Sometimes the most profound lessons come from the smallest teachers.

Recently, I took some time off for a personal retreat in a rural area, far from the noise and demands of city life. Every morning, I would take walks through the bush paths to clear my head and reconnect with nature. One particular morning, as I rounded a bend on the dusty trail, I came upon something that stopped me in my tracks: a towering anthill, perfectly engineered, bustling with purposeful activity.

I found myself standing there for several minutes, initially I was afraid but I stayed a bit to observe. Here was this architectural marvel rising from the red earth, and not a single bulldozer had built it. Just thousands of tiny ants, working with focused intention, grain by grain, day by day. I wonder how long it took to build it.

I remembered that phrase: Anthills aren’t built by elephants. And neither are the careers, businesses, or life pivots you’re dreaming about.

What the Bible says about the Ant

“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” – Proverbs 6:6-8

Solomon wasn’t giving us a biology lesson. He was handing us a blueprint for transformation that every diagnostic professional contemplating a pivot needs to understand.

The wisdom is profound: Small, consistent actions compound into extraordinary results.

How Anthills Are Actually Built (And What It Teaches Us)

1. The Foundation Phase: One Grain at a Time

An ant colony doesn’t start with a master plan drawn by some corporate consultant. It begins with a single founding queen and a handful of workers, each carrying one grain of sand, one tiny piece of debris, one small burden.

That anthill I discovered on my morning walk didn’t appear overnight. It started small. Invisible, even. Yet there it stood, a testament to the power of persistent, purposeful work.

The Career Pivot Wisdom: Your transition from bench scientist to business professional/owner won’t happen because you attend one networking event or launched one perfect LinkedIn post. It happens when you consistently show up, grain by grain, day by day.

• Monday: Read one article about healthcare entrepreneurship
• Tuesday: Connect with one person in your target industry
• Wednesday: Write one paragraph about your expertise
• Thursday: Research one potential client or opportunity
• Friday: Take one small action toward your goal

2. The Division of Labor: Everyone Has a Role

In an ant colony, there’s no employee of the month program. No performance reviews. Yet somehow, workers naturally divide into specialized roles:

• Foragers find resources
• Builders construct and maintain
• Soldiers protect the colony
• Nurses care for the young

Each ant doesn’t try to do everything. They find their strength and lean into it completely.

The Career Pivot Wisdom: Stop trying to be everything to everyone. You don’t need to become a master marketer, accountant, salesperson, and thought leader all at once.

What’s your natural strength? Are you the:

• Forager who spots opportunities and trends before others?
• Builder who creates systems and processes that others depend on?
• Soldier who tackles the tough challenges and protects what matters?
• Nurturer who develops people and builds lasting relationships?

  Identify it. Own it. Build from there.

3. The Communication System: Information Flows Seamlessly

Ants don’t have WhatsApp groups or Slack channels, but their communication puts most organizations to shame. Through chemical signals called pheromones, they share critical information:

• Where food is located
• Which paths are most efficient
• When danger is approaching
• How to coordinate complex tasks

The Career Pivot Wisdom: Your network is your communication system. But here’s what most people get wrong, networking isn’t about collecting business cards at professional events or adding LinkedIn connections.

Real networking is like ant pheromones: leaving helpful information trails for others and following the wisdom signals from those who’ve walked the path before you.

Start sharing what you know. Write about the diagnostic challenges you’ve solved. Comment thoughtfully on industry posts. Answer questions in professional forums. Leave a trail that others can follow, and they’ll leave trails for you too.

4. The Resilience Factor: Built to Survive Disruption

Ever watched what happens when you accidentally step on part of an anthill? Panic? Chaos? Complete shutdown?

Not even close.

Within minutes, the ants would assess the damage, reroute their activities, and begin rebuilding. No strategic planning retreat required.

The Career Pivot Wisdom: The healthcare landscape changes faster than urban traffic patterns. New regulations, emerging technologies, shifting market demands, these are not disruptions to fear, they are opportunities to demonstrate the resilience you have been building all along.

When COVID-19 hit, some diagnostic professionals saw their world crumbling. Others saw new opportunities in telemedicine, home testing, and digital health solutions. Same storm, different responses.

Now to practicalize what I am sharing, I have put together a Diagnostic Professional’s Anthill: Your Step-by-Step Blueprint

Phase 1: Establish Your Foundation (Months 1-3)

• Daily: Spend 30 minutes learning about your target transition area.
• Weekly: Publish one insight or observation from your expertise.
• Monthly: Have one meaningful conversation with someone in your desired space.

Phase 2: Build Your Structure (Months 4-8)

• Daily: Engage authentically with your professional community online.
• Weekly: Create content that showcases your unique perspective.
• Monthly: Test one small business idea or career pivot opportunity.

Phase 3: Scale and Optimize (Months 9-12)

• Daily: Refine your systems and processes.
• Weekly: Measure what’s working and double down.
• Monthly: Expand your reach and impact.

What This Really Means for You

That anthill I discovered on my morning walk didn’t require an elephant’s strength or a lion’s roar. It required ant-like consistency, ant-like cooperation, and ant-like resilience. You know what ant-like means, it means small small or tiny tiny steps.

Your career pivot doesn’t need dramatic gestures or massive investments. It needs you to show up consistently, play to your strengths, communicate effectively, and adapt when necessary.

That bench-to-business transition you’ve been contemplating? Start with one grain of sand today. Share one insight. Make one connection. Take one small step.

Because one sure thing I know after years in this space: The professionals who succeed in major pivots aren’t the ones who wait for the perfect moment or the perfect plan. They’re the ones who understand that anthills aren’t built by elephants.

They’re built by consistent, purposeful action. One grain at a time.

What’s your first grain of sand? What small action will you take today to begin building your professional anthill? Please share it in the comments – your fellow bench-to-business builders are watching and ready to cheer you on.

Till next time,

Nancy.