"Pivoting"

BEG:  2:20PM

Yes -- I just wrote this buzzword that's sweeping the GLOBE!  The word, however, is nothing new.  This word has now become quite sexy, just like "entrepeneurship" (i'll worry about spelling later), "start-up", "ideation", etc.  But enough bashing on its overuse.  Everything gets overused at one point or another.  Okay, back to what I wanted to convey with this word...

I love the meaning behind it, and all of the externalities that surround the concept.  Back before Eric Weiss wrote "The Lean Startup", i'm guessing such a concept was not practiced regularly, probably avoided at most times.  Although, that notion is in and of itself a paradox because how can one avoid something they have no experience with?  I have to believe that the norm for anyone, or any team, or any organization was to avoid having to almost instantaneously change direction.  Why?  Because Pivoting can be traumatic given the historical mindset we all had.  Need to scrap that 1-month effort?  "No Way!  I've put all this time and effort into this".  Ah!  Now we have the psycological attachment to the project.  And the more time & $$$ spent progressing with the wrong trajectory, the harder it will be to break free.  BTW:  if my explanation here is exactly what Eric Wies wrote in The Lean Startup, i technically cannot be accused of plagiarism -- because I have not read, or heard excerpts from it yet =)

Now this is the part where I actually did learn from Eric Weiss, and it actually makes practical sense:  plan to fail before failing.  With the notion that building a prototype is meant to validate or test assumptions & hypothesis, it's much easier to not become so attached.  Of course, there is a necessity to be motivated in building your product, which should not be forgotten.  What I love about the idea of planning to fail early is that it forces oneself to identify the most crucial aspect of your product, waste little time, and maximize your focus towards developing that product -- ASAP!

But, I want to give an analogy of my understanding on the implications of not "pivoting" early enough.  Think of your product/solution as a young Shaquielle O'neal.  At age 14, being 6'0, 150 lbs, he's far more able to manuever around people and stop-on-a-dime to juke someone out than if he were in his late 20s, at 7'1', 300 lbs.  Get the picture?  Okay, not the best analogy, but I'm guessing you get the picture...

Okay, I have an interview with a Visa VP at 3pm.  Apparently the guy from yesterday's call liked me enough to get me to this 2nd phone screenings.  I'm definitely grateful and appreciative.  Let's see how this goes.

END:  2:42 PM