Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One

“Looking to make a career change? Pivot is a book you will turn to again and again.”—Daniel H. Pink, author of To Sell Is Human and Drive

If you've got the perfect job or business, congratulations. But if you are even a little bit uncertain that your current gig is the right one, it is time to start thinking about your next move. In the new world of work, it's the only move that matters.
 
What's next? is a question we all have to ask and answer more frequently in an economy where the average job tenure is only four years, roles change constantly even within that time, and smart, motivated people find themselves hitting professional plateaus. But how do you evaluate options and move forward without getting stuck? Jenny Blake's solution: it's about small steps, not big leaps—and the answer is already right under your feet. This book will teach you how to pivot from a base of your existing strengths.
 
Pivoting is a crucial strategy for Silicon Valley tech companies and startups. Jenny Blake—a former training and career development specialist at Google who now runs her own company as a career and business consultant and speaker—shows how pivoting can also be a successful strategy for individuals looking to make changes in their work lives, whether within their role, organization or business, or setting their sights on bigger shifts.

When you pivot, you double down on your existing strengths and interests to move in a new, related direction, instead of looking so far outside of yourself for answers that you skip over your hard-won expertise and experience. It empowers you to navigate changes with flexibility and strength—now and throughout your entire career.

Much like the lean business principles that took Silicon Valley by storm, pivoting is the crucial skill you need to stay agile, whether or not you are actively looking for a new position.

No matter your age, industry, or bank account balance, Jenny's advice will help you move forward strategically. Her Pivot Method will teach you how to:

· Double down on existing strengths, interests, and experiences. Identify what is working best and where you want to end up, then start to bridge the gap between the two.
· Scan for opportunities and identify new skills without falling prey to analysis paralysis or compare and despair. Explore options by leveraging the network and experience you already have.
· Run small experiments to determine next steps. Do side projects to test ideas for your next move, taking the pressure off so you don't need to have the entire answer up front.
· Take smart risks to launch with confidence in a new direction. Set benchmarks to decide when the time is right to go all-in on your new direction.
 
Pivot also includes valuable insight for leaders who want to have more frequent career conversations with their teams to help talented people pivot within their roles and the broader organization.

No matter your current position, one thing is clear: your career success and satisfaction depends on your ability to determine your next best move. If change is the only constant, let's get better at it.

1123315612
Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One

“Looking to make a career change? Pivot is a book you will turn to again and again.”—Daniel H. Pink, author of To Sell Is Human and Drive

If you've got the perfect job or business, congratulations. But if you are even a little bit uncertain that your current gig is the right one, it is time to start thinking about your next move. In the new world of work, it's the only move that matters.
 
What's next? is a question we all have to ask and answer more frequently in an economy where the average job tenure is only four years, roles change constantly even within that time, and smart, motivated people find themselves hitting professional plateaus. But how do you evaluate options and move forward without getting stuck? Jenny Blake's solution: it's about small steps, not big leaps—and the answer is already right under your feet. This book will teach you how to pivot from a base of your existing strengths.
 
Pivoting is a crucial strategy for Silicon Valley tech companies and startups. Jenny Blake—a former training and career development specialist at Google who now runs her own company as a career and business consultant and speaker—shows how pivoting can also be a successful strategy for individuals looking to make changes in their work lives, whether within their role, organization or business, or setting their sights on bigger shifts.

When you pivot, you double down on your existing strengths and interests to move in a new, related direction, instead of looking so far outside of yourself for answers that you skip over your hard-won expertise and experience. It empowers you to navigate changes with flexibility and strength—now and throughout your entire career.

Much like the lean business principles that took Silicon Valley by storm, pivoting is the crucial skill you need to stay agile, whether or not you are actively looking for a new position.

