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The Spirit of Pivot Point: A Founder’s Story
 The story of Pivot Point International, Inc. has many facets and interpretations, beginning with its name. The “international” part is easy, as it accurately indicates that Pivot Point’ s products are translated and distributed globally and are inspired by a worldwide network of affiliates. It’s the “Pivot Point” part of the name that inspires different interpretations. One interpretation is that “pivot point” is a design term that refers to a central position, a point of origin or place where motion begins.
Pivot Point’s point of origin begins in 1936 in the volatile environment of World War II. Europe, with the birth of the company’s founder, Leo Passage, in a small Dutch town on the border of Belgium. He grew up in the beauty business, watching his father cut and style men’s and women’s hair in his 2-chair salon. It is in this small salon that Leo would later work weekends, helping his father keep up with a growing clientele.
As World War II progressed and the German forces took over his hometown school, a young Leo moved in with his aunt and uncle in Brussels, where he first experienced the bold fashions of big-city life. Meanwhile, back at home, his father quietly worked with the Allied underground, hiding Jews in the family basement and helping to move them across the border to safety. When Leo visited his father on weekends, he helped the war effort by acting as a decoy to the German troops, enticing the soldiers to chase him on his bike to divert their attention. Leo would later recall that this developed his yearning to help others, while building his courage and his innovative spirit.
After the war, Leo’s schooling continued in the Netherlands, where he eventually enrolled in cosmetology school. While attending cosmetology school, he began working as an apprentice to well-known masters and taking part in hair design competitions. He thrived in the competitive environment, further developing his artistic passion and inspiring his interest in teaching.
After winning over 95 awards throughout the Netherlands and Europe, Leo realized that he had another passion-travel. He applied for positions in Australia, South Africa, Canada and the United States and – after receiving many positive replies – chose to move to the Chicago are and work for a Frenchman who employed European hairdressers. In 1958, the 22-year-old Leo moved to the United States with Lenie, his brand new, 18 year-old wife.
With $76 in Leo’s pocket and no family or friends in the States, Leo and Lenie began an adventure that has continued throughout their lives. Soon Leo built up a big and loyal clientele and, in 1959; he entered his first U.S. competition in Detroit, Michigan, using his wife as his model. For the next 4 years, Leo continued on the competition circuit, racking up awards and building his name amongst his peers.
As his reputation as an outstanding hair designer flourished and the eagerness of others to be taught by him increased, Leo began developing his own education method of teaching hair design, which would later evolve into the Pivot Point system. The educational system was inspired by some of the concepts and principals of the famous Bauhaus Institute, which stated that if art was to be functional it had to be predictable. This ability to predict the outcome of an intended design is rooted in the understanding that every design has basic elements, which can be manipulated in order to produce a variety of effects. This fundamental information was further supported by not only teaching the “hows” of hair design, but also the “whys.” By giving students the ability to make design decisions, Leo and his team of educational developers departed from traditional teaching methods, allowing students to build their confidence and independence as designers.
As stated in the beginning, Pivot Point’s name has inspired many interpretations. Another interpretation is that the term “pivot point” reflects an emphasis of direction, an axis or revolution. This, too, applies to the company, since Pivot Point’s founder is responsible for revolutionizing the industry by gathering like-minded people who were directed by a single, innovative vision. It is innovation that allows for the freedom to think beyond what we know now and imagine what could be in the future. The heartbeat of the company continues by nurturing the spirit of hose who share their knowledge and believe they can make a difference. The ability to create, compose and design is a result of education that explains why a result can be predicted and, most importantly, duplicated by others. This educational philosophy is the real measure of learning and the inherent value of education. It is the true meaning of Pivot Point.
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