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Pivot: The Art and Science of Reinventing Your Career and Life
Adam Markel, a top international keynote speaker, bestselling author and CEO, shares his practical and inspirational program for reinvention. A successful transformational teacher and former CEO of one of the world's largest personal and business development companies, Adam Markel has trained thousands worldwide to rediscover themselves, find new directions, jobs, careers and businesses. Whether you want to change your professional trajectory, find work or build a new business, Adam Markel can help you leap out of your comfort zone and into the destiny you've always dreamed of.What would you do in your life if you knew you could not fail?That's the question answered in Pivot, a road map for embracing your true potential without abandoning your responsibilities or risking your future. As a transformational teacher and CEO, who has trained thousands of people worldwide, Adam Markel can help you leap out of your comfort zone and into the destiny you've always dreamed of. Whether you are transitioning your career, have been downsized, or believe that your true potential has yet to be fully tapped, Pivot is a guide to reinvention for anyone at any age. With clear-eyed compassion and frank assessments, Adam shares the secrets that will guide you away from fear and toward a powerful new vision for your life. The uplifting stories; introspective prompts; clear, step-by-step exercises; and energizing calls to action throughout this remarkable book will guide you through the process of personal and career transformation, from creating a vision and clearing space for change to building a supportive environment and establishing daily rituals that will regenerate your soul. Success and personal fulfillment are within reach! Program your internal GPS to a destination of your wildest imagination - all it takes to change your path is one right turn. Join the tribe at startmypivot.com.Learn more at adammarkel.com
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2016
149 people are currently reading
672 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
October 11, 2020
A good read on changing one's life and the steps ecessary to take to get it done:
- suspending one's disbelief
- achieving clarity
- fearworks
- embracing change
- identity dynamics
- the power of vision
- Momentumworks
Becoming superheroeы has never been as easy as with this self-help manual. Of course, a lot of this has been done before and discussed at length elsewhere but the take on all of it in here is upbeat, well-structured and clearcut, so this is a worthwhile read, in my view.
Q:
But what exactly are we perceiving that’s so threatening when we think about pivoting? Unless your pivot involves BASE jumping or becoming a Navy SEAL, you’re probably not in much mortal danger. (c)
Q:
There is a concept in Zen Buddhism called shoshin, which means “beginner’s mind.” It refers to being open and eager, holding no preconceived notions about something when you begin to learn it. (c)
Q:
I routinely ask people attending our trainings, “What time is it?” At first they react by looking at a watch or cell phone. At which point I say, “The time is now! The time is always now!” Likewise, there’s no better time than now to ask and answer the life-altering question “What are you committed to?” Not who but what? What ideals and values are you committed to? (c)
Q:
The Five Principles of Momentum
...
1. Baby steps. Breaking your pivot down into small increments that are less daunting and more doable.2. Ritual. Creating the space, routine, and habits that foster successful pivoting.3. Pivot people. Finding, managing, and working with mentors, stakeholders, and peers.4. Resilience. Facing adversity and using setbacks as a way to move forward.5. Growth. Investing in yourself to create the ultimate pivot advantage. (c)
Q:
If you don’t feel you have a complete vision for your life yet, don’t worry. That’s fine, and it’s normal. You don’t need to stay stuck in Part I of this book, waiting for a perfect vision of your life. Clarity doesn’t always arrive shrink-wrapped and preassembled like furniture. Sometimes it arrives in parts. It changes, shifts. You pivot once, then again. (c)
- suspending one's disbelief
- achieving clarity
- fearworks
- embracing change
- identity dynamics
- the power of vision
- Momentumworks
Becoming superheroeы has never been as easy as with this self-help manual. Of course, a lot of this has been done before and discussed at length elsewhere but the take on all of it in here is upbeat, well-structured and clearcut, so this is a worthwhile read, in my view.
Q:
But what exactly are we perceiving that’s so threatening when we think about pivoting? Unless your pivot involves BASE jumping or becoming a Navy SEAL, you’re probably not in much mortal danger. (c)
Q:
There is a concept in Zen Buddhism called shoshin, which means “beginner’s mind.” It refers to being open and eager, holding no preconceived notions about something when you begin to learn it. (c)
Q:
I routinely ask people attending our trainings, “What time is it?” At first they react by looking at a watch or cell phone. At which point I say, “The time is now! The time is always now!” Likewise, there’s no better time than now to ask and answer the life-altering question “What are you committed to?” Not who but what? What ideals and values are you committed to? (c)
Q:
The Five Principles of Momentum
...
1. Baby steps. Breaking your pivot down into small increments that are less daunting and more doable.2. Ritual. Creating the space, routine, and habits that foster successful pivoting.3. Pivot people. Finding, managing, and working with mentors, stakeholders, and peers.4. Resilience. Facing adversity and using setbacks as a way to move forward.5. Growth. Investing in yourself to create the ultimate pivot advantage. (c)
Q:
If you don’t feel you have a complete vision for your life yet, don’t worry. That’s fine, and it’s normal. You don’t need to stay stuck in Part I of this book, waiting for a perfect vision of your life. Clarity doesn’t always arrive shrink-wrapped and preassembled like furniture. Sometimes it arrives in parts. It changes, shifts. You pivot once, then again. (c)
June 19, 2018
NOTE: This is not a review, but instead my notes to capture and reference key points. Though intended for my own personal use, if anyone else finds this helpful - awesome.
