13. When in Doubt, Pivot Careers
13. When in Doubt, Pivot Careers
The skills you make are yours to keep
I love hand-tossing pizzas. I work the dough by hand, toss it up high, and catch it in a spin.
It's a very dramatic process. Way more fun than using a rolling pin -- and it actually works to make the pizzas big and round.
The best part? I got paid to learn how to do it.
Another bonus: it gets flour all over your kitchen and your clothes.
Each career pivot leaves behind a sticky but useful residue
More people than ever are changing careers or looking to start something on their own.
Am I describing you? If so, I’d love to connect.
I’ll show you how to use writing to:
rediscover yourself as a creative being
move towards something new
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First, a story
Flashback:
Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Stephen: age 19.
Stephen's car: a sky-blue 1978 Chevrolet pickup.
Pizza place: "Now hiring."
I went inside and asked to see the owner.
I asked what they were paying.
I made a face.
He said, "We're also looking for managers, someone who can work nights."
I was interested.
He was making pizzas as we spoke. Hand-tossing them, adding toppings, sliding them into the oven.
We had the interview right then and there.
He asked me about my experience. He showed me how things were done.
I started work later that week. Keys in hand, this 19 year-old was the night boss.
In a college town, a pizza place is a great place to be.
I went in for work at 9pm, got home at 3:30am. I had class at 9am.
I learned how to do the characteristic dough toss.
I loved being responsible for everything. Not that I was a shining example of a manager. We had knife-toss contests into the pizza boxes in the back. Hey, it was closing time at a pizza place in a college town. I wanted to recognize excellence in dexterity.
I worked there for quite a while, and it went really well. Then I quit so I could study abroad for a phase.
I can still hand-toss pizzas.
Another example
When I was in high school, I worked at a small municipal airport. Most of the time, I was the only one there, which meant I was responsible for things well beyond the usual for a 17 year-old.
Like directing traffic or changing the oil in a jet engine.
When I was alone at the airport and faced with a difficult situation, I had to figure things out for myself.
I drove huge trucks and towing equipment. I even flew and landed a plane (not solo).
When it was time to move and go to college, I quit that job. But if push came to shove, I can still do those things.
Do it fully, then move on
My job while I’m alive is to get to know myself.
For me, part of what constitutes a rich life is to have deep experiences, whether or not it "goes anywhere."
Pro tip: Almost nothing really goes anywhere. Behold! You have emerged into a rambunctious and noisy world, and someday, you'll make your exit.
While you're here, plenty of people will try to sell you their script for a successful life.
"Scripts for sale! Scripts for sale! A successful life means two cars, two kids, an underperforming 401k, and a mortgage!"
Don't buy those, write your own.
Don’t know how? Just start somewhere. It’s OK to pivot later.
To invent yourself, reinvent yourself
Accept that there will be changes of direction and sometimes rough transitions.
You have two options: open or close.
Opening means engaging. Find something that can catalyze the spark that needs to be fed.
You don’t need to find the answer. You just need a catalyst that will take you in a more interesting direction.
Recently, I've started pushing my fitness. That has done wonders for my writing.
Catalyst comes from the Greek "down" / "dissolving." A catalyst is something that loosens the bonds. A catalyst speeds up a reaction without itself being consumed or changing.
It's so liberating to tell yourself, "I'm committed 100% to doing this now. Not forever. It's not "me." But, for right now, I'm putting myself into it."
You get what you want by overcoming your limitations.
When you plateau, something's stuck somewhere.
To find the flow, you need a catalyst activity.
You're a musician, and you hit a plateau: Study math. Study geometry. Dive into it and see what it does.
You're a writer and hit a plateau: Learn to code. Study engineering principles. See what it does to how you think about the story and sentence.
To change something, change something else.
Want to use writing to clear some clutter and reinvent yourself?
I'd love to help.