We all have those moments where we wonder…“Did I make the right decision? What would I do differently if the opportunity presented itself again?” The pivot points in our lives are there every day, but the difference is whether we recognize them or not. And even more important is knowing how we act on those pivot points.
It can happen during a meeting — we were discussing a book I asked the team to read. A colleague said he couldn’t relate to the book because he has never been to the destination referenced in the book. However, the book wasn’t about the destination, it was about the experience. Instead of a negative response, I paused and I pivoted…instead of disappointment for what I thought was him not taking the book seriously, I pivoted to dive in deeper. I asked why he interpreted it that way. We discussed more, and I realized that if I had not paused, I would have lost him and any positive momentum gained by the discussion. (To be fair, colleagues noted afterward they were shocked and amazed I took that turn with him.) I told them it was easy, I pivoted.
As kids, dream jobs often look like the professional athlete you want to emulate, or a role where you get to save the world. I’ll argue that a career in rural broadband may not have been at the top of a child’s dream job list, but how each of us pivoted to get here is a worthy story to tell. Every choice we made led us to this career choice. Some days are hard – what career isn’t? But most days are beautifully made. I’d challenge each of you to reflect on your pivot points. Why did you choose rural broadband? And more importantly, why do you stay?
Working in rural broadband, we face pivot points every day. Whether it’s figuring out ways to connect with certain customer personas, but then needing to resonate with the other half, we pivot our speech. If it’s deciding how to tell our Universal Service Fund story and the importance of funding rural networks, we pivot based on who understands us and who may need more education. If it’s figuring out how to get strong Wi-Fi to the opposite end of a home, we pivot to ensure our customers’ needs are met.
Pivot when necessary, and begin to understand when you’re in a pivot moment. Not only will it help you personally grow, but it will also bode well for rural broadband, our customers, and the impact we make.
*P.S. – If you are looking for a fantastic book, I’d recommend “Unreasonable Hospitality” by Will Guidara.
These blogs are brought to you by NTCA Women in Telecom, a program dedicated to empowering women in the telecommunications industry. To learn more about the program, connect with the WIT community, or explore opportunities for involvement, visit ntca.org/wit.