PART 1 - CLARITY
“The first and most important challenge of your pivot is to clear your vision and discover clarity.” p5
“You need to reach a new level of clarity before you can create a new type of life.” p5
How to Find Clarity: (p6)
Ch 1 - Un-Believe
Ch 2 - Let Go
Ch 3 - Face Your Fear
Ch 4 - Change Your Identify, Change Yourself
Ch 5 - Envision a New Future
Ch 6 - Big D Decisions
How to Know Clarity When You See It: (p7)
- You have a feeling of confidence and possibility
- Fear moves to the background
- You have more energy
- Your mood is better
Chapter 1 - Un-believe. You may need to unlearn more, than you need to learn. You may need to change your beliefs, as your beliefs drive your expectations and therefore the distance between your expectations and reality. “…what you believe has the power to change your reality.” p11 The notion of “burning the ships” - a reference to Cortes burning the ships so his men wouldn’t have the option to return and therefore must conquer the new land - is a myth; people that go “all in” make great stories and movie plots, but they are outliers. Myth 5: Everything I’ve done so far will be wasted. “The past is never wasted. Pivoting is about making sure you don’t waste your future.” p20 Myth 6: I have to wait for… “Waiting to change is the same as not changing at all.” p21 “I can’t because…” Whatever you respond to this question is a “limiting belief;” suspend your disbeliefs. p22 Pivotal Questions: 1) What do I currently believe that might be preventing me from pivoting? 3) What would I have to / need to believe about myself to be successful in my dream? 4) What would I have to believe about how others would support me in making my dream a reality?
Chapter 2 - Let Go. “Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go.” - Herman Hesse Identify past attachments - e.g. I feel angry that… I feel afraid that…. I feel sorry that… I feel sad that… I feel guilty that… I feel ashamed that…. I feel embarrassed that… I feel frustrated that… Then choose to let them go. “You can’t pivot looking backward.” p33 “I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become.” - Carl Jung “Pivoting is a process, not a plan;” you may have to let go of “planning” or “making a plan” and learn to unplan, or at the very least approach this differently than you’ve typically approached life / problems in the past. “You don’t need a guaranteed step-by-step plan to get where you’re going, only a willingness to take the next step.” p38 “Just because you can’t see all the step doesn’t mean they aren’t there.” p39 “When you’re anchored to the pain of the past, you’re anchored to the pain of punishing yourself, not others. After all, they didn’t feel the pain of your reliving past transgressions. You do. And you’re not done suffering… Sure, you hide the suffering under a story: ‘Once such-and-such happens, then I’ll…’ The real story is this: I’m not done punishing myself yet. Which is really a way of saying: I’m not ready to forgive myself yet… You can’t let go if you can’t forgive yourself.” p41 Pivotal Questions: What am I clinging to that’s preventing me from seeing my potential clearly? 3) Am I hanging onto negative emotions because they fill a void in my life? 4) Am I refusing to let go because I’m trying to punish someone? 6) Am I refusing to let go of the past or the future because I’m punishing myself?
Chapter 3 - Face Your Fear. “Fear is at the heart of every nonpivot.” p47 Being afraid doesn’t mean you’re in danger; it means you’re approaching something new.
Chapter 4 - Enter the Phone Booth. The Superhero Formula: Be-Do-Have: become the person you want to be first (read: fake it ‘till you make it); this is in opposition to traditional thinking: Do-Have-Be (i.e. if you do well in school, you’ll get a good job that will allow to you have nice things, and then you’ll be the person you want to be). Step 1: Uncover Your True Identify. “Your true identify is a signpost to your pivot.” p72 “Don’t ask what you have to do to pivot. Ask who you need to become.” p79 Pivotal Questions: 4) Who do you need to become to have want you want?
Chapter 5 - Envision Your Future: Finding Your Life’s Purpose. “You can’t fully pivot if you don’t know what you want.” p86 Let go of “how” for now; the fastest way to derail a pivot is to start wondering how. Identify what you don’t want BRIEFLY; then let them go. The Law of Attention / Law of Focus states that whatever we focus on expands. “If you focus on what you want in your life instead of what you don’t want, you’ll get it 90% of the time.” p90 Law of Substitution: works by substituting a positive thought for a negative one. “Your deepest values are clues to what you want.” Access your “beginner’s mind” - this is a concept in Zen Buddism is called “shoshin”- it refers to being open and eager, with no preconceived notions about something when you begin to learn it. Pivotal Questions: 1) What would it be like to push the restart button on your life? If you could start over today with a fresh, clean slate, what would you do going forward? 2) What what you do right now if: money were no object? you could not fail? you would never receive any status, acclaim, or recognition?
