Politics And Home Business: Do They Mix? (Special Report)
Published: Thu, 06/16/16
home business efforts?
This is a recent status of a Facebook friend...
Sometimes the rules need updating...
As this election season has gone on it has been
fun sparring with some of my friends over politics.
However, over the last few days, this sparring has
reached a level of hatred, name calling and bigotry
that is absolutely shocking.
Some of my real life friends have hopped on this
bandwagon, but primarily my wall has been trolled
by non-friends.
Friends and non-friends have been so harsh on
my wall that I have decided to changed the rules:
My wall will longer be a place for anyone to spew
their hatred. If you support Trump, that's fine.
If you want to debate me, fine, keep it civil.
If you are hateful, bigoted, or attack someone for
their race, gender, religion, political leaning or just
because you can't formulate an argument, I will
unfriend you and block you.
There are a handful of people (you know who you are)
that I have known in the real world for pretty much my
entire life and who matter to me as people, even if we
disagree about politics.
Please don't respond to my posts with personal attacks.
Please don't call my bluff. I'm not bluffing.
I unfriended someone yesterday who I have known in real
life for 40 years. That sucked, because I believed we were
friends, but evidently they didn't see it that way. If I have to,
I will do it again.
I'll make you a deal, as hard as it might be, just stop
responding to my political posts unless you're wanting to
make a real policy argument.
In return, I promise that I will never comment on anything
you post. For the most part that's already true.
That's it, take it however you like.
The comments were mostly respectful.
About ten down, I added this...
I have an acutely preferred candidate in the presidential
election, as well as many down ballot candidates I support.
My saying who they are has about zero chance of influencing
others to make a change in how they vote, and insulting
the other only makes people dig in their heels on their preferred person.
Many of us are in the home business space, and the logic is
no different. If the goal is to win hearts and minds, you need to
NOT start with saying how good your stuff is and how bad everyone
else's is.
That just makes you look insecure and unprofessional.
People I admire and respect support candidates I do not,
and I'd like them in my life when the election is over.
So rather than attack anyone, I strive to understand why they want
the other person to win. I listen to their reasoning, their desires,
their fears and their triggers.
Then if I choose to make an argument for my candidate(s)
I can personalize my argument to their thought process.
That's what makes things work...careers, relationships,
and yes...politics.
I'm not getting into who I want to be President, or senator,
or congressperson, or dog catcher. If you want to know,
you can ask me personally. I may or may not tell you.
If you choose to put your stuff out in public, I respect that.
Just consider how much good it will actually do, and
the chances you have of turning a friend into an enemy...
at least a temporary one.
*** ***
To the larger point...
Most people in the home business space jump up and
down and yell about how their company is the best.
Their products are the best. Their marketing plan is
the best. Their leadership is the best.
It's what they're taught to do. At the company events.
And the webinars. And the home meetings.
All that stuff about being the best might be true.
But your prospects don't care.
The companies love it. It keeps their base fired up.
It keeps product volume moving.
It just doesn't necessarily bring in new guys.
And yes, it's the same thing in politics and elections.
You can yell about how good your candidate is and
how stupid or bad the other person is.
And that will fire up the people who are already
voting for him or her.
But elections are won and lost with the base.
They're won and lost with the undecided people.
Home business fortunes aren't made by feeding the
people who already love what you've got...unless
you already have several thousand of them.
And they won't stick around if they aren't getting
new people as customers and team members.
Home business, just like politics is figuring out what
people's problems are, then positioning yourself as
the solution.
You can feel free to be one of the screamers.
It's kind of fun for a little while.
But the people with influence, and money (home
business and politics) are listening, and watching.
And serving.
That doesn't happen by chanting the company line
all the time.
At the end of it all, the prospects - political and
business - are looking for the safe place to park...
their business or their vote.
It's what I've been talking and writing about for 16 years.
Strength.
Emotional maturity.
Leadership.
You can be one of the masses and get what the masses get.
Or you can be one of the leaders, the problem solvers,
the go-to people. In politics and in business, those are the
ones who win.
Your Call,
Larry
P.S.: If you didn't see Two Thirds Gone yesterday,
make sure you check it out.
Like the politicians, we always look for win-win.
This is one of those times.