Whats the difference between a resolution and a pivot?
We think 2025 is the year of the pivot
It’s the new year, and Duckie is on jury duty. So I am alone in the studio, thinking about where we are right now….watching the horror unfolding in LA, and thinking about all of these people whose lives have been turned upside down in hours.
At the start of a new year, we love to make promises to ourselves and those we love that we can’t keep or don’t keep. We make “resolutions,” such as participating in “Dry January.” I have a friend who loves to drink, and she told me she’s doing Dry January. What? Why? Ok - good, I guess. I think they say by the third Friday in January, everyone’s broken their resolution. That’s why the gyms are packed in January but empty in the summer. I myself gained too much weight over the holidays and gave up carbs in 2025…..but I also had some leftover pasta that I fried up last night for dinner….delicious!
I’m not knocking resolutions. If they work for you, great. But it got me thinking about something else: a pivot. Perhaps a pivot can be considered a resolution on steroids? I looked up the definition of both to see if there was even a difference and then chatted with our dear friend, who happens to be in town and is thoughtful about these things, specifically. Here is what she said….
A resolution is about resolving a problem - reaching a final decision. I’m drinking too much, so I’m going to stop for a while. My trousers are way too tight - I’m going to go on a diet and drop some weight.
A pivot - think of it as staying in one place with one foot but moving in another direction with the free foot. You’re pivoting - actively changing course to achieve a goal. I no longer want to spend the winters here in NYC, so I’ll spend every 3 months every winter at my friend’s house in Mexico City.
I’m 66, and the older you get, the more you realize—you don’t know shit. But you do know what you don’t know, and that few things seem to be true. For example….You can be absolutely sure about something and still be wrong. If you live long enough, most of the people you love will be dead. If you don’t know— do nothing until you do and shut up— don’t give advice unless asked.
And then there is a pivot.
If you want to stay in the moment, stay connected to yourself and the world surrounding you, stay current, feel vital—like you’re still moving forward with so much ahead—then pivot. Stay curious, keep things fresh, and maintain a sense of humor. Pivot.
Now, a pivot isn’t necessary for everyone. You can lead an amazing life by shifting gently as needed, and sometimes, you really do need to stay the course….you’re married, you have kids, they’re in school, you’ve got older parents, a mortgage, and responsibilities. But nothing can stay the same forever. Life doesn’t have to be a series of losses; it can be a series of gains and changes, and sometimes, we must be reminded that we can make a hard right or left at the light.
And then there is the question of whether we only pivot when things are so bad that they need to change??? Can we pivot when things are good or as a part of planning for the future? Which brings me to our latest pivot….I’m at the age where I’m thinking about how, where, and with whom I want to spend my time. Most of our friends are growing older, too— worrying about their children, caring for their grandchildren, or for the lucky ones, spending time in warmer weather for part of the year. Duckie and I don’t have kids, and spending time in the warmer weather in the USA doesn’t feel right for us. So, where do we go? More on this pivot later…..
I have also been reflecting on some great examples of pivots from my life, our life, and the people we admire, which I hope will inspire you too, dear reader. And I’m not quite sure we have defined enough the differences between pivots and resolutions, so if you, dear reader, have any thoughts, please let us know.
Let me start with Al Silver—my dad.
My parents were married for 60 years and they really loved each other. They didn’t always agree, of course. They argued, but their love and respect for each other saw them through a lot. In 2009, my mother died at the age of 80 (cancerous brain tumors are never a good thing). My father was 85 at the time she died. After her death, for five long years, he was miserable. Every day, he went to work, came home, and ate dinner alone. It was horrible— for him and me to watch. Don’t ask. I lived in New York, and he lived in Toronto, so there was only so much I could do. He had some friends, but most nights, he ate alone, either at home or in a restaurant.
Then, one day, he called me up and said, “I think I met someone.” I was excited and only asked one question, “Is she Jewish?” (Perhaps you have to be Jewish to understand, but I think we can all acknowledge the pressure to marry within the faith. I just finally had the opportunity to throw it back at him— in a loving way).
Thus began a five-year love affair with the lovely Minda. At 90, my father pivoted. He had someone to talk to, laugh with, watch sports with, and have dinner with every night.
A new love is possible at any age, but only if you’re willing to pivot.
Pamela Anderson has made a huge pivot. Actually, I think she is still pivoting. She’s gone from the iconic babe on Baywatch and every teenage boy's wet dream to a woman as natural as can be. She’s no longer dressing for the male gaze, presenting as a commodity, or following any rules except her own.
She’s also aging so gracefully. She is not trying to freeze herself in “a moment from her salad days” like many of her contemporaries. Don’t get me wrong—I love Jane Fonda, but she doesn’t come close to looking like Brie Daniels from Klute anymore. I love Cher, but Cher hasn’t looked like Cher in 40 years. It happens for men, too. Look at Sylvester Stalone, John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Simon Cowell….the list of men may be longer. So many people get stuck and don’t know how to move past their heyday. Pamela, however, has pivoted, and we think she’s remarkable.
Seven years ago, it became apparent that after 17 years, we had to pivot. Selling Duckie Brown wholesale to the many fashionable, cool stores worldwide and producing two collections and two fashion shows was draining the life and energy from us and the company. We hit the wall. What we had once loved no longer brought us joy. So, in 2017, we paused Duckie Brown and thought about a pivot that would allow us to continue doing what we love.
At first, we thought opening a storefront might be the answer, but that proved to be an incredibly expensive venture. Rents in NYC— are you nuts????!!!!! Eventually, we realized that our studio was the perfect place— where everyone could come and shop and be welcomed into the world of Duckie Brown. So, a year later, in May 2018, we opened the doors and introduced our new concept to our customers. It was the best pivot ever, and we are still enjoying this way of doing business, getting to meet and know our customers, and dressing people beautifully. We feel fortunate to be able to do so.
You could say that we pivot twice a year, creatively designing two unique collections, and we are excited to share some sketches from The Next Collection, which will be available in March. The Next Collection is inspired by the next big pivot we are planning, but we don’t want to share it just yet…..
So, the pivot is one of our secrets to a happy life…. good luck figuring it out for yourself. But if you are unhappy or happy, but feel the need to change, think about your pivot. It’s a good place to start. And always remember - there’s always therapy!
xoxoxo
The Duckies
Beautiful, wise and fun ❤️