever you’re moving away from, you’re not leaving empty-handed. Your old background could be your differentiated factor, so don’t leave it at the door.

Step 4: Make it visible

If nobody knows you’re pivoting, how can they support you?

A friend referred me for a hybrid marketing and design role. Not because of my resume, but because of past convos and she had been watching me build in public. If I had kept that private, she may have assumed I wasn’t looking for this type of role, and that referral never would have happened.

Tell people what you’re working on and document the journey. Your public work may become more of a referral than your resume.

Step 5: Share your story

One reason I believed a pivot was possible was that I watched people do it. In the Bay, I always saw and heard about people leaving big tech to start their own company or change careers to something different than their norm. That visibility changed something in me; it showed me what I wanted could be real.

So this last step isn’t just about your pivot; it’s about what your pivot makes possible for someone else. You never know how your story can inspire someone who is now in your position.

The full pivot took about two years; finding my stride took a lot longer. (It takes time y’all!)

However, the things you learn, the people you meet, the experiences you gain in that season, they build a mindset that carries you further than you can see from where you’re standing.

The calculated pivot isn’t about having all the answers before you move. It’s about making small, intentional decisions instead of one big jump. Building evidence before you need it and placing yourself in rooms that pull you forward.

Not everyone moves this way, and that’s ok. But if you’re someone who needs a plan before you leap, know that’s a valid approach too. It just requires more than thinking about it.

You gotta move, and keep moving.