Unsure Of A Career Path? Build Out Your Own Niche.

Pivoting is an experience; it’s a mindset shift of committing to doing or trying something new. But, once setting a goal, it’s a journey of emotions and trials and errors.

The pandemic is a prime example of people pivoting. Many were forced to change careers, while others realized they wanted more out of their professions and aligned with a purpose. Salesforce covered the increase of entrepreneurs in the Country. The company reported, according to the Census Bureau, more than 4.4 million new businesses were created in the U.S. during 2020 — the highest total on record. For reference, that’s a 24.3% increase from 2019 and 51.0% higher than the 2010-19 average. Half a million new businesses were started in January 2021, alone.

All major pivots can be exhilarating and daunting at the same time. The key is to focus on what you ultimately want. What do you want to be known for? What type of impact do you want to have on a community? What is your brand? Answering those questions will help you decide what to do.

For some new entrepreneurs, it’s about starting a mainstream company where they might have had prior experience and want to be their own boss. For others, it’s about trying something new or a desire they’ve wanted to explore. And ultra brave people create unique paths and niches in a prominent market.

“You have to be very careful not to wear too many hats [while pivoting] and put too many messages out there,” an independent television producer Cindy Garnick shares. “This is where I think people go wrong. Many of these creative people are so creative that they have several messages they want to get out there. You must focus on one aspect of what you’re trying to launch for that particular message. There’s a time, and there’s a place for everything else. But if not, they’re going to become financially drained. They’re never going to get their proper message out there. So that’s why that is so important to stay in your lane and stay laser focused; there will be another time to bring out other parts of yourself. That’s why people get so scattered and nothing gets done.”

While navigating through a divorce, Garnick’s foray into entrepreneurship began with a side hustle creating chocolate arrangements. However, when her 15-year-old son became a popular musician, she closed her chocolate shop and focused on helping him with touring and production. That opportunity propelled her into the entertainment world. She quickly learned the foundation of publicity, which led her to understand the importance of a brand’s image.

While working with clients, a friend asked if she could brand a television show. So she took a risk and bet on herself. Stepping into unknown territory helped her carve out a niche for herself, ultimately landing her producer roles in nationally syndicated shows, the latest being LiftOff with Jeanniey Walden.

Taking risks and paving your own path isn’t easy and won’t happen overnight. It takes patience and perseverance. But in the end, it could be more than you ever imagined.

Start building your image

Everyone wants to start at point A and immediately wind up at the finish line. But through the process, you learn what works and what doesn’t. These invaluable lessons will save you time when you expand your project or business.

Take your overall big picture, and break it down into small manageable steps, ultimately leading you to your goal.

“It’s better to start somewhere,” Garnick states, “than not to start at all. Most people are not going to go from point A to point R [overnight]. But don’t wait forever. Don’t wait till you think that you’re good enough.”

Don’t resist

Often people psych themselves out of trying something new or negatively overthink the possible future outcomes. If you constantly think about doing something, you should try. Ask yourself if “the regret of trying is greater than the risk of remaining the same.” If the answer is the former, go for it.

“If your feeling is a very strong pull to go with it, don’t fight against it,” Garnick states. “Find extremely forthcoming mentors who have been successful in their careers and simply want to pay it forward.”

Trust the process

There will be some hesitation at first; that’s natural. However, how you manage your expectations and keep moving forward will determine your success. Trusting the process in whatever industry you pivot in will be the determining factor. Developing trust within yourself is critical. Pay attention to what your instincts are making you feel. You’ll know you’re in the right place when you’ve stopped second-guessing yourself.

Garnick concludes with, “The sky is the limit. Follow the path that keeps pushing you in a direction. An industry will speak to you and let you know how much they liked you because, all of a sudden, the floodgates open. It’s this incredible surge of positivity, energy and vibe.

When you feel that you’re pushing a square peg through a round cylinder, get out and say, ‘This is not my journey.’ Then, your people will align with you and rally with you to lift you up.”