The Art Of The Pivot
Changing course is never easy. But, the truth is that pivoting is a normal part of entrepreneurship.
Recently, on a coaching call with a clien,t the topic was the art of the pivot. In an email, the client shared with me that she knew she needed to pivot but was anxiety-ridden about execution. Ironically, she’s done a pivot in her business before. However, the idea of changing course yet again filled her with trepidation. Changing course is never easy. But the truth is that pivoting is a normal part of entrepreneurship. The longer you’re in business, the more likely it is that you have done a pivot or two.
The First Pivot I Made
My first pivot had nothing to do with Effie’s Paper, in fact, it was long before I graduated high school. From the age of 8 or 9 until the age of 15, I was a competitive figure skater. I absolutely loved figure skating; I hated getting up for the 6 am workouts before school, but ice skating was my thing. Nevertheless, I had no fear and dreamed of becoming the first Black woman to win a gold metal at the Olympics. You could find me skating before school, after school, on the weekends, and all day during the Summer.
I had a great coach, I made some good friends and I learned a lot about discipline and commitment. I grew up in Michigan, and at the time and I was one of two African-American girls on the competitive figure skating scene in the Tri-State area. Which meant that, unfortunately, I learned a hard lesson early on … subjectivity in sports is inherent with bias.
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Things have changed tremendously in sports today; no one who’s seen Simone Biles on the balance beam would dare question that she is The GOAT. Trust me, I was no Simone, but I was good. The joy I derived from skating a flawless program or landing a double flip jump at a competition was quickly overshadowed by the biased judging system. If I placed, it was no higher than third place. On the ice is where I first came into contact with implicit bias. Despite how well I skated at a competition, I didn’t look like the other girls on the ice. The unconscious prejudices and biases that the judges had about Black people were reflected in the ranking of my performance. Ironically, at one competition, the mom of the girl who placed first apologized to me because it was blatantly obvious that I’d out-skated her daughter.
Losing My Joy
Skating, something I loved was slowly becoming a joyless experience. My parents were heartbroken; it got to the point where my mom couldn’t stomach watching me skate during a competition and loathed having to deal with the other moms. I would come off the ice triumphant and then, only minutes later when the results were posted, I’d be in unconsolable tears. Not because I wasn’t on the podium, but because it was so obvious to all involved that I didn’t place because of the color of my skin.
Losing My Joy Led to My First Pivot
I share this story because it precipitated my first pivot. As much as I loved ice skating, the fire that propelled me to be my best had been extinguished. Figure skating is an expensive sport. My parents invested a lot in my skating career – private coaches, ice time, skate boots, blades, competition outfits, competition fees and the list goes on. I was still going to the rink every morning before school and I was still working with my coach, but I’d lost the desire to compete.
And then a friend of mine told me she was trying out for the cheer team. That sounded like fun! I’d never even considered becoming a cheerleader because I didn’t have the time. I knew if I gave up skating, I could be a cheerleader. I could play soccer and/or run track, two other sports I was very interested in. The inklings of my first pivot began in that instance.
I wondered what people would think if I told them I’d quit ice skating. I wondered who I’d be without ice skating. Fretted over what to tell people. But I knew in my heart of hearts that my days on the ice were done. Telling my coach, my friends, and my family that I was quitting was hard. However, the sense of freedom I felt was wonderful. No more waking up at 5:30 am to be on the ice by 6 am. No more feeling like I wasn’t having a normal teenage experience. I made the cheer team and I also played soccer and ran track.
The First Pivot Is The Hardest
That first pivot was the hardest. When I left the practice of law, I had many of the same worries and fears I’d had when I quit skating. And just like when I was in the 9th grade, I put a positive spin on things and moved forward through the fear. My reinvention? I started a fashion styling business for busy professionals and I was hired by CNN to dress their on-air talent.
I was happy to be doing my own thing, but a year into the styling business it was clear to me that my heart wasn’t in it. Even though I had a popular blog, I had clients, heck I was working as a stylist for CNN. But, what I really wanted to do was own a stationery shop. So, I threw caution to the wind, I pared the styling business back and segued into stationery. My only regret is that I didn’t continue with my blog, Possess Your Style.
Nevertheless, here we are 14 years later. Effie’s Paper is still thriving despite the number of pivots that I’ve made along the way. (Read about some of those here). That first pivot was definitely the hardest. So my friend, if you’re thinking about a pivot, know that you’re not alone. And remember, trust your gut, pivoting is both a part of life and a part of the entreprenurial journey.
Let’s Talk Through Your Pivot, Together
If you’re considering a pivot and are unsure about your next steps, I’d love to help you work through the anxiety and reach the other side triumphantly. Click here to learn about my coaching services. And let’s be honest, whether you’re a complete beginner in your business or a seasoned pro, there will come a time when you hit your ceiling – your maximum capacity to continue making things happen on your own.
At some point you’re going to have to invest in yourself to take your business to the next level. Collaboration often leads to better outcomes, I know it did for me. It can be for you too!
Because Besties Don’t Gatekeep . . .
Let’s chat! I would love to help you start or supercharge your business. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel, I can help you navigate what can sometimes be a steep learning curve.
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This is so inspiring and EXACTLY what I needed to read right now, on multiple levels.
I’m so sorry that happened to you re: skating though. That’s so messed up to happen to anyone but especially to a kid, though having grown up in Ohio I’m not surprised, sadly. Do you have any sense for whether figure skating has improved with regards to diversity and implicit bias since then? I hope so.