It Took Me 10 Years to Learn This (While building and exiting my startup)
Welcome to the Dave vs. Startups.
After 10 years building my startup, I believe my most valuable skill wasn't marketing, product development, or fundraising.
It was knowing exactly when to stay the course vs. when to change direction.
Here's the framework that guided me to a successful multi-million dollar exit:
There's this delicate dance around knowing when to pivot your startup.
It happens when:
The market isn't responding well
Competitors have pushed you out of your space
But there's equal danger in pivoting too often.
Changing direction before giving your strategy enough time to work.
I've seen founders who give up on solid ideas way too early.
They jump from one shiny opportunity to another, never giving anything enough time to gain traction.
But I've also seen the opposite…
Founders who stick with failing approaches for years, refusing to adapt when they should.
Playing the long game doesn't mean doing nothing.
Yes, you want to give an idea a chance, maybe 4 years or so.
But you have to ask:
"Am I just doing the same thing over and over without challenging myself? Or am I actively looking for ways to move forward?"
This comes back to emotional discipline.
When things aren't going well, it's tempting to completely overhaul your business in a panic.
But the best founders find that middle ground:
Consistent vision with tactical adaptability.
I've spoken with entrepreneurs who built successful companies by focusing on profitability and cash flow before scaling revenue.
They didn't rush.
They didn't pivot at the first sign of trouble, they played the long game with purpose and intention.
When you're considering a pivot, ask yourself:
"Is the market truly not responding, or have I not given this enough time?"
"Am I changing direction because of data, or just because I'm impatient for results?"
The answer often reveals whether you should pivot or persevere.
One of the toughest parts of building a company is that consistency isn't always visible day-to-day.
You don't see dramatic progress when you're in it.
But looking back over the years, that steady approach, with strategic adjustments, is usually what creates sustainable success.
The startup world glamorizes pivots.
They make for great stories.
But the reality is most successful businesses evolve gradually through consistent execution, not dramatic overnight transformations.
Pivoting should be thoughtful, not reactive.
I've found that the best approach is having a clear vision of how you want to run your business, but being flexible in how you get there.
Define success on your own terms.
And be willing to fail on those same terms if necessary.
That's the startup dance that matters most.
————————
"You can't make culture later..."
If you're a founder, culture is foundational to everything you're building.
Tune into the Startup Different Podcast