Chapter 6 - Big-D Decide: “You’ve reached a true decision when the pain of not takin action becomes greater than the pain of acting.”
PART 2 - MOMENTUM - Creating Your Pivot Behaviors
The five principles of momentum:
1. Baby steps: small increments that are less daunting and more doable.
2. Ritual: creating the space, routine, and habits to be successful
3. “Pivot People: finding, managing, and working with mentors, stakeholders, and peers”
4. Resilience: leveraging setbacks and adversity to move fwd
5. Growth: investing in yourself (i.e. continuing education)
Chapter 7 - Baby Steps: “I long to accomplish a great and noble task; but it is my chief duty and joy to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble.” - Helen Keller. “Never starting is the single biggest pivot killer. Baby steps is the solution.” p122 Step 1: break your dream into smaller pieces. Step 2: try it on (i.e. shadow someone for a day). Step 3: “get one done” - i.e. “Taking one tangible step toward your dream can kick-start the momentum to making it come true.” p128 Pivotal Questions: 2) Have you been fooling yourself by waiting for a big step? A stroke of luck, a lottery win, or some future event? 3) Is the fear of a big leap keeping you from taking the first steps to pivoting?
Chapter 8 - Ritual. “You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day - unless you’re too busy. Then you should sit for an hour.” - Zen Proverb. “Your unconscious habits create your reality.” p139 “…you need to create habits that align with the life you want to have, not the life you already have.” p139 New habits should focus on improving your (self)education, your good health, your productivity, and your (positive) mindset. “A ritual is the ‘master habit’ for your pivot that allows you to create other habits.” p142 “The best rituals have a morning component. They are scheduled, daily, and sacred.” p146 Morning Ritual: 1) review your “Code of Conduct” (based loosely on Benjamin Franklin’s daily commitment to thirteen virtues) - e.g. “I love my life!” 3) “Set the Day” - i.e. what is most important today? Other recommended rituals: meditation, exercise, visualization, writing / journaling, reading, celebrating completed goals / accomplishments / milestones / events, appreciation. To build habits, focus on consistency; use tracking to help. “Rituals are about creating mental, temporal, and physical space in which to build momentum.” p153 Pivotal Questions: 1) How can you reorganize your life so that it is more in harmony with your dreams and desires? 2) What three new habits, if done daily, would do the most to bring you closer to your dream? 3) What one single habit, if done daily, would most transform your life? 4) What habits could you eliminate for your life to create more productivity, more time, or more energy?
Chapter 9 - Pivot People: Stakeholders are people whose own lives will be affected by your pivot; share early and often with them, ask for committed support, and show gratitude. Mentors are people with wisdom, resources, or skills that will help you pivot. Peers are potential collaborators. A “mastermind” is “two or more people coming together in harmony to create definite plans for the achievement of a desired end” - i.e. a group of peers that can help you and you can help. (Seems like our PMBA group…) “You are the curator of the people in your life.” p172
Chapter 10 - Resilience: Change your story - i.e. explain setbacks differently - e.g. they are challenges, not failures. Find the lesson: “every setback has a lesson that can help you pivot.” p181
Chapter 11 - Growth: Schedule your growth (i.e. professional development / continuing education), just as you’d schedule a retirement fund payment. Make reading / coaching / training time a priority. Growth requires a plan. “When in doubt, grow.” p205 Pivotal Questions: 1) How many books did you read last year? 2) When was the last time you took a course or participated in a training?
Chapter 12 - Pivot
TAKING ACTION: YOUR 21-DAY PIVOT PLAN
Day 1: Create a morning ritual; develop / include your own ‘code of conduct.’
Day 2: Take a 20-30 min walk alone, imagining those minutes are your last. No actions remain to be taken, the only thing left is to be: to think about life, its meaning… What do you see, feel, experience? Contemplate. (< ugh!)
Day 3: 5-min meditation.
Day 4: Create a timeline of your life working backwards from your last day. What are the milestones? What would be included in your eulogy? See www.pivotbook.com to download a Pivot Plan Journal or complete exercise online. (< doesn’t appear to exist anymore…)
Day 5: Mark the ten (new) beliefs that most resonant with you. Mine are: 1) I focus on what I want, not what I don’t want. 2) What I focus on expands 3) I am always moving forward 4) The more people I serve, the richer I am 5) I can do anything 6) I love my life 7) I am the master of my fate, and captain of my soul 8) I acknowledge and celebrate my successes 9) Nothing has meaning except for the meaning I give it 10) I forgive easily (< ugh!)
Day 6: “Mental Diet Day” Try Emmet Fox’s mental diet idea for a single day. Don’t think anything negative, speak anything negative, or hold on to or dwell on anything negative.
Day 7: A Letter from Your Future Self written 10 years from now, living your dream life. What would you tell your current self about what life is like? What advice would you give yourself? What encouragement?
