No More Pivoting

by Ben Hall

Retire One of the Most Overused Words that Sprung Out of the COVID-19 Pandemic

In a recent Facebook video, Overview President Ben Hall tells us he wants to replace and retire the most overused word in 2020 during COVID-19 – pivot. When we talk about a business changing or innovating to survive and thrive during the pandemic, the word pivot is always used. According to Merriam-Webster, the word pivot can be either a noun or a verb. When used as a noun, pivot means “a shaft or pin on which something turns” or “a person, thing, or factor having a major or central role, function, or effect.” When used as a verb, to pivot means “the action in basketball of stepping with one foot while keeping the other foot at its point of contact with the floor.”

When basketball players pivot; they can’t dribble; they can’t move; they’re staying in one place; and one foot has to stay on the floor. They have to throw the ball before they get a penalty for holding. They’re stuck in one place. Bringing it back to COVID-19, if a business is pivoting, it can’t change or innovate. If a business doesn’t know how to move forward, it will remain stuck in one place.

Ben suggests that we replace the word pivot with tack. To tack is “to change the direction of (a sailing ship) when sailing by turning the bow to the wind and shifting the sails so as to fall off on the other side at about the same angle as before.” Tack means moving forward and changing direction against a head wind. With COVID-19 as the head wind, we need to be nimble while moving forward and changing direction. Tacking makes more sense than pivoting.

Let’s reserve pivot for basketball, dance class, and that iconic scene from Friends.

So, no more pivoting, tack. Don’t get stuck.

Tack into Significant Savings

Schedule a 15 minute call with Ben to discover how you can realize savings on HR services, payroll processing, healthcare coverage, business insurance, and many other business expenses. Ben is passionate about sharing what he has learned. His real-world experience and first-hand knowledge stack the odds to benefit his clients’ bottom line.