How will Barack Obama as president affect YOUR business?

[Dien Rice]

Barack Obama is president!

Of course, this is a historic moment... As they keep saying in the news. But...

What does this mean for your business?

Only time will tell, but maybe the following could be a little "hint" of what may be to come...

Direct marketing maestro Joseph Sugarman has a theory about presidents and business. The president can have a big effect on your business!

This effect is through how the president affects the psychology of the nation... Joe Sugarman says this in his book, "Marketing Secrets of a Mail Order Maverick".

The USA sees the president as a kind of "father figure". If the president is strong and confident, then the people also tend to feel strong and confident. This boost in people's confidence tends to boost their spending, which in turn helps to boost business.

However, when the president is weak and indecisive, then that people tend to also feel the same way. Their spending drops, which hurts businesses, since businesses make fewer sales.

What will Barack Obama be like?

Only time will tell, of course. But so far, he seems to be a very thoughtful, yet decisive leader. At least that's my impression so far, based on the campaign he's run, and the time between the election and now.

What do you think? How will Barack Obama as a "father figure" for the nation affect business?

I think a change away from Bush - any change - will probably give people a little bit of a confidence boost. At least the idea that something different is being tried, which should work better than what was done before.

One thing I've gathered from Obama's recent talks is a sense that... We have to get together, we're in this together. We have to work together to get ourselves out of this.

I feel this is "right on". We have to work together. We have to help each other. Here at Sowpub, and more widely as well.

The new soon to be "re-launched" SeedZine is a step in that direction too. Gordon and I will work our butts off to give something of what we know, to help as many people out as possible.

We should work together more. Partnerships are powerful.

What are you going to be doing for 2009?

A new year is ahead of us. Many new opportunities. (I'll be writing about some of the new opportunities I see in the near future...)

But this is not about me... It's about you. What will YOU do?

It's a new year, and a new president, and maybe even a new "psychology" of the nation. Let's make the most of it!

Best wishes

Dien

Honestly.. I doubt that Barack Obama will have any effect on my business one way or another.

My business doesn't depend upon him, nor did it depend on Bush.

Even though the economy "appears" to be in the dump, I'm pulling $500-$2000 per week from my little businesses, and there's no signs of it stopping.

Pete

The bailout plan does not have explicit effect and it requires time, mayby longer than 6 six months, to see the improvement.

Why is this an Historic Moment? Because it's the first president born to a teen mom? Because it's Pres 44 and as such there will never be another 44th Pres?

What will Barack Obama be like?

Only time will tell, of course. But so far, he seems to be a very thoughtful, yet decisive leader. At least that's my impression so far, based on the campaign he's run, and the time between the election and now.

Decisive? Thoughtful? How on earth can you tell Anything of what the man is like when all we've seen is sugary media worshiping? Jesus Dien, it's like when Madonna said she would vote for Wesley Clarke because he Seemed like a nice guy?

How about his policies? What he proposes to do in a realistic way. Not some vague notion of Change.

I'll give you change... total and utter martial law nationwide. That's change.

Unfortunately, this is all the result of the politics of personality and Not ability.

One thing I've gathered from Obama's recent talks is a sense that... We have to get together, we're in this together. We have to work together to get ourselves out of this.

BEWARE, of Anytime someone says WE have to work together, WE are in this together, or any variation on the above. Beware because you're about to be hit in the guts with extra taxes, freedom removals and civil rights infringements, compulsory something or others, and so on. YOU, as the citizen, will be Made to pay for their stuff ups under the Onus of the Working Together piffle.

Here's my prediction... Obama will increase the size of the govt, will increase taxes and take away more freedoms.

Michael Ross

[Ankesh]

Michael - you're trying to measure things as good or bad on an inflexible libertarian scale.

If you change your perspective a bit - and try to evaluate... if things will become better or worse than they are right now - you may see things differently.

Imho - overall - things will become much better under Obama than they are right now.

Not everything Obama does will be good. But things will become better than they are right now.

Like FDR, I think Obama will make the economy WORSE -- while making everyone believe he's making it better (than it otherwise would be).

I'm finding more and more about what FDR's policies + ideas did to our ecomony (contrary to 'conventional wisdom' says happened).

Here's just one example...

"In 1935-36, the Court struck down eight of FDR's New Deal programs, including the National Recovery Act (NRA) and the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)."

(source: http://www.archives.gov/education/le...ration-powers/ )

I say beware of this guy.

He's gonna make America more like Europe, etc.

