How to pivot, stay resilient, and adapt when the strategies that once delivered results no longer seem to work
As entrepreneurs, we’ve all been there — you develop a strategy that works brilliantly for your business, driving growth, revenue, and visibility. But then, seemingly out of nowhere, that strategy stops working. The results dry up, and what once felt like a surefire formula for success now feels like spinning your wheels.
When you hit this wall, it’s easy to feel frustrated, overwhelmed, and even tempted to give up. But the truth is, every entrepreneur goes through this. Business isn’t static. Markets change, audiences evolve, and strategies that worked before may no longer resonate. The key isn’t to panic or stick stubbornly to what used to work — it’s to pivot, stay resilient, and embrace adaptability.
In this post, I’ll share what to do when a strategy stops working, using specific examples from my own business journey. More importantly, I’ll show you how Life-First Business teaches resilience and adaptability, so you can navigate these challenges without burning out.
Why strategies stop working
Before we dive into how to adapt, it’s important to understand why strategies that once worked stop delivering. Here are a few common reasons:
- Market shifts: Industries evolve, trends change, and what once resonated with your audience may no longer be relevant. Whether it’s new competitors, changes in consumer behavior, or broader economic factors, market shifts can make old strategies ineffective.
- Audience growth or change: As your business grows, so does your audience. What worked for your earlier, smaller audience might not resonate with a larger, more diverse one. Your messaging and offers may need to adapt to the evolving needs and desires of your growing customer base.
- Strategy fatigue: Sometimes, strategies stop working simply because they’ve run their course. Your audience has seen the same approach too many times, and it’s lost its impact. If you’ve been running the same playbook for a long time, it’s possible your audience is ready for something new.
- Algorithm changes: In today’s digital landscape, algorithms play a huge role in how your content is distributed and seen. Social media platforms and search engines constantly update their algorithms, which can make old strategies less effective if they’re not adapted to the new rules.
The key is to recognize when it’s time to pivot — and to approach that pivot with intention, rather than reacting out of frustration.
Recognizing the signs
One of the biggest challenges for entrepreneurs is knowing when to stick with a strategy and when to pivot. Here are some signs that it may be time to reevaluate:
- Your results have plateaued: If you’ve seen a consistent drop in engagement, sales, or growth, despite maintaining the same strategy, it’s a good indication that something needs to change.
- You feel disconnected from your approach: Sometimes, it’s not just the data that signals a need for change, but your own feelings toward the strategy. If you find yourself feeling uninspired, exhausted, or dreading the work, it may be time to explore new approaches.
- Your audience isn’t responding: If your audience seems less engaged with your content or offers, it could be a sign that your message isn’t landing like it used to. Paying attention to audience feedback (or the lack of it) is crucial when deciding whether to adjust your approach.
Pivoting with intention
When you realize a strategy isn’t working, it’s easy to panic and start trying everything at once. But the key to a successful pivot is to approach it with intention and strategy.
Here’s how I’ve approached pivots in my own business:
1. Assess what’s not working — and why
Before making any changes, take the time to analyze what’s happening. Look at the data. Where are you seeing drop-offs in engagement, traffic, or sales? Is it a specific platform, a particular offer, or your messaging that isn’t resonating?
For example, when my social media results began to plateau, I dug into the numbers. I realized my audience had shifted — what had resonated with my earlier followers wasn’t landing with the newer people joining my community. They needed a different message and approach.
In Life-First Business, we teach this kind of reflection as a core part of running a sustainable business. It’s about pausing to evaluate what’s happening and why, instead of blindly reacting.
2. Get clear on your goals
It’s essential to reconnect with your big-picture goals before pivoting. What are you ultimately trying to achieve? More clients? More visibility? Higher engagement? A strategy that worked before might have helped with one goal, but if your business goals have evolved, your strategy should too.
When I realized my content wasn’t engaging my new audience, I asked myself what my primary goal was at that stage of business. It wasn’t just visibility—it was deep connection and conversions. This clarity helped me focus my pivot on strategies that would build stronger relationships with my audience, rather than trying to go viral or reach as many people as possible.
3. Experiment with new strategies
Once you’ve assessed what’s not working and gotten clear on your goals, it’s time to experiment with new strategies. This is where adaptability comes in. You don’t have to overhaul everything at once—in fact, it’s better to test different approaches on a smaller scale to see what works.
When I pivoted my social media strategy, I started by experimenting with new content formats, messaging, and calls to action. I tested different ways of showing up for my audience and paid close attention to what resonated. These small experiments helped me find a new direction without feeling overwhelmed.
In Life-First Business, we focus on helping entrepreneurs experiment with new strategies in a low-pressure way. It’s about adapting in small, intentional steps, so you can find what works without burning out.
4. Stay resilient and flexible
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in business is that not every strategy will work right away. Sometimes, you’ll try something new and it won’t deliver the results you expected—and that’s okay. The key is to stay resilient and flexible.
Pivoting doesn’t mean finding an immediate solution; it’s about continuing to test, learn, and adapt. When one approach doesn’t work, look at the data, reflect on what you’ve learned, and try again.
Resilience is a core value we teach in Life-First Business. We focus on building businesses that are adaptable and flexible, so that when things don’t go as planned, you can pivot without falling into a cycle of stress or overwhelm.
The role of mindset in adaptation
The ability to pivot isn’t just about strategies and tactics—it’s also about mindset. When a strategy stops working, it’s easy to fall into negative thinking: “Maybe I’m not cut out for this,” or “I’m doing everything wrong.” But the reality is that every business goes through phases of growth, challenge, and change.
It’s about seeing challenges as opportunities to learn, grow, and refine your approach. When you approach business with this mindset, you’re able to navigate pivots with confidence and grace, rather than fear or frustration.
Why this matters for your business
If you’re feeling stuck in a strategy that’s no longer delivering results, don’t panic. Every entrepreneur goes through this. The key is to recognize when it’s time to pivot, approach the pivot with intention, and stay flexible in your approach.
In Life-First Business, we guide entrepreneurs through these moments of transition. We teach you how to evaluate what’s not working, adapt to changes in your market, and experiment with new approaches in a way that feels sustainable and aligned with your life-first values. Resilience and adaptability are essential for long-term success—and the program is designed to help you cultivate both.
