Should You Pivot Your Business or Double Down? Here’s What Smart Founders Are Doing Instead
- The Virtual Hub Marketing
Wondering how to pivot your business? Here’s when to pivot, when not to—and why doubling down might be your smartest move.
The Pivot Panic: Why “Just Pivot” Isn’t Always Smart Strategy
The world hit pause—but business didn’t.
When crisis strikes (hello, global pandemic), the instinct is to act fast. For scaling founders and operators, that often means one thing: pivot.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: not every business needs to pivot—and pivoting for the sake of activity can be the most dangerous move of all.
At The Virtual Hub, we nearly made that mistake. We built a full pivot plan, complete with a new service line, landing page, and launch strategy—only to stop it cold just before going live.
Why?
Because the best move wasn’t a new direction. It was doubling down on what already worked.
What Does ‘Pivot’ Really Mean in Business?
Before you burn the playbook, let’s clarify the pivot meaning in business:
To pivot a business is to strategically shift your offering, model, or market focus in response to internal or external change. That could mean a total overhaul—or a simple messaging tweak.
But it must be intentional. Reactive pivots based on panic or peer pressure rarely lead to long-term growth.
The Moment We Almost Pivoted—And Why We Didn’t
In the early days of COVID, clients paused or pulled back. We suddenly had excess capacity and rising anxiety. So, we built a pivot strategy:
- Project-based VA launch packages
- Landing page and marketing ready
- Launch date set
And yet—we didn’t pull the trigger.
Why? Something didn’t feel right. Every day, the decision got pushed to “tomorrow.” Turns out, that hesitation wasn’t fear—it was strategic restraint.
Listen Before You Leap: How to Know If You Should Pivot Your Business
Before you pivot, pause.
Great decisions come from listening—not reacting. Here’s what to tune into:
1. Your Intuition
Yes, your gut counts. The subconscious synthesizes what logic can’t explain yet. When something feels off—pay attention.
2. Your Clients
Ask: What are they actually asking for? During the pandemic, demand for remote, trained support assistants skyrocketed. Our existing service wasn’t broken—it was becoming essential.
3. Your Network
Talk to people. Not performatively—strategically. The more conversations we had, the more it became clear: our clients didn’t need new services—they needed more of our core service, faster and smarter.
Read more: Pivot by Jenny Blake
Should You Pivot or Double Down? Here's How to Think About It
There’s a wide range of pivoting options, and not all pivots are seismic. Here’s a better way to frame it:
- If your messaging isn’t landing, you may need a micro-pivot—a shift in how you communicate or where you show up.
- If your delivery model is strained or outdated, a moderate pivot—like changing how you deliver or price your offer—might be in order.
- If your entire business no longer fits the market reality, then yes, you may need a full pivot—a reimagining of your business model or customer base.
But if your offer is aligned, in demand, and scalable?
Don’t pivot. Double down.
In Our Case? We Doubled Down—And It Paid Off
Instead of launching the new offer, we poured that energy into what we do best:
- Hiring top 1% talent
- Training through our proprietary academy
- Plug-and-play support assistant teams
- Scalable operational support for fast-growing businesses
And it worked. Demand surged. Our core offer met the moment—and we didn’t waste resources splitting focus.
That’s the power of doubling down instead of chasing the buzzword.
So, Should You Pivot Your Business Right Now?
Here’s your decision checklist:
- Has your core offer become irrelevant—or is it just under-leveraged?
- Are your clients asking for something different—or more of what you already offer?
- Is the pivot driven by panic—or backed by a clear opportunity?
- Are your internal systems and team ready to execute a change—or would it derail momentum?
If you’re unsure, listen first. Then act. That’s what the smartest operators are doing.
For a deeper dive into recognizing the right time to pivot—and how to do it strategically—read the feature on Forbes: When to Pivot Your Business
Final Word: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One
In uncertain times, it’s easy to default to change.
But growth doesn’t always mean reinvention.
Sometimes the boldest move is to say: “We’re already on the right track—let’s go harder.”
Whether you pivot business strategy, pause to listen, or scale what’s already working—make sure your next move is grounded in clarity, not chaos.
At The Virtual Hub, we help founders reclaim their focus and free up their best people—by building elite support teams that slot in and scale fast.
Ready to make your next smart move?
Book a discovery call and let’s explore how we can help you optimize what’s working—or pivot smart if needed.
Masterclass:
Optimize your people
strategy for growth
Watch Now!
Want to talk to
our team?
Discover more strategies to scale smarter with people optimization
Join our scaling smarter community
