Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Recently, there was a towing company near my home that put on their street-side sign, "IMPEACH GEORGE BUSH!"  My lawn care company puts a bible verse at the bottom of each bill.  Another business owner I work with repeatedly uses language that makes me cringe in conversation with customers. 

It seems like you can hardly go to a concert anymore without the singer spewing their politics throughout the show.  Bette Midler told one arena full of fans that she didn`t need or WANT idiot Republicans enjoying her music!

Yet, when the Dixie Chicks asked Michael Jordan (a friend and fellow democrat) to help promote their concert in Chicago last year (which was not selling tickets), he declined.  His response was reportedly, "Republicans buy just as many of my shoes as democrats do." 

So, what`s right?  Should you keep those things out of your business with the understanding that people on both sides (or of all religions) are your potential customers or is it okay to possibly offend potential customers in the name of making your "statement"?  Can you afford to offend?

~Kim

Whether it`s okay or not isn`t the question. I think it depends on what motivates you. If it`s profit then you are best to stay middle of the road without offending. If your cause is more important than your business then by all means offend. Just be prepared to take the hit.

On the other hand,  my step-father has his own home repair business and he is a Christian. Profit doesn`t motivate him. He considers his work to be a mission field because of the numerous people he meets. In his field it is a plus because people tend to trust him (he also does excellent work). So I guess what may offend and repel some may actually draw others. Heck these day everyone seems to want to impeach Bush so by targeting that demographic you may do well.

As far as entertainers are concerned, that`s a different animal. They have power to persuade and they know it and the more controversy the better.  Not many businesses can afford to offend like the Dixie Xhicks.

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Get Out of Debt

Personally, with the exception of profanity (which makes me cringe because it`s not very professional), I believe A) that those things mostly don`t belong but B) that if they are there, why get offended unless they are shoved down your throat in an inappropriate manner?

We are WAAAAY too quick to look for a reason to be offended in our society anymore.   And WAAAAY too quick to complain about it. 

There are some things that would put me off (like politics because people are often hot-headed about their opinions), but others, like religion, that don`t bother me.  My FIL owns a small motel in Utah.  He has a Book of Mormon in every room that says, "Free" on it.  Some people have complained.  I don`t see the big deal.  If he were FORCING one on every guest as they left, that`s different.  I don`t think it`s wrong to be who you are, but when you shove it in others` faces, then it has the potential to put off potential customers. 

 

I think that religion, politics, and profanity cause people to be uncomfortable.

And for that reason, I think they have no place in business.

Uncomfortable people are not ones that buy from you.

Ditto.

What`s kind of sad is that there used to be a clear understanding that business is one thing, and everything else is everything else. Note how seldom any topic on politics or religion gets traction on SuN? The only time it does, is if there`s a direct connection to business and the business environment.

I`m old-fashioned, so I think business and politics shouldn`t mix, despite there being strange bedfellows in the wind. :-) I totally agree with Michael Jordan. In fact, the older I get, the less easy it is for me to separate out an entertainer`s politics from their product.

I used to like Barbara Streisand, and even Martin Sheen. Nowadays, though, their "real-life" self interferes so much with their "image," I can`t get past it and just enjoy the entertainment.

Someone once said that Jack Nicholson had an interesting problem. No matter WHAT movie he`s in, or what role he plays, everyone walks away thinking "That was Jack Nicholson." But shouldn`t they get more engrossed in the story, the plot, the character?

I think people should buy a product, not the person behind that product. So endorsements are another area that fall into this topic.

Here is and interesting thought.  An employee successfully filed a federal Title VII case against his employer for creating a hostile work environment.  The heart of the law suit – the employer allowed political debate in the lunch room. 

 

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The older we get, the more excuses we make for not chasing after our dreams. But truth is, goals are attainable at any age.

So....lemme get this straight: An employer`s place of business is private, so they can censor free speech. However, in that same private location, the government can tell them whether or not to allow smoking---which is entirely legal, and not a controlled substance. I sense a contradiction in our great American legal system....:-) I know, totally unusual to notice something contradictory therein.

I agree with you Craig on the entertainers.  SHUT UP AND ACT (or sing).  That`s what we pay for.  I love what one TV guy said to Henry Winkler when he had him on to talk about his latest TV Show.  Henry started in with a political commentary about Iraq and the talk show host stopped him and said, "Please don`t do that Henry.  I just want to watch your show and LIKE YOU.  If you do that, then I won`t be able to enjoy you anymore!"  Henry Winkler got mad at him, but he was asked on to talk about his show, not Iraq.  The host had a point, though.  That wasn`t the time or place to do anything but what he was asked to come on and do. 

Smart people know better than to mix two unrelated things and smart people know that their paycheck comes from people of all types.  The Dixie Chicks found that out the hard way. Country Music fans are notoriously conservative.  They could have gotten away with that in other music genres, but they obviously didn`t understand their audience very well.  That`s the business lesson here - know who you`re playing to.

~Kim