Last October, we created a plan. A good one. The kind that gets your team excited, aligned, and ready to take on the world. But then January hit. And February. And March. Each month brought a new challenge, a new fire to put out. And suddenly, 2025 became what we now call “the year of the dumpster fire.”
Not one thing went according to plan. And yet, somehow, we’re still standing. But not because we stuck to the plan. Because we pivoted.
The Myth of the Perfect Plan
As leaders, we’re taught to believe in the power of planning. And yes, plans are important — they give us direction, clarity, and momentum. But what happens when the plan doesn’t work? What happens when reality doesn’t cooperate?
This year taught me that leadership isn’t about rigid execution. It’s about resilience. It’s about recognizing when the plan is failing and having the courage to shift, reassess, and find a new way forward. Essentially, this is the year I embraced the power of the pivot.
The Power of the Pivot
Every bump in the road this year forced me to pivot from our original plan. And what’s wild is that each pivot led to something better than what I had originally envisioned. The road we planned wasn’t the road we needed. The detours became the destination.
So here’s what I’ve learned:
- It’s okay to have a plan.
- It’s okay to want to follow the plan.
- But it’s critical to recognize when the plan isn’t working — and to pivot with purpose.
Technology as a Force Multiplier
One of the biggest game changers for me in 2025 has been technology. I’ve leaned into tools that help me stay agile and connected, even when everything feels chaotic:
- Carbon Voice: I use it to make the most of my driving time — recording memos, writing articles, and staying in sync with my team.
- Loom: Perfect for recording quick video instructions and updates.
- Copilot (AI): Helps me scrub meeting notes and Carbon Voice memos, turning them into actionable lists.
- GQueues: A management tool we implemented to give me better visibility into my team’s work, allowing us to do more with less.
By implementing these tools into our workflow, I’m managing more efficiently.
Support Systems Matter
In addition to these automated processes that help make the day-to-day more manageable, I’m blessed to have an incredible support system that has proven vital to our growth and success as a company.
- A delegation coach, Valerie Trapunsky at Chatterboss.
- A productivity coach, Elise Enriquez.
- Efficiency expert and the man who knows about all the tools to save time, Ari Meisel.
- My business partner, Kristy Mumma, who helps keep me looking at the glass being half full.
- A family that keeps me grounded.
- A great team at Stewart Tech who have been such a rock throughout this year.
Leadership is hard. But it’s a lot easier when you’re not doing it alone.
Pivoting with Purpose
If there’s one message I want to share with fellow business leaders, it’s this:
Plans are important. But progress is more important. And sometimes, the best path forward is the one you never planned to take.
So if your plan isn’t working, don’t just march forward hoping things will magically improve. Step back. Reevaluate. Pivot. And find a better way.
Because sometimes, the detour is the destination.
By Tara Morgan Schinkel, CPA, Accounting Systems Lead & CFO of Stewart Technologies