Day 8: Emotional Awareness - Answer the following questions: 1) In what three specific areas of your life could you reevaluate your situation based on what you know today versus what you knew in the past? 2) how could you reorganize your life so that it is more in harmony with your dreams and desires? 3) What would you most like to spend your time doing? 4) What would you do if you knew you could not fail? 5) What would other people think if you quit your job or shut down your business? 6) What is your greatest feat? 7) How have you handled change in the past? 8) Whose approval do you need in your life? 9) What excites you? 10) What makes you feel fulfilled and useful?
Day 9: Face a Fear - Take a small action that makes you uncomfortable, or a little afraid…
Day 10: Release the Past - Recall an attachment identified in Chp2, “get in touch with how it makes you fell… feel the feeling in your body.” Then answer the following questions out loud: Do I like feeling this way? Do I want to let it go? Am I willing to let it go? When am I willing to let it go? …If you are willing to let it go, say out loud: “I am willing to let [X] go now.” Then “take a deep breath, and let it go with a sound!” [Repeat x3] Shake out your hands and body and smile. Apparently this is based on The Sedona Method…
Day 11: Forgive - “Sit on a chair in a comfortable position with your legs uncrossed and your palms facing up. Take three slow, deep breaths… Now imagine that a person you have been angry with is sitting in front of you. See him or her looking into your eyes. imagine him or her saying these words: “I am sorry for hurting you. I never intended to do so. I did the best I could at the time. I never would have done what I did id I had known it would cause you so much pain.” Make the picture of this scene in full living color as if it were happening right now. Imagine yourself leaning over and hugging or at least shaking hands with this person in forgiveness, knowing that everyone always does the best they can at the time, including you. Feel the negative energy leaving you now. Feel the lightness and the freedom in your body as peace and harmony are restored inside of you.” (<< seems like this would only work some circumstances, e.g. not against violent or criminal attacks)
Day 12: Draft your Vision - Start with the phrase “My vision is…” and then write what you would like to see yourself accomplishing in the world from today forward. Write what you want and intend to be true, without including limitations of any kind. Take no more than 10-15 min.
Day 13: Create a Mantra - What single sentence can you create that would inspire you daily and capture your vision? Write a draft and include in your Morning Ritual.
Day 14: Establish an Evening Ritual - Each night before you go to bed, write down three things you are grateful for - the first two from today, the third for something that has yet to occur but that you wish to happen.
Day 15: Baby-Step Brainstorm - Take 15 min to brainstorm a list of steps that you can take to move you towards your Pivot.
Day 16: Try it On - Contact a person who has accomplished what you want to accomplish and ask to spend the day with them / ask them how they got there.
Day 17: Identify Your Stakeholders - Who are your stakeholders and schedule a time to meet with each of them.
Day 18: Find a Mentor
Day 19: Start a Mastermind. Aim for 6 peple.
Day 20: Attend a Training Workshop or Seminar
Day 21: Hire a Coach
Day 22 and Beyond: Take Action!
Recommended Reading:
Secrets of the Millionaire by T. Harv Eker
The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck
The Sedona Method by Hale Dwoskin
Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins
Thing and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Michael Mantell
The Seven Day Mental Diet by Emmet Fox
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
The Alchemest by Paulo Coelho
Karmic Management by Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally
The Other F Word by Juliana Ericson
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
The Seven Spritual Laws of Succuss by Deepak Chopra
Autobiography of a Yogi by Raramahansa Yogananda
Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill
Redemption by Berny Dohrmann
The Holographic Universe by Michael Dooley
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
PART 1 - CLARITY
“The first and most important challenge of your pivot is to clear your vision and discover clarity.” p5
“You need to reach a new level of clarity before you can create a new type of life.” p5
How to Find Clarity: (p6)
Ch 1 - Un-Believe
Ch 2 - Let Go
Ch 3 - Face Your Fear
Ch 4 - Change Your Identify, Change Yourself
Ch 5 - Envision a New Future
Ch 6 - Big D Decisions
How to Know Clarity When You See It: (p7)
- You have a feeling of confidence and possibility
- Fear moves to the background
- You have more energy
- Your mood is better
Chapter 1 - Un-believe. You may need to unlearn more, than you need to learn. You may need to change your beliefs, as your beliefs drive your expectations and therefore the distance between your expectations and reality. “…what you believe has the power to change your reality.” p11 The notion of “burning the ships” - a reference to Cortes burning the ships so his men wouldn’t have the option to return and therefore must conquer the new land - is a myth; people that go “all in” make great stories and movie plots, but they are outliers. Myth 5: Everything I’ve done so far will be wasted. “The past is never wasted. Pivoting is about making sure you don’t waste your future.” p20 Myth 6: I have to wait for… “Waiting to change is the same as not changing at all.” p21 “I can’t because…” Whatever you respond to this question is a “limiting belief;” suspend your disbeliefs. p22 Pivotal Questions: 1) What do I currently believe that might be preventing me from pivoting? 3) What would I have to / need to believe about myself to be successful in my dream? 4) What would I have to believe about how others would support me in making my dream a reality?
