Pivoting - is it right to follow your heart in business?

I wanted to write about pivoting as I've seen it happening with a few solopreneurs and microbusinesses lately.

For those of us in business, especially solopreneurs, our journeys often include moments of doubt and hard decisions about whether we continue to do something just because, or pivot away from it.

What happens when the business model you’ve poured so much time, energy, and passion into needs a change? Or when your heart pulls you one way, but your head asks if this new path will be any better?

One thing I know from experience - pivoting your business is both exciting and terrifying in equal measure.

It’s one thing to adjust your current tactics to meet new challenges, but it’s a whole different level when your business focus shifts completely. For those of us who’ve invested long hours, building something out of nothing, the decision to pivot feels risky, even reckless. Do we double down on our established path, or do we step into the unknown, hoping that our intuition is leading us somewhere worth the struggle?

This is the delicate balance we face as solopreneurs, where the line between heart and head blurs. Often, a pivot reflects something deeper than just making money - it's a need to align what we’re doing with who we are, what our purpose is or what the world now demands, and I've seen this a lot recently from some brave solopreneurs and microbusiness owners.

Growing your Growth Mindset

Even when we can’t be certain, the act of pivoting reflects a growth mindset that’s essential for adapting and surviving. And, as creators, coaches, experts, leaders and entrepreneurs, it’s on us to evolve in response to shifts in the landscape.

It's not just solopreneurs that go through pivots. Here's some of the recent changes we’ve seen from notable brands:

1. Netflix – Initially a DVD rental business, Netflix shifted its model to streaming in the early 2000s. That leap of faith took it from niche to global powerhouse, fundamentally changing entertainment consumption forever.
2. Instagram – Instagram’s original design was for check-ins like Foursquare. Yet its founders saw an opportunity in photo sharing, and by adapting their model, Instagram redefined what social sharing could be.
3. Slack – Did you know Slack started as an internal communication tool within a gaming company? When the team realized the game wasn't taking off, they pivoted to build Slack as a standalone product, filling a gap in workplace communication.

Now, before you shout, these companies of course had resources, teams and frameworks to facilitate big transitions, but the principle of pivoting is exactly the same. If something isn't working for you, it's time to rethink and to pivot you need to be willing to start over and believe, even without proof, that this change is necessary - and it's possible that you'll need to convince those that have already bought into what you do now.

That's where many have turned to LinkedIn to tell the story behind their pivots and for the most part those who have made the changes continue to thrive.

Head v Heart

If you’re at a pivot point, consider what’s driving the change. Is it an emotional realisation based on your purpose, values and personal drivers or is it data-driven insight showing the need to shift based on the market/s you serve? Often, there's a need to combine both heart and head, letting your emotions spark the idea and allowing the logic to shape it.

So What...

Here’s my advice for anyone facing a big change in their business:

1. Listen to both your heart and your head. When it's your own business, the need for change is often sparked by emotion, but it’s essential to blend it with insights and realistic projections.
2. Find your "why." Without a clear motivation to drive you, it’s easy to feel defeated in the face of inevitable obstacles that come with starting over.
3. Remember it’s a journey, not a destination. As a perfectionist, this is advice I've been given a few times. You seen, a pivot doesn’t have to be your end game - rather it can be a baby step of a much larger journey and can help you to iterate your way to your destination. In every case, if you are a perfectionist like me, talk to the people who have your back, who can help you to relax and who can give you some sage advice that will give you the confidence to go with the flow and pivot successfully.
4. Changing direction doesn’t mean we’ve failed; it means we’ve found new paths worth exploring and if we're motivated by the prospect, we're more likely to succeed.

To everyone out there thinking of or going through a pivot - whether that's career, business or personal, remember that you’re not alone. Lean into the emotions, find your tribe, trust your instincts, and keep building, one step at a time and you'll fly!

Now if it's the right thing for you, grow peeps and pivot! To your success! :)