Shifting the Strategy When Life Shifts You
Life rarely follows the script. It looks good on paper but when life throws a curveball, it’s your ability to pivot that determines whether you move forward or fall apart. I learned this lesson long before I ever studied project management. Before my first project management course in 2015, I was already managing projects in the PTA, through volunteer work, and as a consultant and entrepreneur. Like many of you, I was balancing tasks, navigating people, setting goals, and delivering results.
Whether or not you use the title, we’re all Project Managers, managing projects, constantly. You can Google the project lifecycle, read up on task tracking apps and even take certification courses. But what most resources don’t teach you is, how to pivot when execution gets messy.
The Reality of Project Execution
When I manage community programs and projects, the planning phase is thorough. We can spend 90 days to six months mapping out a single project. We look at timelines, budgets, schedules, locations, stakeholders, funding strategies and even risk mitigation. On paper, the plan is flawless. Then life happens. The venue floods. The funding falls through. A key person drops out. Suddenly, the airtight plan starts to crumble. This is where most people freeze or quit. This is where I thrive assessing the situation, adjusting the goal, and building a new path forward. Let’s talk about how you can do that too.
PIVOT - Shifting Plans When Life Shifts You
Step 1-BREATHE
Plans are powerful. They keep us organized, focused and aligned. When things fall apart, our initial reaction is often fear, stress or frustration. This is your first action: Breathe.
Intentional breathing through mindfulness, prayer, yoga or simply stepping away can calm your nervous system and restore your clarity. According to research from the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, deep breathing can reduce fear and anxiety by slowing down your physiological response.
Give yourself permission to pause. Step away. Take deep breaths. Then come back with a clearer, more grounded mindset.
Step 2-BACK TO REALITY
Now it’s time to face the facts without panic.
Feel your feelings, yes; but don’t stay there. Reassess your situation with objectivity:
What has changed?
What resources do you still have?
What new resources do you have access to?
What deadlines need to shift?
What outcomes are still possible?
Avoid spiraling into blame or regret. This is not about what went wrong; it’s about what you can still make happen. Keep your eyes on the purpose behind the project. Whether it’s to serve, create, earn, or build; remember why you started.
Step 3-BUILD THE NEW PLAN
Don’t try to revive the old plan. Build a new one that fits your new reality.
Start with a revised goal. For example, a Nonprofit Organization wanted to raise $15,000 but no longer has access to the desired venue. You can still raise $15,000; but instead of in-person events, you’ll pivot to an online campaign. Your new reality deserves a new strategy.
From there, focus on your basics:
Schedule – What needs to happen and by when?
Budget – What will it cost? (Think: marketing, software, transportation, staff, etc)
Resources – Who or what can help you? (People, tools, locations, platforms)
Use tools like project management templates or simple spreadsheets. Assign tasks. Set check-ins. Build momentum again.
Believe in Your Power to Pivot
A plan is a foundation; adaptability is a superpower. Whether you’re launching a nonprofit, finishing a degree or navigating a major life shift, the ability to pivot gives you staying power. Yes, the plan (strategy) may change but that doesn’t mean the vision is lost. You are still capable. You are still called. You are still in control of how you move forward.
Need help creating a new plan? I’m here to support you. Book a Strategy Session and let’s build something powerful together.
References
Feinstein, J. S., Khalsa, S. S., Yeh, H., Wohlrab, C., Simmons, W. K., Stein, M. B., & Paulus, M. P. (2018). Examining the short-term anxiolytic and antidepressant effect of Floatation-REST. PLOS ONE, 13(2), e0190292.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0190292