Chapter 2 - Let Go. “Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go.” - Herman Hesse Identify past attachments - e.g. I feel angry that… I feel afraid that…. I feel sorry that… I feel sad that… I feel guilty that… I feel ashamed that…. I feel embarrassed that… I feel frustrated that… Then choose to let them go. “You can’t pivot looking backward.” p33 “I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become.” - Carl Jung “Pivoting is a process, not a plan;” you may have to let go of “planning” or “making a plan” and learn to unplan, or at the very least approach this differently than you’ve typically approached life / problems in the past. “You don’t need a guaranteed step-by-step plan to get where you’re going, only a willingness to take the next step.” p38 “Just because you can’t see all the step doesn’t mean they aren’t there.” p39 “When you’re anchored to the pain of the past, you’re anchored to the pain of punishing yourself, not others. After all, they didn’t feel the pain of your reliving past transgressions. You do. And you’re not done suffering… Sure, you hide the suffering under a story: ‘Once such-and-such happens, then I’ll…’ The real story is this: I’m not done punishing myself yet. Which is really a way of saying: I’m not ready to forgive myself yet… You can’t let go if you can’t forgive yourself.” p41 Pivotal Questions: What am I clinging to that’s preventing me from seeing my potential clearly? 3) Am I hanging onto negative emotions because they fill a void in my life? 4) Am I refusing to let go because I’m trying to punish someone? 6) Am I refusing to let go of the past or the future because I’m punishing myself?
Chapter 3 - Face Your Fear. “Fear is at the heart of every nonpivot.” p47 Being afraid doesn’t mean you’re in danger; it means you’re approaching something new.
Chapter 4 - Enter the Phone Booth. The Superhero Formula: Be-Do-Have: become the person you want to be first (read: fake it ‘till you make it); this is in opposition to traditional thinking: Do-Have-Be (i.e. if you do well in school, you’ll get a good job that will allow to you have nice things, and then you’ll be the person you want to be). Step 1: Uncover Your True Identify. “Your true identify is a signpost to your pivot.” p72 “Don’t ask what you have to do to pivot. Ask who you need to become.” p79 Pivotal Questions: 4) Who do you need to become to have want you want?
Chapter 5 - Envision Your Future: Finding Your Life’s Purpose. “You can’t fully pivot if you don’t know what you want.” p86 Let go of “how” for now; the fastest way to derail a pivot is to start wondering how. Identify what you don’t want BRIEFLY; then let them go. The Law of Attention / Law of Focus states that whatever we focus on expands. “If you focus on what you want in your life instead of what you don’t want, you’ll get it 90% of the time.” p90 Law of Substitution: works by substituting a positive thought for a negative one. “Your deepest values are clues to what you want.” Access your “beginner’s mind” - this is a concept in Zen Buddism is called “shoshin”- it refers to being open and eager, with no preconceived notions about something when you begin to learn it. Pivotal Questions: 1) What would it be like to push the restart button on your life? If you could start over today with a fresh, clean slate, what would you do going forward? 2) What what you do right now if: money were no object? you could not fail? you would never receive any status, acclaim, or recognition?
Chapter 6 - Big-D Decide: “You’ve reached a true decision when the pain of not takin action becomes greater than the pain of acting.”
PART 2 - MOMENTUM - Creating Your Pivot Behaviors
The five principles of momentum:
1. Baby steps: small increments that are less daunting and more doable.
2. Ritual: creating the space, routine, and habits to be successful
3. “Pivot People: finding, managing, and working with mentors, stakeholders, and peers”
4. Resilience: leveraging setbacks and adversity to move fwd
5. Growth: investing in yourself (i.e. continuing education)
Chapter 7 - Baby Steps: “I long to accomplish a great and noble task; but it is my chief duty and joy to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble.” - Helen Keller. “Never starting is the single biggest pivot killer. Baby steps is the solution.” p122 Step 1: break your dream into smaller pieces. Step 2: try it on (i.e. shadow someone for a day). Step 3: “get one done” - i.e. “Taking one tangible step toward your dream can kick-start the momentum to making it come true.” p128 Pivotal Questions: 2) Have you been fooling yourself by waiting for a big step? A stroke of luck, a lottery win, or some future event? 3) Is the fear of a big leap keeping you from taking the first steps to pivoting?
Chapter 8 - Ritual. “You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day - unless you’re too busy. Then you should sit for an hour.” - Zen Proverb. “Your unconscious habits create your reality.” p139 “…you need to create habits that align with the life you want to have, not the life you already have.” p139 New habits should focus on improving your (self)education, your good health, your productivity, and your (positive) mindset. “A ritual is the ‘master habit’ for your pivot that allows you to create other habits.” p142 “The best rituals have a morning component. They are scheduled, daily, and sacred.” p146 Morning Ritual: 1) review your “Code of Conduct” (based loosely on Benjamin Franklin’s daily commitment to thirteen virtues) - e.g. “I love my life!” 3) “Set the Day” - i.e. what is most important today? Other recommended rituals: meditation, exercise, visualization, writing / journaling, reading, celebrating completed goals / accomplishments / milestones / events, appreciation. To build habits, focus on consistency; use tracking to help. “Rituals are about creating mental, temporal, and physical space in which to build momentum.” p153 Pivotal Questions: 1) How can you reorganize your life so that it is more in harmony with your dreams and desires? 2) What three new habits, if done daily, would do the most to bring you closer to your dream? 3) What one single habit, if done daily, would most transform your life? 4) What habits could you eliminate for your life to create more productivity, more time, or more energy?
