As someone currently going through a career pivot, this book couldn’t have come at a better time.

BJ Coleman—former NFL player turned healthcare CEO—shares his journey from professional football to finding purpose beyond the game. He opens up about the uncertainty he faced after leaving the NFL and how he ultimately built a successful career in healthcare leadership. Through personal stories, powerful quotes, and chapter themes, he outlines the steps that shaped his own pivot process.

Each chapter ends with thoughtful exercises designed to help readers reflect on what they’ve just read and apply those insights to their own lives. I found these especially valuable—they’re worth taking the time to complete.

While this book may not have all the answers I need for my own career transition, it’s a strong starting point. It helped me clarify what I should be focusing on and gave me a renewed sense of direction. If you’re feeling stuck or unsure about your next move, I highly recommend giving this a read.

The Pivot is a nonfiction book written by the former professional football quarterback and CEO of a behavioural health company, BJ Coleman. The Pivot is a book for anyone going through a change or anyone needing to make a change. It is written in a conversational tone, almost as if having a coaching session. It provides an honest reflection based on the pivot Coleman had to make after the sudden end of his NFL career. The book is full of sports metaphors, but you don’t need any experience of having played sports to understand the concepts and lessons. It is thoughtfully structured, taking the reader through the journey that encompasses the pivot. Topics include mindset, grief, discipline, humility, value, and support systems. Each chapter ends with practical exercises and reflection prompts, making the book especially useful for readers currently undergoing life changes.

It is easy to read but gets to the heart of the matter. Life is hard, and life happens to us all, often unexpectedly. This is Coleman’s playbook on standing up when life knocks you down, getting your eye back on the ball, and setting yourself in motion to chase and pursue new opportunities, to not let failure or missed opportunities hold you back. The book highlights that during periods of discomfort, we need discipline, vision, and focus. Some reflections I’m keeping are the concepts of "Failing faster" and focusing on "Value over success". These concepts and perspectives are especially relevant in today’s world, where careers are evolving rapidly due to changing economies, politics, and the advancement of technology, highlighting that adaptability is key.

This book is recommended for experienced players and complete beginners alike, for anyone needing to make a change, or anyone looking for insight on making The Pivot.