The Art of Pivoting: Lessons in Agility from Life and Work
Life rarely unfolds in a straight line. Careers twist, passions shift, and circumstances often force us to take unexpected turns. In the world of technology, we refer to this as pivoting, an intentional redirection that enables us to adapt, survive, or thrive. But pivoting isn’t just for agile teams or product roadmaps; it’s deeply human. My own journey, both personal and professional, has been marked by pivots, some chosen boldly, others thrust upon me. Each one has reshaped my perspective, my work, and my sense of purpose.
What follows is a reflection on those pivots, blending technical lessons with lived experience. I hope that as you read, you’ll see how agility is not only a framework for building better products but also a way of approaching life itself.
Pivoting Isn’t Failure
Pivoting. It’s a word that sounds deceptively simple, almost like a graceful dance move, yet its impact runs deep, both in life and in technology. Agile methodologies emphasise flexibility, responsiveness, and iteration, but the most profound pivots occur when courage meets clarity and you are willing to embrace uncertainty.
I first confronted the power of a pivot when I moved to Hong Kong. I was offered a position as a quality manager at a logistics company creating mobile skins for devices. The plan was straightforward: a three-month trial before committing to a long-term arrangement. At first, I enjoyed the work, the structure, and the challenges, but I soon realised that this role was not where I wanted to be in five years. To reach my ambitions, I needed to enhance my project management skills and pursue opportunities aligned with my interests in AI, data analytics, IoT, and robotics. Finishing my three-month contract and choosing to move forward was not a failure; it was a bold and deliberate decision that clarified my path. A few months later, with a PMP certification in hand and the world disrupted by COVID-19, I found myself without a job. Still, this pivot ultimately led me to Hanson Robotics, where I could finally immerse myself in the skills I had always aspired to master.
This experience taught me that pivoting, much like refactoring code, is not about abandoning the system but iterating, optimising, and redirecting based on new insights. Shifting direction is not a weakness; it is a sign of intelligence in motion.
Listen Before You Leap
Pivoting also requires listening and observation. Entrepreneurship has never been my primary ambition, despite possessing the necessary skills and experience. Over the years, I learned from the stories of others, studied their journeys, and waited until I felt ready to step forward myself. Today, I approach opportunities with intention. The moment we release old norms and embrace experimentation, multiple pathways appear. Yet, as much as pivoting requires boldness, it also demands preparation. Research and reflection are crucial. Much like integrating user stories into sprint planning, we can hypothesise what a user wants, but only through feedback loops, testing, and validation do we discover the pivot that truly serves our audience.
Pivoting is Personal
My journey with technology began long before I entered the professional realm. I still remember my first computer class, where I was fascinated by the ability to make hardware and software work together. That fascination became a guiding force. My first professional role allowed me to deliver software solutions for hardware, an innovation in itself at the time.
Life demanded personal pivots, too. I paused my career to focus on raising my children. Just as I was preparing to return, another pivot occurred when our family moved to another country. Some pivots were forced, confronting illness and, eventually, the loss of our younger son. Yet, through all these challenges, my desire to return to my passions never wavered. I started at a media desk, and gradually, one opportunity led to another, bringing me back to the work I love. Pivoting in life, much like debugging a complex system, requires patience, adaptability, and the courage to leverage previous experience to navigate new paths.
Small Pivots, Big Impact
Small pivots often carry enormous impact. When we developed the prototype for Little Sophia, we began with modest steps, tackling one concept at a time. Each stage invited experimentation, and we were ready to pivot whenever a better solution emerged. Our journey progressed from Arduino to ESP32 to ESP-S3. Each slight pivot refined the design and amplified its impact. By the time we had a working head and body prototype and were developing the leg mechanism, funding constraints stalled the project. Yet, every previous lesson informed subsequent improvements. Iterative development in software mirrors this approach: minor, incremental adjustments, combined with continuous testing, can produce substantial results, even when resources are limited.
The Story Behind the Pivot
Every pivot has a story, and my time at Hanson Robotics is no exception. I was tasked with managing Little Robots, which had two product lines: PE and LS. PE contained closed electronics, while LS was being developed with similar hardware but with enhanced features and a more personalised approach. Cost and scalability issues prompted a pivotal decision: transitioning to an open-sourced, modular, scalable platform for Little Sophia. As I often say, “A product without pivots may be way off from what the user wants.” This pivot reinforced the importance of adaptability, strategic thinking, and collaborative problem-solving. It also reminded me that the best designs, whether for robots, software, or life, emerge when we remain open to change and responsive to feedback.
Pivoting is more than a methodology; it is a mindset. It requires curiosity, resilience, and the courage to embrace uncertainty. Growth rarely occurs in straight lines; it unfolds in loops, curves, and the deliberate choice to change direction when the world demands it. Each pivot teaches us something new, from refining technical systems to understanding human needs. And in every iteration, whether in life, technology, or business, we get closer to what truly matters.
Pivoting isn’t failure; it’s learning, reframing, and preparing for the next step.
Research before you leap; pivots succeed when guided by insight, not impulse.
Small pivots build momentum; incremental change leads to lasting impact.
Every pivot tells a story; capture it because it defines the journey.
A Moment of Reflection
As I look back, I realise that every pivot, planned or unplanned, has shaped not just my career but who I am. The early fascination with computers, the forced pauses, the bold decisions, and the countless minor adjustments all intertwined into a path that is uniquely mine. And that’s the beauty of pivoting: it doesn’t erase your story, it enriches it. If you find yourself at a crossroads today, don’t fear the pivot. Lean into it. It might just be the turn that brings you closer to your purpose.
Questions to Challenge Yourself With
What pivot have you resisted that could actually move you closer to your goals?
Are you listening deeply enough before making your following change?
How might a slight pivot today compound into a significant impact tomorrow?
What story will your next pivot tell about you?
