To Pivot or Pirouette?

“You’ll ruin your feet”, he said. “I don’t care”, I murmured; almost whispered.

I was too young to stand up to my Dad. He was a tough dad and wasn’t one to negotiate.

Dad was an orthopedic surgeon who worked with children whose feet, legs, and hips didn’t develop or function correctly. He warned me that dancing on the tip of my toes would deform my feet, especially since I was still growing.

But… I had worked hard to become an accomplished ballet dancer and getting up on toe shoes was my dream.

Those lovely pink satin shoes with the graceful ribbon lacing up my shins were worth the pain and challenge. That liberating sense of freedom as I whirled across the floor made the punishing practice fade away. After all, I was 14 and feeling very grown up!

So with the help of my Mom, Dad and I finally reached a détente: I could dance ‘en pointe’ as long as I never complained to him about my feet hurting – for the rest of my life. Seemed like an easy ‘yes’ to me!

As you can probably guess, Dad was right, I ruined my feet, and I kept my word to never complain to him. Darn those consequences!

Dancing taught me clarity, intention, and discipline. So, it’s no accident that I see these three qualities as key building blocks to developing real business value and ultimately, positioning your company for your exit.

Today’s Question:

Should you pivot or pirouette?

Every business owner reaches a point where you ask this type of question. In ballet, a pivot takes you in a new direction (literally), while a pirouette is a twirl that brings you back to your original position.

But Here’s the Twist . . .

Positioning your company for your exit is a foundational strategy that will help you generate more revenue, streamline operations, and build real business value. When you build value every step of the way, it’s a sound business strategy.

In my view, every business owner can achieve an Elegant Exit™ by positioning their company.

Much like my learning ballet, which combines grace, precision, skill, and discipline to create expression through movement, your business requires the same elements to create a thriving enterprise.

Now What?

When you position your company by building real business value, you can exit on your timeline, at your pace, under your control.

Building value takes time and positioning your company for your exit can take five years or more. Build value now, so you can exit when you are ready, in a way that makes sense for you.

This is my life’s work: helping you fine-tune your operations and scale your revenue for strategic growth, creating real business value and emerging exit ready. That value can transform into wealth when you are ready to exit your company - and I believe that wealth in the hands of women elevates society as a whole.

Discover your Exit Readiness Index™ with this assessment: http://she-exits.com/ 

Should you pivot or pirouette?

Every business owner reaches a point where you ask this type of question. In ballet, a pivot takes you in a new direction (literally), while a pirouette is a twirl that brings you back to your original position.

I'd love to hear what you think. I read and respond to every email personally.