This hit me hard today and feels antithetical to leading from my values. As Shirin Eskandani notes: “Trying to run a business during "times like these" sometimes feels like the weirdest thing ever. There is nothing like the cognitive dissonance between trying to launch an offering while literal m@ssiles are being launched. It feels disingenuous to carry on with business as usual. Because nothing is usual. Nothing is okay. Your mind and heart are elsewhere. As they should be because you're human. And while you strive to build a business that reflects your deepest values and beliefs, you fear the backlash and repercussions of sharing your deepest values and beliefs. But you push through the fear because "times like these" are exactly why you started your business. You started your business to serve and to show up for the communities you hold most dear in ALL of the ways. You started your business to facilitate real change for the collective. You started your business because you never wanted to do business as usual in the first place. Which means you make it very clear what you believe in. Which means you do not stay silent. Which means you do what you can to truly be of service. The truth is business is personal. There is no way around it. And in "times like these" that becomes so incredibly clear. So if they unfollow you, they shouldn't have been following you in the first place. If they decide to not work with you, they shouldn't have been working with you in the first place. If they decide to not collaborate with you, they shouldn't have been collaborating with you in the first place.” I became a founder in part to change the capitalistic systems we exist within. To lead with empathy, humanity, and intentionality. To model what can be. To be told, "Make no comment on politics; you have zero upside, only downside," is, to me, a directive to lead without integrity or empathy. He's absolutely right that there may, and likely will be, a downside. However, I choose to take that risk, knowing that building community is more important.
Reminding Founders today to make no comment on politics. You have zero upside, only downside. No politics at work. Separation of Work and State.
I was told by some people close to me with differing political beliefs to not post or talk about anything controversial when I started my business. Which, I think, comes from a place of wanting you to not alienate potential clients, but I was also told by those same people “why would you niche down? That’s limiting your client pool.” These people do not own or run businesses. It made me feel gross. Because there are people I would LOVE to work with and people I definitely do NOT want to work with. And let’s be completely honest here - it’s 2024, everyone’s on the internet and everyone’s spouting opinions about literally everything. What ISN’T controversial? If you say the sky is blue, you’ll get people arguing with you. Even if you state a scientifically proven fact with citations, you’ll get people saying “well that’s just your opinion” and then crucify you for it. Its not worth the mental energy or stress to stay silent on things you strongly believe in. If you’re for everyone, you’re for no one.