This is a summary review of Pivot containing key details about the book.

What is Pivot About?

“Pivot” by Jenny Blake offers practical advice on how to navigate career changes and create a fulfilling professional path. (Full Summary…)

Pivot Summary Review

“Pivot” by Jenny Blake is an insightful and comprehensive guide to navigating the complexities of modern careers, offering a methodical approach to making strategic moves. As someone who has spent a considerable amount of time working at Google and authoring books on career development, Blake draws from her wealth of experience to present a four-stage process for individuals seeking answers to the perennial question, “What’s next?”

The central premise of the book revolves around the notion that careers are no longer linear but rather fluid trajectories. Blake asserts that, irrespective of age, life stage, financial status, or seniority, individuals are constantly faced with the need to navigate career changes. In a world where the average employee tenure is just four to five years, adaptability and the ability to make informed decisions about the next career move are crucial.

The four-stage process outlined in “Pivot” guides readers through the following steps:

1. **Double-Down on Existing Strengths:** Blake emphasizes the importance of leveraging one’s strengths, interests, and experiences. By identifying and amplifying what is already working, individuals can build a solid foundation for their next move.

2. **Find New Opportunities and Identify Skills:** The book guides readers on how to explore new opportunities and identify skills to develop without succumbing to analysis-paralysis or comparison with others.

3. **Run Small Experiments:** Blake advocates for a practical approach by encouraging readers to run small experiments to test and determine their next steps. This involves a process of trial and error to gain valuable insights.

4. **Take Smart Risks to Launch with Confidence:** The final stage involves making informed decisions and taking calculated risks to confidently launch into a new direction.

Throughout the book, Blake supports her methodology with personal experiences and showcases the success stories of other pivoters. The narrative is structured to cater to a broad audience, addressing those who may be at a plateau in their current job, contemplating a new role within their organization, considering entrepreneurship, or contemplating a shift to an entirely new industry.

“Pivot” receives additional validation through positive reviews and endorsements. One reviewer, who teaches and collaborates with Blake, lauds the book as one of the most actionable and inspiring resources for approaching a career pivot. The comprehensive nature of the content is highlighted by another reviewer who appreciates the well-organized set of tools and systems presented in the book. Practicality is emphasized, with examples of how the tools can be immediately applied, even within busy schedules.

The author’s emphasis on self-assessment, thoughtful evaluation of opportunities, building networks, and practical action distinguishes “Pivot” from other career development books. The book’s ability to cater to individuals on different points of their career journey, coupled with its holistic approach that addresses both professional challenges and personal enrichment, sets it apart as a valuable resource.

While acknowledging that some readers may find the process familiar, Blake reinforces the practicality of her approach, making it accessible to a wide range of audiences. The book’s success lies not only in its content but also in its ability to inspire confidence in individuals navigating the complexities of today’s dynamic work environment.

Essentially, “Pivot” by Jenny Blake stands out as a highly valuable resource for anyone seeking guidance on their career journey. With a practical and actionable approach, backed by real-world examples, the book provides readers with a roadmap to navigate change, make informed decisions, and confidently pivot toward a fulfilling and successful future.

Who is the author of Pivot?

Jenny Blake, author of the award-winning book Pivot and co-creator of Google’s acclaimed Career Guru coaching program, is back with her signature blend of heart-based operating principles and practical tools.

How long is Pivot?

• Print length: 272 pages

What genre is Pivot?

Business, Nonfiction, Self Help

What are good quotes from Pivot?

“Cut yourself some slack. Remember, one hundred years from now, all new people. —Message tacked to a tree by monks at Wat Umong, a 700-year-old temple in Thailand”

“Travel teaches us to push past our fears, find courage to explore our inner and outer world, and forces us to turn off autopilot.”

“What you can plan is too small for you to live.”

“Eric Ries, author of the business bible The Lean Startup, defines a business pivot as “a change in strategy without a change in vision.”

“As Steve Jobs said in his 2005 Stanford commencement speech, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.”

“Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck, author of Mindset: The Psychology of Success, discovered in her research that the most successful people are those with a growth mindset”

“the gut contains over 500 million neurons, equivalent in size and complexity to a cat’s brain, and is the source of 90 percent of our body’s serotonin production. The gut-brain is primal, forming in the womb before the heart- and head-brains. ”

“You can learn to enjoy calculated risk and uncertainty in exchange for adventure, flexibility, freedom, and opportunity.”