Finally, it’s over!

Finally, it’s over!  For the last 100 days we’ve watched 2 people fight for the leadership role of our country, and many times it was not pretty.  It shows me just how split our country is, and now we will have to work hard to get back to normal.  Oh, does anyone know what normal looks like?  The question is what kind of impact President Trump will have on your company when he’s president.

All of us know the price of gas has a major impact on business, and I am finding out that insurance is also a problem.  Supporters and analysts have found several areas where this administration could have significant impacts on small businesses.

Here are a few things that could happen:

1. Economic Growth and Job Creation – Trumps 2017 tax cuts and jobs act will be implemented again. This will stimulate economic growth and increase job creation.
2. Judicial Appointments – Trump appointed three supreme court justices. Working with congress, which majority is republican, should allow us to get things passed that will help your business.
3. Tax Reform – reducing corporate taxes and lowering taxes for individuals should boost the economy. Tax reform should give you more money to invest and build your business.
4. Energy Independence – Trump’s war cry was “drill, baby drill” should lift restrictions on fossil fuel, and expand oil, gas, and coal industries. This should have a big impact on reducing gas costs for your trucks.
5. Deregulation – Part of Trump’s economic strategy was to reduce federal regulations. Their objective is to get out of the way and let small businesses run and grow their business.
6. Individual Employment – Through tax cuts and deregulation this should help small businesses to hire as needed.

Most small business owners know their local politicians and probably contribute to their campaigns.  It’s usually not in the DNA of a tower to get involved in politics but it’s a good thing that will benefit you in the future if you can do it.  This past election shocked the world, and it will affect things at a local level.  You may not like the outcome, but in my opinion, it will help your business.  When I owned my tow company, my wife and I were very involved in our local politics.  My tow company did only private property, so we were always under the microscope.  From police departments in the Dallas area to the Dallas City Council, we knew everyone, and they knew about my tow company.

As you know, towers always have stories to tell, so here is my favorite story.  Years ago, when President Bush was running for a second term, he sent Dick Chaney to Dallas for a fund raiser.  It was a small audience of about 30 people.  Because of my local connections, my wife and I were invited to attend.  When we arrived, we noticed sitting in the front row was Ebby Holiday, owner of one of the largest real-estate companies in Texas, and Bo Pilgram who owned a frozen chicken company.  I’m sure they were big doners.  When Chaney arrived, the 1^st thing he did was give them both a big hug.  I looked at my wife and told her I wanted to be like them at a local level.

My wife and I supported two local city council people because they lived in my neighborhood.  We wrote checks, but it wasn’t a billion dollars, but those donations did benefit us.  When all you do is private property towing, we needed all the help we could get.  Towers that wanted a raise had to make a presentation to 7 members of the city council. That group were members of a transportation committee for the Dallas City Council.  It so happened that our friend was the head of that city council committee.  My wife and I sat in the audience to hear the presentation.  As the meeting started, the tow company making the presentation was a partner from the past, so I knew them well.

As they were presenting the head of the city committee was also our friend, and when she saw us in the audience she got up, walked into the audience and gave my wife and I a big hug.  Then she went back to the presentation.  As the meeting progressed, another city council member joined the meeting.  Also, a friend of ours.  When he saw us in the audience he got up while the presentation was going on and came into the audience and gave us a hug.

We realized then that we had become Ebby Holiday and Bo Pilgram at a small level.  I can’t tell you how rewarding that was to be recognized in front of other city council people, but most of all in front of our X partners.  Stuff like that went a long way for our business.  I’m not telling you to write checks and certainly not millions, but you should always know who the key politicians are that could impact your business.  Get involved and support your state association and write them checks necessary for them to fight bills in Texas that impact our business.  I just saw a list of the top 100 things our president elect will work on are (Drill, baby drill) which will have an impact on gas prices, and he will also start deporting illegals which will make us safer.  When you are in the private property towing business those are huge.

I’m sorry I bored you with a long story, but I wanted to encourage all of you to get involved in your local politics and work with your state association.  In my opinion, this election will have a good effect on your employees and your bottom line.