Transitions: Pivot – Move Forward With What You Have

Transitions are a time for reflection, and a time for looking forward – Roy Cooper

Credit Note: This month’s posts are written by guest blogger, Dr. Samson Gichuki

Prepared

Life is a series of preparation and execution stages. Every experience—good or difficult—equips us for what’s next. A few months ago, I transitioned from being an individual contributor to becoming a people developer at work. One major hurdle I faced from the outset was convincing my team and my manager that I was ready for the challenge of leading others in a high-intensity, fast-paced environment. What helped me? I took an inventory.

Inventory

I realized that although I had never held this exact title before, I wasn’t starting from scratch. My ability to listen, give constructive feedback, maintain discipline, and communicate clearly were skills I had developed over the years, and they were highly transferable. I had been prepared all along; I just needed to recognize it.

This Month

As we transition into the second half of 2025, here is our roadmap to help us make the best of the second half.

Pivot – Move Forward with What You Already Have! (Today)

Probing – Unlock growth through intentional curiosity. (July 10th)

Prune – Let go of what no longer serves you. (July 17th)

Produce – Create and contribute where you are planted. (July 24th)

Transitions often feel like starting over, but they rarely are. Many people freeze during a transition because they focus on what they’ve left behind or what’s unfamiliar ahead. However, if we take stock of our lives while in transitions, we will discover values that can help us pivot with purpose. During transitions, there are two key areas you can look to find transferable values that you can use to make the most of the journey ahead, whether it’s moving from one job to another or from one season to another.

However, if we take stock of our lives while in transitions, we will discover values that can help us pivot with purpose.

1. Relationships

One of the most challenging and transformative transitions I’ve experienced was moving from being a single young man to becoming a husband. It was a shift from living a life centered around me to one focused on us—from “I” to “we,” and from “mine” to “ours.” While the transition stretched me in many ways, I didn’t have to navigate it alone. My mentor, Pastor David, and his wife, Dr. Caroline, along with other couples, walked alongside my wife and me as we learned to build a new life together. Having valuable relationships during life transitions is like having a skilled maritime pilot guide you through unfamiliar waters. As bestselling author Brené Brown once said, “In every life transition, community isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.” It is in the relationships we have invested in that we can find experiences that strengthen us in transitions.

2. Experience

Drawing from past experiences, whether wins or failures, can be instrumental in navigating your current transitions. When you take time to reflect, you begin to see patterns and strategies that were established in those earlier experiences. Nothing is wasted when viewed through the lens of growth.In my own transition into leadership in the marketplace, I’ve found myself consistently reaching back to lessons from my past—especially the failures. Moments that once felt like setbacks are now proving to be sources of wisdom. Decisions I mishandled, conversations I wish I had approached differently, and seasons where I felt stretched too thin—these have all become learning points I now apply to my present role of leadership. The beauty of experience is that it becomes a teacher if you let it. And in transitions, few teachers are more valuable than the one called hindsight.

Final thought: Whenever you find yourself in a transition, pause and ask: Who can help me navigate this well? It could be a trusted friend, a mentor, or someone who has walked the path you’re now stepping into. Don’t journey alone when wisdom is available through others. Then, take time to reflect on your past experiences—both the victories and the lessons from failure. What did they teach you? What insight can you carry forward? When you lean into relationships and reflection from experience, you position yourself to make wiser decisions and maximize the opportunity of your next level.

Keep on keeping on!