No matter your age, industry, or bank account balance, Jenny's advice will help you move forward strategically. Her Pivot Method will teach you how to:

· Double down on existing strengths, interests, and experiences. Identify what is working best and where you want to end up, then start to bridge the gap between the two.
· Scan for opportunities and identify new skills without falling prey to analysis paralysis or compare and despair. Explore options by leveraging the network and experience you already have.
· Run small experiments to determine next steps. Do side projects to test ideas for your next move, taking the pressure off so you don't need to have the entire answer up front.
· Take smart risks to launch with confidence in a new direction. Set benchmarks to decide when the time is right to go all-in on your new direction.
 
Pivot also includes valuable insight for leaders who want to have more frequent career conversations with their teams to help talented people pivot within their roles and the broader organization.

No matter your current position, one thing is clear: your career success and satisfaction depends on your ability to determine your next best move. If change is the only constant, let's get better at it.

28.0 Out Of Stock
Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One

Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One

by Jenny Blake
Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One

Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One

by Jenny Blake

Hardcover

$28.00 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    Temporarily Out of Stock Online
  • PICK UP IN STORE

    Your local store may have stock of this item.

Related collections and offers


Overview

“Looking to make a career change? Pivot is a book you will turn to again and again.”—Daniel H. Pink, author of To Sell Is Human and Drive

If you've got the perfect job or business, congratulations. But if you are even a little bit uncertain that your current gig is the right one, it is time to start thinking about your next move. In the new world of work, it's the only move that matters.
 
What's next? is a question we all have to ask and answer more frequently in an economy where the average job tenure is only four years, roles change constantly even within that time, and smart, motivated people find themselves hitting professional plateaus. But how do you evaluate options and move forward without getting stuck? Jenny Blake's solution: it's about small steps, not big leaps—and the answer is already right under your feet. This book will teach you how to pivot from a base of your existing strengths.
 
Pivoting is a crucial strategy for Silicon Valley tech companies and startups. Jenny Blake—a former training and career development specialist at Google who now runs her own company as a career and business consultant and speaker—shows how pivoting can also be a successful strategy for individuals looking to make changes in their work lives, whether within their role, organization or business, or setting their sights on bigger shifts.

When you pivot, you double down on your existing strengths and interests to move in a new, related direction, instead of looking so far outside of yourself for answers that you skip over your hard-won expertise and experience. It empowers you to navigate changes with flexibility and strength—now and throughout your entire career.

Much like the lean business principles that took Silicon Valley by storm, pivoting is the crucial skill you need to stay agile, whether or not you are actively looking for a new position.

No matter your age, industry, or bank account balance, Jenny's advice will help you move forward strategically. Her Pivot Method will teach you how to:

· Double down on existing strengths, interests, and experiences. Identify what is working best and where you want to end up, then start to bridge the gap between the two.
· Scan for opportunities and identify new skills without falling prey to analysis paralysis or compare and despair. Explore options by leveraging the network and experience you already have.
· Run small experiments to determine next steps. Do side projects to test ideas for your next move, taking the pressure off so you don't need to have the entire answer up front.
· Take smart risks to launch with confidence in a new direction. Set benchmarks to decide when the time is right to go all-in on your new direction.
 
Pivot also includes valuable insight for leaders who want to have more frequent career conversations with their teams to help talented people pivot within their roles and the broader organization.

No matter your current position, one thing is clear: your career success and satisfaction depends on your ability to determine your next best move. If change is the only constant, let's get better at it.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781591848202
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date: 09/06/2016
Pages: 288
Product dimensions: 6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Jenny Blake is a career and business strategist and international speaker who helps people build sustainable, dynamic careers they love. She pivoted from studying political science and communications at UCLA to become the first employee at a political polling start-up in Silicon Valley. She then moved to Google, where she spent over five years in training and career development while also writing her first book, Life After College. Jenny left Google in 2011 to take her consulting business full time. A San Francisco native, she now lives in New York City.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Pivot is the New Normal 1

Piviot or Get Pivoted 4

Changing Careers in the Age of the App 8

Connect the Dots Looking Backward 10

Pivot Method at a Glance 13

High Net Growth 18

Career Operating Modes 23

Trust Your Risk Tolerance 25

Two (Many) Steps Ahead, One Step Back 29

Stage 1 Plant 33

Plant Overview 35

Chapter 1 Calibrate Your Compass 39

What Are Your Guiding Principles? What Is Your Happiness Formula?

