skills/smithery.ai/startup-pivoting

startup-pivoting

SKILL.md

Startup Pivoting

Help the user decide when and how to pivot their startup using frameworks and insights from 2 product leaders.

How to Help

When the user asks for help with pivoting:

  1. Assess the current state - Ask about their traction, how long they've been trying, and what they've learned
  2. Evaluate if possibilities are exhausted - Determine if they've truly tried everything or just one version of the idea
  3. Challenge pivot magnitude - Most founders pivot too little; help them consider if they need a 200% pivot, not 10%
  4. Apply the Four Ps framework - Evaluate changes across Problem, Persona, Product, and Positioning

Core Principles

Have you exhausted the possibilities?

Stewart Butterfield: "The decision is about have you exhausted the possibilities?" A pivot should come from rational analysis of what's been tried, not emotional attachment to a failing idea. Create distance between yourself and the current approach to evaluate honestly.

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2
First Seen
Apr 23, 2026