Yes, I’m mixing business and politics in what might be the worst possible year to do so. But no, I won’t suggest for whom you should vote because doing so would make this editorial burst into flames.
Business owners have a unique perspective each election cycle because second to our families and our faith, our business impacts our lives on a deeply emotional level. So why not talk about it openly?
If you are looking for information on where the two presidential candidates stand on small business ownership, business taxation, business health care, regulation, minimum wage, etc., good luck. We are in a non-factual era of election news, so you can’t rely on much that appears in the media. Interpreting the candidates’ positions on business ownership would be quite a challenge this year.
Unlike the last two general elections where health care and tax rates dominated the discussion, this cycle is a debate of the absurd. Issues that really impact business ownership are so far down the list of debated topics that you can’t find anything credible upon which to make a decision.
That said, here are some timeless tips and pieces of advice for you, the tireless business owner.
Vote Early and Often
Be a good citizen/leader and encourage your employees to vote, but plan ahead this year. Tell your employees that lines will be long. Give them time off to vote at their polling location, but stagger that time so your office isn’t empty when customers are waiting. If any employee arrives at the polling station by 7:00 a.m. and plans to make it to work by 8:00 a.m., it won’t happen.
Some business owners believe that their political preferences extend to their employees as an exchange for employment. If you truly believe that, you are kidding yourself.
It wasn’t that long ago that many companies, even small ones, encouraged if not demanded that employees participate in very specific political action groups. Those days are long gone. Constantly preaching to your employees about your stance on the hot social issues will result in loss of employees.
That said, it doesn’t hurt to promote awareness about political issues that impact your ability to sustain and grow a business with your employees. Taxation, health care and government regulation are all topics that we as business owners understand more than most. These election decisions impact our ability to grow our businesses and feed the families of the employees that we employ.
You are Not Your Company
The sign on the door bearing your name says otherwise, but unless you are truly a solopreneur, you are not your company.
A brand is an emotional connection between a customer and the company, product or service. That brand is impacted and influenced by the people conducting transactions for your company, including you.
As volatile as this election cycle is, any strong statements by you, your company or your employees favoring one candidate over another will alienate others. Depending on which side of the mountain you are standing, that alienation could be 44 or 48 percent of your customers (plus or minus the margin of error, depending on a candidate’s lead on any given day).
You may have the strongest convictions and beliefs on who should be our next president. However, for the sake of your company and your employees who depend on your business, keep it to yourself or within your close circle of friends and family. Be warned if you insist on an occasional Twitter rant that everyone is watching.
This Too Shall Pass
Nearly half of our small business advertising and marketing clients already have begun their 2017 planning. The early bird gets the worm and also meets its sales goals.
In every planning discussion we’ve had, both formal and informal, not one business owner has stated that the outcome of the election would impact their goals and plans for 2017. November 8th will be just another day. Fifty-two days closer to year’s end.
Vote early and vote often. And for those of us fortunate enough to call ourselves business owners, this is just another distraction of thousands of distractions we face all the time. If there is one thing we know, it’s how to keep pushing on.
Editorial by Paul Weber