Over the last few years, the word pivot has made its way into the collective conversation.
Prevalent in the tech world, pivoting is the new black.
It’s as if no one is allowed anymore to stay the course on any project, idea, or concept if it isn’t immediately a huge culture hit and/or ringing the billion-dollar cash register.
That’s my interpretation of things, anyway.
Pivoting is the new black
If you’ve been following this pivot narrative, you are well aware of pivot’s popularity.
Hence memes like the following:
On any given day on any given platform, the word pivot makes its way into the feed.
Headlines like these clog the Internet:
15 Key Elements For Pivoting Successfully During Tough Times
What Pivoting is, When to Pivot, and How to Pivot Effectively
Knowing When — and How — to Pivot Is Key to Your Business' Survival. Here's What You Need to Do.
There's no question -- pivoting is not only popular, but encouraged.
Cross pollination -- or maybe contamination?
When I asked Perplexity AI why pivoting has become so prevalent these days, here is the list of eight reasons for pivoting’s growth in recent years:
- Rapidly changing markets and technology: With the pace of technological change and shifting consumer behaviors, companies often need to adapt quickly to stay relevant. As one source notes, "Rapid technological advancements or shifts in industry trends can render your current business model or product obsolete."
- Emphasis on "failing fast": There's a culture in the startup world of launching quickly, getting feedback, and being willing to change course if something isn't working. As one comment states, "Pivoting is the other shoe that drops as a result of 'failing faster'."
- Data-driven decision making: Companies now have access to more data about customer behavior and market trends, allowing them to identify when a pivot may be necessary. As Forbes notes, there's a "rising importance of data-driven decision-making in identifying market opportunities and risks."
- Competitive pressures: In crowded markets, pivoting can be a way to differentiate or find a more viable niche. One source mentions "Competitor movements" as a potential indicator for pivoting.
- Investor expectations: Venture capitalists and other investors often expect startups to be agile and pivot if their initial idea isn't gaining traction.
- Recognition that initial ideas often need refinement: There's growing acceptance that first attempts may not be perfect. As one quote states: "Things rarely work out immediately from the start with no obstacles."
- Seeking product-market fit: Pivoting is seen as a way to "get more shots on goal to try to find this elusive thing called product-market fit."
- Economic pressures: Especially in uncertain economic times, companies may need to pivot to survive or find more sustainable business models.
Perplexity’s big conclusion?
The key takeaway is that pivoting is now seen less as a sign of failure and more as a normal part of the business development process, especially for startups and companies in fast-moving industries.
Okay, so this makes sense within the startup and tech contexts.
Normalized pivoting.
In everyday life?
Not so much.
I don’t know about you, but I don't aspire to be normal or average.
Just because everyone else is doing something doesn't mean I need to do that thing, too.
When it comes to the push to pivot, changing course every minute is exhausting to think about, let alone execute.
But as has been the case over the last decade or more, Silicon Valley culture has wormed its way into everyday life culture.
Cross pollination has occurred.
Sometimes the mix works out.
More times than not, though, it doesn’t.
I am not a pivoting machine
I’m a huge fan of technology.
I use it everyday.
And I am not a machine that can instantly update my operating system to pivot just because things aren't working out the way I'd like.
I'm also an advocate of personal growth. Of challenging myself to step into the far unlit unknown even when I’d rather stay in the brightly lit comfort of what I already know.
Again -- I don't have a switch I can flip to instantly pivot and I don’t expand exponentially every day.
Sometimes I move more slowly than others.
Some projects simply take more time and energy than others.
Growth comes in waves.
Can you imagine if the growing pains you experienced as a kid as your bones expanded never stopped?
How tortuous that would be?
Pivoting is a lot like those growing pains.
Sometimes it's warranted.
You gotta buckle up and hang on for the ride.
But not all the time.
And certainly not at the first sign something isn’t working. Or making fistfuls of cash.
The rise in ghosting (both personal relationships and professional ones) is an ugly side effect of pivot culture.
The conditioning to jump ship and PIVOT! has gone too far.
People aren't sticking with much of anything anymore, opting instead to swipe left or scroll down on their life.
The conditioning to jump ship and PIVOT! has gone too far.
Sometimes -- even when it’s hard or uncomfortable or not working out like the Highlight Reel implies it should -- you stay the course.
Just to see.
Storms pass.
Seas become calm again.
And look!
You’re moving forward without going back to square one.
