Introduction to repotting theory
John W. Gardner, Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare under the leadership of US President Lyndon Johnson (1963-1969), was the first to introduce the theory of repotting in 1964 in his book, Self-Renewal: Individual and Innovative Society ". Repotting is usually related to gardening and refers to taking the plant and placing it in a new environment, usually a larger pot, to encourage growth.
The same theory applies to career focus and dedication. Repotting, or changing your career and workplace focus, is a way to rekindle your creativity and energy. When you no longer find yourself full of energy in a certain company, maybe it's time to move somewhere else, maybe even in a field completely different from the current one, for example from health to technology.
Why can you benefit from repotting?
When you change career, company or field, you naturally challenge yourself to keep learning in order to "survive". When you fall into a certain routine, it happens that creativity is blocked. Potential growth comes from the challenge. New experiences and challenges require creativity and commitment.
Creating informal links opens the door to relevant areas. However it must be said that repotting is a double-edged sword, as changes are not always favorable to you. You may think it's time to completely change your career field, but on the other hand you may find yourself unprepared. Having said that, repotting is an important and big step and as such, one should think carefully.
Source: The Ladders
