[#054] My First Billion: election results thoughts…

History was made this week!

Here in Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman ever elected governor of a U.S. state…

And in Florida, Byron Donalds became the state's first Black governor.

Different political parties, but historic accomplishments nonetheless.

And while I've been seeing a lot of people celebrating this week…

I've had a question on my mind.

What does winning actually look like?

And I'm not talking about winning the election…

I'm talking about what winning looks like for the people these elected officials are supposed to serve.

Think about it…

As an entrepreneur, when I bring someone on to lead or work in another role in one of our companies…

We're going to establish some clear expectations.

What are we trying to accomplish?

What does success look like?

What are the measurable outcomes?

And how will we know if we're making progress?

Because if we never define what winning looks like…

How can we hold someone accountable for producing it?

Now think about our elected officials.

We hear a lot about…
→ Making housing more affordable.
→ Creating better-paying jobs.
→ Lowering the cost of living.
→ Expanding economic opportunities.

All important things.

But what specifically are we expecting to see over the next four years?

And how will we measure whether things are actually getting better?

For example…

I'm passionate about entrepreneurship.

I believe helping people start, grow, and sustain profitable businesses can create more economic opportunity for families and communities.

And I actually looked into this.

Our newly elected governor here in Georgia proposed creating a dedicated Office of Small Business…

…expanding access to loans and grants, and helping smaller businesses compete for government contracts.

Okay, cool!

Those are specific commitments we can track.

But I'd also want to know…

How many more businesses are actually surviving and growing?

How many new jobs are being created?

Are more business owners getting access to opportunities they didn't have before?

Are families experiencing greater economic mobility?

Now, I understand a governor can't control everything.

Some things require legislation, cooperation from local governments, the private sector, and a whole lot of other factors.

But we should still be able to establish expectations and measure progress.

And here's where this gets interesting…

I think the same problem exists inside
a lot of our businesses.

We set these big goals.
500K in revenue.
1M or 10 milli in revenue.

Double the business next year.

But we never establish the scoreboard.

How many clients do we need?
How many qualified leads will it take?
How many sales conversations?
What systems need to be built?

And who's responsible for making it happen?

Then we get to the end of the year and wonder why we didn't hit our goals.

A goal without a clear plan and measurable expectations is just a wish.

And whether we're talking about running a business or running a state…

I believe leadership requires more than good intentions.

It requires clear expectations, execution, and accountability.

Now don't get me wrong…

I think these historic accomplishments are worth recognizing.

But I also think we have to look beyond the celebrations and ask what happens next.

Because…

Winning an election is an EVENT. Improving people's lives is the OUTCOME.

And while we're expecting our elected officials to create more economic opportunities…

We also have a role to play in building businesses, developing skills, and creating opportunities within our own communities.

We don't have to wait on somebody in political office to start doing that work.

So here's something I'm genuinely curious about…

Four years from now, what would have to happen for YOU to say your elected officials did a GREAT job?

Not based on their political party, skin color, or their personality…

But based on measurable improvements in people's lives.

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Hit reply and let me know or comment on this Facebook post.

Tell those you love that you love them.

Marquel

P.P.S. Whenever you're ready, here are 2 ways we can help you grow your coaching or consulting business:

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