Pivoting in Business: What Helped Me When I Had To (But Didn’t Want To)

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in business, it’s that things rarely go exactly as planned. No matter how much effort you put into mapping out the perfect strategy, life has a funny way of throwing curveballs. And sometimes, those curveballs force you to pivot—whether you want to or not.

I’ve been there. Staring at my business, knowing I needed to shift, but resisting it with everything in me. The fear of change, the frustration of starting over (again), the voice in my head telling me I was failing. But here’s the truth: pivoting isn’t failure—it’s strategy. And if you do it right, it can be the thing that pushes you to your next level.

So, if you find yourself in a place where you know a pivot is necessary, but you’re dreading it, here are the things that helped me move forward when I didn’t want to:

1. Stop Fighting Reality: I wasted so much time fighting what was already happening. Whether it was a shift in the industry, a change in my audience’s needs, or a strategy that just wasn’t working anymore, I kept trying to force things to stay the same. But the sooner I accepted that things had to change, the sooner I could actually do something about it. You can’t move forward if you’re clinging to what was.

2. Focus on What’s Working: (Even If It’s Small) When it feels like everything is crumbling, look for the pieces that are still solid. Maybe your audience is responding well to a particular type of content. Maybe a new trend aligns perfectly with your business, even if it’s not what you originally planned. Shifting your focus to what’s working instead of what’s failing makes the pivot feel like an expansion rather than a loss.

3. Lean on Your Network: I cannot stress this enough: do not try to figure it all out alone. Talk to your mentors, peers, or business friends who have been through similar struggles. Someone else’s outside perspective can help you see possibilities you’re too overwhelmed to notice.

4. Change the Narrative in Your Head: When I had to pivot, my first thought was, “This means I failed.” But after a lot of reflection (and some well-placed pep talks), I realized something: every successful person I admire has pivoted. They’ve all had to adjust, rework, and sometimes completely start over. The difference between those who succeed and those who don’t isn’t avoiding pivots—it’s embracing them.

5. Get Clear on the Bigger Picture: It’s easy to get lost in the frustration of the moment. But when I zoomed out and reminded myself of why I started my business in the first place, I realized that the mission hadn’t changed—just the path to get there. The goal stays the same; the strategy just evolves.

6. Take Imperfect Action: If you wait until you feel ready to pivot, you’ll be waiting forever. Start messy. Take the first step, even if you’re unsure. Action creates clarity, and momentum will follow.

Final Thoughts: Pivoting is never easy, especially when you weren’t the one who wanted to make the change. But in hindsight, every pivot I’ve made in my business has led me to something better—something I never would have seen if I had stayed stuck.

So if you’re in that place now, feeling like you’re resisting change, just know this: you are not starting over; you are leveling up.