113. Promotion or Pivot? How to Make the Right Career Move Without Starting Over
Thu Feb 05 2026
In this episode, we’re talking about one of the hardest career decisions high performers face: whether to pursue a promotion or make a pivot, without burning everything down or starting from scratch.
As you achieve more, the stakes feel higher. Your income, identity, stability, and responsibility to others all get tied to your next move. That pressure often leads to overthinking, decision paralysis, or staying stuck longer than you want.
In this conversation, I break down how to make intentional career decisions using structure, data, and real conversations, so you can move forward with confidence instead of guessing.
In this episode, I cover:
How to tell the difference between a promotion problem and a pivot problem
Why high achievers get stuck when too many decisions feel urgent at once
A decision framework to reduce overwhelm and clarify your next step
How to audit assumptions instead of relying on fear-based narratives
Why clarity comes from action and evidence, not thinking harder
Key Takeaways:
You don’t need certainty to move forward; you need structure
Promotion and pivot decisions require different strategies
Overthinking often masks fear and avoidance, not lack of clarity
Evidence-based confidence is built through action and data
You can make a strategic career move without starting over
Chapters:
00:00 Pivot Versus Promotion: Framing the Choice
02:51 Decision Framework to Overcome Paralysis
07:03 Define Purpose and Outcomes for a Pivot
09:13 Audit, Test Assumptions, Build Evidence
12:36 90-Day Plan: Narrow Paths and Gather Data
Learn more and stay connected:
www.danitan.com
www.linkedin.com/in/dani-tan
Join my weekly newsletter
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In this episode, we’re talking about one of the hardest career decisions high performers face: whether to pursue a promotion or make a pivot, without burning everything down or starting from scratch. As you achieve more, the stakes feel higher. Your income, identity, stability, and responsibility to others all get tied to your next move. That pressure often leads to overthinking, decision paralysis, or staying stuck longer than you want. In this conversation, I break down how to make intentional career decisions using structure, data, and real conversations, so you can move forward with confidence instead of guessing. In this episode, I cover: How to tell the difference between a promotion problem and a pivot problem Why high achievers get stuck when too many decisions feel urgent at once A decision framework to reduce overwhelm and clarify your next step How to audit assumptions instead of relying on fear-based narratives Why clarity comes from action and evidence, not thinking harder Key Takeaways: You don’t need certainty to move forward; you need structure Promotion and pivot decisions require different strategies Overthinking often masks fear and avoidance, not lack of clarity Evidence-based confidence is built through action and data You can make a strategic career move without starting over Chapters: 00:00 Pivot Versus Promotion: Framing the Choice 02:51 Decision Framework to Overcome Paralysis 07:03 Define Purpose and Outcomes for a Pivot 09:13 Audit, Test Assumptions, Build Evidence 12:36 90-Day Plan: Narrow Paths and Gather Data Learn more and stay connected: www.danitan.com www.linkedin.com/in/dani-tan Join my weekly newsletter