Turning Point

Navigating life’s big turns with intention, focus, and connection.

Hi you,

About a year and a half ago, I found myself navigating an unexpected turn in my career when I was caught in the fourth of eight layoffs at a local tech company. Since then, I’ve sent out hundreds (truly) of job applications, balanced freelance work to stay afloat, and kept reminding myself, “The next opportunity is out there.”

And yet for me, the career trail ahead feels uncertain. Is it the rise of AI? A hyper-competitive job market? Election-year unease? Ageism? Or maybe (probably) it’s just the nature of change—unexpected and unrelenting.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about this concept of rotation, the act of turning, particularly in the context of my career. On the bike, a turn can feel seamless when approached with intention, but awkward and unstable when forced. It’s made me think about how, just like on the bike, navigating a turn starts with a small, deliberate shift at the foundation—setting the movement in motion and letting it ripple upward with intention.

If you, like me, are contemplating or navigating a turn in life, here are some lessons the bike can offer on how to approach it with intention and grace.

Photo by Nik on Unsplash

Rotation Begins with Intention

On the bike, every turn starts with a subtle shift at the feet. It’s not a dramatic, sweeping motion, but a deliberate adjustment that sets everything else into motion. That small movement ripples upward, engaging your knees, hips, and core, aligning your body with the bike and the trail ahead. Without it, you’d either hesitate, wobble, or overcompensate—and lose control.

Stable turns begin with small, intentional shifts. In life, this could include subtle changes in how we approach our work, relationships, or even our perspective. For me, navigating this career turn doesn’t mean forcing drastic action but focusing on the foundations: refining my skills, exploring new opportunities, and staying aligned with what truly matters to me. It’s about planting that initial seed of movement and trusting that it will grow into something larger as I move forward.

Sometimes, the hardest part of a turn isn’t the movement itself but having the courage to start it. That first shift—whether it’s a new project, a bold conversation, or even a decision to pause and reassess—feels uncertain. But I find that once the movement begins, the rest of the turn starts to fall into place.

Looking Through the Turn

Jamie always says, “Your bike follows your eyes,” and I’ve felt this truth over and over again on the trail. When you focus on the rock you’re afraid of hitting, you’re more likely to collide with it. But when you train your gaze to the exit of the turn, your body and bike naturally follow.

In life, our focus works the same way. If we fixate on obstacles—fear of failure, doubt, or what’s outside our control—we get stuck, unable to move forward with clarity or confidence. But when we shift our attention to where we want to go, we create a path toward possibility.

For me, this means resisting the urge to dwell on the limitations of my current situation—what’s not working, the rejections, the shifting landscape of my industry. Instead, I’m focusing on where I want to go: the kind of work I want to create, the connections I want to build, and the skills I want to sharpen.

Looking through the turn doesn’t mean ignoring the terrain entirely; it means acknowledging them without letting them consume your attention. It’s about keeping your vision on the horizon while trusting yourself to navigate the challenges along the way.

Rotation Requires Connection

On the trail, rotation is only effective when your body works as a connected system. Your feet, knees, hips, and core all have to move in harmony, creating a balance that keeps you stable and aligned. If one part of the system is out of sync—if your hips twist too early or your knees don’t follow—it throws everything off.

In life, connection is just as critical. For me, this has meant staying connected to my purpose and values, even as the career path ahead feels unclear. It’s also about leaning on my community—reaching out to friends, colleagues, and mentors who remind me that I’m not navigating this turn alone.

Sometimes, it’s easy to feel like we have to steer everything on our own, but the truth is, we’re not meant to. Just like a well-executed turn on the bike relies on the synergy of multiple parts, navigating life’s turns often requires the support and alignment of those around us.

Staying connected also means tuning in to ourselves—our needs, strengths, and emotions. When we’re disconnected, we risk making reactive, misaligned moves. But when we’re in tune with what matters most, we can navigate even the sharpest turns with intention and grace.

I hope you had a fantastic weekend, and I wish you a happy week ahead. We’ll be posting our last post of the year next week, and it just might be a podcast episode…

Take care,

Danielle