🎯 When It’s Time to Pivot — Trust Your Gut

What my son’s brave college decision taught me about business, life, and the power of starting over

Some stories are hard to tell, not because they’re sad — but because they show you just how strong someone really is.

This is one of those stories.

My son, Luke, recently made a huge decision. One most people didn’t know about until now.

We moved him home from college after just one semester.

Not because he failed.

Not because he was in trouble.

But because he had a gut-check moment that most adults still struggle to act on.

He realized:

“Mom… I made a mistake. I want to go to Michigan State. That’s where I’m meant to be.”

The Story: From CMU to MSU

Back in May, just months before college started, Luke came to me and admitted that he chose the wrong school. Central Michigan University (CMU) wasn’t his dream. Michigan State was.

But when we tried to pivot, we were told we were too late.

He’d need to finish the fall semester before he could transfer.

So — he went anyway. He chose to make the best of it.

What followed was a rollercoaster.

• He got pink eye for the first time in his life

• Navigated a tough breakup

• Dealt with loneliness and living far from home

• Landed in the ER with double kidney stones

• And still kept his grades high, completed every transfer requirement, and stayed focused on his goal of getting into MSU

Oh — and just to top it off?

The night before his final Spanish exam… that last kidney stone made its grand exit.

10pm.

Pain.

Hospital trip.

Then back in the classroom the next morning… delivering a speech in Spanish.

I don’t know about you, but I would’ve thrown in the towel.

He didn’t.

He finished. He passed. And we packed his dorm and moved him home.

One Week Later: He’s at Michigan State

And for the first time in 6+ months, he’s thriving again.

Confident. Clear. Excited about life.

Watching him smile, reconnect, and walk across his dream campus reminded me of one thing:

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do… is admit it’s time to change direction.

Business Is No Different

We work with entrepreneurs every single day inside the Self Made Hub and Tech Savvy School — and let me tell you, the #1 thing that stalls their growth isn’t lack of tools or talent.

It’s fear of starting over.

But here’s what Luke’s story proves:

You don’t have to stay where you are just because you started there.

Let’s break this down.

💡 5 Things to Remember If You’re Facing a Pivot in Business (or Life)

1. It’s okay to start over. Even if you already went all in.

You launched the program. You hired the coach. You built the funnel. You posted every day for 6 months.

And… it still doesn’t feel right?

That doesn’t mean you failed.

That means you’re paying attention.

Starting over doesn’t erase what you’ve learned — it leverages it.

You now know more about what you want, what your audience responds to, and where you shine.

Don’t waste that insight. Use it.

2. It’s okay to admit something isn’t working.

We stay in things too long because we don’t want to look flaky. Or wasteful. Or like we didn’t “finish.”

But staying in the wrong lane doesn’t get you to the right destination.

Be honest with yourself:

• Is this offer aligned with your long-term vision?

• Is the platform you're using working for you — or draining you?

• Is your day-to-day work energizing you… or exhausting you?

If the answer is "no" more often than "yes," it might be time to reassess.

3. Trust your gut. You’re wiser than you think.

Most pivots don’t start in a spreadsheet.

They start in your body. That feeling you get when something’s off.

That pit in your stomach when you’re forcing yourself to promote something you don’t believe in anymore.

Luke trusted his gut at 19.

You can too — at 29, 39, or 59.

And no, you don’t need permission.

(But if you want it? Here it is.)

4. Make the best of where you are, even if it’s temporary.

This is the part people skip — but it’s where your character is built.

Luke didn’t throw a fit when he had to go to his second-choice school.

He showed up. He stayed focused. He got his transfer paperwork in on time.

When you’re in that “waiting season” — still living in the old while planning the new — don’t check out.

Keep building. Keep serving. Keep learning.

Every bit of it is preparation for the next level.

5. When it’s time to go — GO. Don’t wait for perfect.

There’s never going to be a moment when your calendar clears, your team is perfectly aligned, and your confidence is at 100%.

Sometimes, you just have to leap.

The best time to make a shift in your business is when your soul says it’s time.

The longer you delay the decision, the more expensive it becomes — emotionally, energetically, and financially.

So if your gut is screaming "Move!" — listen.

Because the minute Luke stepped back onto the Michigan State campus, it was clear:

That shift was exactly what he needed.

And I have a feeling there’s a shift you need to make, too.

Final Word:

Whether it’s your college major, your business model, or your next launch — it’s okay to change your mind.

It’s okay to go all in… and still pivot.

It’s okay to start fresh — even if it means letting go of something that’s “almost right.”

You’re not a tree. Move.

And when you do, you might just find everything you were looking for — was waiting for you on the other side of that hard decision.

Trust yourself.

Shift when it’s time.

And go all in on your dream — not someone else’s expectation.

📩 Want more behind-the-scenes stories and business lessons from a mom, CEO, and mentor who believes in building a life with both peace and profit?

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