Chapter 9 - Pivot People: Stakeholders are people whose own lives will be affected by your pivot; share early and often with them, ask for committed support, and show gratitude. Mentors are people with wisdom, resources, or skills that will help you pivot. Peers are potential collaborators. A “mastermind” is “two or more people coming together in harmony to create definite plans for the achievement of a desired end” - i.e. a group of peers that can help you and you can help. (Seems like our PMBA group…) “You are the curator of the people in your life.” p172
Chapter 10 - Resilience: Change your story - i.e. explain setbacks differently - e.g. they are challenges, not failures. Find the lesson: “every setback has a lesson that can help you pivot.” p181
Chapter 11 - Growth: Schedule your growth (i.e. professional development / continuing education), just as you’d schedule a retirement fund payment. Make reading / coaching / training time a priority. Growth requires a plan. “When in doubt, grow.” p205 Pivotal Questions: 1) How many books did you read last year? 2) When was the last time you took a course or participated in a training?
Chapter 12 - Pivot
TAKING ACTION: YOUR 21-DAY PIVOT PLAN
Day 1: Create a morning ritual; develop / include your own ‘code of conduct.’
Day 2: Take a 20-30 min walk alone, imagining those minutes are your last. No actions remain to be taken, the only thing left is to be: to think about life, its meaning… What do you see, feel, experience? Contemplate. (< ugh!)
Day 3: 5-min meditation.
Day 4: Create a timeline of your life working backwards from your last day. What are the milestones? What would be included in your eulogy? See www.pivotbook.com to download a Pivot Plan Journal or complete exercise online. (< doesn’t appear to exist anymore…)
Day 5: Mark the ten (new) beliefs that most resonant with you. Mine are: 1) I focus on what I want, not what I don’t want. 2) What I focus on expands 3) I am always moving forward 4) The more people I serve, the richer I am 5) I can do anything 6) I love my life 7) I am the master of my fate, and captain of my soul 8) I acknowledge and celebrate my successes 9) Nothing has meaning except for the meaning I give it 10) I forgive easily (< ugh!)
Day 6: “Mental Diet Day” Try Emmet Fox’s mental diet idea for a single day. Don’t think anything negative, speak anything negative, or hold on to or dwell on anything negative.
Day 7: A Letter from Your Future Self written 10 years from now, living your dream life. What would you tell your current self about what life is like? What advice would you give yourself? What encouragement?
Day 8: Emotional Awareness - Answer the following questions: 1) In what three specific areas of your life could you reevaluate your situation based on what you know today versus what you knew in the past? 2) how could you reorganize your life so that it is more in harmony with your dreams and desires? 3) What would you most like to spend your time doing? 4) What would you do if you knew you could not fail? 5) What would other people think if you quit your job or shut down your business? 6) What is your greatest feat? 7) How have you handled change in the past? 8) Whose approval do you need in your life? 9) What excites you? 10) What makes you feel fulfilled and useful?
Day 9: Face a Fear - Take a small action that makes you uncomfortable, or a little afraid…
Day 10: Release the Past - Recall an attachment identified in Chp2, “get in touch with how it makes you fell… feel the feeling in your body.” Then answer the following questions out loud: Do I like feeling this way? Do I want to let it go? Am I willing to let it go? When am I willing to let it go? …If you are willing to let it go, say out loud: “I am willing to let [X] go now.” Then “take a deep breath, and let it go with a sound!” [Repeat x3] Shake out your hands and body and smile. Apparently this is based on The Sedona Method…
Day 11: Forgive - “Sit on a chair in a comfortable position with your legs uncrossed and your palms facing up. Take three slow, deep breaths… Now imagine that a person you have been angry with is sitting in front of you. See him or her looking into your eyes. imagine him or her saying these words: “I am sorry for hurting you. I never intended to do so. I did the best I could at the time. I never would have done what I did id I had known it would cause you so much pain.” Make the picture of this scene in full living color as if it were happening right now. Imagine yourself leaning over and hugging or at least shaking hands with this person in forgiveness, knowing that everyone always does the best they can at the time, including you. Feel the negative energy leaving you now. Feel the lightness and the freedom in your body as peace and harmony are restored inside of you.” (<< seems like this would only work some circumstances, e.g. not against violent or criminal attacks)
Day 12: Draft your Vision - Start with the phrase “My vision is…” and then write what you would like to see yourself accomplishing in the world from today forward. Write what you want and intend to be true, without including limitations of any kind. Take no more than 10-15 min.
