Nearly 3 in 5 (58%) of people globally plan to look for a new job this year, yet half say the job search has become harder in the last year, according to new research from LinkedIn. Aside from the volume of other job applicants and a sluggish job market, many job-seeking professionals also struggle with knowing which part of their narrative is still valuable and which part needs to shift.

When it’s time to pivot in your career or business, the temptation to start from scratch can feel overwhelming. Many high-achievers believe that reinvention requires leaving everything behind—audiences, skills, and even the reputation they’ve spent years building. But the truth is, the key to a successful pivot sometimes lies in leveraging your foundation, not abandoning it completely.

But as I often share with my coaching clients, everything you’ve done including the clients you’ve served, the roles you’ve played, and the feedback you’ve received all form a foundation that sets you apart in a unique way. Building on that foundation is how you position yourself for your next chapter.

Here’s how to stop overthinking your story so you can reconnect with your foundation and use it as a springboard for your next big move:

1. Think About Who Has Traditionally Sought Your Help

Think about the people who have consistently reached out to you for support, advice, or collaboration. What patterns do you notice?

Start by listing 10-20 people or organizations you’ve worked with over the years. Look for similarities in their demographics but more importantly, look at their situations. Were they all at a specific career crossroads? Were they working through a similar challenge? Did they share a particular pain point? Identifying these patterns reveals your core audience—the people most drawn to your expertise, and the people you likely already have tremendous credibility to serve.

2. Remember Why People Needed You in the Past

Once you identify who has sought your help, ask why they reached out. What specific problem were they trying to solve?

For example, early in my career, people sought me out because they couldn’t articulate their unique value. They had great products or ideas but struggled to communicate why they mattered. Understanding this helped me refine my focus on storytelling and personal branding—skills I still use today.

For you, the patterns in the problems you’ve solved can also reveal important information about your brand. Maybe you’re the turnaround expert or reinvention coach. Perhaps you’re the team member who always encourages collaboration or gets stalled projects moving. Embrace this information from your past to build your brand and make the case for yourself in interviews and pitch meetings.

3.Highlight The Skills You’ve Always Used

Reflect on your journey and the core skills you’ve relied on to help others. These are often the talents you take for granted because they come so naturally.

For me, those skills are listening and writing. Whether crafting a client’s bio, coaching them through a pivot, or helping them position themselves for media opportunities, my ability to listen deeply and translate their vision into compelling words has remained constant.

What are the skills you return to, no matter the role or project? These are your foundational strengths and the key to your unique value.

4. Refer To The Feedback You’ve Received

Feedback is a treasure trove of insights into your unique approach. What have clients, colleagues, or collaborators consistently praised about your work?

In my case, clients often mention my patience, compassion, and ability to make them feel seen. This feedback shaped how I approach coaching and affirmed that the way I work is as important as the results I deliver.

What feedback have you received about how you solve problems or approach challenges? This helps you understand not just what you do but how you do it differently from others.

5. See You Past Roles As The Chapters in a Larger Story

When it’s time to pivot, you don’t need to leave your past behind. Instead, view your career as a series of chapters in the same story. Each role, project, and client has contributed to your unique foundation, and that foundation is what makes you irreplaceable.

As I’ve evolved from journalist to personal branding coach back to journalist and now author, I’ve learned that the audiences who supported me in one chapter often follow me into the next. They see my pivots as natural extensions of my work, not departures. As I’ve evolved, so have they and there’s often still much synergy between our respective work.

Sometimes it’s helpful during a career pivot or job search when you’re feeling lost and unachored to view your foundation as the key to your future, not simply your past. By reflecting on who you’ve helped, why they needed you, and the skills you’ve always relied on, you may be able to uncover the essence of your brand and identify a new aligned opportunity that honors your journey while moving you closer to your goals.