Career pivots often involve shifting into an industry or role you know little about, which can make the move that much more daunting. In episode 68 of Career Relaunch, Pip Murray, a former science museum producer turned founder of Pip & Nut, shares her thoughts on what it takes to start your own company, how to build your confidence during transitions, and why taking action is so important to turn your ideas into reality. During the Mental Fuel segment, I also share some thoughts about how to do something you have no idea HOW to do.

Key Career Insights

1. You don’t need to quit your job the moment you decide it’s time to move on. The decision simply shapes how you approach the upcoming months or even years until you’re ready to make the leap.
2. At some point, you have to cut the cord and turn your side hustle into your full-time job if you want to really give it the attention it deserves.
3. You absolutely can learn anything you need to know in order have a shot of cracking into a new industry if you devote yourself to educating yourself, connecting with the right people, and filling your knowledge gaps.
4. When you’re trying to test out a new idea, err on the side of doing. Otherwise, your idea will always be an idea. Getting where you want to go involves a series of improvements as you test out various approaches.

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Listener Challenge

My challenge to you, especially if you feel like there’s no way you can do something or you feel like you don’t have the skills, experience, or knowledge to pursue some idea that you would actually find very gratifying, is to sit down, and take an honest inventory of what it would take for you to get yourself to a place where you DID feel comfortable giving it a shot.

It could be a knowledge gap you would need to fill so you can go into the process well-informed, or some specific questions you need to answer, or a set of skills you would need to acquire. Capture exactly what those knowledge gaps, unanswered questions, or missing skills are. Then, take action to address at least one. For example:

• Reach out to your network, maybe on LinkedIn or Facebook, to see if anyone knows someone who could shed some light on your questions.
• Enroll in a course that allows you to upskill or learn a missing skill
• Or even just Google the question you need answered