Followers, not leaders. Middle management thinking.

Willingly abdicating our leadership role. The path of least resistance.

-- TW

Clinton told his AG, Janet Reno, that "Make it easier for people to get mortgages!"

When some banks & mortgage cos didn't, Reno threatened to sue them.

Then when 2 Liberals, Chris Dodd & Barney Frank, were put in charge of "Overseeing" Fannie May & Freddie Mac....getting a mortgage was so easy that some mortgages were given to people who had just crossed the border a few weeks before applying.

All based on the "assumption" that home prices would continue to rise.

Dodd & Frank are STILL in charge of "getting us out of the financial mess!"

Yeah, Right!

Obama has said nothing and continues to say nothing ....BUT....he says it well!

His past "actions" (his small voting record) have shown him to be a flaming Socialist. Why would he change now?

"Reforming" HealthCare? Take a look at Canada's Health Care System. We already have "FREE HealthCare". Anyone crossing our borders can get all the FREE Healthcare they want. The "producers" of the country...those who will be Paying The Hospital & Doctor Bills....will have to get in line BEHIND the NON-Payers...for their HealthCare.

"Economy"? Ya wanna be like France? Go live in France where you MUST retire at age 53 and let "The Gummit" take care of you. Yah! Sure!

Obama's had to "change" a few of his views when Bush sat him down and told him what was "Really Happening".....but most of Obama's "advisors" will keep pushing him to the Left.

Let the companies that MISmanaged their businesses file for Bankruptcy. That's why the Bankruptcy laws were instituted. Why should the American people pay for their INCompetance?

GM & Toyota both sold 39 million vehicles in 2007. One Co had a 9 Billion Dollar profit. The other had a 27 Billion Dollar LOSS. Guess which was which!

CIA? Anti-Terrorist Overseer? Let someone who's NEVER been in "Spy Stuff"...a Politician.....someone who's main job experience in Gummit was "putting out fires for Clinton"...Leon Paneta....be in Control! Yah! Sure!

Fasten yer seatbelts folks, Socialism has NEVER worked and it won't work now! We is in for a very BUMPY ride!

Don Alm....stashing Cash & Gold Coins in a Lead Box in the back yard....happy to be out of debt.....following the rule of, "Owe No Man A Thing But To Love Him!"

Oopppsss.....Sorry....I forgot the main question here about "How will Obama affect my business!"

He ALREADY HAS!

I deal with "Advertising Programs" for Small Businesses and in October, when our Sec of Treasury gave us the "Panic WakeUp Call"....that IF we (the USofA) don't "BailOut" some businesses...they WILL go down and "take the country with it"!.....most of my clients starting pulling back from spending.

Then...when Obama won in Nov....they REALLY pulled back....with the result being....many of my accounts cut WAY BACK on Advertising programs.

So....the result of our country becoming "Obam-ified" will be that MY advertising business will concentrate more on larger businesses and the "Mom and Pops" will have to do the "best they can".

And....one "positive affect" of "Obamination" is that some businesses will spend MORE on programs that "bring customers, clients or patients" thru the door.

Don Alm....Capitalist

Don,
I'm a 27 year old who wants to get back into Advertising for Small Businesses (I once sold ads to Restaurants for Coupon Booklet mailers) I'm not sure what type is best in this economy. The TV Channel Guide in Hotels looks promising. Is that business still good in these times?

Bill

Hi.....yup...."Pizza Delivery" businesses haven't "yet" been shut down by da Gummit. They are STILL....VERY interested in paying for a program that can bring them am extra 5 to 10 pizza orders a day, at $18 per pizza....which is what the "TV Channel Stands" will do....sitting in a bunch of hotel/motel rooms.

Hotel/Motel guests arrive in their rooms with no food and do 3 things;
1) Bring in their baggage
2) Go Potty
3) Pick up the Remote Control, turn on the tv and start flipping thru the channels and when they can't find their favorite channels (it's a different cable system than theirs at home).....they look around for the "TV Channel Guide"....then....they see a small plastic stand sitting near the tv with a colorful Label that says; "TV CHANNEL GUIDE"

So....they NOW can find their favorite channels AND....right there, next to the list of tv channels...is a full color picture of a mouth-watering PIZZA with a number to call to have it delivered to their room.

WHALA!

This is a wonderful money-maker. It gives me a GREAT income for my time PLUS....FREE Hotel rooms so I can take my wife with me and have mini-vacations.

Don Alm