Overcoming Obstacles to Pivoting: How to Pivot Successfully As an Entrepreneur

Here are a few more examples of companies that pivoted:

1.    Slack: Before becoming the popular team collaboration tool, Slack was a gaming company called Tiny Speck. The company was working on a game called "Glitch," but it failed to gain traction. However, the company had developed a messaging system as part of the game, which eventually became the foundation for Slack.

2.    Instagram: Instagram started as an app called "Burbn," which was a location-based social network. However, the founders realised that the app was too complex and cluttered. They decided to pivot, focusing only on the photo-sharing feature, which became the foundation for the now-popular app.

3.    Twitter: Twitter was initially a podcasting company called Odeo. However, when Apple announced that it was adding podcasting to iTunes, the company realised that they were no longer viable. They pivoted to focus on a side project, which eventually became Twitter.

These examples demonstrate the power of pivoting and the importance of being open to change in the entrepreneurial journey. By recognising the need to pivot and adapting to changing circumstances, companies can emerge stronger and more successful than ever before.

However, founders often fail to pivot on time, resulting in missed opportunities and stunted growth. Here are some reasons why pivoting may be difficult and how to overcome them:

Vanity Metrics
One common reason why start-ups fail to pivot on time is the excessive focus on vanity metrics. Vanity metrics are numbers that make the founders feel good but do not reflect the actual success or viability of their product or service. For example, a high number of social media followers or website visitors may look impressive, but if they are not converting into paying customers, it's not a true measure of success.

To overcome this, start-ups must identify and focus on actionable metrics that reflect the actual success of their product. These metrics could include customer engagement, retention rate, and revenue generated. By focusing on actionable metrics, start-ups can pivot in the right direction and create a more sustainable and successful business.

Absence of a Clear Hypothesis
Another reason why founders may find it difficult to pivot is the absence of a clear hypothesis to test. A hypothesis is a statement that outlines the problem the product is solving, the target audience, and how the product solves their problem. Without a clear hypothesis, it's challenging to measure success or failure, leading to a lack of direction and confusion about the company's goals.

To overcome this, start-ups must identify a clear hypothesis and continually test it through experimentation and analysis. By testing different hypotheses, startups can gather valuable data and insights and identify the most viable solution.

Fear of Failure
Fear of failure is a common obstacle that founders must overcome to pivot successfully. Founders may be emotionally attached to their original vision and feel that pivoting means admitting failure. This fear can hold them back from exploring new opportunities and embracing change.

To overcome this, founders must dissociate themselves from their start-up and acknowledge that failure is not personal failure. Rather, it's an opportunity to learn and grow, pivot in the right direction, and create a more successful business. By embracing a growth mindset, founders can overcome their fear of failure and take bold steps towards pivoting.

Emotional Investment
Founders are emotionally invested in their business, and it can be challenging to detach themselves from their original vision. This emotional attachment may cause them to hold onto their initial hypothesis even when it's no longer valid. They may ignore warning signs, feedback, and data that suggests that their product or service needs to change.

To overcome this, founders must focus on the long-term goals of their business rather than their emotional attachment to their original vision. They need to be open to feedback, experiment with different approaches, and make data-driven decisions. By adopting a more analytical and objective mindset, founders can make a more informed decision about whether to pivot or persevere.

Lack of Resources
Pivoting can be resource-intensive, and start-ups may not have the necessary resources to execute the change successfully. They may lack the budget, team, or technology required to pivot, making it difficult to execute the change effectively.

To overcome this, start-ups need to plan carefully and allocate their resources wisely. They should prioritise the most critical areas of the business that require change, and invest in the necessary resources to execute the pivot successfully. This may involve raising additional funds, hiring new talent, or partnering with other companies to share resources.

In conclusion, pivoting is a powerful tool for start-ups to evolve and adapt in response to market changes and customer feedback. However, founders may face obstacles such as vanity metrics, a lack of clear hypotheses, and fear of failure. By focusing on actionable metrics, testing different hypotheses, and embracing a growth mindset, founders can successfully pivot and create a more successful business. It's essential to trust the data, take calculated risks, and be open to change to stay ahead in the entrepreneurial journey.

Creo Incubator offers a range of entrepreneurship courses, including business strategy, skills for entrepreneurs, and market research, to help start-ups identify their target audience, analyse market trends, and develop a viable product. These courses provide founders with the business knowledge and entrepreneurial skills needed to pivot effectively and stay ahead in the entrepreneurial journey.