2 Questions to Ask When Considering a Career Pivot
Some entrepreneurs have it good. They know without a shadow of a doubt the type of business they want to build and go all out until they’ve created their empire. They’re the ones that seem to have it all figured out early on.
But we can’t all be that lucky, my friends. For some of us (aka me), it takes years of building and rebuilding. We have to first go through cycles of creating and re-creating. Maybe it’s because our calling is the journey, or maybe because we’re not designed to do just one thing. To be honest I haven’t figured out the answer for myself yet.
I was ready to quit wedding photography for a long time, but I didn’t trust myself to do it. I didn’t yet have the mentors or support I needed and I wasn’t ready to bet on myself to pivot YET AGAIN. It wasn't until I came out on the the other side of some difficult personal experiences that I was finally ready to "burn it all down" and build the life I truly wanted.
Beyond friends who had gone back to school to study for a new career, I hadn’t really seen anyone transition out of wedding photography.
For years, I searched for a guide but it seemed like there had been no one to show me how it could be done. Over time I found mentors, as well as my own way out of the industry.
So I promised to show others the way. Now that I’m officially done taking on wedding clients and fully feel like I’ve made the pivot I wanted, I want to help you decide if you’re ready too.
If you’re feeling the itch to quit shooting weddings or to even to pivot out of another industry. There are two practical and important questions you need to ask yourself:
The first is this:
WHAT IS TRIGGERING YOUR DESIRE TO QUIT?
In other words, what part of your current career or business is making you miserable?
What are the moments or tasks that make you dislike your job?
Is it feeling like you're in over your head with client communication?
What you need to figure out is whether you’re done with the business you’ve built or just one aspect of it.
Is there a solution to the aspect of your job that's causing you stress?
One of my clients serves nearly 300 clients a year in her photography business. She found that by handing over the task of client communication to a virtual assistant she was able to cut her workload in HALF. That’s when she realized that she still enjoyed photography and didn’t need to change a thing other than the amount of work she outsources.
Is there another part of your business that happens to be the root of your stress? You'd be surprised to realize how valuable outsourcing can be. Whether it's client communication, social media management, editing, or something else, finding someone to carry the load may be the answer you're looking for.
There's no reason to burn your business down when there could actually be an easy solution to what's causing you grief!
On the other hand, if it's the actual work and subject matter (ex: photography and photographing your clients) that's at the root of what's triggering you, it may be time to quit. In that case, keep reading!
QUESTION 2:
WHAT TYPE OF LIFE DO YOU WANT?
Next, you need to ask yourself what type of life you want. And does your current work situation allow you to have it now or in the future?
Take the time to journal what your ideal day and week look and feels like.
What routines do you have?
How do you relax?
How many hours are you working?
What type of work are you doing?
Do you complete the same tasks each day?
Do you spend hours in deep creation?
Do you get to work with others? What’s your ideal working environment?
Let this be a guide to help you identify if your current situation allows you to get there. If not it's probably time to start planning your pivot! Stay tuned for part 2!