When It’s Time to Pivot: Changing Careers and Reclaiming Purpose

For most of my career, I lived and breathed hospitality. Private clubs, food and beverage operations, event execution, member relations—you name it, I did it. I built my identity around service, energy, and the relentless pace of the hospitality world. And for years, it felt like a calling.

Until it didn’t.

I started noticing a shift. What once energized me now left me drained. The industry I loved was evolving into something that no longer aligned with my values—more corporate, less creative. More transactional, less relational. I wasn’t burned out from working hard. I was burned out from working in a space that no longer lit me up.

But here’s the thing they don’t always tell you: knowing you need a change is one thing. Making the leap into a new industry is another.

And it’s terrifying.

Leaving Hospitality Behind

When I made the decision to leave hospitality, I didn’t have a perfectly lined-up plan. What I had was clarity: I wanted structure, balance, and a new kind of challenge. I wanted to apply my skills in a way that was sustainable and meaningful. And I wanted to stop feeling like I was surviving my career instead of building it.

Eventually, I found an opportunity in the insurance industry—office management and operations at a local agency. On paper, it was a massive shift. But as I settle into the role, something has clicked. The skills I’d spent years honing—communication, organization, problem-solving, team coordination—they were all still in play. Just in a different context.

And for the first time in a long time, I feel grounded.

What I’m Learning From Changing Careers

1. Your skills are more transferable than you think.

Hospitality taught me to read people, solve problems fast, and keep 100 balls in the air. Those abilities didn’t disappear when I changed industries—they became assets in a new environment.

2. Reinvention is a muscle.

It’s scary to step into something new, especially when you’re used to being the expert. But reinvention isn’t weakness—it’s growth. The ability to adapt is one of the most valuable leadership traits you can develop.

3. Your career isn’t a cage—it’s a canvas.

You’re not stuck in the story you started with. You can pivot. You can evolve. You can redefine success. And it might look different than you imagined—but that doesn’t make it any less worthy.

4. You don’t need to hate your old career to leave it.

There’s a misconception that we only change paths when things go bad. But I didn’t leave hospitality because I failed—I left because I changed. And that’s allowed.

Final Thought

Changing careers isn’t about starting over. It’s about building on everything you’ve learned—and applying it in a new way. It takes courage. It takes humility. And it takes a willingness to trust that you’re not just leaving something behind—you’re moving toward something better.

I’m still learning. I’m still adjusting. But for the first time in a while, I’m excited about where I’m going.

And if you’re feeling the pull to pivot?

You’re not alone—and it might just be the best decision you ever make.