308: Pivoting in Place with Adrian Klaphaak

Pivot with Jenny Blake

“No [person] ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river, and they are not the same [person].” —Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher from ~500 BC

I share this quote in nearly every Pivot keynote because it speaks to the reality of uncertainty in every aspect of our lives, even when we’re not intentionally pursuing bigger career changes. Every day we are different, as are the companies we work for, the broader economy, our community, and even our physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional bodies.

Today, recurring guest Adrian Klaphaak and I are exploring how to keep moving and build momentum, even when you aren’t in a position to take big risks. How do you double down on your strengths and take small steps to pivot in place, creating room for bigger opportunities down the road?

Are you working on a pivot-in-progress? For guidance on reconnecting with what lights you up, and creating an action plan to move forward, check out Adrian’s flagship Career Pathfinder Program and apply promo code PIVOT at checkout.

More about Adrian: Adrian Klaphaak is a coach, purpose guide, entrepreneur, therapist, and founder of A Path That Fits Career and Life Coaching. His coaching approach is holistic—a constant balance between getting results and a quest for meaning and fulfillment. He describes himself as “a deep seeker with a constant itch to make things happen.”

🌟 3 Key Takeaways:

• “What should I do?” is the second question. It should come after “Who am I?” when you are thinking about how to improve your work circumstances without leaving your role entirely.
• Sometimes the role you want doesn't exist yet at your organization. Lean on faith and follow the clues your soul is guiding you with to create the space you want to occupy.
• Relationships are what make everything happen. Talk to the people you like the most and who seem to be doing the most interesting work. Investing in those relationships gives you more access to opportunities.

✅ Next Action: the work activities that you get the most joy, energy, and flow from. How can you build upon those through smaller pilots?

📘Books:

• Free Time: Lose The Busywork, Love Your Business
• Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One
• Life After College
• Brave New Work: Are You Ready to Reinvent Your Organization? by Aaron Dignan

🔗Resources:

• Adrian on the web, Yelp, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Course: Career Pathfinder, promo code PIVOT
• Video: Finding Your Calling by a Path the Fits
• Articles by Jenny on Oprah.com: The Questions You Need to Ask Yourself if You're Bored and Restless at Work, What Is Your Happiness Formula?
• Newsletter: Adjacent Possible by Stephen Johnson
• Podcast: In the Arena with Leah Smart

🎧Related Podcast Episodes: Pivot x Career Pathfinder Playlist (previous episodes with Adrian), 289: Stealing Wi-Fi as Career Strategy with Jenny Wood

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💻 Check out Jenny’s Pivot courses on LinkedIn Learning: Figuring Out Your Next Move, Holding 1:1 Career Conversations With Your Team, Managing Introverts, Coaching New Hires, and Coaching New Managers

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📝 Check out full show notes from this episode with links to resources mentioned at http://pivotmethod.com/308

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