Create Your Compass 40

Identify Your Happiness Formula 46

Your Body Is Your Business 47

Reduce Decision Fatigue 49

Meditate to Activate Your Best Instincts 50

Chapter 2 Put a Pin in It 53

What Excites You Most?

What Does Success Look Like One Year from Now?

Avoid the Tyranny of the Hows 55

Vision Cloudy? Start Somewhete 56

Clarify Your Vision Statement 60

Summarize Knowns and Unknowns 62

Chapter 3 Fuel Your Engine 65

What Is Working? Where Do You Excel?

Identify Your Strengths 67

Work-History Highlights 70

Chapter 4 Fund Your Runway 75

What Is Your Timeline? How Can You Earn Extra Income?

Build a Solid Financial Foundation 76

Pivot Finance 101 77

Income-Anxiety Seesaw Awareness 84

State 2 Scan 87

Scan Overview

Chapter 5 Bolster Your Bench 91

Who Do You Already Know? Who Can Provide Advice?

What Can You Give in Return?

Expand Your Sphere of Influence 93

Build a Network of Collective Brainpower 94

Career Karma: Seek Reciprocal Success 104

Chapter 6 Bridge the Gaps 107

What Skills and Expertise Will Take You to the Next Level?

Mind the Gap 108

Learn How to Learn 108

Limit Linear Thinking 111

Investigative Listening 114

Be Discerning About Your Learning 119

Chapter 7 Make Yourself Discoverable 123

How Can You Add Unique Value and Build Visibility?

Define Your Project-Based Purpose 124

Platform and Leverage 125

Revel in the Work Others Reject 130

Leapfrog: Work Backward from Two Moves Ahead 130

Let Others Know You Are Looking 133

Stage 3 Pilot 139

Pilot Overview 141

Chapter 8 Get Scrappy 143

What Small Experiments Can You Run?

What Real-World Data Can You Collect?

Aim First for Quantity, Not Quality 145

What Makes a Strong Pilot? 146

Incremental Pilots Within Organizations 152

Reduce Risk with Redundancy 153

Travel Pilots to Shake Up Stagnant Thinking 157

Chapter 9 Pause, Review, Repeat 161

What Worked? What Didn't? What Could You Do Differently?

Pause and Review 163

Take Incrementally Bigger Risks 164

Stage 4 Launch 169

Launch Overview 171

Chapter 10 Build First, Courage Second 173

When Will You Make the Big Move?

What Are Your Linchpin Decision Criteria?

Identify your Launch Timing Criteria 174

Pivot Hexagon 183

Know When to Hold Versus Fold 186

Your Gut Has a Brain 192

Pivot Scales: Comfort Versus Risk 194

Chapter 11 Flip Failure 197

What Will Move You into Action?

Rejection as a Stepping-Stone to Success 200

Mine Failure for Strengths 201

You Can't Make Everybody Happy-So Stop Trying and Start Living 202

Separate Decisions from Difficult Conversations 205

Don't Wait for Perfect Conditions 207

How Do You Know Your Launch Worked? 209

The Continuous Pivot 211

Stage 5 Lead 215

Lead Overview 217

Chapter 12 Are You Listening? 219

How Can You Facilitate Engaging Career Conversations?

Your Interest Matters More Than You Think 221

How to Use the Pivot Method Within Organizations 226

Pilot Creative Internal-Mobility Programs 229

Conclusion: Celebrate Complexity 235

Checking in at the Last Resort 237

The Courageous Life 238

Afterword: What Happens After You Pivot? 241

Acknowledgments 249

Post Pivot: Online Resources 255

Pivot Method Quick Reference 257

Launch Criteria Checklist 259

Resources for Companies 261

Pivot 201: Recommended Reading 263

Notes 265

Index 271

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews