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With Election Day in our rearview mirrors and Inauguration Day just around the corner, no matter where you sit in the world, I think we can all agree that the showdown between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, while short, ranks up there with one of the most divisive in US history.
And, mind you, Americans are no strangers to divisive elections. When incumbent John Adams ran against (and lost to) Thomas Jefferson in 1800, they might not have turned to thick tongue Harris and Trump used it against the other, but things still got heated with accusations, aggressive rhetoric and plenty of personal attacks coming from both sides.
The subsequent election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden in 1876, along with that between George W. Bush and Al Gore in 2000 and the 2016 showdown between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, continued the tradition of contested elections.
But for the American people, this was not just a fight between two candidates competing for the presidency; it was a bloodbath as rivalries between the favorite football, basketball, hockey and baseball teams.
Be it media inciting outrage and divisiveness or the candidates themselves and their parties running things, the American people are used to joining their favorite candidate on social media battlegrounds and volunteering for personal debates.
And this is not hyperbole when I refer to the way American voters show their support. I often compare the road to democracy with an African proverb: “When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.” In other words, the collateral damage to voters who pull it off is huge (broken relationships, constant strife and stress, etc.).
But as the Americans like to say, “Go big or go home!” This can be applied to sports and politics!
approximately 153 million voters cast their ballots (by mail or ballot), with former President Donald Trump tipping the scales.
Indeed, things had been controversial when current President Joe Biden was running against former President Donald Trump. However, once Kamala Harris threw her hat into the ring in mid-July to replace President Biden on the Democratic ticket, things quickly went from bad to ugly.
With less than two weeks to go before Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, much of the nation is still mourning, while nearly 77 million voters continue to rejoice. However, for small business ownersyou should try to see things differently from the political drama of hot issues. Whether your candidate of choice won or not, it's an opportunity to consider how politics will change and what that could mean for the health of your business.
Ten days before the elections, I wrote about how small businesses should vote. I encouraged small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to consider not only how each candidate's campaign promises affected them on a personal level, but advocated voting based on strategy over sentiment—a lesson that is crucial now as we look ahead to regulations new, economical. health care policies and priorities.
Related: Why Donald Trump's Business First Policies Trump Harris' Consumer Centric Approach
The big picture: planning for business, not politics
As the US moves forward, the easy thing to do is to get wrapped up in the headlines. But remember, headlines are meant to incite and distract. And none of the headlines to say will reflect what should be going through the minds of every SMB owner.
It can be difficult to remember that you business priorities don't change with every new administration. For small business owners, voting should always be about strategy, not a knee-jerk reaction to how you feel about hot-button issue x, y, or z.
This is especially true when policies that can determine how effectively you can respond to market conditions, your ability to attract talent and deliver competitive advantage are at stake. As I tell my clients all the time, inauguration day is not about party loyalty; it's about building a resilient business able to cope with policy changes, economic fluctuations and industry-specific challenges.
Lessons from the field: sustainability in action
Before you become a strategic advisor for Fortune 100 companies and many SMBs, I have worked in senior consulting roles in democratic development, strategic planning, and conflict resolution in Iraq, Jordan, and Indonesia.
As Director of Governance in Iraq during the Second Gulf War, I advised political leaders and committees on the creation of sustainable governance strategies. As a Political Advisor in Jordan, I provided guidance on message development, media relations, and strengthening democratic institutions. As CEO of WealthFunds SPC in Indonesia, I led asset management, expanded international partnerships and led strategic initiatives.
These experiences in politically sensitive and transformative environments shaped me Optimize Momentum framework, emphasizing resilience and strategic action in complex situations.
The Principle of Momentum Optimization, which I detail in my book, From war zones to boardrooms: Optimize when strategic planning failsit does not stem from political divisions, but from real experiences in conflict and post-conflict zones around the world. Whether in Jordan, Iraq, Ukraine or Indonesia, I have seen the deep resilience of people united by purpose, not ideology, or in this case, politics.
I bring this up because, in all cases, I have worked with people who have followed the worst days of their lives. Loss of limbs, homes, communities and family members. Despite these incredible losses, one thing everyone I worked with had in common was that they didn't let anything stand in the way of rebuilding their country and their communities.
It didn't matter which side of the conflict they were on. Not only did they show up every day for the common good of the community, but in their grief and anger, they inspired others to do the same. They saw the necessity of moving forward, regardless of what their feelings were during the conflicts.
Shiny shoes for the win!
In Jordan, I had an experience that profoundly illustrated the power of unity amid hardship and differences in thought and belief. My colleague made an early morning appointment… Saturday, no less. I couldn't imagine more than a handful showing up, but I was surprised to find a group of retired veterans waiting.
About 50 retired military veterans were inside. Everyone was punctual and full of enthusiasm, and I noticed something very interesting that united them. They were all wearing shoes with a high shine!
As we discussed the project and shared ideas, their drive was palpable. theirs motivation it was limitless. Their nationwide connections became invaluable. This group, with the diligence and time on hand, was perfect for the task. Their willingness to help without expecting any financial gain made the whole experience remarkable.
And yes, at each subsequent meeting, each wore their old military shoes, polished to a high shine, a practice they had retained as a symbol of dignity and endurance, even after leaving the service. These veterans had lost almost everything – family, friends, stability – to the ongoing conflicts in the region. However, they showed up with shoes that shined, as a statement of their commitment to something bigger than themselves.
After completing our project, these veterans gave me a ring as a gift. They told me, 'Whenever you're in Jordan, wear this.' I expressed my gratitude, but my colleague clarified its importance.
“That ring,” he said, “is more than just jewelry here.” True to his words, whenever I approached a checkpoint or interacted with the authorities, a glance at that ring would ensure my passage. Once again, I bowed deeply. It continues to remind me that we can all come together around our differences for the greater good.
Related: 'I have a better instinct': Donald Trump says he doesn't 'see' replacing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
The messy but powerful nature of democracy
During my deployment to Ukraine during the Orange Revolution, I saw women vote for the first time, exercising their voice in a new system that was also murky and full of promise.
Does this remind you of the first time you had the right to vote? Can you remember the discussions you had as a new voter and now? I remember listening to all sides so I could make an informed decision. I liked diversity of thought and was less interested in uniformity. Uniformity is great for people who need echo chambers, but it doesn't advance democracy and it certainly doesn't advance your business.
Anecdotes like the one in Jordan are ones I use in my practice when counseling clients, especially when they express concerns about which direction to turn as in their day-to-day operations, but especially during a crisis.
As a business owner, viewing Inauguration Day through this lens enables you embrace changeprepare for change and see every challenge as an opportunity.
I am surprised at the moments when I hear the word bipartisan. If people who came from different ideological and political beliefs can unite around their common vision to advance democracy, I have to believe that we as a people can do the same. I have to believe that small business owners can inspire their team members, stakeholders and customers to come together for the common good to see the company grow and continue to provide services and products.
As we approach Inauguration Day and the next four years, I encourage entrepreneurs to remember that their role is not just as individuals whose candidate won or not, but as SMB owners with an eye on success. The media lives to divide us, but your ability to see through the noise of the day will affect not only your business, but also the employees, customers, stakeholders and community members who rely on you.