Day 13: Create a Mantra - What single sentence can you create that would inspire you daily and capture your vision? Write a draft and include in your Morning Ritual.
Day 14: Establish an Evening Ritual - Each night before you go to bed, write down three things you are grateful for - the first two from today, the third for something that has yet to occur but that you wish to happen.
Day 15: Baby-Step Brainstorm - Take 15 min to brainstorm a list of steps that you can take to move you towards your Pivot.
Day 16: Try it On - Contact a person who has accomplished what you want to accomplish and ask to spend the day with them / ask them how they got there.
Day 17: Identify Your Stakeholders - Who are your stakeholders and schedule a time to meet with each of them.
Day 18: Find a Mentor
Day 19: Start a Mastermind. Aim for 6 peple.
Day 20: Attend a Training Workshop or Seminar
Day 21: Hire a Coach
Day 22 and Beyond: Take Action!
Recommended Reading:
Secrets of the Millionaire by T. Harv Eker
The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck
The Sedona Method by Hale Dwoskin
Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins
Thing and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Michael Mantell
The Seven Day Mental Diet by Emmet Fox
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
The Alchemest by Paulo Coelho
Karmic Management by Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally
The Other F Word by Juliana Ericson
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
The Seven Spritual Laws of Succuss by Deepak Chopra
Autobiography of a Yogi by Raramahansa Yogananda
Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill
Redemption by Berny Dohrmann
The Holographic Universe by Michael Dooley
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
September 19, 2017
The book is just okay. The first few chapters are dedicated to why you should want to pursue a pivot and why it is important to have the courage to do so... If someone is reading the book it would have been better to assume that the individual is ready to make changes and get to the point.
The rest appears to be borrowed ideas from Napolean Hill and other authors mixed with a sales pitch for his or other coaching programs. Whilst coaching programs can benefit people the text was so clearly written with sales as the agenda that it was very difficult to take the author seriously.
A few potentially useful tools were mentioned like "reverse timelines" but the majority of the book is random examples and sales which is a shame.
The rest appears to be borrowed ideas from Napolean Hill and other authors mixed with a sales pitch for his or other coaching programs. Whilst coaching programs can benefit people the text was so clearly written with sales as the agenda that it was very difficult to take the author seriously.
A few potentially useful tools were mentioned like "reverse timelines" but the majority of the book is random examples and sales which is a shame.
May 1, 2022
Packed a few good advices and inspiring stories. Good motivation if you are considering a major change in life.
February 17, 2025
Big fan of the pivot!
June 19, 2019
Some helpful questions posed in this book.
-What are you committed to?
-What work would you do if money were no object, you could not fail, and you'd never see any status or recognition for it?
-What would you do if you weren't afraid?
-How can you reorganize your life so it's more in harmony with your dreams and desires?
-What habits could you eliminate to create more time and energy?
I liked that Markel highlights the extreme importance of consistent exercise and building habits that move you in the direction of your dreams.
I was not a fan of the some of the spiritual and god mumbo jumbo and sales pitchy vibes.
But still some helpful pointers.
-What are you committed to?
-What work would you do if money were no object, you could not fail, and you'd never see any status or recognition for it?
-What would you do if you weren't afraid?
-How can you reorganize your life so it's more in harmony with your dreams and desires?
-What habits could you eliminate to create more time and energy?
I liked that Markel highlights the extreme importance of consistent exercise and building habits that move you in the direction of your dreams.
I was not a fan of the some of the spiritual and god mumbo jumbo and sales pitchy vibes.
But still some helpful pointers.
January 15, 2017
Dry at times. Very over-rated.
February 23, 2018
A quick read with some good tips and a good pep talk about pursuing dreams but it does also come off as a bit cultish or MLM scammy.
October 24, 2021
Meh. This was like a love letter to his former life coach
Some decent tidbits, but it certainly didn't inspire me to quit my job, sell my house, and farm radishes.
Some decent tidbits, but it certainly didn't inspire me to quit my job, sell my house, and farm radishes.
November 28, 2023
There were definitely some helpful and inspiring elements, especially to get unstuck, but I still feel unable to put action into a pivot personally. Maybe I should re-read it...
Ch 2:
Complete the following statements, reflecting back on your past. You might consider specific emotional events or general feelings about your path in life so far.
-I feel angry that...
-I feel afraid that...
-I feel sorry that...
-I feel sad that...
-I feel guilty that...
-I feel ashamed or embarrassed about...
-I feel frustrated that...
-Why is it so hard to let go? If you can't let go, it's because you're not done suffering yet.
Ch 3:
-Bravery isn't the feeling you get that allows you to take action; bravery is what comes after. It's the tiny seed of confidence that grows a little more each time you take action toward your pivot. Stop waiting to feel brave.
Ch 2:
Complete the following statements, reflecting back on your past. You might consider specific emotional events or general feelings about your path in life so far.
