The Pivot Is More Important Than the Plan
A plan is a great thing. It informs you the direction to go and provides next steps.
But when plans don’t go the way you’d expected, it’s time to pivot. Change the path or change the destination.
And the pivot is even more important than the plan.
When my husband and I bought our home ten years ago, we had a plan. We were going to renovate and update our house throughout, starting with some simple, cheaper things like paint and DIY improvements while we saved for the more expensive renovations like the bathrooms and kitchen. We started working the plan, painting interior walls or baseboards nearly every night for months, socking away some cash as we went.
And then. Our Great Reckoning moment happened. We realized the dollars we were saving were better spent on our debt.
When paying off $112,000 became the new priority for us, we needed to pivot to a new plan.
To pivot you need to have an understanding of the destination and a healthy level of self awareness. For us, we knew how much we’d been saving and were able to get a rough idea of how much time it would take to tackle our new priority. We stretched ourselves further by buckling down a bit more, scratching a few of those DIY projects, and getting more aggressive on the debt.
I’m very thankful that we shifted the plan when we did — before spending tens of thousands on renovations — because it taught us that we could do just fine without those extra upgrades.
Ten years later, our debt is long paid off, our emergency fund is fully funded, and our net worth grows every month. And you know what? We still haven’t renovated our bathrooms or kitchen. Renovations are still in our goals, but we’ve moved them a few rungs down the priority ladder because it makes sense for us in this season.
Life rarely goes exactly as planned, and that’s okay. It’s in those unexpected moments that we learn, grow, and sometimes even thrive. Pivoting doesn’t mean failure; it’s a sign of resilience, adaptability, and the ability to reassess what truly matters.
Whether it’s a home renovation, financial goal, or any other life plan, remember that the ability to pivot is often more valuable than the plan itself. Embrace the changes, keep your priorities in focus, and don’t be afraid to adjust your course when necessary. In the end, it’s not just about the plan you start with but how you navigate the journey along the way. So, when life throws a curveball, take it as an opportunity to pivot and progress towards a path that feels right for you.