In two years I went from a career managing external relations and a business development at a Canadian military R&D center, to managing global HR programs at the headquarters of a Japanese multinational. Plus I became a business school lecturer. How I made so many career and life pivots was not planned out by me, but in hindsight I've put together what I learned from that experience, and I hope it can help you do the same, in less time than it took me! This is a talk I gave at The Pink Cow in Tokyo in December, 2014.

1. You’re Never Too
Old to Pivot
How to Pivot, Better Than I Did
Darren Menabney @ Pink Cow Connections
Tokyo
12.09.14

2. 2011, Toronto
44 years old
Government of
Canada,
Defence R&D
External
Relations Manager
2013+, Tokyo
46 years old
Ricoh Company Ltd.
Global HR
Program Manager
GLOBIS University
Part-time Faculty
COUNTRY
Over a few years I changed…

3. NATIONAL
CULTURE
2011, Toronto
44 years old
Government of
Canada,
Defence R&D
External
Relations Manager
2013+, Tokyo
46 years old
Ricoh Company Ltd.
Global HR
Program Manager
GLOBIS University
Part-time Faculty
Over a few years I changed…

4. JOB
FUNCTION
2011, Toronto
44 years old
Government of
Canada,
Defence R&D
External
Relations Manager
2013+, Tokyo
46 years old
Ricoh Company Ltd.
Global HR
Program Manager
GLOBIS University
Part-time Faculty
Over a few years I changed…

5. CORPORATE
CULTURE
2011, Toronto
44 years old
Government of
Canada,
Defence R&D
External
Relations Manager
2013+, Tokyo
46 years old
Ricoh Company Ltd.
Global HR
Program Manager
GLOBIS University
Part-time Faculty
Over a few years I changed…

6. INDUSTRY
SECTOR
2011, Toronto
44 years old
Government of
Canada,
Defence R&D
External
Relations Manager
2013+, Tokyo
46 years old
Ricoh Company Ltd.
Global HR
Program Manager
GLOBIS University
Part-time Faculty
Over a few years I changed…

7. 450
Degrees
of
Change …through
20/20
hindsight

8. Your
mileage
may
vary

9. HOW TO DO IT?
1. Get self-absorbed
2. Stretch yourself
3. Make your own luck

10. 1. Get self-absorbed
(a little)Take stock
Identify your Gaps

11. Write out your backstory
Critical points
Successes
Failures
Loved / hated doing

12. … and be your own
devil’s advocate

13. Ask
“What if…?” about
…your past
…what you excel at
…what you love doing

14. This is a
Team
Sport

15. Create a New
Narrative

16. SKILL
PASSION
Pivot Around
What Makes You Shine

17. Develop your own
Personal
Mission
Statement
N
S
EW

18. 2. Stretch yourself
Lay the groundwork
for your pivot

19. GET OUTSIDE
Outside what you know
Outside your usual social circle
Outside your home

20. Get Outside
What You Know
Never stop learning
Self-Study
Everyone is your Teacher

21. Get Outside Your
Social Circle
New people
Freaks and weirdos!
New networks

22. Get Outside
Your Home
Travel
Go for a walk
Broaden Your Horizons

23. GET OUTSIDE
OF YOUR
COMFORT ZONE!

24. HAPPY!
GROW
STRETCH
BROADEN
HORIZONS
LEARNMEET
Teachers
Weirdos
Experts
NEW People
Friends and
Family
Books
Classes
Travel
LIFELONG!

25. 3. Make your own luck
Take control

26. Use your
New perspectives
New sense of self
New grasp of the possible
New networks

27. Volunteer
Raise your hand
Be a leader

28. GET
NOTICED

29. SHOWING
BEATS
SAYING

30. Get noticed by doing
things which may have
no immediate benefit,
but fit your new
narrative

31. Pivot around
Your passion,
Your skill, and
What there is a
customer for