When a startup tells you that they’re pivoting, read as, “We completed f*cked up.” Pivot is the newest way people have framed their mistakes and spun their alchemy to change their turds into gold. A pivot generally results in a company transitioning their product into an entirely different product or they would pull a complete 180 from their prior beliefs.
I know exactly how Chandler feels whenever I heard someone mention the word “pivot.” I won’t call anyone out, but the point being made is that people should be straight-shooters. Owning up to a mistake openly is going to earn you a lot more respect than spinning the news. Everyone is smart enough to read between the lines, so what’s the point of shoveling piles of BS in front of us?
I’ve made an insane number of mistakes in my time and I’ve had a really hard time owning up to any of them. Some people would let my bravado pass because of their maturity. Others would call me out and I’d dogged refuse to admit failure.
I’ve never told them that I felt like the biggest loser in the world, while defending myself.
I’d like to think I’m better nowadays, but I’m sure that I’ll still lapse into being an idiot. The next time you feel the need to spin your personal brand of bull, remember to just grow up and just fess-up.
View Comments (4)
As an entrepreneur I see pivoting as a change in course or direction because the way you were doing thing isn't working or providing the optimum results... I don't think it has to be as extreme as fucking up...
This seems pretty narrow-minded. Full-fledged businesses pivot on a regular basis. To be successful you have to make little adjustments to your business model all the time.
Disagree. Â A startup not finding product/market fit on their first try and "pivoting" to a different business model shouldn't be considered a "mistake". Â A mistake is running out of funding or not disclosing you're downloading your users' address books. Â For many startups the act of trying different models and markets is very much an intentional and expected part of the process that they wouldn't necessarily have done different if they could go back.
The article is pointing to the trend that a number of "startups" specifically have started to employ.  They start with Product A and then go to Product Z, but they call it a pivot. Â
As an entrepreneur that's created numerous companies offline and online, I know how impossible it is to get market fit straight out of the gate. Â I accept my mistakes and I lick my wounds. Â When a company pivots to adjust the business that is the absolute right move.
The issue that I'm trying to point out is where "Startup A" began with a post-it/evernote product and then converted to an online music playlist with a dj turntable gimmick - slapping a GIANT "pivot" all over it.
Simply admitting that they failed and found a better idea would've been a much more honest and true statement that was worth respecting because they learned from their failures. Â Failures are great and absolutely necessary.
Color.com failed AMAZINGLY. Â Bill Nguyen for all the mistakes his startup made, he completely and honestly recognized the failure he made in disregarding facebook. Â He owned up to it and then truly "pivoted" his application to correct the issue.
My key point is that everyone should fess-up to failing or f*cking up because it builds character and shows real reflection on their mistakes.  Don't heap piles of BS onto it to avoid the embarrassment.  Its like spraying a bathroom full of turds with febreeze.  All you've got left is a bathroom that smells like crap and artificial additives.Â
I hope that this clarifies the point =)