Poised to Pivot Gracefully

11 hours ago
6 min read

When I turned 30, I thought it was going to be an extraordinary occasion full of major blessings and increase, marking a significant milestone. I was anticipating feeling refreshed and invigorated after taking a moment to be still. On the contrary, this new decade has started off with its share of shakeups and uncertainty. Some egregious situations took place during vulnerable times in my life that carried over into this era and provoked me to make some lifestyle changes. The winds of adversity didn’t shake me but shifted me to another place. I gained a greater sense of self-respect and established stricter boundaries. Through it all, I kept my composure as I embraced a new chapter. Now, I’m poised to pivot.

God has a purpose for everyone and a set time for it to be accomplished. That purpose is supposed to be the main focus. At some point, I lost sight of that after stretching myself thin and being clouded by a lot of negativity. Eventually, I reached my breaking point and decided enough was enough! Rather than succumbing to people’s sly actions they didn’t realize I noticed, I ended things on my terms.

Possessing the boldness to make power moves makes me feel empowered as I operate with wisdom I received from seeking the Lord. Although my next opportunity wasn't solidified, I already had some things in motion. Proverbs 4:25 has been the main catalyst in championing my forward momentum mindset. No one will ever find me where I left them. I’m always going to level up!

In pursuit of fulfilling my dream as a model, I went on a multi-city weekend trip. First, I flew to Charlotte, North Carolina. After I left the airport, I went to a restaurant called Easy Like Sunday. I ordered shrimp and grits, and it was amazing!! Then, I met up with my cousin and chilled for a bit. Later, I attended a modeling runway class hosted by Diva Davanna. She is a model and coach with over twenty years of experience in the fashion industry beginning at the age of four. Over the course of her career, Davanna’s iconic runway walking ability has garnered global attention that led to special features and guest appearances such as on the Tyra Banks show. Davanna expanded her brand by founding Diva Davanna School of Modeling & Etiquette which empowers models to walk with purpose and master industry standards as she cultivates her students’ confidence, posture, and mindset. These are developed through in-person and virtual classes, private sessions, and curated workshops. The class I participated in was one of the most challenging feats. It was a full experience where Diva Davanna taught techniques, branding tips, and how to strut with confidence. At the end of the class, Davanna asked every participant what they learned and my response was everything lol. Walking the runway is drastically different from playing sports and completing administrative tasks. It’s a whole performance that requires presence, poise, and precision.

Kiala Pigott and Diva Davanna at Diva Davanna Runway School of Modeling & Etiquette Runway Class

I spent 24 hours in Charlotte then boarded my flight to head back to Florida. I flew into Daytona Beach airport which was a first for me. I picked up my rental car then drove to Orlando to attend a casting call. It was held at CityArts, a contemporary center for the arts. This was my first time attending one so I wasn’t sure what to expect. There was a small crowd when I walked in waiting to showcase their walk. I checked in then waited for my group to be called. We headed upstairs and I was the first to walk. Yes, I was nervous lol. See the video below for a recap of how attending my first casting call went.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/f24657_5c2279e901ae4302a1d7ee7f5002ecf5/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

**While writing this blog post, I received news that I was selected to participate in the fashion show on June 6, 2026 at 7 PM! Click here to learn more information and purchase tickets using code OIFW_MODEL2.

Pivoting isn’t about quitting or starting over. It’s an intentional decision to go in a different direction that aligns with personal values and meets the needs of one’s reality. Here are the steps I’m taking to strategically navigate life’s changes and prepare for what’s next without a framework.

Recalibrating my mindset and healing my nervous system

I’ve been transparent about hardships I’ve faced over the past couple of years. Several lifestyle factors I’ve experienced since Summer 2023 created a sleep deficit that eventually put me in a state of functional freeze. After making a life-changing decision in my career, I suddenly had more time to catch up on missed sleep. It’s been lovely not waking up at 5 AM or being caught up in Jacksonville’s heavy work traffic. As an administrative professional, my career consists of working in fast-paced, high-stress environments. Being in a season of solitude has brought so much peace as I work on resetting my nervous system and renewing my focus for what’s next. I’ve been under the radar, keeping to myself, and dealing with suppressed emotions and thoughts. Oddly enough, I'm not depressed, upset, or even angry. I’ve been in good spirits. Truly, the joy of the Lord is my strength!

Visualizing my future

Ever since I was young, I knew I wanted to be a CEO. My plan was to obtain an entry-level job in the sports or hospitality industry then work my way up the corporate ladder to become a high ranking executive. After working a clerical job where I was confined to a desk with little capacity to do anything after work, I realized that was not the life for me.

KP Executive Assist was launched after I recognized a need to help small business owners improve overall business operations by alleviating overwhelming tasks with administrative support. Over time, my vision evolved to working with high-profile individuals including professional athletes, CEOs, influencers/content creators, and public figures to manage their brands and personal lives using strategic practices. I gradually built my business on the side while I served in ministry and worked a full-time job. Now, I’m fully invested in running my business and accepting new clients!

My previously written blog post, “Six Keys to Unlocking the Power of Your Vision”, shares what vision means and how to achieve it. The discontentment of life not being what I imagined motivated me to look beyond the current state of my reality and conceptualize a new version. This reimagined lifestyle consisted of continuing to build my blog, freelancing as an assistant in the sports and entertainment industries, pursuing modeling, participating in more philanthropic efforts, and having an active social life.

If you have the passion to pursue your vision, you will need to develop persistence and resilience to bring it to pass against all odds.

Staying ready for opportunities

After taking time for myself to recalibrate and visualize the next phase of my life, I started preparing for what I said I wanted to do. This included buying neutral apparel to wear at modeling events or while working gigs, updating my resume, signing up for platforms, turning on job post notifications, and keeping up with my beauty maintenance to maintain my self confidence and be visually appealing in case an interview was scheduled or an event was booked. I receive emails and come across social media posts with opportunities on a daily basis. The standard I set for myself raised the bar on my level of thinking and faith. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Rather than waiting to get ready after an opportunity comes, I choose to prepare with great expectation. I’m not where I want to be, but I’m showing up as if I’m already there.

God has brought me to an expected end. Mentally, I knew my time was winding down with certain people and environments. It just took a while for me to accept that. I’ve felt uncertain about what is next for me, but my God-given vision and purposes have kept me anchored. Recalibrating to improve my well-being, visualizing goals for my future, and positioning myself for success by staying ready for opportunities are the purposeful strategies I’m executing to pivot gracefully.

Written with grace,

Kiala

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? If not, say this prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus,

Come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and personal Savior. I believe in my heart that You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You, Lord, for saving me in Jesus' name. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, then congratulations! All of your sins are now forgiven and you have been born again. Heaven is rejoicing!