-I feel angry that...
-I feel afraid that...
-I feel sorry that...
-I feel sad that...
-I feel guilty that...
-I feel ashamed or embarrassed about...
-I feel frustrated that...
-Why is it so hard to let go? If you can't let go, it's because you're not done suffering yet.
Ch 3:
-Bravery isn't the feeling you get that allows you to take action; bravery is what comes after. It's the tiny seed of confidence that grows a little more each time you take action toward your pivot. Stop waiting to feel brave.
September 9, 2022
Oh my. Don't know if it was just good timing or a really good book, but this one hit all the points that I needed to hear.
Logical, practical steps to get out of a rut and back on the track of what you need to be doing. I read it on Scribd, then ordered the paperback to do the exercises within. (I do better with the paper edition then doing copy/paste on the computer)
Interesting suggestions and examples, it is going to go along side Atomic Habits as a brain booster when I feel myself sliding back from where I'm aiming to go.
Logical, practical steps to get out of a rut and back on the track of what you need to be doing. I read it on Scribd, then ordered the paperback to do the exercises within. (I do better with the paper edition then doing copy/paste on the computer)
Interesting suggestions and examples, it is going to go along side Atomic Habits as a brain booster when I feel myself sliding back from where I'm aiming to go.
June 28, 2021
There are times in our life when we need to make a change. We need to pivot. But how do we do it? How do we gather courage to move ahead? What's the best way to pivot?
Adam Markel wrote a "can't put down" book that weaves his own stories with concrete steps. It's the kind of book that I'll want to re-read and refer to more than once. I loved it so much that I recommended it to my husband, who is now raving about it.
Terrific book to help you reinvent your life and career!
Adam Markel wrote a "can't put down" book that weaves his own stories with concrete steps. It's the kind of book that I'll want to re-read and refer to more than once. I loved it so much that I recommended it to my husband, who is now raving about it.
Terrific book to help you reinvent your life and career!
January 8, 2023
3.5/5. The book had some interesting insights, and I did take the time to answer most of the pivot questions in each chapter. I don't necessarily know how much of this I'll apply in my journey because — let's be real — we're all different! This is a great starting point, but that doesn't mean it's going to be 100% perfect for everyone (which is totally fine). If you want to "pivot" or transition & aren't sure where to start, I think this could be a useful book to help you get ready.
August 26, 2019
Focusing on the concept of a career pivot, this book has lots of practical exercises on how to think about and pursue that next career you've only dreamed of. I would have enjoyed this better if the 21 day pivot plan was woven more into the book as it unfolded, instead of just being included as an appendix.
March 4, 2020
Great read! Key theme is those who achieve success do not follow the 'path to success', they ride the wave and continue to make small pivots in a favorable direction. Adam Markel isn't too preachy and gives summaries at the beginning and end of each section, so if you want to skim topics and read into where you are interested, you're in good shape. Pivot is my new favorite verb!
August 28, 2021
I enjoyed how clear and fun this one was. No smarminess, no smug, no uber positivity, just good stories of people you think you'd enjoy sitting down for a coffee with. Including Mr. Markel. I went to one of his presentations and loved it. Changing where you are can be done. You are not who you were. Decide to change. Act on it.
March 10, 2025
I picked this book up to see if I was ready mentally for a change in profession. It had some good insight and perspective, but it didn’t have a lot of science…mostly personal perspective of the author and a lot of quotes. Not bad, but it didn’t offer me evidence-based methods to evaluate my options. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book as a casual read.
August 22, 2022
This is a very inspiring book! It's cool to see how Markel went from lawyer to the life he currently lives. I like the basketball analogies, too. It's a great book to help you open your mindset to a different approach if you are considering a "pivot" of any kind.
April 21, 2023
This is a very realistic face-forward text. I recommend it to anyone who desires to renew or sharpen their critical thinking skills. The use of “pivot points” to beak down thoughts, is an interesting approach; good text for reflection.
November 11, 2023
Maybe I've read too many business self-help books, but this one didn't stir anything inside me. Yes, the author gave me steps towards pivoting my life at the end of the book, but I felt like I was reading a different version of the same thing.
January 27, 2024
An extended pitch for you to attend the personal growth workshops, seminars and lectures hosted by the author's company and hire the life coaches they employ, disguised as advice you can get anywhere.
July 3, 2017
It's what I expected of a self help book. Will have to give the 21 day pivot plan a try.
July 16, 2017
This is a great book!!!
December 14, 2017
Excellent book.
February 24, 2018
Walking and Meditation are 2 good advice, something that we can implement immediately.
April 12, 2018
Too "Drink the Kool-Aid" for me
June 3, 2018
Inspirational but the author is selling himself and his business You don't need that crap. Most of the advice you need in life are FREE.
September 21, 2018
this is one of the better ones. over fluffy sometimes but still some new angles i hadn't consodered and worth a second read thru later on
November 12, 2018
Really great case and advice if you want to find your way and pivoting to the right direction, which almost all of us seek
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