explaining my pivot without sounding defensive

the sequence that finally killed the 'so why product?' follow up question. ask me how many versions it took.

Write the one line version before anyone asks

mine is 'I spent 6 years making arguments, now I make products.' rehearse it until it's boring to say out loud

Lead with the throughline, not the timeline

Name the transferable skill out loud

don't make them guess it. say 'stakeholder management' or whatever the actual word is

Have one real story ready, CARL not STAR

STAR wastes your first two sentences setting a scene they don't care about. skip straight to what you did

Own the decision, don't apologize for it

Answer why now, not just why this

if you can only explain why product and not why NOW, they'll assume you're still deciding

Ask them something back

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