The Pivot and Promotion Podcast - Career and Leadership Advice

Dani Tan - Leadership and Career Coach
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Hi! I'm Dani Tan, a Leadership and Career Coach, and Speaker. I empower leaders who are the first, few, or only in their space. If you’re looking to pivot careers, get promoted, expand your leadership skills, or find your voice, I’m here for you. I've pivoted multiple industries from sales, PR, merchandising, and e-commerce all while achieving 11 promotions in 11 years. Let's get started.

  1. 2D AGO

    114. Why Promotions Go to People Who Communicate Their Value

    In episode 114, we’re talking about why hard work alone doesn’t lead to promotions, and what actually does. Many high performers, especially first-generation professionals and people of color, were taught that if you work hard, keep your head down, and deliver results, recognition will follow. But in most organizations, effort without visibility isn’t enough. Promotions go to people who can clearly communicate their impact and connect their work to business outcomes. In this episode, I break down why being valuable isn’t the same as being seen as valuable, and how over-performing without strategic communication can actually delay advancement. I share client stories, practical examples, and a clear framework for translating your work into language decision-makers understand and can advocate for. In this episode, I cover: Why hard work alone doesn’t secure promotions The difference between being valuable and being visible How to communicate impact without bragging or self-promotion Why over-executing can stall your leadership trajectory How to build a clear, repeatable promotion plan with ongoing conversations Key Takeaways: Promotions require visibility, not just effort Decision-makers need clear evidence of impact to advocate for you Communicating value is a leadership skill, not self-promotion Ongoing conversations matter more than one-time promotion asks You don’t need to do more, you need to translate what you’re already doing Chapters: 00:46 Why Hard Work Alone Doesn’t Secure Promotions 02:04 Linking Contributions to Business Goals 05:33 Use Quantitative Evidence to Demonstrate Impact 08:02 Naming Specific Business Outcomes 11:42 Positioning Yourself as Ready for Leadership 15:19 A Structured Promotion Plan 18:42 Framing Achievements Around Business Impact Learn more and stay connected: www.danitan.com www.linkedin.com/in/dani-tan Join my weekly newsletter

    24 min

  2. FEB 5

    113. Promotion or Pivot? How to Make the Right Career Move Without Starting Over

    In this episode, we’re talking about one of the hardest career decisions high performers face: whether to pursue a promotion or make a pivot, without burning everything down or starting from scratch. As you achieve more, the stakes feel higher. Your income, identity, stability, and responsibility to others all get tied to your next move. That pressure often leads to overthinking, decision paralysis, or staying stuck longer than you want. In this conversation, I break down how to make intentional career decisions using structure, data, and real conversations, so you can move forward with confidence instead of guessing. In this episode, I cover: How to tell the difference between a promotion problem and a pivot problem Why high achievers get stuck when too many decisions feel urgent at once A decision framework to reduce overwhelm and clarify your next step How to audit assumptions instead of relying on fear-based narratives Why clarity comes from action and evidence, not thinking harder Key Takeaways: You don’t need certainty to move forward; you need structure Promotion and pivot decisions require different strategies Overthinking often masks fear and avoidance, not lack of clarity Evidence-based confidence is built through action and data You can make a strategic career move without starting over Chapters: 00:00 Pivot Versus Promotion: Framing the Choice 02:51 Decision Framework to Overcome Paralysis 07:03 Define Purpose and Outcomes for a Pivot 09:13 Audit, Test Assumptions, Build Evidence 12:36 90-Day Plan: Narrow Paths and Gather Data Learn more and stay connected: www.danitan.com www.linkedin.com/in/dani-tan Join my weekly newsletter

    17 min

  3. JAN 29

    112. Why You Keep Going in Circles

    In episode 112, we’re talking about why you keep revisiting decisions you’ve already made, and how that habit is quietly slowing you down. This episode isn’t about being “indecisive” or unclear. It’s about what happens when decisions don’t have boundaries. You narrow your options, choose a direction, and then start reopening old paths, renegotiating with yourself, and questioning progress instead of building on it. I walk through real client examples, from career pivots to business decisions, where circling back felt safer than committing forward. We break down why ambiguity can feel protective, how too many open paths drain momentum, and what it actually takes to move forward without burning everything down. In this episode, I cover: Why revisiting already-made decisions keeps you stuck How decision-making without boundaries erodes self-trust The hidden cost of keeping multiple paths “just in case” Why circling feels safer than committing and why it slows growth A simple framework to choose one active lane, test it, and review with data Key Takeaways: Circling isn’t confusion, it’s commitment without boundaries Progress requires choosing one path long enough to gather real data Keeping all options open feels safe, but costs clarity and momentum Boundaries and timelines create trust in your decision-making You don’t need certainty, just a contained commitment and review point Chapters: 00:00 Why People Return to Previous Career Options 04:25 Identifying Reopened Decisions and Their Cost 07:17 The One-Lane Testing Framework for Career Paths 10:11 Using Data and Boundaries to Break the Cycle Learn more and stay connected: www.danitan.com www.linkedin.com/in/dani-tan Join my weekly newsletter

