Optimize For Growth, Not Comfort

I was talking to a close friend some time ago.  The topic was the ability to pivot and everything that comes with it.  In this case, it was the transition from the corporate world into entrepreneurship full time.

And to be clear, it hasn't been smooth.  There have been bumps, bruises, and doubt.  Everything short of smooth sailing.  That’s all a part of it.

However, during that that conversation, two things kept coming up.

When you try to pivot from one lane to another (especially from corporate to entrepreneurship) there always seems to be an invisible force pulling your back. And it makes sense.

In this case, corporate life is familiar.  It’s what’s known and already understood.  In some cases it’s guaranteed (to a degree), or at least it feels like it.  Entrepreneurship (or whatever you’re pivoting into) is the opposite.  There’s no built-in structure, no system, and no certainty unless you create it for  yourself.

That tension is real. It’s not unique to this specific situation.  It shows up in every pivot.

Any time you step into something new, there will be a natural pull back to what you already understand.  We don’t like the unknown, but the only way to get better in a new environment is to stay in it long enough to figure it out.

The second thing that kept coming up is that one isn’t necessarily better than the other.

Corporate isn’t better than entrepreneurship.  Entrepreneurship isn’t better than corporate.  They’re different lanes. They have different demands. They’re suited for different people.

Some people are built for structure.  Some people are built for autonomy.  That’s on you to figure out, but that’s not the main point here.

The point is, when you transition from one world to another, you’re not starting from zero.  It may seem so but it’s far from the truth.

A lot of what you learned before the pivot can and probably is still applicable to your next venture.

The key is being able to recognize what transfers, and actually use it.

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If one path isn’t inherently better than the other…then the focus shifts.

It should no longer be about choosing the “right” lane.  It should be about choosing the lane that helps you grow.  Every stage you’re in has something to teach you.

If you maximize learning all you can from whatever station in your process that you are, you get to carry that knowledge forward with you.

The goal is (and always should be) self-improvement.

Every move you make:

Should be rooted in becoming better.

A better you is a more valuable you.  And if you’ve learned nothing else from these newsletters, I know that you know that value is what the marketplace rewards.

Skills learned in entrepreneurship can be leveraged in the corporate world.  Skills learned in the corporate world can be leveraged in entrepreneurship.  They’re all intertwined and have a symbiotic relationship if you approach it the right way.

The pivot isn’t the point.

Who you become during the pivot is.

If this resonated with you, share it with someone navigating their next move.

And if you want more like this, weekly, no-fluff insights on clarity, focus, and building real leverage, subscribe to The OG Millennial.