Well, the election is finally behind us.  Some people are euphoric, others are pissed.   Loads are fearful.   Some are simply clueless.

And many are confused.

Two things that have changed little since Tuesday is the intensity of emotions and the volume of diverse (and often misleading) opinions.  Neither of these will help much in running a successful business.

As business owners, there are many questions that lie before us.  The one I’m hearing the most since Election Day is:

“What am I supposed to do now?”

Here are a few suggestions:

• Get the FACTS:  Accept very little of what you hear.   Stay plugged in and validate everything.
• Focus upon OPPORTUNITIES:  The greatest opportunities are often created by virtue of confusion, uncertainty, turmoil and pain.  In other words, this environment is target rich for those who focus upon the best ways to not only survive, but to also take advantage of the current situation.
• Be Proactive.
• Control your emotions.
• Take a deep breath:  Relax and have fun.  Things are rarely as good or as bad as they may appear.
• Beware of “experts”.  Instead, surround yourself with Trusted advisors.
• Make a Plan:  ALL stress results from uncertainty.  There is ZERO benefit or virtue in worrying.   The best CEOs in the world understand that running a business requires a clear understanding that every business and economic climate is fraught with uncertainty, so they develop the key skill of dealing with ambiguity.

Independent of the political and economic climate, the fundamentals of business and leadership always prevail.  So follow these simple steps and enjoy your joyful prosperity in 2013.

Copyright © Joe Zente 2012. All Rights Reserved.