    14 min

  4. JAN 22

    111. Why Thinking More Isn’t Helping

    In episode 111, we’re talking about why thinking harder isn’t always the solution, and how overthinking can quietly stall your career, business, or next move. If you’ve been replaying the same questions about a promotion, a pivot, or starting something new, this episode explores when thinking stops being useful and starts becoming avoidance. I break down how high-achieving women get stuck in mental loops that feel responsible, but actually delay action, confidence, and momentum. Through client stories and coaching frameworks, we look at how to recognize when you’ve gathered enough information, and what to do next so you can move forward without forcing clarity or burning yourself out. In this episode, I cover: Why overthinking blocks progress in careers and entrepreneurship How to recognize when thinking turns into a loop instead of insight A simple three-question check to interrupt overthinking patterns Why data and feedback, not more rumination, create clarity How to externalize decisions and test ideas without overcommitting What it actually takes to move from thought to action with support Key Takeaways: Thinking is a tool, not a strategy Overthinking often signals avoidance, not preparation Action creates clarity faster than analysis Small tests reduce fear and build self-trust Support accelerates progress when you’re facing something new Chapters: 00:00 How Overthinking Blocks Career and Business Growth 03:33 Recognizing the Thinking Loop and Its Limits 08:31 Using Data to Break Failure Beliefs 14:36 Externalizing Decisions to Move Forward 14:52 Coaching Framework to Shift From Thought to Action Learn more and stay connected: www.danitan.com www.linkedin.com/in/dani-tan Join my weekly newsletter

    19 min

  5. JAN 15

    110. Why You're Ready for the Next Step but Still Hesitate

    In episode 110, we’re talking about why hesitation shows up right when you’re actually ready for your next step and why it doesn’t mean you lack clarity. Most people think hesitation means they’re not ready yet. In reality, hesitation usually appears when you do know what you want, but your brain and body are reacting to the discomfort of change. Whether you’re thinking about a career pivot, going after a promotion, starting a business, or becoming more visible, hesitation often disguises itself as logic, overthinking, or “needing more information.” In this episode, I break down what hesitation really is, how it shapes your behavior, and what it costs you when it’s left unchecked. I also walk you through how to move with hesitation instead of waiting for it to disappear. In this episode, I cover: Why hesitation doesn’t mean you’re unprepared, it means change feels uncomfortable How hesitation shows up as logic, overthinking, and endless preparation The hidden cost of staying in familiar roles that no longer fit Why confidence comes from action, not waiting A simple framework to separate fear from facts and take intentional steps forward How identity, visibility, and support play a role in moving past hesitation If you’ve been telling yourself you need more clarity, more credentials, or more time before making a move, this episode will help you see what’s really happening and how to take your next step anyway. Key Takeaways: Hesitation is a biological response to change, not a personal flaw Waiting to feel “ready” keeps you stuck in familiar patterns Action builds confidence, not the other way around Small, intentional steps help you embody the identity you’re moving toward Support and accountability make it easier to move through fear Chapters: 00:00 Why You Feel Ready but Still Hesitate 03:04 How Hesitation Disguises Itself as Logic 05:24 The Cost of Staying Comfortable 07:36 Visibility, Identity, and Playing Small 09:59 A 3-Step Framework to Move Through Hesitation 12:07 Matching Your Actions to the Identity You Want 14:25 Support, Accountability, and Your Next Step Learn more and stay connected: www.danitan.com www.linkedin.com/in/dani-tan Join my weekly newsletter

