[scottrblock]

I don't think "shutting down to pursue a passion" is what most of HN considers a pivot.

A pivot is named as such because your business is keeping one foot in the ground while changing direction. This is done after testing your initial assumptions, normally with no more than an MVP.

This might just be semantics, but it seems like a significant difference to me.

[gojomo]

Sometimes the "one foot in the ground" is only the team, as they chase a completely different product and market.