Why do people use the word "pivot" to mean "change direction"?

The word pivot has many meanings but most imply some sort of stability or immobility. It can mean a physical peg or stick around which things turn, or the fulcrum of a lever which is also stationary. According to wiktionary it can also mean turning with one foot on the ground or to turn in a single spot.

I can somewhat understand when startups like to use cool lingo to imply how agile they are by being able to change direction in an instant, although I still find it annoying.

But Microsoft? Pivot? As in change direction nearly instantaneously? The answer is no. The title itself acknowledges this, since it includes the word "starting". If you're "starting" to pivot you're not pivoting. You're changing direction.