10 Lil' Wins to Look for on Your Road to Reinvention
Fail Forward, Pivot Often: A Startup-Inspired Guide to Reinventing You
Some of the most successful startups completely changed direction before hitting it big; Slack was a video game company, Pinterest started as a shopping app, and YouTube began as a video dating site (WHA?). Let’s take a page from their success stories for your own journey.
Just like startups look for big shifts in tech or culture, you can tune into the changes happening in your world. Maybe it's a new skill you're learning, a shift in your industry, or a personal revelation. These are your inflection points – the moments when everything could change.
Inflection points are pivotal moments in your life that can dramatically alter your trajectory. You can think about it in two ways: external (like technological advances or economic shifts) and internal (such as personal realizations or skill acquisitions). These turning points feel disruptive and are brimming with opportunities.
Keep your eyes peeled and your mind open.
Key to leveraging inflection points is spotting them early and paying attention to areas of friction in your current path. These moments call for a willingness to pivot. In the context of personal reinvention, inflection points are ideal times to initiate Sloppy Starts—taking imperfect but proactive steps in a new direction toward growth.
Let’s break it down, Lil' Habit style.
Cultivate Curiosity, Uncover Insights
Curiosity is your superpower in this reinvention game. It's not about having all the answers right now – it's about asking questions that lead you down new paths to explore.
When you notice an inflection point, you can ask yourself things like:
What's driving this change?
Who else is affected and how are they adapting?
What unconventional opportunities does this shift create?
Embrace the MVP
In startup land, MVP means Minimum Viable Product. You can think of MVP as a Minimum Viable Pivot. What's the smallest step you can take to test your new direction? Maybe it's taking a class, starting a side project, or having coffee with someone already doing what you long to do.
Build Your Reinvention Community
No startup succeeds alone, and neither will your pivot. Find your cheerleaders, mentors, and fellow reinventors to keep you motivated when things get tough (and trust me, they will). One thing I did was join a learning group called Covey Club, created by former magazine Editor-in-Chief Lesley Jane Seymour, to network with like-minded women.
Fail Forward, Fast
I say this a lot: make failure your best friend. Each misstep is data for your next move. Try things out, learn from what doesn't work, and keep pushing forward towards your next gaffe.
Stay Flexible, Keep Pivoting
Stay open to new possibilities and be ready to pivot again. Your journey will be full of twists and turns– I think of it like a video game where I’m covering more ground to collect more power-ups.
Celebrate Every Little Win
Train your brain to focus on positive outcomes. These little wins are the building blocks of your transformation, and this mindset creates a self-reinforcing cycle of achievement, making you more open to new challenges. Remember, it's not just about reaching the destination; it's about enjoying and learning from every step along the way.
These small, consistent victories add up to create significant change.
Ready to kickstart your reinvention? Try this Lil' Habit: Spend 5 minutes each day for the next week identifying potential inflection points in your life. Jot them down, no matter how small they seem. You never know which one might spark your next big pivot!
tl;dr: Personal reinvention, like successful startups, involves pivoting. Identify life's "inflection points" - moments of significant change. Stay curious, take small steps (MVPs), build a support network, learn from failures, remain flexible, and celebrate small wins. Start by spending 5 minutes daily identifying current inflection points in your life. Remember, reinvention is a journey of continuous growth and learning.
If you’re feeling inspired, give yourself a jumpstart by discussing this article with a friend.
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Disclaimer: My Substack posts are my personal reflections and should not be taken as clinical guidance or treatment. Consult qualified experts regarding your specific health needs.