Pivoting in Business: Why It’s Not Failure, It’s Strategy

September 04, 2025•5 min read

Pivoting in business is not about admitting defeat. It is about recalibrating for success. When I say, “It’s not failure, it’s strategy,” I mean that every pivot is a conscious decision to align your business with what is working, what is needed, and what is next. It is about agility, not abandonment.

Businesses Evolve

“A pivot allows you to refocus your energy on what matters most financially, operationally, and personally.”

What worked when you started may not serve your goals today, and that is okay. The key is recognizing when your systems, strategies, or even the market itself are no longer aligned with your vision.

A pivot helps you reallocate your focus to the areas that will yield the greatest return, whether that is revenue, team efficiency, or personal fulfillment.

My Most Personal Pivot: Divorce and Integrity

There was a time when everything looked successful on the outside. I had built a thriving seven-figure business, my reputation was strong, and people saw me as a leader who could help them scale. But inside, I was unsettled.

My marriage no longer fit the person I was becoming. I found myself resentful, disconnected, and physically unwell. It reached the point where I had to face the truth: staying was costing me my integrity and my health.

So I made one of the hardest pivots of my life. I chose divorce.

That decision was not about failure. It was about standing in my truth. I could no longer compromise who I was just to preserve an identity that no longer reflected me. Removing that veil, the mask I had worn to keep everything “together,” was both terrifying and liberating.

That personal pivot gave me back my voice, my energy, and my freedom to design a life that truly fit me. I doubled down on healing, immersed myself in growth experiences like breathwork certification, and rebuilt not only my personal life, but also how I wanted to lead in business.

Pivoting in life, just like in business, is not about quitting. It is about honoring the truth of where you are and having the courage to move toward alignment. When you pivot from that place, you do not lose. You expand, you evolve, and you start to live in the version of the person you are today.

Watch the podcast episode I recorded with Jen Gottlieb where I share this story

From Personal Pivot to Public Pivot: Rebranding Beyond My Old Identity

When I ended my marriage, I also had to face another reality. My business identity was tied to my married name. For years, I operated under Kareen Walsh. That brand carried weight. It represented the consulting practice I scaled to seven figures and the credibility I had built as a coach.

But as I stepped into this new chapter, I knew I no longer wanted my business tied to an identity that did not reflect who I am now.

It was time for another pivot, a public one.

I made the decision to bring everything under the brand I had been building through my app and AI coaching platform: Hey Kareen®. What started as the brand for my on demand coaching app became the natural home for my entire business.

Rebranding was not abandonment. It was an alignment. Just like my divorce, this pivot was about integrity, choosing to let go of what no longer fit so I could grow into the next version of myself, both personally and professionally.

That shift gave me clarity, expanded my reach, and unified my identity. Now, everything I do, from live coaching to the app to my community, exists under Hey Kareen®, a brand that reflects who I am and the impact I want to create.

Why Pivots Matter

During the pandemic, many businesses had to pivot rapidly to survive. The ones that thrived were not the ones who clung to old methods. They were the ones who embraced change, asked the hard questions, and doubled down on what mattered most.

A pivot is not about discarding your vision. It is about adjusting your approach so you can continue to pursue it.

Flatlined results? Pivot.
Market shifts? Pivot.
Outgrown your current role or brand? Pivot.

The Mindset Shift

“Detach from the outcome. Lean into impact.”

The hardest part of pivoting is not the strategy. It is the mindset. Fear of failure, fear of judgment, and fear of the unknown often keep entrepreneurs stuck.

What freed me was learning to detach from the outcome and focus instead on impact. Outcomes can shift based on forces outside your control. Impact is always within your reach.

Your Next Step

Ask yourself: What part of my business no longer fits?

That is your pivot point.

Remember, pivoting is not failure, it’s strategy.

Ready to Explore Your Pivot?

Unsure if you are in the right role of your business: Take the free CEO Quiz to uncover your natural leadership role.
Have open questions about what to do next and need on the spot coaching: Download the Hey Kareen® App for AI powered coaching and daily prompts.
Want to make sure you are taking aligned action towards your pivot: Join my free monthly coaching call to work through your pivot in real time with me and a supportive community.