You Weren’t Planning to Jump—Now You Have To
A remind of why it's critical to pursue BD roles
Some career moves come with a plan. You map out the timeline, you build the exit strategy, you set everything up just right. Other times, the opportunity drops in your lap—an early retirement offer or some shift you didn’t see coming. Suddenly, you have to decide: do I take this and run? Or do I play it safe?
Most people freeze. They don’t trust it. “Is this real money? Will the check clear? What if I take the deal and regret it?” And by the time they overthink themselves into exhaustion, the window has closed.
The best opportunities rarely show up on schedule. And when you’re faced with one, you have two options. You can try to force an old plan onto a new reality. Or use the moment to reposition—step back, reassess, and start playing for something bigger.
That doesn’t mean diving blindly into the unknown. Ask yourself: “If I had six months of financial runway, what’s the smartest way to use it?” Most people default to what feels safe—another government-adjacent role, a contractor gig that keeps them in the same orbit. Others see the rare window to break free from the quotidian treadmill.
If you’re in this position right now - stop looking for a job. Start looking for leverage.
The best move isn’t necessarily the one that pays the most in the short term—it’s the one that positions you for the highest upside. And in tech, that means getting into revenue-generating roles. Business development, sales, customer success—anything that puts you closer to the money.
People from government backgrounds hesitate about this because it feels unfamiliar.
However, if you’ve ever persuaded a room full of bureaucrats to take action on anything, you already possess stronger sales skills than half of the individuals currently in those roles.
So, take the deal. Seize the breathing room. And then pursue opportunities that force you to level up. Because you weren’t planning for this moment—but that doesn’t mean you can’t use it to your advantage.
What’s holding you back from the career you deserve?
