Fall leaves and political changes

Editor’s note: Michelle Stockman is an independent consultant with her company, Fort Smith-based Msaada Group. Stockman earned a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University-Chicago in communications and fine arts, and earned a master’s in entrepreneurship from Western Carolina University. Her thoughts on business success appear each week on The City Wire.

The fall brings many changes to our daily lives like the changing colors and disappearing daylight. The fall also brings a collection of clutter in the form of campaign signs to street corners.

While many conversations circle around candidates and opinions, the political season of change is upon everyone. However, I know many business owners who share in conversations around politics for fun yet they really don’t see how even a local political race can have great effects on that person’s business.

Generations have participated in the unique American freedom of voting for our political leaders. During our great American history, people have fallen into voting for parties (or any reason you want to name) over voting for the person seeking the leadership role. While business issues often become political platform issues, standing up for small businesses or entrepreneurs is seldom a highlight from any politician’s mouth.

If you are an entrepreneur seeking to grow a healthy organization, keep in mind that your civic duty as a voter is also one of your business roles. Small business has typically had little to no voice in political realms; however organizations like the Kauffman Foundation are beginning to change the volume on that voice. Yet more business owners are needed to teach the “politicos” how to understand entrepreneurs, what entrepreneurs need and what they want from government.

As the business owner, your job is to get a good understanding of the individuals you are voting for, see where they stand on entrepreneurship (do they understand what is needed to run a business?), will they be supportive of entrepreneurs when it comes time to vote and will the person be approachable once in office? Also, the business owner needs to be willing to step out of the office and talk to representatives at any level of government to ensure laws and orders are not passed that will deter the growth of the entrepreneurial business.

Next, the entrepreneur should be mindful of legislation that is proposed that may be harmful to the business. Business owners can find more information on national issues from the Kauffman Foundation.

Local news sources are also a key to finding local and state initiatives occurring.
Lastly, let your voice be heard. Just because you are an entrepreneur and most likely running a small business, do not allow yourself to get discouraged. Your business is not only providing jobs, it is creating tax revenues for your city, county, state and country.

Your voice does matter, and a small tax here or there could really do more damage that the political leaders think. They won’t know until you can show them through facts over your emotions.

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Stockman can be reached at [email protected]