The Cost of the Pivot: When Change Becomes Avoidance

There’s a moment in every journey where change stops being brave... and starts being a form of escape.

I was reminded of this truth after reading a story from Greg Faxon, a coach whose emails often land right when I need to hear them. He shared an experience about buying a brand-new mountain bike—bright green, carbon-framed, full of promise. But after a few rides, he began to doubt whether it was the right fit. So he sold it.

Soon, he realized he’d let go of a high-quality bike for reasons that could have been resolved with small tweaks—trimmed handlebars, a seat adjustment, or simply more time in the saddle. Instead, the pivot cost him money, momentum, and valuable time on the trail.

His point? In business—and in life—we often pivot too soon.

Early on, pivoting is rewarded. It’s how we grow, evolve, and course-correct. But eventually, we reach a stage where commitment is the medicine, not reinvention.

And yet… the temptation to start over can be strong. A new niche. A new program. A new plan. It feels fresh. It gives us a sense of progress. But sometimes, it’s just a clever way of avoiding the deeper work—the refining, the refining, the refining.

I’ve done this. Perhaps you have, too. We mistake discomfort for misalignment. We forget that mastery often feels like monotony before it becomes magic.

In those moments, it helps to pause and ask:

"Am I pivoting because this is fundamentally broken, or because I haven’t done the hard work to make it great?"

Sometimes what needs to change isn’t the thing itself—it’s our perspective, our patience, or the way we’re engaging with the process.

In a world that applauds the next big leap, Think Heavy Move Light invites us to consider: What if the next step isn’t new—it’s deeper?

With grounded steps,

Ruba