As a business owner, publicly supporting a particular group or political figure can cause a sharp decline in your business, such as losing followers or experiencing a drop in stock prices. For example, expressing support for a country involved in a longstanding conflict or endorsing a political figure can trigger intense backlash, even if it’s just a personal opinion. Why do personal political expressions from business owners often provoke such strong public reactions, especially when these views aren’t directly related to the quality of their products or operations? I’m curious about why personal opinions elicit such stark responses in the business world.
I’m not only talking about presidents, but also situations where people expect you to take a stance on issues (especially if you have a large social media following), like war, Black Lives Matter, or LGBTQ+ rights. Speaking up on these issues can quickly lead to outrage.
Dealing with someone they like is preferred by most people. They are less likely to do business with you if they don’t like you. Since politics is an extremely popular topic right now, saying you favor a particular politician may make some people dislike you.
For this reason, the majority of firms continue to operate naturally.
Having said that, I believe it is crucial to remain true to who you are when speaking from a moral position. Be genuine or keep quiet.
Why does it matter so much to you that others understand your political views?
I have no problem with entrepreneurs running their mouths and ruining their entire company. I wish more people could just shut up about what they think.
I understand what you’re saying. It’s not about sharing personal beliefs just for the sake of it, but sometimes the lines get blurred when major issues arise, and remaining silent can be interpreted as a stance as well. For example, I’ve seen businesses that simply mention topics like the Israel-Palestine conflict face significant backlash.
I don’t get why businesses would bring up such controversial subjects either. It seems counterintuitive for a small business to engage in these debates. Yet, it happens frequently, and that’s why I’m questioning it. Like you, I think it’s not a smart move for business, but since it keeps occurring, I’m trying to understand why businesses consider it a good idea.
I think most small business owners—including myself—are just pricks with a little money and a strong sense of stubbornness. Moronish people will always be moronish.
Regretfully, social media has conditioned people to believe that every thought they have is significant.
Simple. If you are neutral, then anyone can purchase your goods.
However, if you declare your support for someone like Kamala or Trump, for example, you would lose clients in either case. Thus, companies stand to lose nothing by expressing their political views.