The anatomy of a reinvention

Reinvention is not linear.

Depending on the transformation you’re seeking, the stages of your process may repeat, overlap, go faster or slower than expected, and/or resurface just when you thought you were done.

It takes what it takes.

Although each reinvention is unique in its timeline and direction, I’ve identified three distinct stages.

Acknowledge

This stage is about acknowledging the gap between where you are now and what you want to create in your life or business.

There are two aspects here: awareness and appreciation.

Reinvention requires a high level of self-awareness. Accurately assessing your current reality, and getting specific about the change you desire, are important steps in the process.

Acknowledgement also means appreciation. Don’t run away from an old version of yourself—instead, mine your accumulated wisdom! Extract lessons from the road you’ve traveled, and intentionally choose how they inform your next act.

Define

This stage is about defining the actions you need to take—both internally and externally—to create what you want.

Who do you need to become and what do you need to do?

When you reinvent yourself, you by definition become someone entirely new. This commonly brings up feelings of fear and uncertainty.

Being in action—practicing the new you—is the best way to move through the unknowns and train yourself on the skill of adaptability.

Build

This stage is about building resilience.

Once you get into action on your reinvention, obstacles are inevitable.

Developing practical tools for overcoming these challenges builds your self-belief and confidence.

As your resilience muscle grows, you’ll start viewing setbacks as signs of progress—evidence that you’re no longer sitting on the sidelines.

You’re in the game of transformation.