throughout her twenty-seven-year involvement in polar expeditions, both professionally and personally, julie brown has spent dedicated time with a variety of extravagant personalities in a multitude of extreme situations. it took her a while to define her place in the mix – her purpose – and even longer to realize her strengths and contributions relating to her husband and business partner, the late dixie dansercoer. she needed clarity regarding what had become an abrupt professional pivot. a pivot is defined in one sense as a center point about which something rotates or oscillates. this motion occurs around a stable axis, allowing expansion, growth, and stability to co-exist. while a pivot results in a new direction or action, the center of the source remains solid. when we pivot, we grow. we may succeed, we may fail, or we may find ourselves along the path in between. the ability to pivot is a skill that most people need, especially those in trusted leadership positions. julie guides the reader on a journey of discovery peppered with uniquely vivid anecdotes. her inspiring stories expose universal strategies that transcend adventure to achieve any grand goal. julie brown is co-founder and managing director of polar circles since 1999. she serves as project manager for guided expeditions, is an author, and delivers keynote speeches and interactive workshops on creatively decisive leadership topics. she has also had extensive careers in education and the airline sector.