When things aren’t working as well as one hope or plans, it’s natural to push harder. Whether our push is through longer hours, more frequent contact with potential clients, or bigger, louder marketing messages, it all adds up to one thing — beating your head against a wall. Not only is it unproductive, it’s not the smartest strategy for growing your small business. Rather than get a bigger helmet so it hurts less when your head hits the wall — again — learn to pivot.
To pivot means to turn and go in a different direction. It’s one of the most effective strategies for creating movement. While strategizing with clients, we found the pivot to be one of the most effective strategies to counteract lackluster results.
No one really understands how some of the best-laid plans fail to produce. But, after a good effort, it’s ineffective and unproductive to continue with the same strategy. Like Famous “Wally” Amos said, “If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll continue to have what you have.” It really is the true definition of insanity. When we continue to do what we’re doing without results, we become blind to opportunities for growth around us.
Master the Ability to Pivot
How do you know when a “pivot” is necessary? The telltale signs include:
- lackluster results despite a well-developed plan
- metrics severely missing the projections, despite strategic tweaks to the plan
- sense of disappointment and lack of motivation
Most harmful for any small business owner is when disappointment and lack of motivation creep into the picture. Without impetus and inspiration, success becomes a struggle.
Knowing each small business situation is as unique as the small business owner means you’ll need to use your judgment to determine when a “pivot” is in order. Areas to look for the potential “pivot” involve:
- where growth is currently occurring
- where you find inspiration
- what is fun and effortless for you to do
- wherever you’re not bored performing the same action
Although the possible setting of your pivot may not draw a direct line to your primary business goal, a pivot injects new energy into the business. It’s that renewed sense of energy that revitalizes your small business growth once again.
Related Blog Posts:
