Top Takeaway:
Success, even at the very pinnacle of achievement, does not equal fulfillment.
Overview
You might recognize this author. Apolo Ohnno is known for his speed skating achievements, including being the most decorated American winter Olympian.
As he puts it, this book is a guide for anyone seeking to adapt and reinvent themselves in a changing chaotic world.
This books follows his own reinvention after his Olympic career.
My big takeaway from the book isn’t one of the chapters or exercises or journal prompts. It’s actually about the situation itself. If someone with this level of achievements and “success” felt lost and uncertain, then maybe my own journey of finding purpose wasn’t so unusual after all! I definitely had moments of uncertainty and no clear direction forward. It’s comforting to know if can happen even to those who’ve reached what society calls “success.”
Ohno tells his journey in the book and adds in exercises for the reader to explore their own purpose and direction. One such exercise is on page 90.
Who Benefits
Take a moment and think about a specific person who benefits from what you do. It could be one of your coworkers, a family member, a customer, or somebody far away on a remote island… Once you have that person in mind, imagine them in the moment they receive whatever you did or gave them. Is it your daughter at school, opening her lunch you packed with love? Is it your boss who knows your work led to a revenue increase? Is it that client you saw last week who wrote to tell you how much they appreciate your advice? … Tune in to how that person responds to you and your work. Tangibly visualize how your work matters to others, no matter how small or laden with drudgery it may feel to you.
Some other themes and lessons he explores:
- what kind of person do you want to be
- what does a “win” or “loss” mean to you
- ideas for gathering a challenging circle of supportive people
- how to develop and keep a sense of play along the journey of discovery
- and many others
He wraps up the book with his Five Golden Principles:
1 Gratitude: expressing gratitude daily helps us maintain perspective, cultivate empathy and alleviate stress
2 Giving: being generous with everyone, beginning with ourselves
3 Grit: mental stamina for when the path gets strange and difficult
4 Gearing Up: taking bold action toward your goals and prepping mentally and physically for the challenges ahead
5 Go: Start the race and do your best knowing the outcome isn’t up to you but you’ve geared up to face whatever comes next
“Hard Pivot” is a great book for those early in their pivot journey with easy-to-digest stories and tips which introduce key elements for a meaningful career shift.
