The Power of the Pivot: Lessons from Sinners‍

Much has been made of Ryan Coogler's Sinners—and rightly so. To call it a cinematic masterpiece might be an understatement. If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor: head to the theater post-haste and stop reading here. Spoilers ahead.

Now, for those who've watched it: gurrrrrrrrrl! There's so much to unpack, but one theme that's stuck with me is the power of pivoting.

I started thinking about this after a conversation with my accountant. I asked what trends she's seeing, considering ongoing layoffs and the tightening of US government grant funding. Her response surprised me, while many people launched businesses in 2021 and 2022, she's now seeing a wave of closures. The main reason?

“Mindset,” she said. “People don't want to change.”

She explained that many entrepreneurs started with a specific vision—a product, service, or offering they felt passionate about. But when the market changed, they stayed fixated on their original vision rather than adjusting course to meet their larger goals in new ways.

Listening, my mind went straight to Annie—Smoke's beloved and the local root woman in Sinners. In a pivotal scene, Annie realizes they aren't just dealing with haints, but vampires. So she turns to divination, throwing bones over and over again, only to see the same outcome each time: she's going to be bitten.

So what does Annie do? She pivots.

She accepts her fate and turns to Smoke, the love of both her lifetimes, asking him to promise that if she's bitten, he'll drive a stake through her heart before she rises again as a vampire—so she can pass on to the realm of the ancestors, where their deceased child awaits. Smoke, heartbroken, agrees. And when the time comes, he follows through. Later, we see the family reunited in the afterlife. Cue dramatic, ugly crying.

Now, most of us will never face an actual vampire (and if you do, please, seek help), but many of us will face something just as daunting: reality.

Reality might be acknowledging a faltering business.

Or admitting that a career path has stalled.

Or realizing a relationship with “potential” won't ever reach it.

Just asking the question—“What if this doesn't work?”—takes courage. Accepting the answer? Acting on it? Equally challenging. But that's the power of the pivot; if we can face our reality and find alternatives, we can still achieve our dreams. As was the case with Annie, there may be heartache along the way (pun intended), but ultimately, you can get to your version of heaven.

So, I am curious, in which area of your life or leadership are you facing a challenge? And how are you pivoting to address it? If you'd like support in that process, consider coaching. Book a discovery call today.