    16 min

  6. JAN 8

    109. You Don’t Need a Full Plan, You Need a Starting Point

    In episode 109, we’re talking about why overplanning keeps so many high-achievers stuck and how clarity actually comes from action, not preparation. This episode is for the planners, overthinkers, and researchers who feel busy and productive but aren’t moving forward. If you keep telling yourself you need more time, more certainty, or a clearer plan before you start, this conversation will help you see what’s really happening and how to break out of the planning trap. I share client stories and real-life examples to show why waiting to feel “ready” often becomes a form of avoidance, especially for women, women of color, eldest daughters, and first-generation leaders who were taught to get it right the first time. We walk through what it actually looks like to choose a starting point, build momentum, and let clarity emerge along the way. In this episode, I cover: Why overplanning often disguises fear, not strategy How clarity is created through action, not overthinking What it means to experiment instead of waiting for certainty Why perfectionism slows momentum and confidence How choosing one small step creates real movement forward Key Takeaways: You can’t think your way into clarity Starting before you feel ready builds confidence Small steps reduce fear and decision fatigue Momentum creates belief faster than planning ever will You don’t need the full roadmap, just a place to begin Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to the Pivot and Promotion Podcast 00:59 Escaping the Planning Trap 05:18 Taking Action for Clarity 09:35 Building Momentum with Small Steps 11:56 Final Thoughts and Coaching Opportunities Learn more and stay connected: www.danitan.com www.linkedin.com/in/dani-tan Join my weekly newsletter

    13 min

  7. JAN 1

    108. How to Set Goals You’ll Actually Follow Through On

    In episode 108, we’re talking about why setting goals isn’t the problem. It’s how we set them, and what’s missing when motivation fades. If you’ve ever started strong and then lost momentum a few weeks later, this episode breaks down what actually helps goals stick. I walk through a simple, three-part framework I use with clients to move from intention to follow-through. We talk about identity, structure, and support and why relying on willpower alone keeps you stuck. You’ll hear client examples of promotions, side businesses, and visibility goals, and how shifting the system around the goal made execution possible. In this episode, I cover: Why pressure, perfectionism, and other people’s expectations derail goals The three-part framework that turns goals into follow-through How identity shifts make goals feel possible instead of overwhelming Why structure reduces decision fatigue when life gets busy How support and accountability change what you’re able to sustain Key Takeaways: Goals fail when they rely on willpower instead of systems Clarity starts with understanding why a goal matters to you Structure keeps momentum going when motivation dips Support reveals what you need to succeed and what was missing before The best goals stretch your identity without disconnecting you from your life Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to the Pivot and Promotion Podcast 00:34 Understanding Goal Setting Challenges 04:45 The Three-Part Framework for Achieving Goals 10:50 Building Identity and Support in Goal Setting Learn more and stay connected: www.danitan.com www.linkedin.com/in/dani-tan Join my weekly newsletter

    15 min

  8. 12/25/2025

    107. Business Lessons I Didn’t Expect to Learn in 2025

    In episode 107, I’m sharing the unexpected business lessons that shaped my year, lessons I thought I had mastered long ago, only to be humbled, stretched, and reminded that growth is never a one-time event. From delegation and slowing down, to protecting your nervous system and letting ideas stay hobbies, this episode is a reflection on what it looks like to evolve as a leader, a business owner, and a human being. These lessons shifted how I work, how I rest, and what I plan to carry into 2026. In this episode, I cover: Why growth often brings you back to lessons you thought you’d already learned Why delegating creates space for your business to expand How slowing down actually accelerates clarity, revenue, and aligned opportunities The power of pivoting quietly, without announcing every change Why your nervous system is your most important leadership tool How to resist pressure to monetize every idea (even the good ones) Key Takeaways: Delegation isn’t detachment, it’s leadership Slowing down creates the space your growth needs Not every pivot needs a public announcement Your nervous system shapes the way you lead and make decisions You don’t have to monetize every idea to be successful Simple businesses can be the most sustainable and scalable Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to the Pivot and Promotion Podcast 00:59 Unexpected Business Lessons from 2025 05:37 The Importance of Delegation 08:55 Slowing Down to Grow09:53 Quietly Pivoting Behind the Scenes 11:46 Nervous System as a Leadership Tool 14:32 Monetization Mindset: Not Everything Needs to Be Monetized Learn more and stay connected: www.danitan.com www.linkedin.com/in/dani-tan Join my weekly newsletter

    17 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Hi! I'm Dani Tan, a Leadership and Career Coach, and Speaker. I empower leaders who are the first, few, or only in their space. If you’re looking to pivot careers, get promoted, expand your leadership skills, or find your voice, I’m here for you. I've pivoted multiple industries from sales, PR, merchandising, and e-commerce all while achieving 11 promotions in 11 years. Let's get started.

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