From Wikipedia: A pivot table is a “data summarization tool found in data visualization programs such as spreadsheets. Among other functions, they can automatically sort, count, and total the data stored in one table or spreadsheet and create a second table displaying the summarized data. Pivot tables are also useful for quickly creating cross tabs. The user sets up and changes the summary's structure by dragging and dropping fields graphically. This "rotation" or pivoting of the summary table gives the concept its name.”
What pivot tables do is shift --- or change --- the perspective of data, creating a new view to facilitate decisions. One could say that the WORLD has been “pivoted” recently in light of recent issues emerging in the global economy, plunging us into a world of the unknown. You must create a new perspective to survive.
Businesses --- large or small --- must pivot with the new conditions. But it’s difficult to change when you think that you must change everything in order to succeed. Changing everything is too difficult.
But you don’t have to change everything. Sometimes small “pivots” to better meet current conditions might be all that is needed. Consider:
- Keep your customers, but change what you sell to them.
- Keep your customers, but change how much you sell each one.
- Keep your providers, but change your profit structure.
- Keep your industry but change where the money comes from.
- Keep your staff, but change what they (and you!) do.
- Keep your mission, but change your scale.
- Keep your products, but change the way you market them.
- Keep your technology, but use it to do something else.
- Keep your reputation, but apply it to a different industry or problem.
- Keep your strategy, but change your tactics.
Simplistic, yes, but we often overlook the simplest ideas. Take a look at your business and decide how you need to pivot it to meet the new world.
PS: Thanks again to Seth Godin for presenting an idea that triggered this blog.
“What you are afraid to do is a clear indicator of the next thing you need to do.”
--- Author Unknown