Pivot

Hopefully, when you read that title, you heard Ross Gellar yelling “Pivot!” in your head. If you didn’t, we’re definitely of different generations.

When I chose my career pathway (a Psychologist) one reason I chose it was because of its consistency and predictability. I looked at all of the other Psychologists around me. They had been doing their jobs for a very long time, and weren’t going anywhere. You know the old adage about how and when tenure track positions open up in academia… So, I boldly strode into academics thinking I had found my lifelong career, and I was happy.

And for the first 12 years or so, it was stable. Then, the changes began. Moving institutions for a different job, moving institutions because one closed (!) and finally, trying something new (instructional design) and then trying something new again (e-learning design). It has been a whirlwind 10 years. I never expected to leave the safety net of academics, let alone leave it and start my own ID contracting business. But, here I am.

I sat thinking yesterday about changes and pivoting in my career. Something I didn’t think was part of my vocabulary when I was younger. I guess I didn’t become older and set in my ways…I became older, perhaps wiser, and more willing to try something new. That doesn’t mean it hasn’t scared the pants off me. But, I’ve had some amazing mentors who’ve been my cheerleaders and believed in me no matter what obstacles seemed to stand in my way.

So, today I work in my home office, for some awesome contracts where I get to stretch my skills and apply my Psychology in ways I never dreamed. I wonder what comes next?