The Art of the Pivot: Turning Challenges into Opportunities

 Life has a funny way of throwing unexpected twists and turns our way. Today, we’re diving into the art of the pivot—how to use unexpected challenges or changes to your advantage. This is a topic I love because while it’s always easier to talk about in hindsight, it takes looking backward to truly understand that everything happens as it should.

Now, you may not believe that everything happens for a reason, and that’s okay. But after this, maybe you’ll start to see things differently. Because, let’s be honest, life becomes a whole lot more exciting when you believe you’re being divinely guided, that God has your back, and that roadblocks happen for a reason. Often, we don’t make major life changes unless we’re forced to, and that’s exactly why these pivots are so important.

When Life Forces a Change

A simple yet impactful example: a few weeks ago, I was hit with the worst cold of my life. I was miserable—so sick that I was literally crying to my husband, saying, “I can’t do this anymore.” Dramatic? Maybe. But I was exhausted, and I lost my voice, which, for someone like me who speaks, teaches, records podcasts, and leads teams, was beyond frustrating. I felt like I couldn’t do what I was meant to do, and that sent me into a bit of a pity party.

But I had work to do. One of my responsibilities at Abundance Real Estate is recruiting, which means making calls and connecting with people about our new agent coaching program, Kickoff Coaching. This program is my baby—a six-month course designed to take real estate agents from never having written an offer to closing five successful transactions with the help of a coach. It’s a program I’m incredibly proud of because it has helped so many agents become top performers in our market.

I needed to make calls, but my voice was completely shot. So, instead of throwing in the towel, I pivoted. I created a text template with all the necessary links and information, and I texted about 100 people. And guess what? The response rate was higher than my usual phone calls! Instead of leaving voicemails and waiting for callbacks, people responded on their own time, and I booked six calls almost instantly. It was a powerful reminder that sometimes, we need to adjust our approach instead of giving up.

The Gift of Rejection

Another pivotal moment in my life happened over a decade ago. I was working for a company I loved and was up for a promotion. I completed all the assessments, nailed the interviews, and was essentially told I was a shoo-in. But when I sat down with the vice president, he bluntly told me I didn’t get the job. The reasoning? I hadn’t put in enough time like everyone else. The people ahead of me had been there for 10 years, and I would need to do the same before getting a promotion.

At the time, I was devastated. I felt worthless, like all my hard work had been for nothing. But looking back, it was the greatest gift I could have received. If I had gotten that promotion, I would probably still be there today. I never would have started my restaurant brand. I never would have built and sold a multi-seven-figure company. I never would have met my husband. I never would have found my passion for real estate or had the opportunity to teach and lead in this industry.

That rejection was actually a redirection—one that led me to a path I never could have imagined for myself.

Learning to Pivot with Purpose

The key takeaway here? Life will throw challenges at you. You’ll face obstacles, setbacks, and moments where you feel like everything is falling apart. But those moments are often the push you need to step into something even greater.

Instead of resisting change, embrace it. Instead of seeing obstacles as roadblocks, view them as opportunities to pivot.

• If one method isn’t working, try another.

• If a door closes, look for the open window.

• If you face rejection, consider where it might be guiding you instead.

The most successful people aren’t the ones who never face hardship—they’re the ones who learn how to pivot and use those challenges to their advantage.

So the next time life forces you to change direction, don’t fight it. Lean into it. You never know what incredible opportunities are waiting just around the corner.