Lucy suggested we do a Friday Favorites on pivoting. So many of us have practically become experts on it, out of necessity. I loved the idea of looking for stories of inspiration and seeing what readjusting has looked like for people over the past year. 

In many ways, changing course comes naturally to me. The truth is, the nocrumbsleft blog, the book, the Instagram account…all of it was birthed from a natural moment of change in my life.

I had never planned to be a food blogger. I simply like to eat and talk about food! But when my kids were nearly out of the house, I was ready for another chapter, and here we are.

Adapting to change doesn’t necessarily mean being a visionary or knowing your destination. It simply means saying “yes” to where life is taking you. My mom taught me that when life gets challenging, sometimes all you can do is to make the next best choice you can in each moment, even when you don’t know the full picture. That’s what can make transitions so scary, but also so miraculous. It’s a lesson I’ve passed down to my kids as well. 

NEW YORK BOOK TOUR EVENT: WHAT A CHAPTER IT HAS BEEN!
Photo credit: @casey2cook

During the pandemic, I’ve had to make some minor life adjustments of my own, but the pivots I’ve seen others execute have been so inspiring to me. From the smaller adjustments, like clothing brands designing masks, restaurants selling market goods, fresh produce, and even toilet paper, to people figuring out how to prioritize diversity and inclusion, to moving formerly in-person events onto Zoom, I celebrate them all. 

This week we highlight a handful of courageous and creative people who said “yes and” to the year’s challenge and embraced change in the pandemic without knowing what would come next. You’ll find their stories beneath the podcast.

In this episode, I sit down with change agent and entrepreneur Tonya Rapley to talk about money. Named the “New Face of Wealth Building” by Black Enterprise magazine and selected as a modern History Maker by TV One, Tonya says financial empowerment begins with awareness. Then, it’s all about discipline and dedication--YOU are the secret ingredient, and you’ll feel better when you’ve planned for the future. I loved her simple advice to set micro-goals, and we also happen to talk all about lather!

It's time to pivot when anything and everything excites you more than your job, you're not advancing, you're feeling discouraged daily, or your attitude sucks. The best way to bring about change is to explore and take action. Try your hand at new things that interest you, even those that seem silly. This helps to foster an open mind, which is required to consume, learn, implement, and grow into your pivot. The big truth:  you have to get used to discomfort, so start welcoming it into your daily life now. I like to say that your greatest success lives behind your greatest fear.

Ahyiana Angel, Author, Host of Switch, Pivot or Quit Podcast
@Ahyiana.Angel

It turns out that reaching my professional goal as a Michelin starred chef only made me realize what was really important: happiness. Being confined to the rules of fine dining had held me back. I did not fit the mold. After years of trying to fit the mold, I have pivoted to something I’ve always loved that had never brought me an ounce of stress: sandwiches. With my sandwich shop, "Big Kids," in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, I have never been happier. Now, I don’t worry about fitting into any molds besides the ever-expanding one I continue to change on a daily basis.

Ryan Pfeiffer, Sandwich Maker
@bigkidschicago 
@ryanfivefour
bigkidschicago.com

"How can I be of service?” has been my motto and driving force in pivoting my wellness business to virtual. When students asked me to teach my yoga classes virtually, I immediately figured out how to use Zoom. When they wanted to learn breathing techniques and meditation to manage the ongoing stress of the pandemic, I created a course for it. I have simply met the needs of the moment without fear but with a level of openness and willingness to go in whatever direction was needed. And ironically, by putting the needs of others first, I have had my most successful year yet. Nocrumbsleft blog subscribers receive a special discount for my prenatal online yoga course by using the code amy97. Come learn how to breathe and meditate with me for FREE. Mon 8:30am and Wed 9:30am cst through the month of January.

Amy Owen, Yoga and Meditation Instructor, Birth Doula
@amyowenyoga
amyowenyoga.com

Unable to host shows at Logan Square Improv, we’re trying to embrace the situation. At the end of 2020, we set out to capture the magic of live comedy without a live audience. We felt optimistic that we could create something special by thinking outside the box. Our process involved filming performances at the theater with only a small masked camera crew present. We created six episodes of a show featuring stand-up, sketch, improv, and music from local comedians. Performers enthusiastically took on the project, demonstrating open-mindedness and commitment along the way. Knowing that comedy shows look different right now, we’re pivoting by creating something unique.

Alex Prichodko and Andrew Lemna, Chicago Comedians
@logansquareimprov
youtube.com/c/LoganSquareImprov/videos

My 25-year Broadway career (Les Miserables, Waitress, Beetlejuice, and others), came to a sudden end on March 15, 2020, as Broadway shuttered. By some magical twist of fate, I took my first Zoom breathwork class only weeks later. The experience changed my life. I quickly pivoted to become an instructor myself. To honor my former career, every class has a Broadway element (I sing, guests sing), and then we BREATHE. Breathwork is transformative. It connects you to your truth and shuts down your inner critic. It’s like 20 years of therapy in one class! Come see for yourself.

David Josefsberg, Breathwork Instructor/Broadway Actor
@davidsjosefsberg
Broadwaybreathwork.com

It's winter, and there's nothing I'm loving more than my bone broth mug with hot water and lemon. I love it for oatmeal, and it's lovely to serve a snack alongside it in a Crum-bowl.

Check your email Saturday morning for a special offer in the shop in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

Day 13 of Whole30, and I’ve kind of been eating this on repeat. Easy to do the day ahead. Make the gravy and let the mixture sit overnight. The next day, sauté and add the sauce. It comes together in minutes! Click here for the recipe, and get cooking.