RESEARCH_FILE
Michael G. Grimes
Texas A&M University
Known for:Qualitative research on how entrepreneurs respond to negative feedback through idea and identity work — especially the role of identity in successful pivoting
SEE THE PRACTICE
Turn a thought this research explains into one clear move.
THE THOUGHT
“If they knew the real numbers, they'd all leave”
YOUR RECORDED RESPONSE
“My team can handle the real numbers.”
ONE PRIVATE MOVE
Open a blank note and type the three numbers you have been paraphrasing most often, then add one neutral label beside each, such as “cash,” “pipeline,” or “headcount.” Save it and close the note without editing it.
Key findings
- 2018
Across 65 pivoting founders, Grimes found that pivot-resistant behavior was driven more by identity threat than by genuine belief in the original direction — and that successful pivots required active identity work: reframing who the founder is so the new direction feels like growth rather than defeat. The Pivot: How Founders Respond to Feedback through Idea and Identity Work ↗