The Power of the Pivot: It’s Not About You; It’s About Who You Serve

This week, I’m doing something a little different.

Last week, I shared a story on social media about a last-minute pivot I had to make before a presentation. I was blown away by the response. So many of you commented, shared your own experiences, and reminded me of just how universal this lesson is—not just for speakers or leaders, but for anyone trying to serve others well.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized this story deserved a little more room to breathe. So I’m expanding on it here, in this week’s WEDnesdays with Walt, along with a few of your amazing insights.

Because as I was reminded last week…

Sometimes the biggest opportunities—and best lessons—come when things don’t go according to plan.

If you know Walt Disney, then you know he was no stranger to last-minute pivots.

Some of Walt’s greatest innovations came from unexpected changes. When he lost the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, he didn’t quit—he created Mickey Mouse. When critics panned Disneyland as a risky, misguided venture, he doubled down and made it better. Walt knew that setbacks are often setups for something greater…if you keep the focus on who you’re serving.

I had my own little “Walt moment” last week.

I was scheduled to give a historical presentation at an assisted living home in Mission Viejo. It’s a community I’ve worked with several times, and I was especially looking forward to this visit—it was my first time back after recovering from foot surgery. On Wednesday, I confirmed everything with my contact: day, time, and topic. We were all set, right?

My contact confirmed the day and the time, but changed the topic.

At that point, I was already halfway through preparing my presentation on the 1964/65 World’s Fair—a favorite of mine. Naturally, I double-checked our messages, thinking maybe I made a mistake. But I hadn’t. The change had happened on their end.

Cue the frustration.

I caught myself thinking:

• “I don’t want to start over.”

• “I was excited about the original topic.”

• “I’m finally getting out of the house and doing what I love again!”

But then I remembered: It’s not about me. It’s about who I serve.

Sure, I wasn’t responsible for the mix-up. But I was responsible for making sure the residents had the best experience possible.

So, I pivoted.

And you know what? It was fun. It was meaningful. And it reminded me of why I love what I do.

After I shared this experience on Facebook, several people chimed in with their own pivot stories—and they were so good that I want to share a few with you.

One friend, a project manager for a digital marketing team at a major life sciences company, said:

“The ability to switch gears and pivot is a huge part of my job! Digital marketing has to move swiftly and business priorities change all the time. Sometimes a product launch is unexpectedly delayed. Things happen, but you learn how to step back for a few moments and adapt.”

Another person shared a simple but powerful moment:

“FedEx delivered the Girl Scouts pottery to a different location…so I got out a block of clay and we made our own pots!”

Talk about turning a problem into a fun, hands-on solution!

A travel agent commented that pivoting isn’t just part of business—it’s part of life. Clients change plans. Trips get canceled. Destinations shift. And it’s all part of the job to adapt and make new magic happen.

But one of my favorite reflections came from an actor who wrote:

“Pivoting at the last minute is the bread and butter of actors. You spend hours preparing for a scene a certain way, and then…

The script changes.

The blocking changes.

Your co-star changes their approach.

The director changes their mind.

You can either stew and say, ‘This wasn’t what we planned!’ or…you shift gears, adapt, and find the magic in the changes. And usually, the results turn out even better.”

Then they shared an incredible example from Walt himself:

“On 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, they spent thousands of dollars on a rubber sea monster and filmed an entire battle scene in broad daylight. But when they watched the footage, the monster looked completely fake. Walt could have said, ‘We’ve already shot it. It’s too late.’ Instead, he pivoted. He spent more money and reshot the scene at night during a storm. The result? One of Disney’s most classic adventure scenes—still thrilling even in modern CGI times. All because Walt was wise enough to pivot.” And that’s the heart of it, isn’t it?

Putting ego aside.

Focusing on the people you’re serving.

Making the decision that’s best for them—even when it’s inconvenient for you.

So let me ask you:

Have you ever had to pivot at the last minute?

How did you handle it?

How would you have handled my situation?

Hit “reply” and share your story! I’d love to feature a few more examples in an upcoming email. You never know who might need the encouragement to pivot this week.

And if you’re looking for a keynote speaker who can help your team or organization embrace the power of the pivot—just like Walt did—I’d love to connect. My talks are all about helping leaders navigate change, stay inspired, and serve with purpose…even when plans go sideways.

Reach out and let’s start the conversation!