Passion Pivoters: Answering a Call They Can’t Ignore

Nine of my first fifty stories are of "Passion Pivoters," individuals who left the familiar to pursue work that lights their joy. One thing is clear: they did not take impulsive leaps. While each person’s path is distinct, every pivot was born from an inner pull toward work that felt purposeful, values-driven, and deeply personal. Their decisions often came after stretches of reflection, navigating burnout, life transitions, or a sharpening sense that “there must be more than this.”

Following the Curve of Purpose -- symbolizing the winding, illuminated path Passion Pivoters take when they follow a calling they can no longer ignore

What They Pivoted From and Why

Most Passion Pivoters among my stories left senior or highly specialized roles where they had built deep expertise, strong reputations, and enviable networks. Their “before” lives spanned global tech leadership such as Stela Lupushor, Lydia Wu, and Joe Hartley, HR and people analytics consulting – Aaron Rodriguez and Al Adamsen, executive learning technology – Heidi Spirgi, writing and thought leadership Ed Frauenheim, cross-sector leadership in nonprofit, government, and corporate settings – Isabel Sapriel, and network-building in community organizations – Kimberli Jetter.

The why behind each pivot was rarely a single event. It was the accumulation of experiences that made staying, feel out of alignment. Common triggers included:

• Values misalignment – Realizing their employer’s focus (profit, compliance, hierarchy) no longer matched their personal priorities for impact, equity, or innovation (Heidi, Lydia, and Stela).

• Loss of joy – Recognizing that excitement and fulfillment had been replaced by stress, burnout, or disengagement (Heidi, Aaron, and Lydia).

• Life transitions – Parenthood (Isabel), empty-nesting (Al), or personal loss (Stela and Joe) that reframed what mattered most.

• A deepening sense of purpose – An unshakable calling to create, heal, teach, or lead in ways that reflected their truest selves (Joe, Kimberli, and Ed).

  
  

For some, the move was away from environments that constrained innovation or creativity; for others, it was a pivot toward an entirely different sphere of work. In both cases, the deciding factor was the same: they could no longer ignore the pull toward work of meaning.

Navigating This Phase of Their Work Lives

Each Passion Pivoter took a deliberate approach to shaping their “after.” Many embraced portfolio careers, combining paid engagements with passion projects (Ed, Stela and Al). Others built entirely new ventures (Isabel and Kimberli) or stepped into nonprofit or ministry leadership (Joe).

Their navigation strategies included:

• Redefining scope and pace – Stela designed a consultancy that allowed for selectivity and relationship-building; Heidi set boundaries around part-time work; Lydia chose creative freedom over corporate structures.

• Integrating personal mission with work – Isabel built a “buy one, give one” model into Good Work Strategies; Kimberli’s network-building is grounded in healing and gratitude; Joe brought professional management principles to church leadership.

• Leveraging existing credibility – Ed used his background as a writer and cultural commentator to bring legitimacy to his work on masculinity and Teal culture; Al tapped his global people analytics reputation to drive his Future of Work Project.

• Balancing financial reality with passion – Several underscored the role of financial stability in enabling them to choose purpose-first paths without the immediate pressure for income (Heidi, Lydia, Aaron, and Joe).

For most, the phase they are in now is both exploratory and committed. It’s a space where they may continue shaping the long-term form of their work, but all are deeply aligned in mission.

The Role of Learning

For Passion Pivoters, learning is not incidental. It’s central. It appears in three primary forms:

1. Formal Training and Certification – Heidi completed a coaching program at the Hudson Institute; Joe sought pastoral licensing and hired an executive pastor coach.

2. Purpose-Driven Skill Expansion – Isabel deepened her mindfulness practice through teacher training in Tibetan Buddhism and Hatha yoga; Aaron explored new coaching techniques; Lydia mastered HR-adjacent product development in AI.

3. Self-Directed, Continuous Learning – All nine treat learning as an ongoing practice, whether it’s staying current with thought leadership (Al and Ed), testing new business models (Kimberli), or drawing on cross-sector knowledge to innovate (Stela).

Learning is framed less as a credentialing exercise and more as an act of alignment. It’s building the skills, perspectives, and resilience to serve their purpose effectively.

Advice for Others Who Want to Follow THEIR Passion

Across stories, their guidance falls into recurring themes:

• Do the inner work first – Get clear on your values, purpose, and what gives you joy (Heidi, Al, and Joe). As Al says, "Be selfish in a kind way: know thyself." And, Joe says, "The most successful transitions are the ones that acknowledge a change in identity – how you answer the question, ‘I am…’"

• Pursue work that resonates with your values – As Ed says, “True fulfillment comes from pursuing work that resonates with your values and contributes to meaningful cultural conversations.” Aaron echoes with, "Find joy in your work. Joy and meaning give purpose to your work and life."

• Secure your financial base – A safety net buys freedom to make purpose-driven choices without fear (Aaron, Lydia, and Joe).

• Leverage your network – Maintain strong connections and collaborate intentionally (Stela, Kimberli, and Al).

• Be ready for rejection – See “no” as a natural part of growth and resilience (Lydia).

• Tell a coherent story – Articulate your throughline so others understand your shift (Isabel).

• Commit fully and trust yourself – Once you pivot, lean in with courage and consistency (Al and Aaron).

Gender Differences

The women in this group frame their pivots around values alignment and the desire to create human-centered impact, often in response to environments that constrained creativity or conflicted with their ethics. Healing, community, and relational connection were prominent threads.

The men more often spoke of reframing identity, whether shifting societal narratives, redefining personal measures of success, scaling impact from family focus to societal change, or aligning long-held personal faith with professional life. Their pivots tended to integrate mission with a public-facing leadership role.

Age Cohort Differences

• 30s (Aaron and Isabel) – More openness to iterative change and experimentation; greater emphasis on building sustainability early; willingness to redefine success outside traditional career ladders.

• 40s (Lydia and Kimberli) – Pivots often triggered by organizational constraints or a sharpening clarity of purpose; readiness to “divorce” from traditional 9–5 in pursuit of autonomy.

• 50s (Stela, Ed, Heidi, Joe, and Al) – Strong focus on legacy, large-scale impact, and building enduring initiatives; depth of expertise leveraged to accelerate credibility in new arenas. For Joe, his pivot also revealed a long-standing personal mission.

Final Reflections

Passion Pivoters are not simply chasing what they love. They are answering a call they can no longer ignore. Their pivots are built and nurtured on deep reservoirs of professional credibility, financial foresight, and self-knowledge. They navigate this phase with an intentional blend of purpose, flexibility, and continual learning.

If Continuous Contributors redefine retirement, and Resetters pause to reorient, Passion Pivoters are the ones burning a bright, steady flame for the work that matters most to them. They remind us that passion isn’t a fleeting feeling. It’s the intersection of what you’re uniquely able to give, what the world needs, and what lights your joy.