What happens when the plan you had for your career, business, or life simply doesn’t fit anymore?

In this episode of Girl in the Game, Gayle Dickie tackles one of the most important skills in a rapidly changing world: knowing when and how to pivot. A changing industry, lost job, new technology, unexpected opportunity, or simply realizing you want something different doesn’t mean your original plan failed. Sometimes it means you’ve grown beyond it. 

Gayle challenges the idea that changing direction means starting over. You’re starting again with experience. Everything you’ve learned, the relationships you’ve built, the instincts you’ve developed, and the skills you’ve earned come with you. The key is recognizing which of those strengths are transferable to your next opportunity. 

She also explains why courage can matter more than confidence. You may never feel completely ready to make the move. Sometimes confidence only arrives after you step into the unfamiliar, survive it, and discover what you’re capable of. And whether you’re 31, 41, 51, 61, or beyond, age can bring judgment, perspective, relationships, and experience that become powerful advantages. 

But not every difficult moment means it’s time to leave. Gayle explores the critical difference between persistence and stubbornness, and offers practical ways to test a new direction before blowing up your current life. 

The takeaway: Careers rarely change through one giant decision. They change through small moves that eventually lead somewhere completely different, and sometimes somewhere much better. When the game changes on you, don’t be afraid to change your game.